BOMs Away - Forever My Valentine, and a couple more

 

Welcome to the Link-up for BOMs Away Mondays!

Where we share what we're doing on a BOM type project
so they don't stall out in UFO-land!
(Linky at the bottom)

Another weekend of BOM work at the machine.  :)

I bet this one thought it would never see the light again! I pulled out "Forever My Valentine" for attention, and realized it had been set aside even before I got Covid, because I had run out of some of the thread colors. 

So I put in an order for the needed thread colors, and since I couldn't do one block from start to finish, I got the base layer of the remaining 5 blocks prepped.

This is a pre-fused laser cut project. I don't like an unnecessarily insane buildup of fabric and fusible layers, so before I fused the large pieces down, I traced their position on the background fabric and cut out the inside of them, leaving about a 1/3 inch allowance. 

Used a milk pen, since this is black flannel.
The innards under the heart are cut out,
letting the applique ironing sheet show in the opening.

Just make SURE you have a Teflon applique sheet under the opening when you iron the pieces over the opening, because the fusible covers the entire open space, and will fuse into your ironing board cover if you don't use a protector sheet!

When I do my own fusible prep work, I cut out the guts of any large pieces so that if I cut away any background fabric from behind them, this won't be an issue. Also, it makes your fusible go MUCH further in a project. 

After that, I fused the next working layer onto the bases that I was able to complete the stitching for, so every remaining block is ready to go again once the ordered threads arrive.

Also, I've been using the Bag-of-the-Month project, "Feathered Goose," as a leader-ender project when I do priority piecing work. The final pieces for Bag 2 just needed their last seam put in, so I whipped those through last night:

And . . .  During TV time tonight, I'll finish the last tiny bit of stitching on Block 7 of Octopuses Garden. So I'll add that image soon.

Night lighting is a little weird on this.
It will get significant embroidery details
when I do that part.

If I feel as decent tomorrow morning as I did today, I am going to start easing in some longarm work - just one 30 minute session as a trial, and if that goes well, I'll do a morning and an afternoon session the rest of the week. Cross your fingers for me! My poor Halloween quilt has been loaded on the frame for at least two full months, waiting for attention, and I'd *really* like to also get my Once Upon a Star quilted up before Christmas Day.

~*~*~*~

Have you been able to do any BOM type work lately? We'd love to see it.  :)

Kate over at Katie Mae Quilts has joined me in hosting this meet-up, 

and linking up from either end puts you on the party at both sides.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BOMs Away - Water Reflections

 

Welcome to the Link-up for BOMs Away Mondays!

Where we share what we're doing on a BOM type project
so they don't stall out in UFO-land!
(Linky at the bottom)

So, I did get some sewing machine BOM work done, finally! I had done almost half of the work on these blocks for the Month 5 sewing of my Water Reflections BOM. These are all 3" finished blocks.

The navy speckle fabric provided in the kit ran out before the little squares did, so I had to sneak in 5 of them from something in my stash that approximates the look. Looking at this photo, I'm thinking that was successful enough for my happiness. 

Month 5 actually is the entire central "medallion" portion of the quilt so there's quite a bit more sewing to happen for this part of the BOM.

Between this work and the bits of cleaning I've been doing, I am supremely worn out. So I believe I'm going to watch a show right now and then take a real l-o-n-g nap (which may just turn into down for the night even thought that'll be 1:30 in the afternoon). Covid recovery when you have Lupus is a frustratingly long process!

Yep, dude, I feel you. . . 

~*~*~*~

Have you been able to do any BOM type work lately? We'd love to see it.  :)

Kate over at Katie Mae Quilts has joined me in hosting this meet-up, 

and linking up from either end puts you on the party at both sides.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BOMs Away - Goodbye to Dad, and Fiesta Mexico

 

Welcome to the Link-up for BOMs Away Mondays!

Where we share what we're doing on a BOM type project
so they don't stall out in UFO-land!
(Linky at the bottom)

Scott's father was buried yesterday, with a very small graveside ceremony. I am too sick, still, to be able to travel, but Scott was able to go. Dad got a full Air Force Veteran's burial, even though only 6 family members were present. The honor detail carried his casket to the site, gave him a 21 Volley Salute, and presented his flag to the eldest son. I wish I could have seen it all. I know Dad loved having that. He served for over 20 years. Scott's got the memory stick with him that has pictures of Dad on it, so I'll come back and add a couple when he's back home.

Scott and his dad, August 2017 - their house was smack in the middle of the fullest observation zone for the 2017 solar eclipse.

Last week was one more week of hand-work only, and I finished Block 7 of my Fiesta Mexico project. This one is 14 inches. All of my hand applique is needle-turned, using the back-basting method:

For 3 days I've been able to do 20 minutes of piecing work at my machine after lunch. That's pretty much the limit of my energy, but hopefully when the weekend comes I'll be able to get some piecing finished for something from another BOM! I love the burst of progress on Fiesta Mexico and Octopuses Garden, but I'm ready to look at one of the others in the rotation!

~*~*~*~

Have you been able to do any BOM type work lately? We'd love to see it.  :)

Kate over at Katie Mae Quilts has joined me in hosting this meet-up, 

and linking up from either end puts you on the party at both sides.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BOMs Away - Another Loss, and some Turtles

Welcome to the Link-up for BOMs Away Mondays!

Where we share what we're doing on a BOM type project
so they don't stall out in UFO-land!
(Linky at the bottom)

Sorry to be late. We are reeling here. Scott's father has now also passed away from Covid and ensuing pneumonia (contracted at the funeral for Mom). I don't even have any words for this, or for the family turmoil we are all feeling. I would say this: Think long and very hard before having any funeral or memorial service during this surge in the pandemic. Too many attendees will be medically vulnerable to the disease, and you can't know who may be carrying it, or whether it's present in the facilities.

I am still actively sick. It was overly optimistic to think I'd be able to start back into any creative work that demands more energy than hand stitching. And so, I have another Octopuses Garden block finished - Block 5, with the turtles wreath. 12" finished block.

Ready to go up on the wall until the full set is put together - then I'll pull each one down and do the embroidery work on it. This one gets fun coral "things" stitched in, with what I believe are called bullion stitches. Also, a few little details on the turtles, oysters, and starfish.

Here's what this quilt will grow up to look like:

That will be at least a couple years more. I have this much appliqued so far: 

I do sincerely hope that you stay well, and that your families come through this pandemic whole.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

BOMs Away - Fiesta Mexico

 

Welcome to the Link-up for BOMs Away Mondays!

Where we share what we're doing on a BOM type project
so they don't stall out in UFO-land!
(Linky at the bottom)

Hi! Still fighting Covid, so I'm getting plenty of TV time and hand stitching done.

Block 5 for my Fiesta Mexico is finished. I think it must be a corn motif. 
It's about 13" square.

Want a reminder of what this quilt looks like?
It's a Karen Kay Buckley pattern.

So far, I have these blocks appliqued:

And now I'm happily into a cute turtles block for Octopuses Garden. These long-term hand projects make me lose my mojo if I try making myself stick with only the one, so I alternate them. Works nicely at keeping the interest fresh.

If I don't have a Covid "dip" day tomorrow, I will actually try some long arming for 30 minutes after lunch. I put my partially quilted Halloween UFO quilt on the frame at the beginning of October, but rapid-advance cancer, a funeral, and Covid stole the entire month from longarming time, so it sits there untouched. I don't want to take it off again until it's finished, so I'm going to start putting in tiny bits of time each day until it is. Hopefully I'll get some of my energy back in time to do enough work to finish that quilt and finish the piecing and quilting of Marissa's graduation quilt on time for that mile marker in December.  :)

~*~*~*~

Have you been able to do any BOM type work lately? We'd love to see it.  :)

Kate over at Katie Mae Quilts has joined me in hosting this meet-up, 

and linking up from either end puts you on the party at both sides.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter