Wonky Windmills

Wonky Windmills

8 inch block

Made with two 4.5 x 5 rectangles of gray and two 4.5 x 5 rectangles of a color. I've been making these blocks for  couple of years as a RSC (Rainbow Scrap Challenge) project. I wanted to use a lot of gray scrap chunks and 4.5 inch width scraps. With a lot of RSC blocks I just make a pile of blocks and then decide what to do with them. When I had a pile of these I divided them up into smaller piles and so far I have completed a set of black and pink ones, a set of novelties and a set of geometrics and solids.  This is the floral set and the goal is 63 for a layout of 7 x 9 for a finished 56 x 72 inch comfort quilt. 

Orange is the June RSC color of the month so I made four blocks with orange florals (loosely translated). 

I noticed I was close to my goal of 63 blocks so looked around in my 4.5 inch width scraps for some florals. While sorting scraps in the past I actually had set aside a few scraps in the box just to use in these blocks. 

I was scraping the bottom of the gray scrap chunk bag to finish up these blocks. I did empty out the bag. 

So now I have met my goal of 63 blocks and the complete block set will go into the SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin. The top will be assembled at  later date. 

Going where the scraps take me and enjoying the journey.

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

***

Coneflowers are starting to bloom. A couple of years ago I bought a few different ones at an end of year clearance sale. There are so many varieties of them to choose from now but I think the native Purple Coneflower is my favorite. 

 

Another Complete Block Set

10.5 inch finished blocks

Made with 4 inch squares, 4 inch unfinished QSTs and 4 inch unfinished HSTs.

20 blocks are finished for a small comfort quilt in a 4 x 5 layout that will finish at 42 x 52.5.

Someone sent me an inspiration photo they said was found on Pinterest. I still had some 4 inch squares left after making the Hollow Nine Patch blocks I blogged about yesterday so decided I would also make this with 4 inch squares following the inspiration photo (no pattern) to make blocks. 

I later used Google Lens to track down further info about the photo and found it pinned on Pinterest and the maker on Instagram. I'm not on Instagram but could see enough info about the quilt to see that a Finnish lady has a pattern for it called "Busy Quilt" if you are interested. I'm not sure what size her blocks are or what size squares, etc. she used to make her quilt. 

And now I have another complete block set ready for the SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin to be assembled at a future date.  This month I have just been scrap processing when I have a few moments. 

I am thinking I might have enough squares and scraps for two other larger comfort quilts - one with blacks and whites and another with browns and creams. 

Going where the scraps take me and enjoying the journey!

And sew on...

 

Hollow Nine Patches

Hollow Nine Patches

10.5 finished

Made with 4 inch squares

I made 35 blocks and now have another complete block set for the SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin.

Completed quilt will measure 52.5 x 73.5

I recently received a lot of 4 inch squares and I already had a few on hand. So that is why I decided to make these blocks. I first kitted up squares for 35 block sets. I figured it would be easy to grab and make a block or two when I had short periods of time in the sewing space. I started with making the orange and yellow blocks since orange is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color of the month. 

But lately it has either been way too hot or way to wet to be outside working in my gardens so I have been spending a little more time in the sewing space.

The rest of the blocks.  I actually think I made 37 blocks which means there may be 2 for the orphan block pile OR I may take a couple of blue ones apart so I can use the squares in something I'm working on.

Going where the scraps take me and enjoying the journey!

And sew on...

***

A few posts ago I mentioned that I made garlic scape pesto from garlic scapes I harvested from the garden. I've cooked with garlic scapes in the past; however, I've never made garlic scape pesto. Yesterday I used it on homemade pizza. When there was more than just me in the household to feed I used to make my own pizza dough (and bread) but this time I bought one of those ready made crusts that you just top and bake. I added my garlic scape pesto in place of a tomato sauce and added lots of mozzarella cheese and a three cheese blend of parmesan, asiago and romano and some oregano from my herb garden. Oh, gosh, was that pizza delicious!

I finished a book...Deadly Equation by Gary Gerlacher. It is the fourth book in the medical thriller series featuring ER doc AJ Docker "Doc" and his dog Banshee. He follows through on a dying patient's last wish and ends up battling all sorts of evil folks bent on finding the research notes of dead patient who has left clues to it's whereabouts for his twin sister.  The research could be the cure for all sorts of diseases by altering DNA or it could be used as the ultimate weapon. AND, a large (and crooked) investment group is trying to take over the staffing and management of the ER but "Doc" doesn't let that happen.     I see a new book in the series will be released in Oct. 2025 and I'm looking forward to it. 

As I mentioned previously...it has been too hot and/or too wet to work outside. I'm itching to get out there because I know the weeds love this type of weather and run rampant through my gardens. I have been starting some perennial seeds under lights in a corner of my sewing space for setting out hopefully in August.  And I've been looking at sales for bulbs to be planted in the Autumn. LOOKING for now but I've been dreaming and making a list. 

 

The Pink Contessa

I'm only showing 8 blocks of the completed 24 block set.

Blocks finish at 10 inches. Quilt will finish at 40 x 60.

This is going into the SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin to be assembled into a top at a future date.

I decided to make these blocks because I had noticed a lot of pinks in my 2.5 inch width scrap bin. 

I used Moda's free pattern called Contessa.  

(It is actually what I call a Basket Weave pattern).

BUT

I didn't use a jellyroll. 

I didn't make as many blocks.

I didn't make stripsets of 5 WOF strips (because I didn't have that many). Instead I made 4 strip sets of 3 or 4 strips and then cut them into the 6.5 inch sections and added  2.5 x 6.5 inch rectangle(s) (from 2.5 inch width scrap bin) to the ends of each section. 

Yesterday I showed the blue version of Contessa and I think I will have enough for a green Contessa one of these days.

And sew on...

Going where the scraps take me and making comfort quilts one scrap at a time.  

Contessa - A Complete Block Set

I'm only showing 12 blocks of the completed 24 block set.

Blocks finish at 10 inches. Quilt will finish at 40 x 60.

This is going into the SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin to be assembled into a top at a future date.

I decided to make these blocks because I had noticed a lot of blues and purples in my 2.5 inch width scrap bin. 

I used Moda's free pattern called Contessa.  

(It is actually what I call a Basket Weave pattern).

BUT

I didn't use a jellyroll. 

I didn't make as many blocks.

I didn't make stripsets of 5 WOF strips (because I didn't have that many). Instead I made 4 strip sets of 4 strips and then cut them into the 6.5 inch sections and added a 2.5 x 6.5 inch rectangle (from 2.5 inch width scrap bin) to the ends of each section. 

And sew on...

Going where the scraps take me and making comfort quilts one scrap at a time. 

 

Kaleidoscope of Blue

I mentioned earlier in the month that I received some 6 inch width strips and I pulled out blue ones to make a Kaleidoscope quilt. I had to dig into some of my blue scrap chunks in order to make 35 blocks that finish at 11 inches.  Now I have finished piecing all 35 blocks and have a complete block set I will put aside in my SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin. I will make the top some day in the future. 

And sew on...

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

 ***

I had a nice visit with my siblings for a couple of hours Sun. - Wed. last week. We drove over to the campsite where my brother and wife from TN were staying. My sister from CA and brother from FL flew in and stayed in a cabin at the campground along with my sister who lives near here. Hubby John is not well so a couple of hours each day was all he could tolerate away from home.  It was nice to have a get together just for fun. We missed my brother-in-law who passed away a couple of years ago but he was with us in memories and spirit along with several others. My brothers are retired chefs so we had lots of good food and played several rounds of the dice game Farkle and card game 99. My brother has a Blackstone griddle. I really liked it and now think I may need to buy a small one. 

Speaking of food...I've been eating peas, snow peas, strawberries and onions from the garden. I think I can make one final harvest of lettuce but the temps are getting to warm for it. Made garlic scape pesto because someone made a comment on my last post about it and it sounded good. It is. I used it in stir fry of snow peas and onions and chicken breast. I could probably dig up a few potatoes but like to leave them in the ground as long as possible.  I might have some broccoli to harvest soon. 

The heat index was over 100 degrees yesterday and I think will continue through Monday or so. I don't have air conditioning so have been working outside in the early a.m. and just lie in front of a fan or under a ceiling fan and read most of the rest of the day. If a little breeze also blows in the window in the sewing room I sew a little. Last year I bought a couple of loose fitting house dresses like my grandma wore back in the day and I've found those cooler to wear than shorts when it is hot. 

I've finished reading a couple of books since my last post.   The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn. " The bestselling author of The Rose Code returns with an unforgettable World War II tale of a quiet bookworm who becomes history’s deadliest female sniper. Based on a true story" of Lyudmila Pavlichenko.   After finishing that book I looked for something a little lighter to read and found a few crafty type books free with my Kindle Unlimited subscription and downloaded How to Create a Small Garden Sanctuary: Transform Small Gardens with Water, Petals & Wild Ideas. No Experience Necessary by RC Brook. I didn't really learn anything new; however, it was a nice pleasant read. It would be a nice gift for a beginning gardener. 

A Flock Of Flying Geese Landed At My House

Sawtooth Stars

8 inch

I received some baggies of what I thought at first were HST parts. Then I figured out they were wingless Flying Geese (2.5 x 4.5 inch unfinished). They are lots of them in several different colors. To start with I pulled out the baggie of orange parts and decided to give them wings so they could fly. 

For the Sawtooth Stars I dug into the 4.5 inch squares for Star centers. I looked in the 2.5 inch scraps for Flying Geese wings in a contrasting color and cut those with my Easy Angle ruler. I didn't have any orange 2.5 inch squares to use for the block corners so I cut a 2.5 inch strip from a couple of different orange scrap chunks to use. 

Geese Strips

If sewn together they would make a column 80.5 inches (unfinished) long. 

One of the little baggies of Flying Geese bodies held some pieces pinned together in groups. I cut some low volume wings and made strips with any pinned groups that had orange in them.  Then I made a few more groups with just orange Geese bodies.  I wanted strips of 40 total Flying Geese that if sewn together would equal a column of 80 inches (finished). 

I will be using the Flying Geese columns in a Wild Goose Chase quilt that I'm thinking will end up around 60 x 80 finished. 

I was inspired by the May Quilt of the Month at the International Quilt Museum:

Wild Goose Chase 

Mary Maxtion 

Made in Boligee, Alabama, United States; circa 1980-1995

Cotton blend

IQM 2000.004.0079

Going where the scraps take me...making comfort quilts one scrap at a time.

And sew on...

Oh Scrap! at Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

***

My siblings will all be in town today for a couple of days. My brother and wife left Tennessee a week ago in their camper and have been camping at many different places along a planned route. In their plan they included camping at a place near here. The last few days they have been camping and visiting attractions near Galena, IL. My sister flew in from CA and my brother flew in from FL to join them. My sister that lives near me also went to meet them and they have been staying the last few days at the unique Car Wash Inn which is a short drive from Galena.  Unfortunately my husband is unable to travel far so we could not join them.  However, today they will be camping a few miles from here in RV and cabin and we will be able to join them for a few hours each day.  It has been a long time since all of us have been together so I'm looking forward to the visit. 

 

Orange Scraps Part II

Buckeye Beauty

6 inch

Orange is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) color for June so I dug into my orange 2 and 3.5 inch width orange scraps to make these blocks.

Easy Breezy

6 inch blocks

Made with 2 inch width scraps

Buckeye Beauty

8 inch

Made with 2.5 and 4.5 inch width scraps.

The 8 inch Buckeye Beauty blocks are combined with low volume scraps and the 6 inch blocks (first photo) are combined with black scraps.

Going where the scraps take me and making comfort quilts one scrap at a time. 

And sew on...

RSC ScrapHappy Saturday

 

Table Topper Finish

Table Topper

28 x 28

It's a finish! 

I didn't make the top. I received it in a box with a couple of other unfinished projects in March 2024. I needed something to do in the evenings (otherwise I fall asleep the minute I sit down) so decided to big stitch hand quilt it and then bind it. 

This is the backing so I guess it is reversible. It will go into the box of items I keep on hand for gifting. It will go nicely with those embroidered dish towels with chickens I made back in April. 

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

***

I complain a lot about all the critters that wreak havoc in my gardens but they do sometimes leave something for me to eat.  

The last week or so I've been eating snow peas...

...strawberries...

...and lots of salad greens. 

 

Wednesday Wandering

I took the camera with me this morning on my Wednesday wander through my gardens.

***

We both forgot our 52nd wedding anniversary on June 7.  I barely ever know what day it is let alone the date but yesterday I had to put the date on hubby's sputum sample I needed to drop at the lab and noticed our anniversary had passed.