Quilting and Life Updates

 I have continued my index card a day project, usually making many more than one a day. This drawing is based on a photo I took during the first neighborhood tour we went to. Most of the videos I have watched about drawing say to start with a photo or actual items instead of using your imagination. It lets you really see the shapes and the shading when you have something real in front of you. 

I am really happy with this drawing because it does look like a person and a dog, even though I do need to work with my shading to make it look like shading and not underarm sweat.

 

My work will be winding down soon, which means that I am getting excited about having more sewing time. The clematis flowers don't look very healthy, but I really like how they look painterly.

We went on another neighborhood tour with the library. This sculpture was moved from the library to a park.

15 Minutes to Stitch Week 27 and 28

 

I didn't get a chance to do any quilting on week 27 as I put everything away to get ready for a fourth of July gathering, but on week 28, I took out the Spicy Stars quilt and took an inventory of what is done and what the next steps are. I figured out the measurements for the side triangles and corner triangles. I

15 minute days these weeks --7 out of 14

15 minute days this year -- 155 out of 197 days

Success rate  = 79%

 

 

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 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

Quilting, 15 Minutes at a Time

 

This is one of the houses that we saw during our tour I told you about last time last time. It is such a fun house, and I found an app that makes the photograph look painterly.

15 Minutes to Stitch Week 22

One of the posts I saw on Facebook was someone complaining about the state of a famous deceased quilter's studio. I scrolled on by and am hoping to avoid getting on the soapbox. I love that people can choose for themselves what amount of order they need in their own house. 

I don't know if I did any quilting this week, so I will mark this week as a 0. No cheating.

15 minute days this week --0 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 134 out of 155 days

Success rate  = 86%

 

15 Minutes to Stitch Week 22

My roses are still hanging on and smelling lovely. I puttered around this week, with cleaning in the sewing room, trimming Aunt Daisy blocks and cutting pressing and making parts of Spicy Stars and Unallocated blocks.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 141 out of 162 days

Success rate  = 87%

15 Minutes to Stitch Week 23

 Again this week, I puttered around this week, with cleaning in the sewing room, and cutting pressing and making parts of Spicy Stars and Unallocated blocks. I've been working on the index cards.

15 minute days this week --3 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 148 out of 169 days

Success rate  = 87%

 
 

 

 

2023: 15 Minutes to Stitch Week 17

 

Tanya shared her watercolor paintings about her trip to see the cherry blossoms and I was inspired to make my own painting on an index card based on her trip. 

I am still decorating the index cards from time to time. The thing in the back that holds the cards has broken so I am going to have to fill up the box to keep everything intact. 

The last time I showed you the box is 2020. Here is what the box looks like now. I have a lot done, but I don't make them every day, and as you can see, there are plenty of blank index cards left to decorate.

2023: 15 Minutes to Stitch Week 17

 

I have started making the parts for the stars of the Spicy Stars blocks, even though the Overtime has started. I worked during my breaks, which is a great bonus for working from home. It is so much fun to see how the flavor of the block changes as I stack more blocks on top of the layout.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 120 out of 120 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

 

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 15 Minutes to Stitch

 

2023: 15 Minutes to Stitch Week 16

 

2023: 15 Minutes to Stitch Week 16

 

I spent this week making parts for the Spicy Stars blocks, even though the Overtime has started. I worked during my breaks, and sometimes in my rush to get a good amount done, I made some mistakes which required ripping.I have the alternate blocks almost done and will be working on the stars this week.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 113 out of 113 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

 

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 15 Minutes to Stitch

2023: 15 Minutes to Stitch Week 15

 

 

 

I usually get my books from the library, and return them reluctantly when the library requires them back. Once in a while, though, there is a book from the library that I feel I just have to own  

 

This book, Fabrics of FairyTale, is one of them. The library had a hardcover copy. I was worried about buying a used paperback book from a thrift store online, but it turned out to be a good gamble, because this one comes with CDs. I haven't listened to the CDs yet.

The author looked for fairy tales that were about textiles.

The beautiful illustrations provide lots of inspiration for future quilts.

2023: 15 Minutes to Stitch Week 15

 

I spent this week making parts for the Spicy Stars blocks.The overtime has started so it will be more difficult to keep the 100% in the next few weeks.

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 106 out of 106 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

 

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Yet Another New Quilt Start

 

 

The busy season at work is about to start soon, so I have to pack in as much fun as I can while I can. I've been wanting to make this quilt as soon as I saw it, and these oranges make me think of the quilt-along with spice names for the color choices, like paprika, turmeric, and saffron. I didn't have time for a quilt-along and didn't want to make a sampler block quilt. I don't have an official name for it, but I am calling it Spicy Stars for now.

I am really enjoying making it so far.

 

 I took Zoey to a cemetery yesterday for a walk. She tends to react to other dogs and while she needs the training, I wanted to enjoy the walk at a place where I could avoid dogs and people.

2023: 15 Minutes to Stitch Week 8

I think I missed last week's report, and during these two weeks finished the piecing the backing of Boundless.  I started Spicy Stars. I also sandwiched Boundless and cut some more scraps for Unallocated.

 

15 minute days this week --7 out of 7

15 minute days this year -- 56 out of 56 days

Success rate  = 100%

 

 

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 15 Minutes to Stitch