Christmas Quilt Along

OK - good day to join in as it is cold and raining - new cone of thread in the machine and machine cleaned and oiled. My Christmas fabric tote is out and ready to play with Sue over at Quilt time - some holiday sewing every second Saturday of the month - that's easy to do.

** 12:30 - first two blocks done **

** 2:00 - second set of blocks done **

** Found some pre-printed blocks probably from an old panel, so doing a few string cabin blocks for another project. Then that will be it for the day . Had fun getting things done today, Thank you Sue **






Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

June Pearls

June's birthstone is the pearl, Alexandrite, or moonstone. But I love pearls. I have my Greatgrandmother's (pink), Grandmother's (yellow), Godmother's (tan), and my graduation (white) strands. A pearl ring and pearl earrings. Some adore diamonds, but give me pearls.

I have my base blocks ready for Clover and Violet's stitch and quilt along. I am waiting to add the second border around each block as I feel it will be easier to stitch this size block, press well and then complete the blocks for a cleaner finish.

A way to fill a rather empty blog - larger photos - LOL!! But this has been my project to finish with no distractions. It is the SQUARED UP blocks from Monday. Set on point - it is for the Modern Quilt Challenge - project #3 - Organic Quilting. I used organic woven fabrics, bamboo batting, organic muslin for backing and YLI (organic) verigated thread (greens to yellows to tans). I wanted to represent the Native American way of planting the 'three sisters' - corn, beans, and squash. Organic meant to me the most natural way of producing and nothing more meant that than three sisters. I used my serpentine stitch to represent the trendrils of the plants that help them to grow together and the corn silks that help in the pollination.

It was a learning experience for me. I found I am not fond of the organic wovens as they shred terribly (had to serge edges to help with the raveling), and really do not like the bamboo batting. The muslin was not really that different. I love YLI threads and use the verigated lines a lot in my home machine quilting. Because it says 'organic' do we trust that? I like to buy American made and produced (being American)- which is hard to find in the quilting world.

I'll stick with the reduce, reuse, recycle in my 'organic' quilting - suits my scrappy side.

And a pearl of wisdom (anon)
“I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls off a string.”




** I Joined in the 2011 Christmas Quiltalong with QuiltSue over at Quilttimes. I quess pulling my Christmas fabrics for the Santa Sack made me do it **


Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

June Bug Jitters

Does June give you the jitters? Half the year gone already. Are half of my goals for the year met? Will I manage the second half as well - or hopefully better? I see blogs talking of Halloween and Christmas projects already. We have yet to have a Spring here in the Northeast! I'm looking forward to my roses (dratted aphids), not think of Mums and Poinsetties.



FOR FUN

These are some of the 6 1/2" butterfly blocks for Claudia's Quilts - Big Quilt of Nature. I have the flowers, trees, and leaves from other years. An ongoing project - just enjoying the process.

OK - I'll admit it. I started some Christmas gifts. These are the easiest little wallets (still need their snaps). They are Valorie Wells' "Little Wallet" pattern. Think it took me longer to pick out fabrics then to make them. And I will make my simple zipper wristlets with matching key chain fobs - nice little gift sets.

I got this great Fat Quarter sampler bundle from Connecting Threads. I need to decide on 9 of them for Clover and Violet's stitch and quilt along project. I'm sure there will be other fun projects thru the year to use up the others.




SQUARED UP

I'm using my next Modern Quilt Challenge for the new Squared UP. Simple 4 1/2" squares to make 4-patch units. This is an organic woven and I am trying to work with out pinning too much as the fabric is 'sensitive'.

First a 1 1/2" x 8 1/2" strip to the right. Then a 1 1/2" x 9 1/2" strip to the left.

Then a 1 1/2" x 9 1/2" strip to the right - then a 1 1/2" x 10 1/2" strip to the left. Make a drawing and play with your color pencils. These blocks have a lot of versatility with color and layout.






FABRIC FRAMING

I finished the little lighthouse cross stitch and fabric framed. My little zipper purse swap mate sent me that lovely multi-color fabric and it worked perfectly with this. I finished the 'Thistles' cross stitch, too, BUT.... I have a tutorial today on my fabric framing over at Stash Manicure and that little piece is my subject. Oh, and I think there is a give away with the tutorial.

This is one of my mural pieces done in 2007 for a show - "Cranes for Japan". It is 3' x 4', hand quilted with silk thread. And metallic, silk and beading thru the swans. One swan has the sea life of Japan and the other has Kimono prints.

Doing the June Bug Jitter:
As snug as a bug in a rug.
Frogs have it easy, they can eat what bugs them.
Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield.
When birds burp, it must taste like bugs.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

June Roses

I love June for the budding of roses. We have several very old bushes, probably original with the homestead. Thick tree like stalks with thorns so huge and sharp. But, the lovely perfume from them can be matched by no other. You need only pluck one small flower for the house and it fills it to capacity with it's luscious odor.

I've done little sewing, just some scrap play. It has gotten warm and dry and the call of the outdoors is too loud. Also, I needed to catch up on some housework - which came about because I cannot find a quilt that needs to go to the longarmer. It is bagged with batt and backing - yet alludes me - so the house is being turned upside down.

In my 'cleaning' spree, I came across this poor thing that I neglected. I have so little to do to finish it. So I grab some stitches and then sort thru another bin.

And this piece I have been working on inbetween projects. There is little left on this one too. So sad to see stitchery sit idle. And I keep searching. I just hope I haven't boxed this quilt up with a donation - been known to do that.







Well I have a weekend coming and weekends are known (for me) to be power sewing time. I will keep looking, but I have a couple of quilts to be ready for a September show. And there are those UFO Challenge list projects. And I will keep looking. But the weather has turned nice (well, we had a tornado go over - landed in Massachusettes), and I want to be outside. But I will keep looking.

For stately trees in rich array,
For sunlight all the happy day,
For blossoms radiant and rare,
For skies when daylight closes,
For joyous, clear, outpouring song
From birds that all the green wood throng,
For all things young, and bright, and fair,
We praise thee, Month of Roses!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon