Log cabin flannel quilt progress

I managed to muster up enough energy last evening to finish the log cabin top. I found I did make a mistake and sewed the bottom two blocks on the right side incorrectly. I ripped those apart, got them orientated in the right direction and sewed back together in a few minutes. The backing got sewn and pressed. I have over half of it now pin basted.

I am feeling better today. One more good night's sleep and I think I will be fully recovered.

A little bit worked on and a whole lot of tired

I was so tired on Sunday it was hard to get much of anything done. I hurt all over from that 7 hours of bouncing around in the van. I got the flannel sort of pressed for the log cabin flannel quilt. It is sitting next to the sewing machine ready for me to sew it together.

I sewed together the last four log cabin flannel blocks, but I didn't have the energy to sew them to the rest of the top.

I pressed this washed fabric.

and lastly I cut out 21 tote bags from that fabric that was given to me. I don't think I will need any more bags for this year after the last 14 I made last week. The band only had one more show and I think we have enough for that. I made 136 bags this year. It would be good for me to get more cut out and work on them at least one or two days a month for building up a stock for next year.

Lori from Humble Quilts sent me these two pieces of vintage feedsack fabric. She had been gifted them by a friend and I complimented her on them. She offered to send them to me since she didn't use much vintage fabric so of course I said yes! I have a specific project in mind and they will be perfect!

Errands and a show

It has been a crazy, busy couple of days. Friday, I took a day of vacation to run a few errands and sew. WELL, it got crazy! I first had to get my car e-checked, go to the post office to mail the e-check cert so I could get my plate sticker, stop at two grocery stores and get gas. I found these small containers at the one grocery store that carries closeout deals. I had been looking for reasonably priced small containers to add to the ones I already have for sorting my supplements for what I take in the morning and what I take a night. It makes it easier to get them set up so I can just grab and go. The had three boxes so that will give me twelve more small containers.

After 2 1/2 hours I finally got home, put the cold stuff away, and checked my phone. I had received a text that the iodine supplement came in on the truck. It was 12:20 and the doctor's office closes on Friday at 1:00 so it was back in the car. It took 31 minutes so I got there just in time! As I headed back home I stopped at two more Marc's to see if they had any of those little containers; they did not. What I did get was this huge plate. It is 18" long and only six bucks! I need a plate for either a cake or cupcakes I will be making for a birthday celebration.

I also got this container for the cookies.

So two hours later I got back home. I needed to put together some tote bags for the merch booth. Here is the pile of 14 that I got done between Friday and Saturday.

My neighbor was outside working and he gave me a stone to put my new sculpture on.

With this other piece I have I almost have a sculpture garden! I need one more special piece and then I think I can call it that.

I had a few hours until I had to leave again! It was close so 2 miles to the salon for a consul and then back home, BUT I forgot my Yeti water bottle so I had to go back! UGH!!! Back home it was laundry and finishing up the tote bags. Saturday I made more pecan mini muffins for the band. We had a show in Tipp City, Ohio which is just north of Dayton.

I knew I needed to leave early because the marathon was going on and my neighborhood was imprisoned by the race route. I thought they would have left one road open. So instead of driving northeast to my brother's house which takes about 25 minutes, I had to fight people who didn't know what they were doing and drive west 3 or 4 miles. I then headed north, then east, north some more, then finally east. I was on some of the most narrow, crooked, hilly roads that seemed to be out in the middle of nowhere! It took me an hour, but I made it for the 3 1/4 hour road trip. It was the mum festival, and I never saw so many vendor booths for art and food! I did see this cute piece, but I didn't buy it. I could kick myself now.

I never got around to seeing everything because there was so much to see!  The band played from 7 - 9 and since the art booths closed up about 6, the crowd was sparse for the show.

The police had a very cool ride to petrol the festival.

My brother handed me this drum bag that needs the carrying strap repaired like the other end of the strap. An easy job.

I was also given more fabric for tote bags. Woohoo!

I crawled into bed at 2 am. When I got up this morning I hurt all over. 7 hours riding in that van did me in! LOL!! It's now a little after noon and I am feeling better. ONWARD!

An answer and a stone pile

I had a doctor's appointment with my chiropractor/kinesiologist/functional nutritionist and a couple of issues were answered! A small one was I had been having trouble straightening my left arm and having pain for a week. He said I had a ligament out of place. It hurt when he worked on it, but it is a whole lot better. The other was I had done an iodine test and my iodine level was less than half of what it should be! He said that explains a lot of little things that have been bothering me - itchy skin, low energy, and hair loss to name a few. I will be taking a supplement to help with that. Meanwhile, I was so tired by the time I got home after stopping at the grocery store and fighting the evening traffic, I didn't get anything done except make myself some baked mac and cheese

I walked over to pu the neighbor's mail and took a picture of the stone pile at another neighbor's house. That is not all the stone that will be harvested from his yard! I am going to ask him if I could have a small piece with a flat side so I can use it to put that beautiful sculpture my friend gave me not too long ago. That would look so much better elevated rather than just sitting on the mulch.

Progress on the log cabin top

I had a busy evening, but I did manage to get four out of the five rows sewn together on the log cabin top.

It was hard to tear myself away from watching the renovation project at my neighbor's house. That remaining huge bush is now gone but it was too dark to take a picture. There also was a huge pile of cut stone that was edging the planting beds and steps. My neighbor is saving that.

Putting my foot down and cutting flannel

After work I had an appointment for an oil change. When I got to the dealership, they had a special for an oil change and tire rotation. I said I didn't want my tires rotated and they would have to charge me $10 for not rotating my tires! WTF! I didn't yell; I was calm and precise when I told them I want not paying them for not doing work and I needed to see a manager or supervisor. After telling them how many cars I have bought from them and how many years I have been a customer, they backed off and didn't charge me the extra $10.00. I did threaten to go somewhere else which I think helped too. I am going to ask around to find somewhere else next time and I will let them know why they will no longer be changing my oil. By the time I finally got home (there was a lot of traffic issues to deal with too on the way home) I needed to get some dinner. I made a batch of these mini pecan muffins and did some dishes. I took the muffins to work and they are almost gone.

I did get most of the natural colored flannel for the zig zag cut and paired up. I needed three strips of each color of the blue plaid so that meant 3 strips of the natural flannel. I need to cut two more strips of the natural flannel.

That natural flannel shrank a lot! I had cut a 3 yard piece and it ended up a bit more than 2 1/2 yards after washing and drying.

Pressing

I spent last evening pressing fabric. I couldn't stand the mess of all that washed fabric piled everywhere! At least this pile is ready to go. I still have a few more pieces that need pressed. There are also a few more pieces of fabric that still need washed, but I am making progress!

I worked on pressing one piece of the flannel for the future zig zag quilt. This fabric is 54" wide so I ripped it down to 43" and starting cutting strips. I don't remember exactly how much I paid per yard, but it very inexpensive. After washing the flannel has a wonderful hand to it and it is thick.

I am cutting these strips 3 3/4" wide. I want a nice bold zig zag.

Flannel quilts - progress

The courthouse steps quilt is now pin basted!

I have had this backing for some time. I had to take my time to piece it together so the stripes sort of matched. The fabric is 56" wide and a bit thinner which made it better for a back. I have enough to make a second back for a quilt this size - approx. 60" x 76" after quilting.

I need 19 more log cabin blocks for another top - I had one already made - so I got to work. I chain stitched the blocks which means I laid out the blocks and rough cut the piece I needed. I wanted to make the blocks look random, so some planning had to go along with this! Kind of an oxymoron! LOL!!!

It took me longer than I thought it would, but I did get all 19 blocks made. Here are the blocks ready to be sewn together.

I still had a bit of the blue flannel left so I cut these strips to make a zig zag quilt. I will be adding some natural colored flannel in between these.

But wait! There's more! I have these pieces left which I have another top in mind to make with them. I will be adding some solid navy and medium blue flannel in the mix.

And finally there will be a top with either four or nine patches to use up the pieces that were too small to use in the log cabin quilt.

So that will be 5 large lap quilts once they're done! I will have look for the sales order for the blue flannels to see how much I had bought. I am just curious. I also spent time washing fabric. Some of the fabric was from the recent sale including the 6 yard piece of flannel, and some of it was flannel I have had for a while. I had bought a whole bolt of natural color flannel and one of a gray flannel from Zink's in Berlin, Ohio, years ago. I needed to get a piece of the natural washed for the zig zag top. Here it is tossed on a chair waiting to be pressed.

Oh that's a big pile!

Courthouse steps progress

I got three more courthouse step blocks sewn last evening. I rearranged the blocks to mix up the fabrics a bit and here is what it looks like now.

I have the last four blocks planned out.

My goal this weekend is to get this top done and get going on the next top which will be a traditional log cabin layout. Have a great weekend!

Garage clean up and two more blocks

As soon as I got home from work I headed to the garage to make space for my neighbor's riding mower. Here is the before - quite a mess!

After an hour and a half of work, here is the after. My neighbor came over after I was mostly done. He moved the heavy stuff - two bags of sand and four bags of potting soil.

Plenty of room for the mower

I then headed inside and managed to get two more courthouse step blocks made using one of the new light colored flannels I just bought.

The sale was in a tent

I went on a road trip yesterday to Country Fabrics in Shilo, Ohio. They are really south of Planktown, but Shilo is their mailing address. This was my first time to one of their tent sales.

I was the first customer so I grabbed a cart and started shopping after the ladies said it was ok. They were still busy bringing out fabric and setting up signage. I bought more stripes and plaids.

I found these Moda fabrics. I loved the color and they were only $6.50 a yard! How could I not buy them!  I bought three yards of each.

Some solids jumped into my cart. The off white was a flat fold of flannel. The darker stone colored piece was from inside the store and was 10% off.

These were some odds and ends for projects I have going on except for the turquoise and lime batik. I just loved the color and there was just a yard and an eight of that left.

Inside I found three more blue flannels. I needed more variety for the blue and cream flannel quilts I am making for someone at work. The selection was pretty sparse for blue flannels.

It's a good hour and a half drive to the shop. By the time I got home it was 11:30 and I was so hungry! After getting some lunch, I was very tired but I got some fabric in the wash. These are wash, pressed and flannel strips cut.

I paired up the new flannel strips with what I had and these will be the next five blocks I need for the first top.

I pushed myself to get something done and I did get the striped courthouse steps top pin basted.

I got a phone call from my neighbor asking if he could store his mowers in my garage for a few weeks. He is having a new French drain installed in front of his garage door and wouldn't be able to get his mowers out. I have a two car garage. I told him if he comes over tonight and helps me straighten up the garage to make room, he would be more than welcome to put the mowers in my garage so you know what I will be doing tonight!  LOL!

 He is having the entire front yard redone and getting his retaining wall replaced too. His steps are horrible. They lean at angles so it makes the steps dangerous. The plantings are old and have gotten too big. The new design sounds very cool with big landscape boulders. This is what I see out my front window now.  The contractor is scheduled to start tomorrow.