June Bug Jitters

Does June give you the jitters? Half the year gone already. Are half of my goals for the year met? Will I manage the second half as well - or hopefully better? I see blogs talking of Halloween and Christmas projects already. We have yet to have a Spring here in the Northeast! I'm looking forward to my roses (dratted aphids), not think of Mums and Poinsetties.



FOR FUN

These are some of the 6 1/2" butterfly blocks for Claudia's Quilts - Big Quilt of Nature. I have the flowers, trees, and leaves from other years. An ongoing project - just enjoying the process.

OK - I'll admit it. I started some Christmas gifts. These are the easiest little wallets (still need their snaps). They are Valorie Wells' "Little Wallet" pattern. Think it took me longer to pick out fabrics then to make them. And I will make my simple zipper wristlets with matching key chain fobs - nice little gift sets.

I got this great Fat Quarter sampler bundle from Connecting Threads. I need to decide on 9 of them for Clover and Violet's stitch and quilt along project. I'm sure there will be other fun projects thru the year to use up the others.




SQUARED UP

I'm using my next Modern Quilt Challenge for the new Squared UP. Simple 4 1/2" squares to make 4-patch units. This is an organic woven and I am trying to work with out pinning too much as the fabric is 'sensitive'.

First a 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" strip to the right. Then a 1 1/2" x 9 1/2" strip to the left.

Then a 1 1/2" x 9 1/2" strip to the right - then a 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" strip to the left. Make a drawing and play with your color pencils. These blocks have a lot of versatility with color and layout.






FABRIC FRAMING

I finished the little lighthouse cross stitch and fabric framed. My little zipper purse swap mate sent me that lovely multi-color fabric and it worked perfectly with this. I finished the 'Thistles' cross stitch, too, BUT.... I have a tutorial today on my fabric framing over at Stash Manicure and that little piece is my subject. Oh, and I think there is a give away with the tutorial.

This is one of my mural pieces done in 2007 for a show - "Cranes for Japan". It is 3' x 4', hand quilted with silk thread. And metallic, silk and beading thru the swans. One swan has the sea life of Japan and the other has Kimono prints.

Doing the June Bug Jitter:
As snug as a bug in a rug.
Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them.
Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield.
When birds burp, it must taste like bugs.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon