Hawaiian Geese

I'm not starting a new quilt yet.  I am definitely going to finish off a few things first before I "officially" start something new.  This isn't a start you see, it is just trying out a pattern.  The geese are supposed to be 1.75 by 3 inches.  That seemed kind of fiddly to do with the sew and flip method, so I decided to try drafting a paper piecing pattern.  I drew it out on graph paper last night and made a few copies today at school.  I don't have any official fabric picked out, since I haven't actually started yet, but I did dig through the scrap user drawers to find some things that might work.  Tonight I might dig through the drawer of 2 inch squares and find some that will work for the nine patches in the middle.  They will only be leaders and enders of course, so that doesn't count as starting a new quilt quite yet. 

Bandwagons

There are lots of people who have started the Hawaiian Sunset 1845 quilt.  I resisted for a while because I have plenty of projects going on.  Today I finally succumbed to peer pressure.  I just went to the Quilt Sew and Shop website and downloaded a digital pattern before heading over to Connecting Threads and loading up on fabrics in lime, avocado, pink and navy.  I like the sites that let you shop by color or by theme.  I won't start until a couple of projects on the list are done, but this one can go on the list for later.  Maybe as leaders and enders?  Time will tell. 

Tiny Tuesday - Sunbonnet Sue

 You can't have an Overall Sam without a Sunbonnet Sue.  This one is officially just called Sunbonnet.  There is supposed to be another bit of fabric on the front of the bonnet, and a ponytail hanging out the back, but I left those off.  It is my block, I can edit it if I want to!

I had just the perfect little bit of fabric for the arm.  I don't usually have a lot of solids on hand, but I ordered a nice bundle from Connecting Threads that has been coming in very handy lately. 

Design Wall Monday

In between marathon string block sewing for Jamestown Landing I did manage to get a few more Cherry Trees put together.  The pattern shows red lattice strips which would not work with my red trees for obvious reasons.  I was thinking of purple and gold as a substitute.  The green setting triangles will still work though.  I'm not sure about the outer border.  I have lots of nine patches left, but not enough of the red.  Maybe multicolored squares?  Time will tell.  Right now we are slogging through rain from the outer bands to Isaac.  It is going to be a wet day for sure. 

Slowly on Sunday

 I found some time this week to stitch a couple more blocks of the Dear Jane Quilt.  Slowly but surely it is getting there. 

Most of the weekend though has been nose to the grindstone power sewing of string blocks for Jamestown Landing.  All of the Broken Dish blocks are done!  I'm at about 115 for the string blocks now, so just a bit more until it is ready to lay out.  The kids are all off playing with friends.  It has been raining off and on all day but it doesn't seem to have slowed them down at all.  I'm pretty sure school will still be on tomorrow despite all the hurricane day wishes from the kids.  I remember as a child waking up early on the morning of a snowstorm and waiting for the list of school closings to be read over the radio.  I guess this is our own version of that ritual. 

Messy Day

 After taking inventory this morning and catching up on ironing, I realized that all of the Broken Dishes units were done for Jamestown Landing.  That lead me to start in on the string blocks which had fallen a bit behind. I was working my way through the second season on Downton Abbey while sewing.  It wasn't on Netflix, so I signed up for a free trial of Hulu+.  I am much more appreciative of Netflix now after spending most of the afternoon buffering or restarting. 

 As I was making a mess in the sewing room, Anna was working on a mess in the kitchen.  She had decided to make a birthday cake for her friend Sierra and somehow managed to scatter cake, frosting and fondant all over the kitchen. 

 She was quite happy with the finished cake though, and cleaned up most of the mess. 

After lego practice Ryan had his first football game of the season.  He is in a different league this year so that he could be on a team with his friend Troy.   

Last Teal Saturday

The new month doesn't start until next Saturday, so there are still several more days of teal time if you need to finish up, but this is the last weekend of August.  I made a BUNCH of teal string blocks for Orca Bay, maybe I should put the border together today?  I've got border blocks ready to go for Smith Mountain Morning as well.  Borders are always difficult for me.  First I think I'll make a few tiny nine patches.  Those are always fun and fast.  What are your plans for the weekend? 
Use the Linky below to share your rainbow progress.  Anyone else playing catch up this month?

Oh Happy Day of Possibilities

 I was putting plastic bags over my classroom computer before dashing out for the weekend and pondering the possibilities for the days ahead.  Despite the students best hopes of a hurricane day on Monday, I think the storm will stay to the west and we will all be back at the end of a normal two day weekend. 

 Two days to play...ahh so many choices.  More Midgets for the wall?  More Apple Trees for the orchard? 

Maybe the rest of the Broken Dishes for Jamestown Landing?  Or something new for the rainbow parade?  There is a quilt on the frame and two more waiting for borders.  So many choices, just two days to get it all in again. 

Lost and Found Again

I knew I had more midgets than the ones on the wall.  I worked hard to average one per week for the last two years, yet when I went to hang them up, there were only 99.  Today I was digging through my basket of blocks in waiting to find another applique block to take to gymnastics tomorrow.  Low and behold, there were three finished blocks hiding amongst the patterns and fabrics in page protectors!  They were done out of order because they were hand sewn.  Those get done on long car trips and such. Other than those blocks I have been working in order.  It is easier than choosing and procrastinating.  The blue one in the middle is number 119 and it might be one of my overall favorites.  I'll get these framed up and let them join the others on the wall.  Until then, it looks like #81 needs some applique, so I'll get that one ready to go tonight.  Sydney has been begging for gymnastics since one of our neighbors signed up last month.  I voted no, but I guess I lost, because we start tomorrow.  Kurt will be at football with Ryan which leaves nobody open to go the the 6th grade open house.   Can't be everywhere at once though, so I'll just take a deep breath and move on with things.  Happy humpday to you all.  Congratulations on making it to the downhill side of the workweek. 

Tiny Tuesday - Overall Sam

 OK, how seriously cute is this little guy?  Admit it, this is a super cute block. 

Getting everything to go together on such a super tiny scale was not exactly simple, but it worked.   This is a block that just makes me smile.  Austin volunteered to be my model for this one while he was here visiting this summer.