Saturday, October 30, 2021

Scraps, Sale, Squirrel, Scenery

 Another month, another post about small steps. My progress has been slow. But that's okay. September and October are our favorite months for sightseeing, so there has been a lot of time on our bicycles and on foot enjoying nature. Here are the bits I got done this month. First up: my Rainbow Scrap Challenge/52 Weeks of Scrappy Triangles. The RSC color was lime. I think I used some limes in my last go at green scraps, but that's okay. I have a lot of  limes. Surprisingly, there are not a lot of multicolored scraps with lime in them, so I didn't deplete that multicolored bin by much, but even using up some mostly-lime scraps is okay.

This month's blocks have a lot of tiny bits in them, so it's probably best that my fabrics were more green than other colors. I'm not real pleased with the top left block. There's not a lot of contrast in those sawtooth parts. But I'm not bothered enough to redo it. It will be fine with all the other blocks in the end. Last month I mentioned that I wasn't sure if I'd do one more orange block or a green one for the last week of September which was also the beginning of October. I did make one more orange block. 

Yeah, it doesn't look like an orange block, but if you look closely, you'll see there is at least a tiny bit of orange in each fabric.

I think this ends the colors for RSC this year, but there are still 9 weeks left in the 52 Weeks of ScrappyTriangles. I might just mix up the colors for the rest of the year--or I could repeat the colors for each month. Then I still have to decide if this project goes into next year for more blocks or if I will just finish it up. I do need more blocks to make a decent sized quilt. 

I didn't buy fabrics to go with RSC for the last several months, but made up for that a bit last week. My daughter had given me a gift card for a local store that has a small quilting area. I almost bought a new shirt, but the quilting fabric was too much of a pull. and it was all on sale! So I selected some turquoise and orange bits. I could have bought some limes, but I bought those back when green was the RSC color.

Hey, these would make a great quilt by themselves!

Oh, wait, I did buy lime--in the little embroidery scissors. How about that?!

My other project was the Confetti quilt, of course. But first---there was a Squirrel. 

A little blurry, but I wanted to zoom in so you could see the peanut.

And, hey, it was lime!!

Our temperatures took a nose dive this past week, and so I went searching for the slippers I knitted last year. Uh, oh. Not good. I had worn major holes in them. So I found some leftover yarn from an afghan I made years ago, and quickly knitted up some new ones. I used two strands of two shades of lime, hoping they'll last a little longer than one season. The pattern is similar to one my mom used to make that she called CuddleMocs. There are lots of versions of this online. I just winged it making the rectangle a little shorter than my foot so they'd fit nice and tight. I really do like knitting, but I hate sewing knitted things together almost as much as sewing a hem on a dress. So please pardon the wonky seams. I sewed on the little buttons from the old slippers to kind of disguise them. My mom used to put big fuzzy pom-poms on hers. Anyway, my feet are toasty now. This squirrel was so distracting, I made Sandra's awesome links in the post about her latest amazing quilt finish wait until I got these done. They didn't take long to make. I did them at the same time on the same needle. 

Then it was back to the Confetti quilt. Here are this month's blocks. 


You can see that each row is a different block, but they still look all random. It's not the way I'll arrange them, but fun to see them together like that. I now have 36 blocks. I'll make at least another set and then see where to go from there.

I'm still working on the hand pieced four-patches. I think there are about 100 now. I need to cut more squares.

So that's my makings for the month. Here's what else we were up to. I was going to post more vacation photos, but I'm past that now that we've roamed closer to home. 

We took a bike ride on the Falling Waters Trail, which I love. 



And Wednesday, we celebrated the 44th anniversary of our first date by hiking along the ledges in a nearby town. A unique geological formation right through town that gives it its name of Grand Ledge. The trail winds along the river at the base of the rocks, sometimes a bit precariously. It was a little chilly and foggy-ish, but perfect for hiking. 












The color is finally starting to come--the latest I've ever seen it. And look at those flowers still blooming like crazy in the park. 

Soon it will be too cold for these little excursions. And then I think a lot more sewing will happen. I'm beginning to plan a quilt that probably won't be made in bitsy monthly steps. I can't wait. 

I'm linking up this weekend with Angela at So Scrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday and with Cynthia at Quilting is more fun than Housework for Oh Scrap. And with Sandra at mmm quilts! for DrEAMi (Drop Everything And Make it) because yes, those slippers aren't quilted, but they did take me away from her blog post!! (Go check out her quilt, though! And her links to the process.)

I hope you are having fun quilting--but take time, too, to chase squirrels and enjoy nature.

(Just a reminder: I'm not affiliated with any company, so when I mention products, services, or stores I'm just documenting what I used or liked.) 

16 comments:

loralie said...

The slippers look like a pattern that I use also. I got it originally from 4-H back in the 1970's. Sometimes I sew "Gripper Fabric" on the bottom to give them a little more durability.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos!

Nancy A. Bekofske said...

It has been a long time since we were at the Ledges. I enjoyed seeing them again!

Sylvia@Treadlestitches said...

What a beautiful post! I love your triangles and the Confetti blocks, but the outdoor pictures really steal the show.

Vicki in MN said...

I love your nature photos! The rock walls remind me of some we were own this summer in Wisconsin.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

the hiking area looks so nice I miss that - my husband has not been really up to hiking all that much the last year or two and our daughter has been too busy for walking the trails all that much this year so I haven't been doing it either as I don't like to do it by myself. I used to make slippers years ago but haven't done that in so very long they are cute in that color you used. Happy 44 years

Bernie Kringel said...

Good morning Janine! I didn't know (or didn't remember?) that you knit. I just picked up some knitting needles after not doing so for at least 8 or 9 years. Wow, I am so clumsy with them. But it is relaxing. I remember my grandma could knit wonderful things and never even look down at her needles. I am not like that!! The slippers are sweet and as a kid we always had those. She had some sort of yard made of steel - it was so stiff - not very cozy but they lasted. She also found vinyl or something and stitched it to the bottoms so they would last a bit. She had twelve grandkids to make slippers for so she wanted them to last. Thanks for the fun memories. :-)

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

Slow progress is still progress! I really like your scrappy triangles, and I'm looking forward to seeing the quilt you make of them. That's a pretty bundle of fabric, too! I love your knitted slippers! I wonder if I could manage that pattern. I'm not a very accomplished knitter, but I can do the basic things. And thanks for sharing the beautiful area you visited - I enjoyed the virtual visit!

Cynthia Brunz Designs said...

Your slippers bring back such fun memories. I miss the ones my grandmother always made for me. Maybe I need to think about getting out my knitting needles again.

Thanks for linking up with Oh Scrap!

Louise said...

Gosh, I haven't thought about that type of slipper in ages! I love yours in lime green :) And your photos of the scenery are particularly lovely this time!

TerryKnott.blogspot.com said...

My grandma used to knit me a pair of those slippers for Christmas along with a pair of mittens. Mine had fuzzy pompoms too! Your photos of your fall are wonderful!

Preeti said...

The lime green booties were definitely worth dropping everything else. I love love love your new fabric acquisitions - a very modern palette. They will make a lovely quilt. Fall is here and I am loving all the colors. You are too, as your pictures show.

Sandra Walker said...

Okay so it's not just me thinking the colours are not as vibrant, and that they seem later this year! Our Linden tree is green as green can be, and the Norway maple is finally turning all brilliant yellow. The English oak, true to its form, is mostly still green and the red (I think, but maybe it's a white) oak has been ever so slowly turning. It's gone chillier here too, might be a good frost tonight or tomorrow. I did have to defrost the windshield a bit this am when I went to teach yoga at 6:15. Love all your pics, especially the Ledges! Did not know about those, very Great Canadian Shield/Finger Lakes look. I love those slippers - my mum used to knit us those, and I think I even knit myself a pair or two way back. I should look up the pattern as I am rather in need of new slippers this year! Yay for a knitting DrEAMi! and for sure it is fine to link it up. How cool to knit two at once. I love your Confetti quilt, and yes, those new purchases would make a delicious quilt! Thank you so much for the shout-out about my Fleurs quilt. :-)

Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting said...

I love your new acquisitions of peach and teal!!! Love your new slippers--my grandma would make a pair for each of us grandchildren every Christmas! Love the confetti quilt block, too! Fun outdoor photos!!!

Allison said...

Thanks for sharing the project updates and photos of some of the scenery you've enjoyed over the past few months. Those pink Cosmos flowers are great. I grow them from seed every year and they flower until the first ground frost.

KaHolly said...

I certainly enjoyed this post while I had my morning coffee today. Better late than never, right? Thanks for taking us along on your excursion. I haven’t been out in a couple of years now and I so enjoyed your pictures. I’m loving your creations - especially the Conferring Quilt! I look forward to seeing it all together. XO