Let's Book It February 2015 Winner

I received another bag of scraps and after dumping it, found that it had a lot of strings.  So I pulled my very untamed string shoe box out - geesh - no room there.  So some sorting, some fabrics set aside to use in my next Let's Book It project, and ..........

pulled those old phone book papers to start some string blocks.  Now string blocks are not difficult, but boy they get boring after a while.  BUT, I wanted that mess cleaned up and contained.  

After 3 days - 80 string blocks (my papers are cut 7.5" square because that's what the width of the paper was) waiting to see if they will be trimmed to a regular 6.5" block or will I half them to pair up with a solid?  But this looks so much better.  AND that shoe box is neat with 1.5" or skinnier on one side and the 2.5" strips on the other side.  Much more workable - and I can get the lid on it now!!

  

The winner of the Vintage Sewing Machine pin and Storm at Sea Charm:

#6 - Kathy S  

She's using the Let's Book It to complete a long term project and it is looking smashing.  I will send an e-mail off to her for mailing info.

March has not been kind with her weather to many areas - those of use experiencing the cold, snow, ice - we keep quilting on.  BUT I long for the Spring - maybe I need to pull some new fabric to inspire Mother Nature.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

March 2015 Goals

This is how I see March and she has not failed even on her first day of arrival.  A tease of sun, then blowing cold followed by snow lest we forget it is still Winter.  Hopefully the adage 'in like a Lion, out like a Lamb' will be our blessing.

For my March 'Let's Book It' project I have pulled an old Debbie Mumm pattern that a quilt guild member gifted me a few years ago.  My official choice is the Goose wallhanging, but I love the Kitties, too.  So I think I will be making both of these and then I can pass the pattern on to someone else.

Then there are the RSC15 blocks to make.  The color is Yellow and to mix those hues of yellow.  I immediately thought of the first sight of yellow we see - our hedgerow of Forsythia followed shortly after by the Daffodils.  Most of our Daffs are white with orange centers, but a few yellows gifted from the neighbors via the squirrels do pop up here and there.

I want to finish the quilting on this piece.  The hanging sleeve and binding are waiting.

And I totally forgot about the 9-Patch and Snowball sew along.  Geesh!!  All the blocks are made - it is just about getting them into rows for this month.  Although I could get a spurt and urge to finish it right up.

And I must really try to take the time to slow down and join in the Slow Sunday Stitching with the flowers.

I am keeping my list short, hoping that there will be some of that sun in March so I can get some outdoor time.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Slow Stitching Sunday 3/1/15

It has been a while since I joined in with Kathy and I need to start something that fit's in with my Keep It Simple for the year.  

A lovely blogger sent me a box of her old cross stitch pieces and I would like to do them justice.  This kit was never opened and the flowers just drew me in.  I won't be making the individual bookmarks, but putting them together into a wallhanging - a calendar of flowers.  

It didn't take me long to graph out the Aida cloth - BUT, although the floss was in two bundles - no key as to what was in them.  So it took some time and guess work to just pull the 12 different greens.  So with the questionable floss piles, photo, magnifier, and possibly pulling from my own supply - I will make this work.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

Finishing Up February 2015

For a short month, February has been a never-ending month for us in the NorEast - cold, snow, ice, wind - happy to see it over.  My goals were short for the short month with options to play.  The weather added to those options to play as it kept us indoors so many days.

Goal one was my Let's Book It project.  It wasn't a total failure as I tried a new technique, learned I really need to take a class on this, and the proper fabric stash is a must for a better experience.

Goal two was to finish off the 'found' cross stitch piece.  I got the framing done and it is layered for quilting.  I actually have all the stitch-in-the-ditch quilting done to help with stability - now to get to the fun part.

All those snow days - and short goal list - led to completing all my charity quilts.  Two for my quilt guild and two for Hands2Help using the Sweet16 inspiration.

Clearing out that tub of baggies led to a cute little wallhanging.

As well as finding some scrap pinks to play with the Itty Bitty Blocks.  Catching up on the bow ties.

And finding some pink HSTs to make the little baskets, too.

I decided that I would go with just three of the Sew Sweet Simplicity blocks to make a table runner.  Finished in plenty of time for my Easter Table decor.

I hope March roars in like a Lion and leaves like a Lamb.  I need some outdoor time as well as my furkids.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon