String Quiltalong Progress, Potpourri, and a Sweet Win

Here it is the end of May and my quota of 4 additional string blocks are complete!  This might be the first month I've actually had them done and dusted before the last day of the month.  Because I abandoned my other projects for a couple days.  But I'm happy with the way this quilt is turning out.

When I started the plan was to create a total of 16 blocks, add a border and call it good.  With borders added it would have measured only about 50 inches square, not a very useful size for anything beyond a nursing home quilt, and I was wanting to keep this one.  So, a decision was made to make an additional 8 blocks which would have made it about 50 x 70 or so.  Too narrow.  Moving forward to the newest version, I think I'll add one additional block to the width which should bring it to a nice throw or single bed size depending on how large the border(s) become.

As of now, this is how it's shaping up.  These blocks represent what I'd planned as the original size.

Even with all the planned additional blocks, the pile of blue strings will not be depleted when I'm finished, not even close.  A possible encore might be Chinese Coins.  I've been wanting to try making one of those for quite awhile.  Linking my current progress with Lori at Humble Quilts who is graciously hosting this stringalong challenge.

Meanwhile, I was the happy winner of a recent giveaway from Jocelyn at Happy Cottage Quilter.  What an amazing array of goodies!

I kept a couple items for my stash, notably the Thangles which I've never used before.  Took the remaining items to quilt ministry last week to share with the group, and everything was snapped up in less than five minutes!  Thank you so much Jocelyn, from all of us!

A few days ago my quilting buddy Lois and I ventured out to the Finger Lakes area for a bit of yard sale fun as well as plant buying.  When we were finished her Mini-Cooper was filled to capacity, mostly with plants but also a few other treasures.  My yard sale finds - totaling $4.50.

I'm especially loving the half-a-hoop, and have put it to use already! 

It came with the original label attached, apparently never used, though I think it must be at least 20 years old, possibly more. 

That discarded metal tape measure found at the first yard sale we visited will find another life in an upcoming project - stay tuned!

We visited a new-to-me quilt shop, though being on a self-imposed fabric budget I only picked up these fat quarters.  Next time ...

But best of all, among the plant purchases, my favorite, which took up quite a bit of space in the back of the car, those geraniums flower clusters are softball size, and now the focal point of our small back porch.

So happy to see this when looking out the kitchen or laundry room windows, hope I can keep it looking as good as it is now.

And that's about it from my little corner of the world.  Have a wonderful weekend!