2021 Goals In Review

 Looking back over my goals, the list wasn’t long: 

Stash: I’d like to use 100 yards more than I take in, and buy no more than 20 yards.  Sigh.  No.  I wrapped up the year with a net usage of 34 1/2 yards OUT.  I did buy more fabric than 20 yards (but less than my 100 yards in.  There were many gifts from kind friends and family).  My hysterectomy and recovery, homeschooling, and settling into a new house all disrupted my sewing mojo.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Modern Vintage, hand pieced hexagons, cork fabric farm quilt. Modern Vintage is done, I made excellent progress on my hexagons, and I didn’t finish the farm quilt, but made great progress.  I didn’t totally empty my 2.5” scrap box (a goal I added later), but it is only full strips, triangles, squares, and bricks.  I have plans for it.

Other quilts: twin quilt, placemats, 2020 temperature quilt, strip twist, pineapple quilt, star quilt in blue and grays.  I did not finish the Star quilt but everything else is done.  I lost steam in the organization, but as I now have an intended recipient, that quilt is on the list for 2022.

Hey, those were reasonable goals, and I did well.  I’m looking forward to 2022!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

How did I

2021 350 Block Challenge Total

I knew my sewing life felt a little different this year, but it wasn’t until I sat down with the numbers here and got a lovely visual of just how different it has been.

In December, I finished 33 blocks: 8 farm blocks, a pillow quilt block, and 24 blocks for a mystery quilt.  That brings my 2021 total to 762, a little more than half the blocks of the previous year, and lower than any year other than the first.  We had our big move, I was homeschooling 4 children for the first time, I had major surgery, and BJ’s autoinflammatory disease kicked my behind.  Maybe that number is just fine as it is!

For totals I had in years’ past, here are the numbers...

In 2020: 1431

In 2019: 1760

In 2018: 1677

In 2017: 1125

In 2016: 1007

In 2015: 1400

In 2014: 794

In 2013: 1057

In 2012, north of 180.  Between terrible morning sickness and moving drama, I lost count.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

2021 Wrap-Up UFO Report

I began the year with 7 unfinished projects.  Four of them (1-4) are still on the list but that was the plan.  They aren’t projects I’m in a rush to finish.  I did add the pink hexagons to the list, which probably should have been on at the beginning of the year, but I had forgotten.

My goal for my UFO list has been to keep it under 10.  It looks like I’m rolling into 2022 in fine fashion.

1. Double wedding ring

2. Pillow

3. ABC appliqué 

4. Hand hexagons

5. Split Star

6. Farm quilt

7. Pink hexagons

8. Rhododendron Mystery

December 1: 9 projects

Started: 0

Finished: 1

December 31: 8 projects

I have great expectations that the split star, farm quilt, and mystery quilt will be off the list by the end of 2022.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

December Goals Wrap Up

 Later this week I hope to write a full report of my 2021 goals, but I also want to take the time to wrap up my December goals.

1. Scraps: trimming, make four hexagon flowers, work on the farm quilt (more blocks or four patches), and maybe empty the bag of 1.5” triangles.  Four hexagon flowers done and one has its brown ring as well.  I made 8 farm blocks and sewed at least 40 into 4 patches.  I didn’t empty the triangle bag, but the bag is much lighter than it was!

2.  Next step on the Macaron Mystery.  The quilt is a top, quilted, and the binding half sewn on.  I had a sneak peek, so once I finished this month’s step, I plowed ahead with the blocks, etc.  By the end of the year, it will be finished and given away.

3. Keep up with Bonnie Hunter’s Rhododendron Mystery.  My older sister is finishing her basement, so she needs a bedroom or family room quilt.  So far, so good.  I’m on step five.

4.  Masks.  Masks have finally shrunk after all their washings, so it’s time for some new ones.  I think I finished 12 this month.

5.  Christmas pillow.  I made a large blocks to make a cushion cover, and now it’s time to quilt it and get it on my front porch!  Done!

I’m looking forward to 2022 as I scheme and dream!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #53 and 15 Minutes

On the 15 minute front, I worked on my hand piecing each day.  This brings me to 345 of 359 days of the year.  Hurrah!

Another spool ran out this week, for 24 for the year.

I picked out my Christmas present this year.  (Bless my husband.  He once gave me turquoise feathers, thinking he had ordered turquoise feather fabric.). The grab bags of Kona solids were fun because they were easy to wrap without studying too closely, so the gift was still a bit of a surprise.  It does mean more fabric in for the year, but I will end the year having used more than I bought, even if I am far away from my goal of 100 yards net used for the year.

IN this week: 10 yards

OUT this week: 0 yards

IN YTD: 100 1/4 yards

OUT YTD:  125 1/4 yards

YTD Total: 25 yards OUT

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, my quilting friends.  I’ve finally cleaned up the joyful chaos of the morning (gift opening, Mass, and a big lunch), so I’m sneaking in some sewing time.

My cutting table is a mess.  In the background you can see my Christmas present (grab bags from Hancock’s of Paducah.  I do shop well for my husband!).  I dumped my scraps that need trimming in order to tidy them up for the new year.

My Rhododendron mystery has taken what little sewing time I had this week.  I still have dozens to go, but my box of pieces to be pressed is filling up.

And my scraps that have accumulated this year.  These (above) were sewn together from triangles that filled a gallon bag (below) at the beginning of the year.  I did have to cut neutrals, but the bag just keeps giving colored triangles.  These lovely 1.5” tidbits will become a quilt next year.  What quilt?  I don’t know.

 Merry Christmas or happy holidays, whatever you may believe and celebrate.  I hope the day is joyful and peaceful!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #52 and 15 Minutes

 Another spool bit the dust this week, leaving me with 23 used up for the year.  I usually use between 20 and 30 spools in a year, so this is on par.

I ordered some fabric for a new project.  My older sister requested a tree skirt in blues and white with lots of sparkles. Yay!

The hand stitching is running along splendidly, with the fourth flower finished for the month.  I even started on the brown round now, since I’ve done four flowers.  I’m enjoying the unexpected swiftness.  Also, at 338/352 days is great.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Busy

I have great hopes this week of actually replying to comments (I’m sorry.  Again.  I love your comments.). We have two days of school and one school concert to survive next week, and then it’s break.  We are all well and grateful.

I finished two more star blocks (winter and summer) as well as the numbers for our address.

 

I was also able to sew some 6” blocks into four patches, which means I can start planning layouts and cutting stashing soon.  I will regret the background with yellow dots, however.  It has distorted more than any other fabric in the quilt and is giving me fits.  Any scraps remaining after this quilt is finished will go in the garbage, and good riddance!

My other sewing this week has been for Bonnie Hunter’s Rhododendron Mystery and Meadow Mist’s Macaron Mystery.  Part of me wants less demanding sewing to do, but I’m also grateful for easy to sew pieces as time allows.

Christmas baking has taken many hours this week, which is fine and lovely.  My laundry room has become storage central for all the goodies, and I’m pleasantly shocked that the little people haven’t opened any containers yet!  Today we hope to assemble cookie trays for the “neighbors” (out in the country, that term is a little more loosely defined) and then they can enjoy!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

 

Stash Report Week #51 and 15 Minutes

 On the hand stitching front, I’ve done exceedingly well.  331 days of 345 for 2021, and another hexagon flower finished.

I did finish 7 masks this week, my 22nd spool of thread, and still managed to take in more fabric than I used up.  I won three delicious yards from Vicki Welsh and bought two yards for a quilt for my sister.  Such is life.

IN this week: 5 yards

OUT this week: 1 1/2 yards

IN YTD: 86 yards

OUT YTD: 125 1/4 yards

YTD Total: 39 1/4 yards OUT

Clearly next year, I need to do a better job of using fabric and less shopping (or receiving; I have some lovely family and friends gratefully to thank for some of this!).  Fortunately, I have two larger quilts in process and plans for plenty more!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stars

 It felt like a busy week, but here, at the end of it and looking back, it doesn’t feel terribly accomplished.  I finished another bundle of masks (wintery ones), the next step on the Macaron Mystery, and the next step of the Rhododendron Mystery.  I suppose it was the endless flying geese that made the week feel busy!

I also made two more farm blocks, Autumn and Spring Star (Lori Holt).  25 more small blocks and 2 large ones feels like so many blocks, but I know I’m roughly 7/8 done making blocks.  I think it’s because this time of year lends itself to finishes rather than progress that makes it feel so far to go.

I’m finding it difficult to ponder plans for next year.  After two years of upheaval and chaos in the year, I’m hesitant to built lofty dream castles… but if I commit to nothing, I will find that equally unsatisfactory.  Certainly the triangles as leaders and enders will move to block stage next year, and the farm quilt for a few more months at least.  What glorious blocks or quilts are you dreaming about?

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

P.S. Check out the Rainbow Scrap Challenge here!

Stash Report Week #50 and 15 Minutes

 My fifteen minutes a day was a breeze this week.  I had plenty of time to stitch between errands and appointments this week.  In fact, I finished one green flower, basted all the hexagons for another, and partially stitched it together.  I have only missed 14 days of the last 338.  Whew!

While it won’t look like a large stash move, I did finish a baby quilt, five masks, and a pillow cover for our porch.  Also, I didn’t buy anything.  I have looked, particularly at neutrals and Christmas fabrics, but I don’t have much appetite for the prices.  That’s probably good for me.

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 4 1/4 yards

IN YTD: 81 yards

OUT YTD: 123 3/4 yards

YTD Total: 42 3/4 yards OUT

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rearranging

 Ah, here we are.  A finished farm block, mediocrely pressed.

The house is slowly being rearranged for Christmas.  This week, I wrapped the porch cushion in red snowflake fabric and whipped up a Christmas block for a porch cushion.  I hand quilted it throughout the week and sewed up the cushion today.

I’m a bit tardy today in posting.  I received my booster shot yesterday, and, whew, my immune system reacted!  I continue to feel pretty tired, but the fever is gone.

Earlier in the week I finished the letters for another farm block.  I may rip it apart and fix the spacing, or I may not.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Finished Quilt: Baby Mountains

 It’s finished!

My younger sister is expecting her sixth baby (fifth living).  She has very specific tastes which are generally not my tastes.  This is totally okay with both of us, but it’s challenging to make a quilt that will interest me and fit her aesthetic.

Let’s be clear; she’s delightfully not demanding and appreciates the work of a quilt as she is a skilled photographer.  She knows what she likes.  She ruled out all the quilts I have already finished.  As I pulled various fabric collections, none pleased both of us.

Then I found this gradient hunk from Vicki Welsh.  Ooh, I knew this was promising. The yellow is quite in my sister’s realm of favorite colors.  She agreed.

I pulled as many coordinating solids as I could muster.  After a few pictures to my sister, we eliminated probably half of them.  In the end, we settled on eight fabrics.  Then, pattern.  Aha!

My sister lives in Colorado.  Mountains.  How about scrappy mountain majesties by Bonnie Hunter?   We both were charmed by the idea.  Maths ensued; how many squares could I cut from a 1/4 yard?  How many squares did I need?  How large a quilt could I make and use this gradient as a backing?  (In the end, I made too many blocks, so six extras are kicking around.)

The blocks were a matter of hours.  Then, how to arrange them?  Matching colors?  Some darks and some lights as the mountains?  Mixed?

In the end, here’s my decision.  I’m a fan.  While it might be hard to tell, there are purple, deep red maroon, brown, oranges, blue, and green.  The straight-line quilting kept the focus on the mountains and kept me from wrestling with the bulky seams in some places.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

December Goals

It’s time to review my November goals and set my December goals!

Goals for November were…

1. Scraps: trimming, make a large pink hexagon star, sew some farm blocks and sew small blocks into 4 patches, and finish the 16 patch quilt.  Done!  Well, I did not sew blocks into four patches.  I keep thinking I will make that happen, and I simply don’t.

2.  I’ll work on the next step of the Macaron Mystery.  Done.

3.  Finish the fancy sewing for my brother.  I can do it!  Yes!  Done, shipped, received.

Bonus goal: started and finished the baby quilt for my sister.  The baby is due in March!

Second bonus goal: quilted and finished my snowflake banner.  I intended this to be a December goal, but the weekend after Thanksgiving was splendidly productive.

December goals are first and foremost: stay healthy.  So far, we have avoided COVID and stomach bugs.

1. Scraps: trimming, make four hexagon flowers, work on the farm quilt (more blocks or four patches), and maybe empty the bag of 1.5” triangles.

2.  Next step on the Macaron Mystery.

3. Keep up with Bonnie Hunter’s Rhododendron Mystery.  My older sister is finishing her basement, so she needs a bedroom or family room quilt.

4.  Masks.  Masks have finally shrunk after all their washings, so it’s time for some new ones.

5.  Christmas pillow.  I made a large blocks to make a cushion cover, and now it’s time to quilt it and get it on my front porch!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

December UFO List

 The UFO list has been changing this month!  As always, my first projects remain unchanged, so check the last numbers for differences.  Those long term projects just aren’t on my radar for now, except for the hand pieced hexagons, which has probably another five years before I’m ready to move on to the next one!

I started a baby quilt for my sister, added my snowflake banner to my list, and began the Rhododendron mystery.  The end of the month was a flurry of finishes, with the 16 patch stars, snowflake banner, and baby quilt begin wrapped up.

1. Double wedding ring

2. Pillow

3. ABC appliqué 

4. Hand hexagons

5. Split Star

6. Farm quilt

7. Pink hexagons

8. Macaron Mystery

9. Rhododendron Mystery

November 1: 9 projects

Started: 3

Finished: 3

November 30: 9 projects

It’s time to ponder my goals and projects for next year.  I will admit I am feeling a bit lackluster about 2022.  It would be delightful to have a crystal ball and know what major events and what family health events are going to contribute to the chaos of another year.  I am making lists of people I think need a quilt as well as quilt ideas I’d like to try.  Do you have a project you’re really excited about?

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

November 350 Block Report

 For as much sewing as I actually did this month, the block count is fairly anemic.  I suppose even finishing has its drawbacks!

I finished 8 farm blocks and 30 scrappy mountain blocks.  38 blocks for November brings my 2021 block total to 729.

This report is part of the 350 Blocks Challenge by Prairie Moon Quilts.  I’ve been participating, more thoroughly some years than others, since she started.  It’s always interesting to track data!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #49 and 15 Minutes

 I finished my pink hexagon star (woohoo!) so I definitely fit in my 15 minutes each day.  My stats are now 317 of 331 days for 2021.  I’m thrilled.

I finished seven pillowcases and a snowflake banner.  Sadly, the banner is a failure for its intended purpose (covering the breaker box) because I didn’t notice the distortion until after I had finished the binding.  Sigh.  It still counts as fabric out.  Fortunately, I also have a baby quilt basted as of writing this, which means I should have another finish next week.  Woot!

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 8 yards

IN YTD: 81 yards

OUT YTD: 119 1/2 yards

YTD Total: 38 1/2 yards OUT

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Yay!

We were happy to (safely) visit with family this week.  Happy visiting, vats of cooking, and a pair of house guests meant I didn’t get much sewing time.

Fortunately, I was ahead on my hand sewing and I have a lovely completion for the week.

I also made blocks for a planned but scrappy baby quilt.  I will show the gradient that inspired my selections when I put this quilt together.

Finally, instead of scrappy sewing (ahem, farm blocks), I delightfully took a detour to make Christmas pillow cases for my children.  They will be stocking gifts for the feast of St. Nicholas.

Finally, at the end of last week (or early this week?) I finished my scrappy 16 patch quilt.  Miss G approves of it as a teacher gift, so it has a home!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

 katie z.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 I am grateful for you and your kind participation in the quilty part of my life.  I hope your day was filled with peaceful family, good food, and rest.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Finished Quilt: 16 Patch Stars

Hello, finished quilt!  You’re quite a cozy thing, finishing at roughly 60”

The backing looks (shockingly) on the gray end of blue, but in real life, it’s a lovely mottled blue green.  I dyed it in one of our marathon dyeing sessions this summer.  The straight line quilting is a dark green thread and blends splendidly with the backing.  The binding is a black and white batik.

Two different grays make up the background fabric.  When they ran out, I used tans and whites for the “border” of extra triangles and squares to finish out the pattern.  The colored squared and triangles are all from my 2.5” scrap box.  I was really hoping to use up more of the box, but my gray fabric ran out at these 49 blocks.

I’ll have to keep plotting to empty the 2.5” scrap box.  There are, most likely, two more quilts snuggled comfortably in the box still!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #48 and 15 Minutes

 I always like the weeks when I finish quilts!  This week, I made JoJo a quick saint costume for his saint gallery at school, so 1 1/2 yards of black fabric disappeared from the stash.  I also quilted and bound my 16 patch quilt.

I also ordered and received 10 yards of fabric.  Three yards are for the sashing on my farm quilt.  Since I’d rather have fabric than pay a shipping charge, I also ordered seven yards of Christmas fabric to make pillow cases for the kids.  They’re already cut and ready to sew next week.

IN this week: 10 yards

OUT this week: 7 3/4 yards

IN YTD: 81 yards

OUT YTD: 111 1/2 yards

YTD Total: 30 1/2 yards OUT

I did hand sewing every day this week, so my pink hexagon star should get finished over Thanksgiving Break.  That makes 310 of 324 days for 2021.

from the room of Zana’s.Ninis,

katie z.

Rise and Shine

 I am sneaking in this blog post before the day gets busy, rather than after!  We have a rather large burn pile to monitor today, so I need to move along.

I made more progress on farm quilt blocks than I remembered.  Of course, some of the letters are from previous weeks, but here we are.  Roughly our house; we have four windows on the bottom as well as a lovely porch, but that’s more redrafting than I want to do.  I also realized, just now, that I put the lower windows in upside down.  They’re staying!

Our last name is almost done.

And a zinnia.  Maybe I’ll have the brain space to plant a few this spring.  I am so enjoying that we still have roses in late November,

Most of my sewing time this week was spent on quilting my scrappy 16 patch quilt.  I picked a dark green thread to blend with the backing (a piece I dyed over of the summer).

I do enjoy when I’m close to a finish!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #47 and 15 Minutes

 The stash report status is unchanged.  I’m pegging away at my 16 patch quilt; today the quilting progress began.  I also started a costume for my son for school; I left it a little too long and it’s to be at school Wednesday!  Next week should have at least one, if not two, improvements to the stash report.

I completed my hand stitching every day, so I’m a bit ahead of schedule.  I find that fortuitous as Thanksgiving week may bring us guests and I may be too busy for stitching.  My total is 303 of 317 days for 2021.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Winter Weather

 We survived a week of school and haven’t caught the stomach bug yet.  If we can make it through next week, we will be able to see family for Thanksgiving!  My house is the (hopeful) gathering spot, but we absolutely cannot gather if we end up with a stomach bug.  One year one of us gave the Noravirus to my BiL (kidney transplant recipient) and he ended the holidays in the ER.  All of us that can have been vaccinated, and we’re going to celebrate mostly outside.

In the meantime, it’s cold outside.  Outside chores are animal care and stacking/hauling wood.  My headaches have been a little less bothersome, so I found more time to sew. I even redrafted the Christmas candle block to be four candles instead of three.  I also finished the gingham block.

I also finished the flimsy and basted my 16-patch quilt.  It’s not behaving quite nicely, but I am aware that’s my sewing skills, not the fabric.  I think it will be fine.  I’m using a back I dyed myself this summer (with added strips of squares as it wasn’t quite wide enough).  It might go to Miss G’s teacher for a Christmas gift if Miss G approves.

There are errands to run today, so I need to wrap this up!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #46 and 15 Minutes

 I caught up on the last round of brown early in the week and rolled on enthusiastically (or not) into a large pink star.  By some twist of fate, despite the chaos of the week, I finished the first two rounds.  Next week, I’ll make the little spokes, and the rest of November will be the final round.  Fortunately, that brings me to 296 of 310 for 2021.

On the stash report front, my friend Vicki sent me a few books and stuffed in some scraps as well.  (Thank you again!). They’re stacked on my cutting board while I sort and resort them.  I love scraps.  My hand dyed scraps might be a bit ridiculous, but it’s because I can’t stand to mix the precious fabrics in with my “normal” fabric.

IN this week: 1 yard

OUT this week: 0 yards

IN YTD: 71 yards

OUT YTD: 103 3/4 yards

YTD Total: 32 3/4 yards OUT

I also exhausted another spool of thread, making it 20 for the year.

Finally, I didn’t count the fabric in, but I finished the sewing of cloaks for the Infant of Prague statue for my brother.  He’s been very patient, but needs the first for Advent, so it was high time!  I’m keeping the silk scraps but not in with the usual stash.  We’ll have to see what I can come up with!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Moving Forward

 (Little man has a fever, again, so I’m feeling a little sucker punched at the moment.  Not that I’m the one sick, but it requires so much energy and rearranging of the obligations and plans for the day.)

I had plans to press this amount of sewing before snapping a picture, but, alas.  I have two more rows and borders left to add.  So far, I quite like it.  It certainly did not use enough of my remaining 2.5” bits, but that’s okay.  I have the remainder cut into triangles, squares, and rectangles, which will give me plenty of upcoming entertainment!

I made one (unpressed) farm block, so I’ll show that next week.  It’s so full of long seams that it appears to be an accordion at the moment.

I hope your weekend is restful, productive, or whatever you most need.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

November UFO List

Did I finish a quilt in October?  Nope.  That’s quite all right.  I added one new quilt, made all the blocks for it, and made happy progress on my farm quilt.  On we go.

1. Double wedding ring

2. Pillow

3. ABC appliqué 

4. Hand hexagons

5. Split Star

6. Farm quilt

7. Pink hexagons

8. Macaron Mystery

9. 2.5” project

October 1: 8 projects

Started: 1

Finished: 0

October 31: 9 projects

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

November Goals

 October is gone as fast as September, so here we are in November.  We are six weeks away from having owned our new house for a year!

1. Scraps: trim, put brown rounds on a few more hexagons, sew some new farm blocks and sew some small blocks into sets of four.  Maybe I can put my 2.5” squares into 16-patches.  We shall see.  Four hexagon flowers with brown rounds, 14 new farm blocks, no blocks sewn into sets of four, and my 2.5” squares are all in their blocks!

2.  Masks.  Yes.

3.  I’d like to do the next step on the Macaron Mystery when it comes out.  Done.

4. Sewing for my brother.  Three done, two left.

For November, the goals don’t look much different.

1. Scraps: trimming, make a large pink hexagon star, sew some farm blocks and sew small blocks into 4 patches, and finish the 16 patch quilt.

2.  I’ll work on the next step of the Macaron Mystery.

3.  Finish the fancy sewing for my brother.  I can do it!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

October 350 Block Count

 Starting (and finishing all the blocks) for a new quilt is always a nice way to boost my block count for a month.  This month, I finished 14 farm blocks and 77 blocks for my scrappy 16 patch quilt.  If I can do my addition correctly, that’s 91 blocks for the month.  Unfortunately, it would appear I did NOT add correction in September, so should have had a total of 600 blocks, bringing me to 691 this month.  Oy.  I need to be a bit more tidy in my notebook and this wouldn’t happen quite so frequently!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #45 and 15 Minutes

The stash has seen a small change this week with the completion of four masks, bringing my total to 48.  Another spool ran out, so I’ve used 19 spools for the year!

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 3/4 yards

IN YTD: 70 yards

OUT YTD: 103 3/4 yards

YTD Total: 33 3/4 yards OUT

I did find time to work on my hexagons each day, so I’ve now worked on them 289 days of 303 this year.  Only 62 days left?!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Sluggish

 One.  I finished one farm block this week, and even that one needed surgical repair before it was finished.  Isn’t it funny how we don’t notice a turned piece until we’re pressing?  Fortunately, it was a corner piece, so ripping and resewing took but a few minutes.  It’s called “Quilting Day.”

We had appointments this week: speech evaluation, specialist, and TWELVE parent teacher conferences (9 for the Assistant, now a sophomore in high school).  I don’t particularly enjoy appointments: too many decisions, the time it takes to drive to and from, the anxiety I work myself up into even when I know everything will be fine. (For example, my children aren’t brilliant, but they are respectful and kind and work hard… usually… so of course conferences are going to be quite nice.)

I did finish all my scrappy blocks from my 2.5” box (which is not nearly empty, but I ran out of gray fabric for the alternate blocks) and even pressed them!  I’m excited to start piecing them together and see what kind of scrappy chaos I end with.  I can’t remember that I’ve shown much of these, as they are a kitchen sink variety and not color specific.

The masks for the month are also finished, but I didn’t finish the sewing I should have for my brother.  The pieces are silk, have curves, and I have one shot to get them right.  I will try to finish at least one next week (they are cloaks for his Infant of Prague statue).

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #44 (or something) and 15 Minutes

 This week, three finished masks moved the stash report in the right direction.  I’ve now finished 44 masks this year, a far cry from last year, but we already have a “stash” of masks.

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 3/4 yard

IN YTD: 70 yards

OUT YTD: 103 yards

YTD Total: 33 yards OUT

I did miss one day of hand sewing.  That old “I’m too tired” problem rolled around again.  This latest update of my migraine medicine is definitely making its presence known!  That leaves me at 282 days of 296 for 2021.  I still finished my hexagon, which is the important part!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Baby Steps

 Whew!  The day filled up rapidly this morning when the tree trimming crew showed up with two kids in tow.  No problem, my kids can play outside with their kids, right?  Yes, but that requires supervision.  Children unfamiliar with the farm with my kids, who don’t always follow the rules, can be a dangerous combination.  So I’ve spent the morning outside, grateful that three problem trees will soon be gone.  Watching little people is a small price to pay.

BJ is recovering as usually, slowly.  I could use a few extra nights of sleep!

I finished the apple processing earlier in the week, so we finished with 47 quarts of applesauce and 12 quarts of apple juice.  I’m glad to be done with the massive amounts of canning for the year.  All I have left is a shelf of frozen tomatoes.

I did a little sewing.  Masks?  Of course.  Three done, four to finish.  My farm blocks were not prolific this week, so only two blocks are done.

Another hexagon flower received its brown “path.”  Today, while outside, I’m basting for next week’s flower.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Weeks #42-43 and 15 Minutes

 Well, my weeks are not quite right.  I counted the first two days of the year as a week, so I will have too many weeks at the end of the year.  I had to check today, as I couldn’t believe there were only nine weeks left to 2021.  There are more than that.  Whew!

Last week, I thought many times about writing my Sunday blog but never actually sat down to do it.  Alas.  So we’ll have two weeks of reporting today.

I broke my resolution to only purchase 20 yards of fabric this year.  Vicki Welsh’s mystery packs tempted me too much, and of course she put in an extra piece or two of fabric, so I am wallowing in riches.  Her fabric is beautiful and a lovely treat to myself after BJ’s flare last week (little did I know we would have another yesterday).  I have masks to make this week and I have still used more than I purchased or was given for the year, so the stash report is still moving in the right direction.

IN this week: 10 yards

OUT this week: 0 yards

IN YTD: 70 yards

OUT YTD: 102 1/4 yards

YTD Total: 32 1/4 yards OUT

On the hand stitching front, I missed one day out of the last two weeks.  Last night, it was difficult to get BJ to sleep and keep him asleep, and I didn’t have a chance to hand stitch.  Alas.  276/289 days for 2021.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge, Interrupted

 Oh, hello, there.  I wasn’t sure I’d have a chance to write a blog today.

The story goes like this: I ordered 160 pounds of apples to can. We love homemade applesauce as well as juice made from the cores.  With nine people )n the family, we can put away dozens of quarts and still not have enough.  Thursday, I picked up the apples and got flu shots for the remaining three children.  Friday, Spunky and I processed 80 pounds, finishing the day with 19 1/2 quarts of applesauce and five of apple juice.  I even (gasp) had everything washed and tidied before bed; usually I’m too exhausted to get everything wrapped up.  I was looking forward to today for canning and sewing.

Unfortunately, about 1 am, DH discovered BJ was running a fever.  Things when downhill from there.  Apparently getting his flu shot triggered another flare for the little man, only nine days after the start of the last flare.  Well, then.  No canning and no sewing today.

We managed the fever with ibuprofen for about 12 hours, but this afternoon his temperature when from 103 to 105 in 20 minutes and, before his steroids kicked in, the thermometer crossed 106!  Needless to say, no sewing yet today, and it’s almost 9 pm.

I did find my farm blocks from last week and made a few more this week.  This is what happened when the bills, school stuff, and fabric all end up on my cutting board!

Please excuse my rotated picture.  I must finish before BJ wakes, and there are no guarantees when he’s sick,  I have a few new initials (the baby we lost, mine, and our last name), Corn and Tomatoes, Apron Strings, Wool Star, the acorn from last week, a jar of applesauce, and some flying geese (in the color of each of my children).

Here’s to a better week!

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

P.S. It’s the day to visit the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!

Green… ish

 I really thought I had more farm blocks, but I suspect they are under a pile or hidden cleverly.  I hope to find them for next week.  This little blue acorn isn’t quite green.  I’ve picked most of the blocks I need to finish the quilt, so I cut a block from each book, sew them up, and cut another round.  I have most of the 12” blocks sewn up, so my blocks will be mostly 6” for a while.

I finished one more green hexagon block this week.  The brown rounds aren’t quite as exciting as the colorful ones, but I know when it’s time to assemble the quilt, having worked on the browns now will be quite a treat.

I’ve sewn together all my 2.5” squares into 4-patches and triangle edges (it will make more sense later).  Correction.  I have all the ones sewn for the blocks I need.  I still have many 2.5” squares, but they’ll have to turn into something else.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

P.S.  It’s Rainbow Scrap Challenge weekend.

End of September UFO List

September was a quiet month.  I did finish one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts, the modern vintage blocks, and I started a new project, the Macaron Mystery.

1. Double wedding ring

2. Pillow

3. ABC appliqué 

4. Hand hexagons

5. Split Star

6. Farm quilt

7. Pink hexagons

8. Macaron Mystery

September 1: 8 projects

Started: 1

Finished: 1

September 30: 8 projects

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z.

Stash Report Week #40 and 15 Minutes

 This week was another mask-making week.  I finished another six masks, for a total of 41 for the year.  The kids now have Halloween masks (I think Spunky still needs one, but everyone else is situated).  I tried a new elastic and a new nose piece.  The nose piece is beastly hard to sew around, so I need to think about modifying my pattern or "installing" the nose piece in a different manner.

One more spool bit the dust in all my sewing, for 18 empty spools for the year.

IN this week: 0 yards

OUT this week: 1 yards

IN YTD: 60 yards

OUT YTD: 102 1/4 yards

YTD Total: 42 1/4 yards OUT

I also faithfully stitched on my green hexagon flower.  I think I have a year of flowers, another year of stars, and a year of surrounding the flowers with brown hexagons.  And... who knows how long assembly will take.  But at least it's not forever!  263 days of 275 for 2021.

from the room of Zana's Ninis,

katie z.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge: Scattered

I went searching for lime green scraps.   This month I’ll only have farm blocks and hexagons to work on.

My sewing machine table looks like this.  I have all my 2.5” scraps and am amusing/distracting myself with assembling16-patches.  There are a few lime green pieces in there.

I made more masks this week.  The kids are getting Halloween/autumn ones for October, and I’ve started practicing with the baby on wearing a mask.  He’s two, so isn’t required to wear a mask, but with an autoinflammatory condition and no vaccine in sight, he’s the most at risk.  So we practice.  Numbers in the area are declining but are still too high.

 We are having a rainy weekend, which is great.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis,

katie z. 

October Goals

 September zipped by.  I honestly couldn’t remember what my goals where when I sat down to write this post.

1. Scraps: trim, make blocks in orange: hexagons, Modern Vintage blocks done, and farm blocks.  I’d also like to finish the Modern Vintage quilt and cut the rest of my 2.5” scraps into squares, blocks, and triangles.  They aren’t nice enough fabrics to sort into something organized, so I’ll make a kitchen sink type.  Done.  One large hexagon, finished the Modern Vintage quilt, made more farm blocks.  I did cut up all my 2.5” scraps and made a plan.

2.  Masks.  Never done, but yes.  I have a round of Halloween masks to sew up for my kids still.

3.  Do the first sewing for the Macaron Mystery.

October will probably fly by too.  I’m grateful the kids have a few days off.  Full weeks of school are, quite bluntly, exhausting.

1. Scraps: trim, put brown rounds on a few more hexagons, sew some new farm blocks and sew some small blocks into sets of four.  Maybe I can put my 2.5” squares into 16-patches.  We shall see.

2.  Masks.

3.  I’d like to do the next step on the Macaron Mystery when it comes out.

4. Sewing for my brother.

from the room of Zana’s Ninis, katie z.