On To The Next!

Quilters should NEVER be without a Leader & Ender project!

At least that is what I tell myself when one Leader & Ender quilt reaches completion - there is more sewing to be done, and SOMETHING has to fill that vacancy  to the side of my machine!

Years and years of little projects being sewn on the side - I honestly don't know what to do if there isn't something there, so I took some time to cut out some cute little kits for a project I've had on the back burner for a while.

It doesn't take long when the pieces are simple.

I've been taking the "talking to my dad" in the evening phone time to stand at my cutting table while we chat, pressing strips, cutting pieces, making little stacks.

Not only of Leader & Ender parts, but of another project I've been working on - Remember those Jackknife blocks?

It isn't every morning that I get a chance to sew one - but I did this morning as I was up early enough.

Another one of those things that works for me (And it might for you too) is cutting a block out the night before, setting it by my machine, so I can take a few minutes in the morning to sew it up.

It just starts my day off right.  It doesn't have to be a handful of empty hours just waiting to be filled up with piecing time - it can be one block, one unit at a time.

And if I can cut it out the evening before - even if I have a mere 20 minutes to spare, I can make a block.

One more for the stack.

This block was featured in my Addicted to Scraps column in the Sept/Oct 2020 issue of Quiltmaker Magazine.  Click the Addicted to Scraps tab at the top of the blog to find the link to the issue, where you can buy a digital copy.

I haven't decided where my own Jackknife quilt is going yet - so far it's a small pile of blocks, but I'm having fun with them.

And this just happened while writing this!

I heard a huge BANG at the sliding glass door to the basement studio.  There was a hawk sprawled on the paving stones just outside of the door.

These windows are NOT reflective - he either saw IVY at the window and thought she'd be good for breakfast, or thought he could fly right through.

I ran and got Dave from upstairs - and Zoey thought she wanted to go out and see what was what.

"No, baby girl - you stay inside!"

We didn't know what to do - the hawk was not dead, but how badly hurt was it?

While trying to decide what our next move would be - the hawk gathered up its strength, flipped itself back over (It had been upside down with its beautiful wings splayed) and flew off into the woods.

I have no idea if it is damaged - or merely will have a huge headache that will last him through the day.

But that sure was a way to jumpstart our morning.

And Zoey still wants out.  She knows he flew into the woods - but we are going to give him quite a bit more time to gather his wits.

Whew!  (And no, I didn't think to grab the camera - some things are just best experienced out from behind the screen.)

Beautiful blues and neutrals from Mary Koval!

If you are still looking for some gorgeous fabrics to enhance your stash for my Winter Blues pattern, you may want to have Mary’s Quilt Shop pull together a hand picked selection of fat quarters for you!

Mary's Quilt Shop is in Bedford, Pennsylvania and they are open by appointment during the time of Covid.

Drop Mary an email at Marysquiltshop@comcast.net to arrange an appointment, or place an order to be shipped to you!

My new Christmas/Birthday watch says hurry up!

No - that's not the time right now, it's yesterday's time.  Dad sent me this and I'm so excited about it.  

Remember my running over my previous Samsung watch with the van? LOL!

I've been doing just fine without a smart watch really.  I don't need every email ping or text message to show up on my wrist. (Even though this can, I find it a distraction) and I don't want a watch I have to charge every day.

This is the Amazfit Bip S  And the battery is supposed to last more than a week.  What I like the best is this watch face I chose - big numbers.  And I can read it without the back light having to come on. It has lots of features - most that I won't use, but the time, the temp, and steps are right up there where I can see them.

Why am I mentioning my watch?  Because I need to et a move on!  It's hair cut day in Quiltville.  It's been 6 weeks - my bangs are in my eyes, and it's time for some self care.

Anything happening in your world today?

Remember - Today is the LAST DAY to enter my Winter Blues PDF pattern and Facets of Blue fabric bundle gift-away!  I'll be drawing tomorrow morning, so get on over and enter ON THAT POST!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Simply Be Yourself! 

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You don't have to mold yourself into any version of what anyone else wants you to be to make them happy. 

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Repeat that 3 times. 

And have a lovely Tuesday!