August NewFO

 

I love it when someone gives me permission to start something new - well, I would have any way.  BUT, thank you Barbara of http://catpatches.blogspot.com/ for inspiring us to be creative and inspirational.

 

New projects for August:

Jelly Roll Quilt, Schnibbles candle mat (and color challenge),  FMQ challenge, Dump Quilt (2), 12" Mini for swap, Doll Quil/Doll for swap, Tetris Quilt, and Bowls with Borders for Blog Hop.  And of course, all the various block and quilt alongs that update each month.

 

 

I haven't shown these - the stars for http://temeculaquiltco.blogspot.com/ 'Summer Stars' mini quilt.

I'm, also, doing her 'Forget Me Not' quilt along - will show those next month.

 

And my SIL and I are making bags - after I didn't sign up for a bag swap because I don't make bags - duh.  She is using the 'Mini Charmer' pattern - oh, it is gorgeous.  And I found what I thought was a cute bag on E. Schenck - ' Sweet Sixteen' - oh, my oh, my!!  I read the pattern at least a dozen times - so many mistakes - that I think I re-wrote the pattern before even cutting fabric.  Well - I like a challenge!

 

     

The DOTS have arrived!  I have so many dotty fabrics - this is just a smidge.  Getting ready to work on my blocks for the Dots on Dots Blog Hop - my day is Sept 12th - my September NewFO project.

 

CLOSING THOUGHT

"The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August,
and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself
like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty
who has seen one season too many."- Oliver Wendell Holmes

 

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

A Greatful Heart

The month of August has left me with a greatful heart.  Many new friends, a wonderful community quilt show of  beautiful heritage antique quilts, a spectacular and inspirational "Bowls" blog hop, and having projects completed early so when an emergency oral surgery happened, I didn't feel like I had whimped on my commitments.

JELLY ROLL CHANLLENGE

  
I just love this to pieces!  Fun 'Berenstain Bears' with such bright prints and colors - and look at all those polka dots.  This worked perfectly with this pattern from Moda Bake Shop 'Awesome Lap Quilt' .  I used a bright blue thread to 'organic' straight line quilt  which gave it lots of texture.

A bright blender fabric in blue/purple/green backing - scrappy binding - and all that texture - how can you not love this!  I will be linking this up with Megan at Crooked Seams for the Let Me See Your Jelly Roll-August Challenge.

SCHNIBBLES AND COLOR CHALLENGE

I used this small project to fill two committments.  This is the August Schnibbles 'Dimestore' and I made just one block for a candle mat. I used the last of my left over 'Meadow' charms.  I need a hostess gift, so this fits the bill for this time, but I would love to make a full size quilt.

This was the color palette photo for the challenge with patchworktimes for August - so I hope I have come close with my little candle mat.

FREE MOTION QUILTING CHALLENGE

Wendy Sheppard was the guest this month for SewCalGal's FMQ Challenge. And it was a take on a 'jester hat' to acheive the 3-spike affect. I could look at the sample and draw them without a problem, but putting it to a fabric sandwich - well my jester wears a funny hat.  They look more like wind blown hay stacks.  Yes, I used a dark thread to re-use a practic sandwich that sits by the machine so I can do some strokes before putting a quilt under the needle.

DUMP QUILT

I am re-couping more from the medications and anti-biotics than the surgery - but really needed to sew something.  Beth had started another dump quilt (side button for the challenge and tutorial) so I had to pull the next over-flow of scraps.  An easy, non-think project was the ticket.  I got these cute and colorful mini plastic washtubs at the Dollar Store - they are perfect for holding stash and projects.

  
See, the minute I get those scraps out - there are the helpers - Moe got on the table in the middle of things and Bella was along side the sewing machine (didn't take her picture).  But they won't touch any of it once it is a flimsie or completed quilt - very weird!  And yes, he stretched enough that the wash tub went on the floor.

And blocks are slowly coming to life!  Go visit Beth, read the tutorial, grab some scraps, and DUMP - it is really a great stress free bit of sewing for a unique quilt - there's still time to create a quilt for the 100 Quilts for Kids - donate your dump quilt to a local charity.

CLOSING THOUGHT
 
"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart."
- Celia Thaxter

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Design Wall Monday

 

 

 

Blocks for the How Far Will You Go Quilt Along over at the Elven Garden. **Summer Breeze II fabric collection**

Linking up with PatchWork Times

August's Crown

I have to show this lovely piece first.  The lovely Danette of The Quilting Chemist  sent me this wonderful quiltlet as the 'Father's Day' season (Aussie) of the 12" Mini Swap. Since that title didn't fit, I left the option to my swapmate to chose a theme.  She sweetly toured my blog and chose things that I love.  Flowers, and Birds, embellishments, and stitching all into this little special quilt.  A cute gingerbread ornie pattern, table runner quickie, and sweet card with a red tabby that looks like my Bella.  How thoughtful.  Thank you Danette.

This was the mini I made for my partner, Linda of Sew Nicely in Ireland.  I took a look thru her blog to piece together things that were special to her and family.  The beach, lighthouses, fishing, and boating.  Walks along the coastline (they just lost their faithful companion Barney) looking for seashells and special stones.  The striped binding reminded me of the many flags you see on boats and along the water markers.

And the last Tetris block of Melissa's fun quilt along.  I really enjoyed this and it was so doable - a block a week.  Although I used 2.5" squares - so my blocks were smaller thus needing something more to make a nice size quilt...........

I wanted it to look like a colorful game board - 42" x 60" - a fun child's quilt.  Now to find some backing and get this quilted.

All my blocks are made for the Dump Quilt Challenge.  These are so fun, check Beth's tutorial and join the challenge.  I hope to have these into a flimsie by this weekend.

This was the 'monster' under my tiny machine last post.  This is my entry into the Scrap Quilt Challenge at Fabrics N Quilts.  It is 72" square, paper pieced scrap strips with Kona Black for the Roman Stripe blocks, set as stars.  I used Connecting Threads PRO thread for the top - Plum, Lime Green, Robin Blue - their Egyptian Cotton for the bottom thread in the Plum.  The backing as an RJR fabric called 'Witchy Poo' - I fell in love with this!  And I used an orphan HST for the label.  Binding is a black with tiny red and green dot called 'Basically Beautiful' by Maywood Studio.

 



And then we go back to small again.  This is the doll/quilt that I made for my partner Miki .  Our monthly theme was 'Sunny & Warm' and sunflowers just speak that to me.  I tried a lot of new techniques with this piece.  This swap is part of Monthly Doll Quilt Swap  group and we are always accepting new members.

REMINDERS

The Bowls with Borders Blog Hop continues until the 28th - I hope you are enjoying all the inspiration that is coming from this one pattern.

Please check the updates on the Traveling Stash - boxes are moving fast, so be on top of it.

http://quiltinggallery.com/quilters-fun/quilters-blog-hop-party/ starts this Sunday.  If you wish to participate with your blog, get registered.  I will be sitting this one out as I will be away a few days.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"Whilst August yet wears her golden crown,
Ripening fields lush- bright with promise;
Summer waxes long, then wanes, quietly passing
Her fading green glory on to riotous Autumn."
- Michelle L. Thieme, August's Crown

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Colors of Summer

Have you taken a walk into the changing colors of Summer?  She starts with such riotous brights and then slowly goes into a variety of color that then leads into subtly calming hues - leading us into Fall.
A little sneak peek of my August Doll Quilt Swap piece that heads to the post office this morning.

I managed to get the little houses done and attached to the large ones - these are for the Christmas Town Quilt Along quilt.  I am going scrappy and had to plan different center blocks other than given - A Poinsettia and Christmas Bells won't fit into this plan. (linking to http://www.patchworktimes.com/)

  
A few more blocks made for this quilt in Bonnie Hunter's 'Scraps & Shirtails II'  - all the strip sets are made for the remainder of the blocks and a day of power sewing will get them whipped up.  I hope to get the sashing (cheddar) and setting blocks (blue chambrey shirts) cut out this week.

And Brenda of Quilting Along Life's Way is the winner of the 'High Tea' panel and coordinating fabric.  I will be sending her a seperate e-mail for mailing information.  Thank you all for such wonderful comments on the Bowls with Borders. 

Has your use of color changed with the waxing of Summer's season?  Are your colors leading into Fall?

EDITTED......

I am such an oopsss...........  can't read my own notes!  This is a lovely Eagle that Joie made from the tutorial  found  HERE .   Done in Auburn University colors and her first time doing this technique of applique.  I am so delighted to share this with you all.  If anyone else has done an Eagle from the tutorial, I would love to share or direct to your blog.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"Colored scents that fill the air as drowsy insects hum around in the meadow is the place of secret magic where nature alone renews itself."
- Kate Bergquist

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Deep Into Summer



I know we are getting deep into Summer as my quilts are getting darker in color and stash stocking has gone into Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas mode.  I fell a day behind on progress as I was ill for a day from 'horsing' two large quilts back-to-back thru my little machine.  Oh, I hope to remember not to do that again!!  Solution - have large quilts packaged with backing and batt - and hand them off to the long armer one at a time .  That's the weekend plan!

Another big one - still needs a border on it.  This was the FreeSpirit Christmas Block Along.  I had a lot of 'Christmas in July' and then the Mystery Quilt in seasonal fabric, so I opted to do this one in black/white (scraps) with a touch of red.  I need to pick up border fabric, but do have backing.

To ease myself back in the groove (and try to clean up that messy room I showed before) I decided to just play with some blocks.  A few more scrappy Churn Dash to add to the pile.

I finished up the last few LARGER buildings for the "Business District" for the Christmas Village Quilt Along - mine is non-seasonal - going scrappy.

And I did up the Week #5 block for Melissa's   Tetris Quilt Along.   And I did up the sashing for this, so when the last block comes out next week I can put this all together.

And I am hoping to finish up a secret project tonight so it can be off in the mail tomorrow.  Just will have my FMQ Challenge left for the month of 'need to be done' items - HMMM - I will have two whole weeks to lazily play the rest of the month!!

CLOSING THOUGHT

"Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability."
- Sam Keen

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Bowls with Borders Blog Hop

I want to thank Madam Samm for the wonderful idea of Regina's Bowls for our next Hop and our gracious hostess Carol for handling so many bloggers who lined up for this.  I share today's highlights with these lovely people, so be sure to visit them :

Jen Duncan

Sharon D.

Apron Valley Road

Quilts and Quilt Things

Pieceful Life

North Hills Quilter
Vroomans Quilts

Somewhat Fanciful
Jane's Quilting

When I first printed out the pattern I thought of Wasabi Bowls - but they are normally a solid color and I wanted  color.  So I pulled my few scraps of Asian prints and did a lot of fussy cutting.

And I fussy cut a little more, but still not pleased with the results..........  Because .............

they are small and we are suppose to have 10.5" or 12.5" blocks.   Sometimes going small loses the flavor of the pattern.  These are 3" x 6", maybe they will make cute book marks for a cookbook - gift idea!

So I dug some more in those scraps and my favorite piece - the Koi Pond was inspiration.  Also, I had just received my new table topper stand from Michelle of The Raspberry Rabbits and just had to use it.



Yes, still not the size (yeah, can't follow directions), but I wanted to highlight my new three piece topper which holds 6.5" x 9" easily.  A lot of fussy cutting to add to the Koi and to get the look in the design on the bowls.  This makes me much happier.  And they are unfinished blocks because once I am done displaying them on the stand, they just might become a table runner.

I happen to be a fan of Regina Grewe's patterns and she has a BOM right now - Garden Fun - and here are a few of my blocks from that.  You can find several free patterns - ReginaGrewe - and sure you can find something in her gallery that will excite you.  If you never paper pieced before, she has excellent instructions for beginners  and I love how she gives examples for showcasing your block.

As a thank you for stopping by, I tried to find some fabric with bowls on it, but I found this instead:

a panel "High Tea" by Ro Gregg for NorthCott and a half yard of two coordinating fabrics.  No, the furry doesn't go with the ensemble - oh she would be so mad at me!  Just let me know in your comment that you are interested - yes, I ship international - and I will leave the comments open until Sunday, August 19th, midnight (est) with winner announced on the following Monday.  All attempts will be made to contact the winner, so be sure you are not a no-reply or anon .

Thank you for visiting,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Dump Quilt on the Design Wall

As soon as Beth at Love Laugh Quilt showed the tutorial and put out the challenge for a Dump Quilt, I knew I had to play.  I love doing these kinds of quilts and I just had a bag 'donated' from another quilter that I hadn't  looked into - so many other projects to do. (the baseball quilt is my SIL's newest project and the Postage Stamp is my other 'wall' project) Oh well,,,,,,,,

It is like opening a present - the anticipation of opening - look at all these goodies!!  Well the scrap system sort in me went thru the pile.  The baggie held lots of green scraps that are perfect for my leaf blocks in progress.  And the blue will work for the two blue quilts in progress.  And the orange - well, I have trouble working with orange and I didn't want to work it into those pretty pinks.

Since I removed some fabric, I needed more (said the scrap quilter in me) - so I pulled out the trusty super tote.  Oh, it is like dumpster diving!  And it took a while to gather a good pile of pinks.

This is what I ended up with.  There were a lot of large size 9-patch blocks in the original bag and it looked like someone was not happy with them.  Rather than use a seam ripper - they looked like they were 'ripped' apart (maybe out of frustration).  So I did trim them into workable pieces to eliminate holes and rips.

Here I am just chain sewing bits and pieces.  Once I get that line of 'blocks' thru, I just  clipped to the block under the needle and went back thru the pile again - adding pieces.

I have 56 blocks - very quickly.  I know they look a little more controlled than Beth's, but I think it is because I had the 'original' squares to start with.  I have to work a few rows to bring them all to 8.5" and then I will lay them out  - with out a lot of thought - and start assembling the flimsie.  This was a bit of fun on a rainy day.

REMINDERS

The Bowls with Borders blog hop starts today (Monday), so be sure catch the line up with the button.
Carol of http://justletmequilt.blogspot.com/  is the hostess and has the line up.

Linda of Casaboose in Stitches was the winner of the Pass it On Box - and she is posting for comments until Thursday, so pay her a visit.  Also, check that Traveling Stash suitcase button - I think a few other boxes are ready to move on also - or about to.

OK - this is a little early as I am out the door now to watch the   Perseid Meteor Shower again - the night before was too cloudy, and tonight is the last good night for our area.

CLOSING THOUGHT

" We are all flowers in the garden of the world.
Some of us are daisys dainty and bright.
Some of us are poppys,with sweet contagious laughter."
Lanie Costea

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Christmas Quilt Along - August

Today is the Quilt Along with the pattern Festive Mystery from Sue at Quilt Times. Today's hostess is Cathi of Shakerwood Quilts. You can still join in - Lesley of The Cuddle Quilter has all the monthly installments on her header.

Although I have my quilt finished, I am playing today.  I have those string blocks to assemble and start on the piano key border for it.  And I want to make some of my angels - tutorial found HERE. I will be updating on this one post thru-out the day.

UPDATE

I managed to get the string blocks together - lots of heavy starch!  With large strip blocks like this the bias and weight really stretches these.  And it looks really dark with the white strips - not pleased with this at all.  I was going to do a piano key border, but I really am down to a lot of tid-bits or odd color fabrics.  So think I need to visit my LQS to find something for a final border to pull this all together.

I seriously need some new holiday fabrics - I have 'old'!! and dark!!  AND, I have found some things that have been hidden.  After a shower, coffee, and change of directions, I will share.

UPDATE

I went thru my scraps - and cut down into 3.5", 2.5", and 2" squares.  A few FQ size I left alone.  And I found some bits of panel so trimmed them.  But nothing to play with for my Angels.

I found this table topper - I think it was a mystery thing 3-4 yrs ago with the Quilt Bug Shop?

And I found this with my 'to-be-quilted' tops in another tote - from last year.  The backing was with it - so I can send this one off to my long-armer.

So I am looking for something else to play with - since I have all these bobbins wound.  OOPS - company at the door - back later.

UPDATE

Well, the seasonal (little bit of it) fabric and projects are tucked in their under-the-bed tote and back in storage.  A note is on the calendar for the quilt to go to the long armer so it isn't forgotten another year.  But my enthusiasm for Holiday sewing is over............

So I went to some bright, fun, whimsy - Beinstain Bears and a quick Jelly Roll pattern from Moda Bake Shop - maybe I can whip this up by tonight.  Then I will have another gift or charity quilt ready to go if needed.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon