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Post by choney2 on Mar 4, 2022 10:49:33 GMT
Yesterday ended up being a ton busier than I thought it would be and by the time I thought about posting I was tired…..be back later to chat.
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Post by cj59 on Mar 4, 2022 20:56:03 GMT
Hello Everyone - Hope you are all doing well and having nice weather It was warmer here yesterday, but today it's back in the 40s. It is sunny though, so that's been nice. I see one weather prediction that we might hit 80 degrees on Monday! I went outside yesterday morning and did some yard work - cutting back two ornamental grasses and trimming back some branches from shrubs that have gone through the fence. I want to get a clear enough area so the yard mowing company can get around the fences alright. I sent them an email a week or so and I'm waiting to hear back from them. They start cutting in April so I hope I get a contract from them soon so I can get signed up. I sure don't want to go through all the anxiety of finding a company like I dealt with last year. I haven't done any quilting for a few days. I have decided I'm not doing the March Block a Day quilt, I just couldn't find something I was happy with working on. I've also decided to quit the yearly Churn Dash quilt block that I was using the pink and brown fabrics for. I just wasn't happy with how that is going, so I'm stopping now. I will keep checking the monthly patterns in case I see a block I really like. I could end up just making enough for a table runner or wall hanging. The Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for March is yellow/gold, so I've pulled those scraps and I'll get the ones picked out that I need for those monthly blocks I make. I hope to work on that some this weekend. And I have 2 shoofly blocks to make for the Secret Lives of Color quilt along - this time it's orange. So that's enough projects to keep me busy for a bit. I bought some frozen garlic bread at the store this week and I baked some of it today and it was good. I'd just had a craving for garlic bread - I get some strange cravings Hope you all get to do some crafting. Take care
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Post by gramma15 on Mar 4, 2022 21:16:27 GMT
CJ, I tried to send you an email but the address that was on the email you sent me to my other account didn't work for some reason so if you could send me one to grandkidsrus@live.com. I don't mind posting my email address being that everyone and his dog have it already. I'm glad you found a couple quilt alongs that you like. It just seems like a bad thing to do to force yourself to make something you don't care for. Dh and I are organizing some more and I hope we can get together some things to donate and to toss.
Ginny, you seem to be having a really busy day again. You are a busy woman
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Post by choney2 on Mar 5, 2022 0:29:34 GMT
CJ- you get involved or consider involvement with so many different quilt projects- is the secret lives of color also a Pat Sloane quilt? Will have to check out what the shoofly blocks look like- I love shoofly pie but am not so sure I know what a shoofly block is.it sure sounds interesting. I totally agree with you , that if a certain quilt or color scheme is not working for you, then you should stop. There are too many lovely quilt patterns out there, you might as well be happy with what you are making! Glad you treated yourself to some garlic bread, which tastes great and smells wonderful when baking. Its not a strange craving at all. I am glad to hear that you have been able to get a head start on yard work, which does take time away from crafting. That is good thinking getting your landscaper set up for the warmer months, then you are all set - with one less thing to worry about.
Ruth, keep working on that organizing and pitting things together to donate!! I hope that you and Dh are seeing a difference with all the work you have put into that effort. Its work but is satisfying when things are easier to find and you have donated things that you no longer want or need.
Yes, this day was busy. I worked for 2 hours this am- told them that I would only be able to drive a high school/middle school take in, as I was expecting the plumber here. He got here a bit later than I thought, but did get the job done and it looks good. Now I need the gas tank installed next week (which they say they will be able to fit me in their schedule) and hopefully I can enjoy that gas burning stove. Once the plumber was done, I drove to recycle the old microwave at the landfill, and then went into Walmart, Hobby Lobby and got bird seed . None of the visits to the store was long- In Hobby Lobby I took a cross stitch that my DSIL made for Ds to have it framed. (She is paying for it). Wow- that is expensive - but it is going to be gorgeous when done. That was as much crafting as I got in today…I also finished another batch of maple sap into syrup from my own maple trees. It does not yield much but is a cool project.
I am teaching study group next week and have been busy putting together my material and thoughts. (I am taking a single meeting study someone else did and am modifying it slightly to fit what we are doing). Its been a long day…and I figure I will not get to any real crafting until tomorrow.
I did get some seed starters in walmart- but only for a few plants. There is still snow on the ground here so any gardening is not possible- and I am not looking forward to doing that anyway.
Have a good night all Ginny
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Post by cj59 on Mar 5, 2022 0:35:05 GMT
Ruth - I sent you an email and included my address in it too. Hope you receive it. Ginny - Sounds like you have been very busy. I'm glad the plumber is done and did a good job. I hope you can get the gas tank installed so you can enjoy the stove before it gets warm. Here is a link to the information on the Secret Lives of Color quilt along. You had to purchase a book to read along with it. Some people are making a shoofly block for each color and I think it's about 75 (or so) total blocks. I'm just doing 2 blocks for each of the 10 color groups, so I'll end up with 20 blocks at the end. www.ilovetomakequilts.com/2022-the-secret-lives-of-color.html
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Post by choney2 on Mar 5, 2022 12:10:05 GMT
CJ-thanksFor reposting the secret lives of color information. That will be a very large quote if you make it with all 75 blocks, I agree! I think it’s a good idea to do what you’re doing and to reduce that so that it’s a bit more manageable. As it seems as though there’s different directions and different readings for every month, I know it’s more than I would be able to handle or take on. I give you credit for doing so. And Pat Sloan?she must dream of fabric.
I’m gonna sign off for now as my keyboard is acting up again. Hope that it resolves itself like it did the last time.
Ginny
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Post by gramma15 on Mar 5, 2022 18:42:25 GMT
CJ, I would never be able to keep up with something like that either with so many blocks. That's one of the great skills you have is taking something and making it your own whether that means making less blocks or making them somewhat different than the pattern designer has done them. As I said before, you are very creative! I did go to the site and some of the blocks seem pretty...well I don't know what you would call it but the colors seem to be kind of just mashed together and drowned out on some of them. There isn't any contrast. I'm sure they'll look good once they're put with other blocks to make the whole quilt but alone they just seem washed out. I like your's better. Last night I worked on a little doll sized pair of what the pattern designer called jogging pants. They are pretty cute.Then I saw a youtube video for an adult size cardigan that looks easy to make. You make the bottom ribbing and the ribbing that goes up and down the front right while you're crocheting the rest of the sweater and it's all one piece except the sleeves. I haven't got that far yet in watching. It also uses a stitch that makes it end up so that it doesn't have any "holes". I'd like to make that with some of my nicer yarn. In trying to organize my yarn I've found that while buying it I didn't really think I guess. The one brand I bought was bought to make blankets. How in the world did I think I could make a blanket with four skeins????Baby size might work but blankets for the grandchildren or adults would never work. I'll have to adjust my plans and make blankets that incorporate stripes or color blocks. My problem is choosing colors that play together nicely
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Post by cj59 on Mar 5, 2022 22:36:16 GMT
Hello Hope you are doing well today and having some nice weather. It got up in the high 50s here with sunny skies. Ruth - I hope you can get your yarn all organized, I'm sure it's like my fabric - never ending The doll clothes sound cut and the adult cardigan too. Those are beyond my abilities to make, so I admire those that make them. Ginny - In case you just want to download her pattern for the shoofly, it's at the link and she gives directions for 3 size blocks - 3 inch, 6 inch, 9 inch. Some quilters are making all the sizes. I choose the 6 inch size and I'm only making 2 blocks a month. I'll post a picture of my blocks done so far below. I finished up all my yellow-gold blocks today (pictures below) so now I need to cut up the rest of my yellow and gold scraps and just keep the larger pieces in one piece. I have a piles of 1.5-2.0 inch strips that I'm "supposed" to join but I'm not sure I'm up to it. Maybe I'll get motived. I wish I had liked making the string blocks, because that's what I saved these for. A part of me says "just throw them out", but I'm having trouble doing that Shoofly Blocks - First 2 are for white, second 2 are for yellow/gold, and the last two are for orange. I'm enjoying using a same color background for these since I don't normally do that: Half Log Cabin Block - There is a mistake in this block that I decided not to change - see if you can find it Brick Block Keyhole Blocks: Jelly Roll Rock blocks - I wished I had a more yellow fabric to work for these, and may have to make a more yellow one later, but I do like these 2 fabrics:
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Post by choney2 on Mar 6, 2022 0:46:17 GMT
Hi!
CJ- so cou do the mistake be the two yellow blocks in the center? At first it appears as though they are aligned properly, but I think the one segment of the block is supposed to be all yellow floral, and the other the yellow diagonal. Anyway, it looks great and is basically what gives the quilt character. I say leave it alone!!!! I really like what you did with the Shoofly blocks. I admit, I was not a bit fan of what I saw on Pat Sloanes slte, but do love what you have done with these. Yellow is a favorite color of mine, especially in quilting. Looks great!. As far as using those strips, well if you like the fabrics and colors then go for it! Its a cute block and not terribly tough to put together. But if you are not enjoying making them, then stop. IMO its rather like reading a bad book. Not worth wasting your time on unless you are enjoying it.
Ruth, well as far as those 4 skein quantities, you can always go funky with your color scheme for an afghan. I would think if you searched for fabrics (searching online) to see what colors work with what, you should do just fine figuring out what will match. When I went through my mom’s stuff, I found several afghans- all done- and she made some really funky colored afghans in some very 80’s color combos. What goes does change and is also personal taste. Perhaps even look at paint colors online, to see what is popular to put together. Are you going to proceed with the adult cardigan?
DD#2 came over for awhile - DGS#3 was in a great mood and took a nice nap here. It was a really pleasant visit. Got no crafting done yet, but I want to check out the directions for a quilt as you go split rail quilt that I want to make. I have the directions out….figure that is a nice project for me to get started on. I have the fabric here, so I just need to make some sense of them. Might try to read them again, and see if I can figure them out. Jane has worked with the same pattern, so if all else fails, I can get help from her. BTW, I have not found my scissors yet, but have not looked all that hard either. Ha ha ha. I did get a lot of housework done this am and hung out a load of laundry, which actually dried.
Think I am going to get comfortable- and check out those directions. Ginny
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Post by choney2 on Mar 6, 2022 12:15:19 GMT
Well, I think I figured it out last night…. The directions for the quilt.I have had the fabric for a good 5 years, but never started it because of the snag I hit with how to put it together. Gotta check that I have fabric and batting (I should have enough). I am figuring that while I am checking for the fabric, I might be able to find one of the two pair of scissors that are missing.
Hope everyone slept well and has decent weather today. Think I am in for some rain this am, but some warmer temps.
See ya later! Ginny
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Post by cj59 on Mar 6, 2022 22:02:25 GMT
Hello Ginny - Glad you figured out the directions for the quilt and I hope you can start working on it soon - and find your scissors Ruth and Sue - Hope you are doing well today. It got up into the high 70s today, and was cloudy. I think tomorrow is supposed to be about the same. I was able to cut up all the yellow scraps, and I went back and pulled my leftover red (January) and aqua/teal (February) and cut them up too. I cut 2.5 inch strips of all that I could and then 2.5 inch squares of what was left. Anything less than 1.5 inch strip size I threw out. Then I cut up the 1.5-2.0 inch yellow strips up into 4.5 inch pieces, so I can make some larger blocks of the strips. I guess I'll keep doing this even though I wasn't sure about continuing this year. It is really nice to get all the scraps cleared out each month. Any larger type pieces of fabric I'm putting in my fat quarter storage area - even if it's not a usual fat quarter. I also found a pretty fat quarter that I've decided to use to make 8 of the String Bean blocks (Pat Sloan's March block a day pattern) and I'm going to add my own design block and make 9 blocks into a wall hanging. Finally, I pulled out a test block I'd worked on a while ago - a Delectable Mountain pattern and cut some more pieces to make some more blocks of this. I'm just going to make as many blocks I can with the fabric I had for this - I think it was maybe a yard of fabric. I'd love to make a larger Delectable Mountain quilt some day, so I'll see how this test quilt comes out. Hope you all get to do some crafting today and that you're having nice weather. Take care
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Post by choney2 on Mar 7, 2022 0:16:05 GMT
CJ- think we are sort of in the same weather system…. Glad to hear that you have warmer weather. Certainly no challenge for your heating system, did you open any windows? Someday I would love to see your fabric stash and your library of saved quilt patterns. I have never heard of the delectable mountain pattern…which I did check out online. What color scheme are you considering for that quilt design? Glad you made some headway with your fabric strips and I think it’s a good decision that you got rid of smaller fabric strips- if you could not see yourself using them, then it makes no sense keeping them. I am happy for you that you found a pretty fat quarter block for the string bean blocks…. An interesting combination of Pat Sloans designs and your own work. Sounds pretty!!!
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Post by choney2 on Mar 7, 2022 0:27:25 GMT
Kind of had a chill day…i got a walk in in the warmer weather and did work on the Bible study material for tomorrow. Now I am watching a favorite movie on Hallmark and will probably head to bed in an hour. Hope everyone had a good day. Ginny
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Post by gramma15 on Mar 7, 2022 2:14:03 GMT
Well the weather here is not like either of yours. After the warm days early this past week it, as predicted, got cold and yesterday we woke to snow on the ground and more again last night. It still wasn't much in measureable accumulation. This Wed the high is to be only 11.
I haven't accomplished much in the way of crocheting today so will start in a couple minutes.
CJ, I really like the brick quilt and that one onn the bottom. They look very simple but I know there are ways to put those blocks together to make all kinds of interesting complete tops. I love the colors on all those that you posted yesterday. Now I need to go and look up that mountain quilt.
Ginny, I'm glad you got time to work on your Bible study for tomorrow and I know you'll do a fantastic job.
Well tomorrow is again a new week and time is going by way too fast.
See you tomorrow
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