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