Yet Another PHD in July YAY!!!

 But, before we get to that.  My friend is going to be a grandmother!! And it's a boy!!  So, she and I learned how to use the "new to me" embroidery machine together.  Here is the result.

Didn't it turn out precious.

Now on to the PHD.

I joined a QAL in 2019.  Sew-lets-quilt-along hosted by Inquiringquilter among others.  I made the first 6 or 7 blocks and then decided I really didn't want a quilt made with these blocks.  I put them in a tub and there they have mulled.  They also mulled in my mind over and over and over.  For the PHD challenge hosted by Quiltinggail, this had to get done.  I wanted it out of the tub (and my mind) but I didn't want a quilt.  So this week I got to work.

All of the blocks were 12" except the first one so it became a cover for my Sweet Sixteen.  No pattern, just improvise.  Not a perfect fit but it works.

The next two blocks became a cover for my serger.  One on each side.

Front

Back

And another two blocks made a cover for the "Cadillac" I posted about here.

Front

Back

Again, no pattern, just threw them together.  I put the rest of the blocks in my tub of orphan blocks and I'm calling this project complete.

Here is my July PHD report.

My sewing posse laughs at me because I have a list of projects 65 items long.  I have completed 15 this year with this finish and I'm not counting the baby quilt above (that one was Amy's project) and I have scrapped 3.  At this point there are no more half finished tops except the leader/ender, the antique blocks (I plan to take it to retreat in October), and the one I work on at stitching on Thursdays (also going to retreat).  There are purchased kits, some self kitted and some patterns/planned.

I have 5 tops waiting to be quilted.  I didn't load one this week as we are headed out on a trip in the motorhome on Saturday.  For a month!!!  I wasn't going to take my sewing machine because I didn't want to take time away from my siblings.  But, I get up between 4 and 5 each morning so I plan to do some stitching while I wait for everyone else to rise.  Besides, I told DH that I am addicted and I don't believe I could make it a whole month without sewing something!!!!😉  I have a precut miniature storm at sea that won't take up much room.

One last thing.  Four of us (sewing posse) went to the movie to see....

This is a MUST SEE movie.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

Linking with quiltinggail.com

Another PHD completed in July

 This has been in the making for several years.  It is the Quilting is My Therapy Build A Quilt 2020-2021.  I didn't open the envelopes all year.  When the 2021-22 envelopes started arriving I would complete it and then open the corresponding envelope for the previous year.  I decided not to join the 2022-23 because I already have so many projects in the works and planned.  Now it's almost time for 2023-24 BAQ to start and I'm just getting this one done.  It's been on the frame almost quilted for several weeks.  With a friend coming to finish a quilt we started a few weeks ago (including quilting) I needed to get it off the frame.

I learned that one of my former coworkers and lunch buddies is retiring.  I texted her to see exactly when that would happen.  She told me officially August 1st but the 19th of July would be her last day.  So all of a sudden there was a goal.  We had lunch today and we sat and talked at the restaurant for 3 hours.

I didn't get a picture of her with the quilt but here it is in all it's glory.

It has it's mistakes design changes, one I knew about and one I found while quilting it, but as they say a finished quilt is better than a perfect quilt top.  And it seems that every quilt I finish has at least one "design change".  Maybe that will be my signature. 😏  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!!

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

Two posts in one week

 I know, not normal for me.  But I had to share this.

One of my quilting friends and I went to a sewing supply give away.  I didn't find anything much but she got several things.

She ended up riding home with another friend because when she accepted my invitation she had forgotten that she had agreed to meet with the other friend for lunch.

One of our other sewing friends had told me about a quilt shop, that isn't what I consider "local" but we do frequent it, having Christmas fabric 50% off for the Fourth of July weekend.  And since the interstate home was bumper to bumper (we live just off the main route to the beach in Alabama), I decided I would take the detour to the quilt shop.  Traffic for the first part of my detour wasn't a whole lot better.

On the way to this quilt shop is Chelsea Antiques.  I decided I would rather wander through the antique store.

While there I snagged a plastic bag full of old quilt blocks.  The lady that checked me out said she was so glad that someone was going to take them.  She asked if I was going to finish the quilt.  When I told her yes, but I wasn't going to hand stitch them she said she would like to see it when I finished.  

When I texted the sewing posse about it they wanted pictures.  Here's what I sent them.

I told them that they smelled and what could I do?  One said put dryer sheets in the bag and another said lay them in the sun for a day.  

OK, I put the dryer sheets in the bag overnight and then I put them out in the sun, well shade.

A couple of hours later, remember we're in Alabama, DH came to the door of the studio and said your fabric is getting wet.  Dang, I ran down and gathered all of them back up, soaking wet and by the time I got back on the deck with dripping blocks, the sun came back out.  It was the only rain we got all day!!!

I decided I would press them dry with some sizing to help with the smell.

How'd that go?  Not too good.

The yellow block was the first one off the pile.  My ironing board and my iron were a mess. The yellow ran. 

Next was the pink.

The red one that I thought was suspect did fine.  Sew, back to the sewing posse.  What to do?  There were several suggestions, Retayne, Synthrapol, and Color Catchers.  Color Catchers were the only one of these that I had on hand.  So I loaded the washing machine and added 3 color catchers.

I was a believer in color catchers, now I'm going to be a promotor.  Here are the culprits after the process.

I have pressed them all dry and they are going to be gorgeous.  Guess it will call for a road trip so I can show the lady the the antique store.

I will try to keep you posted.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose