Stars

Hollow Stars

10.5 inch finished

Made with 4 inch and 3 inch squares

Earlier in the year I emptied out a box of 4 inch width scraps by making a variety of blocks.  With the longest pieces I made Hollow (aka Wonky) Stars.    I ended up with about 30 of them. I decided that next year one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) projects would be to make Hollow Stars each month with scrap chunks.  Then at the end of the year 2027 I will have a big pile of blocks to make into comfort quilts. It's always fun to see how many quilts I can make. 

Since neutrals is the RSC color this month I made some gray blocks. I didn't have very many gray scrap chunks to use. 

And this week I finished making those 320 Quarter Stars into 80 Whole Stars.  Now there is some assembly required. 

And sew on...

RSC ScrapHappy Saturday

 

Farmer's Wife Samper Finish

It's a finish!

Farmer's Wife Samper

66 x 84

Most blocks can be found in the book Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt by Laurie Aaron Hird.

I started making blocks way back in January 2011.

The actual Farmer's Wife Samper has 111 six inch finished blocks. I think I made about half of those blocks.  In March 2023 I dug out the blocks and made a decision to do something with them.   I decided to use an Hourglass as an alternate block. I counted my blocks and decided I needed a few more. I had belonged to a 30s Reproduction Yahoo Group that swapped blocks made in 30s repros so found a few six inch orphan blocks from previous swaps that would fit the theme. 

In March 2023 I made the QSTs and assembled the top.

And here we are in October 2026 and I finally have a finished top. This is one of my oldest UFOs.  I quilted it on my sewing machine with horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines. 

I added a scrappy binding. 

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

 

Spiraling Flying Geese Top

It's a top!

Spiraling Flying Geese

64 x 76

Found in the book "History Repeated" by Betsy Chutchian and Carol Staehle

This UFO was started waaaaay back in 1921. I made a few Flying Geese from scraps as a "Before-I-Forget".  And then promptly forgot about them and put Flying Geese, book and box of civil war reproduction scraps away until a few days ago. 

A few days ago I remembered that box and made more Flying Geese from the scraps. 

I had no idea what I was going to use for the spiral between the Flying Geese. I didn't really have enough of any suitable civil war repro fabrics. Finally something guided me to a piece of brown plaid that was exactly long enough so I guess it was meant to be. 

And sew on...

***

Oh gosh, I've been so busy that I hardly have time to get out a blog post. We've had such beautiful weather so I'm still out doing lots of gardening and taking photos. I have PT twice a week and exercises to do at home. Had to grocery shop, take John to appt. and get gas and pick up prescriptions. And I finally had my long-awaited rheumatology appointment. Now I'm waiting for a long list of test results.

I'll catch up with more later!

 

It's A Finish!

It's a finish!

Stay At Home Round Robin (SAHRR) 2025 Row Quilt

40 x 56

This is one of five row quilts I made following the prompts for the SAHRR 2025. 

My center starting row for this one was the Basket Blocks in 30s reproduction fabrics. 

I made the rest of the rows with 30s repro scraps. 

I quilted it on my sewing machine in a few different ways in each row. 

The binding is scrappy - again made with 30s repro scraps. 

Now ready for a wee one's hug!

And sew on...

 

90 Flying Geese

90 Flying Geese

4.5 x 8.5 unfinished

For Spiraling Flying Geese found in the book "History Repeated" by Betsy Chutchian and Carol Staehle. 

It was one of many Before-I-Forgets I started back in November 2021 to use up civil war reproduction and similar looking fabric scraps. 

When I dug out this UFO box in it were 14 Flying Geese, body parts cut for 5 more and lots of scraps 4.5 inches or wider.  Now all my Geese are made and box emptied and the scraps from making these are now in the box with all the other civil war reproduction scraps. Some scraps here are a little snobby and don't mix in with the general population of scraps.  Other snobby scraps who have their own place - 30 reproductions, rose prints, solids, plaids, novelties, animals...

Now I need to find a fabric for the spiral and assemble my top. 

And sew on...

 

Sixteen Patch Finish

It's a finish!

Sixteen Patch

56 x 72

This month the theme in my sewing space is "reproductions". That means I've been working to move some UFOs forward that contain civil war repro fabrics or 30s repro fabrics. I might even work on my reproduction of a vintage quilt.

In 2022 I made 33 blocks to use up some civil war reproduction scraps. There's probably not strictly repros in there. I probably used other scraps like Thimbleberries and Kansas Troubles. 

In June 2023 I found more scraps to make 30 more blocks and had a complete block set that I set aside in my SAR (Some Assembly Required) bin. 

In February 2024 when the theme in my sewing space was "browns and blues" I assembled the top. 

I quilted it on my sewing machine on the diagonals. 

The back is a soft plaid flannel. 

And sew on...

Monday Musings at Brenda's Songbird Designs

***

Finished a book - The Alchemist by Paul Coelho. What a lovely parable.

Getting Ready For Cooler Temps

I finished my hat, wristers and curly scarf set. 

I've never cross stitched on crochet before so that was something new for me. 

I've been seeing terms like 

Granny Chic, also known as Grandmillennial style, is a nostalgic interior design trend that blends vintage charm, cozy textures, and sentimental heirlooms with modern touches.

“Grandma maxxing” — also called “nonna maxxing” — is a 2026 lifestyle trend where Gen Z intentionally adopts the slow, mindful habits of Italian grandmothers to reduce stress, reconnect with family, and embrace a more unhurried way of living.

Grandmacore is an aesthetic and lifestyle movement centered on cozy, nostalgic, grandmother‑inspired visuals, activities, and décor, emphasizing handcrafted items, vintage charm, and slow living.

Hey, grannys are the latest trend!

A month or so ago I decided to use my old yarn stash before a mouse nibbles or nests in it and made a lot of hats for kids. I used most of that stash and may have gotten into the crochet groove and bought more yarn.  As I've been searching for free patterns I like I've come across a lot with granny squares. I do love granny squares. Back in the 70s I made a granny square afghan. I think I still have it tucked away somewhere. When the kids were little one of them experimented with a pair of scissors on it and I was always going to repair it but never did. But that's another story for another time. 

Well, I found a hat pattern with Granny Squares...

...and made one for myself with a variegated yarn. Love it and those colors...

...so I am waiting for an order of yarn to arrive in similar colors so I can make myself a granny square cardigan. 

Well, I titled this post "getting ready for cooler temps".  Friday night the temps dropped down to the 30s. I've been waiting and waiting for my Zinnias to set seed so I can harvest some for next year but they keep blooming and blooming instead. Guess I might have to, after all these years, buy Zinnia seeds for next year.   Thought I might as well cut some for bouquets and let John enjoy them inside since I know it's too late for seeds. 

Here in zone 5 we have to dig Dahlia tubers to store for winter. It's best to wait for a hard frost to blacken the foliage and then wait one or two weeks before digging the tubers.  I still have lots of Dahlia blooms in the garden so harvested some of those and mixed with some yellow Zinnias for another bouquet.  Yes, I need to dust but that's not a priority right now. 

Behind those bouquets is my Ancestor Wall. In the center is a chart of John's ancestors and my ancestors. On the wall I have photos on one side of his ancestors and on the other mine.   I did most of my genealogy research the old fashioned way - letter writing, visiting graveyards, talking to elderly family members at reunions and sitting at hand cranked microfilm readers looking at old census records and newspapers.   I have a little room full of genealogy books and documents and drawers full of papers and photos. I have a genealogy program that is no longer supported.   Well, again, "getting ready for cooler temps", this winter I want to get all my genealogy things organized so someone can make sense of it all when I'm not around.   

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts