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 #142

Joining Carol and friends at Quilt Schmilt - For the Love of Fabric this morning. We gather to share our victories and if necessary our almost victories. It's great to see the progress of others.

May 23-29

1. Trim and bind Precarious!✅ OMG, it's finally finished. Label and all! I had to wait for the sun to come up before taking it outside for a photo!

Hanging on the inside of our fence, cause I still had my jammy pants on!  I was showing it with the pink at the top, but Miss B reminded me , “ it’s red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo,violet, Gramma”!  So red on top it is! 😍

This is a preprinted label that’s been in the drawer for years. If you look closely you’ll see needle and res thread. I’m stitching along some of the flower shading to help tack down the label. I’ve had them get wrinkly and loose in the past. This might help. 

2. Evening stitching on Spring Stamps.✅  the stamps took a back seat late in the week, so I could stitch and stitch  and stitch the binding and the label on Precarious! But a bit of stitching was done. You'll see I have started stamp #6.   Early Bird. 

3. Cut and assemble Houses #7 & #8 

House 7 is done, though it’s not a favorite. There is not enough contrast in the porch cover over the door. The left point gets lost!

The grass looks wavy, it just needs a good press!

And eight is also done! I have number nine done too, I'll show it next week after I write a post for the QAL.

4.  Make at least 2 more orange crumb blocks.✅ 

      There were four extra blocks when I finished all the crumbs!

⭐️    Cut pieces for Sew Preeti’s Positivity QAL!  ❌

Upcoming week:

May 30th - June 5th

1. Start on leaf blocks for Preeti's Positivity QAL

2. Decide on a OMG for June and post about it 

3. Double check the RSC 23 color for June.  And see what the associated UFO's are from my list. 

4. Try to finish the December Year in the Garden Block, so I can begin to think about a quilt pattern to use. 

5. Stitch on Spring Stamps

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

Positivity QAL Final Link Up #3

 

This was so satisfying on several levels! The initial need for quilts and the answer from Preeti and Bernie!  Lots of time and effort to organize an undertaking of this magnitude! The long slow timeline made it enjoyable and not stressful. For me personally I used up fabric that was in my stash for a long time. As I cut the  neutral backgrounds, I reminisced. Some gifts from friends, some used in other quilts. Even some rescued  from the trash! 

Some of the stitching needed to be remedied. When you use precuts they are not always equal in width. When you have rescued fabric, it is not always cut precisely. 

Pretty soon it was a flimsy!

And a backing was constructed!

Then it was delivered to the quilter. And quickly, in 3 days, returned to me. Binding was already cut. 

And it was attached to the quilt. 

It's a wrestling match to keep it straight and square going under the walking foot. Tape on the machine bed helped this time. 

Marathon stitching down sessions while watching Netflix, Nascar and the news. 

I thought I was done!  Nope, one more corner and the adjacent side. 

Now it's done and ready for the required photo op on the front lawn! 

A close up of the contrast block!

With the help of the Wyoming winds, the backing appeared!

A trip to the washer. I was concerned about the batiks. I did not prewash them. So I took some of the leftovers and tested them and the dark blue binding in the sink. No bleed. 

I used 2 color catchers just in case. The ended up yellow ochre!   So a little bleed, but not on the quilt! 

Then to the dryer and a fold up to go to UPS. I had Mr Busy help me measure. I've never checked a quilt after washing. This one has some shrinkage.....1.5 to 2" top and bottom.  That seems like a lot!

But off it went to Bernie on Monday and she had it on Thursday!  Yay, UPS!!!!

This was a fun QAL and so simple. I did chose the simplest setting! I got lots of positive comments on it in different stages! I’m so pleased to participate in the worthy cause, Mercyful  Quilts. I'm linking up with Bernie and Needle and Foot today, Sunday 8-22-21

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy (I hope you’ll wear your mask)

TO-DO Tuesday #52

 

Good Morning List Makers!  Thanks to Chris at ChrisKnits we have a forum to make a list and then be accountable. No one throws stones though, only accolades! Join us won't you. Make a plan then link up with ChrisKnits on Tuesday to share. 

Last week

1. Backing for August OMG! ✅! 

I chose the fabric. A baby green gingham flannel! I had just enough, but hit a “snag” when I started to press it! 

Drat!

I fixed it by backing the snag with a piece of Pellon SF101. It's fusible and lightweight. 

Then I found a Noah's Ark motif from the fabric I used for this baby quilt 

back in February!

Ironed it on with WonderUnder and zigzagged around it very carefully with white thread. I love it!

 

Now on to the "quilting" and the binding. 

2. Think about Turquoise TSC.    I’m like Winnie The Pooh….just “ think,think,think” No decision has been made. 

3. Make one more Question Mark block! ✅

Now there are 5 and all sewn together!

4. Finish binding Positivity , wash and mail to Bernie! 

Finished!

The backing!  With the help of the famous or infamous Wyoming wind!

It went to UPS store yesterday! Bernie should have it on Thursday!  Fingers crossed!!

Next week Aug 17-Aug 23

1. Work on  OMG (see #2 above)

2. Make a decision on Aqua Table Scraps. No more thinking, get 'er done!

3.  Maybe, add some sashing strips to Hollow 9 blockes. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy!  (we are back to wearing masks in unknown crowded spaces, our choice, not mandated)

ScrapHappy Saturday. Third Saturday of August!

 

I’m linking up with ScrapHappy Saturday over at Angela’s blog, SoScrappy!

I only was able to sew one more Question Mark block and join them in a row! 

I spent a great deal of time hand sewing the binding down on the Positivity Quilt. It is done, ready to be delivered to the UPS Store on Monday!  I probably should have taken my binding project with me to Thursday Stitchers, but I didn’t. I took this embroidery instead. Yes, it's variegated thread and the stitching will be done in all green. 

 I helped Mr. Busy in the yard! No aqua there, just green and more green! We moved some sort of invasive ground covers from my hosta bed to a new surround around the birdbath. Hopefully it will fill in and stay there!

I still haven’t made up my mind what I will do for Table Scraps! It’ll be Aqua/Teal/Turquoise something!

And my August OMG project is looming! But I have come up with a solution to the hole in the backing fabric. Appliqué! That seems like the easiest most straightforward fix! I’ll keep you posted! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy!

Finished or Not Finished Friday #63

 

I’m still working on getting the binding on Positivity aka Cappuccino and a Blueberry Bagel .  I fibbed on Sunday when I said I was on corner three. It wasn’t! It’s taking longer than it should. I lost my thread heaven and spent over an hour going through project bags looking for it. I even perused the internet for a DIY solution! Down a rabbit hole I went! I finally found one small blue box!  Oh, and look, there's  a leather thimble dot! 

Ok, enough posting! I’m putting the tablet down to sew some more binding down!  You can see I have 3 corners done. Then there is about 20” on the last long side and then the last short side…so about 80 inches! Today for sure! 

I’m linking up with Alycia at Alycia Quilts and the Finished or Not Finished Friday gang!

  

Edit: All 4 corners are done, all sides are done. It’s in the dryer! 

On the front lawn!

A close up of the Blueberry Bagel! The quilting design is a pantograph called “Kiss”! 

And a gust of wind decided to show the backing! 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy!

To- Do Tuesday #51

I’m joining friends at ChrisKnits this morning to share a list of to-dos. Come see how we all did!

Last week’s  list: 

1. Mail 8 flag centered blocks to Kat ar Covered in Love! Done!  I didn’t have a big padded envelope so I built my package at the Post Office Thursday morning. No photo of the package, but here is the receipt. Redacted,  of course!

Off to Texas! She should have it by now! 

2.  Start assembling the backing for August OMG!  Nope! I got involved in getting the binding on my Positivity Quilt! 

3. Put Hollow 9's on the design wall to see how many more blocks are needed! Make Aqua blocks of needed, if not decide on Table Scraps Project in Aqua!  sort of 1/2 done

Because I had an abundance of blocks I did not use aqua here and will pair them with the browns to make another quilt. 

 I did sew aqua though.....I think I'll make one more question mark block for Full Stop!

 And I did not decide on a Table Scraps Challenge project! 

So, I was busy!  Just not on the listed items!   No worries!  There is always the upcoming week!

Next week  August 10- August 16th.

1. Backing for August OMG.

2. Think about August TSC, 

3. Make one more Question Mark block .

4. Finish binding on the Positivity Quilt, wash and mail to Bernie!

That should keep me busy and out of trouble!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy!