2021 Tuesday To-Do #21

A happy hello to the Tuesday To-Do'ers out

there, to Chris Knits for providing the

link-up and to everyone else.

Firstly, to you email subscribers:  I am sorry for the

double dose!   If you don't see a new email from

Mailchimp along with the old one, check your

junk mail.  If you still don't see it, you might try

subscribing over to the right.  To the best of

my knowledge (for whatever that's worth!), that

should now be switched to Mailchimp too. 

A word from anyone out there that it's working 

would be great since I'll be deleting the old

account in the next 24 hours.  (I am aware I

still have issues to iron out though!)

As we're nearing the half-way mark on 2021, I see

I've had some pretty exciting things going on.  I've had

some finishes, placed first in a quilt contest and made

some rewarding contributions to charities.  I've also

sold three quilts so far this year (proceeds to charity). 

 I keep this behind the scenes for the most part

but the latest one has me just so happy!

I received the kindest message of appreciation

and pics of my West Point Stars being used in

a soldier's home.

(Pics here are mine)

It has gotten the attention of friends/classmates

so he is referring them to me!  It's all a little beyond

words but I am incredibly grateful and so touched to

see my quilt displayed in the home of an Old Grad!

 This was a big moment for this quilt-maker:

to see a real appreciation of what I do!  I sure

struggle with that sometimes so God bless him,

and God bless him for his service!

It would sure be fun to make and give a quilt to

 every US soldier, but that's not exactly realistic so I

will just keep doing what I'm doing.  The proceeds

from this quilt are going back to West Point at least.

So of course making more West Point quilts

is again a priority on the to-do list.

For real this time.  ASAP!

(I just need more hours in the day!)

Alrighty, let's hit the weekly check-in:

Positivity QAL

Finish cutting out both

This has been really fun sewing and I've made a lot

of progress on my first one.  Even though I'm still

slightly questioning my scrappy negative space, I

do love the colors and how this whole project is

taking me out of my mostly-normal quilt zone.

I definitely enjoy getting out occasionally.

As I'm pressing seams, I'm taking the extra step

to press a crease in the center of my plus pieces

and using this to help align them more perfectly.

I just like a little extra assurance that those pieces

will sit exactly across from each other.  It's not a

new technique to most of you but maybe this

might help at least one QAL'er out there?

As for my progress, I am pretty close to finishing

the blocks for this one.  I was going to keep the

dark plus marks to only 5 but I could do 2 more?

This is not my final layout and I have two more
rows to add yet so...thoughts? 

For quilt two, I'm still playing around with my fabrics

for a black/ivory look.  The Les Poulets (by Windham)

collection gave me the inspiration but a lot of it isn't quite

 right--some tones are too cool, others the print too big.  

I have two sets though so pulling a few out of one

shouldn't hurt any future project(s) those go to.

Placemats

Finish quilting:  Done.

Just needs binding.

HST Runner

Quilt:  Done

Just needs binding.

A side-note:  I'm completely caught up on all

long-arm quilting!   I have a to-bind pile instead.

Gardening

 Project Re-Do the Front Flower Beds

Lots of work but the first section is done!  YAY!

Unless we get a nice cool spell, the rest will have

to wait till fall but I love how it's looking so far.

No pics right now.

Out in the veggie garden, I've called an end to

asparagus season and the strawberries are done.

Still getting lettuces/spinach and radishes; now

picking zucchini, yellow squash, cabbage, potatoes

 and beets.  The green beans will be ready any time.

There are lots of tomatoes on and the peppers

are blooming.  

My upcoming week looks to be above-average on

the activity level (appointments, housework, etc)

and my to-do list here is fairly aggressive but

maybe I can somehow make it all work.

West Point Quilt(s):  Choose design and pull fabrics

Positivity QAL:   Finish blocks; arrange on wall

Finalize other fabric selection and cut

HST Runner:  Finish (bind)

Placemats:  Finish (bind)

Patriotic runner:  For entry table

Might just be a simple quilt-as-you-go.

Gardening:   Prep for fall crops--yes, already!

Good luck to you all this week.
Stay cool and sew lots!
Happy quilting!