Back to tote bags, gray clouds, a fire truck and the bridge

15 more tote bags are now sewn together. I am trying to keep ahead so we don't run out at the merch booth and since I don't have any other pressing projects it is a good time to make a few more.

When I left work this is what I saw

About a mile and a half later, it poured for the next mile. I had to detour around the neighborhood because a fire truck sitting in the middle of the street I usually take. Didn't see any firemen scurrying about or hoses or fire - all a good thing.

The steam was rising off the pavement in the cul-de-sac

Another dark cloud rolled in and my flowers got another shower. I was glad I didn't have to water.

We got some new pictures of the bridge progress from a drone. I don't know how long the bridge is, but I know it is 120 feet from the ground to the deck.

Day 3 - log cabin quilt top and backing

Day 3 and I was moving slower. I started the day off by going grocery shopping. It took two hours with travel time and hitting 3 stores. The heat was getting to me. After putting the cold stuff away and getting something to eat, it was back to the studio to work on the log cabin quilt. The top is done. It is 82" x 96".

I spent a couple hours sewing some yardage together for the back. I used a print and after I had it done, I decided I wasn't going to like it for the back of the log cabin. I tried to talk myself into going ahead with that print, but I just could not convince myself that I would be happy with it. I will keep it for another project. Here is my pile of leftover backing pieces. I will piece them together to make a back for the log cabin.

I headed outside around 6 p.m. to water the flowers. It was still 89 degrees although there was a nice breeze at times which was nice. I didn't get the rest of the garage cleaned out this weekend or the backyard mowed; it was just too hot. Temperatures are a bit cooler this week - the low 80's - so maybe I can get some mowing done. Rain is also in the forecast so I will have to work around that.

Day 2 - more weeding, mulch pile gone, baby quilt tops

I headed out to the yard. Yes, it was early to try and beat the heat and maybe the bugs. Didn't beat either! LOL!!

With most of the weeds and crabgrass pulled out of the center flower bed, it was time to clean up another area which is the mulch pile that has been sitting in the driveway for a couple years.

I pulled back the tarp and the mulch was pretty wet in spots. I wheelbarrowed as much as I could until I hit the sopping wet stuff. I let it dry out all day, which wasn't a problem since it was 90. I went back out about 6 and moved the rest of the mulch. I sprinkled California poppy seeds in the mulch so in a couple weeks I ought to be seeing new plants everywhere I put the mulch.

I then had to fold up the tarp and clean up the area where the mulch was stored. I am glad that is done.

I did make a batch of blueberry cornmeal muffins

Then I spent the rest of the time putting together two baby quilt tops. They are nothing earth shattering, cutting edge, or note worthy, but they are using up some of the piles of hand dyed fabric strips and someone will like them.

Day 1 - weeding, garage clean up, baby quilt, log cabin quilt

To start out the 4th of July I weeded for about an hour. I didn't get outside until 7:30 am and by 8:30 there was too much sun. It hasn't been that long since I weeded the big flower bed so to see as many weeds as I did was crazy. The newest problem is crabgrass. Here is one spot I cleared out. It is slow going when I have to be careful to pull just the crabgrass and not the California poppies.

There was a decent breeze so I stayed outside and worked at straightening up the garage. Along the right side I just put things away and swept. Here is the before and after.

At the back of the garage - more of the same.

In the pile on the table was a yard sculpture that needed it's base glued on. Every time I moved it the base fell off. I got the Loctite adhesive and now it is finally fixed. After two hours in the garage I called it quits for now. The garage is about half done and looks so much better. I hope to get a bit more done today.

After all that I was inside in the A/C and time to get some sewing done. I turned on the Yellowstone marathon to keep me company and got to work. I pressed and topstitched the 62 handles I need for the next group of tote bags.

I sorted the hand dyed strips to figure out which ones I wanted to pair with the floral fabric.

I got the floral fabric strips cut. The strips are cut at 2 1/2".

I started making 16 patch blocks and cut adjoining 8 1/2" blocks out of the floral. Here is the top so far.

I really need to free up the design wall so I sewed together the top three rows of the log cabin quilt.

Round out the day with three loads of laundry and it was a pretty productive day.

Three day weekend!

I am so looking forward to a three day weekend. No shows with the band so I am looking at staying home to get some stuff done. I want to get some quilting done on the pinwheel quilt

Spend some time working on tote bags

get a start on some baby quilts. I pulled out the pink and green hand dyed strips that my friend cut for me from a bunch of FQs when I went to visit her back in February. I pulled a floral print, which there are several yards, to go with the pink and green strips. I am going to keep it simple and start by making 16 patch blocks.  Those brighter green strips won't be used with that floral print.  

I have a lot more hand dyed strips to turn into quilts.

I also plan on trying to get the back yard mowed. When I was watering the flowers last evening, I noticed there were some weeds that needed pulled. I need to get to those before they get out of hand! I think I have come up with enough projects to keep me busy for three days. LOL!! I spent some of my evening reading the new issue of Bake From Scratch which I borrowed from the library.

Here are a few more pictures of the deck pour. The intern took these as the sun was coming up. The hose laying on the rebar in the second picture is called a dragon line. At the end of the hose where the concrete comes out, there are a couple guys that hold on to the hose. As the concrete gets placed, they shorten the dragon line by removing sections.

Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July.

A question

How many pounds of fabric strips can you get in a medium box? The answer is 5! I took this bin of strips

and stuff as many as I could into this box

and this is what the bin looks like now. I just need to confirm the address and it will be on it's way to someone who will put them to use in one of her fabulous, fun quilts.

I laid out the tote bags pieces and parts for assembly over the holiday weekend. The five on the right have the handles already folded and topstitched.

I went out to the job site this morning before it got too hot. I wanted to see the deck pour. This is the 3rd out of 6 pours for the southbound bridge. That sure is a lot of rebar!

Flowers, Wick sampler, and bills

I took a walk in yard to enjoy my flowers. The coneflowers are blooming profusely!

I did get a package. Superior Threads had a small group of King Tut thread colors for 70% off! I got $175 of thread for $52. I have two blue flannel lap sized quilts to make so this blue will come in handy for that. 

I got a bit more stitched on the John Wick sampler. I stitched in the stems down the right side and got a few stitches for the leaves at the bottom of the right side. Here is what it looked like the last time I posted it and what it looks like now.

I was tired after I got home from work so I didn't get any quilting done. I did have to spend some time paying bills. July is real estate taxes and insurance.