Got it Done!!

I had a tight deadline to get the pink quilt done by Saturday and then it got even tighter.  I ended up not being able to go to the baby shower, so I had to finish it sooner to drop it off to the organizer.

Groovy pink baby quilt

Pedal to the metal.  Got it done on Wednesday evening and still got my report cards done by Friday.  What a week!

Perfect backing!

I used up nearly all the groovy pink strips from the Greenville trip, lots of random pink, and some purple. For the backing/binding I used nearly all the magenta that has been in the stash forever because it bleeds so badly.  It was perfect for this project, so I washed it three times until the wash water ran clean.

Long, long week and then came Friday.  It was rainy so we had rainy day recess on a Friday that was also the last day of the quarter and the start of a 3-day weekend for the students and the end of a full moon week.  I left school as quickly as I could and made a stop at my favorite thrift store as a consolation prize!

Who knew a small bag could hold 600 squares?

Didn't find what I was looking for, but I did find a bag of precut 2" squares.  I am trying so hard to use up what I have, so I hesitated.  Then I realized that was a lot of neutrals that I could combine with the overflowing 2" strip drawer which is low on neutrals and get things used up faster.  I counted when I got home.  $2 for approximately 600 squares/1.67 yards.  It's worth it just for the labor of not cutting that many squares!

 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days last weeks = 6/7

15 minute days/Oct = 10/11

15 minute days/2025 = 251/304

Success Rate = 83%

 

Fabric moving in both directions this week.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 4.2 yds groovy pink quilt

Used year to date: 97.77 yards

Acquired recently: 1.67 yards bag of 2" squares

Acquired year to date: 42 yards

Net used in 2025: 55.77 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

Back on Track

The last three weeks flew by in a blur with not much sewing.  I had done so well on the yellow flower garden and already had the red flower garden under the needle and ready to go.  Didn't happen, didn't happen, and still didn't happen.  

Some of it was a bad case of the blahs. Then there was the day trip with my sisters to visit our brother and his family.  Then my birthday evening.  Then another day trip to see Grown Up E and Little S.  Then parent conferences.  All of that really got me off of my regular routine of school, lesson planning, and some sewing.  So here it is three weeks later and I may be back on track!

red flower back quilt front

The good news is that the red flower garden baby quilt done at last.  

red backing 

The church outreach needs another girl quilt, but my husband just took the last one that I had to give to friends in Spain.  So the pressure is on to get one ready by next Saturday.  

I had this somewhat started a while back, so I figured it was the closest to the finish line and just plowed forward. The groovy pink fabric was a $1 bag of precut strips from our trip to Recraft in Greenville, SC.  I didn't have enough of a single pink, so I just kept adding shades as I went.  The determining factor for size was the groovy pink.  I wanted to use it all up and I came pretty close.

Perfect? No.  Cute? Yes!  Having an urgent deadline will get this one moving along and keep me back on track for sewing. 

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last 3 weeks = 9/21

15 minute days/Oct = 4/4

15 minute days/2025 = 243/298

Success Rate = 82%

 

I can now count out the red backing and binding.  

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 1.92 yards red backing & binding

Used year to date: 93.57 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards 

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 53.27 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

What I'm Working On

 How did I do on the list for SEPTEMBER 7 - 13?

• quilt the yellow backed flower garden DONE
• bind the yellow backed flower garden DONE
• quilt the red backed flower garden STARTED
• bind the red backed flower garden NO
• join baby bricks into a top NO
• prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks NO
• start thinking about what project will be next after the baby bricks NO
• clean sewing room PROGRESS

Off to a good start.

TO DO LIST FOR SEPTEMBER 14 - 20:

• finish quilting the red backed quilt
• bind the red backed quilt
• join the scrappy baby bricks
• prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks 
• start thinking about what project will be next after the baby bricks 
• clean sewing room
• get the scrapbook project off the sewing table

• 

  Try again next week?

Yellow Flower Garden is All Finished

My plan had been to quilt both tops, then bind both, but once I started on the yellow-backed quilt I just kept working on that one.  By Friday evening, I was finishing up the yellow binding!

This backing started as a strange 2-sided triangular piece that was given to me a while back.  I liked the fabric, but what to do with it the piece?  When I was looking for floral backings for these quilts I thought I'd give it a try.  

An odd start, but a perfect finish.

When I started to unsew it, what I thought was two triangles sewn together was really square-ish folded in half with a decorative strip covering the raw edges.  Parts of it were glued, but in the end I had enough for the backing and just needed a bit of supplemental fabric.  I am glad to have that odd piece out of the stash.  I think it was perfect for this project.

Since I didn't touch the red-based quilt at all, I already have my plan for the coming week.  If I just keep doing a little bit every day, I think I'll have the twin flower gardens done next weekend.

Red-backed flower garden under the needle!

15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last week = 6/7

15 minute days/Sept = 10/13

15 minute days/2025 = 235/277

Success Rate = 85%

 

I can now count out the yellow backing and binding.  Still moving in the right direction.

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 1.92 yards yellow backing & binding

Used year to date: 91.65 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards 

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 51.35 more yards used

Linking up to:

Kate at Life in Pieces

Donna at quiltpaintcreate

Frederique at quiltingpatch

What I'm Working On

How did I do on the list for AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6?

• join baby bricks into a top NOPE
• prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks NADA
• cut more blocks for twin baby girl quilts for church DONE
• determine layout for blocks for twin baby girl quilts DONE
• join baby girl blocks DONE
• decide on borders for baby girl quilts DONE
• prepare backings for baby girl quilts DONE
• start thinking about what project will be next NO 
• clean sewing room NO - JUST ADDED TO THE MESS!

  

  red backing ready for its flower garden top

My B Project became the A Project! I made great progress and got both baby girl flower garden quilts all the way ready to be quilted.

red-backed flower garden ready for quilting

TO DO LIST FOR SEPTEMBER 7 - 13:

• quilt the yellow backed flower garden
• bind the yellow backed flower garden
• quilt the red backed flower garden
• bind the red backed flower garden
• join baby bricks into a top 
• prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks
• start thinking about what project will be next after the baby bricks
• clean sewing room

  

  Maybe I'll get back to the baby bricks next week.

Baby Flower Gardens for the Twin Girls

My week did not go how I imagined since I sewed what I had thought was my secondary project instead of the primary project.  My idea for the twin baby girls was to use the remnants of a flowered charm park.  There were enough duplicates to have a good start on a plan.  

Matching stacks of 5" blocks + a few extras.

I would use those as a starting point and then add from the stash.  I was on a roll, so I just kept rolling.  I ended up getting the remaining squares cut, tested layouts, 

I used a B&W filter for the first time!!

even added flowered borders.  I had some ideas for backings and got those ready as well. 

The red-based backing from part of a tablecloth

Since I was doing so well, I just kept going and got them both pin basted! 

Ready for quilting.

Considering there were two days I just didn't feel up to sewing, I got a lot done!  Well ahead of schedule for the baby girl quilts. I've got myself set up well to quilt in spurts after school this week.  We'll see how that goes.

 15 Minutes to Stitch

15 minute days/last week = 5/7

15 minute days/August = 1/1

15 minute days/Sept = 4/6

15 minute days/2025 = 229/270

Success Rate = 85%

 

I got the tops done so will count that fabric as out this week.  I'll wait to count the backings out until they are quilted.  

2025 Stash Totals

Used last week: 3.7 yards

Used year to date: 89.73 yards

Acquired recently: 0 yards 

Acquired year to date: 40.33 yards

Net used in 2025: 49.43 more yards used

Linking up to: 

Donna @ quiltpaintcreate

Frederique @ quilting patch

What I'm Working On

 How did I do on the list for AUGUST 24-30?

• continue to cut pieces for baby bricks in colors to fill gaps - DONE
• sew baby bricks - PROGRESS - individual blocks are sewn 
• clean sewing room - PROGRESS
• make a plan for the twin girl quilts for church outreach - PROGRESS

I was going to make another short list this week since I feel like I am still working on getting back into the back to school groove.  Little bits of projects have been working so far, so I will stick with it.  But then I remembered that it is a three-day weekend!  So I'll stretch myself and see what I can get done.  Worst case - I add it back to next week's list!

Final Layout ????

TO DO LIST FOR AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 6:

• join baby bricks into a top
• prepare a backing for the scrappy baby bricks
• cut more blocks for twin baby girl quilts for church
• determine layout for blocks for twin baby girl quilts
• join baby girl blocks
• decide on borders for baby girl quilts
• prepare backings for baby girl quilts
• start thinking about what project will be next
• clean sewing room