Table Scraps in Red

 I had a quick finish for my Table Scraps project this month because I started with an orphan block, and it was even just about the perfect size!  This was a test block for the rectangle strings quilt top I put together earlier this year, and it didn't make the cut.

All this needed was batting, backing, quilting, and binding which took about two of my "15 Minutes to Stitch" sessions!

Finished!

Here's the back.

And now there are five! 

Working on this made me think about the string quilt top that's been patiently waiting its turn in the queue for finishing, so I got it out.  It was fun to photograph it out on the grass underneath our pretty blooming crab apple!

And then I got inspired to work on finishing this one!

I have the backing and batting for it, so no reason not to!

More about this to come.

Sharing at SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday and at 

Quilting is more fun than Housework for Oh Scrap and at

The Joyful Quilter later in the month for the Table Scraps Challenge.

Also at Life in Pieces where we track our stitching time each week.

I Like Thursday #235

Happy Thursday, friends!  Hope you're having a good week!  Spring took a few steps backwards in our neck of the woods this week, but even so, I enjoyed my daily walks.

Walking through the neighborhood park.

The green and growing things didn't seem to mind all the moisture, though.

I'm glad I haven't done any planting yet, 

but it's on my to-do list for this weekend.

Fortunately, Spring came back on Wednesday,  prettier than ever!

The yucky days did make for good reading weather, and I finished this book in about a day and a half!  It is a really good story, sort of a psychological mystery that plays with your thinking.  I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to Carole at From My Carolina Home 

for the recommendation!

I also added two more arrows to the design wall - halfway there now.

Today is my quilt group's get together outdoors at a local park.  I'm looking forward to seeing everyone!  

Joining in with LeeAnna and friends at Not Afraid of Color for I like Thursday.

To-Do Tuesday #88

Good morning!  I'm checking in with Chris and friends at Chrisknits to share my to-do list for the week.   

Keeping it simple last week, I had just two goals for the week: 

• Make more arrows for the Follow Your Own Path QAL.  Slow progress here, but I'm up to 6 out of 16 arrows that are needed.  

• And work on my May Table Scraps placemat.  Progress here as well.  I started with an orphan block, and it is now quilted and ready for binding.

I'm continuing on the same path this week.  Although the days are busy with responsibilities for helping my mom, I've been successful at sewing for at least 15 minutes most days, and that's helping me get a few things done.

• I'll continue to work on the arrow blocks.  Every block counts, right?!
• I'm planning to machine sew the binding on the placemat, finish up the hand stitching, and write up a post to share by Saturday.
• One other thing I hope to get done is to piece the backing for my Harmony quilt top and get started quilting it.  I noticed today that in the QAL, we are just up to completing the top, but I've got that part done!

My week in red...

I thought I'd lay my blocks out on the upstairs "design floor" instead of the downstairs design wall and try to take advantage of the morning sun.  This week I made two Chandelier Bead blocks in red.  I love these simple blocks!

Here's the whole collection so far:

I'll keep making two of these 6.5 inch blocks each month,

and then figure out what to do with them later in the year!

My hand stitching project this week has been to make another scrappy trips block in red.  This might be my favorite one yet - I love the red and white prints!

You might notice that when I had the red scraps out for one project, 

I also used them for the other!

Now there are nine of these blocks, and the design is really emerging!

For this month's second block, I decided to go with some darker reds I found.  Some came out of the Christmas bin!  

I've been trying to use up the peppermint candy fabric forever,

but there's still more left!

This one might be cheating for a red block, but it's such a fun print that I couldn't resist doing a little fussy cutting.

Linking up with all my favorite weekend parties:

SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday 

Quilting is more fun than Housework for Oh Scrap 

and Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching!

Since I got at least 5 minutes of sewing machine time 6 out of 7 days this past week, and did some hand-piecing each evening, I'm also linking up with Kate

at Life in Pieces for 15 Minutes to Stitch.

I Like Thursday #234

 It's been another busy week with my mom, and not a lot of photos to show for it.   She is starting to settle in and get the hang of the routine at her apartment complex and meeting some nice people, so we're headed in the right direction!

Meanwhile, the best thing to happen all week is this.  Mike had his last cancer treatment (a whole year's worth of them)!  He wanted a picture to send his friends, so I took this one.

There will, of course, be follow-up visits, and scans, and tests, but so far everything is looking good!

I'm enjoying this book this week!

When I read the author's dedication at the beginning of the book, 

I knew I would like this one!

"To all the authors of all the books I've ever read.

Thank you for the escape, for the knowledge, and for shaping me into who I am."

In my little bits of sewing time the last couple days, I've worked on a couple more arrow blocks.  I've been saving the bonus triangles from the flying geese, and using them as leaders and enders.  They'll finish at 1.25 inches.  Aren't they cute?

Bonnie Hunter's quote of the day on her Wednesday post resonated with me this week!  I definitely don't have it all together right now...

Quiltville's Quips and Snips

Have a happy Thursday!

Joining in with LeeAnna and friends at Not Afraid of Color for I like Thursday.

To-Do Tuesday #87

Good morning!  I'm checking in with Chris and friends at Chrisknits to share my to-do list for the week.  I had a simple goal on my list this week -to carve out at least 15 minutes a day to sew!  And I did pretty well at that - 6 out of 7 days.

Some happy blocks on my design wall:

Wonky stars

Arrows for the QAL 

Chandelier bead blocks in red

And my Scrappy Trips blocks from Jan - April

This week I'd like to continue my plan of 15 minutes a day, with these things to accomplish:

• More arrow blocks, one in each color
• Get started on May's Table Scraps project.  I have the perfect orphan block for a placemat, leftover from the Diamond Strings quilt top I finished in December that still needs to be quilted!

Keeping the list simple, but I think these goals are achievable!

Slow Stitching this week and Blogger Award Nomination

CathieJ of Cathie's Craftworks was so sweet to nominate me for the Outstanding Blogger Award!  Thank you, Cathie - I really appreciate that!  I've gotten to know Cathie through the Slow Sunday Stitching link-up at Kathy's Quilts, so I thought I'd post my response right here on my Sunday post.  Cathie gave me some questions to answer, so here goes!

Do you do anything else while crafting? (i.e. listen to music or a book, watch TV, etc.)

I usually work on embroidery, hand-piecing, or other kinds of hand stitching in the evenings when my husband and I watch TV together.   I enjoy having something to do with my hands while we have a show on.

This week I finished up my Harmony Hand-pieced quilt top while we've been watching the show "Elementary" on Hulu.  Elementary is a modern day version of Sherlock Holmes with Lucy Liu playing Dr. Watson.  We're enjoying it!

Do you prefer crafting alone, with a friend or in a group?

I mostly sew alone.  My favorite time in my studio with the sewing machine is an hour or so every afternoon, and it's sort of sacred "me" time!  I do have a local quilt group that meets monthly, and we often bring a show-and-tell project, but we don't sew together.

Beach, lake, mountains? What would be your preferred place to vacation/visit? 

Always - the beach!  I live just on the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains, so I can go there whenever I want.  So a beach vacation is a must.  Due to Covid, of course, we haven't traveled in a long time.  But a few years ago, I put my toes in the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico all in one year!  I'm definitely looking forward to a trip back to the ocean - hopefully later this year.

I do like this woodsy fabric that I found at Bernie's Needle and Foot Etsy shop.

It will be the backing for my Harmony quilt.  I need to get that prepped for hand quilting - hopefully this week!

What is your favorite genre of music?

I love all kinds of music!  I enjoy singing along with 60s classics, country-western, and Broadway musicals.   I also love groups like Celtic Women, Enya, and soloists like Celine Dion or Josh Groban. 

This week I've also been working on this April One Stitch at a Time club design,

and making good progress.  See the little bluebird?  I'm sure he's singing a pretty song!

Thanks, again, Cathie!  Sharing at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.