Happy New Quilty Week

There is quilting  again on This Quilt at last.

It was a mixed Sunday filled with

enjoying the flowers outside,

hoping in the car and heading off to a family get-together,

coming home to find storm clouds moving in.

This is a storm sky in the northeast, coming down the river from the north

and bringing rain, wind and lightening, 

the type that can bring damage 

but last night the closest lightning strike was over a mile away in that direction.

All we had to do was put away a few seedlings,

close up the house

and turn of the power strips a few times.

I did get one row and the top border done on this quilt.

I am quilting free style hearts and flowers

on this "Blueberry Park" fabric

and am pleased with my progress so far.

Have some piecing to do today and then hope to get at ;east one more row done.

I had to stop early last night in part to another storm

but also because my eyes were very bleary and tired.

Today it is bright and sunny,

a clear day after the storms.

May you have a Happy Monday! 

A Quilty Kind of Sunday ~ A New Quilty Gadget

My quilty kitties are watching me expectantly.

Katniss is giving me, "the look."

Maestro is peeking out at me from under the batting roll.

Nutmeg has given up and is taking a nap in the basket.

Well Nutmeg did follow me into the quilting room and was watching. 

Then she decided she might as well take a nap in the basket

because I have gone in the room everyday for several days and not actually 

done any quilting.

Today is the day!

I start (re) quilting ... 

  This Quilt

I have been catching up with other quilty commitments

and ... quite frankly ... 

I think I have been dragging my feet on this one.

I think I am feeling a little intimidated by having to actually quilt this one.

I think I need to stop thinking,  get over myself and just quilt it. 

This quilt is not ever going to be "perfect."

I just need to do the best I can with it.

One of the things I noticed on my first quilty attempt was I had a hard time
anchoring the quilt at the top and sides.

So ... 

I got these $10 "Channel Lock" rings to help me with those long straight quilting lines.

The rings attach over the wheels of the machine on the track.

This one is to do a horizontal line.

Here I am anchoring the top to the already anchored batting.

I used a few open safety pins to help hold the top in place for this.

Then I moved the rings to the vertical track in the back.

Then I anchored the top at the sides. 

These channel locks have limited use as I have to go to the back of the table
and move them every time I want to quilt a straight line

but they were very helpful for these initial steps.

There is an expensive electro-magnetic channel lock add-on to my machine that I really, really want to get someday so I can do free form straight line quilting on my long arm.

I am saving my pennies up for that one.

In the meantime, this will do. 

Maestro is curled up next to me now on her red chair as I type this post.

I love how she follows me around all day and keeps me company.

It is cool and going to rain.

Today is also a family get-together day to celebrate our oldest son's birthday.

After that,  I will be quilting "this quilt."

Wish me luck ... :-) 

Saturday Night Sew-In

Me and My Kitty BOM Blocks.

Saturday was so nice outside.

Cool and sunny.

So my sewing time had to wait to tonight.

I caught up on two months of my 

Pretty Kitty Sew Along BOM Blocks started Here

Here is the 12.5" block for May's 

Eccentric Star Block

and 

My 12.5" block 

Greek Square

I am also sewing the 6.5" version of these blocks.

I am really enjoying this monthly sew along

and am looking forward to the quilt I will make withe these blocks.

I have not planned a layout for this quilt yet.

I am thinking maybe a white sashing.

I may make extra blocks.

When I I see all the blocks together I will see what they say.

For now I am just enjoying the fabrics and the fun sew along with my friends.

Family time tomorrow and then I will see what I will sew.

:-) 

A New Quilty Mystery ~ Coffee & Quilts

Coffee and Quilts are two of my favorite things

so when I saw this new mystery quilt along announcement:

Coffee and Quilts Mystery QAL @ QATW Forum

I decided to dig through my fabrics and join in the fun!

This is the main forum page: 

Quilting Around The World Forum

I am a relatively new and not very active member

but these quilters are a very nice and welcoming group.

You would register for the QATW Forum HERE

Basic Info about the group may be found HERE 

If you have any questions or problems, 

you may email the  friendly forum administrator 

@

gg@quiltingaroundtheworld.com

Sew I decided to dig through my fabrics and join in the fun!

Someone of this thread said ... 

"I don't need another project.
Oh look, a new mystery quilt!"

That is me.

I do not need another project.

I do like mystery quilts and this one can be made in a wallhanging size

so it should be quick and easy.

I am planning to make it a little larger with the fabric on the right

 which is a border stripe fabric

and my inspiration for my fabric choices.

These are stash fabrics from three different fabric lines

but they look great together.

Nutmeg agrees ... :-) 

When Nutmeg moves off the fabrics I can cut me some fabrics.

Clue #1 cutting is up!

Clue 1 cut ... that was easy ... :) 

A good time to find some fabrics and join in the fun.

Hope to see you sewing along ... <3 

I Like Thursday # 14 ~ I Like Red

Red is a Neutral  ~ Can this be true? 

For April's Fools Day, 

The Quilt Show 

declared

Freddy Red as the New Neutral for 2019

It was a joke.

Or was it?

On January 15, 2019, the 

had already published their

Red is a Neutral AHIQ Invitation

Since then their members have posted some amazing

#AHIQRed Quilts

These quilts are not jokes.

I am not a member of this group,
but I am sew inspired and intrigued.

I have these fabrics calling to me.

Maybe red is my next neutral.

This happy idea is stamped with the Nutmeg "Paw of Approval"

I like my new "happy" tin of binding clips.

I bought this Here on Amazon 

because I kept emptying my clip box while I was

Facing This Quilt

The red cherries and polka dots make me happy.

I like it so much that that I have made it into my
"Happy I Like Thursday"  icon ... see below.

I like my Maestro sitting with me this morning, each in our favorite red chairs.
She is trying to get my attention.

 Maestro loves her morning petting ritual
in our matching red chairs.



I have two of these chairs from the time
 when one was in my sewing room and one at my desk.
I bought the red ones because they were the cheapest color at the time on Amazon.
They are drafting chairs and adjust to counter height.
I apparently like the extra height even though I am not a tall woman.
I have my long arm adjusted higher than usual according to the man who set it up.
It helps ease my back pains.

Since it is Thursday I am going to journey over to visit the creative

I Like Thursday Bloggers @ Not Afraid of Color

and see what inspiring posts they are sharing.

I am also interested in hearing what they think about this
" Red As Neutral" colorful idea.

Happy Thursday!