Orphan Blocks from the Red/White Box of Curiosities

 Orphan Blocks

... from the Red/White Box of Curiosities 

I just can't get enough of red/white quilts. Presently I'm on a very traditional quilt patterns path and enjoying it very much. You know I love modern quilt patterns as well but for the moment, traditional quilt patterns draw my attention. Presently I am piecing a Jacob's Ladder pattern red and white quilt. 💖

All of the blocks in the photo above are orphan blocks from various other red/white quilt projects. Flying Geese, Bear Paw, 4 Patch blocks, and half square triangles. Even a couple of the pink typewriter prints from the Bubblegum Pink quilt I made recently. This orphan block quilt top is going to take a lot of quilt math ...

The red/white 9 Patch blocks in the photo above are Leader and Ender blocks made while constructing the Jacob's Ladder quilt I am working on presently.

Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com is where I learned about Leader and Ender block construction.

Red/White Jacob's Ladder blocks organized and ready for piecing

49 of these 12.5 inch blocks are required to make the 84 x 84 inch Jacob's Ladder quilt top.

There will be 7 rows of 7 blocks each to construct the quilt top.

Projects and Project Containers

 Projects and Project Containers

I suppose I am like most who make things, you always have more than one project going at any given time.

The question is, how to contain those projects in between flourishes of productivity.

When you purchase fabrics and notions from Amy at Stitch Supply Co she sends such things to you in these wonderful project bags. There is a small size and a larger size. I love the clear vinyl zippered pouches for storing projects that I am working on.

Another favorite way of storing projects is the disposable aluminum cake pans with the clear plastic lids. They are spacious and due to the clear lid you can not only contain the project but also clearly see which project is in the pan. It is lightweight and reuseable.

Although you might think this is a project bag it's original purpose is as a clear purse for use at concerts and/or sporting events where your bag is checked. Luckily it also works as a great project bag. It holds everything you might need for a small project, it has a zipper closure, and it is made of clear vinyl. So it is easy to spot which project you want to grab and work on.

Then of course there is the pretty cardboard box.

My sister has inspired me to be more organized ... you should see her closet ... it is a clutter free organized beautiful dream. 💖

Family - Giles Coffey

 Family

Giles Coffey and others in our family who work with their hands with wood and metals. I dare say a very creative and talented bunch.

Contributor: Cindy W., my sister and our family historian.

Alex and Pat and Brian are pretty crafty fellows so they might be interested to know it is a talent shared by a relative, Giles Coffey.  Giles and his wife, Hannah, were Grandma Dorothy's grandparents on her mother's side.  They took Grandma Dorothy in after her dad died. 

When I was in Ohio recently, Aunt Joyce told us this table was made by Giles Coffey!   I remember it being in Grandma Dorothy's house but I had no idea it was such an heirloom. 

That's Giles and Hannah holding a grandchild and Giles is top left in the group photo below.  Enjoy!

Giles and Hannah Coffey with friends

Giles and Hannah Coffey

Hannah holding one of their grandchildren

Side table hand crafted by Giles Coffey

Table riser hand crafted by our brother, Pat.

Pat's son, Alex also works with wood. He has a YouTube channel where he makes a gorgeous coffee table for his home. He has also made decorative and useful cutting blocks. At one time he grew hops and crafted beer, as House Mountain Hops.

Cindy, our family historian's son Brian works with metals, among other things. Brian also has a YouTube channel and a website.

https://walkercustommetal.com/

And, you can find his Facebook page HERE

#wearefamily

***Note - I will try to update this post with information on both Alex and Brian's YouTube channels should you wish to visit them on that platform.***

Design Wall 08/08/2024

 Design Wall

For many years I didn't have a design wall and looking back I wonder how I ever got anything accomplished. Back then any flat surface would do, table tops, the floor, or the top of the bed.

These days however I do have a design wall and I love it.

It is a place where I can play around with blocks and decide on just the right placement or design. For a quilting nerd like myself ... having a design wall provides hours and hours of entertainment! hahahaha!

There are many different elaborate and expensive design wall products out there on the market but mine is made of a queen size flannel sheet that I purchased at a yard sale years ago. I have it thumbtacked to the wall in my sewing room and it works beautifully for me.

Some blocks I found going through bags and boxes that I rescued from the storage unit that I cleaned out and the English Paper Piecing project that I am currently working on.

Some red/white half square triangles that I found and wonky star block that was in my Red/White box of curiosities.

Red/White 9 patch blocks that I made from scrap fabrics in my red/white box of curiosities. The lost and found blocks that have become SMS Quilt # 23 Half Square Triangles.

Girl Power the English Paper Piecing project that I am currently working on.

#gibbygirl63

Lost & Found

 Lost & Found

Recently I cleaned out a storage unit and I have come across a couple of quilt projects that I apparently started at some point and totally forgot about ...

I found these blocks in the bottom of a bag of scraps. I decided to put the half square triangles up on my design wall.

Then I decided to play around with the placement of the blocks.

I think I am going to call this one Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt # 23

Half Square Triangles

I found these 8.5 inch string pieced blocks the first of July and after sewing the blocks together decided to call this one Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt # 22 

Strings

I'm pretty excited to see if I come across any more of these forgotten quilt projects.

New Routine

 New Routine

I have been working on expanding my exercise routine. Over the weekend I joined an online walking route of Paris. I'm doing this one with my daughter.

Monday mornings have become the morning that I bake a loaf of bread. I'm enjoying the bread making and so is my body. The bread that I make doesn't make my throat burn or give me indigestion and heartburn.

My new exercise routine ...

My new Monday morning bread baking routine ...

I love routine

Lodge Weekends

 Lodge Weekends

BINGO, cocktails, darts, and a fish fry.

I didn't get photos of the dart tournament or the fish fry but both were excellent.

I didn't win one single game of BINGO but as always I enjoyed it so much.

I tried a new cocktail and it was delicious, and it tasted very much like Butterfinger candy bar. One of my personal favorite candy bars.

It was a great weekend with friends at the lodge.

Girl Power - English Paper Piecing

 Girl Power

An English Paper Piecing (EPP) quilt project

2 inch hexagons make up the structure of this EPP quilt project

I am using fabrics with girl motifs and KONA solids charm packs.

I'm really enjoying this hand sewing project and I'm happy with the results so far.

This project will take a while to complete but the process is very enjoyable.

When I am working on something with my hands ... I'm not stuck dwelling on things in my mind.

#gibbygirl63

Memories and T-Shirt Quilts

 Memories and T-Shirt Quilts

I no longer do commission work but on occasion a friend will request a quilt. And, that is exactly how this t-shirt project came to be.

Not a lot to work with but it is finally starting to come together. I have purchased the sashing fabric, and there will be a few more photo blocks to come as well.

Let's Eat

 Let's Eat

Deciding on meals to prep for my lunches is tough in general but in the summer it seems to be especially difficult for me. Nothing really sounds good ... but recently I ran across this recipe online. Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

As I had all of the ingredients on hand, I decided to load my crockpot. It smells delicious!

I'm looking forward to trying out this dish.

After baking a brick of paste a while back ... haha ... I stepped away from baking bread. On Sunday I mixed my bread dough to let it rise. Monday morning I baked this beautiful loaf of bread. I was worried that I had lost my bread making mojo for good so I was pleasantly surprised when this loaf of bread came out of the oven.

Hello August

 

#gibbygirl63