Quilters Thread

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Today will be highest 80s - overcast skies with some smoke from Oregon - maybe 90 tomorrow. Weather forecasters assure us that we'll get a cool down next week - and we'll be happy when that happens.

We have an appt. in Seattle this afternoon. We can't leave the a/c units on while we're gone. It will be nice and toasty in the house when we get back.

Now, our YDS came down with Covid too - both DD and YDS have it. DDIL is okay so far - but they've set up a cot for her in the living room - hoping she escapes contagion. YDS got the Paxlovid meds last night at an all-night pharmacy, called in by their clinic on-call physician. Evidently, our area is having an uptick in Covid cases. YDs went to a concert with a friend on Saturday, using public transportation. He wore a mask and they didn't eat in any restaurants. But, though masked, he didn't escape contagion. He's pretty upset because it was the first time he attempted a public social event since Covid began. DD is doing better. She's going to try to WFH today.

I worked on the quilt for a little while yesterday - arranging the HSTs around the center.

It's been too hot for me to do much of anything - except I did cook dinner last night. No cooking today or tomorrow (hopefully).

Looking forward to seeing your table toppers and that golf and potted plants fabrics. Stay well.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope your weather gets cooler soon, those are some hot temperatures for early September! I remember how I couldn't leave my portable AC units on when I left the house, and I feel for you coming back to being so hot.

I'm sorry to hear your YDS has covid, hope he gets over it soon. Hope your appointment goes well today. I'm glad you were able to make some progress on your quilt too.

I finished the two table toppers. I'm giving them to my DB and DSIL as a belated anniversary gift, they recently had their 58th Wedding Anniversary. Hopefully they will like them and can use them somewhere in their house. I think this is the first quilted thing I've ever given them because my DSIL is such an excellent quilter and she has beautiful wall hangings, table toppers and table runners displayed in their house - she changes them out each season. But maybe they'll like having something I made for them and enjoy them because of their "hobbies".

The green in the one table runner is much more of an apple green color in person and the yellow in the other one is more of a yellow-gold. My phone doesn't take the best pictures showing the true color. The backs are just the full focus fabric, so the table topper could be turned over and used on that side too. The back picture is before I bound them.

I made my one block a day this afternoon too and now I can get back to things I was working on before I started the table runners.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Another hot day out here - but hasn't reached 90 yet - and may not - though it's still early. But it did yesterday, I think it hit 91. It's overcast though and we do have some smoke in the upper atmosphere - but not too invasive at the lower elevations. Yesterday was a scorcher. But, we did leave our bedroom a/c blowing as it's vented through a 2nd story (hard-to-reach) window. That helped a lot to keep even the family room areas cooler. We turned on the 2nd unit when we got home, and it cooled down quickly. We continue to have more comfortable temps at night.

I tried to take a nap when we got home at 4:30 - but it turned out to be just a rest. Our appointment yesterday was legal business that we finalized at an office in West Seattle. It had taken lots of serious discussion between DH and myself and drafting of changes and/or additions between us and our attorney. We're so thankful it has been settled, signed, and documented. I don't want to think about it anymore.

I'll work on the HST inner border for a while - depending on how hot it gets. I love your fabric choices for your DB and DSIL. So cute! They'll love having them.

Our YDS is doing well - the illness has not spread to his lungs - which he's thankful for - being an asthmatic. Taking the Paxlovid immediately helped him a lot. Haven't heard yet whether our DDIL has tested positive or not - last night she was still negative.

We're hoping for a return to more normal weather for us - and the weatherman assured us that we would have a big change next week. So, we're more than ready for that.

Stay well - enjoy your projects.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope your weather cools down this weekend. It was still pretty nice here, a bit warmer and humid though.

It is nice to get legal paperwork finished, I'm glad you were able to do that. I had an appointment with a lawyer last month to update my will, so it feels good to have that updated.

I had lunch today with my DB and DSIL and gave them their table toppers, I think they both liked them. My DB liked the way he could turn his over and just have it show all golf. We talked about going to see the longarm machines sometime this month, so hopefully we can make that happen.

I told my DSIL that we just need to see if we like it when we try to use it because we might not and then there is no point in thinking about it. Hopefully we would like it though. I counted my quilt tops recently and I have 230 quilt tops that need to be quilted. Now these range in size from as small as 15 inches wide to 79 inches wide. I think there are about 50 of them I could just do on my domestic machine, but that still leaves 180 quilt tops!  I'd really like the ease of quilting them on a longarm so I didn't have to baste them. 

We had lunch at a nice seafood restaurant and I enjoyed some fried shrimp and hush puppies, both were really good. When I got home I started making some of the blocks for the Marble Mystery I'm doing monthly. I like to get the clue finished early in the month so I don't have to think about it.

Take care and have a great weekend

[busybee]

Hi CJ: The cool down has begun - though today it will get into the lower 80s - but that's a reprieve from high 80s & 90s. It's quite overcast - but 55% humidity. It's fine inside so far - we'll see how the heat builds up later. But the forecaster told us last night that we have "turned the corner" to more fall-like weather. And next week, we'll get some rain. We're ready and looking forward to cooler days with rainy days interspersed.

Now, our DDIL also tested positive for Covid and she's had a video appt. with her doctor and has a prescription for Paxlovid. I feel for both of them - because they've been so very careful for so long. They also have put down a deposit on an ocean cottage for next week along the Oregon Coast. It's non-refundable, so maybe by then (Sept. 15), they'll be able to drive down there. It depends on how sick our DDIL gets. YDS is doing better and has no breathing problems.

I did finish arranging the HSTs in a design around the middle of the magic quilt medallion yesterday. I also started sewing the side HST pieces together. That's progress - finally. But today, I'm making a peach pie for our DD's birthday tomorrow. So, it's likely that my sewing will be delayed.

Your outing with your DB and DSIL sounds so nice - and a delicious seafood meal as well. Right now, my DH is going to the grocery store to get lemons, which I need for the pie, but I told him to also get a piece of fish - cod or salmon. I'm looking forward to that.

Well - you've sure made a lot of quilt tops - a bundle to quilt for sure. What are you going to do with all of them?

I just found an announcement of a quilt show nearby - one town away - about a 20 minute drive - in October - that I've been to before - and am definitely going to try to attend this year.

Hope you get to try out the long-arm machines so you can get started on quilting your stash.

Stay well.

[cj59]

Hi graylady - Sorry you are still having that hot weather. It's cool here in the 70s.

Hope your DDIL will get better soon, it seems like everyone is getting covid again.

I'm happy to hear that you have a quilt show coming up next month. There used to be several around here in the Fall but I don't see them much anymore. I hope you get to go and that you enjoy it.

I did get my flying geese blocks made yesterday for the Marble Mystery Quilt Along, but I need to trim them. I'm hoping to do that today, but so far I haven't been motivated

Yesterday afternoon I went over to my DB's house for a cookout/meal with one of his kids and a few of the grandchildren. It was nice to spend time with the family, especially the younger one (they are all adults now, but seem young to me).

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's cooler today - in the mid 70s - but feels hotter in the sun. However, we definitely have a smoke canopy over our area today. I can feel it in my throat - turning on the air cleaner now.

Today is our DD's birthday and we drove over to her Seattle apartment with half a peach pie that I made for her yesterday. We sat outside in front of her front porch and visited. She has tested negative for Covid - and all symptoms are gone. It never got down into her chest. So, she is very happy about that. (We also gave her an Amazon gift card so she can have fun picking out a present for herself.)

I did sew one side of the HSTs and will be sewing the next side today - and hopefully can proceed with the other 2 today or tomorrow.

Now, my DH also has a big-time toothache - losing half a tooth - and will be calling the dental clinic tomorrow. (We're falling apart!)

So nice to get together with family - and especially all the "younger" ones. How nice for you! 

Usual Sunday gathering of trash for pickup tomorrow.

One step at a time with our quilt projects - some time the mood just isn't "right."

Hope the rest of your Sunday is a pleasant laid-back one.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm glad that your weather is cooler and I hope that continues. It's been cooler here, especially at night which has been nice for sleeping.

I hope your DD enjoyed her birthday pie and I'm glad to hear she is doing better. I hope your YDS and DDIL are better too. Sorry to hear about your DH's tooth, hope he can get things taken care of at his appointment, or soon after.

I was able to finish trimming the blocks yesterday, but didn't get any other quilting done. I've kind of lost interest on my block at day blocks, so I think I'll just go ahead and get them all sewn as soon as I can.

I did baste the table topper I did in the Scottie fabrics, and hope to get it machine quilted and bound this week. Pat Sloan's new quilt along starts tomorrow and I'm trying to figure out my fabrics for it. I wanted to do just browns and golds, but I think I might have to add in some orange. I hope I can figure that out today so I'm ready for tomorrow. Here's a link to the quilt along:

www.ilovetomakequilts.com/block-wed-ode-to-our-national-parks.html

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Much cooler out here "finally," back to normal mid-seasonal weather patterns. It's in the high 60s and we had a little rain. the leaves from the big leaf maple are beginning to turn color and fall - though slowly.

Yesterday, DH and I went to UW Dental Clinic to get his aching tooth pulled. I waited in the parking garage for him and drove us home. While still numbed, he didn't feel too bad - except for the gauze packed into the empty tooth cavity. But when it wore off, then he felt the pain - but with Tylenol and ice packs, he did all right. First, he fixed himself a milk shake for his lunch. Then for dinner, I fixed some Progresso chicken soup for him - just mostly broth and pearl pasta. For 2 days, he should be on a liquid or very soft foods diet. Today, I fixed pancakes, and with maple syrup softening them, he enjoyed them very much. He needed solid food in his tummy.

DD is doing well and is back to WFH. YDS is also WFH. DIL is doing better as well. I chatted with our niece for a while yesterday. And we "watched" the debate last night. Actually, I can't actually "watch" it - my DH does and so do other friends of mine and DD. They keep me up-to-date - but I'm not able to watch the male candidate - and haven't done so in many years. 'Nuf said.

I'll work on the HST border today for a while. And then, I'll do the de-cluttering for the cleaners coming tomorrow.

Hope all is well and that you're enjoying getting fabrics ready for your new Pat Sloan quilt-a-long.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm happy to hear your weather has gotten cooler. It's still in the 80s here but not too bad.

I hope your DH continues to heal up, he's fortunate to have you to cook for him and take care of him I'm also glad to hear the rest of the family is getting well.

I have a family member who watched the debate and they are very interested in all of that, you two would enjoy talking together I can't watch debates at all, they just bug me.

y DB and DSIL and I went to the quilt shop yesterday to look at the longarm machines. It's a really nice quilt shop and they offer repair services and they will deliver and set up your frame and longarm if you buy from them, so that would be a good deal. Sadly, we didn't get to actually stitch on the machine we were interested in because it was not stitching well. I'm not sure if that was a sign not to buy that model or not My DSIL thinks the needle might have been causing problems.

Anyway, we did get a lot of good information and we may just check out a Sewing Expo that's coming up and hope they have some machines on display there and then we can decide if we want to buy. They have several special offers that expire at the end of October, so we'd want to purchase before that to take advantage of them.

We also stopped at JoAnn's yesterday and they had some great fabric deals. I only bought a little bit but I might go back before the sale ends. Some nice fabrics were only $3.99 a yard.

I'm hoping to make the blocks for the new quilt along, I just have to get the fabric cut out. Hopefully I can get to that soon.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: We're still in a "cool" pattern - in the mid to high 60s - with some rain. Cloudy skies and more typical fall weather.

I finished the 4 border strips made up of flying geese blocks - fabrics that I have used throughout the quilt. And I'll continue to work on the middle medallion part of the main quilt as I have time.

We had the cleaning ladies today and I worked at de-cluttering yesterday and got up too early today - so I napped this afternoon. And now I'm putting together a grocery shopping list for pickup tomorrow.

As a daughter of emigrants, my mother and father cherished their U.S. citizenship and always voted in every single election until their deaths. They emphasized to my brother and me how fortunate we were to live in a democracy where we elected our leadership - freely and without coercion.

And because our close relatives in the former Yugoslavia endured horrible persecution under both Nazi and Fascist (Italian) occupation during WWII (my mother's brother was killed in a tank as part of a Yugoslav army fighting against Nazi forces), we learned how different our lives here in the U.S. were from the peoples who lived under the Axis powers in Europe during those years. Relatives who worked in alliance with the Allies were put to death, etc...

For those reasons, I've always been active in making sure that our freedoms are preserved here in this country and I've particularly advocated for a strong education system which must be the basis of a democratic republic. So - this particular national election coming up may very well be the most crucial ever - and thus it's best that we all stay informed and not allow complacency to take a strong hold. The so-called debates aren't really true debates - but they do give the candidates an opportunity to show the electorate what they think on certain important issues, and what they would emphasize during their term of office. The ABC network did a great job of moderating - and fact-checking this time.

Both my husband and I read a large metropolitan daily newspaper, read various news sources on-line, and we do listen to pertinent newscasts - so that we can discuss issues and talk about the future - not just for ourselves - but for the next generation(s.) Who we elect to lead our country during these most critical times must be taken seriously by all of us.

Our YDS and wife are still ill from Covid - not testing negative yet. We also heard tonight from our oldest son in AZ. 

My grocery list awaits. Hope you get to find a long-arm machine at the Sewing Expo. Sounds like that would be the best to go about finding what you'd like best.

Stay well and I hope I didn't upset you too much with my historical family story. I grew up listening to many of those stories as more emigrants trickled into the U.S. I remember the WWII years quite well - and here in Seattle we had barrage balloons, air wardens, rationing and we saved tin cans and other metal and cooking oils for the war effort. My father worked in the shipyards, which ran day and night producing war ships. And the Boeing airplane company mass produced airplanes for the war effort. The whole plant was camouflaged to appear as a small town from the air. My father emigrated to the U.S. in 1927 - my mother and brother didn't follow him until 1937. I was born in Seattle in 1938. The Nazis began their occupation of Europe with Poland in 1939. 

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm glad to hear the weather is staying cool. It's been pretty nice here, still around 80.

I'm happy that you've been able to get some more done on your quilt too.

Your family history is interesting and I think our histories always impact on how we see the world. Thank you for sharing your story. I think it's one of the important things in our country too that we have the right to vote and so much more freedom than other countries have

I went out this morning to run a bunch of errands, so I haven't done any quilting today. Last night I did get the pieces cut for the new block of Pat Sloan's quilt along, so I just need to piece them together. I'm making two versions to start just to see which one I like better. I may keep making two of each block and do different layouts for them, or I might stop and just make one version.

Take care and have a good weekend

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and good weather

The quilt shop sent me and email and said the machine is now working well, they just had to unplug the stitch regulator and then plug it back in again - I guess it needed reset. I thought it was nice of them to contact me, I'm sure they want the sale. I told them I'm over an hour away so probably couldn't come back until we decided if we are going to purchase the longarm. I'd like to buy it from this store if we do.

I finished my two quilt blocks for Pat Sloan's quilt along. She's doing two for each block and since I was undecided on my fabric selections I'm going to try two for a bit and see if I like both of them. I have some other fabrics to add in with these. The background fabric (it has more of an orange tint in person) behind the blocks is my background fabric I'm using for the sashing, so I can use darker fabrics in the blocks, something different for me.

I also made a 10 minute table runner today - of course it really takes about an hour I loved the center fabric with all the Autumn leaves and tree names and I'm glad I thought to use it this way.

I'm hoping to get to some machine quilting next, but that might be tomorrow. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's in the low 60s today - and it's raining now with a slight breeze - but just started about an hour ago. Fall is obviously poking its way through summertime. But it's good sweatshirt weather - our preferred clothing for most seasons, except summer.

I love your choice of fabrics for your Pat Sloan quilt-along - but the runner too is darling. I also love all the names of the trees in the center fabric. It's a "keeper" for sure.

Yesterday, I picked up groceries - put them away - and then it was time to make dinner. I was good and worn out after all of that - and just settled in to watch the Mariners play Texas - and we managed to win the 2nd game of the series.

Today is college football Saturday and we watched our annual Apple Cup rivalry game between U.W. and WA State - which we lost for the first time in many years by 5 points. We have a new coach and practically an entire new roster - and they've abandoned the Pacific Coast conference for the Big 10. So, it's a trial year for this coach who came from AZ. Our last year's coach, who took the team to the championship - went to Alabama (a powerhouse team) and took 3/4ths of the team with him. Anyway, our Huskies put up a good fight and we expect them to do better as they gain experience.

I'm working on the sashing for the middle section of the magic quilt today. Thankfully, I have leftovers so I don't have to do too much cooking. That was nice of that quilt shop to email you - and maybe it will work out for you. Start bargaining for a better price!

Molly and I enjoyed the fireplace this afternoon while watching the game (and folding clothes).

Stay well.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well and the weather is still alright. It's cooler here today before we get rain for a couple of days from the storm that is off the North Carolina coast right now.

I'm glad you have your sports teams to enjoy watching, I hope they all have a good season.

I haven't done any quilting for a few days. I still have my table topper laid out ready to machine quilt, but haven't felt like it. Hopefully I'll get it done over the next few days since I don't like to out when it's raining.

Hope you can work on your quilt too. Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's very nice today - sunny and warm at 70. Just a momentary nice day, though, with rain coming in late tonight and tomorrow. These mid-season days are like this - changeable. But nice to have anyway. 

I'm getting ready to square up the middle portion of the quilt, so I can sew the narrow black sashing around it - before I attach the HSTs border. I've ironed all of it and am clearing off the cutting table so I can spread out the middle portion. It's about 38" square.

Yes, we had 2 games yesterday to watch - the Seahawks who won their game vs. the Patriots by 3 points in overtime. Then, the Mariners beat the Texas Rangers in a near shutout game - with Texas just getting 1 hit - no runs - 7 to 0.

Our YDs and DDIL drove to the Central Oregon Coast yesterday, where they had made reservations weeks ago. They felt good enough to make the drive - about 7 hours - and are staying in a darling 2 bedroom beach bungalow - short walk to the sandy beaches. They've got their 2 dogs and are enjoying good weather today. They both needed this get-away - and we're happy that they felt well enough to go - and not cancel.

We hope to drive over the mountains in another week or two before the bad weather sets in - to see the colors and visit a bakery in CleElum, WA, where they sell my DH's favorite "raisin cinnamon buns." They are so popular that we'll have to call the day before to have them set aside a dozen for us. We'll freeze half of them. Our son and DIL took me on a drive over there a few months back and we really enjoyed the trip and the visit to the bakery - I think it was for Mother's Day.

I'm still providing soft foods for DH - he's doing well after his tooth extraction and soon he can go back to his normal diet.

Hope you don't get too much rain from that weather system coming your way. 

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well today. I'm glad you are having nice weather. We only had light showers here today and maybe the heavier rain will be tonight/tomorrow. You can never know if the forecast is right

I'm glad you DS and DDIL were able to go on their trip and hope they have a good time. It's good to hear your DH is doing better too. I hope you do get to go the bakery to get some of the raisin cinnamon buns, they sound delicious. I'm hoping to go to the Amish Bakery maybe in October or November. Last time I went was March.

I'm happy to hear your quilt is coming along, hope you keep getting to work on it.

I did get some quilting accomplished today. I finished quilting the table topper and put on the binding this morning. This afternoon I quilted a piece that I've had sandwiched since before I moved, I'm so happy to have that done and hope to get the binding on it tomorrow.

That will leave me with one other piece that needs to be finished - I'm big stitch hand quilting that one. I have about 1/3 of it done, so I hope I can get the rest finished maybe this month or at least by the end of next month. These last two quilts are the same pattern and they've been on my mind since last November so I'd love to have them done.

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It's been cloudy earlier today with some rain - but it's clearing up now with some blue sky peeking through the puffy white clouds - and creeping closer to 70. No complaints.

I worked on the quilt yesterday - squared up the center section and started sewing on the black sashing strips. I'll continue working on it today.

DH is finally on a "normal" diet once again - but he's still being pretty careful. I made a hearty beef vegetable soup for our dinner last night. I cut up sirloin steak into small cubes and it cooked into very tender pieces - along with lots of vegetables. It was delicious and lots left for tonight too.

You've done quite a bit on those long-time quilts - glad you can finish them up. That's always a good feeling.

I'm going to continue working on this quilt each day - and hope to finish it by Christmas!  Hmmmmm - we'll see.

We're not sure which day we'll head over the mountains. Tomorrow, our car goes in for servicing. So that means I have to get up early to drive it over to the dealership and DH will follow in his truck. I won't drive the truck because it's too hard for me to see out of the tinted windows in the canopy. So, that's why both of us have to go tomorrow morning.

I heard from my Cousin today - she's just back from a short trip to a guest ranch in Montana with her older daughter. That's her preferred get-away. She gets to ride and enjoy good ranch food. She's back to baby-sitting duties with her younger daughter's 18+-month old baby boy and taking care of her own horses.

Otherwise, it's just more of the same around here. Stay well and hope your weather doesn't get too bad.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - I'm glad you are enjoying some cooler weather, hope it stays nice for you. It was only in the 70s here today and the rain is gone. I'll will be looking forward to hearing when you get to go on your trip over the mountains, so I can vicariously eat a cinnamon roll

Your DH is very fortunate to have you to take care of him, I'm glad your soup turned out well. I only have one soup that I'm good at making, I should try to make some others some time. It's just so easy to open a can of soup though

I'm glad you're getting time to work on your quilt, I hope you finish it before Christmas It will be another heirloom quilt and I'm sure your YDS will treasure it.

I got a lot done the last few days, finished quilting and binding the flying geese (Dutchman's puzzle quilt). This quilt is 36x36 and used fat quarters from my stash that I've had for awhile. I also made the versions of the next block from Pat Sloan's quilt along and even though I'm not that happy with these fabric combinations, I'm going to keep going with them and make two quilts. I've already cut out the rest of the sashing strips and also the inner and outer borders, so these quilt tops will go together quickly.

You can see in the picture I've already put the first two blocks together. The sashing fabric has an orange tint that doesn't show well in the pictures. Here's a link the project page:

www.ilovetomakequilts.com/block-wed-ode-to-our-national-parks.html

I also posted a picture of the Scottie table topper I finished, it was fun to use all the polka dot fabrics. I went out earlier to pick up all my junk mail at the post office, can't believe it followed me from my old house

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: It turned out to be a lovely late summer day - blue skies and sunny all afternoon and reaching 71. More of the same for tomorrow but a bit cooler.

Got up too early for me - but we got the Honda to the dealership - and got back home for me to try to nap a while. I finally did get a couple hours of sleep in my recliner after eating a light lunch. On top of having to get up earlier than normal (for me), I also had a lot of pain in both shoulders which prevented me from sleeping much anyway. Not a good day for me.

But, at least, our baseball team beat the Yankees, 3 to 2, after losing 2 games from them - of a 3-game series. The Yanks are at the top of their Eastern Division - so understandable. They played an afternoon game and the stadium was filled - such a nice day for being outside.

No sewing for me today - I wouldn't have been able to sew a straight seam!

But your blocks for the Sloan quilt-a-long are so nice and I just love the "Scotty" fabric. Eleanor Burns did a Scotty quilt in honor of FDR - as part of her wartime series of quilts. And I love the warmth of the golds and oranges - so very suitable for the season coming up pretty fast.

The dealership found a nail in one of our tires - a slow leak - but too close to the rim or high edge (not sure) to be repairable. So, we're waiting for a new tire - and will take the car back when it gets here. In the meantime, we won't be driving over the mountains just yet. The reason DH loves the cinnamon rolls from that bakery is because they use lots of raisins! It's hard to find cinnamon rolls with raisins over here in any bakery we've tried. So - that's why we go over there - AND - it's a lovely drive this time of year (before the snow flies). So, we're looking forward to it - hopefully next week after we get the tire installed.

I'll get back to my quilt tomorrow for sure. I had begun to sew the HST portion of the sashing yesterday.

Stay well.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well and having good weather. It's been around 80 here for the last few days and then I think we get the 70s this coming week. I haven't been outside since Thursday, so I really need to go out and check the mail today.

Sorry to hear aobut the nail in your tire, I hope that the new tire gets here soon so that you can make your trip over the mountains. I never really thought about how hard it is to find raisins in cinnamon rolls, it seems like when I was a kid that was more common. I like raisins, so I'm sure they are great in those rolls. Have you ever eaten an Eccles Cake? It is a raisin filling in a cripsy pastry, I love those.

Hope you were able to get back to your quilt yesterday and this weekend too.

Over the last few days I finished making all the sashing and borders for the two National Parks quilts, so those will go together quickly as I make the blocks. This is one of the things I really like about Pat Sloan's quilt alongs, she gives the whole pattern at the beginning.

I did a little bit of the big stitch quilting, but wasn't really into it. I was sitting on the couch and I find it's easier to do that at a table where I can stretch the quilt out across the table and keep it flat.

Today I'm putting together some of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks from this year since I decided to use one set of them (I have three different sets) to make a long table runner. I'm happy with how it's turning out and I hope I can get the top done today.

Take care and enjoy the weekend

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Our weather here has been in a holding pattern of foggy mornings, sunny afternoon, no rain, and in the lowest 70s - so far. Then, we'll gradually get cooler and probably not as many sunny afternoons - but not much rain next week either. So, once again, no complaints. It got into the higher 40s last night, though, needed an extra blanket!

Not getting outside sounds like me - sometimes I think I'm going to turn into a "mole!" I'll try to get out on the deck today for just a while - get some sun on my skin. It's good for us!!!!!

I did work on the quilt yesterday - got the flying geese inner border attached almost up to the corners. Big problem now is how to finish the corners - since I never bothered to measure anything and those flying geese are not giving me a nice perfect space for a cornerstone. My solution is to make separate HSTs to fill in the space so that a cornerstone will fit nicely. Hah - easier said than done. So, that's my problem for today.

One wouldn't think that finding cinnamon rolls "with" raisins would be such a problem - but IT IS, unfortunately. I, too, remember that they always had raisins when I was a kid and young adult even. Hmmmm - those Eccles Cakes sound wonderful. My DH would love them. I looked up the recipes - everything starts with a very rich buttery crust. I don't dare tell my DH about them. 

So, no tire yet - and DH has made an appt. for our Covid vaccinations for Tues., Sept. 24. I just hope we can get all squared away to drive over the mountains before the bad weather sets in.

You are on a roll with your projects - meaning that you have all your fabrics so organized that you can work on anything that grabs your fancy. I don't. And I keep staring at the stacks of jumbled fabrics when I'm sewing and wishing that they were all organized so I could even try to make a block of some other quilt pattern - just for ME.

Had a long text chat with my Croatian cousin - it's bedtime for her now. (They're 9 hours ahead of PST) Miss her lots - but loved having the short visit with her son in July - the travel/tourist specialist who took a group to Alaska.

Hope your weather gets cooler soon. Enjoy your projects - and get outside for just a bit - like I will.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are having a nice day and good weather. It's cooler here after a thunderstorm overnight, but I see that it's humid out. I don't plan to go anywhere (or outside) today to check that out.

Hope you were able to work on the quilt today and could figure out the solution to the cornerstones.

I finished the table runner top last night and thought about cutting the batting and backing today, but I don't feel like it. I've been busy cleaning and doing laundry today so my week would be free if I needed to go somewhere.

I also hope/hoped to work on the big stitch quilting, and I still might feel like it. If I could just one block done it would be nice. I have 6 that need to be stitched, so that would get to me to 5 left. But it will still be there when I feel like it

Take care

[busybee]

Hi CJ: Cloudy and overcast today - but still warm for this time of year - 71 - maybe we'll have rain showers somewhere in the region. A little breeze is blowing - not exactly an inviting day to be outside - not for me anyway.

We did our Sunday chores yesterday - and we had baseball and football games to monitor. I wanted our Mariners to win their 3rd game from Texas - but it didn't happen. Their chances of reaching the playoffs grow dimmer with each loss. Just 6 games to go in the season.

I worked on the cornerstone problem and have figured it out. Since the border has different colored FG, matching the color repeat is the problem right now - and making HSTs to fill in. (I know it's not very clear - but the problem is the FG meeting HSTs "somehow.")

And I have paperwork to deal with today. We're scheduled to get our shots tomorrow for Covid/flu/RSV and I have an on-line questionnaire to fill out.

I'll be making a few more HSTs for the cornerstones though - somehow - today.

I talked to my DD yesterday - she's going back to work in the office today. She's been working from home since she contracted Covid. Our son and DIL are home from their trip to the OR coast - and have stories to tell - of missing turns and going off route. LOL! DDIL told me that DS is not ready to talk about it. I can hardly wait to hear it though. We've driven down to the OR coast as well - and we know that it can get tricky especially around Astoria, OR. If you miss a turn, then you're driving miles on unmarked 2-lane roads in the middle of nowhere. LOL

Stay well and enjoy your projects.

[cj59]

Hi busybee - Hope you are doing well today and that your shots went well. The weather here has been cooler, which is nice, but with some rain.

I'm glad you've figured out the cornerstone problem on your quilt, hope you can get time to work on it this week.

I didn't do any quilting yesterday, but went out and got some groceries and ran a few errands. I'm trying not to shop so often, it's crazy how expensive everything is!

This morning I did some big stitch quilting and I'm hoping to finished another of the 9 blocks today. It can take over an hour to stitch a block and about 16 threaded needles. I'd just really like to get this one done.

I haven't done anything else, but maybe I'll try to get the batting and backing done for the table runner I finished. Tomorrow is Pat Sloan's block of the week, so I hope I can get those two made.

Take care