September Country Charmer Update

It is time again to update our individual progress.  This is a no pressure, at your own speed, have fun with it quilt along.  We are using  Lynn's wonderful pattern - you can find her progress on TWO quilts over at Sew'n Wild Oaks.

My goal for August was to get my sashing and corner stones made after waiting for those fabrics to arrive.  They have been patiently waiting their turn to be played with.

I laid a few blocks out with them to get a look.  This is to be a bit of a marriage of 'female/male' quilt love.  Those guys like their dark colors where us ladies want those brights - so we compromise.  My goal this month is to get this to a flimsie state in a week's time so I can send it out for quilting and have it back in time to bind and have ready for the parade. 

I will be linking up over at the lovely Leslies's The Cuddle Quilter - please stop on over and see everyone's progress.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

August NewFO

Boy, another month just flew by!  I really don't need someone to tell me I can start another project, but I love Barbara's theory and instigation for the NewFO Challenge.  Yes, it is OK to start something new - yes, it is OK to set it aside unfinished - yes, you can pull it out some time down the road with no guilt to any of it.

 

My August NewFOs were some fun play with scraps and hexies - two Christmas runners - my Monthly Doll Quilt Swap (9-patch theme) - and another mini from Konda Luckau's "Simply Charming Minis".

And some flimsies of former NewFOs were the Lantern A-Long, Star Surround, , and Catalicious quilts.

And I had some finishes - a July NewFO - Willow Weave with Aunt Reen's Place and an older UFO - Large Twister pattern for layer cakes - as well as the Forest QAL.

Yes, I can hear some of you - that's a smaller number than other months. WELL, I did a lot of hand stitching during August which you will get to see at the Pin It Blog Hop.

And I played a lot with apples - apple chutney and apple sauce.  Do any of you use Red Hots in your apple sauce?  Love these little red cinnamon candies - they are great to add a little color and some spice.  I remember popping a handful in my mouth as a kid, now one is enough!

September NewFO I am looking forward to a challenge with my Monthly Doll Quilt Swap, another Simply Charming Mini, the Everything Blue hop looks interesting (I have a LOT of blue fabric) as well as the Moda 'Size Matters' hop.  And a couple of former NewFOs are at the finishing stage.

I will be linking up with  Barbara over at CatPatches - be sure to visit and see what others have been up to.

EDIT**had to share this as it gave me a much needed chuckle when I came home today**

  

"Moe in a Box" - this big guy stuffed in a 8"x12" box (my Nabby's Diary project)

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Forest QAL Finish

I took part in Shape-Moth 's forest quilt along over the summer.  I had to adjust some of the pieces to make it a more North American look in contrast to the European cousins. I did a variety of quilting (home machine), thread painting, used many color threads (back is strictly a beige thread), buried lots of knots and threads, and finally found a home for the outdoors fabric used in the final border.  I am totally in love with the outcome.

I will be linking up with the other finished projects from this QAL over HERE.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Jelly Roll Quilts

This month's favorite Summer Project for A Quilting Life  is your favorite Jelly Roll Quilt Pattern.  I have a lot of 'go-to' JR patterns, but I love this one for the flow and color.  It is my own design and the tutorial can be found HERE.  It is a Faux Braid using just a half log cabin block - yes, just ONE block.

 You get the design by color lay-out and setting of the block.  Very quick and very easy as long as you label your rows.

And this was the first quilt I had long-armed by a new longarmer in the area and I love this pattern that flows from one area into the next adding to the design of the braid.

The fabric is a Bunny Hill design 'Lily & Will' and I added some of my stash lights.  The backing is a Benartex lite brown floral on brown. Finished size is 58" x 66".

Maybe you have a favorite or go-to Jelly Roll quilt pattern that you would like to share.  I will be linking up  HERE - you may want to check out some of the other quilts for inspiration and resources.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

It's A Red Saturday

Thanks to Sheila again, I pulled out the baggy of red scraps.  The three little stars to add to the pile.

Then I moved on to sorting what was left into sizes for the log cabin blocks.  I did a little kitchen clean-up and found my faithful helper holding down the fort.

Yeah, I pulled strips out from under that furry pile, or he would move over a little to reveal another pile of red - eventually I managed to get those log cabins finished.  So I am caught up on all my Rainbow projects for the month.

The need for the kitchen clean up - I made Apple Chutney in the crock pot today.  Oh, my - it smelled devine all day and the taste - FANTABULOUS!!
I browsed recipes on-line and then did my own version because this is what I had in the house:

1 pound peeled cored, chopped apples (I used 6 medium apples)
1 small peeled and diced onion
1 diced red sweet pepper
1 cup pineapple tidbits (drained)
1/2 cup of cranraisins
* put these into the crock pot

In a quart mixing bowl I mixed together:
3 slices (diced) crystalized Ginger
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tsp. of pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp. of cinnamon
* stirred well and poured over items in crock pot

Set the crock pot (with lid) on high for two hours, stirred, and then set to low heat with no lid for another 4 hours. Made 4 cups of chutney.

I will be making more of this, but this weekend it will be applesauce in the crockpot.  AND that smells good too!! 

Oh, my other helper - Bella playing camouflage!  She has a bit of a cold so doing a lot of napping with meds.

I will be linking up with Rainbow Scrap Challenge HERE.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Surrounds

This week's assignment for Melissa's Star Surround QAL was to make the 'surrounds' - outer portion of block.  All nine of my blocks are stacked and ready for next week's assignment.  You can see everyone's progress over at Happy Quilting.

REMINDER

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Voting is still going on for the Pets On Quilts until Saturday, September 24th.  You can vote even if you didn't enter a photo.  The linked up contestants can be found on this POST and you can enter your votes on this POST.

Hope you all enjoy a lovely weekend.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Seeing Hexies

If you are not aware, an extra day was added to the next Hop.  I look forward to seeing this one.  I love Hexies, just melt over a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt, but.....

I love to work really tiny and I can't see me doing anything other than an occassional flower on a project.  So I am watching from the sidelines this time.

I do love to paper piece and also use up those scraps in a variety of projects, 

so I will work my hexies up this way.  I don't know where, who, when, or how I got that very worn pattern (would love to give credit) - but it was in my loose leaf folder and I had to start using those scraps and strings in that cute green bucket that sits in the middle of the sewing table.

So remember to catch the Hexie Hop and I will be, also, linking up with Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

And linking up to Linky Tuesday with Connie

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Time To Vote

It's that time folks!  Time to Vote over at LilyPad Quilting for your favorites in the Pets On Quilts.  Be sure to follow the instructions for voting - easy peasy.  Well, the voting instructions are easy, but WOW there are a lot of awesome pets and quilts so picking one per each catagory is going to be hard!   Voting is open from August 18th - 24th.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Red Saturday

Gosh, I have gotten behind on the Rainbow QAL.  I did do this mini quilt from 'Simply Charming-Minis'  and it will be used for my quilt guild challenge - due Sept.  But Sheila over at Sew, Cook and Travel always is right there every Saturday (well Friday night) and makes me kick myself.  I haven't touched my machine all day, sooooooo.......

I have to admit, I have a box full of HSTs and I can raid my pre-cut barrels - I have a lot of red.  So my large 16.5" star block went together really quickly - I have all my white background cut for each star for the year, so that helped too.

Yep, more HSTs used up and that size barrel pulled, the 2.5" lites I have a box full of so quick placement.  And I had the green strips for the stems from the scrap basket currently on the table.  Whiz-Zing - I feel so much better.  I may have to make another red leaf as I always add a bit of whimsy in one of the blocks - these don't have that.

I will link up with SoScrappy for RSC13

REMINDERS

Today is the last day to link up for Pets on Quilts - cats, dogs, other pets, EQ design or animal quilt - I know I have seen so many of these thru blogland.
You can find the linky HERE at LilyPad Quilting.  Voting will take place next week - 18th-24th.

And the linky is open HERE at SwimBikeQuilt - there are several quilts posted already.  The link will be open until Sept 30, so you still have time to make and donate a quilt. If you already have your quilt(s) done, you don't have to wait until Sept, link up now while fresh on your mind.

I will be away for the day, but will reply to any comments once I get home.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon