Like Syrup on Sunday

I have moved the stack of quilts waiting for binding to make room for Lego practice in the dining room.  It hasn't gotten much shorter since the Olympics ended though.  I was even tempted to try one of the small ones by machine.  I don't like the outcome or the process though, so it seems counterproductive.  I'll stitch a bit this evening, but honestly, I am using all of my mental energy avoiding school work.  Silly isn't it?  I could have finished off the stack of grading I brought home in the time I have spent avoiding it.  I've done much better this year at not having to bring home work all the time.  With a regular schedule this year instead of "extended day" which means teaching 6 out of 7 periods, I have time during the day to get work done.  I gave tests all day Thursday though which means lab notebooks and essays and with the first interim ending it all needs to be put in sooner rather than later.  I think I'll just dive in so that I can go to the inservice day tomorrow with a clear head.  I appreciated Amy's comment tonight that she was leaving school work at school.  I agree with her in principle, but catching up is going to win this time.  I did get a bit done on the Hawaii quilt, though more of it was cutting than sewing.   I'll be sure to put up an update for design wall Monday tomorrow.  Hope you all had a relaxing weekend and are ready to face a new week. 

Grandmother's Choice Block 2

I couldn't resit adding another Midget Grandmother block to my collection. Since this one had set in seams, I drew it in a 4.5 inch size onto freezer paper and cut that apart to make templates. Worked like a charm.

Go to the Grandmother's choice blog for printable templates in the ginormous 8 inch size. 

Orange you Glad its the Weekend

What do you do when you run out of orange scraps in the middle of the orange month?  Simple, start with some yardage and make orange blocks so that the extras can turn into scraps.  I got a few orange fat quarters to add to the Hawaii Sunset collection.  I'll cut some 2 inch strips for four patches and see what I can come up with for Scraphappy projects.  Ahhhhh Saturday........
Use the Linky below to share your own scrappy progress.

More Fabric!!

I had an extra special 30% off of everything  coupon.  It was a Friday after a day of training so a quick shopping trip seemed just right.  Now I just need to get some serious sewing done!  Happy weekend. 

Sunset Fabric

It was a cold and rainy evening.  Football practice was cancelled, but I was on gymnastics duty and it doesn't stop for rain.  It was almost bedtime before everyone was home and showered.  I could have easily called it a night myself after settling the kids in, but stopped to check on blog posts. There was Bonnie, live with another quiltcam post.  I couldn't just sit and watch of course, so off I went to iron some of the new fabric that just came in from Connecting threads for Hawaii Sunset.  I think I could still use a few more pinks, there are 24 geese in each block I think, 5 pinks won't go far.  There is plenty of green in my stash, not sure about the blue status.  I'll have to check.  One color I completely neglected in my shopping was "chrome yellow"  I am thinking a nice mustard or two would blend in just right.  Hmmm..... I'll give it some thought while I start cutting into my new fabric. 

Tiny Tuesday - Wild Rose

 Yet another applique flower block.  I think this might be the last of them.  It is called Wild Rose and it is number one in the Midget applique series. 

There were supposed to be more petals, but I got tired of making them and stopped.  My block, my rules. 

An Official Start

Having tied off a few loose ends, I felt better about starting a new project.  So after the kids were in bed I settled in for a little bit of new project sewing.  The 25 nine patches are done, with the first 10 bordered and on the wall.  There are 31 four patches pinned together as well and all ready for the border.  I don't have a lot of pinks for the geese, but I will see what I can come up with the next time I have time to sew.  Time is a little harder to find during the week, so it might not be right away.  With that said, I'd better turn in so I can be up bright and early to start the day. 

#4 on the List - Teal Crumbs

I just finished taking the last stitch in the flimsy for the teal crumbs.  I'll check out the size on Sydney's bed to see if it wants a border, but it is done enough for now.  So I now have three tops ready to be quilted and one who needs binding.  Not bad for a long weekend.  Most importantly, after all the weekend frenzy, I feel perfectly happy now about jumping into Hawaii Sunset full speed ahead!  There are nine patches and four patches in the leader and ender basket and paper piecing patterns ready for flying geese.  Hopefully my order from Connecting Threads will be here soon enough to get used, but until then, I can dig into some scraps and officially get started before Amy leaves me in the dust.
Oh, I also got my long lost Midget blocks sashed and up onto the wall with the new one from the Grandmother's Choice blog.  There is a new photo posted under the Midget tab with all the finished blocks so far.  It looks like there are 103 blocks total.  I really should decide how many I am going to make.  I can't just go on indefinitely after all. 
Tomorrow it is back to school again.  Sydney is moving classes because of some classroom consolidation and is excited to have her second first day of school.  Her new class will be combined 3rd and 4th grade with all gifted students, so that should be a good fit for her.  Generally though, I think it is going to be a calm week. 

Another NOT a New Project

 Just when I am trying hard to not start something new, a brand new quilt along comes along to tempt me.  This one is a quilt block of the week called Grandmother's Choice.  It comes along with interesting facts and histories related to women's suffrage.  There will be 49 8 inch blocks, one each week for about a year. 

So how do I quilt along with a fun new blog and still manage not to start something new?  Here is my Midget version of Grandmother's Choice!  It will fit right in with my ongoing blocks, will not count as a new project, and will still allow me to join in.  No worries about keeping up or finishing, each block will just join right in with my collection. 

Design Wall Monday September 3, 2012

 It is a school holiday today and I am overwhelmed with choices!  The Cherry Trees are still on the wall, untouched since last week.  There are a couple of Midgets that need to be sashed to join the collection as well as my test block for Hawaii Sunset still calling to me.  I will not start anything new though, while all these projects are still in progress. 

 Jamestown blocks are done except for a few more string blocks.  Might as well get that done while everything is in chaos. 

 The teal crumbs somehow got waylaid while the blocks were being sewn together.  I need to find the nice little stacks of pinned blocks that got buried in strings. 

I'd like to Get Flamingo Bay and Smith Mountain quilted before they get all wrinkled and need to be ironed again. 
Choices!