Project challenges and the plaid hexagon quilt

First month's draw on my list of January-2019-ufo came up No. 7, the plaid/batik half hexie quilt. Project revision after fabric pull,  low volume plaid hexagon. The Mr. gave me a gift card to a fabric retailer so I ordered a hexagon ruler, a Gutermann thread collection, surfboard print flannel fabric as backing for the remnants of my Hawaiian shirt hoarder fabric (the HSHSurfboard quilt), and some stork embroidery scissors. After I sorted out my plaid remnants, the Mr. helped me choose this assortment. 

I found a FB group that posts a challenge similar to the one I have committed to American Patchwork & Quilting UFO Challenge. I  have decided to choose between the two. I have made great progress on this quilt top. My No. 3 is a Bento Box quilt, a nice change from hexagon.  

In light of my move to quality thread, I went through my thrifted thread collection and culled even more. There are some colors I like to have, required in mending. 

I had collected too many sewing baskets (4), so I am filling one of them with giveaway thread. I greatly reduced my thrift shopping purchases over the past year. I did slip by buying a couple of vintage sewing machines. 

My success in scoring 36 basket blocks last month on an auction site prompted me to win on bid another set of fabric and vintage quilting magazines ranging from 1972 to 2005.  

Image source shopgoodwill.com

There were block of the month sets, and a precut feedsack quilt set. I am oh so tempted to start on that kit but have to hold my feet to the fire to get as far as I can on that plaid quilt top and make the decision whether to keep it lap-sized or buy more fabric to enlarge it. 

Thrifting update, my cashmere sweater purchasing continues. 

Total of $10 for a framed orchid print
and a two-piece cashmere sweater set

I have signed up for the Qwilt Qwazy Queens March 2019 event. A fun theme of a project that turned out plain crazy or currently making a crazy project. I have on my promised project list Patchwork Crazy blocks in satin. 

Wall quilt version

My next post will be the completed Plaid Hexagon quilt. At this pace, I will be making only quilt tops focusing more on piecework than quilting. 

Blue green block and thrift shop switcheroos

Using a packet of satin purchased thrift and choosing the block Patchwork Crazy from a Better Homes and Gardens publication Grandma's Best Full-Size Quilt Blocks (pieces of the past for today's quilter). November's prompt for the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge is blue/green. Having been drawn to these shiny fabrics, this is now my newest, favoriteist project.  

Blue/Green block and
Mural at Porch Restaurant
Sacramento, California

Update to this post - with a 3 day weekend but the environment full of smoke from the California fires, it was stay in and quilt. 

Party in the front

Business in the back

This piece is destined for my cubicle wall at work. The backing is a piece I have kept for awhile, waiting for the perfect project. I also had the binding precut from the last quilt I did matchstick style. 

Got to mention a mistake I made, when ironing it I had the setting too high and burned one of the satin pieces. With much cursing and seam ripping, I replaced it. It was one of those moments when you ask yourself, "should I continue with this project or go on to something else?" Glad I persevered.

Updating to link up with gloriously-scrappy 
myquiltinfatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday 
patternsbyjen.blogspot.com for the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge
crazymomquilts for Finish it Up Friday and what I understand to be her final blog hop linkup. 

In my last post, I mentioned that I was finally sending my vintage fan quilt to a longarmer - not.  I found a longarmer in my area and sent her this image of the flimsy and she rejected the work. Her concern was that the quilt top would come apart when she loaded it onto her machine and that there would be puckers, etc. Rather than disagree with her, I thanked her for her time. Looks like I will be the one to quilt it. 

One of my favorite groups on Facebook is Weird Second Hand Finds That Need to be Shared.

A question was asked along the lines of, "Have you ever seen something in someone else's cart and had thrift shop envy? What did you do?"

One person replied, "Have I ever put something in someone's cart? Raises hand. A red garter at the Goodwill outlet. Shhhhh."

To that comment, another replied, "My husband and I have been playing 'shopping for others' for 20 years. lmao"

"I have a good friend who I love to go shopping with. Not sure the feeling is mutual especially after the time she turned her back and I dumped several boxes of Trojans in her cart. I should add that we are both in our 70s."

Numerous responders to the question say they will follow other shoppers around, hoping they will put back something they had placed in their cart.  

There are also those who "unshop," take an inventory of what they have placed in the cart and cull out what they really don't want. 

Sometimes shoppers will mention to the person in line that they fancy an item and the person will give it to them to be able to purchase it. 

One thrift shopper summed it up, "So, the common thread here I'm seeing is that we are all to different degrees stalkers, creepers, lurkers, distracters. We practice mind control and summon for help from the thrift gods, we hover and use the guilt tactic for the thrill of the thrift store treasure."

Segueing to the weather in Northern California. It will be another  weekend of indoors activities. There is smoke from fires in Butte (in the north state) and Ventura (in the south) counties. We are hoping and praying for rain.