Monday Happenings 2 – In My Studio
This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share a commission.Last month I did a Monday post talking about the new quilt projects I was working on and today I want to share Monday Happenings 2 – In My Studio to update you on what has been going on.
On the Longarm
I have several quilts that I need to finish. The longarm makes a great place to keep them so I can remind myself to finish them. The Harvest Hues is done, I just had it out while I picked fabrics from the Fall Gatherings collection for my new table runner.
Quilting Orphan Quilt Blocks
I have tons of orphan quilt blocks, do you? I had just finished a quilt on my longarm and there was enough batting and backing at the end for something else so I placed 3 quilt blocks on it. Two of the blocks are from my Affinity quilt pattern. I have a tutorial to make one of the quilt blocks.
Fall Gatherings Table Runner
I am making a table runner using the Fall Gatherings collection from Island Batik that I used to make my Harvest Hues quilt.
The Fall Gatherings collection is available at Missouri Star Quilt Co. Just search for Island Batik or Fat Quarter Bundle to find it. Use the link below.
Missouri Star Quilt Co. – get 20% off of a $50 purchase
The Fall Gatherings bundle I received from Island Batik included half yard pieces of 20 different batiks and is perfect for quilt projects for autumn.
Four Square Flight in Black
Did you see my Four Square Flight quilt made with white batik as a background? I was making quilt blocks with a solid black batik background also.
I am fortunate to have a large quilt studio and can have several sewing machines set up all the time. This is another 15-91 Singer sewing machine that I purchased off of Ebay and I have it threaded with black thread. It is so handy to jump between quilt projects.
Seam Rippers Are Handy To Have
I don’t have the quilt pattern finished yet. I’ll let you know as soon as it is done. On Saturday I was adding the sashes to the blocks and didn’t pay attention to my notes….I cut all of the sashes 3 inches too wide!
I took my quilt top outside as it is so hard to see black thread on black fabric. Rusty and I sat on the patio while I used my new seam ripper from Missouri Star Quilt Co. Yes, seam rippers get dull, I have a habit of keeping one forever and was surprised to see how well my new one worked.
Quilts On Balcony
I kept at it and the quilt is all pieced, now to get it quilted. The wind wasn’t blowing so I was able to hanging both quilts off the balcony railing.
I’m not crazy about the name Four Square Flight and will probably change it, any suggestions?
Which coloring do you like?
4th of July Placemats
I have been jumping back and forth between several quilt projects, do you do that? Yesterday I whipped up a couple of placemats that will be perfect for the 4th of July. I ran to the Dollar Tree and picked up a few decorations, what do you think of Rusty’s scarf?
Tutorial coming this week!
Full Bloom 10 Inch Squares
I am a Partner with Missouri Star Quilt Company which means I’m an affiliate. I get to offer you a special link that grants a 20% off a $50 and up purchase and I earn a commission on your purchase. When you use that special link it not only benefits you with an incredible discount, it provides me with a commission. I appreciate it more than you can ever know.
I received this beautiful package of 10-inch squares of Island Batik Full Bloom from Missouri Star Quilt Company. The quilt block you see was one that I made in 2014! I received the fabrics as part of my second Island Batik Ambassador box.
I think it is time to make some more blocks! 10 years ago this collection first came out and now the collection is available again at Missouri Star Quilt Co.
Just do a search for Island Batik and you’ll find the Full Bloom batiks.
Vego Garden Bed
Our plants in the Vego raised garden beds are thriving. The tomato plants have lots of blooms and some tomatoes growing, we also have beans and peppers. I planted peas that I just wanted to eat raw but they aren’t sweet.
Coleus Plants
I am amazed at how big my Coleus plants are! I started these from seed and it seemed like they were small forever. The seeds were a variety pack so I got all kinds of different colors. I wonder if I’ll be able to bring these in the house this winter.
Ducks And Squirrels
Here is the reason I’m not getting as much done as I should! Every time I sit at my computer I get entertained by the wildlife.
Look carefully at the next photo and you will see two squirrels trying to get a drink. Just to the right of the water bowl are both of the ducks. You can barely see the male as he is behind the female.
Squirrels Just Wants A Drink
It is so funny to watch the squirrels try and get a drink of water. I have put out another water bowl which the ducks seem to like also but at least the squirrels have a chance to get a drink.
I didn’t know that squirrels were afraid of ducks!
The fox without a tail ran through the yard yesterday and I was able to call Bob and he saw the fox in the backyard. I don’t know if I’ll ever get a photo of it.
I hope you have enjoyed this post, now I’m going to get to work on writing my pattern. Oh! There are two gold finches at the feeder and a squirrel getting a drink before the ducks show up. Concentrate Connie!!
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About Connie
Hi, I’m Connie Kresin Campbell, the quilter, writer, and photographer behind Freemotion By the River. I enjoy inspiring others with my quilt tutorials and patterns. You’ll also see my sweet adopted dogs from time to time.
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Love all the info and pictures you share in your blog, Connie! You’re so lucky to have such a beautiful large quilting space. I can’t really choose a favorite between the white or black background on the Four Square quilt–I like them both! Very pretty. We plan on getting raised garden beds like yours for next year. Do you have a favorite vegetable food/fertilizer that you use? Your plants are growing nicely.
Yes you can move your coleus plants indoors when summer is over. I have only ever grown coleus as a houseplant and only recently found out people grow them outdoors. They do take a LOT of water and need to be watered on a regular schedule. Most of my other plants are succulents, so the coleus have proved to be too demanding for my laid back retirement schedule. The succulents are more forgiving of my irregular watering habits.
Hi Connie! You’ve been a busy lady. I like the white colorway for Four Square Flight quilt. Looking forward to your patriotic place mat tutorial. It will be perfect size for the camper I bought last month. My coleus are growing very well, too. As are the rest of the flowers I planted last month.
Thanks Meri and how fun that you now have a camper! Patriotic placemats tutorial will be up on Wednesday.
I like both of your Four Square Flight quilts, the black makes the colors really pop while the white one is so fresh looking!
Thanks Vicki!
Hi Connie thank you for the lovely visit, that’s what it feels like when reading your news. How is Bob? Is he ok now. Love Rusty he is lucky to have such lovely parents. Hi from Australia…🇦🇺😊🦋
I love your 4 square flight quilts! Both are beautiful! I so enjoyed the whole newsletter. Thank you for sharing! Terry 😊💕
Love your blogs and sweet little Rusty. I’ve clicked on the link for MSQC – 20% off of $50 purchase, but it just takes me to their website. How can I get the 20% discount.
Thank you!
Carol, here’s my process for using the affiliated link to get 20% off of $50 purchase: I go to the MSQ website, make sure I’m signed in, and put items that I want to purchase in my cart. I then close that tab–I don’t know that I really need to close the tab but I do. Then from Connie’s email or blog, click on her discount link. The MSQ website will open and when you go to your cart to complete the purchase the discounted code will be applied. I hope that helps, Jenny
Hi Connie,
I so enjoy your posts and pictures of wildlife. Regarding the quilt, I would name it My Crossroads and I love them both. Maybe favor the black background more as it really pops the other colors. The white is very nice, soft and serene, however, I think it would require washing it more.
Yes, you can bring your coleus inside for the winter. They grow quite nice indoors.
Thank you for a great post, keep them coming. Love them!
Connie,
I love your Four Square flight in black ! You have a real talent with your block colors. I have to learn to think more color as I have kept to darker fabrics. Any suggestions as how to learn to use those bright colors?? Definitely need some help here.
Hi Jane, I wish I could help you with that, I just seem to grab colors. If I want bright colors, I don’t add any in the brown family. Muted colors are great for a pastel quilt. The easiest way to try out bright colors is to buy a charm pack or fat quarter bundle of bright colors. I think that is why I love batiks so much.
Yes you can bring your Coleus in for the Winter, I have some and they have always been indoor plants. Didn’t know I could put them outside,lol.
Katie, Watch it when you take your coleus outside__ They get huge! But you will get a lot of seed to do a large garden of coleus plants! So beautiful.
I never thought about getting seeds from my Coleus!
Thanks Beverly and you will love that FQ bundle! I hope you will be safe from the terrible flooding that is happening north of us.
I love your Four Square Flying. My favorite is the black! I think the black just make all of the beautiful colors pop!
You said you didn’t like the name, what about: “Geese A Flying”, “So Many Geese”, “Geese All Around”, “Geese, Geese and More Geese”, “Did You See Those Geese?”
Give Rusty a rub for me! Sweet little guy!
You have a nice garden! Thee raised beds make so much sense for us older folks. The quilts are so pretty. I vote or the one with black background. The white one is pretty, but the black just pops.
I agree that the raised beds sure make it nice to have a garden again!
You asked which color backgroud did we like best? The black is absolutely gorgeus! Sandy
Thanks Sandy!
What a wonderful blog – so much interesting information, lovely examples of your work and great ideas for projects.
Thank you, Connie, for sharing and for just being “you”.
Your vegetable garden is amazing and it is fun to see the squirrel. It’s always nice to see Rusty looking so happy.
Kind regards –
Thanks Robyn, this is the kind of post that is so much fun to write! Like back in the early days of blogging.
Love all your projects, and your flowers and garden are looking great. I did order the FQ set from MSQC last week from your site link. I like the Harvest runner. Thanks for all your sharing.
I’m just finishing up some baby projects and starting on some tablerunners.
Hope some of us will get some rain, but not flooding.
Thanks Beverly and you will love that FQ bundle! I hope you will be safe from the terrible flooding that is happening north of us.
Name. For pattern
Home Flight
Thanks Linda, great name!
Hi Connie,
I love your newsletter and patterns, I have made many of them. I love both of your geese quilts, I think I would do the white for spring/summer and the black for fall/winter. I’m curious if the centers are intentionally different? The white one has the scrap blocks going right through the center, the black does not. You’ve made it difficult to pick a favorite. Well done!
Good catch Kim! I did make the blocks differently. Now I have to decide if I should include both in the pattern.
Hi Connie,
I like both versions of your Four Square Flight. And I love Rusty’s scarf; he looks quite debonair! We have a squirrel without a tail that’s been visiting our yard for several years. We call him Mr. No-Tail!
Happy summer to you from north Georgia where it’s very hot!!
I love both versions of your quilt, Connie. The white background is so cheerful, but the black is quite dramatic. I’m not fond of sewing with dark backgrounds because of the lint accumulation, but I do love the finished products. Since I moved last year, I don’t have very many bird visitors and I do miss that. I do have a few though. A pair of Titmouse, an occasional chickadee, one or two bluejays, and crows! The crows came last year and the others have arrived this year. Happily, since it’s summer, I also get regular and frequent visits from hummingbirds. It’s been so hot for several days that I’m constantly changing the nectar as I don’t want it to spoil. Usually, I change it every couple of days, but in this heat, I’m doing it everyday. I’m on the 7th floor, so definitely no squirrels or other 4 legged creatures. A neighbor had a particularly pretty coleus last year and I took a couple of cuttings and used them in my planters. I don’t usually bother, but I took more cuttings at the end of the season and carried them through the winter and they are now gracing my planters again this year.
Hi Pat, I always look forward to hearing from you! I am definitely going to try cuttings of the Coleus this fall. I never thought about having to change the hummingbird nectar, I had better do that although I really haven’t seen many.
Thank you for this post. I enjoy it when you talk about the nature life. I’ve grown some of the coleus plants when I planted impatiens and geraniums in my urn where I used to live. They were a beautiful addition.
I favor the black quilt you’ve just finished cause the colors stand out. Maybe a new name for the quilt should be vibrant joy. Hope you have a good day.
Thanks Melody and I really like that name for a quilt!
You can take cuttings from the Coleus plants and they root really easily in water. Instead of having the huge plants in the house in the winter you can have dozens of new little plants. My grandmas had a picture window with glass shelves in front of it and she had it filled with Coleus plants. I think the window must have faced north.
Thanks for the tip Wanda, I hope I can have some Coleus inside this winter.
love, love your “happenings” posts…..this house has been your BEST move and I love how happy Rusty is. Keep on your quilty love!
I agreen Kathy, Rusty and I love it here1
What a DELIGHTFUL post! You do beautiful work and thanks for sharing it with us.
Loved the standoff between mallards and the squirrel! They sure like fresh water, when available.
Pam
Thanks Pam, I have to change the water daily as she likes to make a mess in the water!
I enjoy your newsletter so much. I have made several of your patterns and they always work out great. Last fall I made the square table topper.
Thanks so much!
I’m so glad you like them Mary!
Love the way the lady duck tucks her head around the drake. But they can be very agressive! Mostly we get geese and they are so messy! LOVE all the new colors and quilts you are making! Ordered the lighted seam ripper – there is never enough light! Thanks for that suggestion! Gorgeous pics and suggestions! Thanks
I’m going to have to look up that lighted seam ripper, I could sure use one like that!
The Four Square Flight quilt is gorgeous!! Both backgrounds are great, but the black sure does make the colors pop.
Thanks Sara, I think the black is my favorite too!