August Summary and Sew & Tell ~ 9/1/25

What a month August was!  So much happened and yet, in a sense, time stood still.  We had guests and played tour guide.  We "unplugged" for several days for a respite from work.  We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary.  

And I made quilts! Four quilts were completed and 5th "topped" it off as I am ready to get it sandwiched and quilted.

A quick review...

I kicked off the start of August with Madam Butterfly and her photo shoot...  Purple was the color of the month in July.

The color of the month for August was aqua... Using larger chunks of scrap fabric, I created the Aqua (Viridian's) Chain quilt.  

It was closely followed by the finish of my Teal/Red Hawaiian print quilt that I started hand-quilting several months ago.  The backing of this quilt added a fun pop to the quilt.

Quilt #4 is my Aqua Star - an aqua and white string-pieced quilt with a splash of yellow that makes it glow!

With the completion of Aqua Star, I pulled out my collection of RSC Korner Kabin blocks and placed them on the design wall.  Once pleased with a layout of color flow that pleased me, I joined the rows.  I was unsure of what sort of border it needed... the idea of scrappy4-patch blocks with colors coordinated to their neighboring blocks came to mind.  I contemplated it as I did laundry and cleaned house and decided that my idea would, indeed, work.

I drug out my large bin of small scraps and started digging.  It took all afternoon to get the pieces cut and placed on the wall.  With each square it was like an archaeological dig... "oh, this was from a scrub top I made for Heather.  I made pajama pants for Rebecca with this fabric... and so on, and so forth."  And several times I said, "I didn't realize there was anything left from making that quilt!"  Hahaha.  I really do believe that fabric scraps are like rabbits and continually multiply and grow!

With the 4-patch border on the Korner Kabin quilt, it still asked for more.  I pulled out the bag of fabric strips that came from my SIL and the era of when she did crochet fabric items such as bathmats and Christmas tree skirts.  The bag of strips that I have are a large floral print with cabbage roses.  After auditioning on the wall, I added a border which gave the eyes relief with a solid, not-pieced, border, and still had colors that blended with the blocks.  A solid fabric border looked out of place and the bold/bright rainbow stripe didn't look right either... a pastel stripe would have been perfect but did not exist in my stash.  Make do with what I have is the mantra lately.

Last week we received two emails informing us that our insurance premiums would be increased.  Homeowners insurance was going to increase nearly $650/year... and our medical insurance was going up as well - $50/month.  OUCH!

I/we wallowed in the dismal news for a few hours... I then gathered information required to search for new options and we made phone calls.  We found a good option for the homeowners and were able to make an adjustment in our medical deductible so that we can save a few some money and afford a few other necessities of life... like food!  (And a new garage door.) 

I digress... I'll soon be sandwiching and then marking for quilting.  I have planned for a large Baptist fan design... a representation of a rainbow. 🌈  This quilting task will have to wait for a day because I need to go help install our 40th anniversary gift to each other... a new garage door!  

This is exciting stuff! LOL!  Though it is not a traditional gift of rubies, it is something that we have needed for some time.  Like when we bought this house 30+ years ago.  Dave has held it together and kept it rolling safely... and he has said for the past 10 summers... we are going to replace that garage door this summer. Hahaha!  Two years ago, we actually ordered one on-line but then received notice that the order was cancelled.  I don't remember what the reason was... possibly that delivery to our area was not available... but we took it as a sign that it was not to happen. This year when Dave said it again, we ordered on-line in July... it was delivered just before our anniversary on the 10th. 

We know many people that have a garage but seldom use it for parking their cars because it is so full of "stuff".  We have lots of stuff too... but we have strong, sturdy storage shelves to hold all of it. ;)  We are slowly clearing out the "stuff" that was so important to keep.  Like all of the baby stuff for the girls.  Remember, I made a quilt for Rebecca?  We have bins full of 5mm home movies (and projector) that have all been converted to VHS and then digitized.  Why do we keep the originals???

I am reminded, once again, that holding on to "stuff" is not best.  From Matthew 6...

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Ok... Wow, I am all over the place!  Rabbit holes are funny, right?  You start on one topic and somehow end up on a completely unrelated one.  Thanks for tagging along on mine.  

It is time to take a look at this week's feature... Melisa at Pinker 'n' Punkin Quilting shared progress on several quilty projects... including her hexagon flowers.  Aren't they cheerful and happy looking?  head over to her blog to see what other projects she has in the works.

I've been digging in some of the original flour sack fabrics that I have from my Grandma S. and have some plans for small flowers to be appliqued onto a few more shirts... and maybe some tiny pincushions. 

I'm not sure why my brain is bouncing all over the place... most of the time I am more focused and don't really like the bouncing. But when creative ideas come calling, I have learned to make notes and save pictures in my creative inspiration folders... and hang on tight!  It's usually a fun ride.

Are you a focused, one project at a time kind of quilter?

Or do you have many projects going at once... like a circus juggler or plate spinner?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

Time to party!  Be sure to invite your friends to join too. :)

Keep Piecing,

Melva

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