Quilting and Stuff by Knitnoid

My Brother’s Visit – February 2025

I have the best brother.  Last month he visited for a week and worked his tail off helping me with odd jobs around the house and installing the custom vanity he made for me. He discovered when he opened his trailer, Bluing  had stowed away for the trip. Needless to say, Butterscotch was not a happy camper when she saw him.  Bluing stayed in the trailer all week, but got to ride up front on the way home.

If the vanity and odd jobs were not enough, he came bearing gifts.  Coasters and a cutting board made from scrap lumber for both me and my sister-in-law.

He suggest olive oil for the board and the colors just popped.

The first order of business was getting the vanity installed.  This included removing the old vanity and cutting a wall access to cut the water off to the shower if needed.

Then we called the countertop folks to have them come measure and fabricate the top.  This left 4 days to do odd jobs around the house.

Two wall hooks were made.  One is in my closet and the other in my bathroom.  He milled and shaped the wood at home then attached the dragonflies when he got here.  They are from Lowe’s.  Have I mentioned the wood is from a walnut log he cut himself?

It’s the same log that my mantle was made from. Another odd job was hanging the pictures over my mantel. That’s Gracie on the left and Butterscotch on the right.  The photo in them middle is from my trip to Scotland last year.

He fixed the bedframe.  Originally he thought there was an issue with bed rails, but it turns out only shims were needed between the bed rail and the footboard and headboard.  He says it no longer feels like the bed is going to collapse.

One of the last things he did was paint my cabinet doors using various shades of turquoise/teal paint to help decide what color my new kitchen cabinets will be.

Also while waiting for the vanity top to arrive he did the following odd jobs:

  • Stabilized my IKEA fabric cabinets. They are now connected to each other and to the wall.
  • Reattached the gutter flashing
  • Cleaned the gutters
  • Fixed my mailbox
  • Put up 2 ceiling AC vents
  • Stopped the toilet from rocking
  • Deepened the grooves in my file drawers
  • Fixed the loose curtain rod in my bedroom
  • Replace a smoke detector
  • Re-assembled a desk in my sunroom
  • Moved a file cabinet for my sister in law
  • Cut some 2 x 4s for my shoe class

The marble top arrived on Thursday afternoon, then he finished the vanity area.

  • installed the backsplash – the tile matches the shower which he installed last year.
  • added the walnut trim to the top of the tile and marble
  • installed the faucet
  • Installed the mirror, including making the frame
  • installed the magnifying mirror
  • installed the towel ring
  • touched up the wall paint – apparently my walls are not square so the cabinet was a tighter fit than expected.

The final thing he did was drop me off at Walmart at 6:00 AM Sunday morning on his way out of town so I could catch a ride to AQS Branson.

What I’m Working on Wednesday – 2/26/2025

I’ve fallen behind in my blogging.  Next week my brother is bringing and installing this custom vanity he made me! So, things have been a bit busy around here.  I’ve had to prepare notes for my Vice President since I won’t be at the meeting next week. My brother said he didn’t see why I couldn’t go — then I sent him the list of things I want us to accomplish. He threatened to just ship me the vanity.

So as far as my Goals for last week — I missed all of them. I don’t have any quilting goals for this week.  Although, I will be folding the quilts which are currently on the guest bed. After I get that done, I need to start on my sunroom and kitchen.

My brother will be here for a week, then I’m going to AQS Branson to help at the Ritzy Quilting Company booth.  When I get back, my kitchen renovation starts.  So, in the next 10 day – I need to clear my kitchen and utility room and before that I need to make space elsewhere in my house to everything.

Stash Report for 2/28/2025

I’ve mentioned I’m making 2 quilts for my SIL to give to her sisters this Christmas.  Well this is the backing for the 2nd quilt.

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 8 yards (I converted my wide back to 45″)
Fabric Added to Date:  40 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 0 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 10.825 yards

Net Fabric Stash: 29.175 yards

Maybe I’ll get off another post before I leave for Branson, but if not, I’ll aim to post something on March 21st.

 

Stash Busting Report – February 21, 2025

I’m a day late with my Stash Report. Oh well, at least I remembered it.

Last Saturday I purchased 9 yards of this gorgeous wide backing.  I wanted it for some future project for myself, my SIL Ruby couldn’t decide (see my post Lighting Matters), and my SIL Penny said it would be great for a quilt I’m making for her sister.  Monday I remembered this kit that I bought from another quilter when I went to a retreat in Shipshewana in November 2019.  The colors are great for the commissioned quilt, but I’ll need to get more fabric and possibly change the pattern. Penny and I are still in discussion.

I was also given a bag of “scraps” which had enough fabric to make a dozen more Little Laura Notebooks.  I did a Google search to find out how much a yard of quilting cotton fabric weighs and it came in between 3.5 – 5.5 ounces a yard.  So, I’m using the 4.5 ounces = 1 yard when I figure my calculations.

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 28 yards (I converted my wide back to 45″)
Fabric Added to Date:  32 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 1.2 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 10.825 yards

Net Fabric Stash: 21.175 yards

 

 

 

What I’m Working on Wednesday – 2/19/2025

Yesterday I dug through my FQ box and found this cool dot print to use for the reverse applique of the dragonfly. It’s fused together, now I just need to decide how I’m going to finish the project — put it in a frame and call it good, finish it like a fabric post card or something else altogether.  The reality is it will sit unfinished for a few more days.  I need to work on the mystery pattern.

Making Art with Strings

 

At the Quilters By Heart’s Desire meeting last night we had a hands on activity presented by Jackie Watkins of the Southern Fiber Artist group.  She brought in a big bucket of 1/4 inch strips of batik fabric with double sided fusible.  We laid them down on a 5 x 7 piece of fabric, trimmed and fused them into place.  We then took a 5 x 7 piece of batik and cut out an image. I picked the dragonfly. Once fused into place it was popped into a frame.  

I was careful cutting out my dragonfly, so I can do a second piece having the fabric show through. I just happened to lay the piece on one of my fabric covered notebooks and I think I’m going to skip cutting strips. There may even be some of this fabric left in my stash.

Goals for the Week of February 17, 2025

Last week I had lots of goals, but got distracted.

  • Finish the notebook covers. – DONE
  • Bind the BQ 2024 BOM Blue Waters
  • Quilt Cindy’s Pizza Box Quilt – DONE
  • Prep Clues 4 & 5 of the BQ 2025 Mystery Quilt
  • Make 10 sets of corners for Living on Cornbread
  • Bind Illusions

Last week I quilted an extra quilt and I made 12 more Laura’s Little Notebook Covers.  I’m out of notebooks, so that won’t be a continuing distraction. These were made from scraps I was given.

I did get the binding for Blue Waters sewn together, so perhaps after the Guild meeting tonight I’ll get it pressed and ready to sew on the quilt.

As for this week’s goals, I’m limiting them to 2:

  • Bind the BQ 2024 BOM Blue Waters
  • Prep Clues of the BQ 2025 Mystery Quilt through the center of the quilt.

My brother should be here towards the end of the month, then March, April and June will be crazy with travel and remodeling. So, I need to have the mystery instructions ready to post through at least August.

So, no personal quilting beyond the binding of Blue Waters until I get those instructions written.  Ya’ll keep me honest, OK.

Little Laura Notebook Covers and Lighting Matters

Last night I finished the 10 remaining Little Laura Notebook Covers.  I think that means I’ve made 31 and I have 18 left.  Now I need a place to put the rest of the snaps and notebooks.

I have decided the snaps will go in the box with the rest of the notebooks and on the top of my wire shelf.  Maybe I won’t forget where they are.

Then I drove down to Ritzy Quilting Company. Danielle doesn’t reorder fabric except for basics. She posted the most gorgeous wide backing in teal, fuchsia and blue with gold running through it called Midas Touch.  I don’t have a quilt in the queue this would go with, but I know if I don’t get it NOW, she won’t have it when she gets back in 2 weeks after vending at 2 quilt shows.  My SIL, Ruby likes it as well.

 

Then I saw the Manufacturer’s image of the backing.  Whoa.  Now it’s Teal & Purple with Gold.  I still don’t have a quilt in the queue, but it might work for a quilt I’m making for my SIL Penny’s sister. I sent her the picture and she agreed.

So off to Crystal Springs I go.

 

It’s probably too light for Penny’s quilt and Ruby thinks it’s too dark.  Naturally I buy 9 YARDS!  My thought process is 3 quilts, or 2 quilts, 4 pillow cases & borders.

But here it is in my quilt studio.  It’s different again.  I said something to my brother and he said it has to do with the angle of the camera and how the light is bouncing off the fabric.  I don’t know if I’ll use it in the quilt top, but I’ll definitely use it for color inspiration.

While I was at the shop, I was given a bag of scraps.  Guess what I’m turning them into?  But this will be it.  I only have 12 notebooks left. I guess I’ll need to find another place to store my snaps.

Stash Busting Report – February 14, 2025

Although the yellow might make you think of my Quilt Studio, this is in my brother’s wood shop.  He sent me this picture this afternoon of the doors of the vanity he is making me. Aren’t they gorgeous? They are walnut and most if not all of the wood came from the same tree/log that my fireplace mantel did.  My brother kiln dried the wood then milled it.

Now the stash report.

Saturday on my way home from the MQA meeting I stopped in at Ritzy Quilting Company and picked up another Dahila layer cake for my Living on Cornbread quilt.  I really need to get back to that.  Per my calculations, a layer cake contains about 3 yards of fabric.

 

On the usage side, I pulled 1 3/4 yard of fabric from my stash for the backing of the President’s Challenge quilt.  I’m still ahead, but i saw a gorgeous piece of backing earlier today.  I don’t have a quilt for it yet, but it’s my colors.  I may be making the drive to Crystal Springs and bringing home 2 new backings for quilts I haven’t even conceived of yet, they are that beautiful.

Fabric Added Since Last Report: 3 yards
Fabric Added to Date:  4 yards

Fabric Used Since Last Report: 1.75 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 9.625 yards

Net Fabric Stash: -5.625 yard

 

 

Brandon Quilters President’s Challenge

As President of Brandon Quilters, I issued a challenge to our members to make 8″ finished Double 4-Patch blocks to be sewn into community quilts.  The challenged was issued at our January meeting to bring in blocks no later than our April meeting. To date 112 blocks have been made.  The plan is to use 35 blocks set 5 x 7 to make lap quilts.   One quilter brought in a complete quilt last month and her daughter brought in in a quilt top. Last night I quilted it.

This quilt measures 40″ x 56″, so I was able to pull  1 1/2 yards of fabric from my stash to use for the backing.

 

Pamela K’s President’s Challenge

  • Quilted 2/12/25
  • 74″ x 92″
  • Glide 40wt in Kiwi
  • Square Cut E2E
  • Legacy 80/20 batting

 

 

What I’m Working on Wednesday – 2/12/2025

Last night I loaded a customer quilt on the frame and started quilting it.  It’s going pretty fast, but I need to wind another bobbin, so called it a night. While the computer was doing it’s thing, I worked on the remaining Laura’s Little Notebook Covers.  I think 6 are pinned and ready to stitch.