My Quilty World: October 2024 Life and Quilt Update

Our theme this year, JOY!!! I believe we all need a bit of a help in adding this to our lives. If you didn't get a chance to check out the post explaining it all --- here is the LINK to the initial post. I'm looking forward to the direction this can take us all, but especially myself, if I give it a fair shot. Sometimes stepping out of comfort zones is challenging, but it almost always allows for growth. Here we go for October: How about recognizing that there can just be joy in the journey. A journey doesn't have to be travel related - it can personal in changes that you make in yourself or it can be taking on a new hobby or skill. It could be taking a class - anywhere. It could just be as simple as getting your whole house clean and enjoying it before starting all over again. ENJOY the journey.

Now, if you are new to this blog, you may be asking, "just what is a monthly update?" I decided long ago that I just can't keep up with blogging daily. I just can't. Sooooo, what happens is I document each day in my life within one post and if something special happens, a separate post takes place. See, you can stay caught up with a once a month check and then, if you're interested, see the other posts too. It's a great system for me. There will be links throughout this update that go to related posts of MINE. They will open in a new window so that you can keep your place here. Just click on the hyper-links if you wish. There are NO ADS. Never have had them, don't intend to start unless my whole world gets turned upside down.

In years past, I have set goals for each month that I NEVER was able to reach. However, I NEED that guideline to follow, so I will continue to do that simply to keep myself on track. UFO mode will continue around here with minimal purchases (those who know me know that this has been a miserable failure so far the past couple of years, but I'm gonna keep on trying), but also a few fun and new items will make an appearance now and then. The "hopeful attempts" will change each month and will always show up at the bottom of the update if you read that far - and they are joined by links to the previous monthly updates for the year.

Now, grab a cuppa and sit back for a fun read and perhaps a new idea or two. (P.S. I format on a computer, so if you are reading on a phone, well sometimes the pictures will be before or after the story. It is what it is.

1st - I LOVE OCTOBER! It is my favorite month of the year, by far. Let's see what it brings this year.

I'm using my own random number generator, running a UFO Challenge in the Facebook group, and awarding prizes. This month it is: 8 and for me it is Sandcastles. I don't have much to do there, but things haven't exactly been popping for me lately. Time will tell.

Our Sew Along is continuing and this is the Dear Jane LINK if you wish to join in and the October bag of unfinished blocks. September seemed to be a catch-up month for health, both through travel and relaxation. I think it was much needed, but I didn't make progress on my own blocks for this project. I still have hope to catch up before the end of the year, but . . . there is the possibility that it will carry over into next year and I'll start with January and go through June for a finish to get quilted in July. That seems reasonable.

I'm using my own random number generator, running a UFO Challenge in the Facebook group, and awarding prizes. This month it is: 8 and for me it is Sandcastles. I know I don't have much left on this one, so ---- fingers crossed, but I'm so far behind on items that have deadlines and I'm traveling again this month, so I'm not real confident.

My buttons for Sophie-Claire arrived. They be cameras.

Tickets for festival have also been procured.

I have finally finished the June pictures and posts. I am such a hot mess these days, but am determined that October will be better. and then Mister and I went to see this and let's just say the original was so much better., although Michael Keaton still did a wonderful job.

2nd - I started working on the pictures from our trip, delivered the Red Hat items and bought groceries. I guess that's a good day.

3rd - When I went to the swim meet last week, I collected the last of my quilts from MSQC summer trip. I had to have it shipped to Jen as I was out of town. Today, I trimmed it and neglected to take a picture. Man, I'm something. The studio saw my shadow and a section of Sophie-Claire that I worked on at the beach is now complete.

Otherwise --- this is me.

4th - Studio time today allowed another section to finish up. I may make the deadline on these.

5th - It's a gorgeous morning - does that impact your day, too? Saturday with my sweetie - look forward to the weekend every single week.

My dress for Houston arrived. I think I'm set now - well, I hope so anyway.

This card arrived from my granddaughter today.

Lovely rainbow.

Fun drink by Mister this evening.

6th - Walking down to coffee this morning, I spotted this:

In the afternoon, we decide to try out a new spot for some Oktoberfest fun. Can you figure out how to say Jaquval? What if I told you the sister store next door is called Trades?

The Oom-Pah Daddies.

In Bishop Arts (that's where we are hanging out)

Met up with family for dinner - The Hayter boys

with Penny.

7th - Today's adventure is to bring all the fall decor down from the attic and start getting the house all prettied up. I spent most of the day working on this and here is a LINK to see the results.

8th - Monday means sewing and another section completed. I opted out of the straps on the shoes. It is what it is.

A trip to the store for plants as I'm tired of a "dead" porch.

9th - Missouri Star box arrive and a new Chuck! That means a good day ahead, right?

AND my blocks are together and next thing is to remove the papers. That may take a bit as there are a LOT of small pieces.

10th - It's my 14th Anniversary!! I finished up the pumpkin paper piece project (well there is some alliteration for ya) added it to the decor.

Also spent some time outside with the new plants - porch is a little more welcoming.

de-papered for a bit and then blogged. Mister took me to dinner at Terilli's and it was wonderful. Memories of some of our first times out together.

AND - in today's mail is the second card. I have to say that I laughed so hard at this. Isla drew us a wonderful picture -

But this side, just gave me the giggles for quite some time. How much work went into making sure that this little treasure got here. Makes sense that it was 5 days later than the first one. Too, too funny.

11th - A little catch up today as I pieced a the paper piece project from August - catching up very slowly. Still removing papers on Sophie-Claire like crazy while watching Harry Potter movies. Tradition for October.

There was some time for porch sitting - ahhh - except mosquitoes. Why does this have to ruin Dallas for me?

12th - Spent time on the embroidery of eyes and noses for Sophie-Claire and then went out with Mister to a new place. Autonomous society and didn't take any pictures - what? Well, I did take one picture of an odd house nearby.

13th - Good Morning from White Rock Lake.

We stopped down to check out the pelicans and then went to Dallas Diner for breakfast, bought some groceries and followed up with home to relax. I went to the studio and quilted the pp project and then hand stitched the binding down. I thought I had a ta-done, but I was wrong.

Also finished up all the embroidery on Sophies face AND sewed the camera buttons on. There are ready to go and I'm thrilled to check something off my list at last.

The reason the pp project is not totally finished is because I forgot the butterfly. So a late night adventure as I get it made and forming overnight.

14th - NOW - it is TA-DONE! Pretty cool.

Chuck mail arrived. I already had this one, but someone with a chuck I want needed this one and I sent mine - sending me to find another one.

Starting on the September project. Goodness - will I ever get caught up?

15th - TA-DONE!!!

More Chucks in the mail. Woot woot!

16th - Pillow parts are cut out. I have two pillows to have finished for the November Retreat that is rapidly approaching. One for the exchange and one for me to keep. Also - the December project gets cut at the same time.

Some clean up is happening in the studio and now I have the LAST of the rag quilt batting squares cut. I think this has been going on all year.

Final item for today is getting the pumpkin bench pillow all ironed on and ready for applique. I'm not sure why I'm starting new projects when I am dramatically behind, but . . .

17th - Oooooh, a new Halloween decoration arrived today. It even lights up.

YUMMY beef/vegetable soup. This was a clean out the fridge soup and is perhaps the best pot I've ever made.

18th - The BLOG IS CURRENT. That doesn't happen very often and will likely go downhill again, but I'm going to take it and be a little happy. Most of today was spent on the details for upcoming travel. My Jenny Box arrived and that is a huge YAY! Otherwise it was going to require help from neighbors to watch for it. Yes, I have a broken item and that has been handled - all items accounted for. Now to forget about it until December.

19th - We are off to Montana for some Autumnal fun. Here is the LINK to follow along on our first three days. It's a shuttle, train, plane, car kinda day.

20th - Family fun and breakfast together. Love these moments.

A trip through town to see scarecrows (so many more in the link) -

And a late afternoon at the lake. Loving these moments.

21st - Going though recipes here - hunting down old family ones to keep and treasure.

22nd - More days in Montana and this LINK shares the next few days. I'm working on the felt flowers for my Valentine quilt. Will it be done by next February? Maybe, maybe not. Fingers are crossed.

More time with family.

23rd - Girl time and a chance to make the toes pretty once again.

24th - Doing some test cookies for my upcoming Christmas party. Will they be the ones I share?

25th - Pulled out a UFO and hoping to make some progress. It's a little wall hanging and all parts are not yet attached.

26th - Family Day to the max. Such memories made. Here is the full LINK

Good-byes are always hard.

27th - Flights and train rides, then back in Dallas and a stop before we even get home. Perfect.

Home -

28th - While I was in Montana - we went shopping one day and I found this. Carried him all the way home. He's going to show up at the cookie party.

29th - Starting some work on the snowman pillow. Two to make before November retreat.

Chucks in the mail - always a nice surprise.

30th - Worked on my Carnival lanyard and found I have extra pins. I'll gift them in January.

All the sewing on the red/white pillow strips was AWFUL. Apart they came and I'm ready to start again. I've drawn up a paper-piece pattern to use and hopefully that will keep my strips straight.

Trimming the bottom of my gold dress for festival.

Finally getting out the panels I bought this year and trying to figure out what is all over this one.

Turns out it is part of the panel and is on all of them. I also bought them in various places so not a bolt issue. Interesting.

31st - Happy Halloween. I've made it to the last day of the month and really didn't accomplish enough to even put up a final list pic. Seriously. Not sure what is happening, but since August, I'm a mess. Oh well, onto November: This month has a tendency to turn our thoughts to those things we are grateful for. When I saw this --- I knew this was the perfect month to allow this type of joy to permeate our souls. Be joyful, y'all.

Thank you for reading this far. If you made it here, kudos to you. Hope you have a great month and find a way to bring joy into your life. Stay creative Y'all.

I've tried to make a COMPLETE list here so that I have only one place to look it all up. I apologize in advance for the boring nature of this to y'all, but it helps me. I've made quite a few category changes this year - anything to help stay on top of things.

Projects ready to quilt by me:

UFO's to finish: *means on UFO Monthly Challenge sheet

Alphabet project from MSQC 2022 -

Second Half Moon Rising project from MSQC 2022 -

BAD blocks as leader/enders -

*Rhododendron Trail -

*Sandcastles - set, backing, label, binding, quilt and bind

Midnight Flight -

Daybreak -

Row by Rows -

*Rachel's Sewing Room - quilt borders and attach all parts

Desert Sky -