Mitred

Lily and I were up until 3 this morning

adding the final border

and making the mitred corners (my first! second, third and fourth!) 

so I could drop Leanne’s quilt off with Debbie today for long-arming. 

Small child for scale

Now that the corners are done, I don’t know what I was so worried about. I followed this Fons & Porter tutorial and it really was a breeze. 

Happily, Leanne is thrilled with the result. 

This spectacular tiger panel was going to be the quilt’s focus until Leanne heard “glow in the dark”. Glad we could incorporate both pieces in her birthday quilt. 

Going For 5

Jac is not a fan of having her hair brushed.

Fortunately for me, she’s bribe-able,

likes the smell of her strawberry detangler spray,

and loves getting to choose 

how many ponytails and accessories we use. 

 “Enough pictures, Grandma!”

Today was our first try at four ponies and a headband. 

Tomorrow, Jac says we go for five!

Art Day

My fabric scrap bins are overflowing

so today we pulled out some canvas,

Mod Podge,

scissors (this alone would have made Jac happy)

and made Art. 

Leanne was getting bored 

until she discovered cat fabric and fussy cutting.

Jac’s piece may never dry - she used a **lot** of Mod Podge - 

but that fabric is never coming off either. 

Jaclyn: Hey! It looks like I’m in prison.

Me: ??   Ohhhhhhhhh

How does she know about mugshots?? 😂😂

Design Decision

Confession - I didn’t realize I’d made two different star blocks until I saw the picture I posted last time. 

 Which of these is not like the others?

Good grief.  

Turns out I like the “oopsie” as much more than the “correct” version. So I made five more mistake stars. One looks like an oops but six are a design decision. Only nine more stars - of whatever variety - to go!

Twenty??

Guess who’s turning the big 2-0 in another 4 days?

And is going into the Air Force by summer’s end?

So hard to believes she’s this grown up already. 

Naia is hoping to be stationed in Japan eventually and wants to do a lot of traveling during her service. We hope all her wishes come true. 

Star Blocks

So much for getting the whole quilt done today.

I’m happy with the blocks I did finish, thanks to my new best friend. 

Turns out the best way to deal with stretchy flannel is to *spray liberally with starch, press and repeat*. I’ve always used Best Press, mainly because it’s what quilt stores carried, but I’ve never been that impressed with its performance. Bought this a week or so ago on a whim, gave it a try when Best Press didn’t working on flannel, and I’m sold. Plus this bottle ought to last me a lifetime. Sometimes the old ways/tools are still best.

Starch notes for me - spray fabric, turn it over and press (not iron) the back, non-starched side; iron won’t stick like it does with wet starch and more starch will stay on fabric rather than on iron. For stiffer fabric, repeat process using light spray rather than heavy first spray. 

Kit Me

Rather than stitch the appliqué from yesterday’s project, I dug out another quilt kit I bought a few months ago. Because why finish one thing when you can start something new?! Right??

I seldom buy kits, mainly because they seem so expensive, but there is something very satisfying in opening one and knowing you have everything you need for a project all in one neat, little package. No muss, no fuss, no decisions. 

 Lily was “helping”

And that must be what I need right now, because this is my third kit in a row, after Leanne’s fairy tree and the appliqué polar bear. 

This also gave me a chance to use another Christmas present. I figure this 9.5” wide ruler saved me a couple of hours by not having to juggle 2 smaller rulers to cut all the 7” and 8” blocks. Seriously love this thing.

One test block is done*,

the remaining pieces are cut and the 8-at-a-time hst’s are stitched. 

Tomorrow I’ll cut them apart and start making stars. 

 More helping

Hoping I can get everything done by the end of the day, but I may have to be satisfied with making the stars. We’ll see.

* Learned 2 things making the test block - #1) flannel stretches out of shape if you even look at it wrong, and #2) there’s an error in the pattern. Grrrrrrrr. Very happy I made a practice square. 

QuiltCon

This weekend, I’m signed up for a couple of classes and a few lectures at QuiltCon Together, the online version of one of my favorite quilt shows. I took 4 days “off” from baby-grand duties so I’d have plenty of time for learning and sewing. 

With the on-demand format, I was able to binge watch both my classes Thursday night (and can rewatch them until the 24th). Learned lots of great stuff . . . But also decided I didn’t really want to make either of the suggested projects.

 Didn’t know I needed a seam flattener but I’m totally hooked. It makes a big difference keeping pressed seams flat while they cool.  

So . . . . I pulled out a “someday” project - a kit I received for Christmas -

 The wool pressing mat and starch misting bottle are definite keepers. 

and spent today playing with new tools

and lovely fabrics. 

It’s amazing what can be accomplished with some dedicated time and no tiny people interruptions. (I did miss them a little tho.)

I still need to stitch around the appliqués but otherwise this quilt top is done. 

It’s a little small - 45x54” - so I may go stash shopping and try adding some borders. Not bad for 6 hours work!

Birthday Girl

Happy 10th birthday to Leanne!

She stopped by for a few minutes after her trip to the zoo,

and before her virtual painting party,

to open presents and share her very delicious cake.

Her glow-in-the-dark quilt isn’t quite finished because I haven’t figured out how to do that final mitered border. Leanne got a big laugh about my needing to go back to quilt school. Fortunately, she doesn’t mind waiting a little longer. 

Happy birthday, sweet Ladybug Princess.

Fishy Share

Leanne and her dad went fishing a couple of weeks ago

and Leanne caught two fish, her first ever. So exciting!

And she was kind enough to share one of them with us (after her daddy cleaned it).

Pop says it was super tasty. 

Putting Scott’s recipe here so I can find it next time. Preheat oven to 475. Stuff cleaned whole fish with sliced lemon. Rub outside of fish with mustard (I used Dijon, coating fish heavily) and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap in foil and bake 45-50 min. Soooooooo good.