Five Shadows

After some cleaning and organizing, my sewing room is looking better, but still has a long way to go. I’ll continue working on this throughout the month of April. Hopefully it won’t take that long!

Look! You can see the cutting mat now!

Plus the shelves above the cutting table are cleaned and better organized. And …

the inside of the cabinet is cleaned out and organized.

Last week one of our local hospitals put together kits for making masks, asking for experienced sewists to volunteer to make the masks. It was announced to pick up the kits between 9am-6pm last Wednesday. Little did they know there would be a line of willing volunteers waiting for 9am. All the kits where claimed by 10:00am! Sadly, I didn’t get a kit.

After watching this video and reading this article, I pulled out batiks, and started to make masks from supplies I have on hand.

Since Batiks are a tighter weave than quilters cotton, I thought it would be a good choice for the masks. Also, there is a pocket in the back if the person using the mask would like to add filter material into the mask. I used Double Fold Bias Tape for the ties. One package has 4 yards of bias tape, which I cut into 4 – one yard pieces, which is enough for 2 masks. I had enough blue for 6 masks. I used pipe cleaner for the wire nose piece. After constructing the masks, I put them through a gentle washing cycle, and also dried them in the dryer. They held up well, with only  1/8″ shrinkage.

When I stopped by my son’s house to give him and his wife each a mask, he told me the CDC announced that they do now recommend everyone to wear masks in the US if leaving your home. The Stay at Home order will be in place until at least April 30th. If you need to grocery shop, etc. you should be wearing a mask to protect others, which will also protect each of us! I’ll be making more masks!

I’m switching to this Batik and red & pink Bias Tape for the next set of masks, using what I have on hand.

Leah Day has a YouTube showing how she is making masks. I changed it up just a bit by sewing wrong sides together eliminating the need to  turn the mask right side out, I’m not using elastic, but simply sewing the bias tape on the sides. Which I figure makes the mask more a one-size-fits-all. I’d hate for the elastic to be too tight or loose on someone. I did use Leah’s instructions for sewing in the pipe cleaner nose piece & leaving an opening so a filter can be slipped into the mask. I am going to fold in half a 12″ pipe cleaner for extra strength on the next set of masks instead of cutting the pipe cleaner in to 6″ pieces.

I stopped by my other son’s house, his sweet wife is a hospice nurse and is seeing Covid-19 patients. She is issued one N95 mask a week. We talked about tying a homemade mask over her N95, which is another reason why I started making the masks. She liked the fit of the one I made, liked the way the nose piece bends to fit snugly and liked the ties over elastic. I pray the manufacturers can up their supply for the demand on these much needed N95 masks for our medical community serving us during this pandemic. That is just one of my many prayers!

I’ll continue sewing masks. My DIL thinks her coworkers will want them also. I said I’ll make them but will need more bias tape! Oh, and just incase anyone is worrying about me stopping by my sons homes, I stayed outside, we talked through a screen door at both homes! No one coughed or sneezed!

Stay home people! Wash your hands! Wear a mask if you must go out!

Last To-Do List:

1. Clean and organize sewing room! ✔️ Progress made!
2. Select one UFO to work on  ✔️ I pulled out Curve It Up which I started quilting last year. It is a Sew Kind of Wonderful pattern and will go to my sister-in-law when finished.
3. or make much needed masks (local hospital is putting together kits for making masks and asking for volunteers with sewing experience. I’ve requested a kit, but not sure how many they have or how many have volunteered. I find out tomorrow, Wednesday.) ✗ Kits went fast, and I didn’t get one.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Continue making masks
2. Quilt Curve It Up
3. More sewing room organizing. Maybe books are up next.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Sewn By Us.

In 2019, I followed along with Jacquelynne Steves, Happy Little Things BOM. I choose to use hand embroidery for the flower in the center of each block. I used scrap whites for background fabrics for the flowers.

The rest of the quilt was pieced using a Fat Eight pack of Carolyn Friedlander’s Friendlander line of fabric. This was purchased from Crimson Tate quilt shop in Indianapolis, IN. Finishing this quilt was my OMG for March.

Scrappy binding using up bits of the fabric pack.

The back is pieced from the fabric pack too!

Quilt measures 30″ x 36 1/2″.

It’s my new Spring quilt hanging in my living room.

Linking to One Monthly Goal hosted by Patty of Elm Street Quilts.

When you think you have finished a quilt, and then find the label in the mess on your cutting table!

Yes! this happened to me this morning!

I thought I was ready to take a final photo of Bat Moon Rising. But first, I was looking for something on my cutting table. I admit it is a mess. Actually my sewing room is a mess. Started projects & UFOs are out of control! Of course I found things I forgot I even had purchased! And when picking up that blue bag in photo above – there was the bat label that was supposed to be on the already bound Bat Moon Rising Quilt!! Gah!

So, sew, time to attach that label! Then photo the quilt!

44 1/2″ x 48 1/2″ adapted from Sew Kind of Wonderful’s pattern Bat Moon Rising found in their book Mini Wonderful Curves.

Back and label.

All that said about my messy sewing room, I think I should take this next week to get things under control! Clean out, organize. Then maybe pick one unfinished project to work on.

I hope all are calming down and learning how to navigate through the Covid19 pandemic. Hugs and prayers all!

Last To-Do List:

1. Project Quilting 11:6 Challenge – finish and post ✔️ Finished and posted.
2. Bind Bat Moon Rising  ✔️ Bound & ready to pack & ship.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Clean and organize sewing room!
2. Select one UFO to work on
3. or make much needed masks (local hospital is putting together kits for making masks and asking for volunteers with sewing experience. I’ve requested a kit, but not sure how many they have or how many have volunteered. I find out tomorrow, Wednesday.)

Linking to To-Do Tuesday, hosted by Home Sewn by Us.

For the Vibrant and Vivacious Challenge I selected a pattern and ruler I had purchased a few years ago, but never used.

Pulling fabrics & getting it all cut is always fun.

Pieced and spray basted. There are orange curtains in this room, so the color is not exactly correct in the photo.

I used a piece of clear vinyl to place over the quilt and then drew out some ideas for the quilting using a dry erase marker. The marker wipes right off so you can use the vinyl repeatedly. If you look in the above photo, you can see I sewed binding around vinyl to finish it off, 18″ square.

I used a variegated green Guttermann thread I had on hand to quilt the leaves. I used Aurifil gold, 2147, for the center checker board.

Binding is made from batik scraps from center of quilt, and also others on hand.

I used a Grunge yellow for the back.

I’ve enjoyed the challenges! This was my first year to join in! Nice that I happened upon the challenges the first week of this season and could do all six! Thanks Kim and Trish for hosting!

Linking to Project Quilting Season 11.

This past week I spent some time quilting Bat Moon Rising. Bats are outlined, Moon has circles, the background has alternating horizontal and vertical lines. Do you see the mistake in the lower left corner? It was supposed to be vertical. Time for some ripping out!

I actually messed up on my quilting pattern twice. Rip rip rip.

Close up of moon. The stray threads you see in the quilted area will be knotted and buried.

Bats top all quilted, black binding waiting to be attached. I have one extra bat block that will be the label. Almost done! Pattern by Sew Kind of Wonderful. I used an ombre, Daiwabo Selection for E.E. Schenck Company, in gray blue to tan for the background fabric.

Aurifil threads for piecing and quilting,  1158, 2021, 2692 & 5021. Don’t think I’ll have enough black to attach the binding!

Sunday, March 15th, Project Quilting announced the final challenge for the season, Vibrant and Vicarious.

For this challenge I’ve pulled fabric for Cut Loose Press Pattern Cabin Leaves Table Runner.

I hope to have it finished to gift to a friend for her birthday by Thursday! Wish me luck!

After finishing the table topper, I’ll get that binding on Bat Moon Rising.

With the Covid19 shutting almost everything down, and now my grandkids having colds, I won’t be doing child care this week. I am still cat sitting for a few days.

I hope and pray you are all staying healthy. Have patience, and be kind!

Last To-Do List:

1. Finishing quilting Bat Moon Rising. ✔️ I completed the quilting, even with a few setbacks, rip rip.
2. Maybe cut, make and attach binding to Bat Moon Rising. ✔️Binding made, not attached.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Project Quilting 11:6 Challenge – finish and post
2. Bind Bat Moon Rising

Linking to Home Sewn by Us To-Do Tuesday Party!

I have a helper visiting this week.

Meet my DIL’s cat, Toulouse. He will be staying with us as the bedroom floors at his house are being sanded and refinished. Toulouse likes to be where the action is, which means he follows me all over the house. If I sit down, he thinks my lap is up for grabs. I’m a cat person, so I don’t mind. My son and DIL will also be staying with us as the floors are refinished.

In photo above Toulouse is “helping” me put the binding on my OMG. Happy Little Things is quilted, and binding is on!

Here’s one of the quilted blocks.

I participated in Project Quilting Challenge 11:5.

Take a look here for the story behind this quilt.

After completing Happy Little Things, I put Bat Moon Rising under the needle.

Bats are quilted, moon is marked and ready to quilt.

That’s it for this week!

Last To-Do List:

1. Since I’m going down another rabbit trail – quilt and bind Jelly Roll quilt and write a post by Saturday night, March 7th, Project Quilting 11:5 Challenge. ✔️ Completed and posted.
2. I don’t think there will be time for anything else, but maybe do some quilting on either Bats or HLT.  ✔️ Happy Little Things is quilted and binding is on! Plus the Bats are quilted on Bat Moon Rising!

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Finishing quilting Bat Moon Rising.
2. Maybe cut, make and attach binding to Bat Moon Rising.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Home Sewn by Us.

Project Quilting 11:5 Challenge Give it Away

I bought a jelly roll a while back. I had not plans for it, but on sale at 50% off – I could not pass it up.

This jelly roll is nautical with anchors, stars, waves, moons. I wanted to make the top using only the jelly roll

Alternating the lights and dark strips seemed like a good idea. And then for a bit of interest, why not add in yellow squares?

Here’s the finished top using the gray strips from the jelly roll as binding.

I found a gray print and a black solid in my stash to use for the back.

For fun, and to add to the nautical theme, why not add an anchor? I’ll be donating this 40″ x 50″ quilt to Project Linus.

This has been another fun challenge! Thanks Trish & Kim for hosting!

Linking to Project Quilting

When I went back and read my February One Monthly Goal, I found out that I did complete it just by finishing the piecing of the top of Happy Little Things (HLT). I got further than that by piecing the back, sandwiching it, and starting the quilting. For March I’ve listed my goal to finish all the way to the binding, which is made and waiting.

Bat Moon Rising – border sewn on, back made, sandwiched.

Now it’s just another quilt of many waiting to be quilted. (evening lighting distorting color of quilt, sorry) But hey, I worked on that troublesome row of lights above the moon, and I’m much happier with it now. And note, small 1  1/2″ border.

So why do I keep hopping around from one project to another before finishing the first one? I really don’t know! That said, I am also participating in Project Quilting Season 11 Challenge. It runs for 12 weeks. We are on Challenge 5 of 6. Another rabbit trail perhaps? The challenges have been fun, I’ve had no problem coming up with an idea for each. This week’s challenge is Give it Away, make a quilt and donate. I pulled out a jelly roll -

And made this top yesterday -

Tomorrow, piece a back and sandwich.

Last To-Do List:

1. Final week to complete my OMG! Happy Little Things is pieced, now to quilt and bind. ✔️ Sandwiched!
2. Sandwich Bat Moon Rising. ✔️ Ready to start quilting.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Since I’m going down another rabbit trail – quilt and bind Jelly Roll quilt and write a post by Saturday night, March 7th, Project Quilting 11:5 Challenge.
2. I don’t think there will be time for anything else, but maybe do some quilting on either Bats or HLT.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Home Sewn by Us.

Hello fellow OMGers!

First up, I did finish my February goal of completing the piecing of my version of Happy Little Things, but I didn’t get a post written. The top is pieced, the back is pieced, it’s sandwiched and quilting started! That means I completed more than just my OMG. Ha ha, but like I said, no post.

For March I’ll finish quilting HLT and binding it.

Oh! I already made a scrappy binding!

And the back is scrappy too.

I’m using up most of the Fat Eighth pack. I do have some bits and pieces left and 3 Fat Eighths I didn’t include in the quilt. They might show up in some quilt some time in the future.

What is your goal for the month?

Linking to One Monthly Goal hosted by Elm Street Quilts.

After two Thursday quilting days being canceled due to weather, this past Thursday we did finally meet. I took along Bat Moon Rising and got it to this point -

I thought the top was complete. But then I got to thinking that the binding might interfere with the two bats that are along the edge of the quilt. I referred back to the pattern, and there is a small 2″ border. I got busy cutting 2″ x 4″ rectangles to match the ombre flow for the outer border. Yes, I’m going to have a narrow 1 1/2″ finished border instead of a 2″ border.

Now that I’m looking at the photo, I’m not liking the row of light squares above the moon. Hmmm. There might be more ripping out to replace them a shade darker. (Borders are on, sorry no photo, light is all wrong tonight.)

I jumped in and participated in Project Quilting Season 11 Challenge 4 this past week. The challenge was to use the block Birds in the Air in a quilt. Here’s my finish entry -

Read about it here. Next Sunday at noon central time the 5th challenge will be announced.

I won a pattern and charm pack through Living Water Quilter‘s blog hop to promote her new pattern! Isn’t it pretty?

My name was drawn from Heart Sing Handmade blog. The charm pack is from Island Batiks.

Last To-Do List:

1. Bats! Maybe this Thursday’s sewing day will not be canceled. That’s when I plan on working on this quilt. ✔️Top done!
2. Happy Little Things is my OMG - finish it and post before deadline Saturday, Feb 29th!
3. Project Quilting  11:4 Challenge - finish before deadline noon Sunday, Feb 23. ✔️ Created and linked.

This week’s To-Do List:

1. Final week to complete my OMG! Happy Little Things is pieced, now to quilt and bind.
2. Sandwich Bat Moon Rising.

Linking to To-do Tuesday hosted by Home Sewn by Us.