Progress made!

I have the center of my house quilt assembled, and was able to incorporate the two different sizes of houses. I also have the rest of the layout planned. It feels good to be moving forward with this project. It was one of many I began in my very ambitious plans for 2021. It was the following year when the sign went up on my sewing room door (that remains to this day) that reads, "No New Starts!"

As I have explained before, I started out following the pattern by Valerie Langue in the October 2020 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. After making the first 5 blocks I purchased the house Block on Board die for my Accuquilt cutter. The 1 1/2" size difference in the blocks presented a challenge, but I wanted to include all of the blocks I had made, hence the "medallion" style center. 

This was my first block, as shared in my 2021 post. I accidentally trimmed it too small, and thought about using it as a label on the back, but I repaired it and have placed it in the quilt. Can you find it, and see the repair?

The rest of the quilt will follow the pattern pretty much as Valerie designed it, with striped sashing and stars in the cornerstones. But I will be adding another round of houses, beyond what is shown in the first photo. That means I need 25 more made.

Seven of those 25 are cut and waiting for me on design boards. To keep up with my SAL commitment with Lori @ Humble Quilts blog, of two blocks per month, I need one more block made for May. I plan to tackle it right away. The other six will go with me to the little shop over the mountain on Thursday for the monthly "Chitchat, Finish That" open sew. I made six blocks when I went in April, and I hope to do it again. That will cover my blocks for the summer months.

Aside from building houses, I have mostly sewn placemats the past couple of months. Our guild does these as our service project, for the local "Meals on Wheels".  

I've been over the service project for the past year, and it has been fun to find bright, happy fabrics to make people smile. Next year I think I will use more cute animal prints.

We spent the first week of May on a trip to Oregon to visit DD#1, and our youngest grandchild. We always try to get to the coast, if we can. Though the day was cool, overcast, and sometimes raining, we made it happen, and had much of the beach to ourselves. It was still a great day, in spite of the weather!

The cold water, and breezy conditions did not deter our granddaughter from testing the waters. But this was one time I did NOT dip my toe in the ocean. That may surprise some of you who know I "always" try to dip my toe. Below is the view from the lookout above the beach.

We were back home before Mother's Day, and I want to share the beautiful collection of flowers I received for the holiday. The vibrant colors seemed to glow.

I've been very anxious to get this post up before May was over, and I've barely made it. May is the anniversary of my blog, which began in May 14 years ago! I always try to have a little "Thank You" opportunity for those of you who have joined me on this journey. This is a very similar bundle to the gifts I took to Australia and New Zealand when I met up with bloggers there. That was so amazing to meet up with all those gals, and it never would have happened without blogging!

We have a Utah Truffles Raspberry Milk Chocolate bar, a Riley Blake charm pack, a pineapple block mug rug, and a few bars of my handcrafted herbal soap. Mention in a comment if you'd like to be included--and if you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your email in your comment. And if you aren't sure if you are a "no-reply" blogger, just leave your email in your comment. If your name is drawn and I don't have a way to contact you, I will draw another name.

ETA: Drawing Now Closed

Also, in the spirit of giving, I was cleaning out some fabric tubs, and ended up with a pile of Thimbleberries FQs, and some Thimbleberries-ish fabrics. I've just tied them together for the photo, but may untie them to package and send. If you are interested in this bundle, say so in your comment. 

Same advice about including your email applies here.

Thanks for visiting my little corner of blogland! Until next time, be creative, and be kind--and if you can only choose one of those to be--choose kindness!

Janet O.

P.S. I did finally notify the winner of the "General's Wives" pattern from my last post. Two of you who were interested were not linked to an email address, and had not included it in your comment. If you are really interested in either of the options above, and you have never had email communication with me before, please just include your email.

Where to start?

So much has happened since I last posted, and I don't want to bore you--but I also want to share. Hang on, here goes.
Wedding day was wonderful and fun! We haven't got the professional photos yet, so here are a few amateur shots. Photos taken on the grounds of the Logan LDS Temple.

LOTS of bridesmaids and groomsmen

The happy couple

 
                                   

Hubby (eyes closed) and I with the groom

Our four children--all great adults now

                                                                                                     

 SIL is on the far right

The day after the wedding our oldest daughter's hubby drove home to Oregon to get back to work, and we had her and their daughter with us for a few more days. Then we drove them back to Oregon and spent the weekend with them. We attended the Eugene Saturday Market to hear our SIL play in a band with his brother.

Loved shopping at the market. There is such a variety of vendors. I picked up some hand crafted soap (I enjoy trying other people's soap, if it has no artificial colors or scents), a couple of gluten free treats, DH bought me a bouquet of fresh flowers, and I found this cool phone sleigh.
   I know I have said it over and over, but I love functional things that are aesthetically pleasing. And if it is made out of wood, wicker, or wire--so much the better!
For some time now I have had a plastic clip on my counter where I stand my phone to talk while I keep my hands busy with other things. This will do the job and look so much nicer in the process.

Three quilt shops were squeezed in during our whirlwind trip--one in Idaho, and two in Oregon. Between The Gathering Place in Rupert, ID, Stitchin' Post in Sisters, OR, and Something to Crow About in Springfield, OR, I came home with this stack of goodies.

When I enter a quilt shop I try to have in mind things that I could use in my stash, so I don't totally lose control. This trip I was focused on shirtings, cheddars, and purples. Where is all the purple, I want to know?!? Certainly not in the shops I visited.

The day we left for Oregon, we picked up our mail as we left the driveway, and there was this sweet bundle of Cheddar & Indigo scraps from Grace (citymousequilter blog). Can't wait to play in them.
She also included a great pattern from a magazine of a mini quilt, designed by Ann Hermes. You can bet this will be in the queue of little quilts to make. Thank you again, Grace!!

On our trip back to Utah, we hit a couple of favorite spots--first was Bob's Red Mill Whole Grain Store, where I stocked up on gluten free baking supplies, and we had lunch on their patio.

Poorly aimed selfie--falls in background

It has been so long since we stopped at Multnomah Falls. We brought our kids here when they were young, and we loved the trail up to the bridge. Due to the past fires, that trail is closed, and you could only observe from the lower deck. Still beautiful.

Oh, right--this is a quilt blog, and thus far there has been very little quilty content. Well, on the drive home I actually completed one more hexie flower for my Stars In The Garden quilt. A few blog friends that know my aversion to making hexies are probably picking themselves up off the floor about now. Don't like stitching them, but love the look! So I plod along on this at a snail's pace.

Still a LONG way to go. I seem to only work on it on long car trips, and we don't travel that often. Also, I have no idea how, or if, I will quilt this, but if I never finish it I won't have to worry about it. :)

Remember the drawing? I am sorry I did not get back to everyone that commented, but since this issue with comments not coming through as emails, I did not have time to mess with it. If blogger doesn't fix this soon, it will be hard to get excited about posting. The commenting back and forth is what makes this such a fun process. 

Anyway, I drew a name from the 101 comments, and Kyle (Timeless Reflections blog) is the winner of my anniversary giveaway. 

There were enough comments this time, that I felt compelled to offer a second gift. In one of the quilt shops I visited along the way I found this pattern for a sweet doll quilt. It finishes at 16"x21". So I came home and pulled a bundle of CW scraps from my scrap basket to go with it, and will also include some of my soap (of course). This will go to Ann in PA.

Kyle and Ann, please get your addresses to me, and I will send out your winnings. Congrats!

Next time I hope to have more of a quilty nature to share. But two of my current projects cannot be shown as yet. I am, however, near completion of the blocks for my half log cabin quilt, and I have a little patriotic quilt to get made for the upcoming family reunion auction, so I will try very hard to  have something of interest by the time I post again.

Until next time, 
Janet O.

Couldn't resist parting shots of my grandchildren (and their parents) all spruced up on wedding day.