Charm Baskets -- Slow Sunday Stitching

This week I worked on a few more baskets:

Here's a basket handle being stitched in a 3rd grade classroom while the kids are at gym class.

I had time to stitch two more while our son was getting a few things at Dollar Tree.  The piece below came up a little short because I did not have enough fabric.  This handle will just be a little more narrow.  The red line came off when I hit it with the iron.  All good.  The baskets aren't perfect.  If we waited for perfection I'd never finish a quilt.  This project is all about relaxing, doing something productive, and enjoying things along the way.  I also love to use up scraps that others throw away.

The quilt pattern is called Charm Basket by Laundry Basket Quilts.  It is an Edyta Sitar design. 

LOTS of handles were stitched this week.  I posted about them and where they were made in previous posts.  I'll have to start a new finished basket count after the holidays.  It's getting exciting!

An update on the "outdoor" cat.  Bridget commented that the cat that "is not allowed" in the house will someday be sitting on my husband's lap.  HA!  I have been bringing it inside to watch TV with me too some evenings.  I asked my husband to "hold" the cat while I had to get up to fix his plate.  (Yes, sometimes I'm a good wife and fix a plate for him after a long work day and bring it to his chair--not always, but I do that...)

Here's a photo of my husband "holding my cat":

I wrap it like a "burrito" so that he can hold it.  Don't worry, it's used to being handled like this.  This is the original way that I taught our son to hold it when he didn't like to hold animals.  

This is the first time our son held it in late October.  It has taken me years for him to pick up an animal.  He will pet some of the other outside cats, but not pick them up.  Now he can go outside, pick up this one, and bring it to the house where it is not allowed.  LOL.

I'm linking up at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching here.

Oh, and an update on the 2004 Dodge Ram:

A transmission has been found for it (less than 254,325 miles on it) and should arrive at the shop on Monday.  I'll probably have my truck back by the end of the week.

Basket Handles -- Sew to Go -- The Last School Day of 2024

 Yesterday was the last day of the school year.  Woohoo for a well-deserved (in my opinion) Christmas break for both me and our son.

In the morning I subbed at the high school.  I quietly sewed here.

In the afternoon I was in the art room at an elementary school.  I had K - 2.  They were busy, busy.  I did have time to make another basket handle between classes.

Here's the harvest for Friday, 12/20/2024:

Now I'll have to make the bottoms of the baskets and stitch them together.  I do have them cut.

The quilt pattern is called Charm Basket by Laundry Basket Quilts.  It is an Edyta Sitar design. 

I'll be able to cut and prep more basket handles over the two+ week break.

Basket Handles -- Sew to Go

 I made progress on my slow stitching project on Thursday.  I subbed at a large area high school in the vocal music/strings departments.  Many students were out with their teachers for performances.  I did have several study halls.  I stitched and stitched and stitched basket handles.

Here are a stack of handles and supplies that I put together on Wednesday.  I knew I'd have stitching time on Thursday.  Below is my view for the day (before the students came to class.) (I don't take photos of students.  That's not a good practice.)

Below you can see the finished basket handles on the beautiful grand piano in the room.

The last two periods of the day I moved to the Strings class.  Oh the students are very talented!  I made two basket handles here.

It's FRIDAY!  It's the last day I'm scheduled to sub for the year.  Area schools are off from 12/21/24 through 1/6/25.  Hopefully the weather will be cooperative enough so that I can longarm a few quilts.  We shall see.  Stay tuned.

The Truck -- The Verdict Is In

 I love my 2004 Dodge Ram 2500.  Yes, it's 20+ years old.  

I purchased it 9/4/2010. When I bought it, it came with a FOREVER WARRANTY.  The stipulations on the warranty was that I had to have all the oil changes and major maintenance services done at specific locations.  I chose the dealership where I had bought it.

I have spent countless hours sewing in the waiting area while my truck has been serviced over the years.  One year during a four hour major maintenance required $ervice I even took my Accuquilt cutter and cut out a whole quilt.

I had never hear of WARRANTY FOREVER before the purchase of this truck.  I asked a lot of questions such as, "So when I need a new transmission, as long as I kept up with ALL of my required services, WARRANTY FOREVER will replace the transmission, parts, labor and all?"

We finally put this to the test.  My husband and I keep vehicles as long as possible.  I'm not the kind of person that needs new new new.  Heck... look at all the quilts I make from fabrics thrown away by others.

On 12/6/24 the transmission started slipping on the way to pick our son up at school.  I recognized it and quickly shifted from overdrive to 2.  I didn't want any more damage.  Yep, after shifting in other gears and reverse I knew the signs.  I have been through SEVERAL transmissions on my FORD.

This is the first Dodge my husband and I have owned.  He's a Chevy guy.  But that's just his preference.  I knew I wouldn't go back to a Ford when I had numerous problems with the ONLY NEW VEHICHLE I ever purchased back in 1985 (which was a Ford).  This truck is our "test bunny".  I really like how it handles and the fact that it gets me up our slippery driveway.  

If you've made it thus far and the suspense is building, YES, the failed transmission at 254,325 miles IS COVERED by my WARRANTY FOREVER!  I am a little dissappointed that is all the miles it has on it.  (At least two of our Chevy trucks still run with 600,000+ miles on them.). Typically our vehicles outlast their rusty bodies from the Ohio salt on the roads.

My truck has been at the dealership since 12/9.  I had to wait nine days until the WARRANTY FOREVER went through every dotted "i" and crossed "t" to make sure every single paper was signed, dated and mileage/service was checked more than once.

Patience, loyalty, and perseversance paid off this time.  Whew.  $$$

Now the wait is for the middle person parts getter to locate the most feasible transmission possible.  Part of the deal is that they are not allowed to give me a transmission with more miles than my failed transmission.  After (probably) a rebuild transmission is located, it will only be a two day job to swap it.

After the "new to me" transmission is installed, I will have a one year/12,000 mile warranty on those specific parts.  After that time expires I will continue with the FOREVER WARRANTY -- as long as I keep up with all the scheduled maintenances.

This post is basically for my records and for some of my friends that have followed me on my Dodge Ram service journey.  Some of them have dropped me off at the dealership, listened to me complain for sitting in the waiting room for extended periods of time, texted back and forth while I was in the waiting room...  But thank you for reading.  I have learned a lot through this experience.

WIP Wednesday 12.18.24

This happened this week:

I cut my smallest scraps that have been piling up on my desk and put them with their friends in my scrap user's system (Bonnie Hunter's plan).  Pile of random, multi-colored scraps:

Pile of Accuquilt cut 1.5" squares (in about 10 minutes time).

Small scraps to throw away.  Sometimes I can even cut 1.5" HST, but this time I did not.

I'm still using the Old Town Mystery (by Bonnie Hunter, 2024) as a leader/ender project.  I'm off today to run errands, so I will step that up a bit.

Our son loves Spirit Days at school (where they dress to a certain theme).  Here he is for "ugly" sweater day.  Photos are me. (the one with the slightly grumpy face, my sister-in-law (best aunt in the world), my husband (dad -- the bearded one), and of course Owen with glasses.  I ordered it on Amazon.  It was a huge it!

I really should have made a better choice on the photo I picked for myself and should have picked one with a bigger smile vs. a smirk.  I thought I was having a good hair day in the photo and didn't compensate that it would be covered up with a hat.  Lessons learned...  It's still okay.  It brings out our personalities.

I got a few basket handles stitched in class this week.  I only have one more prepped to hand stitch in my sew-to-go box.  I'll have to get serious about those today too because I sub in high school music tomorrow.  It's exam week.  Many students will be required to only go to school to take the exam and leave.  I don't think I will have a full load of students.  We shall see.

Here's a list of things that I am working on and updates of what happened this week.  I'm setting a huge goal to finish 25 in 2025.  Highlighted things were worked on this week.1.  Random Ohio Stars -- Started in November, 2022 (needs quilted)

2.  Vintage Flower Garden Blocks -- Top completed 11.23.24 (needs quilted)

3.  Crib Quilt BitCoin -- Top finished 11.4.24 (quilted 12.2.24)

4.  Blue Embroidery Quilt, top completed Summer 2024 (needs quilted)

5.  HST Quilt, Three Six Nine RSC22 -- (needs more HST made and rows completed)

6.  Bubble Gum Pink quilt (needs a back)

7.  Hunter Green Star Quilt (needs a back)

8.  Embroideried Acorn Quilt (needs pieced together)

9.  Card Trick (needs a huge back)

10.  Kite Girl (needs sashing & borders)

11.  Bonnie Hunter 2024 mystery Old Town Road (Clues 1, 3 & 4 complete)

12.  Dogs with Sweaters started November, 2024 (blocks need cut)

13.  Sail Away started November, 2024 (All cut and ready to piece 11.26.24)

14.  Legendary started November, 2024 (fabrics selected 11.24.24 ~ blocks need cut)

15.  Christmas Socks started November, 2024 (block need cut)

16.  Bonnie Hunter Unity Quilt, Started during Covid, 2020 (needs decision on another row)

17.  Miscelaneous Block Lotto quilt blocks (needs decisions on how to arrange)

18.  Charm Basket Quilt (purchased pattern 11.26.24 as a long term sew-to-go project)

19.  BitCoin (#2) Started cutting strips and putting them in a box while cutting leftovers of multi-colored fabrics for the Charm Basket Quilt 11.29.24. More scrap strips cut this week.

Old Town Mystery (by Bonnie Hunter) Clue #4 Complete

 I was weary about using melon (or coral) for this part of the clue.  Would I have enough variety?  I dug into the scrap bin and la-de-da!  I do have enough.  A different set of fabrics for each set.  Some of the "melons" are very ripe.  I'm just going to go with it and continue to enjoy the process.

It always amazes me that most often on a mystery quilt that all of the units fit into a little bin like below.

Join in on the fun.  You can find all the info for the Old Town Mystery on Bonnie Hunter's blog.  As long as the mystery is live, she has a tab call Old Town Mystery at the top of her blog so that you can get all the details.  This link should get you quickly for now.

Charm Baskets Slow Sunday Stitching

 

Here's my completed baskets.  I continue to work on my stitching skills.

I love to see where my sew-to-go box takes me.  This was in the bowling alley parking lot where I waited on my high school bowler to finish practice.  He LOVES to bowl.  ...and yes, it was a two coffee day.

Here's a basket handle being stitch in a pre-k classroom while the kids are at lunch.

I'm carefully being supervised by my "outdoor only" kitten, Candy.  LOL.  My husband says, "no cats in the house."  LOL.

Last week I posted but forgot to link up.  The flu in the house with two needy male patients kept me busy.

The quilt pattern is called Charm Basket by Laundry Basket Quilts.  It is an Edyta Sitar design. 

I'm linking up at Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching here.

Clue Three of Bonnie Hunter Old Town Mystery Complete

I'm happy to have completed clue three of the Bonnie Hunter 2024 quilt along, Old Town Mystery.  All my units were Accuquilt cut.  It was fun digging through the smallest of red and neutral scraps and finding just the right size scrap to use.  Some of the units have just ONE TINY PIECE of that fabric.  That's scrapilicious!

                                                                                                                                                                                                

I can't believe that I waited all these quilting years to finally buy that little tub of clips on Amazon.  You can find them here.  They definityly come in handy when counting out units and organizing them.  100 pieces for $6.49.  I used to just jam a pin through the sets which usually resulted in bent bins.  Oh the simple things in life make me happy.  Someday I'll try using them when I do a binding.

Above is my little pile of sorted dark reds to run through my Accuquilt cutter.

Candy (the cat that's not allowed to be in the house) was quite entertained on my desk behind the sewing machine watching a YouTube video.  I searched "videos that kittens like to watch".

Then Candy found the batting that I placed on the shelf for her.  She also enjoyed inspecting the crib-sized BitCoin (Bonnie Hunter pattern) and playing with the goofy mechanical toy that I bought at the bin store for $1 for a brief moment before being more entertained with fluffing up the batting.

I'm not finished with Clue Two of the mystery yet.  I've been using that as leader/enders.  Stay tuned.

Elf on the Shelf - Kid Version

Sometimes I get busy.  That's when our kid takes over and does his own elf scene.  Here's our elf family with the spy cam, drone cam, and notes.  I love his imagination!

I didn't get a photo of the flying drone hanging in the kitchen...

Elf on the Shelf Antics

There was a simple parade in the back room THAT SERIOUSLY NEEDS THE AREA CLEANED!

There was also a drink challenge this week.  Sick kid from Friday thru Wednesday.  He needed to stay hydrated.  He went along with the elves and then went right back to his chair.  He's back to school today.

 

WIP Wednesday 12.11.24

Here's what I worked on this week:

I have selected a bunch of fabrics from the "multi" colored bin.  These are fabrics that are not predominantly one color and do not seem to fit into the bins sorted by color.  After I cut out the three pieces needed for a basket block (my sew-to-go project) I throw the rest of that fabric on a pile.  These pieces are a fat quarter or less.

Next I utilize my scrap-user's system (Bonnie Hunter style) and cut into usable sized strips.  I love these craft bins that I bought years ago.  They keep my strips nicely organized.  This bin is now full after cutting all of the above.  (The above completely filled the bin.)

I also pieced basket pieces for my sew-to-go project.

When the pieces of the above scraps get tiny the last step in my scrap user's system is to see if I have enough to cut 1.5" squares.  I run them through the Accuquilt and they accumulate quickly.  I sorted the red/white for the Bonnie Hunter mystery for this year.  The rest are squares for future projects.

The bulk of my time this week went to our son and my truck.  I bought this truck aroud 2009.  I have loyally taken it to the same place for the oil changes and major maintenance to keep up with the "warranty forever" guidelines.  I have sewed and sewed and even taken my Accuquilt to the dealership when I knew it would be a long wait.  This time is different.  My transmission was slipping.  I made an appointment with the dealership.  I now need a NEW transmission.  Parts and labor are covered!!!  Woohoo.  It pays to keep up on the warranty guidelines and the fine print.  When I talked to the salesman that sold me the truck and told me about this warranty I told him that one day they would have to put in a new transmission.  This is the week.

Here's a picture of Mr. Sunshine today.  He's off school for the third day in a row due to the flu.  Hopefully he's back to school tomorrow.

Here's a list of things that I am working on and updates of what happened this week.  I'm setting a huge goal to finish 25 in 2025.  Highlighted things were worked on this week.1.  Random Ohio Stars -- Started in November, 2022 (needs quilted)

2.  Vintage Flower Garden Blocks -- Top completed 11.23.24 (needs quilted)

3.  Crib Quilt BitCoin -- Top finished 11.4.24 (quilted 12.2.24)

4.  Blue Embroidery Quilt, top completed Summer 2024 (needs quilted)

5.  HST Quilt, Three Six Nine RSC22 -- (needs more HST made and rows completed)

6.  Bubble Gum Pink quilt (needs a back)

7.  Hunter Green Star Quilt (needs a back)

8.  Embroideried Acorn Quilt (needs pieced together)

9.  Card Trick (needs a huge back)

10.  Kite Girl (needs sashing & borders)

11.  Bonnie Hunter 2024 mystery Old Town Road (Worked on Clue #2)

12.  Dogs with Sweaters started November, 2024 (blocks need cut)

13.  Sail Away started November, 2024 (All cut and ready to piece 11.26.24)

14.  Legendary started November, 2024 (fabrics selected 11.24.24 ~ blocks need cut)

15.  Christmas Socks started November, 2024 (block need cut)

16.  Bonnie Hunter Unity Quilt, Started during Covid, 2020 (needs decision on another row)

17.  Miscelaneous Block Lotto quilt blocks (needs decisions on how to arrange)

18.  Charm Basket Quilt (purchased pattern 11.26.24 as a long term sew-to-go project)

19.  BitCoin (#2) Started cutting strips and putting them in a box while cutting leftovers of multi-colored fabrics for the Charm Basket Quilt 11.29.24. More scrap strips cut this week.