Friends All Come Together On The Courthouse Steps

Courthouse Steps

10.5 inch finished

made with 2 inch width scraps

I've made 35 of them for a complete block set that will be assembled into a top later.

Lots of friends have given me scraps this year. I am so thankful. I love sorting scraps; I love piecing with scraps; I love to make scrappy comfort quilts. 

I usually have a block in process for almost every size of scrap. When I had only a few scraps I would make them into blocks right away. But when I get more scraps than I can get sewn into all the blocks right away I put the scraps into the project boxes and bags to sew at a later time - usually I pick the scraps out of the project boxes that are in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month and then piece blocks.    When project boxes get full (how exciting!) then I put the overflow of scraps in bins or bags by scrap width.  

The 2 inch width bin of scraps was recently overflowing so something had to be done about that. I decided to make Courthouse Step blocks. I've never made those blocks before.  

Only a few of these scraps are mine. Most of these scraps came from friends. 

And now those friends have come together on the Courthouse Steps. 

I'm not sure which layout I will use. 

For now I don't need to worry about layouts because this complete block set is going into the SAR (some assembly required) bin. I think I have two SAR bins now so maybe next month I should assemble a few. But I have a big TBQ (to be quilted) pile of tops too so maybe next month I should finish a few. But I have a lot of WIPs (Works in Process) so maybe I should piece with scraps and just enjoy that process. 

Now back to my regularly scheduled work on that box of 3 inch width scraps.

And sew on...

***

CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

Sept. 14 - Colorful skies at sunrise and at sunset. 

Sept. 15 - Dinner Plate Dahlias!   Now that the leaf hoppers and earwigs have left my Dahlias alone I have some spectacular flowers.  I will have to dig the tubers after a hard frost, rinse the dirt off and let them dry and then wrap them in newspaper and store in a cool place until next spring. But the Dinner Plate Dahlias are worth all that work. And a bonus is that a couple of my Dahlias are variegated colors. 

  

 

Twilight Flock

Twilight Flock

6 inch blocks

I used some black scraps this week for the wings of the Flying Geese and sides of my Twilight Flock blocks.  As I've been processing scraps I have put any darker 2.5 inch colored strips that might be long enough for 3 Flying Geese bodies in this project bag along with any finished blocks. 

I started making blocks in January 2024. I was inspired by a quilt called Twilight Flock in  From the Cover (Quilter's Newsletter Magazine Editors and Contributors).

I think I have 30 more blocks to go for a complete block set. 

And sew on...

RSC ScrapHappy Saturday

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CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

Sept. 13 - Money Plant and memories. 

Lunaria (aka Money Plant, Silver Dollar, Honesty) self seeds here and there around here (except where I actually want it to grow). I have a vase of the silvery pods in the house and I have made many wreaths of dried flowers that included Money Plant.   Lunaria is actually in the same family as broccoli and brussel sprouts. Funny thing is that deer eat my broccoli and brussel sprout plants but never bother the patches of lunaria.   I always refer to it as Money Plant because that is what my maternal great grandmother Anna called it. I only met my great grandmother once or twice. Her son Ralph,my grandfather, died before I was born and mom rarely took us to visit any of her relatives. (Mom and Dad were separated and later divorced around this time.) Well, anyway, my visit with my great grandmother was memorable. I was younger than 12 - maybe 11 years old. She died at the age of 89 in 1964 so that's how I know.   Well, anyway, when we visited her at home she was braiding a rug made with strips of old clothing. She had big braided rugs all over the house and I just loved them. She took a little time to show me how she made the rugs. I was fascinated.   She also had vases full of Money Plant all over the house. Again, I was fascinated. She gave me a few seeds.     Later when I got home I really wanted to make a braided rug. We really didn't have any old clothes to use but Dad said I could use a box of old flannel receiving blankets if I wanted. I wanted.   I did make a little braided rug I kept on on the wooden floor on my side of the bed I shared with my sister.   I planted the seeds of the money plant in a bare spot on the side of the house but since I didn't know what the leaves of the plant were supposed to look like and since I was only 11 or so I never did grow any money plants but I never forgot about them. 

Also, hubby finally got his license renewed.  We were afraid he would not get that done before it expired. Since he is over 70 he can no longer renew online. And an appointment has to be made in order to renew.  He can't drive right now; however, he thinks he will be able to do so one of these days so he didn't want it to expire.  Funny thing we always laugh about is that I seem to be a stranger magnet. (We actually call me a "weirdo magnet" but the people really aren't all that weird- probably just lonely). Wherever I go, and I don't go many places, someone always sits next to me and starts telling me their life story.  A gentleman sat right down in the chair next to me and started talking as soon as John's number was called and he got up went up to the desk for the license renewal.   Earlier in the week I took John to his ENT appointment and was in the waiting room and an elderly lady (hmmm, I'm old so maybe she wasn't so old) sat down next to me and started chatting away. Good thing I'm better at listening than chatting.  

 

WITB #5 -- Hooray For Red, White and Blue !

It's a top!

16 Patch and Stars

in red, white and blue

60 x 80

The other day I posed the question WITB? 

(What's in the box of 3 inch width scraps)

This is comfort quilt #5

These are red, white and blue 3 inch width scraps from the box. I had to add in a few background fabrics because there were not enough in my box. I took most of them from my box of patriotic print scraps. 

For the star centers I used squares I found in my Parts Department - 5.5 inch squares and when I didn't have enough 5.5 inch squares in red and blue I found some in the 6 inch squares and cut those down to 5.5 inches.    I made the 16 patches in half red and half blue with neutrals on the diagonals.  I did not use any pattern. I made a rough sketch of a layout I had in my mind based on the scraps I had in each color. 

In case you are wondering how I made the made the Flying Geese for the stars from 3 inch width scraps...

...I use the Easy Angle ruler to cut the geese wings and I use the Companion Angle ruler to cut the geese bodies.     When I cut the bodies I first use the Easy Angle ruler to cut a HST at the beginning of the strip otherwise that piece would be wasted fabric. 

I also use the Easy Angle ruler to cut an HST at the end of the strip after I've finished cutting my geese bodies.  And then I cut the squares needed from the star corners from the rest of the strip.  I will make HSTs with those orange pieces later on. They will not be used to make the Sawtooth Star. 

The geese wings are also cut from a 3 inch width strip. 

So when all is cut and done I have pieces for four Flying Geese and four squares for a Sawtooth Star and I have four HST orange parts that I will make into HSTs later.  No part of the 3 inch width scrap went to waste!

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

***

CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

Sept. 7 - Finished a book! - The Rose Arbor by Rhys Bowen.  I have read quite a few books by Rhys Bowen  so thought I would give this one a try. An investigation into a missing girl leads to a mystery of two missing girls during WWII.  By the end of the book no girls are missing - mysteries solved. The book was okay but not one of my favs by Rhys Bowen. 

Sept. 8 - A little birdie (a stork) told me another baby girl, Ellison, has joined our large family. She was born to my nephew and his wife. I mentioned the other day that Scarlett just joined our family. Since I used to keep track of the family tree and did research before there was an internet and microfilm readers were hand cranked everyone usually gets around to asking me how new members that join the family are related. Scarlett, born a few days ago, and Ellison are second cousins once removed. 

Sept. 9 - I like oatmeal. I eat it for lunch at least once a week. (I don't eat for breakfast because that usuallly consists of yogurt and fruit and cinnamon toast with my coffee. Well, anyway, I have been reading about overnight oats and looked at a few recipes for it. Most call for chia seeds to be added.  I went grocery shopping and couldn't find any chia seeds. I figured there were not many demands for it at our little grocery store out here in the boondocks so was going to skip the chia seeds but an older store employee saw me looking around and asked if he could help me. I asked for chia seeds. He laughed. I said they are not just for chia pets anymore, you know. He asked another older store employee who was stocking the aisle where the chia seeds were found and he had no idea what I was talking about either. I told them about overnight oats and said I wanted to try them out and eat healthy...says the woman with a cart full of ice cream because it was on sale. More laughing. Finally a younger store employee pointed out the chia seeds. Ch...ch...ch...chia! He even knew that I was probably going to use them in overnight oats.   So, anyway, lots of laughing with strangers went on that day because of chia seeds.   I still have not tried any overnight oats. One of these days...

Sept. 10 -- Beautiful weather again. I've been working outside for several hours each day. I've cleared patches of stinging nettles and black raspberry brambles and trimmed some scrub brush.  I also ran into several big patches of poison ivy each day. Strangely enough I have not yet broken out with a rash. And I have to say a lot of times in the past I have had rashes all over my body and had flu like symptoms to go with it. No poison ivy rash? Definitely cause for celebration!  I also received a seed order. And I have started dreaming of future gardens.   Gardening is kind of like quilting but the garden patches are 3D. 

Sept. 11 - Finished a book -- The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph by Kate Braithwaite.  Historical fiction set in 1790s. I agree with what some other reviewers have said:  "A compelling historical retelling of the first great scandal to shake America." "The Scandalous Life of Nancy Randolph" is a compelling work of historical fiction that brings to life a pivotal moment in early American history. Its blend of meticulous research, imaginative storytelling, and complex characterisation makes it a must-read for fans of the genre and newcomers alike."

 

Wonky Windmills

Wonky Windmills

8 inch

I made a few more black/multicolor Wonky Windmill blocks this week for the pink and black version of Wonky Windmills. 

Then I made a few more Wonky Windmills in pink.   Now I have a complete block set of 63 blocks and this quilt is ready to assemble.   

I started making the blocks last year as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) project. Each block is made with rectangles 4.5 x 5 inch - two each of the background and other fabric. Then they are stacked right side up, cut and shuffled and then sewn together. 

In August I decided to see how many blocks I had and how many comfort quilts I could make from all the blocks I made from scraps up to that point.  I divided blocks into four piles -- novelty, geometrics, florals and pink/black.  Now I just need to make blocks to add to each pile so I have a complete block set. The novelty top is already assembled. This one is ready for assembly. That's two down and two to go!

And sew on...

RSC ScrapHappy Saturday

***

CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

Sep. 6 -- Scarlett, my new great niece, has made an appearance! I've only seen a couple of photos but she is a healthy little cutie.   We have 31 nieces and nephews and most of them have had several children who are now starting to have children so we have kind of lost track of some of the later generations (mostly because I'm not on Facebook) but Scarlett's mom, Summer, lives a short distance away and usually comes to the family reunion camp outs each year so I'm hoping I'll see Scarlett in person in May if not before. Scarlett already has a couple of baby quilts made by her great aunt Cathy!

 

WITB#4 : 4P=B+W+1

 

It's a top!

Four Patches

made with black, white and one other color.

40 x 60

I started on this one last year after someone gave me a big bag of 3 inch squares.   Since then I have received other 3 inch squares and 3 inch width strips in various lengths from other folks and I have been accumulating them all in a box. Normally I have a block going for every size scrap I encounter; however, I have really not ever generated many 3 inch width scraps of my own and in the past if I received some 3 inch width pieces I cut them in half for two 1.5 inch pieces because I usually have a lot of blocks in the works that use that size of scrap. When I received that gallon bag of 3 inch squares last year I decided to start making a few quilts with those scraps and start saving those scraps in a box instead of cutting them smaller.  

The other day I posed the question WITB? 

This is comfort quilt #4

I've also been making four patches from 2 inch squares in black, white and one other color. For that quilt I will alternate the four patches with solid colored squares. 

And sew on...

Finished Or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

*****

CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

Sep. 5 - Hubby felt like he might be strong enough to try to mow lawn on riding lawn mower. He was! Woohoo! Last year at this time he was barely unable to get up out of a bed or chair. 

And Now There Are 320+

Switch Plates

3 x 5

I've been making Switch Plate blocks for a long time - maybe a couple of years- from 1.5 inch width scraps. A few times I've made them from 3.5 inch width scraps. They have been a Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) project so I've been making them a few at a time from scraps I happen to have in that month's color.  I don't think I've ever actually cut any 1.5 inch width strips in order to make these. I've just waited for scraps to happen.   I have been blessed this year with scraps from a lot of folks. As I sort scraps I first sort pieces less than a 6 inch square by width like 1.5 inch or less than 2 inch that I will cut down to 1.5 inch.  Then after I have a pile of 1.5 inch scraps I sort those by project. So...any strips at least 14 inches go into a pile for these blocks; strips at least 10 inches go into piles for little Windmills and so on.  

So, anyway, I've been making these blocks for awhile but have not been counting them. My bag was getting pretty full so decided it was time to count them the other day. 

Total count was 232. 

So I figured out what size quilt to make. How about a 20 x 16 blocks (staggered) for a 60 x 80 inch quilt. In my head I figured I needed 98 more blocks (later after I made 98 I realized my head math was incorrect and I only needed 88) so I dug into that pile of 1.5 inch scraps and made 98 blocks. 

Now I have a complete block set ready for assembly.

And sew on...

***

CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

Sept. 4 - I spent a couple of hours browsing through catalogs and then I ordered some bulbs for fall planting and I ordered some seeds for fall and winter sowing. 

 

Wednesday Wandering

Zinnia Patch

where I saw the hummingbirds yesterday.  

While I was walking hubby around in the gardens a bit the other day we both saw a Giant Swallowtail in the Zinnias. It kind of followed us around for a bit. Later we both had the same strange thought...it was a visit from our granddaughter Kayla who died unexpectedly a couple of years ago from cardiac arrhythmia. 

I have not done a Wednesday Wandering post for a long time. Seems I haven't found the time to walk through the gardens to take pictures this year. Yesterday afternoon I finally went out with the camera. It was not the best time of day for photos. 

This was the first Monarch I've seen this year and it was nice enough to pose awhile so I could take a pic.  For some reason it liked that spot on the trellis I made of tubing from hubby's enteral feeding bags.  

I grew Sweet Peas on the trellis. Oh, they smell so sweet. 

Funny thing...my trellis is growing! I cleaned out an area that had a lot of woody growth of Elderberry and did not let the wood age before I used it as my trellis supports. Now if I wanted that to happen it would not have.  We used to make jam and wine from the wild Elderberries but haven't done that since the kids left home. 

The leaf hoppers have finally decided to leave my Dahlias alone, thank goodness. I first thought the earwigs were what was damaging them so put out traps for them - my old yogurt containers with a little soap and oil in them buried level with the ground. I put in four of them. Well, the next morning they were all dug out of the ground and damaged....darned raccoons! 

Dahlias are not hardy here so I will have to dig these up and store them for the winter after we have a frost. 

These are big Dinner Plate Dahlias so are worth a little work. I now have a permanent place I will put them in the veg garden since I don't need to grow as many veggies since hubby has G-tube and poor guy does not get to enjoy garden produce anymore. 

I love Coneflowers and no critters usually bother them so I put in a new Coneflower garden with several newer varieties of Coneflowers (Echinacea). I usually start most of my flowers from seed but I bought the different Coneflowers. I'm going to continue to collect more varieties and try to keep them all labeled. 

More Zinnias. One can never have too many Zinnias. Critters rarely bother them thank goodness. I save seeds each year so I can sow a lot of zinnias here and there.   My fav type is the cactus flowered. 

I know Autumn is approaching when the Japanese Anemones start blooming. 

As Autumn approaches the Sweet Autumn Clematis starts blooming.  Here it grows on a trellis with Morning Glories. The Morning Glories reseed themselves every year. Thank goodness they stay near the trellis and don't invade everywhere unlike the darned bind weed. 

Since I've been using Bobbex to spray on roses to keep deer away they are starting to really thrive. And the Japanese Beetles have not really invaded this year like they have in the past couple of years. Weeds are thriving too!

I meant to pick and dry the hydrangeas earlier but I did not see these since they were hanging so low. Maybe next year!

I also meant to pick and dry the Love Lies Bleeding ropes but I think now they are too far gone. This is the first time I've actually gotten Love Lies Bleeding to grow. I think I was always planting it and then later pulling it up thinking it was the wild amaranth (pig weed) that grows around here. This year I decided I would not pull up whatever came up that I planted between the two cages I have around roses. 

The roses in front of the Love Lies Bleeding. 

And the roses in back. 

Another rose across the path way. 

And a wild or species rose bush, the state flower of Iowa, that  I need to cut away that sprouted up near the little water garden. They grow so fast. I guess deer and rabbits don't like that kind of rose!

And sow on...

*****

CELEBRATE! (my word of the year)

September 3 - My youngest brother's birthday. He's 68.   I'm very proud of him. Over 20 years ago he was addicted to cocaine and booze (Jack Daniels).  He has been sober since then, had a good job (chef) he retired from last year and replaced his addiction to cocaine and booze with an addiction to travel all over the world to learn the cuisine of other cultures and how they prepare that food. (He's eaten things I don't think I would even put anywhere near my mouth)!!! 

I was also the lucky recipient of a box of fabric and thread from Cindy and a box of scraps from Ann.  I am so thankful! Oh the quilts I can make!