Cheddarback Month 4

I finished up June's blocks fairly quickly.


Also, I embroidered in some lines to the basket block from last month.  It's still not optimal, but at least the basket fabric doesn't totally get lost in the background fabric.

I don't think I chose correctly for the 12" block this month.  I should have put in a different fabric for the center since the plaids don't line up right.  It bothers me, but not enough to take out that square.  I will live with it!

I changed the pattern for the bow tie block to make it easier.  I really didn't want to handpiece that center portion.  For the starburst block, I paper pieced instead of using the templates.  I think a lot of people had issues with that block in trying to get the points in the center to line up.  I don't think they matched perfectly in the original quilt either.  I did rip and resew a couple of times to get it close.

For the last 5" block, I decided that I DID want to work on my set in seams :)  I was mostly successful :)




There is one more 12" and 4 5" blocks left to go for this row, and then under that is a row of 5" blocks.  The length will outgrow my wall after July!

New Quilt Start: Dear Daughter

and... with four boys and no daughter, I am not sure who this quilt is for yet, but it will find a person that it's destined for.  I was subject to an ad on facebook by Stitchin' Heaven for this block of the month and it drew me in immediately.  I guess they know how to target an audience :)  I am hoping the fabrics sent are more on the clear/white/bright side, the quilt that was shared in the ad is what grabbed me.  I have seen other BOM's that they have done with this quilt, and they have more of a shade to the background especially.


Episode 1, finished.  Some of the text is very narrow so I stitched like I do with stems, across the letter.  The more bulky letters will most likely be blanket stitched with my Valdani pearl cotton thread (love that thread!).





Just a couple of links... here it is from the designer (she also has some other great patterns, I purchased two last night!) https://iquiltmodern.bigcartel.com/product/dear-daughter-quilt-subscription-2016

Kits and block of the months are dangerous for me.  They are expensive typically, so I do look for deep sale savings.  This one is not on sale, and for the cost, I will stay current as the "episodes" (since we do more than 1 block each month) come out.

I think I need to finish up another UFO for my new starts I had this year :)  What to pull off the pile...

Y2K/Millennial Quilt Finish

Another UFO bites the dust!



How many of you traded charm squares in 1998-2000 to come up with 2000 charms to make a Y2K quilt?  I traded with a couple of different groups to add to my stash clippings for this quilt.  Originally it was going to be a graph of dieting success (each square equaled a fraction of a pound loss, but I lost interest and it became a UFO.  I decided a year or so ago to sew it up and yesterday I finally took my last stitch in the binding.  Hooray! One less UFO after 20yrs!



I love the back... I don't know why exactly, but my grid is just inviting.  I was so happy that I ended up with no puckering with it.  However, I did end up with a little issue in a corner which is where the label went to cover it up.  The problem?  That's the top of the quilt.  Oh well.



I tried to find a few fun squares to search for to put on the label:

I had to cut my label a bit larger than I normally do because I already had an idea of what I wanted to put on it--giving it an eye spy style.

And this guy does not make it easy to finish bindings!  Every single time I am finishing up a quilt, he will lay down in my lap.  He NEVER comes to lay down in my lap unless there is a quilt in it that I am actively working on.  I think he has an agenda or something :)


A couple of pictures of the 1.5" squares:


I love the fact there's a miracle in the quilt, and I also used some of my mom's stash that I had saved.  The blue stripe fabric in the second photo is one.  Mom made me a blouse from that fabric when I believe I was in 3rd grade.  I'd have to go find my photos to see if that was the shirt I wore.

Did you also make a millennial quilt?

Cheddarback Quilt, Month 3

I have been slowly working on this month's set of blocks and last night I finished up the last basket block.  The smaller blocks are only 5", so it was just easier to paper piece that one instead of typical machine piecing.  I didn't quite follow the directions and ended up needing to fudge in more fabric to make it work.  Also, I need to either paint, draw or embroider more to that basket because I have been sick and apparently it affects my ability to see value in the the fabrics! LOL!  I am not taking it apart and redoing because of the teeny tiny stitches to rip and the likelihood that I would rip the fabric instead of the teeny tiny stitches!



And the first three months altogether:



Here's a funny regarding May's blocks... I thought yesterday was May 31 and I was proud I finished two hours prior to June hitting.  Imagine my surprise when I went to turn the calendar this morning and found that today is still May :)  I will use today to darken up that basket I think!

That uneasy feeling

I went down a rabbit hole and now I am left feeling a bit at odds.  I hate feeling left out, especially because I then go down that road of asking what did I do, does that person really think I'm unkind?  Over the years I have been in a constant struggle with depression, and in turn I overthink so much.  But over my life I have always felt the odd peg out, and from there I go to my corner.  I know everyone is dealing with things, this is just a part of my dealing.  I know there are times when I have hurt people, and I believe I have done my best to make amends.  But sometimes I will come across a letter and it takes me right back there again where I feel that sadness or shame of unintentional actions.  Add in that menopause is definitely here, and I am getting closer to my parents' ages when they passed... some days feel surreal.  I want to be that carefree old lady who throws everything to the wind and just lives in joy, but getting there is a rough road.  I'm sorry to my wonderful friends who I haven't kept the best of contact with.

...and a photo from our camping trip for distraction.

Trailer Cam

I love being able to pop in and look inside our trailer.  I know it's weird.  A few things I really like about the indoor camera:
1. Alerts to my phone if someone has entered
2. It has a temperature sensor, which you can also set alerts to (it is currently 64 degs in there :)
3. I can talk to an intruder if I really wanted to through it
4. I can peek in anytime :)

We bought our trailer nearly two years ago and have been slowly getting it ready to take out.  Last year we had two or three instances when the door was open.  Neither of us are sure how that happened, but we decided to put a camera inside so we could be alerted if it happened again.  Considering my car was stolen in January, and I have had people also break into my cars in the past, it seemed proactive in today's world to set up a camera.  I do get alerts, most of time it is because of wind and sun shadows from a neighbor's tree or when Kevin or I enter it.  So far we haven't had any "bad guys" caught or attempting to enter.



I took off the wallpaper strip a couple of weeks ago... it reminds me of the 90's, it had to go.  You can see one section in the above pic, it went all the way around the inside, and had a torn section near the front.  It had to go.  What's funny is that no one noticed I even removed it, and I had to point it out to Kevin!  He was afraid of what I'd find once I started taking it off (like being more of a project than just removing), so I did it when he was busy elsewhere.  Two weekends went by before I pointed it out! :)   It came off nicely, only a few spots needed some adhesive removal help. 

I put up some small quilts to make it feel more like home, and it does feel more inviting.  I used Command Strips for posters, and they are still doing great.  If I wanted them off, it would be a simple task without any damage to the quilts.  I'd like to do an upholstery update as well (including the window valances).  I have been checking out pinterest ideas for updates and all thing trailer, it is easy to get overwhelmed with ideas.  I don't want to paint (though I have seen some great updates in that regard), so it will be simple changes for us.  Kevin also took off the devil head bottle opener you can sort of see on the front corner cabinet.  Good vibes only, please!

Ideally, I'd love to be able to take it out about once a month, but with Kevin's work travel starting to ramp up, I am not sure that will be possible.  Even if we can find a spot for a quick weekend away, I'd love that!



That wood thing on the left? Kevin made a homemade HD antenna, it works really well.

Our maiden voyage will be over the weekend with my brother and sis-in-law.  And.... our weather is forecasting rain--ABOVE-AVERAGE-for-May-RAIN this week.  Sigh.  After an 80+degree week we had last week with lots of sun, it kind of figures.  Hopefully it will just be that morning misty stuff and that's all.

My project I am planning to bring is my Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt which has been on hiatus again.

2019 Humble Quilts Doll Quilt Swap, Received

I just received my adorable doll quilt from Shannon Ward.  It is very cute and she even hand quilted it.  Every year I think about doing the same, but I know it is just not a gift of mine... I hand quilted a small wall quilt years ago, and that was enough.  I actually attempted doing it in the quilt I sent out this year, but it was terrible and I pulled it out and did machine quilting instead.

The fabrics are a wine-red....




I love it.  Thank you again Shannon!


Again, the quilt I sent out... http://melissadevin.blogspot.com/2019/04/2019-humble-quilts-doll-quilt-swap.html


Check out the other swap quilts here: https://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2019/05/humble-quilt-exchange-show-me-your.html