This week has flown by, I can't believe another Sunday has come around so fast, and not so much accomplished. I guess most of it has to do with helping out with the grandchildren. My daughter Kristen asked if I could take Keaton to the ophthalmologist one day, and drop him off at school. Then Friday John-John and Klara had a day off. So I watched them. Then Saturday Keaton was going to be on his own for most of the day as his brother and mother were at Jaeger's Polo Meet in Napa. So he came and spent part of the day with us. All these days I did absolutely no sewing of any kind. I love my time with my grandchildren and we had some good days. Keaton and I watched Mama Mia II again. We saw it in the theater the first time, and then Kristen gave it to me for Christmas last year. Keaton is the grandchild that loves to watch musicals.
Today John-John turns 9. This is a picture of him with his dad John.
Anyway, today my slow stitching will be to hopefully finish up this Father Christmas. My goal was to finish 3 of these guys for the 2019 Finish-A-Long Quarter 3. Quarter 3 is up next week, so I better get busy. I've been working on these stars. Just need to get the rest of the long strip done and then I will start on Father Christmas. They are rather time consuming, Father Christmas should be a snap.
The other thing I hope to get to is to hand piece this Ella Maria Deacon block 1.
I spent a large chunk of this week messing with the background fabric. This quilt, that is being offered as a BOM by Sentimental Stitches requires 9 yards of background fabric. DH, sweetheart that he is purchased 9 yards of fabric online for me. Trouble is, it was white, and I really don't care for white, I would rather have an off-white. I used to purchase the Rit tea dye stain. But I found out this week they no longer make it that I can find. So I purchased a beige color and did all 9 yards at one time. Having a front-load washer now makes it a little problematic. You turn on the cycle, and then pour the dye through the soap dispenser. This ended up in part of it being really dyed and the rest turning a pinkish color. Another mistake I probably made was only using 1/2 bottle. So yesterday I tried actually tea dying it, and now it is a blotchy beige-ish color, but I'm still not totally happy with it. I will just use it as backing for something.
So I went and got some Kona sand color at Hobby Lobby and cut this month's blocks out.
I'm going to machine piece the other 3 blocks for this month, but this one I think I will hand piece.
I'm going to link up with Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts. Be sure and head over and check out what everyone else has been doing.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
I used to dye and sell yarn, but dyeing cotton is another matter. I think that using actual tea is the answer. Your Santa is adorable.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you've had a nice time with the grandchildren even if not much sewing got done! Hopefully you can reach your target of finishing Santa.
ReplyDeleteSewing can wait. Growing grandchildren don’t wait and are more fun. Another one person joining that tempting BOM. Husband meant well. You would have never been happy with your dyed fabric. So it is just as well you purchased a color that you liked. Enjoy the BOM. It is a pretty pattern.
ReplyDeleteI like Father Christmas.... and he will be here again before we know it!
ReplyDeleteI love Father Christmas designs, and yours is looking great. Hope you get everything all finished.
ReplyDeleteYou're making the blocks in the original colors, right? That's going to be really lovely. I still like those Santas, after all these years. I wish I'd collected them, but I have some of her pineapples still waiting for me to do them. What's amazing is that I actually have them WITH me!
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