We are getting some wonderful weather this week and even though I didn’t want to I have been putting off a job of varnishing wood. Last year we added a dinning room on to the kitchen and did a remodel on one side of the kitchen – we have a rustic look of wood – part of the dining room had the varnish on it and then the weather had gotten too cold to have windows open to air the house so it kept getting put aside – I was going to do it in the spring but it was raining a lot and humid – then summer came with heat and humidity – I really needed to tackle this and get it done – for the next 2 or 3 nights the temp will be down in the 50’s and daytime barely 80 – so yesterday I bit the bullet and got the paint brush and varnish and got to work. So right now the dining room has 2 coats on the walls ( one from last fall) which might be enough and the kitchen is at 1 coat – I will be working on the kitchen again today. Eventually the wood will all age to hopefully look the same. The cabinets in the kitchen on this end were added and they all need the treatment too so needless to say the kitchen is a mess this week and the overflow on the dining room table.
Several of you asked what kind of marking device do I use with the black fabric of Floral Fantasy – this is the marking pencil that I use from Fons and Porter, I get all my replacement leads from Connecting Threads which usually has a lot of sales. There are other brands of course, I got mine when it first came out years ago. You can use regular chalk pencils as well, I just detest sharpening them. My fabric is actually a textured print that is more gray then black but it reads as black.
In my break times yesterday I got a lot more squares in a square done – 40 of them, I now have 280 squares and I need 26 more (I think) I might still need to do a couple more but I will see about that as I get busy putting the quilt together. I might be able to start putting Winter Wonderland together before the week is out!
Several more Postage Stamp Quilt blocks where done giving me a total of 9. Some have asked some questions about this one. Yes I am thinking of making it queen size. My blocks are 10 inches so that will be 9.5 finished – that is because my cutting and sewing are not accurate – I try but what can I say I am a sloppy cutter and sewer – I square my blocks up when I get done – that is one reason that I do not know if I will need more blocks for the Winter Wonderland quilt as I need to square those blocks up too. Such is life in my sewing room. And the final question – Do I have any idea how many 1.5 inch blocks are needed? LOL – well if I figure right I will need about 7,200 pieces!! But whose counting right – what else can I do with all these tiny pieces that I keep saving and no one is saying it will be done this year – right – I know I never said it would be done this year LOL. I am linking to Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday.
This is where I stand with Floral Fantasy right now – I got a lot done on Sunday and I’m satisfied with what I am doing. Maybe with this photo you can see this is not a true black?
Yes this is the flower with the wonky piece in it – I never did redo it and now it is staring me in the face – Now you see why I do not enter into shows – I do my quilting for me!
I was going to start prepping another applique block for the Caswell Quilt but time got away from me. I have found this old piece on the shelf though that I will use for the vase and I well fussy cut for a change – I like the big print for the vase. I might just go with the stripes instead though – I have to open this piece up and see what I have.
I will move it around a bit though and experiment with it first – I need to find my package of old tracing paper which is most likely hidden in one of the drawers and cut a piece to lay over the fabric so I can see what I like I don’t think I have any clear plastic any place.
This is the block the vase is in.
So that was my busy day – how was your Monday! 3 sides of the Star Garden has the binding on it – I will try to squeeze in the last side today during break time from the varnishing if I sit long enough.
I love all of the wood, it looks so warm and inviting. Making lots of great progress on your quilts.
Kristie
Sounds like you’re having the same glorious weather that we are … isn’t it delightful? Even with spending your day varnishing, you were able to get some quilty stuff done. How many more coats will you need to apply to the kitchen?
Oh how pretty and shiny your varnishing looks!
A weather break here as well…roasting cauliflower and garlic in a 425 degree oven because I CAN! It’s only 58 degrees out! 🙂
That flower does not look wonky to me and all of your quilts are quilt show quality! If you lived around here, I would hound you until you entered our show. Last year the “Mayor’s Choice” was a simple quilt made of 8″ squares of different food fabrics, sashed with plain fabric. He liked it because he likes to support farmer’s markets. Of course, he is a rank amateur when it comes to quilts, but our viewers choices often go to simpler designs. And hand quilting is always appreciated at shows!
You remind me that I still have window sills to paint here and there around the house. I, too, am waiting for less humidity. Maybe in September!
Good start on Floral Fantasy! The double lines look great! Do you find it a problem to quilt thru a dark fabric rather thand the usual light backgrounds? I would think wtih the contrashing thread it wouldn’t be a problem. The wood looks great! I know you will be happy you finally tackled that project!
Love the woodwork in your kitchen/dining room! Wanted to let you know the postman brought me a nice package today. Thank you again! Can’t wait to get started on Winter Wonderland, because, you know, I really NEED another project going on right now 🙂
Your applique quilts make me drool. I love the way they look, but know that I would never have enough patience to make one.
I always like to visit and see what you’re working on each day.
Really, I didn’t see a wonky piece!
Karen,
I don’t see how you have time to do much less post about all your quilting progress when you have also been adding varnish to your beautiful wood in the dining and kitchen! Strong work 🙂
I also see no wonky flower… but I know how it is to see something you aren’t pleased with while you are quilting that area too.. hopefully as you move down the quilt .. it will soon roll out of sight to bother you 🙂
I have had a busy weekend.. recovery day and Monday and more business today with our home business that is exploding currently… haven’t had time to post in a week!
Have a blessed evening and thanks for keeping me uplifted each post you make here!
Kathi
All that hard work varnishing is paying off … the walls look amazing! That’s not a ‘wonky’ flower, just copying nature … 😉 Love your choice for the quilting on Fantasy.
You are one busy lady, Karen!!
The varnishing looks great!
Love the way the quilting is looking on Floral Fantasy….you definitely made the right choice for quilting thread….looking forward to following along as you quilt it.
That fabric you found in your stash will be perfect for the vase appliqué for the Caswell quilt block!
I cannot believe how many postage stamp blocks you have done already….you know how I love scrappy quilts…this is going to be another great one!! Those white sashing strips really make the little squares pop!
Wow! Busy, busy. You make me feel like such a slacker! We need some interior painting done but I do not do painting. Gotta draw the line somewhere. Maybe I can convince my son to do it for me next time he comes up for any amount of time! Love your stitching on the Floral Fantasy!