Hands2Help - Final Linky

Today is the BIG day - the final link up of our Hands2Help charity quilts over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  I am happy to say I completed my goal of donating one quilt to each of the three charities for this year. 

This variation of the Jelly Roll Race quilt in StoneHendge strips will make a great man's quilt and went to Quilts With Compassion.

I loved working on this child's quilt.  Scraps from a blogging friend married with some of my scraps and some cute fussy cut paper dolls.  This quilt has special meaning being I am a survivor of Hurrican Irene - went to Hurrican Sandy Survivors.

 

This was my Goodnight Irene QAL project and it was perfect timing for charity needs.  This quilt went to Happy Chemo.

All three have been received at their respective addresses and I have enjoyed another year with Hands2Help.. Thank you Sarah for all the work you put into this event.  Be sure to visit and see all the lovely quilts donated this year and if you missed out, please, join us next year.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

May NewFO & SO/SN

I love this concept of being agle to have no guilt in starting something new.  There is no pressure to finish, just start.  Although I usually am a finisher, I am learning to let some thing sit until the next month or so for that part of the process without being concerned.  Although, I think next month I need to work on that pile a little more so it doesn't overwhelm.

My official NewFO for May was my Monthly Doll Quilt Swap.  The theme for the month was 'Go Modern', but my partner and I decided we would make a little quilt that represented the month of May for us.  I chose a star flower pattern with little calico prints.

And my little dolly that goes with the quilt with special label.

Working on something old has made me go thru all those little hidey-holes and clear out some items I totally forgot about.

I was so embarressed to find these little stitcheries tucked in a box.  They were a free stitch along with Paul Stoddard back in 2011.  I had used a verigated purple/grey floss (not sure what brand) and the blocks were a little plain so I used my color pencils to lightly shade in the letters.  A pretty purple/tan/grey mosiac print FQ worked perfectly for sashing and border.

My New was also my Monthly Simply Small Project w/Candy Charms.  This pattern was given to us by Sherri at A Quilting Life to use in a small project.  I have been on a bit of a pillow run for adding to the Christmas Box.  I used up some odds/ends of Collecion for a Cause - MillBrook Series 1853 with muslin.

I finished my other monthly goals:  Relaxing Round Robin(adding last round), RSC14 (green blocks), Let's Book It (Doorway to China), and Christmas Challenge (crayon roll-ups).  I also had a little zip pouch for a swap, but totally forgot to take pictures, but it is safely at it's new home. 

I will be linking up with Barbara at Cat Patches for NewFO
and Never too Hot to Stitch for SO/SN

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

May For Me Partings

It's hard to believe that the month is nearly over, but what a great May it has been.  Unplugging replenished self - we can walk away from all that technology.  Lots of walks, more time outdoors, little day trips, and a wonderful visit with the grands. And time spent with my daughter, who I could hug along with that new grand to-be - it's a girl!  I have time to do some shopping for girly fabrics, so use to that boy and manly quilting.

Still de-junking and trying to down size inventory in the shop with a two month sale.  Remember these little goodies?  Well......

I've gotten this far with them, and seeing the photo - I need to fix that middle row.  So not a border person, but this will have a black border and then a red border (black binding).  I have enough of the gray (sashing) with a pieced off-set strip (use up those few left overs) for the back.

RECIPE

Micro-Wave Chocolate Cup Cake For One

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ tsp. baking powder
• 2 tbsp. granulated sugar
• ⅛ tsp. salt
• ¼ cup + 1 tbsp. milk
• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp. hazelnut chocolate spread (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
2. Whisk in the milk and vegetable oil until all ingredients are combined and batter has no clumps. (you could mix in the mug, but this gives you more room and who doesn't like to like a bowl)
3. Pour batter into a microwave-safe mug. (recommend at least a 14-ounce mug as you want enough space for the cake to rise without pouring over.)
4. Add 1 tbsp. of hazelnut chocolate spread in the middle of the batter. Just drop it in the middle, no need to push it down into the batter.
5. Place a paper towel into the microwave and set the mug on top (this is to catch any batter if your mug cake overflows).
6. Microwave mug cake for 70 seconds on high (wattage of your microwave may require adjustment-mines high wattage)
7. Carefully remove from microwave (that cup is HOT) and enjoy!

Option - omit spread or try other flavors - peanut butter, biscotti, vanilla, almond, etc... 

I want to thank all of you who helped me enjoy my May For Me this year.  And remember take time to unplug once in a while, do something for yourself, and enjoy those little moments.

The winner of the 'Oh, Pinwheels' kit is #13 - of all my give aways using Random (wish I knew how to get that widget to post) I have never had 13 come up - so lucky 13 is:

Quilting Babcia said...

Me time - those few moments, an hour if I'm lucky, late in the evening when I can sit down and do some hand quilting. One of my favorite blocks is pinwheels, one day I'll take all my scraps and make an entire queen size quilt of just pinwheel blocks. Hope you have a wonderful birthday!

I will be contacting for mailing information.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

Let's Book It - May Link Up

Just a re-cap, Let's Book It is all about pulling out those 'need to have' books, magazines, patterns or saved/printed off the inter-net inspirations.  Blow the dust off, open them up, and find a project that you fell in love with so long ago but somehow got distracted.

Remember this was my long ago gotta-make project found  at  McCalls Quilting.com - and if you look under the BONUS section - McCalls Bonuses - you will find many bonus free patterns.  This one is called 'Doorway to China' from their Sept/Oct 2009 publication - page 4 of their listings.  The pdf is still available.

I was able to make the first few middle sections by disecting the panel before I ran into a repeat of the pattern. Then I had to fussy cut the last few outer sections to make it look like the pattern just flowed as one piece.  I used an old decor weight fabric for the bracings - believe me, my SIL and I pulled half my stash without success and then I took that piece out.  She thought I was crazy, but I like the look. Just a stitch in the ditch around all the bracings. And I used the panel fabric for the binding to let the design to continue to flow.  A fun project that I am so glad I pulled that long forgotten print out from the binder.  

  

This Month's Charm for the Quilt Barn pin is the Friendship Star - link will be open to June 4 with winner announced the next day.  Yes, I do ship international. 

Now it's your turn to share your Let's Book It project for May:

Tuesday Archives - 5/27/14

This week's archive is Color Wheels, Craft Projects, and Crazy Quilts.  I do work with a lot of colors, but no color wheel.  And I do love crazy quilts, but none here either.  But I do a lot of 'craft' projects.

Dressing up those little tissue boxes.  They are great to use up some scraps, add to a room decor, and just have fun with.

I have a tutorial for them HERE on a 2011 post.

Please be sure to visit Val's Quilting Studio and see what others have linked up.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Happy Memorial Day

Meandering

I am still pondering my scorched project - yeah, I will try to salvedge it but not until I am in the right frame of mind.  So I did some meandering quilting to finish off three quilts.  This is actually one of my SIL's projects - tutorial for the Sophie Car Seat Quilt found at Moda Bake Shop.  She is making another and will do bindings/ties on both when the other is finished.

The other two quilts I'll show once we get some better weather for outside photos.  Our weather has been cold, rainy, and severe storms.  We even had an F-3 tornado touch down about 20 miles away - info found HERE.  I was frantic to reach my son as it is his neighborhood - luckily it died down once it got into his neck of the woods.

I hate thunderstorms (and the metal in my body - really affects me) so I dumped that never ending scrap basket to meander thru.

I have 6 of these old phone books (every family member household passed them on to me) with nice thin paper for string blocks and there were lots of strings in that basket.

And I meandered thru those scraps some more - gosh, hate to pass up on all those free block tutorials offered with RSC14.  Lots of 6.5" unfinished blocks - scrap goodness - keeping my mind from the storms.

While meandering thru that basket, I found my zip baggy holding scraps for my Round Robing project.  So I thought I would get that final step done and add the left overs to the pile.  The last round had to have some 4-patch(es) and I went with just a plain border with the corners as the 4-patch.  Those red strips hanging are my binding.  This will wait until June or July for quilting.

I have another top sandwiched that needs quilting, so I will ponder on whether to meander or strightline quilt it OR if the weather is better, get a little meander outside - cabin fever is setting in again.  

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

May For Me 5/22/14

Are you finding some ME time?  I've taken some lovely walks (I needed to breath and relax) and went and had my hair done today.  We are to have a few days of rain, so being indoors will resolve to some 'de-junking'.  Most people de-clutter - clutter is things that need to be put in their proper spot or passed on to someone who can use it or give to GoodWill.  But this is just JUNK, and junk needs to be thrown out, so de-junking.  

I pulled the last of my box of odds and ends to sort and kit for mini projects.  I have been in a bit of a funk for the last few days as I had a horrible experience with some brand new fabric that just made me not want to even see or think of stitching while I sorted my mind.  Playing with scraps does sooth my soul though.

Little baskets are fun and everything was all right at hand to make the process quick and mindless sewing.

Since I was up very early in the morning being restless - I had 50 of these little beauties stitched up (yes, I go nuts when I am away from the machine too long) before my SIL came to sew for a bit before we headed to the hairdresser.

And two baggies of components got put together to make these wonky stars.

I cleaned up the little cut-offs and cast aways from my SILs latest project.  This will be finished up for a little doll quilt for the Mrs. Claus project.  Pinwheels always make for a fun quilt.

WINNER

The winner of the Jelly Roll of La Belle Fleur by French General is: 

Karen said...

Ham and cheese sandwich or a salad. 

I will send Karen a personal e-mail for mailing information.

This week's give away is the last of the May For Me celebration - I want to finish up all my give aways and mailings as I want to UN-Plug the last few days of the month for a little ME time away (important posts have been made and scheduled for release).  And since it is also my Birthday week - something special.

 

'Oh Pinwheels' featuring Noteworthy.  A complete kit that includes everything for the top and the binding - you just need backing and batt. You can see Debbie's tutorial for this specific quilt pattern HERE over on Moda Bake Shop.

Just leave a comment on what do you do to calm and sooth your soul? I will ship internationally, be sure I have a way to contact you.  Comments close Weds, May 28 (12pm EST) with winner announced the next day.  

**Karen - your e-mail is bouncing so I hope you can contact me - maybe you have a different e-mail as it is the yahoo Dmarc upgrade that is messing this up**

Sewingly Yours, 

Sharon

Tuesday Archives - Chevrons & Christmas Quilts

I've never made a Chevron quilt so looking forward to seeing posts this week.  I have made several Christmas quilts, but I went back to the earliest.

I posted about the finished flimsie of this quilt HERE in 2011.  I posted about the finish HERE in 2012. I know this was a free pattern on the Moda site back then, but couldn't find it.  But I did find it listed HERE with many other lovely Christmas patterns.  Christmas is not that far away to start thinking of those projects and Quilt Market showcased some great new season's fabrics that will hit those LQS's soon.

Be sure to visit Val's Quilting Studio to see what's been linked up.  Better yet, browse your archives and list some of your lovelies.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Hands2Help Update

This Sunday, May 18th, is the final check in to update your progress with Hands2Help over at Sarah's Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  I am very pleased that my three committed quilts are not only completed, but actually at their destination.

Knowing I had some commission work and other priority projects come up, I chose to use one of my 'shelved' quilts for my third charity quilt. This variation of the jelly roll race quilt was sent to Quilts of Compassion.

Now if you are getting pressed for time, you  must have a flimsy or box of orphan blocks or even a finished quilt waiting for a home.  It is not cheating - you don't have to start from scratch.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Handmade Christmas Challenge - May

We are getting closer to Christmas (gosh we just got nice weather, too) and maybe more of you are thinking of starting your seasonal sewing now.  So many new Christmas lines are starting to appear in the shops - wait til' those new Market fabrics come out - oh my!

This month I got a start on some grandkid items.  I made these last year and they were a great hit.  Crayon roll-ups using this TUTORIAL.  I use a lightweight iron-on interfacing just to give them a little strength.  Pair them up with a coloring book and you have a quick gift. 

You can join in any month and please go visit SewCalGal to get some Christmas project inspiration.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Mini

Today begins the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's CreativeSide.  Please take plenty of time to view entries, take notes and jot down favs each day - it will help when it comes time to vote.  This is our way of enjoying Quilt Market - for those of us who can't go to the real thing. 

This mini was one of my projects for my 'Let's Book It' challenge.  The book I pulled from the shelf and dusted off was 

this lovely - so many pretty mini's and I let that book sit!  And a FQ Free Spirit bundle I had sitting on the shelf for too long.

With some help, it came together slowly - lots of starch for all those bias edges.  But I am very pleased with the final outcome.

 

Delectable Mountains

finished size: 15" x 15"

Mini Quilt Entry

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Large Quilt

Today begins the Blogger's Quilt Festival hosted by Amy's CreativeSide.  Please take plenty of time to view entries, take notes and jot down favs each day - it will help when it comes time to vote.  This is our way of enjoying Quilt Market - for those of us who can't go to the real thing. 

This quilt was actually almost never finished.  It was started way back in 2009 when I first started quilting.  My first QAL online - unfortunately I do not remember the name of site and its now a disfunct AOL site so the pattern is not available any more.  It is the first quilt I bought specific fabric for.  Back at that time I was only just educating myself on fabrics and designers - I like to give credit.  I think most of these were blenders by Blank Fabrics. Another thing I learned in the making of this quilt - I don't like to make large quilts.  And I have found my niche as a scrap quilter and prefer to play with mini's - so the fabrics in this just didn't please me or the size, so off into a hidey-hole she went.  

I 'unearthed' this quilt at the time I started admiring a new long armer.  I just knew this was the person I wanted to frost this quilt to make it come alive.

Valerie @ Pumpkin Patch Quilter  was gracious in accepting this Plain Jane and turning her into a beauty. She worked her magic on those bare blenders - they just sing. 

But before sending her off, I had to completely remove the center.  Applique is still not my forte', but this was too horrible to send as is. I completely removed the center from the quilt; I replaced the applique sunflowers with pieced and totally redid the stems and leaves.  I had this hideous large Yo-Yo in the center (why) and replaced it with the circle.  Thankfully, being a scrap quilter - I had saved every bit of left over of this quilt and had just enough for the fixes.  Then the center had to be stitched back in place.  A few boo-boos were fixed and then she was on her way.

You could just flip this quilt and call it a whole cloth - just love it.  But she waited almost 2 months after coming home from being frosted.  Why we should never let a project sit for so long - it took some time to find the right material to work as a binding.

Finished size: 66" x 84"

Large Quilt Entry

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon