Art, Craft and Needlework, July, 2026

[Nancy]

Was talking with my dsis on how patterns were such a great thing they had the pic on the front of the
garment for a visual reference, vision of the things. And all the things we got for it on the back we needed
like zipper thread yardage stiffener stability stuff and the project had all that was needed. Now that is a
super way to have things so when the seaming does actually happen the prep. has happened.
Like having a plan with directions too in with the pattern pieces.

Unlike when guys start a project and have to keep running to the home improvement center
we call it "Home Stink-o" here! LOL! For what ever nuts bolts screws random piece of hardware needed.

I keep running out of items for projects that is super frustrating, ribbon, buttons, elastcic for waist band,
trim bias tape... you get the idea. Batting quilt back. I have not even thought about the after the top part of it yet.
It would be good to know the size at least. Some times I've used sheets for the backing.

Okay I need to do something else now....

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The next day... Thurs. I think. I got the star fabric red lite and navy stars on white back ground.
2 yds. and I have it pre-washed dried and pressed. Counting that for today's progress.

[Nancy]

Fri. CI
I have sews a few seams on longer strips and cut them up into blocks
I now have 12 blocks plus a couple of others I believe.

Might need to rip a strip or two off and make em the same size. Did that.
Now I have 14 blocks. Out of that fabric will need to improvise at least one
more block for a pattern unless I can get a diff. one to work.
Not sure what's next with this binding etc. but it is good to see progress.

Could be a child's size blanket or tree skirt who knows!
But I'm glad to be making head way yea!
Cmas in July is under way before retreat weekend. YEA!

I watched that vid: did most of them. I'm still doing some planning and prepping.
Thawing out my roisarri chicken for meals. Had shrimp tonite.
Got out the silk flowers to a more visable place, no room in the sewing room.
I don't do candles they bother me as do real flowers. I got food stuffs and fabric yesterday.
Plus beverages I was out of my fav. diet soda. Take aspirin need to remember that.
Take evenings off. Checking in with friends so your it! LOL!]
I did send my dsis a pic. of the blocks this morning.

Home sewing retreat 7 must haves vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUx7ZQQz35A

[Harriet]

You are a Joyful Connection for us, Nancy. No doubt about it. So ... .. CHECK on that requirement!

I have seen this young woman (Christen?) online before sometime. I remember she taught something that gave me some help - I think it was binding ideas in general. She's very pleasant.

There is a strip mini-stash in my closet - not mine, purchased from someone who cut it but let it go after getting mad when a couple blocks went wrong, I think. So, I'm interested to know you're getting things done with yours. If she hadn't also included the finished blocks, I wouldn't even know her plan, lol, so I could actually be FREE to do anything with strips. They are cut into kinda short lengths, though. Oh, well.

Good job keeping up with the mending, Gma. I think Kittykatt said she was also mending. I have a pair of pants that need to be hemmed - must measure twice, cut once!

Thinking of our hand stitchers Cathy and Mystery, out there being serene, and gratified with lovely work, I'm sure.

[Nancy]

TY Harriet!

Today I'm more achy and feeling it after sitting I need a pillow on my hard chair for sewing.
My roller chairs do not fit there. ~ Sigh ~ I did cut at the tall desk to stand up. It bothered my arm some
but hoping it's in a strength building way.

Today's "progress" not so much but I did decide on the red ones to cut and set aside some for the red white & blue project.
Cut the others and they are ready.

Movement is my focus to limber up, it helps I'm usually better by noon if not before.
Not as smokey today that is a relief yea.
Music time now.
I need to put jars of soup I made & froze down stairs when I do my next set of walk ab out & stairs.

Trying to focus on just one project at a time & not on the ones that did not work out or there was not enough to
fabric like the apron, the print was not going the right way for that one so I cut it in strips had to bite the bullet
on that and some others. Like the darker colors with Elk, rain deer, rabbits in Christmas-y colors & themed prints.
Cut that batch of f*t quarters just one stack so not so bad.

Looked at quilt batt and seems that they are in stock.
Getting ideas for quilt backs might see about a cream color for this.
Yea I found some options!

[Gma]

That's a great video, Nancy. I think the most important item is #1 - focus, uninterrupted, not distracted by other tasks.
I think the same goes for decluttering/ cleaning as well.
I have been doing 1 row (or more) every night on the half-round shawl I am making for dsis2.
(In addition to all the things I am doing at mother's house htis week, but that's not arts, crafts, and needlework)

[Harriet]

At the machine, I sit on an old bed pillow, Nancy.

Tonight - Finished machine stitching the last full block BUT noticed that another I thought was finished has some more stitching to go. Sigh. So just a little more progress to report.

On this stitching I just finished tonight, I couldn't get anything to look right in the middle until I brought a cereal bowl from the kitchen. Traced arcs with that with the disappearing marker, and it worked fine. Remembered to put the cereal bowl away, lol!

Pinned the left border side on this part, so it's ready to mark and keep going.

Gma and Nancy it's nice that you are both thinking of your sisters as you stitch! You're very blessed to have them.

Quilting progress 26 out of 30 sections: ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓░░░░

[Nancy]

Made my quota of seams for today I'll try to do that many again to make up for what I did not do yesterday.
I can get 7 more blocks to be about half way on this project deciding on how big I decided on.

So glad for a rest day yesterday I really did need it.

I did my 5 seams this morning & and some more this afternoon.
They are ready to be seen again and then I can cut some more blocks after that.
So happy with progress.

I am thinking it might be good to do this every other day!

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Update did another round of sewing.
I am up to 30 blocks done now yea!
I'm thinking that is 3/4 this of them done now yea!