Tag Archives: MCM

04

Apr. ’16

Monday Madness – 4/4/2016

My sewing area still looks like this!

 

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I haven’t touched my sewing machine since last week.  I’ve been working on a lot of hand projects though!  I spent yesterday knocking out the last yard of Scrapitude so now…(drumroll please)… I’m happy to announce…

Scrapitude finished! 4/3/2016

Scrapitude finished!
4/3/2016

Scrapitude the back 4/3/2016

Scrapitude
the back
4/3/2016

 

Last week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – Finish hand binding. …. done.  
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project … done
  3. Border #2 for Raining Cats and Dogs ….  didn’t touch
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat … done… I’m now working on the decreasing section.  I finished the first row of decreasing. 
  5. Celtic Solstice – press more Block A’s and top row of Block B … didn’t touch
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden …  done
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page … didn’t touch

This week’s to do list:

  1. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project …
  2. Border #2 for Raining Cats and Dogs ….  
  3. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat …
  4. Celtic Solstice – press more Block A’s and top row of Block B …
  5. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden …  
  6. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

I’m going to take a break this week on quilting my queue of quilts.  Now that Scrapitude is done, the next step is to get some practice fabric/batting on the frame and test out the thread I want to use to quilt Moon Glow.  But I’m going to step away this week and work on the other items on my to do list that I’ve been moving from week to week.  I also know that work is going to be really busy (it’s the first week of the quarter) so … I may find myself working longer hours than normal.

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Cross Stitch, Design Wall, Knitting, Quilting, Raining Cats and Dogs. Tags: , , . 8 Comments

28

Mar. ’16

Monday Madness – 3/28/2016

 

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I don’t have a design wall so my sewing area still looks like this.  I’m spending all my quilty time binding Scrapitude and I’m very slow at this.

Last week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – Finish hand binding. …. half way done with this.  
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project … done
  3. Border #2 for Raining Cats and Dogs ….  didn’t touch
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat … didn’t touch
  5. Celtic Solstice – press more Block A’s and top row of Block B … didn’t touch
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden …  done
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page … didn’t touch

This week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – Finish hand binding. ….
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project …
  3. Border #2 for Raining Cats and Dogs ….  
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat …
  5. Celtic Solstice – press more Block A’s and top row of Block B …
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden …  
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Cross Stitch, Design Wall, Knitting, Quilting, Raining Cats and Dogs. Tags: , , . 8 Comments

21

Mar. ’16

Monday Madness – 3/21/2016

Happy Monday everyone!  Today is my boy’s birthday and he is now 11.  I am taking the day off work and he actually is starting his spring break.  There are no plans today so we’ll see what he wants to do.

Yesterday, I spent most of the day working on Celtic Solstice and it felt great!  I got a lot of pressing done.

Celtic Solstice Block A Pile on the left are pressed blocks Pile on the right are unpressed blocks AND left pile > right pile! woohoo 3/21/2016

Celtic Solstice
Block A
Pile on the left are pressed blocks
Pile on the right are unpressed blocks
AND left pile > right pile!
woohoo
3/21/2016

And now it reminds me that I should during the block creation more and the final press when it’s a full block will not be so bad.  So, for Block B, I’m doing a bit at a time.

Here's my work area 3/21/2016

Here’s my work area
3/21/2016

More bits for block b 3/21/2016

More bits for block b
3/21/2016

And I got about 10 done for the top row of Block B.

Celtic Solstice Block B Top row 10 completed 3/21/2016

Celtic Solstice
Block B
Top row
10 completed
3/21/2016

In between working on Celtic Solstice, I planted some potatoes (because I had some potatoes going bad).  The hubby was able to prep some of my big pots for me (he needed to drill holes into them) and over the next week, I’ll be planting tomato plants.  I love fresh homegrown tomatoes.  It’s been a couple of years I’ve been able to grow some so I’m excited to get going on these this year.  On to this week’s list:

Last week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – trim and bind … was able to get it trimmed and the binding on but I still need to hand stitch the back. 
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project … done – worked on the project a bit. 
  3. Borders for Raining Cats and Dogs … finished border #1 
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat … yay!  did a couple of rounds last week. 
  5. Celtic Solstice – press the Block A’s and start on the next step … started pressing but that’s the most BORING part for me.  It’s okay when I’ve just got a few things to press but there are a lot and I have to be super careful not to press something the wrong way so, I’m only doing a few at a time.  
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden … done, I was able to get further along on this project.
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

This week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – Finish hand binding.
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project
  3. Border #2 for Raining Cats and Dogs
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat
  5. Celtic Solstice – press more Block A’s and top row of Block B
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Cross Stitch, Design Wall, Knitting, Quilting, Raining Cats and Dogs. Tags: , , . 9 Comments

14

Mar. ’16

Monday Madness – 3/14/2016

Happy Monday everyone!

Scrapitude all quilted 3/14/2016

Scrapitude
all quilted
3/14/2016

So it looks like the quilt is still on the frame but it’s just laying on top of it.

Scrapitude Close up of all of it quilted 3/14/2016

Scrapitude
Close up of all of it quilted
3/14/2016

Not the best quilting but I can do it on Bailey and the quilt is another step closer to being done. Next thing is to trim and bind!

Last week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – finish quilting this … done
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project … done
  3. Borders for Raining Cats and Dogs – still need to do
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat … worked a bit on this
  5. Celtic Solstice – Finish putting together all the Block A’s.  And if I have time, check out the next step and get started on it… Block A’s are done and the next step is to press it.  With the number of Block A’s I’ve got, I think I’ll be doing these a bit at a time.  If I feel up to it, I may get started on the next step. 
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden … done. I did a bit of work on these
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page … not done, I’m stalling on this one and I just need to get myself going on it.  I know if I would just pull something out and do something, it will get my momentum going.  It’s just getting started that is difficult right now.  I don’t know where to start. 

This week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – trim and bind
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project
  3. Borders for Raining Cats and Dogs
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat
  5. Celtic Solstice – press the Block A’s and start on the next step
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Cross Stitch, Design Wall, Knitting, Quilting, Raining Cats and Dogs. Tags: , , , . 8 Comments

07

Mar. ’16

Monday Madness – 3/7/2016

Happy Monday everyone!

Scrapitude another picture of the quilt on the frame

Scrapitude
another picture of the quilt
on the frame

Same picture but I’ve actually finished 2/3rd’s of the quilting.  I’m hoping to get the rest of it completed this week.  I haven’t quilted the border but that will be the next step.

 

Last week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – Quilt it – … about 1/3 left to go.
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project … done
  3. Borders for Raining Cats and Dogs
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat … done
  5. Celtic Solstice – take this out and finish up putting together all of Block A … I got this project out and continued putting together all the Block A’s.  The to be put together pile is much smaller than the finished Block A pile. 🙂 
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden … done
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

This week’s to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – finish quilting this
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project
  3. Borders for Raining Cats and Dogs
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat
  5. Celtic Solstice – Finish putting together all the Block A’s.  And if I have time, check out the next step and get started on it.
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Design Wall, Quilting. Tags: , , , . 7 Comments

29

Feb. ’16

Monday Madness – 2/29/2016

Happy Monday everyone!

This week will not contain a lot of crafty goodness.  I’ve got a work friend coming in and the team and I will be entertaining him while he’s in Los Angeles.  We’ll be taking him to a Clipper game on Wednesday and then probably dinners throughout the week.  It will be fun and craftiness will have to be put on hold for now.  But this weekend I got a lot done, most of the items on my to do list was complete. But the best thing ever…

Raining Cats and Dogs inner top finished still needs borders 2/28/2016

Raining Cats and Dogs
inner top finished
still needs borders
2/28/2016

I got all the blocks pieced together for Raining Cats and Dogs!  Wow, I finished Hampton Ridge (borders and all) on Saturday and now Raining Cats and Dogs.  I still need to put the borders on and that will be what I work on next.

Even though I’m not crafting much this week, here’s what’s on my to do list:

  1. Scrapitude, 2015  – Quilt it
  2. Cross Stitch – keep working on the welcome project
  3. Borders for Raining Cats and Dogs
  4. Knit – keep working on the Rosie Hat
  5. Celtic Solstice – take this out and finish up putting together all of Block A
  6. Hand work – Work a bit on A Rainbow Garden
  7. Scrapbooking – do 1 page

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Design Wall, Quilting. Tags: , , , . 6 Comments

22

Feb. ’16

Monday Madness – 2/22/2016

Happy Monday everyone!  It’s the start to a new great week in the making! woohoo!

The weekend was wonderful and now that I’ve experienced my first QuiltCon, I’ll be posting a bit about my different experiences between Road, PIQF and QuiltCon!  Hopefully I’ll have time to get that out in the next day or two.

In regards to my design wall, nothing is on it… It’s still not up.  But, I’m working on the 4th border of Hampton Ridge so I’ll just post an old picture of it on my design floor.

Hampton Ridge Border #2 finished finally 1/31/2016

Hampton Ridge
Border #2 finished finally
1/31/2016

Imagine this with the 3rd border on.  Here it is all folded up:

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Anyway, I was able to get all the HSTs pressed and now I’m trimming them up.

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I love my Bloc-Loc rulers.  I’ve got most of the HST ones and some others.  I think I’m okay with what I’ve got.  I’ve wanted the Flying Geese ones for a long time, but I think I’m cool without them for now.  We’ll see if I decide otherwise.  If I ever decide to do a ton of Flying Geese then I’ll probably buy these online. I don’t think my LQS has them but I guess I’ll check first if I ever decide to get them.  The little pile on the bottom left is all I’ve got left to do.  the larger pile on the top left are all done.  Once they are all trimmed and squared up, I’ll be piecing them into 4 sets of 42. My goal for this next week is to get this all done so that by the weekend, I’ll be able to get border #4 on to the quilt.

 

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Design Wall, Quilting. Tags: , , , . 9 Comments

15

Feb. ’16

Monday Madness – 2/15/2016

Happy President’s Day!

Today is a nice little holiday so… I plan to spend a few hours working.  I was out sick a big chunk of last week and I’ll be out this week for QuiltCon so… that means I have to do stuff today so I can feel free while I’m at QuiltCon.

On a wonderful side of things, I received an email from QuiltCon saying that a spot opened up in the wool applique class I wanted to take.  The only thing is that they emailed a few people and said that the first to respond would get the class.  I responded 3 hours after they sent the email.  Of course, I responded as soon as I saw the email but I don’t know if that was soon enough.  Hopefully I get in.  This was one of the classes I wanted to take AND comes at just the right time as my next hand project is my Wool BOM, A Rainbow Garden, from a few years ago. It’s all very serendipitous.

And because I haven’t had a chance to take pictures of anything with everything going on this past weekend, here’s a pic of the pretty roses at the tea party yesterday.

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I’ll try to take pictures today.  After the work is done, I’ll be spending the day quilting, cross stitching, and maybe a bit of knitting.  I need it after all the busyness these last few days.

It’s wonderful to have progress!

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Design Wall, Quilting. Tags: , , , . 6 Comments

01

Feb. ’16

Monday Madness – 2/1/2016

Happy Monday!

As with every Monday, I’m still working on quilting Tell It To The Stars!  But, the quilt is off the frame!  So I get to show a new picture of the quilt!  yeah!!

Tell It To The Stars mostly Quilted .. still need to quilt the borders... 1/31/2016

Tell It To The Stars
mostly Quilted
.. still need to quilt the borders…
1/31/2016

It’s not entirely quilted.  I still have the borders to do and I’ve decided to finish those off on my domestic while I take the mid arm to get serviced.  I have to say that I switched the bobbin thread to Superior’s bottom line and it is running much better.  So I think with the service I should be in top shape for the rest of the year.  I think the next thing I need to consider is my frame and whether it is good enough.  I feel a pull on the machine which prevents me from making smooth curves and circles and I think it is because the frame is warped in certain areas and the wheels are not getting good traction.  I don’t know if this is really true but its a good possibility.  The frame is an older wooden Grace frame and before I bought it, it was in the previous owner’s garage.  When I bought it, it sat in my garage which was where I quilted before we moved into this current house and now it is in my living room.  I think being in the garage may have affected the wooden frame.  Not enough to notice but enough for the wheels not to run smoothly.  I’ll be doing some extensive cleaning of the frame before I put my next quilt on and I’ll be checking out different frames this year.  I don’t think I’ll have the mula to upgrade my machine at next year’s Road but I may be able to get myself a new frame.

My guild is having a mini group meeting tonight so I’ll be lugging this quilt along to share.  The meeting is an intro meeting for anyone interested in joining a mini group.  A lot of the mini groups in this guild have been together for YEARS and the only way to join an existing one is to be asked by someone.  For new members like myself, it’s hard to get into an existing mini group.  So, they are getting everyone who is interested in joining together so that we can potentially create a mini group or two of those interested in being part of one.  I hope there are enough people who are interested in an evening group.  I work so I can’t do day time meetings like a lot of the ladies do.

And… I was able to get Border #2 of Hampton Ridge mitered up nicely!  I know this has been waiting for awhile and now that the room is clean and organized, I felt up to tackling that task.

Hampton Ridge with Border #2 finished 1/31/2016

Hampton Ridge
with Border #2 finished
1/31/2016

Here’s a close up of one of the mitered corners:

Hampton Ridge MItered corner of Border #2 1/31/16

Hampton Ridge
MItered corner of Border #2
1/31/16

It’s wonderful to have progress!

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Design Wall, Quilting. Tags: , , , , . 15 Comments

25

Jan. ’16

Monday Madness – 1/25/2016

Happy Monday!

As with every Monday, I’m still working on quilting Tell It To The Stars!  Another post with no pretty pictures since they all look like this:

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I finished quilting the light blue before I left for Road and I started quilting the green.

I’m so happy to announce that I was able to finish the final embroidery of block 7 (the final block I was working on) yesterday and laid out all the blocks on my design floor to snap a picture.

Raining Cats and Dogs All blocks laid out on the design floor 1/24/2016

Raining Cats and Dogs
All blocks
laid out on the design floor
1/24/2016

It’s wonderful to have progress!

I’m looking forward to a great week!

Check out more at  and  Patchwork Timesand Cooking Up Quilts and Bits 'n Bobs

Have a great week!

~Melanie

Posted by . Categories: Design Wall, Quilting. Tags: , , , . 11 Comments