4 blocks.............

After piecing 4 blocks I can now see how to assemble the block sections without looking at the pattern for every block.  I'm not sure how large this quilt will be.  The blocks are 10" so it will be easy to calculate as I make blocks.

So far I have used the same fabric as the background in every block.

I looked through my Kaffe collective fabrics for another print that would be the same light value and this is as close as I could find. The only problem with it is that it is a directional design.  I can handle that.  Most of the other light value fabrics are a little darker.

Tomorrow I'll put together my monthly recap so that gives me a day to decide on the background fabric(s).

 

Interweave top finished...............

It didn't take long to finish this top yesterday (Interweave - free pattern from Timeless Treasures).  It is all batik fabric.  I used 56 fabrics instead of the 42 called for.  I also didn't use the side borders which allowed me to cut the strips for top and bottom longer and to have more squares in each column for the center of the quilt.  It is 55" x 74" compared to the 48.5" x 56.5" quilt in the pattern.

In this collage you can see the difference between the measurements I used for cutting on the 2 Interweave quilts that I have made so far.  I'm not sure which proportion I like better because individually I like both of them.

Last night I made a test block for the other quilt top I had chosen to work with.  I will only have one block with each pair of fabrics as I start it.  I may change to 2 alike after I have used the first batch of strips.

I pulled all of the Kaffe fabric strips that were less than full width but at least 18.5" long.  I need to find some more medium value prints since these are mostly dark.

 

2 more seams to finish........................

Two more seams and it will be sewn together.  I was too tired to do any more last night.  It was a day of errands, laundry, and a visit with my neighbor who I hope is moving in next week. She was planting tomatoes and peppers. She moved out while she had remodeling done and it is coming to a finish.  I didn't get to the sewing machine until almost 9 p.m.

The sunshine was bright yesterday morning and my porch pots looked so pretty.

The pots on the steps are really filling in nicely.  I'm glad I went with the red/white/purple combination in the pots.

The black eyed Susan plant is back, in the crack between slabs of sidewalk.  I mow around it so keep it intact.  Last year I ran a knife down on both sides of the root and popped out part of the plant and planted it in my front garden.  It came up this year.  I don't know if I can get the whole plant out and I hate to kill it so I guess it will bloom where it is planted by the birds.

12 more columns...............

Two hours of sewing created 12 more columns sewn together, 6 to go plus sewing the 3 sections together.  There is one green strip and one lavender strip in this second section.  I should be able to finish this top today.

Rain was predicted for yesterday afternoon and evening.  I check the radar on my phone app and every storm either split and went north and south of us or dissipated before it got here.  Same forecast for today........I wonder if we will get any rain.....

I spent the morning going through my blue and turquoise regular print fabrics (not batiks or designer fabrics) and pulling out the ones I need to sell.  I need to move more of my fabric to the main level and the only way to do that is to destash.  Greens are next.  I have already done yellows.  Just thinking out loud here as I plan ahead.

A finish for May 2024.................

I needed a break from my other project so I sewed the binding on this Shoo Fly quilt. (directions for the block on Lynn's blog, Solids on prints on her label list.)

I'm considering this a child's quilt because I used several novelty prints in the blocks.

It is 36.5" x 56" so it could be a big sister or brother quilt when gifting a baby quilt.

I used Hobbs 80/20 batting.

I have had the backing fabric for quite awhile and I'm sure it was on sale for a good price.

There are several novelty prints in this group of blocks. (Click on the photos to enlarge them) 

The white with black fabric has several animals in it. 

I like the little stripe I chose for the binding.

More of the novelty prints in the blocks.

There were 2 sessions of sewing on this Interweave quilt top.  The first 10 columns are sewn together so I'm a little over a third done.  It will probably take me 2 days to finish it because this is the boring part.  I have some vacuuming that needs to be done today.  Another boring thing.

Finally yesterday morning we got over a half inch of rain and then the sun came out later in the afternoon.  I think the tomato plants grew about 3" because they were so happy.  I think I see 2 volunteer tomato plants coming up in the raised bed too.

Quilting.............

This quilt has been loaded on the longarm for over a week and is finally quilted.

I decided on loops on this one with a light color variegated thread.

I chose a multicolor stripe type fabric for the binding.  I cut it but haven't sewn it yet.

I finished sewing all of the columns for the center of the Interweave quilt and I think this is the final layout.  I sorted the strips that will be sewn to the top and bottom of each column to be in the same order as the center strips.

One batik was narrower than the rest so I have to look for a 2.5" square to replace the piece that is not wide enough.

Third quilt top for May 2024............

The last seams were sewn on the pink/blue quilt top in the middle of the afternoon yesterday.  I got it pressed shortly after and took its portrait.  It's a small top, just 48" x 60".  I like to have small quilts available to gift to others.

Last night I started sewing the center columns for the blue batik interweave quilt.  This is 15 of 27 that will be in the quilt  This isn't necessarily the order of the strips.  That will be decided when I get the next 12 sewn and added to the group.  The strips that will be added to the top and bottom of the columns are 16" long.  

Today is supposed to be the best day of our 3 day weekend.  Rain predicted for Sunday.  If it is like yesterday.....there wasn't enough rain to even wet the bottom of the rain gauge.  The storm split again and mostly missed us.

Executive decision..............

I liked the pink/green so well without a border that I decided the pink/blue would also not have a border.  It will be a small quilt.

Laundry and table top clean up were my projects yesterday plus watering the front garden.  2 waves of storms are headed this way today and I wonder if we will get any rain this time.

 

Batting and backing............

Quilt top, backing and batting.  I have had this batik fabric for a backing for many years and finally have the quilt to use it.  The top is my mottled batik and African fabric 16 patch shown on this post.  Yesterday I sewed the long seam on the backing and cut the batting so I can send it to my longarm friend today.  I have another ready to send too so there will be some finishes next month.

Last night I sewed parts for my Interweave blue batik quilt.  Nothing to show yet.

We had a beautiful day yesterday, finally cooling down to the 70s.  I didn't spend much time outside other than watering the plants that missed out on the rain and staking one of the tomato plants.

Prep work.................

There were severe storm warnings last night so I unplugged the sewing machine and did prep work for this Interweave quilt while I watched season finales of the 3 FBI shows.  As of 11:15 last night we hadn't gotten a drop of rain although the wind was strong most of the day yesterday.  Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin got most of the big storms.  

I went out in the late afternoon to take a picture of this shaggy center peony.  I had to hold onto the stem to get an in focus shot because of the wind.

I'm only seeing one Dianthus plant this year.  There is usually another with red flowers but so far I don't see any sign of it.

I took a picture of the 2 Peony bouquets that I cut on Monday.  

I couldn't resist a photo of a view from the top of the bouquet on the left.

A quilt top....................

I sewed the 9 seams in 3 shifts yesterday and pressed it last night.  I went with a random layout with just a few of the fabrics as matched pairs.  It is 60" x 84".  It is my version of Tussie Mussie from a Kaffe book.  However...I didn't use the same fabrics, I didn't use the same size triangle and I mostly didn't follow his layout.

I did put 2 stars in there like his layout and the rest is random.  The stars aren't obvious but I saw them in his layout.

Here we go again with my nature photos matching my quilt photo.

I used to have a lot of medium pink Peonies but a lot of the plants are dwindling.

This one is a deeper color than it looks here.  I think it is the only single Peony.

I seem to have more of the white and white with pink streaks than pink now.  The pale pink with shaggy center started blooming yesterday so I'll take more photos today.

It was 83 yesterday and close to 90 predicted today.  Rain was predicted yesterday and some areas north and south of us got 2".  We didn't get a drop but severe storms predicted for tonight.

 

Webbing time.......................

I webbed 13 rows out of 14 while watching 3 season finale shows on TV last night.  After I get the 14th row sewn on I will be ready to sew the cross rows and maybe I can get the top done today.

 I took my camera out to take a photo of another Peony that was blooming and found a whole batch of them in bloom.  This one is over by the bird feeders.

There will be a lot more of them in bloom today.  I need to get a bouquet picked before rain arrives some time in the afternoon.

This is one of my favorite pink ones.

Even the Peonies in the shady area are big and full of buds this year.  I guess our mild winter was kind to them.

This is the earliest one to bloom and in full bloom now.  I have photos of 3 more that I will save for tomorrow.

The red Weigela is in full bloom and as I went around it to take the photo I see there is a volunteer tree growing in the middle of it.  I'll have to see if I can cut it down today.

This is the prettiest of the 3 Weigela bushes.  I will need to trim back some of the long branches when it gets done blooming.

Busy Saturday.............

I loaded the backing and batting for this quilt yesterday morning.  I hope I can get it finished soon.

In the afternoon I went to the walk and fund raiser for Prader-Willi syndrome.  I walked the half mile path but it was 83 degrees and sunny so I decided to quit at that point.  My great-grandson is afflicted with this syndrome and it is rare.  Money is always needed for research and my granddaughter did a great job organizing the event.

Last night I started playing with the pink/green blocks.  There are 2 of each combination on the wall right now, set up with the pinks matched diagonally.  Now I can play with turning some and getting a looser layout.

Looking ahead.................

I need to use the double design wall in the basement for the pink/green layout but I also needed to be upstairs to watch the season finale of some TV shows.  I decided to spend my time pulling the fabric for a couple new quilts.  I have made this one before and really liked it.  I decided to do one in mostly blue batiks.

This plastic drawer unit has 5 drawers and now all of the strips I have left fill just 3 of the drawers.  I started cutting the 2.5" strips over 20 years ago and keep adding to it as I'm pressing and cutting batiks for other projects.  The new project will use some older strips plus some new ones.  I'm glad I put notes on my blog of the number of strips I used plus how I cut them.  I didn't follow the measurements on the pattern.

The other project will use Kaffe Collective strips.  I had some partial strips that I measured to see if I have enough to make a block.  There was a pile of too short strips that went back in the box.

There are more full width strips that I will use too.  I need to cut more strips as I work on it so this will be the second new quilt.

Meanwhile I need to get to the basement during daylight hours and start the pink/green layout.