HQ45 - Pemberley quilting

Today is the 45th day in Home Quarantine.  I spent my morning quilting on Pemberley - finished one of the corner blocks and have three more of these big blocks along the border to do.  There are 16 of the big blocks and I was hoping to complete the hand quilting before my guild's quilt show in September.  These stay at home days have given me the time to almost all of the blocks completed, but now the guild has cancelled the quilt show.

While I quilted, I listed to My Dear Hamilton on audible.  Its the story of his Alexander Hamilton's wife, Eliza (Betsy)Schulyer Hamilton.  I do enjoy listening to books while I quilt, much more than music or watching tv.  I just finished listening to America's First Daughter, (about the daughter (Martha, Patsy, Jefferson Randolph) of Thomas Jefferson. Odd that Eliza was called Betsy and Martha was called Patsy.  I guess Betsy could come from Elizabeth, but her name was Eliza.  Not sure how they got Patsy out of the name Martha.

 I find that historical novels make learning history much more interesting.  Just have to take into consideration that many times the stories have been embellished. Both of these books were written by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie.  The authors provide clarification in the end of the embellishments they made and why.

HQ Day 44 - Lone Star / Rose Star

Today I decided to work on my Lone Rose Star quilt.  This has been a difficult one for me to name.  Basically its a Lone Star quilt, and I have EPP'ed some Rose Star blocks to encircle the Lone Star....so I call it my Lone Rose Star, but then there are multiple Rose Stars.  Hmmm...I may have to change this name.

I debated on the layout of the star point so I took two pictures:

I decided to send the pictures to two friends (Darlene and Brenda ) and get their opinion.  I was so glad they picked the one that in my mind I had already chosen, the one where the center is yellow - pink - green.

Today I got it put together and laid it out to see how the Rose Stars will look.  I still have to square it up, add a border the same as the background so that the stars will fit and make one more Rose Star.  I actually have two more Rose Star blocks, but I made them before I decided on the grey background and both of those stars have grey on the out edge and just get lost in the background. 

The assembly of this quilt top was a real challenge for me with all the Y seams.   Its not as wrinkly as it looks in the picture as I have it laid out on a sheet and could not pull it tight.  Once I get the borders on , I will be able to pull the stars away  from the Lone Star a little bit and maybe that will give it a little better look. 

HQ Day 42 Wild Rose Duchess Table Topper

Is it possible that it has been a week since my last post????  These days are going by faster than I thought.  I lose total track of what day of the week it is and my goodness it has now been 6 weeks.
I thought I would have a lot more done in 6 weeks, but then I didn't factor in making masks, fixing hubby breakfast, lunch and supper, and cleaning projects in my projection of all I would finish. 

 This is my Wild Rose Duchess table topper that I completed last night.  This was a on-line workshop being sponsored by Kristina Hadjimichael.  It was a fun one, but also several new things I learned in making this topper.  I think I put my binding on a little too tight as the topper puckers a little...but I can live with that.

Next project pineapple blocks which I love to paper piece.  I spent at least two hours gathering fabrics from my stash.  Had to rob several project boxes where I had set aside fabrics for future or current project, but gotta do what is necessary when fabric stores are closed.

HQ DAYS 32, 33, 34 35 - Pinning Technique

Well this post will cover 4 days activities.  Days 31, 32, 33, and 34 were spent making face masks, primarily for a local hospital.  I took a little break yesterday afternoon and this morning to get my Coronaville and Temperature Quilt caught up.  This afternoon I will get back into the mask mode and make some for a local volunteer fire department that contacted one of my friends with a need for face masks.  This is sure making a dent in my fabric stash :) which pleases me.

 This is the 5th full week I have been in Home Quarantine, or I guess I should say the current reference Stay-At-Home.  I don't actually have "the virus", so not quarantine I guess.  But I like the HQ term so will continue to use it.

My block 35 is the purple house with red door and yellow roof.  I am enjoying picking out fabrics from those I have pre-cut to make my houses - and trying to keeps color balance through out the quilt.  I have them all on my design wall and I am afraid I may need a bigger wall before this is all over.  Right now, they are saying in SC it may be June before we can start moving about.  The "elderly" \, which I am considered one, may be asked to stay home longer than others.  But that's ok - that is the way it started, and I sure do not want to get the virus or give the virus to any of my friends and family.

My Seasonal Temperature Quilt is coming along nicely.  Spring blocks have the green between the temperature blocks and this green fabric makes me happy.

I know I have talked about how I have learned to pin my quilts in the past, but today when joining one temperature row to another, I thought about it again and decided to share it again.  My dear friend Darlene (who I sure miss spending time with) taught me to pin at a diagonal when I want to match seams. This allows you to sew right up to the seam before pulling the pin out and works fantastically, especially since I press my seams open - and flat.  I have also started pinning straight edges sideways - this way I do not have to worry about the raw edges being even and can sew right past the needle without hitting it. 

One thing I have learned is to push the pin through twice and it won't come loose while you are sewing.  For years I only did it once, and on long seams the pins would work their way out.

 I am taking an on-line class with Katrina Hadjimichael and noticed that she pins straight on the seam line, rather than perpendicular to the seam.  She then removes the pins as she gets to them.  It's always interesting to me to see the ways people do things differently, which is one reason I enjoy workshops.  I had signed up for a Mexican Star workshop that was scheduled for April, and sadly has been postponed.  I sure do miss spending time with my quilting friends.

HQ Day 31 - Quilting on the porch

A continuation of my earlier post.   Our power went off at 8:45 last night, and came back on at 1:30 today.  When I see on facebok all the damage done to trees and homes of some of my friends, I feel so fortunate that all we had to deal with was a loss of power.  Thankfully, no injuries or loss of life - Praise God.

I spent most of my morning sitting on my front porch and enjoying the beautiful blue sky, cool breeze and birds chirping so happily.  Saw my neighbors going up and down the road, many of whom I have not seen since this Stay-At-Home started and even had a chance to chat with some when they stopped and talked from their car.

The lighting was so nice outside, I could sit in the shade and hand quilt with a soft light on my quilt.  I had gone to Bojangles and gotten coffee, and stayed out on the porch for several hours.  It was right about the time the sun started eating up my shade and I decided to go inside that the power came back on.  So I spent the rest of the afternoon ironing binding for masks and cutting out a few more to work on in the morning. 

HQ Day 31 - Til the Storm Passes By

One of my favorite gospel songs by the Gaithers is Til the Storm Passes By.  I tried to copy a link to a YouTube of them singing this song, but could not get it to work.  Last night we had a bad storm and today all the power is off...has been off since 8:45 last night.  Lots of wind, lightening, thunder, and darkness last night and I thought of this song.  We are in a storm of many things these days,  but this morning when I got up, still dark but gradually the sun arose, the birds sang and the storm had passed by.  Power is still off, but that makes everything still, quiet. My heart is at peace as I see it as a reminder that this storm in the world will also pass by.

I did not make this quilt, but pulled the picture off the internet (Etsy)  This is a Storm at Sea quilt  - pattern offered by Generations Quilt Pattern

‘Til the Storm Passes By

Gaither Vocal Band

In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face

While the storm howls above me, and there's no hiding place

'Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry

Keep me safe till the storm passes by

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more

Till the clouds roll forever from the sky

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe till the storm passes by

Many times Satan whispered, "There is no need to try

For there's no end of sorrow, there's no hope by and by"

But I know Thou art with me, and tomorrow I'll rise

Where the storms never darken the skies

Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more

Till the clouds roll forever from the sky

Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand

Keep me safe till the storm passes by

HQ Day 30 - Happy Easter

It sure did not feel like Easter to me when I got up this morning, but then my daughter called and wanted to know if I would take a picture of her family around the cross .

And when I came back in the house, I had a message from my other daughter and her family at their family cross.

I did not hear from my son, but I am sure they were at their church this morning.  At their church the congregation gathers in the parking lot, everyone stays in their cars, and they listen to the service together over the radio.

I am so blessed and so thankful for my family and for God's loving grace.

Hq Day 29 - Sherbet Fizz Cushion

It is hard to believe it has been 4 weeks since I started staying at home, not going to see friends, not going out to eat, not visiting with my family, not going to church. But today is Day 29 and here are my 29 houses in Coronaville.

I just heard on the evening news that China is experiencing a resurgence of the virus as people return home from other countries, and as the people of China have started returning to their normal lives.  That is soooooooooo scary.

Today, I worked to complete a pillow called Sherbet Fizz, design by Kathrina Hadjimichael.  This was the first class she is offering on line.  I am already behind in the second lesson which hopefully I can start working on tomorrow.

I had to order the rickrack and it arrived yesterday.  I have it finished now, but I had to order a pillow form today .  This pillow is made from the same fabrics I am making a Lone Star Quilt, with includes EPP Rose Star blocks.  The pillow measures 20" square and I think it will make a nice pillow to put on the bed with quilt.
I like the braid so much that I might use that as a border for the quilt.

HQ Day 28 - Pin Cushions

This is Thursday, Day 28.  I did not post yesterday (Day 27) just nothing new to post. I did finish 20 face masks yesterday and hope to get them to the dropoff today.

In the morning, I finished making my pin cushions. These are small (2 1/2" square) and made to slip in a sewing kit you take along somewhere (if we every get to go anywhere again).

I paper pieced these small blocks, drawing them in EQ and then printing out the foundation paper pieces.  Sure makes this little piecing easier.  Traditional block patterns I used were :  String block, Pyramid block, Churn Dash, Shoo Fly and Maltese Cross.

I sat out on my porch, enjoying the beautiful day and filling them with crushed walnut shells and stitching up the opening.  Made for a pleasant afternoon.  Completed 17 of them and someday they will make sweet little gifts.

HQ Day 26

Tuesday - just another day at home making masks, cleaning out a file cabinet I have meaning to do for years, Adeline brought a lizard for me to see and listening to the bad news on tv.  Sounds like NY may be on the downside of the "curve" which is good news...SC projected not to reach the top of the curve until later on this month.  God is good - gives me peace in the midst of this storm.

HQ Day 25 - Happy Moments

Today I did not do anything new in my sewing room - prepping more masks.  I like to think of the people who might wear these masks and say a little prayer as i am making them.  Sometimes its even shedding a few tears, which was the way today started as I was watching the Today Show and they showed so many touching things people were doing for each other, and also the stories of some of the people that did not survive the virus. 

Surprise visit from my daughter, her husband and 4 of her 6 children this morning - right at the time my heart needed a pick-me-up. The little ones decided to do some sidewalk chalk art on our driveway and that just makes me smile to see their childhood expressed happily in their art. My daughter insisted that the kid would stay in the yard not to expose my husband and me to anything they might have and she sat on the porch steps.  Not sure I will ever get used to this way of living and pray that it never comes to this again.

After they left, I sat on the porch and counted my blessings.  In a flower bed that borders the front porch, I have planted iris bulbs that were my originally planted by my father all around his yard.  He loved the irises and had numerous beds.  They are really blooming and "showing off" this year and add a lot of beauty to these days.

HQ Day 24 - Sherbet Fizz Cushion

A day late, but for good reason.  I had a good day yesterday.  Attended church via internet  - good singing, good message.  My son, his wife and three grandsons all came by for a visit.  We sat on the porch keeping our distance (sigh, so wanted to hug them all) and had a very nice visit.  In the afternoon I started working on a new project (not like I needed to start another.)

I recently signed up for an on-line workshop being offered by Katrina Hadjimichael, the designer who designed the Pemberley quilt I am working on. She is offering workshops each week for 4 weeks.  The cost was only $27.50 in US dollars but this could vary as she charging $40 Australian dollars and it depends on the conversion rate.   The workshop has the pattern that you download and videos by Katrina that you can watch as she shows how to make the project.  I was thrilled when I saw this as I have always wanted to take one of her workshops, but would have to travel to England or Australia to do so.  If you are interested, check out her website:  https://katrinahadjimichael.com.au/

Here is a picture I pulled from her website of the Month 1 workshops:

The first workshop was for a cushion, Sherbet-Fizz.  Here is what mine looks like so far. It really is square, but I took the picture at an angle. You put rickrack on the seams connecting the braid strips, but I don't have any rickrack, so have ordered on-line.  I wish I could go to Hobby Lobby or Joann's and pick up some as I am eager to get it done, but they are not open. I used 29 different fabrics, and there is only one strip of each fabric in the braid strips - but still managed to have some of the same fabric next to each other when I joined the braids.    Hope to get my rick rack soon so I can finish this one.

HQ Days 22 & 23 - Coronaville catching up

Well I spent most of yesterday making the face masks, both to donate and to give to family.  By the time I got that done, I just kind of zoned out.

Today I woke up from a good night's rest.  This morning I have caught up on my Coronaville blocks. I had to cut more fabric as I originally cut for 62 blocks thinking that would be plenty, but think I need more the way things are going.  I am sorting blocks on my design wall in groups of 7 to represent the weeks, but have moved to putting two weeks worth on one line with a break between.  So here are the first 23 blocks.  It sure feels like its been longer than 3 weeks since this all started.

I am enjoying making them.  I drew out a paper piecing pattern in EQ.  Its a fairly simple block, but I am not all that great at precise piecing, so I do like paper piecing.  I am using the freezer paper method which saves from having to rip that paper off.  I was able to use my first paper pattern for 20 blocks, before the wax quit adherring because of all the lint stuck to the pattern.  I actually sewed on the lines a couple of times which left holes in the pattern - but hey it still worked.

I have so much stuff all over my cutting area from working on masks, temperature quilt, Coronaville, Lone Star,  mail and whatever else I set down.  I have got to take some time to  neaten up today as I don't work well in clutter.  First thing was to get my Coronaville under control.   I like to only have one project out at a time. 

So here is my Coronaville workstuff, now in a box under my cutting table.  I got those fabric markers at Tuesday's Morning and am enjoying using them on this project.

Now...get a shower, and get busy cleaning out that closet that I keep putting off.  Then I will come back here and clean up a little more - but I enjoy cleaning up in my sewing room :)

HQ Day 21 - A beautiful day

I spent most of today working on face masks and felt the need to walk away for a bit.  It has been a beautiful day and I decided to get some exercise and take a walk.  Walking I noticed everything so green, flowers blooming, birds singing and got a renewal of hope for tomorrow and the love of a faithful God.  I don't know where we are headed in this country and around the world for that matter, but I see so many people looking to God and calling on his help publically,  Our leaders, entertainers, news people.  I see neighbor helping neighbor, wealthy giving generously to help the less fortunate, families being "forced" to spend time together and hopfully become closer.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven. 2 Chronicles 7:14

HQ Day 20 - Pemberley

Today is the first day of April and usually this would be a day of April's Fools jokes.  None this year, and after last night's and today's news, just not much in the mood for jokes.  But I do appreciate some bright points in the day, like my sweet Adeline and Lorelai bringing me flowers from the yard as well as a big rock.  Adeline seems to be fascinated with rocks these days, and she will bring me one or two two or a whole jar full every day or so.  She is so proud and I am so touched at these little gifts.

I did a little quilting, starting on the 3rd corner of my Pemberley.  I have been keeping a log of time spent quilting, and for the months November through February I had logged in 128 hours, 49 minutes.  For March, I logged in 110 hours, 16 min for a total of 239 hours, 5 min.  

Handquilting is relaxing to me, almost an escape from the cares of the day.  I am thankful for having my quilting hobby to keep my mind occupied and also it has provided me a means of helping a little during this time making face masks.