Monday, August 6, 2018

To Do in August

August is shaping up to be a jam-packed month (though not because I'm making jam, because I'm not).  On my schedule ...

First.  A coxcomb for Linda Brannock's Flowers quilt.  Below, I'm auditioning fabrics.  Maybe the coral is a little too bright....  It looks less so during the day in natural light, brighter with a flash or at night.  I'll audition more tomorrow.


Second.  Sections for Sweet Land of Liberty for Lori's sew-along at Humble Quilts.  This month we're making three uneven stars; a long, narrow flag; a liberty/angel with "freedom" appliqued; a log cabin block with a crow; and two small embroidered birds.  I hope these go quickly for me and that I don't agonize over fabric choices.

Which reminds me that I don't want to embroider for this quilt so I want to iron a piece of muslin onto freezer paper, then try out three different pens to see which writes best and which is indelible after washing several times.  There's no way to tell about whether they will harm fabric over time. 

Third.  Everyday Patchwork blocks will be getting borders this month.  It is my One Monthly Goal so that will definitely get done.  I'm looking forward to seeing how borders will enhance these blocks.


Fourth.  I need to choose a pattern for a quilt for grandbaby boy.  I asked my daughter about color and, again, she said green.  I need to clarify whether she's thinking about green and light or all green or something else.  Tonight I went through some of my saved patterns and noticed these, depending on her preference.


And last night I started sketching out a few possible patterns.  With only three months to make, quilt, and bind this quilt, I need something that won't take too long to make, but I don't want it to look like I took the easy way out and just stitched large pieces of fabric together.  I know none of these blocks says "baby" but that's because I have yet to find a pattern for a "baby" quilt that I love and would want to make.


I saw the pattern below at a link on one of Angela's soscrappy link-ups.  It was not in green but another color.  The blocks used three or four fabrics in the same color with varying shades/tones.  I thought it might work in green. 


Fifth.  We were just recently called as service missionaries for our church.  The training is time-consuming and it feels like my poor old brain is, well, old, and my memory becoming dull.  After training we'll serve 12 to 20 hours per week for a year or two.    

And Sixth.  My husband will have another surgery on his foot sometime in the next few weeks.  I don't think his walking will be limited post-surgery but I'm not sure.

What an August!  I hope your August is great.

I'm linking this post to
> Show and Tell Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
> Main Crush Monday at Cooking Up Quilts
> Moving It Forward Monday at Em's Scrapbag
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.
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20 comments:

  1. Oh my, what a lot to do. I love your creative process with the sketching. And you have such extremes going on : baby and husband's surgery. Busy life. Sending thoughts and prayers.

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    1. Thank you, Debbie. I appreciate your prayers. I'm hoping I can manage my time and work quickly enough to get everything done! At some point this month quilting will probably no longer be a priority....

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  2. Congratulations on the Service Mission. What will you be doing? You've certainly filled your August with a lot of sewing. I kind of like the coral flowers... I haven't started the next month's worth of blocks for SLOL. I'm currently cleaning my sewing room (long overdue) and will hopefully have more energy for my projects when there is unencumbered space to sew in.

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    1. Thank you, Robin. We were asked to serve with our local PathwayConnect. Do you know that program? It's a low-cost, accessible college program through BYU-I for people who want to begin or continue their college education.

      Those coral flowers.... I like them a lot but they probably don't look primitive. I didn't see any other color in my fabrics that I thought would work better and I saw a beautiful coxcomb online that was a similar color. They are not taking too long to make so if I decide I don't like them after all, I will make others.

      I haven't started this month's SLOL blocks yet, either. As I often do, I think they shouldn't take too much time, which means they'll take a lot longer than I think!

      It must be great to clean your sewing room. I know how fabric gets piled up for a project. At some point they become distracting and overwhelming instead of enhancing creative energy. I have stacks now and several surfaces are covered or partially covered with fabric (because I'm working on 3 different quilts at the same time, all with different fabric needs). I can hardly wait to get them all put away.

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  3. Yay Yay Nancy. I am pretty sure I am a member of the same church as you. That was a fun tidbit to figure out as I read your post today. I think you will love your mission. We have been saving to go for years but are not yet at retirement age. My youngest just returned from his mission to Germany.

    The fabric choices for your flower quilt are wonderful. Everyday Patchwork looks like such a fun project as well.

    I hope you achieve your goals.

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    1. Hi, Unknown. It sounds like we are members of the same church. I have heard that Germany is a hard place to serve. We will live at home and serve with PathwayConnect students in our area. I'm feeling the challenge!

      I enjoyed making the Everyday Patchwork blocks. I had never made a sampler quilt before and many of these blocks were new to me too.

      Since an email is not connected to your "Unknown" I can't respond to you directly. Do you have a blog? I'd love to visit if you do.

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  4. Sounds like you have a very full month!
    Congrats on the mission call. Curious to know what you will be doing.
    I really like the coral in the coxcomb flowers. :)

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    1. Thank you, Janet. We were asked to serve with our local PathwayConnect. Do you know that program? It's a low-cost, online, accessible college program through BYU-I for people who want to begin or continue their college education. It's all a bit overwhelming just now. The classes for the students being in September and our first meeting with them in on the 20th but the deadline for them to register is August 28, and part of our responsibility is finding students to participate, among many other things....

      I like the coral flowers a lot but they probably don't look primitive. I looked up coxcomb online and saw one similar to this color and fell in love with it. Most of the others are in the red to rose range.

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  5. I love your coxcomb!

    I have two Pinterest boards full of baby quilt ideas if you'd enjoy looking thru them? I love the chance to make a baby quilt, what a thrill for you.

    Bit curious, what does a service missionary do? At 20 hours a week it's a full time job almost!

    love

    lizzy

    lizzzz.d@gmail.com

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    1. Thanks, Lizzy. I love the coxcomb, too, but I'm not sure looks primitive. I'll make another if I need to but I hope it works with the other flowers in this quilt.

      Yes, please send me a link to your baby quilt pinterest boards. I would love to take a look. I'd love to make your Bitty quilt but I can't take on one more applique quilt just now.

      Service missionaries do all kinds of things but my husband and I will be working with a group of students who will be participating in PathwayConnect through BYU-Idaho. It's a low-cost, online, accessible program who people who want to start or continue their college careers.

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  6. Good luck on your August goals. Thanks for sharing with Moving it Forward.

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    1. Thanks so much, Em. Luck I can use! And thank you for hosting Moving it Forward every week.

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  7. You have a lot going on, sending positive energy to help you through it. I hope your hubby's surgery goes well and he's not off his feet too long. I hope you find a good baby pattern soon. There are some really cute ones out there! Pinterest is a great place for ideas. Thanks for linking to Main Crush Monday!

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    1. Hi, Beth. It has been a busy month with no slowing in sight! I haven't yet chosen a baby quilt pattern, not that I'm putting it off, just haven't made a decision. I should probably scout around online and at pinterest for ideas. Thanks for hosting Main Crush Monday.

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  8. Yes, Nancy a busy August brimming with such good things really. That sounds like wonderful service to your church, very satisfying I'm sure and it is good to keep the old brain challenged...generally. lol
    Love watching your quilts appear out of your musings and deliberations. I always feel inspired reading about your process.

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    1. Thanks, Jocelyn. I'm chuckling as I think about keeping my old brain challenged. It feels like it's on overload just now and over the past few weeks. I hope my brain adjusts and picks up its efforts!

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  9. Goodness! You certainly DO have your hand full! Praying that you are blessed at every turn. I love your design process. I'm a big fan of graph paper as well! I have EQ7 - have had for some time - yet, it sits unused. :) I know that whatever you chose for your baby quilt, it will be perfect because it will be made with love. I too struggle with making similar choices. Hence, I have 3 or 4 baby quilts in the works when I only need one. Grin.
    Your service mission sounds interesting. I read up on the program a bit, it sounds as if it's a wonderful way to mentor students as they navigate through college. So many struggle through these days and a Godly support system would be invaluable. I know that you and your husband will be a blessing to those you encounter through this calling.
    Sending prayers for your husband's surgery - may he heal quickly and be ready to waltz you across the floor before long.

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    1. Karin, I should follow your lead and make baby quilts in advance of the need. It would alleviate the last-minuteness of my baby quilt making! I don't have EQ. My husband has asked about a computer program for creating quilts but gosh, I love to have my hands on the fabric when creating and told him I didn't want to have to learn a new program. Maybe some day I'll want to.

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  10. What fun your August looks to be! What is the service you'll do? Here that usually means Family History or the Storehouse. =) I hope the surgery goes well, and there are no surprises. I think every quilt pattern says baby. I like the one you showed last, but any of those, or any other one you enjoy making will be fine. What fun to be looking forward to a new little one!

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    1. Hi, Susan. We were called to serve as PathwayConnect missionaries. Do you have that program in your area? It's a program through BYU-I for students who want to begin or continue their education. They take online courses, then meet once a week for Institute classes and another hour to discuss the online class.

      I'm hoping for no surprises with the surgery, either. We're looking for a new doctor, though. His long-time podiatrist retired just last month and the one who replaced him is very young and very new and hasn't followed up with the process. My husband called to ask them to schedule surgery and they've never called back. We miss his old doctor!

      I like that last block, too. I should probably just pull fabrics and make a few blocks. (I need more time in my day, and probably more focus or fewer things to focus on!) I was trying to imagine a striped green sashing.... I like your thought that every quilt pattern says baby.

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I appreciate your comments and look forward to reading what you have to say. Thanks for stopping by.

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