Finished or Not Finished Friday! Growing Up Odd! 6-30 23!

I’m sharing this “ it took me forever “ finish, finally!, over at Alycia Quilts. 

You must check out her Pink Lemonade quilt! 

I finally have this finished quilt to show. I started it a long time ago. It was my leader and ender project for more than one year. If I search my blog using the Growing Up Odd label, blogger goes back to 5-4-21. But that post lists a to-do as “keeping making Growing Up Odd blocks! So who knows!

But it took awhile. There are 1,552 2” squares in the smaller version of the original pattern, Growing Up Odd from Deanna at Wedding Dress Blue. I stitched the final stitch in the binding last night watching TV. But had it to Show and Tell at Thursday Stitchers yesterday. A new member to our group said the colors were “magnificent”! I never intended this to be anything but a utilitarian quilt. A picnic quilt! She said, “Ooh No, No, No! You must hang it!” I appreciate her compliment, she’s a respected fiber artist in our community! But I don’t think it will hang. It’s very heavy!

Hanging on our side fence. Touching the ground, it’s 74x74

Close up of the many fabrics! Yes, there are duplicates!

Close up of the back!Nikki used a great design, in multi colored thread. I don’t remember the name of the design.

So to you, blogger friends and readers, it is finally done! You won’t have to see another post about this one! 😄

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

I LIKE Thursday It’s Fair Time!

Here we are again! How can it be Thursday and almost the last day of June?  I’ve got some good things to share.  I'm joining others over at Not Afraid of Color. Hop on over and check out other awesome things. 

Entertainment: 

We’ve been searching for evening TV. 

Mr Busy chooses usually. So there is catching up on S. W.A.T.! The one last night seemed familiar! Maybe we are caught up!

 We watched a 2020 movie with Tom Hanks. We hadn’t taken the time to watch this one previously! 

  The News of the World! We both thought it was very good! IMHO, you can’t go wrong with Tom Hanks!

The we caught up on C.J. Box’s  Joe Pickett.  Please tell me me that all you non-Wyomingites don’t think WE are that stupid! Our Sheriff Deputies and Game Wardens are not a bunch of bumbling idiots. Nor is our governor! 

Last Friday Night there was a large tornado that hit a Coal Mine south of our city. If you know Northeastern Wyoming, you know that we have miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles of nothing. And yet this EF-2 ( thank God) hit this industrial complex at 6pm. It was during shift change so double employees were on property. My moment of gratitude is that no one died. 7 people transported to the hospital, all have been released. The mine will be shipping coal by the end of the week, so don’t worry you’ll still have electricity! 

Nothing new on the food front! I’m in a rut!  Counting points isn’t necessarily fun, but I do eat some interesting things! Like tuna with no Mayo , only a bit of ranch dressing, a splash of balsamic and some Tones cilantro lime seasoning wrapped in a lettuce leaf! Surprisingly yummy! Mr Busy opted for PBand J and chips! 

LeeAnna’s prompt:

do you like to attend State/County Fairs? tell us what kinds of things you like to do there?

We used to go lots, to the County Fair in South Dakota where we grew up. A fun fairly inexpensive way to entertain littles. It’s where my kids first experienced carnival rides. Both still “thrill seekers” like their dad. Me, wallflower! I would ride the Tilt-a-Whirl and maybe the Ferris Wheel, but nothing else! We used to walk around the Exhibit halls at our County Fair, now too much walking for me! I like looking at the needlework, the quilts, the photographs. I also like to look at the chickens and the rabbits. I even sat at a table selling raffle tickets several times. One thing that was especially fun was to listen to the Fiddle Contest!  I'm basically a people watcher, so I like to go where other gather.

We did attend the State Fair in Arizona one year when we were visiting our son and his family. There, I was introduced to some Mexican candy that my grandson thought was awesome. I thought it was horrible!!!!! I don't say that lightly!  I usually like all kinds of candy!  I don't remember what is was called!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

2023 Positivity Quilt Along for Mercyful Quilts

I am sad to say that I have done nothing other than pull fabric and mull over my selections. I want to do this quilt. I hope I can to it. But it won't be in keeping up with the QAL.  Preeti always plans a great QAL with plenty of time . No stress.  But this year isn't working for me. I will follow along with all the others, I will cheer you on and I will encourage you. 

My fabric pull, for now, will stay in the project box, so if the opportunity arises, I can start. I’m excited to see all the variations of this lovely, very Preeti designed quilt! 

Linking up to Bernie's linky party at Needle and Foot!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

TO DO TUESDAY # 146

It's another To Do Tuesday!  I'm joining Carol at Quilt Schmilt~ For the Love of Fabric to share my successes in addition to my failures. And also to encourage others to keep Busy to fight off the blahs, the hohums and the "where do I starts"!

Last week my playlist was:

 June 20th - June 26th

✖ 1. Add side borders to Rainbow zigzags . 

still deciding

✖ 2. Find a backing for RBZZ! 

✖ 3. Get a backing constructed for Rainbow Neighbourhood throw. 

✅ 4. Put the ironing board in the laundry room. Then……

                           Move all necessary boxes and totes, pull my machine out away                                     from the wall in preparation to adding binding. 

✅ 5. Actually attach binding to 2 quilts! 

Well, not a very productive week according to my list. But in my defense, I did get the sewing room rearranged, vacuumed and the binding attached to the two quilts. And I got the ABC Table Scraps Challenge project started and completed. I'd almost forgotten about that project.  My post is here!

So next week

June 27th to July 3rd

1. Rainbow ZigZag. borders and backing. 

2. Rainbow Neighbourhood Throw backing and batting and appt with LA quilter. 

3. Continue stitching binding on Growing Up Odd. 

4. Get started on a new stitch project.

5. Because the new color and letters will have been announced. Make some decisions. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

ABC Table Scraps Challenge June

June Table Scraps Challenge had me scrambling. I’ve been finishing some quilts, getting some ready for a trip to the quilter.  I rearranged my sewing space, and then there was cooking, laundry, Father’s Day company. Etc. etc, etc.  June sped by. I didn’t even get my regular June wall decorations up. So Sunday I just got a head start on July!😀

I had been sewing blue crumbs! Will they ever be truly gone? I don’t think so!  I trimmed 6 of them, set them 3x2 with some ancient blue fabric, pieced some batting scraps together , constructed a backing, found almost enough strips for binding and this:

Please ignore my pink socked toes! Yes, I’m still wearing socks! 🥶

And because I was inspired by all the patterns in Kelly Young’s new book, Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs, this is my version of “Chunky”on page 56. I call it “Chunky Abbreviation”. 

So now you ask, “what about the ABC part, Judy?”  So I thought, and I thought and I thought some more.  

I think it is a :                  Definitely Defined Indigo Improv  tabletopper!

I'll link up with The Joyful Quilter when her challenge post goes live on the last Friday of the month. For now I'll just post so I don't forget. 😟

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

OMG. Finish Link Up. June

My OMG goal was to get the zig zag rows sewn together. As I added them into twosies and then joined those (there are ten colors) I realized the quilt was going to be very long and sort of skinny!. I have decided to add some borders on the sides only.  I have received lots of support and some suggestions. In an effort to use up what I have, I am leaning toward a 4 1/2" unfinished border on the right side and a 8 1/2" unfinished one to the left side. Asymmetrical for sure. 

A dark purple or red solid! The borders will be the same color on both sides. Since it is for my great granddaughter, I’m leaning towards the purple. And now that I am looking at it on the floor, I think I'll add 6 1/2 " borders to each side. I think I have enough. 

But my goal of getting all the zig zag rows together happened. A sight pivot before it is truly a flimsy needing batting and backing! If this had not been my OMG, I may not have continued! So thanks, Patty and Anne-Marie! 

                          Stories from the Sewing Room One Monthly Goal June Finish Link Up

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Slow Sunday Stitching….

June is ending and Summer has begun! You wouldn’t know it here in my part of the US!  Yesterday the high was only 65F most of the day and it rained off and on all day til after supper!

Today I will be joining Kathy and friends for Slow Sunday Stitching! 

I have 3 binding projects in the works. I will continue with this one

until the first side is done. It’s the biggest, 74x74.  I’m nearly there, I got that done last night while watching Tom Hanks’ movie from 2020, The News of the World.  Have you seen it? It was very good in our opinion. And I need to get my ABC Table Scraps Challenge project ready to reveal, by next Friday! So that one is next. 

Then there is the QOV.

It is patiently waiting!  Lots to occupy my slowed down stitching time. I’m needing that. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Rainbow scrap Challenge 2023. Light-Medium Blue

Do you remember the blue scraps that were sewn into crumb blocks. Well, there was some additional blue sewing that happened Thursday and Friday. 

And because I was inspired by all the patterns in Kelly Young’s new book, Perfectly Pieced Quilt Backs, this is my version of “Chunky”on page 56. I call it “Chunky Abbreviation”. 

Don’t you just love that book fabric? 

Stay tuned for my entry into ABC Table Scraps challenge. It’s in line for quilting as soon as I finish typing this post! 

Linking up with Angela and all my scrappy friends atScrapHappy Saturday

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Finished or Not Finished Friday. ~ Growing Up Odd and Long May She Wave.

Today I have a couple of not finished quilts,  but they are in the last lap to the finish line. 

First is Growing Up Odd. 

This is a bigger quilt than I am used to . 74X74.  Not huge but I finally got it wrestled through my machine. Not without a detour or two though. I decided on this burgundy with a tiny white “ditsy?”.

The fabric has been in my stash for ages. I bought several yards to make a circular skirt for a table in our family room.The table is 30" in diameter and 26" off the floor. It took a lot of fabric. Anyway, I cut the longest 2.5” pieces I could but the scrap was getting short. Long story short, I cut them then didn’t get them all diagonally sewn together! Don’t ask how, all I know is I was short! A stop to make more binding, then add it to the already attached binding and continue on! It’s all attached to the front. Phew!  Now I’ll spend the next several nights stitching it down. 

When it’s done, there is the QOV Long May She Wave to stitch down. Here is it all folded,  ready and waiting it’s turn. You can see I decided on a red binding.

I'm linking up at Alycia Quilts. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

I LIKE Thursday ~. Ice Cream.

LeeAnna's prompt:

For June 22 2023
remember the ice cream truck driving around your neighborhood in summer? Did you go out with your money, stand in line and get a treat? Remember how it felt to go out on your own and leave with that three colored Popsicle or the chocolate coated vanilla on a stick? What was your favorite frozen treat? Is there an ice cream truck that still goes around your neighborhood?

I don't remember an ice cream truck in our neighborhood. But I do remember a small little store just 2 blocks from our house. Smaller than today's convenience stores.  Just milk, bread, eggs, cigarettes and of course candy. There was also a reach-in freezer with a sliding glass door on the top. Inside was Popsicles,  Fudgesicles, Ice cream bars.  My favorite was  and still is fudgesicles. Cold, chocolate smooth milky goodness! Once in awhile, my dad would bring home a whole box of popsicles!  Orange and grape. Two sticks in each one. I had to share an orange one with my little sister, my two brothers shared a grape one. The rest of the box was saved to another day or probably two, since I remember there were six total. 

Other Likes this week. 

It finally got warmer. In fact Monday was nearly 90 degrees. But yesterday and today, back to 65 and 63. My tomatoes are not thriving. 

Our daughter can home for Father's Day and brought her dad this shirt. Some of you have seen this photo already.  While she was here, we watched a couple more episodes of The  Rabbit Hole. Boy, is that a tricky one. I'm not sure what exactly is happening. Guess we will watch the last two soon. 

The only other interesting happening, was the lawn was mowed and we burned some dead grass in the rock around the pad where Mr. Busy parks his airplane hauling trailer.  It was cooler and not windy when we did it on Tuesday morning. Garden hose spread out, water turned on, bucket of water close by. Mr Busy is a retired firefighter, so I trusted him to be safe and there was no problem. 

I also got the bindings sewn on two quilts. Now I can sit and stitch the backings down in the evenings if i'm not too tired.  Tuesday night I was exhausted. After I moved boxes and totes and moved my sewing cabinet away from the wall to extend the fold out leaf, stitched binding on quilt number one, then had to add some more binding because I miscalculated , then trimmed quilt #2 and stitched its binding on I was beat. But did I stop, no I decided to rearrange the layout as long as all the boxes, totes bags and piles were relocated already!!!  Silly me!!!!!  Still feeling a bit achy and sore!!  Not a single photo because it wasn't photo worthy!!!!!! LOL!

While I was busy with that big project, I planned a pork loin in the oven. I was cooler the day I did that. Added sliced sweet potatoes seasoned with garlic and pepper and a bit of Montreal Steak Seasoning.  A salad with some gifted home grown leaf lettuce and we had supper.   I  really have been lax with the camera ....so no photos of that dinner either. 

I'll try to do better next week. Follow along with other bloggers who have likes to share. LeeAnna's post is here.  

I'll leave you with this. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

TO-DO Tuesday. June 20th

 I'm joining Carol at Quilt Schmilt and friends to share my to-dos from last week. It felt like I was spinning my wheels, but when I looked at my list, there are some check marks. I’ll link with Carol when her post goes live. 

Last week 

6-13-23 to 6-19-23

1. Sew Zig Zag Rows together ✅

Trying to decide on a long quilt and make it wider with borders or two baby quilts! I think I have decided to go with the long one. 

2. Rainbow Neighbourhood QAL final post of finished flimsy 6-15 ✅

See my post here. 

3. Spring Stamps stitching done. ✅

I will leave the fabric extenders on until I decide how to to finish it. 

4. Father’s Day Pizza Party!✅ not a single photo was taken. Our granddaughter and her family moved into a new house. Not NEW NEW but new to them. They were exhausted, so we just had a low key, laid back,  pizza out of the box and paper plates party.  Our daughter came home and brought her dad this shirt! 

He thought it was pretty cool!!

 

5. Maybe get binding attached to Long May She Wave and Growing Up Odd! I’m thinking red on both, but I might choose navy blue for the patriot LMSW!❌ 

I layed out the patriotic one and decided it's binding should be red. I don't have enough of the red that is in the stars, but I have one that is very close.  Growing Up Odd is getting a dark red or burgundy binding. Both are cut and joined together. but not attached to the quilt yet. See #4 below. 

Next week 

 June 20th - June 26th

1. Add side borders to Rainbow zigzags . 

2. Find a backing for RBZZ! 

3. Get a backing constructed for Rainbow Neighbourhood throw. 

4. Put the ironing board in the laundry room. Then……

                           Move all necessary boxes and totes, pull my machine out away from the wall in      

                  preparation to adding binding. 

5. Actually attach binding to 2 quilts! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Slow Sunday Stitching ~ 6-18-23

I finished Spring, just in the nick of time. There was no rush, but Summer ( the season) starts Wednesday, this week. When it’s a FFO, I’ll share again. 

I hope to have time today to start a new small stitch. Several years ago, my small stitching group had a stitchery exchange at Christmas. I was based on the cookie exchanges we had all participated in . Twelve of us joined in. We each brought twelve traced designs. All the same, like a batch of a dozen cookies. Each participant went home with 12 different designs to finish in the coming year. This is one from that exchange. I haven’t laid a single stitch, bit it will be a rainbow of colors. I have a plan to redo a bathroom in our home. This will be one of the things I’ll use. 

I’ll link up with Kathy today at Slow Sunday Stitching  

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Light Blue UFO's

Linking up with Angela for ScrapHappy Saturday this morning! I’m so glad to be a part of this group, encouraged by her and others to use up the scraps! Now that I’m actually finishing the rainbows it’s such a good feeling. Thanks again Angela! I’m glad I found you! 

I did get most of the rows of zig zags sewn together. I’m thinking of finishing it for my great granddaughter for her birthday! It’s kind of tall and skinny though. There are two parts here. The red through dark green rows and the aqua through purple rows. If I sew the two parts together, it’s 48x 80. I could separate the green rows, add the dark green to the aqua, blues and purple. And make two baby sized quilts.  Or I could add 12”  to the sides to make it 60 x 80, which is bigger than a throw, but smaller than a twin. Maybe 1st grader girl size for in their new house? Any opinions? 

Nothing done on Tiny Tuesday or blue scraps, but my rainbow houses are done and they are a flimsy. See my post Here. Sometimes you just do what you can! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!