HQ Day 19 - Coronaville

Today I have been working on two projects - the Lone Star and Coronaville. 

The Lone Star was cutting out the squares for the corners and the triangles between the points.  This was kinda difficult to figure out and then to cut. The corners had to be 20" and the triangles were cut from one 28" square.  Well its done, and now to try to get the quilt top assembled without puckering.

My Coronaville is actually fun to make, and is that a good thing since this is such a terrible time?  I even thought of making all the houses Black and Grey - but then there are many good things happening out there by our neighbors. Working on the blocks does brighten my days.  I have made 10 blocks so far, but today is Day 19 so I am still behind. 

I started by going through my stash and picking out 7 fabrics from each color tub - 9 colors. I then cut out enough of the pieces from each fabric to make an entire block and then sorted the pieces.  I am doing the freezer paper piecing method so the blocks go together quickly and precisely - which i am not that great at precise piecing.  I am putting them on my design wall in groups of 7 -just a way of seeing the number of weeks.  The block are numbered on the door.

I found that when I missed a couple of days, I got confused on exactly what house number is should be.  Of course I can look at the last house and see what number it is - but the problem is remembering which day that was for.  So I made a chart.  I know I started on Friday 13th in March - that was my first day of staying home.  So I made a list of the house numbers and wrote the date beside each one. Then as I make the houses, I cross it off.   I do have trouble remembering what day of the week it is - much less trying to remember what house number it should be.

Please remember all those who are putting themselves at risk just for us - health care workers, nurses, doctors, police officers, fire fighters, truck drivers bringing us food and supplies, grocery store workers, and those keeping the lights on, water running, picking up the garbage, etc.  Stay home and help keep these folks safe too.

HQ-Day 18 - Another day

Today I finished up the face masks that I had nearly completed yesterday, plus two additional ones for my daughter and her son.  Timothy will be going to get his infusion on Friday, so we thought face masks were called for my grandson and his momma.  I never would have believed the day would come when I would need to make face masks for my daughter and her child so they could enter a medical facility safely.  God help us!

To date I have made 23 face masks for health care workers in Rock Hill, and 10 others for friends and family.  I have another stack of fabric cut and ready to sew up as soon as I receive some floral wire from Amazon.

HQ-Day 17, Sunday Sewing

Today  I will concentrate making more face masks.   Hubs is cutting them out for me now, and I have enough to start sewing.  Yesterday was just a fun day - I needed a day without the coronovirus.  I actually felt guilty when I watched the news and saw how so many people in this country on the front lines cannot escape from the stress, sadness and lack of rest during these times.  So I will do what little I can today and make more masks.

I did cut fabrics to make my "Coronaville" blocks and made five of them.  I am using the freezer paper technique and they go together fast once you have the fabric cut.  I cut enough for 62 blocks - and pray that will be enough.  This is a free pattern offered by Moda Fabrics and Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.

HQ Day16 - Coronaville

I don't know why, but starting a new project always makes me feel better.  So when I saw these cute blocks being offered by Moda and Miss Rosie's Quilt Co as a free pattern I could not resist.  The weblink is: Village Pattern.

 This is my first block.  I plan to make one for each day I am in quarantine in my house.  Hopefully I will not have enough blocks to make the entire quilt which calls for 132 house blocks,  But I am cutting out enough scrappy pieces for 56 blocks right now - and time will tell if I need more. The door has the house number on it.  I will use them somehow in a quilt, but hopefully it will be fewer blocks than 132, and may I can put some kind of celebration block in-between the houses.  Whatever the case may be, I am having fun cutting the pieces and getting organized.

Today, Hubs and packed up  a lot of stuff we had on our porch from going through a bunch of boxes we brought up from the basement.  The kids all went through our "treasures" and got what they wanted, Hubs and I both kept three boxes of stuff. Three boxes is pretty good, considering we brought 20 boxes up to sort through.  The rest we  packed up and will be taking to a local donation center.  I washed down the porch to get all the pollen off and hopefully I can spend a little time out there tomorrow just enjoying being outside.

HQ- Day 15 - Spring Flowers.

 

 

Today I sat out on my front porch for a little while, waving at my neighbors as they drove by.  Sounds so simple, but it was nice to see folks and be able to greet them with a little wave.  This is actually my post from yesterday.  My three sweet  granddaughters were playing in the yard and joined me on the porch for a little bit.  I am so blessed to have them living right behind my house and can see them daily.  They have not been anywhere to be exposed, and no one has been to their house.  My husband and I have been very careful, have only been out a few times to get groceries or medicines and have stayed safe distance from other people, so we feel comfortable being around them. 

Today they brought me a bouquet of flowers they picked in the yard.  Such sweet girls.

I continued hand quilting on my Pemberly - but only got in 1 hour and 43 minutes. I have been doing at least 2 or 3 hours a day, and sometimes more.  Most of the day was  spent making face masks, which we took to a drop off place in town.  They will be distributed to local health care workers.

I was 6 days behind on my temperature quilt, and got that caught up.

The table topper the flowers are setting on was one that I taught at my quilt club's retreat several years ago.  Reminds me of wonderful times spent with my quilting sisters. A good reminder of better days in the past and that will come again in future days.  Our retreat is always the third weekend in January.....hopefully we will be able to have it in 2021.

Reading over this post I realized that the fabric used in this table topper is the same fabric I made some face masks out of - one of which I am wearing in the picture on the prior post. I would never have believed all those years ago that someday that fabric would be used to make face masks in a world wide epidemic.

HQ - Day 14 - Face Masks continues

Enjoying making the face masks with my husband.  He cut the fabrics,  cut and twisted the wire to go in the top to mold around nose and I am doing all the sewing. 

HQ-Day 13 - Face Masks

Received an email from my quilt guild that an organization that service different places in town ( Hospice care facilities, nursing homes, and other types of care facilities) made a urgent request for face masks that are made from fabric.  These really cant be used in intensive care facilities, but can be used as a cover for the hospital masks, which allow the hospital masks to be used longer.  So I knew this was something I can do at home and did not need to go out and buy supplies for. 

After searching the web for instructions, I found a site at https://sweetredpoppy.com/how-to-sew-a-bias-tape-surgical-face-mask-with-flexible-nose/ several different types of masks.  I made the one that I had the supplies to make.

I plan to make more tomorrow.  This one has a wire in the top so it can be molded to the shape of the nose and also has a pocket on the back where a filter can be inserted.

My daughter brought her four wonderful grandchildren for a visit today.  This did my heart so much good.  She lives directly behind us, and her husband has an office in our basement as he works remotely all the time.  They have not been any where to be exposed, as neither have my husband and I and it was so wonderful to be together again.  We all had lunch together.  It was a wonderful time.

HQ -Day 12, Lone Star

Today I have just been hand quilting on the Pemberley and machine piecing the diamond points for my Lone Star quilt.   I have all of them completed now and ready to move on the the corner squares and set in triangles. I may turn the diamonds around, will be playing with that some more.

 I had planned to do a chore today of cleaning out a closet, but just did not feel like  taking on that chore.

HQ Day 11 - A little of this, a little of that

This has become my journal of days spent in House Quarantine.  Day 11, almost two weeks now, ,and that is how this began - they started saying quarantine yourself for 14 days.  Now its more like through April and possibly May.  Our Governor announced today that schools will remained closed until May and that there may be no public gatherings of more than three people! Not a request - but a criminal offense if more than 3.

My chore for the day was to clean up the back porch and pack up some boxes of stuff we are donating to a local charity.  It was a chilly day and hubs asked me to wait until warmer outside, so I said OK and took a nap.  I really needed one as I did not sleep too good last night.  Seems like bed time is the hardest as I have quiet to think about what all is going on.  I think I may have to move my devotions to right before bed.

I have done a little sewing - making more of the 2 1/2 inch pin pals.  For now just making them, will stuff them later.  I made three Churn Dash and one shoefly.  I think the Shoe Fly  is my favorite.

 

Also made some more progress on my Pemberley quilting. 

I have plenty to keep my busy, but its when I am not busy that I have the hardest time. 

HQ - Day 10 - Sunday

Today I forgot to make a post, so this is being done at 1:26 am Monday morning.  I attended church in my living room watching the service on my church's facebook live stream. The pastor preached from the pulpit wearing a suit and Adam, my son-in-law and music director for our church, led the singing.  They must have also had a sound person there to operate the sound system and the live stream on the net.  That was all - no one else there in attendance, although I could see people signing in on-line to "attend".  We sang the hymns, prayed, read scripture and listened to Pastor Dave's sermon, and terribly missed being able to greet and hug each other. 

Watching the President's press conference today, which he does every day now, I could see the stress in the President, Vice President and basically all those at the conference.  I cant even begin to understand what their days must be like battling the horrible virus.  Our healthcare workers, first responders, National Guard, Corp of Engineers, and people throughout the Nation are all working so hard. 

Not a very "quilty" post, just my thoughts for the day. 

HQ - Day 9 - Rose Star

Day 9 of Home Quarantine, seems more like Day 90 - but I am thankful for my many blessings and pray for the safety of my family, friends, the nation and basically the world.  Please God, send us a solution.  So many people suffering, out of work and living in fear.

Today, I am just not in the "mood" for a chore.  Trying to keep my mind off what is going on - not watching a lot of news.  Quilted some this morning on the Pemberley and then worked on another Diamond for the lone star.  This afternoon watching movies and working on the Rose Star blocks that will also be used on the Lone Star.  These are EPP'ed and always seem to calm me down.

HQ - 8: Temperature Quilt

Today is the first day of SPRING and it is a beautiful day here.  Temperature high supposed to be 83 degrees :)  I took a picture of my Seasonal Temperature Quilt this morning on our slightly green front yard.

Today I added my Spring block to the last  Winter block.  For Spring, all my blocks will have this pretty green fabric, where the winter ones had the grey sparkly fabric.  I wonder what the world will be like when its time to add the Summer block?

 

 

Today is also Day 8 of the House Quarantine.  Each day the news is worse, but amazing all the good things people are doing to cheer up others and give hope. 

 

 My chore for today was going to the grocery store with my husband.  My children are more than willing to get our groceries for us, but they all have their own families to care for.  So we headed for Bilo at 6:55  this morning, and were so pleased to see that there were very few customers there.  We did not even have to wait in line at the register.  Got everything we needed except paper towels.  They were also out of toilet paper, but we have that.  Also no ground beef, but I got some frozen hamburger paddies I can use for ground beef if needed.  I held on to one bag with both hands on the way home, just to remind myself not to touch my face.  We got home, put everything away and then washed our hands, even before sitting down and relaxing.  I just pray we did not bring the virus into our home on any of the packages.

 

Its been a good day.  I did get my flower bed weeded and raked out leaves from this Fall.  My daughters both had their children playing in our back yard and I got to spend time with them.  Even got to hug my three youngest who have been isolated from others for the past week. I  needed those hugs, but understand that as things get worse in our area, that I will not be able to do that again. So far, no cases in our home town, but we are only 35 miles from Charlotte NC where there are cases.  Many people from here work in Charlotte.  Sigh, I know in my heart that things will get a lot worse before they get better, but in my faith I have hope in a loving God to help us through this time.



HQ - Day 7 - Pin Cushions

As I enjoy my good cup of coffee this morning and listening to the news of  all the new cases of CV, I am so thankful that I have a  God watching over me and my loved ones, my friends, and His children throughout the world.  We must lean on our Father's shoulder and trust His loving care.

My chore/goal for today is to clean out a closet in my guest room.  It has become a dumping ground for things I don't know what else to do with.   Hubs and I plan a ride outside of the house today.  He is getting a low tire pressure light on his truck, and I will follow him to the repair shop in my car and we will leave the truck there, and then go by a drive thru somewhere and pick up some lunch.  It does us good to get out of the house.

I have been working on some miniature pin cushions.  These measure 2 1/2" square and are fun to make.  They still need to be filled, but that will be a project for another day. Today I am going to make three more with a different pattern - just a little something to take my mind away from all the bad news.

 



While we were in Hannibal, Missouri last year, we picked up a CD of old movies - Tom Sawyer Adventures, Huckleberry Finn Adventures, Lassie and Red Fern (can't remember the full title and too lazy to go look.)  We watched Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn yesterday and was such a good comic relief.

HQ-6 - Daddy's Bible

I completed my list from yesterday and have found some peace in adding purpose to my days.  I miss time with my family but pray for the safety of my family, church family, friends, nation and for our leadership battling this virus.

I did take a walk yesterday and this helped me  - first with exercise and secondly, just getting out of the house.  One neighbor stopped in the road and we chatted for a bit, but did not get too close to the car.  

My chore for today is to start sorting thru some boxes on my back porch.  We had to have some work done in our basement and my husband, with help, brought up a bunch of boxes of "stuff" that we need to go through.  We have been trying to clean out stuff we have accumulated over the years just so our kids someday do not have to deal with all this.  So there are around 15 large plastic containers on my back porch - today I would like to get thru at least half of that.  About half of that is stuff we put in our basement when we had to clean out my parents home when they passed.

Its been a good day..Got my chore done and in the process of going through all the boxes, I found my Daddy's Bible.  I can remember seeing him in the mornings, sitting in a rocker on the porch reading this Bible.  I cherish this Bible, and when packing up my parents home after their passing, I packed this away in one of the boxes and was so happy to find it today.

I took my walk, 1,797 steps, and on my way home, two of my precious granddaughters spotted me and ran out to say hi.  They are 4 yrs and 2 1/2yrs.  I knew I should not hug and kiss them and that is so hard.  They were in their fenced yard, so I just stood and talked to them for a little bit and then the 4 year old ran to me with this flower.  She loves to bring me flowers.  (tears now)  I asked her to lay it down on the ground and then I went and picked it up.  I so wanted to hug her.  Trying to comply with their parents wishes, but this sure is hard.

Hope you all have had a good day.

Home Quarantine - Day 5

I feel like I am under house arrest, although I am so grateful to be at home safe with my loving husband.  I know there are many out there that are home alone.  I am going to do my best to try to do something nice for someone each day, whether a phone call, send a meal, just reach out however I can.

To occupy my days, I am going to set goals for hand quilting, other quilt related activity, and a chore that I have been putting off.  So here goes my list of chores for today:

1. At least 2 hours hand quilting on the Pemberley
2. At least 2 hours in my sewing area doing other activities
3. Complete my 2019 tax return and file it
4. Fix Spaghetti for supper and invite Jeanne, my sister-in-law who lives next door and is alone.
5. Take a walk outside even in the rain (unless its a thunderstorm :) )

Now I feel like I have a purpose for the day.  I do hope this will make the days go quicker.  I started this home quarantine on Friday, March 13.- 4 days ago.  So this is Day 5.

This is my design wall this morning.  Working on a Lone Star Quilt, the stars surrounding the lone star are Rose STars and are EPP.  I completed the 5th diamond point yesterday on the lone star.  On the bench in my temperature quilt, and two other quilts waiting to be hand quilted.

Pemberley Quilting Progress

I recently completed quilting the "Half Dresden Plate" border on my quilt.  I repeated the little circle quilting in the narrow border to tie it into the circle border around the corner flowers.

 

I also completed one corner block, except for the round circle in the middle.  I have ordered a special stencil for that circle which hopefully will be here soon.  I have 16 blocks to complete around this border - with three different designs. I am trying to replicate the applique pattern in the quilting. 

 

 

I am hoping to have this ready to enter in my guild's quilt show in September.  I had kind of given up hope as it is taking me awhile to hand quilt.  Since the hit of the Coronavirus, I have been spending more time at home, and now am trying not to go anywhere unless it is an emergency since I am 69 years old.  Today I went to church in my living room as it was streamed on the internet and I was able to quilt and enjoy the service.  The church advised all members over 60 or with health situations to not attend services, but watch over the internet.  One of our deacons has checked on us to see if we need anything like groceries or other supplies.  It is so wonderful to be a member of a loving church family.

 

 



Fiesta Enchiladas

Our guild is having a recipe challenge to exhibit at an upcoming quilt show in September.  The Challenge is to make a block to represent a favorite recipe, submit block and recipe and a recipe book will be prepared with the recipes and picture of the blocks.  The blocks will be on display at the quilt show and the books will be for sale. 

At first, I was not sure I would participate, as I am not very artistic and I was not sure I could design a block to match a recipe.  But, since I wanted to be part of the fun, I decided to submit my recipe for Enchiladas and somehow incorporate a sombrero in my block.  With the help of my talented artistic granddaughter, I came up with a wanted poster.

 I used the Helen Stubbings Faux Applique technique to color and embroider the block. 
For the binding, I found some fabric called Fiesta Stripe, and I hand quilted it rather simply.  All in all, I am happy with the block and happy I can participate in the recipe challenge.

I have also made progress on my Lone Star quilt.  I am making this in the same fabric line as my Rose Star blocks and hope to have the Rose Stars encircle the lone star.  This is just up on my design wall, and the diamond shapes are not yet sewn to each other.  Still debating on the background fabric, so need to take a diamond to a quilt shop and do some auditions.