Eight Projects? What?

 I was sitting in my sewing room the other day, and for some reason, I counted the projects I am working on. This does not include crochet or hand work. I have EIGHT quilting projects going on right now. Eight. How did this happen to someone whose sewing mojo was on hiatus? So let's just see what's going on in there.

This is the beginning of a baby quilt. I don't want to show too much of it yet, since the recipient doesn't know about it and I want to keep it that way for awhile.

This is the beginning of another Swoon quilt. I told my sister about a year or so ago, that I would make her one of these. So now I am starting on it. Instead of nine blocks, I am making 16 blocks, in the large size. The original calls for 9 blocks. These blocks finish at about 24 inches and she wants a drape down the sides of her bed, which is a queen. This block has 81 pieces in it, and once I have a block cut and ready to sew, it takes me about 2 1/2 hours to put it together, and press all the seams. So this will be a slow and steady job.

My tiny house quilt top is done and waiting to be basted and quilted. For now, it's on a hanger on the door of the room. I am thinking of stitching in the ditch around the houses for this. I don't want to detract from the houses on this.

The first two rows of my Project Pink quilt are together. I have to remove the paper pieces from each block before sewing them together. So for each session with this quilt, I remove paper and sew one row together, and then sew it to the others.

This is my second Project Pink quilt. I have long wanted to do this quilt. I am using up many of my pink scraps for this one. I had tons of 2.5 inch squares cut and in the scrap bin. I have since had to cut some more from bigger scraps and this is about half of the size of the quilt, so a ways to go yet.

After I finished the pink strip blocks, I decided to do some blue and green ones. I am really trying to use up some of the many scraps I have. These will go into a quilt together. I have way more blue strips than green, so that's the way this quilt will eventually go. I make a block almost every day. This is another slow, steady project. I have found that I like that type of project. No pressure.

My Penny Sampler is near to being done. The quilting is done (picture of that coming soon) and I just got the fabric for the binding. I need to make and attach the binding and label. So, very soon it will be done.

And last, but not least, my Geesey Geesey quilt. The top is done, the backing is ready and the batting has been cut from the roll. I need to pin baste this and I am thinking maybe this weekend I will do that so that it is ready to quilt when the mood strikes me.

Friday Finish, and More

 I don't think I have posted a Friday Finish since Amanda Jean stopped blogging. I used to try and have at least a little something every Friday back then. But here we are at Friday, and I have finished something this week.

My Tiny House quilt top is done! It finished at 30"x34". For those who don't know the back story, I started this project as a 100 days challenge to myself. I needed motivation to sew daily, and I needed it to be something small. The tiny houses are 2 inches by 2 1/2 inches. There are actually 101 of them, because on inauguration day I made a tiny white house as well as my usual tiny house. I cannot say enough about how much fun this project was for me. I made myself some rules and stuck to them. I highly recommend such a challenge for anyone trying to keep their creativity going.

I also finished my Meadow blanket that I did as a crochet along with Lucy of Attic 24. I love her crocheted blankets and they are fun to watch them grow as you work.

This is the whole blanket in a color story layout that Lucy designed. Check out her blog if you want to know more about it.

I also have a couple more things to show you today. I started another block a day project while doing the tiny houses. I made pink string blocks to use up a bunch of pink scraps that were calling me.

And now it is finished and waiting to be joined together into a quilt top. Blocks will finish at 8 inches square. I have a couple more things going on, but I think I will save them for next time. Take care of yourself and have a good weekend.

Sunday Cloudy Sunday

 Woke up to grey, cloudy skies this morning. I don't really mind. It doesn't mean rain, living here in southern California. We are in a drought right now. That is one of the hardest things to get used to here, is the lack of rain. Back home, a cloudy day was usually the precursor to rain. Not so here.

These beauties are blooming in the back yard on the patio. These pictures were taken on a sunny day.

When fully open, they are as large as my open hand. And if you don't cut them to bring inside, the blooms last for days.

Even this sweet little cactus plant is blooming right now. Spring is spring, no matter where you are. It's just different here than what I am used to.

The Meadow CAL is pretty much done. Now I have to work the 6 rounds of the border. I am currently on round number 4.

This is the tomato embroidery I did for my daughter from the garden embroidery book. I had been doing these with an eye towards her framing them, but now, we are considering making a quilt out of them. It will be awhile before all of the one I want to do get done, though.

Another picture of the Meadow blanket. The picture really doesn't do the colors justice. They are just so pretty.

And here are my tiny houses through yesterday. Only 4 more to go. I am starting to auditing sashing fabrics for this. I am quite excited to get it all put together. Soon, I will be able to show it to you.

Have a lovely Sunday friends.

Tiny House Update

 So I am still working on my Tiny Houses 100 Days project. I am getting very close to being finished though and I have to say I am still truly enjoying the process. I am actually looking forward to assembling the small quilt when I get all 100 houses done.

This is all the houses together on the design wall. There are 86 of them as of February 24. Only 14 more to go! The white house at the top doesn't count in the 100. I made it at the urging of my daughter, on Inauguration Day. But it will be included in the final project. Here are a few other houses:

These tiny houses measure 2 x 2.5 inches. I will be back to share the progress once they are done and sashing begins. Have a lovely Thursday friends.

Here I Am

 I know it has been a whole month since I have been here, but I have really not felt like working on any quilting projects. I still mostly don't. I have been working on my tiny house project.

When I started losing interest in quilting, I wasn't worried. My mojo will return eventually, I know. It has happened before. That was when I started the tiny house project. 100 houses in 100 days. No pressure at all. It takes me 15-20 minutes to make one each day. I am using only scraps and I don't think about what to do ahead of time. I select scraps, press, sew and done.

On inauguration day, I made two houses, because my daughter suggested I make a "white house" and I had already selected patriotic fabric scraps. I have already figured out where to work this in to the final quilt.

Other than this, I have been doing some embroidery and crocheting. I am doing the Meadow Blanket CAL with Lucy of Attic 24.

And I am embroidering some veggies for my daughter who has taken up gardening in a big way in the last year. I do have two quilt tops made and I did finally make the backs so when my mojo returns, I will be ready to quilt them.

Stay safe and I hope to see you here again soon.

Marshmallows and Tiny Houses

 Two things I have done in December and am excited to share is my first attempt (successful) at marshmallows. The second is my Tiny House project. Lots of pictures so get comfy. First, the Marshmallows. I used Alton Brown's recipe and it was super simple. You do need a candy thermometer though. Here is the process in pictures:

Gelatin and water, waiting for the syrup

Pan prepared with powdered sugar and cornstarch

Syrup in the pan, waiting to boil.

Pouring hot syrup into the gelatin as the mixer is going.

Out of order, but the syrup cooking to 140 degrees

Again, dammit, out of order, thanks blogger, covering with powdered sugar

Whipping until stiff peaks form

There they are! Stiff enough. Don't want to set them up too soon.

Into the pans they go.

I used 2 8-inch square pans instead of the one 9x13. It was easier to deal with.

Again, all out of order for no apparent reason. but they were delicious and amazing and I will do them again!

Now, tiny houses. I have kept up at one per day. Here is where I am after today...

Actually, this was Monday. I am having so much fun with these, and keeping at it is easy. You can check my Instagram for all the pictures of this. I am @grammie_q and I post the house there every day.

Have a Happy and safe New Year's eve and here's hope for better things in 2021 for all of us.