Got stuff done!

I had a busy day yesterday. I was determined to get some stuff done that had been nagging at me in my head, but just never got around to taking care of them. First, I got the Harley quilt top sewn together. It is 89" x 95"

Next I worked on fixing a nice insulated tote bag. It started coming apart at the top where the side panels met the front and back panels. While I was at it I decided to go ahead and reinforce the stitching all the way around where the side and front and back panels. I also reinforced the handles. This has only been sitting around for months waiting to be fixed. Now it is good as new!

It was now time to fix my AC/DC hoodie. The cuffs have needed replaced for at least a year! That is gray paint I accidently got on it when I was painting my brother's basement floor.

I replaced the cuffs with a pair that my friend had from cutting up t-shirts for a quilt.

I also found a hole near one of the pockets and there was some paint there too.

I had some patches that needed to be sewn on to add to the patches already on this hoodie. I found one that worked perfect to cover the hole and paint, then I sewed the other four on the back. The hoodie is all ready for wearing again!

I had been thinking every day for weeks that I need to get my squash seeds started and then forget to do it. Well, yesterday I got the seeds laid out on wet paper towels in plastic bags. Let's see how long it takes for them to sprout!

The last nagging job was to sew this little bell charm on my AC/DC wall hanging.

I took off the loop and stitched it on. Another job done!

My sister sent me a picture of her husband, my BIL, wearing the mask he made. I don't know that the man ever sat down at a sewing machine before! He printed the pattern off the internet and look how great it turned out! Even his stripes match up pretty good especially hard to do with that curve!

More masks and a finished top

I made three masks yesterday for my brother and his family.

I worked on and off all day on the AHIQ quilt top. It wasn't quite big enough so I added a border on two sides. I am not in love with this, but it was an experiment so it is fine. Some little kid will love it. I think if I bind it in yellow or red that will help make it more cohesive.

I was entertained yesterday with my neighbor and his family working on fixing his front yard. He had a new water line installed last fall and had to wait until the dirt settled. His Dad brought mini excavator to help push the dirt.

It is now all seeded and covered with straw mats. They worked hard and it was a long day for them.

I have a long list in my head that I would like to get done today so I had better get to it! Stay safe! Stay home!

Change of plans

After doing the work I needed to get done for my job, I decided to make some improv hourglass blocks out of the various gray colors I used in the AHIQ. My big plan for the day was to sew together the top and add to it in order to make it at least a decent sized baby quilt.

Then I got a request for more masks for the fellow employees that are working in the job trailer. So I switched gears and started working on those. My sister wanted to make some too so as I sewed one together I took pictures and texted them to her. That along with texts from several people and phone calls slowed me down. I was trying to get the masks done so someone from the trailer could come over to get them yesterday, but the project did not get completed until 4:30. The intern will come Monday to get the seven masks I made.

Then my brother that lives in California asked me to make a mask for him and his wife. In CA you have to wear a mask when going outside which was required before the edict that came out yesterday suggesting everyone should be wearing a mask. I got those made and they are sitting on the mailbox waiting for the mailman to pick it up.

I have three more to make for another brother that lives about 8 miles from me. Those will be on my agenda this morning.

Meanwhile I will have some entertainment today as I am sewing. Last fall my next door neighbor had to have a water line replaced. The dirt has settled all winter and he is now going to get the front yard cleaned up. He had some top soil delivered yesterday and his Dad is coming over with, I think, a Bobcat to help level out the yard.

They are also going to tear down this decorative brick wall that blocks him from access to his backyard. The pine tree is planted on my property so you can see how tight this area is. I don't care that he walks in my yard around the tree. Good grief life it too short for that kind of crap! The brick wall ends right at the property line. It is actually kind of an ugly feature that was a good idea at the time - 1960!

I will enjoy looking at my daffodils as I sew today and watching the transformation next door.

Keeping busy

After doing my day job I was busy with stuff around the house. I did make masks for my neighbors after talking to the husband - of course at a safe distance. They are a lovely couple and we are always helping each other out. When the order comes out to wear a mask, he said he didn't know what they were going to do since you couldn't buy one. So now they are set!

It was a beautiful day yesterday so I charged up the batteries for the mower and trimmer then attacked the front yard. My plan is to work a bit everyday on the yard clean up working one side at a time. There is just so much to do!

While I was outside I walked around the yard to enjoy any color I could. Here is my Lenten Rose bed

Then there were this tiny purple and blue flowers. The purple ones are Vinca; I don't know the name of the blue ones.

Blocks done and deer

I got the rest of the blocks done. Now I have to decide how I am going to finish this top. Add sashing? Add borders? The blocks are 12" which includes the seam allowances. I will have to think about this.

It was beautiful out yesterday afternoon so I finished cutting down the ornamental grass.

The far plant was planted a long time ago and was starting to push between the rocks. I forgot to take a before picture, but here is the size of the plant now. I circled the area that I have already removed roots, but I have more I want to take out.

I hadn't seen any deer for a while, but this morning there were eight in the backyard! I took a lot of pictures, but I had two issues 1. the dappled sunlight and 2. dirty windows. I now can add washing the windows on my to do list! LOL!! In the second picture I drew an arrow to each of the deer in the picture. Between the color of the deer and the landscape, they are hard to see!

Revised tutorial

First let me say that I forgot to say how many precautions I took when I went to the grocery and HD yesterday. I did wear a mask - I don't care that the "experts" are saying you that you don't need to wear one. I didn't fuss with it and didn't touched my face. Looks like there could be a shift in philosophy and it may now recommend masks be worn. I had a new mask that I found when I was cleaning. I also wore gloves and disinfected constantly. I wiped down all my groceries with disinfectant before I put them in the car and threw away the bags the groceries were in because the bags touch the bottom and side of the cart where the cart is not cleaned like the handle. Thank you for being concerned!

I spent some time working on my AHIQ hourglass project. I was having an issue with the glue drying too quick before I was able to get the frame of the block positioned. So here is what I did:

I already had the freezer paper pressed on the frame fabric

Change #1 - when cutting out the center I now leave about 3/4" instead of cutting it closer to 1/4". This makes it easier to get the clipped edge to stay flat. This will be trimmed later so it doesn't matter if it is more than 1/4"

Press the clips over the freezer paper.

Change #2 - at this point in the past I would dab a glue stick on the clips. This is where I was finding the glue started to dry out and then I had to fuss around reapplying glue and it was just a battle. I now flip the frame over the hourglass block and place the frame where it looks good to me

next I carefully roll back a small section - doesn't matter where you start

grab a bottle of washable school glue. The glue dries stiffer than the glue stick, but I found it is easier to control the placement of the glue product and the hold is much better.

I then put a little line of glue on each clip

gently roll that area down. I gently tapped that area to make sure I had good contact.

Continue around the circle rolling a section back, glue, and pat down. You can see the last clip you glued since the moisture from the glue makes the fabric darker

Since I am inpatient I pressed the block to get the glue to dry faster

Next is to gently peel the freezer paper off the gray frame fabric. I hold the freezer paper and gentle work my way around the block to loosen but not remove the paper yet. You don't want to loosen the clips so gentle persuasion is called for here!

I then tore the freezer paper at the narrower places and then removed each section carefully

Time to sew. You sew along the crease. I like to sew to the left side of the crease.

Next trim the hourglass.

Oh, what a wrinkled mess!

Much better!

Here is what I have done now on this project.

This is my version of the 6-minute circle which was not my invention - just want to clarify that. I just tweaked the technique a bit to work better for me.