Every little bit and more

I worked on the graduation t-shirt quilt this weekend and I am happy with the direction I am going. I loosely did a bit a math to give me a general idea of the pieces I needed to cut from the improv pieced sections. Those sections are made of interfaced t-shirt and Essex cotton/linen.

There was not enough t-shirt fabric in those 7 small t-shirts to do what I wanted. I used the backs and will use the sleeves if I need to in order to use every bit of the shirts. But even that won't be enough fabric so I spent time going thru my t-shirt collection to find shirts that I could cut up and use the backs. There was only one problem - the closet was a mess!

Straightend out - much better!

So after straightening up I found a dark gray, a red, and a black t-shirt I could cut up. I didn't find a medium gray shirt, but I remembered I had a huge gray t-shirt I use to sleep in and it was the perfect color. I cut up all the shirts and ironed on interfacing so they are ready when my order of more Essex navy comes - hopefully today. Here is what the quilt looks like so far and the backs ready for improv cutting and piecing. It doesn't look like much, but since I ran out of the Essex this was all I could do.

I also cleaned off my other design wall and started laying out my pieces for the Chinese Coin quilt. I will be recutting the pieces improv style before sewing them together.

Finally a direction!

I have been uninspired about what to do with the design of Dante's graduation t-shirt quilt. I ordered more Essex navy fabric yesterday so I would at least have that. I needed something to be the constant. Then it hit me as I was walking thru the foyer to the studio as I looked at this piece

I decided I would take the backs of the t-shirts and interface them. Next I plan on making striped sections using the t-shirt backs and the Essex. I was so tired when I got home from work last evening - the wind howled yesterday, it was cold, and the snow was a blowing! I was outside for almost two hours and that took the wind out of my sails. I was up early this morning so I got one t-shirt back interfaced and have it married with the Essex.

I was telling my sister about having so little t-shirt for this quilt. I plan on making it twin sized. She made me laugh when she suggested "borders in between them ...BIG BORDERS"

Have a great weekend! I plan on doing as much as I can on the t-shirt quilt until I run out of Essex. I have no idea what else I will work on this weekend, but I think I will be able to find something!

Cookies and fabric

I made snickerdoodles last night for the guys at work.

I was looking for some navy blue fabric for the t-shirt quilt. All I have that would work is a piece that is a little over a yard of Essex which is not enough. I like the Essex because it is about the same weight as the t-shirts once they have been interfaced. I am not about to try and dye dark navy blue fabric for this so I guess I will be buying some.

Here is the pillow case that I will also need to incorporate into the quilt. I already opened it up.

I received a fabric order yesterday. I needed some pink Kona for a project; somehow the picture had disappeared. The color is woodrose. Fabric Depot was having a Groundhog day sale - buy $75.00 and get $25.00 off. What a deal! Then I also got free shipping and didn't have to pay tax. To round out the order I bought a yard of minion fabric

and yellow Kona to remake this quilt that I bought at an auction years ago. The Dresden plates are in pretty good shape, but the rest of the quilt has major issues. I will have to replace a few of the blades in the plates, but that won't be an issue as I have a good stash of vintage fabric. I don't know why I have to save this quilt. I think I can reuse the backing which would be great. The yellow Kona I bought is just a bit darker. They were out of a lighter yellow that I thought was a closer match, but in the bigger scheme of things - does it really matter?

Hit the cycle

I walk almost everyday to get my steps in. Even with music it can be a bit boring. I walk the parking lots at the high/middle school where my job is located for now. I pick up coins and pencils which gives me something to do while I walk. Yesterday I hit for the cycle meaning I found a penny, nickel, dime and a quarter all in the same day. I haven't been finding many coins lately so yesterday was a big day!


Here is the can of pencils and a few pens I have collected this school year from the parking lots and sidewalks surrounding the school. This morning I found three more. I should never have to buy another pencil!

I had to go to company meetings for four plus hours yesterday. The first activity was team building. The organizers passed out boxes with stuff in them and we had to build a contraption that a marble could roll thru. The marble that took the longest time to reach the exit of our contraption would win and a second prize would be given to the team that had the most creative contraption. Here was our contraption. The marble would start at the top paper plate, go thru a hole from plate to plate, roll down the pipe insulation, then into the cardboard maze.

There was a dispute over one team's approach which had human interaction that lengthen the time it took their marble to exit. My boss thought they should be disqualified, but he was overruled so they gave my team the most creative award. Both teams got the same prize - two lottery tickets. I won two bucks on one of my tickets.

I did win this shaker and three packs of meal replacement too! I was shocked. I never win anything at company events. We had a lady come in and talk about wellness thus this type of prize. They also gave away books, some exercise rolls, and food containers.

I got a bit more knitting done during the meeting. I was so tired when I got home I just knitted so at least I was doing something. I forgot to take a picture, but the scarf is now 29.5" long.

4th finish for 2017

Here is the maple leaf quilt done. It turned out 76 3/4" x 100. I used King Tut to do the machine quilting.

I cut the t-shirts up for Dante's graduation quilt. His Mom did not give me much to work with. I have a pillow case that will be part of this too. It had some black stuff on it so I have it sitting with some blue Dawn on it and will wash it tonight.

Yesterday we had company meetings so I knitted all day. I had about 6 or 7 rows on this scarf and it is now 20 1/2"

The percentage done today is ...

77%. I quilted at lunch yesterday and just a bit after work, because I went to dinner with a couple of friends last evening. So to be at 77% complete is still pretty good!

So you know what I will be working on this weekend! I will get the maple leaf quilt done and start working on the t-shirt quilt.

I will not be posting on Monday as I will be away at meetings all day. Have a great weekend!

The quilting continues

I am still working away on the maple leaf quilt. I now have about 70% of the quilting done.

I would have more done except I made chocolate chip cookies for the guys at work.

Here is what the back is looking like.

I get to work early every day so I can take a walk. On this morning's walk I saw someone had decorated our construction fence with a hubcap.