Country Charmer Quilt Along Update

It's time for an update on our progress with Country Charmer.  I managed to get three more blocks done - three a month seems to work for me.  I thought I needed to get some blue into the quilt - though it seems every one of my blocks has a touch of red in them - but that gives me a balance I think.

Thank you, Lynn, for designing this stunning quilt and helping us so much with your wonderful tips along the way.  To see her completed quilt with her fantastic quilting, click HERE.  You can find kits and the pattern at In Between Stitches HERE .  You can still join in as this is a 'work at your own pace-no pressure' quilt along.

I will be linking up with Lesley a.k.a. The Cuddle Quilter , who has been our gracious hostess thru this venture together.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

April NewFO & Traveling Stash Box

In looking at my projects for the month, I guess you could say it was a month of 'small' projects. 

I took part in the Mug Rug Hop over at SewWeQuilt - my Morton Salt Girl evolved.  Then the Monthly Doll Quilt Swap (with little doll) which was also my monthly Simply Charming Mini quilt. And I received the prettiest doll quilt in return.  And I sent off three doll quilts for the Mrs Claus project.

I made lots of small green blocks for the Rainbow Challenge.  Then there was the Charm Challenge and I made the plastic grocery bag holders.  I took part in the Colour Swap - no pictures of what I sent - my partner's colour choice was purple :  room decor (wire dress maker form for hanging jewelry), something edible (various candies), something personal (one item was to be handmade - crazy quilted needle/project case - and some nail polish and hand/nail care products), something smelly (lotion and sculpy hair foam).  And it may have become a large quilt, but playing with 2" squares for a postage stamp quilt for one of my Hands2Help quilts.

Plans for May NewFO - monthly doll swap, second Hands 2Help quilt, guild challenge mini and two on-line challenges, and lots of fun with May For Me.

** linking up with 2012 NewFO Challenge over at Cat Patches **

I'm squeezing in a NewFO of sorts - I won two Traveling Stash Boxes and one arrived today (29th) so I am quickly posting this up for one of my April projects...........

Yardage of various sizes and one Christmas pre-printed apron piece............

Lots of Fat Quarters, mini kits, charms..................

Some books and patterns and vintage embroidery leaflets.......................

And lots of notions .....................................

These are the things I chose to keep - 3 FQs , 1 yrd Macus Brothers 'Cabbage Roses', 2 yrds of the bunny garden (curtain, but can use it for backing the Mrs Claus doll quilts), 1 yrd each of two Debbie Mumm 'Honey Farm', 1/2 yrd of 'Animal Crackers' (I think that is a Timeless Treasure print), 3/4 yrd of some cute Kitties in the pastels, 1 yrd of Timeless Treasures 'Seed Packets', the Fat Quarter small quilts book, and the Little Jelly Bags pattern.

  

This is what I am putting into the box - 1 1/4 yrd SSI 'YellowRose', 1 yrd CT pale yellow tree print, 1 yrd CT 'Pear-adise', 2 yrds (package never opened) light weight flannel of baby hand&footprint from Joanne's, 1 1/4 yrd Lori Holt 'Happy Cottage' pink ovals, and 7 FQs (3 purples and 4 pale blues)

And I haven't ever seen any paper piecing books in any boxes yet, so two collector books -

'Cups & Saucers' by Maaike Bakker and 'Easy Mix & Match' by Carol Doak (I just need to clear out my book shelf).

If you are interested in the box, please read the rules and guidelines HERE - remember Katie is our new 'keeper of the boxes' now, so be sure to check in occassionally (numbers have dropped on those stalking boxes, so if you haven't been lucky in getting a box, now is a good time to start commenting).  ONLY shipping USA due to postage........  be sure I can reach you...............  Make sure in your comment that you let me know you are interested, so I don't pull someone who is commenting just on the NewFO.  I will close box comments on Friday May 3rd @midnight EST and announce the winner Saturday morning.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Last Green Weekend

Well - we haven't experience Spring as of yet - maybe this weekend - so hopefully more green will pop up around here nature wise.  BUT this is the last weekend of the RainBow Scrap Challenge using the colour green.   My six 6.5" green log cabin blocks ready to add to that tote.  These are paper pieced (and papers left on until final putting the quilt together) - I like working small, but not crazy - these are 1/2" finished logs!!

I haven't shown this since the beginning - my bricks!  I know , how exciting, geesh!!  But I am cutting several 3.5" x 6.5" rectangles for a brick and cobblestone quilt (free pattern on Bonnie Hunter's site is you are interested).  I'll make the cobblestone parts when we get (or if we get) to black - stashing black strips (as I find them in the scrap bin) for this.

I will be linking up to So Scrappy - pop in on the weekend to see what others are doing with their color scraps.

"The wood is decked in light green leaf.
The swallow twitters in delight.
The lonely vine sheds joyous tears
Of interwoven dew and light."
- Ilia Chavchavadze, Spring

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

H2H Whoop

In the beginning there were 2 inch squares, begging to be played with ....

they grew into fun bigger squares , playing so delightfully with each other ....

they endured a hot, steamy iron over and over ....

then slowly, ever so slowly withstood the process of quilting ....

and finally finished!  A Postage Stamp Quilt lovingly born, ready to be passed on to Happy Chemo as part of the Hands2Help Challenge.

Normally I would cross-hatch quilt this type of quilt, but to keep this soft and comfy I chose to just do a single diagonal stitch.

And staying with the tradition of this quilt pattern - a muslin backing.  The surprise - I found a small paisley print with a lot of the colors in it and used it for the binding.  I hope it wraps someone in warmth, hugs, and prayers.

** linking up with Whoop Whoop Friday**

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

May For Me is Coming

For those who have been following me for a while, you know what this is - for you new followers (and welcome and thank you) May for Me has been a dedication to finding ME time.  The lovely Marcia at Crafty,Sewing has a wonderful write up of the birth and developement of May for Me as well as a linky set up.  This gives you some time to think of how you would like to join in - and link up your blog and share your ME time.

May is my birthday month - the BIG 60!!!  I will be hosting a give away each Monday for my followers

- the 6th will have two posts for the day - one for May for Me and one for SewMaMaSew 

- AND each Thursday I will have a TIP and a recipe.  

- AND as previous May for Me, I plan to 'un-plug' on Sundays - NO COMPUTER or TV or SEWING!!  Some gardening, walks, time with the grandies, and maybe a trip. 

May is a busy month for me with Hands2Help and I have three challenge competitions to get ready for - I hope to find a little ME time to offer up a tutorial for you all.

Consider joining in and remember to link up over at Marcia's (click above or on the sidebar button),

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

DWM & H2H

I finished the latest block for the Forest BOM - the deer.  I had thought of changing this up for the white tail deer we have here, but this reminded me of the large "black buck" that use to room our mountain for many years.  It was an oath for everyone to let this handsome fellow be king of the hill for his lifetime - no hunting him was allowed!!  He was truly a magnificant animal and for many years we had some very 'dark' coloured white tails linked back to him.

    
And block #17 - strip block - for the Favorite BOM.  I may be making more of these for fillers or maybe a border.

And block #18 - Yankee Puzzle - gosh, just two more blocks for the Favorite BOM - then it's time to start putting these out on the floor, playing with a layout and borders.

** linking up with Patchwork Times **

A lot of pressing on the postage stamp quilt for Hands2Help.  With so many seams, I really wanted this to lay flat for quilting - this is the underside of the quilt so you can see all those lovely pressed seams.

All sandwiched up and under the machine for quilting - walkingfoot and lots of straightline stitching ahead.  Since this photo I have just the border to do a little quilting on and then attach the binding - so on schedule with this one.  How's your H2H quilt(s) coming?

** linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for H2H follow-up**

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Green Saturday

Because I was working on a lot of projects this week, I chose to get the three small stalet blocks done - they take just a few minutes to do. BUT, for some reason one went missing and I had to whip up another.  If and when (maybe never) the MIA starlet appears - I'll add it to the box.

Our March Quilt Guild meeting was a "Movie & Popcorn" night with viewing the U-Tube tutorials for the 5-Minute and 10-Minute blocks by Suzanne McNeill.  I had made up blocks and samples to demo after each  - now I need to finish these off.  This was I runner I made with the 5-minute block and is ready to 'turn-back' the geese and quilt it up.  Yes, Katie Q, I am still playing with that fabric you sent me - right down to the last bit into the fabric food chain.  And it's green!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIxl3af3lzY - 5-minute block
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbTHlGGKMPM - 10-minute block

I have been making a lot of blocks all week - just to keep up with all the quilt and block alongs.  I pulled these two greens for potential background fabric for the next Forest block.  I am leaning toward the pine one - just need to measure (it's actually three scrap pieces) and make sure I have enough.

I will be linking up with Saturday's Rainbow Scrappy Challenge

REMINDER

I hope everyone is on track with the Hands2Help - the postage stamp quilt is at 'flimsy' stage and I hope to get that basted out and quilted this weekend.  I have pledged two quilts, so the second one will be on track for May. 

The upkeep of the Traveling Stash Boxes has been taken over by Katie at Karma Willow Designs - if you are stalking those boxes, you may want to follow Katie.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Thank You's & Winner

I was the lucky random receipent/winner of Johna'lee's 'ButterCream Summer' quilt pattern as part of her Rancher's Daughter block along.  This will be my 2014 long term project.  Thank you so much for such a generous and gorgeous gift.

And I have to thank my dear blogging friend Pauline who paid forward a lovely package - covered buttons and some fabric samples - and just the most beautiful card.  She is, also, a very prolific painter and becoming quite the fiber artist too.  I am very fortunate to have one of her small watercolors from a swap long ago.

I had thanked Quilty Pleasures and The Elven Garden some time ago when I won gift certificates to FatQuarterShop - I only just finally used them - I know!  I needed more of the Chateau Rouge for my Rancher's Daughter blocks so picked up a layer cake.  And two fun and bright FQ bundles - Marmalade Cottage by Robin Betterley for Wilmington Prints and School Days by Melissa Babcock Saylor for Quilting Treasures.

This is the panel with the Marmalade Cottage bundle - how cute is that?  They may be my August & September NewFO projects.

And I had a gift certificate to Connecting Threads (family) so treated myself to these three books.  My Mom has claimed the Country Quilts (NOT), but this is so her style.

AND WHAT YOU ARE ALL WAITING FOR:

The winner of the Mug Rug and Summer Breeze bundle is Rhonda D of OzarkCountryStitchin.  I will be sending her private e-mail for mailing information.  Thank you all for playing along and remember the Mug Rug Hop had two extra days added - runs thru the 18th. 

And the SewMaMaSew Give Away Hop is coming in May - button on the side bar.
And May For Me  is around the corner - it will be little lower key than last year as all of us have had family issues to deal with, but we will be hosting events, specials, and give aways thru the month.  More info to come.  

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Weekend Conquered

I really think we are not going to have Spring in these parts.  Grey, cold, rain, snow, wind..........  But it makes for great sewing time - I don't go out in that stuff unless absolutely necessary!  I finished up the 'Get Your Mrs Clause On' doll quilts.  The hourglass one I thought was too 'dark' for a child's dolly quilt, so that got put aside - maybe for the shop and a grown up doll quilt.

And I got the binding on that quilt back from the long armer.  This was a 16-patch QAL last year???  Someone remind me and I will update the info as I like to give credit where due.  This is Petite Odile with Kona Cream.  I totally forgot about this quilt until I pulled the border fabric (for another quilt) and then it hit me!!  It is backed with a Timeless Treasure x-wide Fleur cream texture and using Arnold's Attic (barn red) for the binding.  I will leave this laid out on the side table so I can throw some stitches in the binding inbetween other things. 

How exciting - a box.  I am participating in a 'colour' swap.  I had to fight off two furries for the box, for the wrapping paper, for the ribbon.............. I had to hold up the flap as this is a secret swap and I don't want to give away anything - especially the color.  This is now taped up, labeled, and ready to go out in the morning mail - along with the doll quilts.

You know I am honest about my mess - no fancy studio for me.  But this really has to be conquered this week before I do anything more.  My SIL will be coming down this week to sew, and I like to give her all the room (machines and cutting table in another room) and no interuptions - so a good time to work in this mess.  Plus, it may just be re-located and I want it easier to move.

Remember the Mug Rug Blog Hop is running thru to the 18th,

Enjoy your week

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

  

Caught Up??

Well, I hope I am caught up.  I changed the European Bird to a NorthAmerican bird found in our region - the Baltimore Oriole.  We get these in our Christmas Tree lot (with natural spring) - they like to be in high places with access to berries, insects and water - so this is a perfect habitat for them.  They will come down occassionally to the birdfeeders and even partake of the Hummingbird feeders.

  
And thanks to Sheila - it hit me that I hadn't worked on my 'green' blocks this week for the Rainbow QAL.  So I quickly pulled that box out and my scrap barrels of this size pre-cuts and did up my BIG star block.  I marked on my calendar for a week of starlet blocks and then a week of log cabins - so I don't forget again! ** linking up with SoScrappy -Rainbow QAL **

I had to break up all that block making with some play in scraps.  This box holds what is left of my Orphan block pieces from prior projects - I tend to make more than necessary for a good mix of color/pattern as well as sometimes I just can't count!  Using them up slowly - and sometimes adding to it.

They quickly work up into great mini/doll quilts.  The smaller ones need  to be finished up to  size for the 'Get Your Mrs. Claus On' program.  And then to be quilted/bound so I can send them on in the mail.  This is my weekend project - we will still be rained in!

And one of my early monthly projects that was in secret - this is the dollie and quilt I made for my swap partner.  We both agreed to skip the monthly theme of 'Birthday Celebration' (the groups 1st birthday) and go with something bright and fun.  This pattern is '9-Patch Magic' from Konda Luckau's book Simply Charming Minis.

I used Flirt charms - the brighter ones for the front and the lite charms were pieced for the back.  The binding is a Connecting Threads.  And the dollie gets dressed up with scraps from the whole thing.  And my signature label and tiny buttons.

Now to clean up and re-organize the 'room' so I am really sure I am caught up.  I do need to start thinking on my next set of blocks for my 'Country Charmer' stars and get at least one block done on the quilt kit project.  AND I have a quilt back from the longarmer that needs it's binding. Oh, yes, I am still working on the postage stamp, but now as a leader/ender to get the finished size for the quilt top.

And I did go pick up my Jeep - wanted to do that in case we can't get over the creek with all this rain.  Yes, that awful flood alert puts our valley into a panic.

Keep dry and safe,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon   

I Fell....Behind

In trying to get secret projects done and swaps done and off in the mail - I fell behind in a number of blocks.  I don't like how I lost some points on this one (Favorite Quilt Block) which could be I had distractions at the time - cats to the Vet (annual physicals and shots) and a car for an oil change that turned into a need for some minor repair (luckily sevice/warrenty contract covers all-just no car for a few days).

Now the FQB QAL I am doing in browns with a touch of color.  I made two house blocks like this - whether I use both will depend on the final layout - the second could actually be used as a pillow to go with the quilt.

Still catching up on the FQB - I whimped and used a 'notions' fabric for the pincushion center instead of the applique with the original pattern.  So added the tape measure fabrics to continue the theme - and my brown.

And just when I thought I was done - the next block came out!  Phew - but caught up now.

As long as I was on a block making direction - thought I would get the next Rancher's Daughter block done.  I suddenly realized working from some charm packs and scraps was not going to get me thru this project, so darn it, I had to go do a little on-line shopping.  But good news, they had what I was looking for (plus) and I had a few gift certificates I had won - so 'free' shopping - gotta love that.

I am so happy John'alee had a photo posted of all her little blocks hanging on the wall - what??  There's one I missed!  I think that was when my computer fell ill - so that is now done.

And caught up with Darleen's Mystery Quilt - luckily we only had to add this HST/piano key border on the top and bottom - easy peasy and done.  I opted not to do the applique in the 'star' border - leaving for some special quilting instead.

I have the Forest QAL block that I am playing with - the European Jay pattern is lovely, but not a bird of our area.  So I browsed the Audibon website for some of our region birds that could be translated into the pattern.  Found one and being real careful to write my color changes onto the pattern pieces so no OOOPS!  Of course that meant pulling all kinds of bits and pieces and wedges and FQs and..........  well looking for just the right fabrics/colours.

There's more to share, but I don't want a long post and chase ya all away!  It is rainy,sleeting and a bit of a wind - great inside, sewing, take my mind off things kind of days ahead.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon