May Mini and Moth Mayhem

Here it is the end of May. 

A May different from any 

other that we may have 

           ever experienced. 

"Six Feet Apart"

17" x 27"

My May mini

is simple, 

somewhat somber,

yet with a sense of order

with blue backgrounds for hope.

The 4 patch blocks

are from my Leaders and Enders

endless sewing.

Hopefully, we've all been following

the social distancing directives

to keep everyone safe and healthy.

 Even the Playmobile people

are in accordance.

My May mini is linked up with 

Wendy, the Constant Quilter,

the other mini makers who

keep coming up with unique and 

wonderful ideas each  month.

Check out what's being created.

****

The other May Happening,

like we need anything else

here in Colorado,

is the invasion of the Miller Moth!

They are the migrating adult moth

of the army cutworm.

These dusty, pesky moths

migrate from the prairie to 

the mountains to spend the summer.,

lucky them.

We have been inundated by 

an extra large invasion of  these 

nuisance pests this late spring. 

We have placed

swatters in strategic places around the house.

Each day and night

we find ourselves on moth patrol.

I don't know how they get in, but 

they do!!!!
One even had the audacity
to hide inside my sewing machine.
I screamed pretty loud when he
flew out into my face.
So gross.

I'll spare you having to look
or hear anymore about them.

****

I wanted to share a couple photos

my daughter who is a first grade teacher

sent me last week.

She was allowed back into her classroom since

leaving for spring break back in March.

She said it was like entering a time warp.

Everything the way she left it 11 weeks ago.

Very weird. 

 ****

Back to quilting-

Remember

If you need to

get your quilting mojo back,

join us in June sharing your

 monthly mini!

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Sippin' Sodas

When I was a kid

there was a dairy in my small town

that had a soda fountain.

It was a treat to go,

sit on the stools that swiveled, and

order a strawberry ice cream soda

served in a tall glass

with a red and white straw.

I don't remember when 

I came in the possession of some vintage

churn dash blocks that reminded

me of those delicious ice cream sodas and

those cheerful red and white straws,

It was during this quarantine

that I finally got this special quilt finished.

Sippin' Sodas

2020

Last November I began the process

of taking these 20 blocks apart

and resewing them to make them

all the same size.

These are all happy blocks

that look great sashed with

the medium gray print.

I decided to save time by machine quilting

in the ditch and doing straight lines in the borders as well.

The quilting went with the simplicity of the blocks

and, of course, the striped fabrics.

Okay, the original idea was to then 

hand quilt the vintage blocks,  

 but the more I thought about it

and reevaluated the vintage fabrics

I concluded the fabrics were too brittle.

I decided that hand quilting the blocks

could potentially break the fibers.

The blocks are 9 inches,

leaving a  pretty large space not  quilted,

but this quilt is one that will mostly be 

admired rather than used.  

The original maker of these blocks

is unknown, so I'm hoping

she would be pleased how they were finished.

Maybe her inspiration was a

 special time 

she had had at a soda fountain,

enjoying a strawberry ice cream soda, while

sippin' through a red and white straw.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Happy Colors = Brighter Days

If anyone ever says,

that colors don't effect their lives,

they have never talked with a quilter.

Colors can definitely effect

your mood, emotions, and feelings.

I know how colors have and do influence me.

This past week has found me

floundering a little bit.  

All the uncertainty and 

the emotional and social roller coasters

have made me weary, although, 

I'm keeping to a routine, 

staying positive,

 and using my quilting 

as a way to brighten my days.

I recently was reminded of a whimsical, and 

easy nine patch design.  

You've all probably seen this before, but

I had never tried it.

 I had some fun fabrics

 that I had used for other projects long ago.

2004

2003

The nine patch idea seemed like a simple fun project
to brighten my mood.

Here's a refresher on how to make these blocks.,
if you want to give it a try.

Two squares of fabric will give you two blocks at a time.

How's that for efficiency.  

I started with 2 squares.  I made them 9.5" because

my 9.5" ruler was on my cutting table.

 No other reason.

You can start with any size.

Place the squares on top of each other

with right sides facing up.

Slice the square set into thirds at any angle.

Take the middle section

and flip flop those two pieces.

Next sew the thirds together

making two blocks.

I pressed the seams towards the centers.

Now stack the blocks together,

right sides facing up.

Cut the blocks 

into thirds.

Reshuffle the center sections.

and sew the thirds together

creating two fun and easy blocks.

After sewing a few I decided to

trim my blocks to 8 1/4"  

It doesn't really matter, just find a size

that fits your blocks.

These fabrics definitely brightened my spirits while

I came up with all kinds of fun combinations.

Who said pigs can't fly?

Before I knew it, I had made

48 blocks

 and set them together side by side.

This was such a fun
project to do.

We may be having more grey days looming 

ahead, but

working with happy colors

can always brighten your day.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Some Days are for Sewing and Some Are Not

Sewing doesn't always go as smoothly as planned

But what do you do?

You do a lot of unstitching.
That's what!

Several years ago I collected a 

 lot of beautiful blue fabrics designed 

by Laura Simpson and Polly Minick.  The

collection is called Lexington, which is
a small town located
along the shores of Lake Huron, and the 

accompanying pattern is called Great Lakes.

 Maybe having grown

up as a Michigan kid,

1952
 and spending summer vacations

 on some lake "up north"

1960

 might have been why I needed to
make this pattern.

It was smooth sailing at first.

I cut and trimmed hst's,

Who doesn't like seeing

a pile of trimmings, knowing that

those blocks are perfect.

My sewing was making me smile.  

Blocks together. 👍👍

Center section  👍👍

Borders pieced.  👍👍

Then the fun came to
a screeching halt.
Those pieced borders
 did not want to fit the center section!

I actually ended up unsewing
those borders 3 times!
Because there wasn't a coping border,
the borders needed to be EXACT!

After I got those to fit, I decided to
add another border so the quilt's outer edges
wouldn't be stretchy triangles.

Do you think those
6" borders cooperated?
No,
more unsewing!

Some days are for sewing and
some are not,
but I'm happy to say
the top is finished,

it lays flat,
and is a rectangle.
All major accomplishments.

It's been a long time since I've
been back to enjoyed those lakes.

I actually have a trip planned for
the beginning of June, but
that might have to be rescheduled.
But whenever it happens,
it will feel great to dig my toes
into the sand and remember some
wonderful family times.

Until Next Time-

Kyle