June Goals

I'm hoping June will be a much better weather month as I would like to spend more time outside; whether is is for longer walks, some play in the flower beds, or a few day trips.  So I am keeping my June goals list on the short side.

I will be using the Monthly Doll Quilt Swap as my NewFO Challenge.  I've already been in touch with my partner and have a plan in place.

I pulled 6 different books to browse with my SIL and it was funny that we both chose the same book - different patterns, but the same book.  So the others were put back on the shelf for future play.

She has the orange sticky note to mark her page and I have an up-coming Quilt Show card marking mine (one of those day trips I want to take).

This is the one I chose - Island Chain.  It looks pretty simple - yes, I read the pattern thru several times.  I will just have to pin little notes to the sections to be sure I keep my colors correct.

I'm combining my Let's Book It with my Something New..........

because I am using Batiks.  I have used a few odds/ends in scrap quilts -  something someone passed on to me in a scrap bag, but never a full quilt.  A first and a challenge.  I am sure to call on a few individuals for help if I need it.

I participated in Beth Shibley's house block lotto 2013 and won a set of blocks.  I don't want them to sit too long, so getting these into a lap quilt will be my Something Old.

I just have to quilt my Relaxing Round Robin, but that will be my Slow Stitching Sunday project as I want to hand quilt it - that may take me a couple of months to complete.

The color this month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is yellow.  I dug out that little baggy and there isn't a lot so I will have to pull my FQ tote and maybe some yardage off the shelf.  I'll be honest, I usually do ALL of my blocks in one day as I want to get thru those scraps, trim up left overs into my pre-cut system and get the mess done with.  So this will be a good rainy day project.

I am enjoying the Make it Homemade Christmas Challenge and it will be the project that I am using for the Simply Small Challenge - we can chose any project using candy charms from the Moda Bake Shop site and I have my pattern selected.

I'm hoping to finish the quilting on this piece - one of my Let's Book It projects.  I just have the flag section and the borders to do - another rainy day project.  The binding is made and waiting.  I know there are two more smaller wall hanging that need quilting, but no pressure to add them to the list.

And then you never know what my eye sees or my hand touches - I tend to get side tracked and spend a day or two playing with something else.  I've tried to tuck those distractions away.

I hope you have a Joyful June,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

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