A Small Finish for FONF Friday!

This little table topper was a finish this week for Project Quilting 14.3.  This is only the second time I have participated in Project Quilting, but it has been so much fun. 

The Inspiration this week was, 54-40 or Fight.  A quilt block design didn't really show up until 1933, but it had its origins in the election slogan of James Polk in 1845.   Do you know the history of that slogan?  It had to do with the border between Canada and the US to the 54th parallel . Well most of you probably know that the border is on the 49th parallel and got to be that way with no war and no fight. Just good solid negotiating if my research is correct. 

The 54 40 or Fight block is just the star  and four patches. I had to add the bit of background fabric to make it rectangular and then added pink borders and brown corners to bring it up to fit my night stand. this is where it will live for the month of February. If you look closely the pink fabric is chocolate chip and sprinkle.....Valentine candy/baking inspiration if I ever saw it!!

I'm linking this post with Alycia at Alycia Quilts and Finished or Not Finished Friday!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

A Multi Challenge Project . Goal Met!

1.  It's Project Quilting 14.3.   Fifty-four Forty or Fight block.✅

2.  It's the RSC2023 color for February Pink!✅

3.   It's ABC Table Scraps Challenge for February Pink and M and V!!

The beginning:  Last week, LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color showed her topper for her bedside table. I told her I needed to do that too!.. So I thought I would for ABC Table Scraps Challenge.  

Then I saw the prompt for Project Quilting 14.3      The 54-40 or Fight block

I had originally thought about the history of the block and the 49th parallel which is the border between Canada and the US. I didn’t have any Canada themed fabric so I discarded the idea. Luckily Barbara at Cat Patches, had the same idea and the necessary fabric to make it happen? Check out her fun and informative post here! 

I did some research and found several variations of the block. Mine does not have a 4 patch in the middle and the green triangles in a square are light background fabric in my sample. I would have liked to try paper piecing the block, but could not find templates. I have the Tri Rec rulers in my supply bin. Purchased for a Bonnie Hunter mystery years ago. Luckily I kept the instructions that came with the ruler. I have a 3 ring notebook that has a section, marked Tips and Techniques, and the instructions were in a sheet protector in that notebook! Whew!

It's a square block, so in order for it to fit my 19 x 16 nightstand (many years old and scuffed on top) I would need to make it into a rectangle.  Some simple math and seam allowance calculations later, I had a rectangle mocked up.  Now what fabrics go where?  I've had the pink fabric, with chocolate chips and sprinkles, for a long time, the brown is almost gone scrap. I did have to cut into yardage for the background, but that's what I bought it for...to use!!

The quilting is just SID and X's in the squares. Then some long X's in the side coping strips. Two shades of pink thread. One bright one, one pale one. I think it looks great. The backing is a scrap I had left from another quilt I made ( I can't, for the life of me, remember which.....I need to be better at keeping a quilt journal). I do remember it was bought on sale at a LQS before it closed. 

And on the night stand……..

In case you are wondering, the puppy is a holder for my glasses. It belonged to my Grandmother.

I’m linking this post, first to Persimmon Dreams and the Project Quilting challenge due 2-5-23 at noon, 

CST. Then I will link it to the first February ScrapHappy Saturday, and finally I’ll edit the post slightly and link up with The Joyful Quilter’s ABC Table Scraps Challenge.  

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

I LIKE Thursday - Pantone color of the year?

Joining LeeAnna and friends at Not Afraid of Color!

My Likes this week are few. 

Entertainment.

Movie:     A Man Called Otto!   Amazing ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last Saturday we took in an early matinee. I mentioned to Mr Busy that I really wanted to see this movie, because I had so enjoyed the book. So he said, let’s all go! So the three of us, DD, Mr Busy and I went. It was enjoyed by all! 

This is not a like for us, but I'm glad for her!     DD is moving back to Colorado. She has a job, now needs to find housing. Hoping for “home share” or renting of part of a house or some such arrangement! The housing market is difficult there. 

Mr Busy and I have been trying to watch the current season of Yellowstone on a free trial month of YouTube TV.  We enjoyed previous seasons, but after we “cut the cable”, could not watch the new season.

We did watch 1883 and 1923, and enjoyed both of those prequels to Yellowstone! 

Haven’t started another book. But I have a UFB…..Unfinished Book! 

I started this in October last year. It’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just I have other things I rather do!

LeeAnnas prompt for this week is : What do you think of Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2023?

I wrote last week in a pre-post. I sometimes jot down thoughts way before time to actually post them!,

Viva Magenta

Do you remember that last week I told you that there were no colors that I hated. I might have been wrong! I m pretty sure I intensely dislike Viva Magenta!  I looked at lots of sites online. I saw chairs! Nope! I saw bed linens!  Nope! I saw wall colors, Double Nope! 

I guess I’m a Ginger in my heart and I don’t like this shade or hue or color! Sorry, strong, vibrant dominate women. But it’s just not Me!  

That being said, I dug out my center block from the  SAHRR in 2020. I thought I might try it again.

I only got this far! Maybe I really don’t like magenta!!  I put this away, because I didn’t like it!

I am going to try to finish this project this year. I made spool blocks , but only 4. 

I do kinda like the polka dot, but it’s more hot pink than magenta!

The border for this week is stars! I promise they won’t be magenta! 😀

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

TO-DO Tuesday #125

Success this week! I’m joining Carole at Quilt Schmilt ~For the Love of Quilting to share my successes and cheer on other To-do List makers!  

1. Stitch on October for A Year in the Garden!✅

     October is complete, maybe I’ll start November, after my other February monthly challenges are met! 

2. Finish Table Scraps Challenge and write a post. ✅
          You can find my post here!
3. Send some birthday cards! ✅
           I sent 2 actual physical cards, plus some digital e-cards and a couple of FB greetings! Wish I’d          taken a photo of the mailable ones at least!  

4. Write One Month’s Goal Finish post for January! ✅
             My January Finish post is Here



Next week
Jan 31-Feb 5


1. Start and finish Project Quilting 14.3!
2. Write a Feb One Monthly Goal post!
3. Make some Pink crumb block
4. Cut batting for Precarious and select thread for quilting!

That ought to keep me busy!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

ScrapHappy Saturday ~ Dark or Bright Blue. Last Saturday in January

I finally have some blue sewing to show. And link to RSC 2023 at So Scrappy. Thanks Angela for continuing to host the fun and inspirational Linky party!

 

First my ABC Table Scraps Challenge. A recycled “gimme” tote,  turned into a personalized useable tote for more projects.  Read about my project Here

I also was able to make 2 string blocks and 3 crumb blocks in dark and bright blue. 

It feels really good to be back to my scrappy stash and my sewing machine!

I’ve also been working on my UFOs that were attached to Blue! 

Stitching on October for A Year in the Garden 

And putting large Hexies into a “circular” table topper!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

January Table Scraps Challenge 2023

Hurray for another year of Table Scraps Challenge! Thank you, thank you, Joyful! For January, The Joyful Quilter gave us the prompt of J, C, R to go with the RSC color of the month,  bright and dark Blue,selected buy Angela at So Scrappy. 

Boy, am I glad I bought this book last year!!!

 

This was my inspiration project.  ↓ I found this brand new canvas tote in the trash in the ladies room of the office where I used to work. It was laying on top and I had no qualms about snatching it up.  It was 2011, way before COVID, way before I worried about that it might "be infected". I brought it home and thought I could cover the Logo with an orphan block. And so it remained in the UFO pile. For 12 years!!!!!!!

I've covered the logo, because I checked and that company is still in business, Not in our small town, but somewhere.  And look ,it's dark or bright blue!!!!    "Light bulb moment"

When Joy posted her letters for this year's Table (ABC) Scraps challenge, she noted them in this order. C,R, and J.  Well, my eyes went directly to the J, of course. 

I dug in my scraps basket and found some perfect blue. Combined with Lori Holt's book, there was a start.

The cream and white background piece has been in my stash for longer than the bag!!

I built the letter J , hemmed it with basting stitch to fit the opening on the pocket between the two straps. Then I decided to BIG STITCH it down. That proved to be a task!  I finally had to borrow a needle-nosed pliers from Mr Busy to pull the needle through the double fabric on top of the double canvas at the top of the pocket. 

But I like it a lot and know I will use it!.  So I filled the bill, with bright blue, the letter J (for Judy, that's moi) and C ( it's Cobalt blue, isn't it?) and R (it's a Recycled project)!

I'm linking up with ABC Table Scraps Challenge  linky party at The Joyful Quilter. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!

I LIKE Thursday. - Colors in Your Life.

I'm joining LeeAnna and friends at Not Afraid of Color to talk about things we like and also the prompt for this week. It's  COLORS!

Entertainment. 

Mr Busy and I are still watching Suits, when we both sit still!  Our DD, DS, and the two of us have one more episode of Andor to watch together. Then we will have to wait for 1923 to come back from “winter break”

I really want to see A Man Called Otto, starring Tom Hanks. It is based on a book titled, A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. It was a great book. 

I finished reading this very thought provoking and wonderful story. I highly recommend it! 

Nothing wonderful happening in the kitchen lately. I did use some leftover turkey from the freezer to make turkey rice and vegetable soup. DD caught a cold, or RSV or some upper respiratory thing!  The soup was good and she's better now. Not saying the soup did it, but it sure didn't hurt!!!  hahaha!

Prompt from LeeAnna :   she wrote...

"what are your favorite colors? Do you wear them or decorate with them? Is there a specific color your family would say is your favorite? has it changed in the last few years? Is it influenced by the seasons? Did your color favorites change when you moved, for instance I grew to accept earth tones after moving to Colorado. I grew up in Florida and still like saturated colors. I think the quality of sunlight affects how you perceive color. I remember moving from Florida to the Washington DC area and feeling like a displaced peacock. More muted colors were worn in the midatlantic."

My answer:

I like most fall colors in decor. Our living room has sage green walls, cognac brown furniture. Mostly.   My sewing room is pale sage with purple accents. Our master bedroom is a buttery gold with one accent wall in Avocado I have a very colorful quilt on our bed.  We've lived in our house since 1988, it is small and cozy. 

I used to wear lots of  golds, greens, browns, rusty reds. But since I’ve gone gray, though most think I’m blonde, I can wear brighter more intense colors. Turquoise, plum, tomato red, charcoal . I still say my favorite color is green. Lime, spring, sage, forest, avocado even army green, and I like aqua and turquoise in the summer. 

I truly like all colors. I can’t honestly say that there is one I hate!  But I don't really care for Mauve!  I'm sorta over mauve and country blue!

Stay Busy and Stay Happy and Healthy and Hopeful!