Design Wall Monday - September 14, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

The design wall looks almost the same, with a slight improvement.  On the Jane Austen quilt, I have the three rows above the center medallion assembled with sashing.  Now to do the same with the three rows below the center medallion, and see if the medallion fits between them.  Exciting!  Exciting that is, if it fits.  I’ll let you know next week.

 Here is a picture:

I think once the center threerows with the medallion are together, the rest of the quilt should be an easy assembly.  

Also, I am going to be cutting more pieces for the blue/green nine inch blocks that you see a little bit of on the right of the picture.  There are 18 blocks in total in the Old Mill Pond quilt.  Joan Brink and I are making the same quilt at the same time, and she cut the fabrics for all the blocks in one big cutting session.  I am cutting as I go.  I will try to get a progress picture of both of our quilts for the blog soon.  I am not sure how many blocks she has assembled so far.

What are you putting on your design wall this week?  We sure do have lots of creative bloggers who participate in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party.  You amaze me.  Keep up the good work!

Join in today and link your blogs and pictures below.  Thanks!

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Design Wall Monday - September 7, 2026

Good Morning Bloggers!

Most of you know that I’m 83 years old, and this past few weeks have been filled with sad/yet comforting events in the lives of people in my age bracket.  We are in the season of end of life gatherings, seeing lots of family, receiving and giving lots of hugs, laughter, and tears.  I mentioned recently a recent family funeral for our brother-in-law, and now have two upcoming funerals-one for DH’s wonderful sister, Pat,  who passed away yesterday………..and one this coming Saturday for a beloved niece  The gathering of family is such a comfort to us in times of sorrow, and we are blessed with such a loving, caring family.  My primary comfort though, is knowing God, and feeling His comfort during these times.   

So with the above explanation, I have not been in the quilt room much this week.  I did make more flying geese, using the 4 @ a time method, as it was comforting to chain piece a little while.  I like listening to the hum of the sewing machine.  I now have all the flying geese made for the outer border of the Old Mill Pond quilt.  

Here is a picture of all the smaller parts that will come together to make the outer border:

The border, up close:

What are you working on this week?  My design wall looks the same as last week, so my goal this week is to sew some sashing onto the blocks that are there.  I am so happy you participate in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party each week.  Please join in below, so we can read your blog and look at your pictures.  Thank you!

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Design Wall Monday - August 31, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

Let’s start off with the wildlife I’ve seen this week.   We usually see some animals each week, but this week was full of animals.  For example,  today we visited DH’s home town in the middle of Michigan and saw 4 guinea hens by the road.  Here is what they look like:

We were not near any houses, but they must belong to someone, as I looked them up, and they are not native to America.  They sure were pretty.  Interesting fact I learned from the internet……the male makes a one syllable sound similar to  “Wheat”…..the female makes a two syllable call that sounds like “Buck wheat”

Then another time this week, while driving, we came upon what we thought was a small accident.  Cars were stopped ahead of us, but when we got nearer, we saw the problem:  a little white dog had somehow escaped from a car, and was running down the highway.  Several other cars stopped, and some other people got out and also tried to catch the little dog.  We don’t know how it turned out, but I loved that everyone was helping out.  I like to believe that the little white dog was reunited with his family.

(Note that these pictures are from the internet, for illustration only.)  

We watched a doe cross the road in front of us,  followed by two fawns and it was a marvel to watch them jump and bound away to safety.  The two fawns made the same leaps as their mom, and it was a serendipity to see them all leaping in succession.

Quilting went very smoothly this week.  The sashing on the “middle three row section” of the Jane Austen quilt is moving along.  A picture shows part of it on the floor……..I’m getting ready to add the long strips between rows. ( the are just placed between the rows right now - not sewn.)

The other half is still on the design wall, ready for the long sashing strips between rows.  But the little sashing strips between each block have been added.

The upper left section is on the design wall, waiting for all sashing to be added, between blocks in each row, and between rows:

The Old Mill Pond color scheme has now been settled in my head, as to what greens and what blues I am going to use.  I have 3 blocks of the 18 made, and I worked hard at getting the 1/4 inch seams sewn consistently.  It matters a lot when there are lots of pieces in a block.  These measure 9.5 inches unfinished, and that makes me happy.

I also made more of the flying geese that are used in an outside border around these blocks.  Someone asked last week if I am using the “make 4 at a time” flying geese method, and yes I am!  I find it very efficient when I need a lot of them.

What are you working on?  Or what are you playing with this week?  It is a joy to read your blogs and look at your pictures each week.  Thank you for joining our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below.  I appreciate you.

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Design Wall Monday - August 24, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

We had a busy week with a family funeral and daughter flying in to be with us.  Our brother-in-law was 88, almost 89, and our family is grieving and remembering what a great man he was.

While our daughter is visiting, we are sewing together.  She shopped my stash and found a pretty fabric for a lining to a purse she crocheted. 

Here are pictures of the project, two pictures of the purse, and one of the lining fabric:

I will not be able to show a picture of the finished project because she is flying home tomorrow.  But she is very talented and it sure is fun to have her here.

I’ve been working on parts and pieces of the outside border for the Old Mill Pond quilt.  I need lots of little blocks for the border and decided to start on the border while still working on the blocks.  Joan Brink, who is making her version of this pattern also, taught me to start on the border before the center of a quilt is finished.  That way the border is not so intimidating.

Here is this past week’s work.  I made 22 of the 88 flying geese I need for the border:

 

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Design Wall Monday - August 17, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

This week I worked on piecing blocks for the new project that I’m working on.  It’s a Pam Buda pattern called Old Mill Pond.  I found out that even though I had the right sized pieces in all the right places, the colors in my block weren’t like the instructions.  I haven’t made a green and blue quilt before, and am experimenting with which greens and which blues in my stash are going to be used together.  But this block is ready for assembly, with the greens in the correct places, and the blues in the correct places.

Picture:

And here is a picture of the same block that I made before last Monday, that has blues and greens reversed in parts of it:

What I enjoy about quilting is that each quilt teaches me things.  If every quilt went together like clockwork, I think I would be bored.  However, with each project I love learning things.  With this quilt, I am learning more about blues and greens.  And also to double check the instructions before assembling blocks.  

The Jane Austen quilt is still on the design wall, and I haven’t worked on it this past week.  Maybe this week there will be some progress.  

Also, the AQS Quiltweek Show is at the convention center in Grand Rapids on August 19-22, 2026.  I don’t know if I will attend it or not.  Life has been very busy lately,  

Amy (our lovely house guest for the summer), moved back to the dorms yesterday, for her senior year in nursing at Calvin University.  We will miss her a lot.  She is an extra Granddaughter to us, and I enjoy that because her parents are so far away, in Bangladesh.  

What is on your design wall?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party and help us see your pictures and read your blog post.  Thank you for participating.   

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Design Wall Monday - August 10, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

This week I am starting a new project.  My friend Joan Brink and I are each starting a pattern called Old Mill Pond, a Vintage Stitches pattern by Heartspun Quilts.  Joan had bought a kit of the fabrics and the pattern and when she showed me the project, I bought the pattern to make it also.  I am using my stash fabrics, and there are 18 blocks to make.  Here is the pattern and my first two blocks:

I decided to use indigos and greens for this one, and am liking it so far.  Here is the third block in pieces ready to sew together:

It is a nice break from sewing polka-dot sashing to the Jane Austen project pieces.  I am trying to work on the sashing a little bit each day.  The slower work on the sashing is very pleasant, now that the quilt room is neat and tidy once again. 

Here is another picture of the design wall with the Jane Austen quilt in progress:

What are you working on?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us what you are starting or finishing.  We love to see your pictures and read your blogs.  Thank you so much for joining in.

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Design Wall Monday - August 3, 2026

 🛏️ 🤒   Good Morning Quilters!  The last days of July were not so good for me.  I’ve had the flu, but am declaring victory over it today.  I refuse to be sick in August.  

The project of replacing the lost Jane Stickle doll quilt is over.  I completed the last block yesterday and it won’t take me but a day to quilt it and bind it.  This time a label will go on the back right away.  And I will take good care of it if it leaves my house!

Here is a picture of the front before quilting and binding.  

I am concentrating next on the Jane Austen quilt that is on the design wall.  What are you creating this week?

Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party and show us what you are creating this week.  We would love to see!  And it will help me feel better.

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Design Wall Monday - July 27, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

My report of quilting work this week involves only the small Jane Stickle doll quilt that I am cross stitching.  But I have made great progress on it!  I only have 9 blocks left to cross stitch before the top is finished and I can make it into a doll quilt.  Here is a progress picture:

What have you been working on?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us your pictures and a link to your blog post.  Thanks to all who participate.  You are a blessing to me, and I enjoy reading your posts.

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Design Wall Monday - July 20, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

Well, this week we had company and I got very little done on my quilting projects. Close friends visited us, with their five young children.   They love to swim, and with their visit and other lake events this week, I went swimming four times in seven days!  More than I usually do in a whole summer.  I had a wonderful time, and we have many wonderful memories to remember of playing with little children.  It sure is quiet around here now that they are gone back home.

I have a little more progress on my Jane Stickle doll quilt to show you.  It is not much, but there are two more blocks finished.  Slow and steady some weeks, and faster in other weeks.  But progress all the same.

Here is a current picture:

As proof of what I’ve been doing instead of quilting:  a picture of me in a lake with my “extra Granddaughter” Veronica, and my dog Penny Lane.  Penny loves, loves, loves swimming.  I have to make her come out of the water when it is time to go home.

I hope you have been enjoying the summer too.  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us what you have been doing.  Quilting or swimming, it will be fun to see your pictures and read your blogs.  Thanks for participating.

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Design Wall Monday - July 13, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

This past week I worked on cleaning up my quilt room, with Amy’s help.  We made great progress.  It felt so good to be sewing in a nice clean room.  

I worked on sewing together rows of the Jane Austen quilt.  The construction of the rows is divided into three sections - a right section, a middle section, and a left section.    I am almost finished with the right section.

Here is a current picture of my design wall with the three sections:

On the right side section, I have to attach three more rows to the seven rows that are attached to each other.  The edges of the bottom, top, and sides will have part of the outer blocks cut off to square up the center before adding borders.  

Here is a close up view of the seven rows that have the sashing completed between each block, and between the rows.  It is an interesting project, and I am constantly measuring the sashing pieces to see if they all finish at one inch in width.  

I am interested in working on the center section, to see if the center medallion fits together with the rows above and below it.  Suspenseful anticipation here.

What are you working on this week (with or without suspenseful anticipation)?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and let us see your pictures and read your blog post.  Thank you to all of you who participate faithfully.  I appreciate you so much.

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Design Wall Monday - July 6, 2026

 Happy 6th of July everyone!  

The 4th was pretty quiet around my house, but we did have some excitement the day before.  Hubby got a hole in one on the golf course!  We have been celebrating his celebrity status ever since.  Pretty good for an 84 year old!

I finished the America 250 doll quilt in time for the fourth.  It measures 12” by 16”. 

Here is a picture of it beside the copy I made of the original crib quilt.  My crib quilt measures 38” by 45”.  I blogged about making the crib quilt (Here)

If possible, I make a small quilt version to match every quilt I make.  In this case the quilt I made in 2016 was a replica of an 1862 crib quilt.  The original quilt sold at auction at Sotheby’s for $5,938 and measures 32.25” by 38.25”.

The cross stitch Jane Stickle doll quilt is progressing - but slowly this week.  

There are only 3 more blocks stitched this past week.  Some blocks take me more time than others to cross stitch, but I am nearing the finish line.  I like cross stitching.  There are only 8 more square blocks and 15 more triangles to make.  

The design wall:  The Jane Austen coverlet replica has 2 more rows of blocks with sashing between them:

Thank you to all of you for participating in our Design Wall Monday Linky Party.  I love looking at your pictures and reading your blogs.  I am so grateful that you share your progress with us.  You are a blessing!

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Design Wall Monday - June 29, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

There is progress on my America 250 doll quilt:

I have the main part of the hst body finished, and am ready to add the stripes to sides and top.  

The two flags for the bottom part were made this week.  However, I forgot that they had to be mirror images of each other.  There will be another flag made this week, with the stars in the upper left side of the flag.  Here is the flag part where you can see my mistake:

The flags are larger than they will be in the quilt, as I will cut them down to a smaller size before sewing them into the quilt.  I am winging it on the flag size, as my doll quilt will be smaller than the Temecula Quilt Co pattern.  The pattern is for half square triangles that finish at 1.5 inches, and my half square triangles finish at 5/8 inches, about half the size of the pattern hsts.

The Jane Stickle doll quilt that I am cross stitching is getting nearer to the finish line.  Here is a picture:

Some of you asked if I use a magnifying glass.  I don’t have one, which would probably be useful.  Instead, I wear two pair of reading glasses from the drug store, or sometimes only one pair.  I look pretty funny with two pair of glasses on at the same time, but it works for this project.  If I do 9 squares a week, it will be finished in three weeks.  I seem to be getting faster as I progress on this project, so I may make a third one………....NOT!  lol

My design wall:  The Jane Austen quilt has another partially completed row with sashing added to the right side on the wall.  With the diagonal setting of rows, each row has two more blocks in it until the middle, and then the blocks decrease in number on the second half.  The row I’m on right now has 12 blocks. I have 4 more blocks to add to it.  Each row has 2 more blocks in it until the center ones, which have 20 blocks.  This construction of sashing on this quilt is happening slowly as I am keeping it all on the design wall to keep all the blocks in the correct order.   I shall like it better when I’m on the second half and the block numbers decrease per row.  Here is a progress picture:

We are not doing much for the 4th of July this year,  As we age, we find more pleasure is just relaxing at home on holiday weekends.  There are plenty of sporting events this week to watch while I cross stitch, as we are now watching the FIFA World Cup soccer games and Wimbledon tennis is starting today.  Are you celebrating the 4th of July in a special way?  Our flag will be flying, but we will enjoy watching others celebrate.  We have a wonderful country, and are very proud of America.

What is on your design wall, or what are you doing this week?  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us.   Thanks for participating and showing us your picture and link to your blog.  Happy 4th of July to you all.

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Design Will Monday - June 22, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

Not much to show you this week as I had a busy week with non-quilty things.  Here is my Jane Stickle cross stitch doll quilt progress, with another row of blocks completed:

Only two more rows to go, plus the triangles around the edge of them.  I am ready to be finished with this one.  I have had enough penance.

With FIFA World Cup 2026 happening, we are now watching soccer.  I am learning the rules, and what the penalties are.  With all the sports that I follow, I have never followed soccer until now.  And it still baffles me that such a popular sport doesn’t allow use of the hands…….every other sport I follow does.  Most unusual.

Please show us what you have been working on, and provide a link to your blog post.  I enjoy reading your blogs and looking at your pictures.  Thank you for participating.

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Design Wall Monday - June 15, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

Today is my wedding day - 63 years ago!   DH and I have many happy memories of anniversaries in the past, but are just going out to dinner tonight as a small celebration this year.  He is golfing in the afternoon, and I am quilting with a friend.  Each doing our own loved hobby, and looking forward to the evening spent together.  We feel very blessed.

Here is a picture of the design wall, with a little progress on the Jane Austen project:

And here is the progress on the little doll quilt from the Temecula Quilt Company’s pattern:

The cross stitch Jane Austen doll quilt project is coming along nicely also.  Here is a progress picture.  Half of the 36 center blocks are now completed.

Do you see the block that is a pinwheel with little triangles on the tips?  It is green and pink in the kit’s floss instructions.  But it looks odd to me, so I looked at the Jane Stickle quilt pictures, and on her quilt, it is all one color.  See below, E-3:

So I am going to pick out the green center part and make it all one color.  It is something that would bother me if I didn’t.  But on the other hand, I don’t think I will check any of the other blocks for “Jane Stickle accuracy”, because I don’t want to change any of the other blocks that are now finished.

What are you working on this week?  Making progress I hope.  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below and show us a picture and link to your blog post.  Thank you to all who participate.  

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Design Wall Monday - June 8, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

The Jane Stickle Doll Quilt (replacement for the lost one) is coming along nicely.  I seem to average one block a day, as I finished seven blocks this week.  That is good progress for me right now, as gardening outside has kept me busy too.  The weather has been fantastic lately.   

Here is the latest picture of the counted cross stitch project:

One nice serendipity this last week was that I received a large bouquet of Peonies from our neighbors.  They were leaving town for a vacation, and picked them for me to enjoy while they were away.  Wasn’t that a nice thing to do?  Amy took my picture with them just after I had received them.  

What have you been doing?  Nice blog posts and pictures last week.  Please click on the link below and join this week’s Design Wall Monday Linky Party.  Thank you to all who participate.

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Design Wall Monday - June 1, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!

It seems like I didn’t get much accomplished this past week, but some weeks are like that.  I did get things accomplished, but just not quilty things.  The only quilt picture I have is of my progress on my replacement Jane Stickle Doll Quilt:

The cross stitch is a fun project to work on while I watch The French Open.  I am a big tennis fan, and enjoy watching tennis on the clay courts.  I cross stitch during the commercials.  

With Amy’s help, I’ve been cleaning out things in the house that need to be cleaned out.  For instance, this week, we dealt with my shoes in my closet.  The internet gave me a nice guide for the process, called “JACK”. 

Justify:  Does the item make my life easier, or does it bring me joy?

Assign:  Choose a place to keep it, a designated home.

Contain:  Put the item in its specific place.

Keep (or let go):  Make the final decision to keep it or donate it.

For my shoes, I kept all the shoes I currently wear, and got rid of any heels, fashion boots, sandals, or dress shoes that I haven’t worn since I turned 80.  The Salvation Army received some nice shoes, and the ones left fit nicely on my shoe rack in my closet.  It makes me smile to see the orderly rack with a few pair of shoes on it.  

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Design Wall Monday - May 25, 2026

Good Morning Quilters!  Today is Memorial Day and we honor those who fought and died for our freedom.  I have deep respect and gratitude for all of them. 

Five rows (out of a total of fifteen) are finished for the doll quilt I’m making to celebrate our country’s 250th anniversary.  Sewing these hsts together is a fun project, as it grows a little bit each day.  See last week’s post for more info.

Progress has also been made on the Jane Austen quilt, with much thanks to Amy, our “extra Grandaughter” who is staying with us for the summer.  She helped me get the diamonds on the design wall in their proper order.  Here is a picture of Amy in front of the design wall.  It would have taken me twice as long to get these diamonds up there if I had to do it by myself.  Adding the sashing is the next step, and that will take some time.  

Isn’t she cute?  She is from Bangladesh and is a nursing student at a local college.  I have started adding sashing between the diamonds:

A closeup of sashing progress:

Also, a little progress on the Jane Stickle doll quilt #2.  It looks wrinkled because it is, but I will press it flat when it’s finished.   One of the four borders is finished, and 2 of the 36 blocks of the middle part.  I really enjoy cross-stitching, and may have to start another project when this one is complete.

Click on the link below to join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party.  I know your life is super busy, but we appreciate you so much when you join in, and show us your design wall, or your blocks, or whatever you are doing this week.  Thanks for participating.

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Design Wall Monday - May 18, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

We have a house guest for the summer, and she moved in yesterday.  For over two years we have befriended two international students attending Calvin University here in Grand Rapids.  They are Grace, who is from India, and Amy, who is from Bangladesh, and we lovingly call them “extra granddaughters”.  Amy was looking for housing for this summer between her junior and senior years of dorm living.  We asked her to come and live with us, and also help us a little as we are slowing down in our old age.  Amy is going to help me sort through and pare down my quilting supplies.  

This week I started a new doll quilt.  I couldn’t resist this pattern from the internet.  It is from the Temecula Quilt Company and is found (Here)

I was looking for a patriotic quilt to make as we celebrate 250 years of our country, and this one will be fun.

If you remember, I made a crib sized replica of this crib quilt a few years ago, and couldn’t resist making a doll sized one.   Here is my start:

Also, I worked more on the Jane Stickle doll quilt #2.  It is a relaxing project, and is also reminding me to be more careful with storage/transportion of my quilts.

What is your project or projects this week?  Do you have an America 250 project in your thoughts or have you started on one?

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Design Wall Monday, May 11, 2026

 Good Morning Quilters!

And Happy Mother’s Day too.  Here is one of my gifts,  on my coffee table:

After reading about hydrangeas, it seems like the deer like them too.  I’ll put this one on the front porch, as the deer don’t venture up onto the porch…..yet.

My 2nd doll quilt of Jane Stickle squares is coming along,  It doesn’t look like much progress, but five little blocks are made.  I don’t know why I enjoy working on tiny things, but I do. 

What are you working on this week?  Large or small, let us see them all.  Please join our Design Wall Monday Linky Party below,  Thank you to all of you who join each week.  Your work is an inspiration to me.  

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