Patriotic Pineapple Blossom top - Finished Friday

 

Patriotic Pineapple Blossom
Bonnie K. Hunter designer of block
(block pattern)

T'was a bit toasty yesterday around these parts, and although piecing doesn't require a bunch of energy nor movement, spending some time in the cool basement (quilt layout prep area) seemed like a better idea than hanging out in the quilting loft.  Therefore, Dawn's Early Light was given a halting break, and...
... percolating since 2013, the Pineapple Blossom UFO was pulled out with the absolute goal in mind to give her some borders.  All of the pinwheels from the bonus HSTs had already been pieced back in 2013, so the main focus was on the white filler blocks and strips, all requiring just a lil' bit of math.

I am quite fond of this layout, having completed a similar one in my scrappy version.  With the red and blue radiating from the center, however, gives it a firecrackery look; quite patriotic.

With the blueberries already picked for the day, I suppose I should head out to the red currant patch for another annual bountiful harvest. 

Happy Friday.

Linking up with:
Alycia - Finished (or not) Friday

Piano, Basketball, Quilting and Planting. Precious moments!

Friday night, the girls 'fighting' over practice time

Saturday tournaments for both Cassie and Caitlyn

Sunday morning working on tidying up some blocks

Sunday mid-morning shopping spree at Walmart -- the SEEDS SECTION is in full swing!

Yes, folks!  I DID buy some seedling supplies and planted.  This is the EARLIEST I've ever planted seeds!

Despite being 14, Cass is stil okay with being a 'twin' with Mom on dress-up days at school

My band of wack-a-doodles!

Tidying loose ends -- Confetti, RWB Pineapple Blossoms, and Lazy Sunday

Today was the first substantial time spent in my sewing room in QUITE some time -- July, maybe?  Recall, my month of August was filled with my new obsession of crochet;  and then, of course, school started in September.

I dare say this is my first COMPLETE weekend home since school began.  Both days!  And I can stay in my PJs!!!!  And despite needing to tackle piles and piles of laundry, today... I still sewed!

Bonnie's Celtic Solstice mystery is drawing closer;  less then 2 weeks.  I will ALWAYS take part in a Bonnie mystery;  they simply are be-YOND amazing designs!

Therefore, I wanted to just clear my head and organize the umpteen projects in various stages in order to be ready for the mystery.

The crib quilt for a friend didn't take much effort to get to flimsy stage.  There is no longer a rush on the quilt, but I'd still like to get it to a finished state sooner than later.  

Pattern:  Confetti, Quiltmaker March/April 2010.

Super quick and easy!

Next was to take care of the stacks of pieces/units for the RWB Pineapple Blossom quilt that was started (and left) back in June.    At the same time, I had some Leaders-Enders in the works for the Lazy Sunday border units.

It took longer than expected to finish up all 40 pineapple blocks; probably because I double-sewed, pieced and trimmed up the bonus triangles into 40 bonus pinwheel blocks to be utilized in the border.
Those have now been set aside for some day in the future.  My layout will be the same as my last Pineapple Blossom quilt.

My full attention then moved onto piecing Lazy Sunday blocks with sashing, all the while, continuing with the border units as my leader-enders.

I was midway through the second row when my bobbin thread ran out, nor did I have any more bobbins prepped.  Therefore, I took that as a sign to call it a day.  Seven hours is still WAY more than I've sewed in months.

Now... I'll relax with my feet up with my crochet hook in-hand to work on Cassie's Laker Ripple afghan.

Happy Saturday.  Truly.

Pineapple Blossom - RWB progress & an OLD UFO

Eight blocks are done between yesterday's and this morning's short sewing sessions.

Four more blocks underway...

But after my coffee break right now, I think I'll shut down my sewing room and move over to my quilting area.  

Angela (soscrappy) and I are trying to give each other some incentive in the form of some kind of award for the person who accomplishes more of her quilting Flimsy/UFOs during the month of June.  Neither of us really talked about the details of this "challenge," neither of us know the award/prize outcome; umm, I don't even know if either of us even know how we are going to determine the "winner" since we each have different numbers of flimsies.  LOL.  (Do either of us even really care about the details??)  :D  ... I simply want this little bit of a push to GIT IT DONE!  LOL.  Seriously, I have flimsies packed away from 2009 (maybe even later!).  I have an idea of which one will be coming out next.....

Seven Shirts, Seven Clues (64" x 76");  March 8, 2009.  Of course, it needs a backing!  :\  My ickiest "B" of 'em all!

But today!  That's my goal!

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Pineapple Blossom - RWB; ready to go

Those silly song birds!  4:15 AM, tweet-tweet-tweetling away.

By 4:30AM, I figured I might as well just get up.  I didn't think there was any getting back to sleep.  

No biggy :)

Shortly after 6AM, I headed downstairs with Pineapple Blossom - RWB in mind.  It was time to get all the cutting done for 40 blocks. I plan to organize my final layout just like the one I just finished up:  Scrappy Pineapple Blossom.  6x6 layout with 4 corner/border blocks = 40 total blocks.

Using Bonnie's Pineapple Blossom pattern, I started cutting/pressing/organizing my blue and red scraps the other day for the 3.5, 2x6.5, and 9.5 strips in each color that each block needs.

This morning, I dug around for some muslin/light scraps for the 3.5" squares.

Jackpot!

And about an hour later, the box was emptied!  That's a BIG whahoo folks!  That box has been sitting around for a couple of years :)

 All 40 sets of 3.5" squares done. (sets of 5 for each block).

So, all 40 sets are ready!

And a moment of realization hit once I looked at the pattern once again!

Each block needs...

2 - 3.5" strips (one of each color).  Check.  

2 - 9.5" strips (one of each color).  Check.

FOUR - 6.5" strips.  Not 2.  That means, TWO of each color.  Ummm.  No check.

LOL

I had cut ONE of each color (pinned into sets with the other pieces), so, I simply grabbed one red and one blue fabric to cut 40 additional 6.5" strips.  Each block will have that same fabric in the same location.  No biggy.

A little morning coffee break right now, and then.... yeah.  I think I'll piece for a bit today, even though the quilting frame is reminding me of a little incentive that Angela (soscrappy) and I have going for each other.  

All in good time...

Happy Wednesday morning.

RWB scraps -- another Pineapple Blossom?

Nancy and I have exchanged a couple of emails with Pineapple Blossom as the topic.  It is SUCH an amazing pattern;  I think it's one of Bonnie's BEST scrappy designs!

Nancy has 1.5 days of school left----sooooo close!  I know that feeling all too well :)

I suggested that we tackle a Pineapple Blossom quilt for the month of June... I THINK she's game :)

What about any of you?  Want to try out this pattern (or make another one?) and join in the fun???

I've made THREE versions of this pattern already...

Red/Black/White

Red/White

Scrappy (just completed the top last week)

Knowing I had a box of RWB scraps from my 2010 BOM, I thought I'd take a peek this morning to see if anything would work, and let me tell you!  I think it was meant to be!

MOST of the scraps were already 2" strips, so I started to slowly press and trim and begin the first stages of organization.  BUT, I didn't want to get TOOOOO far;  I want to spend some time FB-skyping with Nancy when working on this baby :)  My plan:  similar to my Red/Black/White version, only it'll be Red/Blue/White :)

It's another gloomy, rainy day outside today.  Therefore, we're all trying to keep ourselves occupied with inside tasks.  Yesterday, I caught Candace working on her KnittingKnobby for a bit...

LOL!  Got'cha :)  I'm sure she'll pull it out again later.

She also spent some time working with Dad on the duck house...

Both Paul and I are SO thankful for the help that the girls give us around the house;  MOST of the time, they don't mind, either.  The duck house is finished and in its temporary location for now.  However, pics will have to come later;  I didn't take any last night, and am CERTAINLY not interested in heading out in the rain right now.

With a change in plans, I have the whole day to spend in my quilting room now.  We were supposed to head up to the farm to till up Father-in-Law's garden plot; he's even further behind that WE are! :(  However, with the weather...Paul called the trip off;  it's too wet.  Besides, I think he just wanted to stick around home and get some things done here.  He's mixed up a batch of donut dough (YUM!!!), and then he wants to head out fishing later.

Therefore, with lunch behind us (beer-cheese soup and sandwiches), I'm off to downstairs.  I think I'll work on Forever's quilting :)

Happy Sunday.