Sister's Choice Quilts

Home Projects and End of the School Year Business

Sorry to drop out of sight on you. Between end of the year school activities, work deadlines, and some home projects, I have been overcommitted the past week or so. No time to sew, no time to blog. Nothing to blog about! Unless you want to hear about how I did a massive reorganization of my closet...

I  Marie Kondo'd my tee shirts. I don't know if I can keep them this organized, but so far I like it. Think I have enough white ones?

Anyway, I hope to be back next week with something more entertaining!

Busy Week, Busy Time of Year

Ok, so I am pretty sure this is the cutest mug rug I've ever made. I used an apple block pattern from one of Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage books. How adorable is the apple core block? This is teacher appreciation week and we wanted to give Miss Kelly a little token of our affection.

Eva is in a play this weekend. The Enchanted Bookshop. She has two roles, "the Lady in Red" and "Little Red Riding Hood". We were asked to bake cookies to be sold at intermission and to display them in a way that relates to our kid's part. We filled a big basket with Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies (pretty perfect recipe if I say so myself) along with a propped-up picture book of Little Red Riding Hood. I think it makes a  nice display. We made 100 cookies and placed them in 50 cello bags. If they sell for $2 a pop, that will be a $100 donation for the school.

Goodness, have we been busy. Lots of trips to her charter school over the past two weeks. It is about a 25-minute drive, so it's a major back and forth. She had state testing last week, every day, and rehearsals for the play every day this week. I won't be sorry to see the end of this school year!

I am taking a break from seeing my dad this weekend. My sisters are covering for me. We will attend Eva's play on Friday and Saturday and with any luck do absolutely nothing on Sunday.  Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there. I feel as if I don't have to do anything on this holiday because my mom and mother-in-law are no longer with us. Book of the Month Club did something kind of nice, I thought. They have had a very active ad campaign promoting that a subscription to their service would make a nice Mother's Day gift. They were sensitive enough to realize that not everyone has a mom anymore and that this could be a tough holiday for some. They told the folks on their email list that if they didn't want to receive these ad emails for Mother's Day to click a button in the email and they would not see any of them. I thought it was thoughtful.

Happy Friday, and enjoy the weekend!

Midnight Moon Week 3 and Massive Sewing Room Tidy

These are my Week 3 blocks for the Midnight Moon sew-along. They are called Hidden Star, made with Fat Quarter Shop's 3" Square in a Square foundation papers, and Pinwheel Geese made with my BlocLoc trim tool. For some reason, I could not find my 1 x 2" Flying Geese ruler and thought I had lost it. So I ordered another one for $22 from Fat Quarter Shop. Then two hours later I found the ruler right where I always keep it. Here's a great customer service story: I talked with Kenna at FQS and told her what I had done and asked if we could edit the order. No problem. She took the ruler I no longer needed off the order and we were good to go. I love Fat Quarter Shop for so many reasons.

The other thing I did yesterday was give my sewing room a massive tidy up. Boy, does it ever feel good to have things put away and the room looking good. Here's a little photo tour. Click on the photos to enlarge them if you like.

My bookcase is just on the left as you enter the room. The storage closet is to the right of the bookcase. 

Straight ahead are the cutting table, the dresser, my ironing station, and my small design wall. 

To the right of the sewing station is the large design wall, and on the right, as you enter the room is my sewing table and new storage unit. That little table in front of the sewing table is where I park my iron when I don't want to keep getting up and going to the sewing station. It was a funny little side table my in-laws had in their house. I covered a piece of plywood with batting and fabric and topped it with a square wool cutting mat, and it has been the greatest little ironing table. I do have a great sewing chair, but I moved it out of the picture.

So everything is sorted out and put away. One of these days I will tackle the nightmare that is in the dresser.  To be honest, the closet needs some work too. 

I felt so productive when I had finished, and more in the mood to sew than ever!

A New Storage Unit

Why is this man in my sewing room? It is my husband, who I finagled into putting together a new storage unit for me. I got the idea on Instagram from @hurricanereesequilty stitches (now that's a handle). It is a toy storage unit from IKEA called Trofast. It cost just less than $100 including the bins. It is meant to be a storage unit for kids' Legos, blocks, or other toys with a gazillion small parts.  I've never bought anything at IKEA, and I tell you, it's a procedure. Anyway, I ordered it, stood in a long line, picked it up, managed to get it in my car by myself, got it home, and persuaded that nice husband of mine to assemble it. 

I am going to use it for storing ongoing current sew-along projects. The unit is about 5 feet tall and has ten storage bins.

I am not finished organizing it, but you see some of my labeled bins. It's pretty great to be able to just pull out one of your current projects and take your next step with it. 

My only disappointment was in the depth of the bins. I wish they were just a bit deeper. I had to get creative with my fabric folding to arrange everything nicely. They do have deeper bins, and I could get a few of those for projects that have a lot of fabric. My Red Sampler project, for instance, did not all fit into one bin, so I had to spill over to a second one.

Anyway, if you are in search of a way to organize your sew-along projects, this could fit the bill. I always have several things going on at once, so this is a great way to keep them front and center.

Hope you all had a great weekend. My dad seemed in fine form. He asked me "Do I seem disabled to you?" I told him "disabled" wasn't really the word I'd use to describe him. To me, he seems more "fragile". His balance is terrible, and a fall could be the end of him. In my mind, I compare him to an egg. If he were to fall, it would be a disaster. His skin is so thin, and prone to bruising. If he cuts himself, he bleeds profusely, even if it's a minor wound. He is the most precious, valuable, delicate thing, and I'd do anything to protect him. So, yes, "fragile" is the word I'd use to describe him, at almost 96 years of age. Not his mind though. My gosh, he is sharp as a tack. What a blessing.

 

Catch Up Day in the Sewing Room

Flea Market, the quilt-along that isn't. There don't seem to be too many of us working on this quilt-along, but I am almost caught up for April. I finished my center medallion and have finished two out of three basket blocks. The sponsors have kind of dropped the ball on this project, but there are a few people posting on Instagram if you want to look at some photos. #fleamarketquiltalong. Fat Quarter Shop did do a tutorial on one of the basket blocks, which is on YouTube.

I am really enjoying working with this cheerful fabric, which isn't in my usual wheelhouse. The pacing of the project is pretty easygoing. For May I have to make three more basket blocks. Same for June and July. I don't think I will have any trouble keeping up.

You would think after having a week off and a lovely relaxing Easter Sunday I would be raring to go and eager to get back on a schedule. I tell you, it was absolutely delightful to have an actual for-real day off on Monday. Eva didn't have school, so I was on my own. I didn't have anything on my schedule and could sew all day long if I wished. Which is exactly what I did. 

I have switched gears on a project I started recently and can't wait to tell you all about it! More on that tomorrow.

It's Beginning to Look Like Easter Around Here

I brought out this mini quilt for the first time yesterday. I kind of did my own thing when I made it. The center bird is from a Pattern Baskets pattern called "Feathers". The surrounding stars are a block called "Twin Star" from an old Frivols project I had on hand. The fabrics are Strawberry Fields Revisted by Fig Tree and Co.

Eva and I had fun selecting the right size button for the bird's eye. We got a big laugh when she tried a big goggly button on it for size. I love the quilting design, and wish I could tell you what it is, but it was something my quilter came up with. I think it is perfect.

We've got it on the table in my front entryway. That birdhouse is kind of fun. I've had it for years. The roof is an old license plate! I want to say my son gave it to me, but I can't recall for sure.

If any of you have clever husbands or are so inclined yourself, this could be a great DIY project!

Hope your week got off to a great start. It is supposed to really warm up here by the end of the week and I can't wait!

April Mug Rugs

April Mug Rugs of the Month are almost done.  I got them quilted and still need to attach the binding.  With luck, I will get that done today or tomorrow. I am late with these and have half a notion to say they are April Easter baskets and May flower baskets combined, and save myself some work next month. Clearly, I am having a hard time getting up into my sewing room and producing anything.

I am pretty pleased with my straight-line quilting. I used painter's tape for the first diagonal line and then just stitched one inch away for the subsequent lines. Easy peasy.

Eva and I made baked donuts this week. I think they are pretty spectacular looking. Here is the recipe if anyone is so inclined. The frosting was more of a glaze. We dipped the donuts into them and then immediately sprinkled them with our sprinkles.

Eva is gung ho to get our Easter decorations out, so we put a few things out this weekend. I worked on the binding on an Easter/Spring table runner I made last year. Got that binding on! Here is a sneak peek:

Hope you all had a great weekend! It is starting to feel like spring around here.

This and That, Around the House

I sure don't have a lot to share today, but felt I should hop on with some sort of post. I'll just get chatty about nothing I guess! I have a couple of new things around the house, so I will start with those. 

My Keurig coffee maker finally bit the dust, so we replaced it. I love the new one-it's so high-tech. You can program your favorite brew down to the strength and number of ounces. It even recognizes your brand and flavor of coffee pod!  "Cinnabon Classic Cinnamon Roll?  We got you, girl". 

And we got two new faucets for the kitchen. The one over the main sink has a different handle configuration than our old one, and I unfailingly grab it wrong and let the cold water run for two minutes, thinking it will warm up.

The second faucet on our island has never worked right in the eight years we have lived in this house. When you would turn on the faucet, the spray nozzle to the left would come on and spray you in the face. That was always a fun surprise for unsuspecting guests.

In other news, I have Spring Fever. My condition is not based on the weather, that's for sure. Our temperatures have been pretty cool still, but the leaves on the trees are coming out all tender and green. And daffodils are up. Why oh why, do I not plant daffodils in the fall? Every darn spring all my neighbors have them and I am always daffodil deficient.

I have been thinking about spring clothes, however. I need new things like I need a hole in my head, but nevertheless, I seem to crave a few new pieces with the change of season. 

Have you heard of Rothy's shoes? They are made from recycled plastic bottles and are good for the environment. They are also super cute and comfy. There is nothing like a pointy toe shoe to elevate an outfit. 

Green is definitely the color of the day, and these two cute new tops will be great when the weather warms up. I am not quite ready for white jeans yet, but when the day comes, I'll be prepared. Clearly, Ozzie could care less. Unbeknownst to him, he is getting his spring haircut on Wednesday, so he'll be ready for warmer weather too.

How about you, has Spring Fever hit yet?

Just a Regular Day

Not much happening around here.  Eva and I made Lemon Poppyseed Bread, or as Eva calls it "Lemonseed Poppy Cake".  It turned out great, but I should have taken it out at 55 minutes rather than 60. Ozzie is hoping against all reason that we will cut him a slice. That's the great thing about dogs. They are so hopeful.

Yup, it's snowing. 

Our elevation is around 1300 feet, and I'd say it is not unusual for us to get snow at least once during the winter season. It sure has been cold this week. I am supposed to meet a friend for lunch today, but if the roads have snow I am going to have to cancel.  I am such a wimp. Honestly. I want to start wearing sandals and tee shirts. What is up with this? We live in California for gosh sake.

Eva begged me to put out St. Patrick's decorations. I totally blew off Valentine's Day and didn't do a thing. My blue and white January decor has been much loved on my part, but apparently, the family is getting tired of it. So, we went to our storage cupboards in the garage and got out a few seasonally appropriate items. At my age, I am thinking I should turn over this task to the younger generation. And Eva is all too happy to oblige.

The hall table is all Eva. She picked out items she thought fit the theme and arranged them on her own. The sack on the right is a March mug rug I have set aside to give to a friend. That isn't supposed to be part of the scene. Just a handy place to stash it until it can be delivered. That's what hall tables are for, right?

She chose these particular items for the St. Patrick's Day display. She wanted the shamrock to be positioned just so at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and it stubbornly would not cooperate. I had a product called "Quake Hold", which we Californians embrace for holding fragile items on shelves that could give way during an earthquake. She slapped that putty on the back of the Eiffel Tower and made sure the shamrock wasn't going anywhere.  And it worked great.

Who says kids don't learn anything when they are being homeschooled? It may not be on anyone's curriculum list, but I bet she will remember "Quake Hold" when she is decorating her own home.

 

 

 

Coming Out of a Long Weekend

We had a nice long four-day weekend here in the US and it's taking me a bit to come out of it. I spent most of it with my father, and worked all day Monday on some writing assignments. I came home to see this amaryllis that my husband gave me for Christmas on our kitchen counter. We'd been keeping it in our laundry room by an east-facing window that has great light exposure. In the past week, it has really come into its own and is blooming its little heart out. Someone must not have told one of the bulbs that this was supposed to be a dwarf amaryllis arrangement. Even with the show off, it really is pretty. 

That was such a great discussion we had on the subject of pins last week!  Thanks so much to all of you who left such terrific comments. For those of you who are new to this blog, half the fun of reading it is the engagement of readers who leave interesting and informative comments. Don't miss out on the fun, be sure to check back and read the comments. It is such a nice community.

I had to share this photo with you all. Last Friday I had to meet my daughter Sara in a funky little Gold Rush town called Jamestown, CA. We met behind the Jamestown Hotel to trade-off Eva. (It is a halfway point between where we both live). While waiting in the parking lot for Sara to arrive, I noticed this little church across the street. You can enlarge the photo to read the sign.

It says "Christian Cowboy Fellowship". The building must be as old as the hills, and I sure didn't see any windows. Hope they have air conditioning, as it can get pretty dang hot in Jamestown. The sign indicates that they meet at 10 on Sundays. It would be interesting to check out a service. I wonder if Christian Cowboys worship any differently than other Christians. 

Hope to get in some sewing today or tomorrow! Stay well.