Happy New Year and FNwF

Happy New Year!

I hope that 2018 was a great year for you and that 2019 will prove to be even better.

As I look back on the last 12 months I realize that I was very busy both inside and outside of the sewing room.  I started to write a blog post recapping my 2018 but it quickly became too overwhelming.  With the advent of Instagram, I – like many others – do most of my sharing there and my blog has fallen silent.  I’ve decide to forego the recap and try to refer back to 2018 events as they are relevant to what I am currently sharing.

I will start right here…

Our local quilt shop began a Saturday block-of-the-month program last May.  They do not call it a Saturday Sampler but that is essentially what it is.  You are given fabric and a block pattern.  You pay for the first block and as long as you finish that block and bring it to class the following month then you do not pay for the next block.

Around July, my friend and I decided to join.  We caught up on the May and June blocks and have kept current.  Here are my blocks:

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I joined Cheryll over at Gone Stitchin' for her Friday Night with Friends event and finished December’s block in time to ‘show’ for class yesterday.

No sewing for me today.  My husband has kindly agreed to help me reorganize and deep clean the kitchen after church and before the Eagles football game today.

Wish us luck!

Patchwork Folder from Patchouli Moon Studio

Daryl of Patchouli Moon Studio asked me if I would test her pattern for a patchwork folder.  The timing couldn’t have been more convenient because 1) I’m always willing to help a friend, and 2) I actually need a folder.

My husband and I are co-hosting an Airstream rally in November.  This folder will hold all of my checklists and planning documents.

 The pattern provides different options for making the outer fabric.  Rather than incorporating a quilt block, I made mine to coordinate with the tote I made for last year’s rally. 

This was a quick and fun project.  Visit Daryl’s blog here to learn more about her pattern and see different variations the other testers created.

The folder is one of a few secret sewing projects I have been working on.  I will share my temperature quilt progress soon, once we get some sunshine and I can take a decent photo.

Have a great week!

FNSI - An Update

All of the blocks for my Lanterns of Hope quilt are complete.

The setting triangles are folded squares in this photo.  I just couldn’t wait to see the layout on my dining room table.  The pattern comes with three different sizes and I chose the throw size.

  

I’m working on getting the top together but we’ve had some social commitments this weekend that prevented me from finishing.

Please do not forget to visit Wendy at SugarlaneDesigns to see how everyone spent their Friday Night Sew In.

Have a fabulous week 😊

FNSI and Lanterns of Hope

Happy Friday everyone!

I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to the weekend.  This evening will start off with Friday Night Sew In (FNSI) hosted by Wendy at Sugarlane Designs.  

This virtual event is held on the third Thursday of each month.  It’s a fun linky party with prizes and I’ve met a few new inspiring blog friends.  Visit Wendy on her blog to learn more.

Speaking of new friends, I recently found HollyAnne Knight of String and Story.  She is a young wife and mom of two toddlers who has a passion for all things quilting.  Her energy and enthusiasm are very contagious.  She writes a blog and newsletter, String and Story has a facebook page and her Facebook group is Quilting Rockstars.  You can find her live on the FB page Thursday mornings where she shares some tidbit or helpful hint.  And during the summer, on Friday or sometimes Saturday nights, she hosts a Summer Social Hour in the FB group.

HollyAnne’s focus right now is stash busting and she is hosting a sew-along using one of her patterns towards that effort.  I know…I hear you…Really, Jeanna?  Another sew along?  But wait!  I haven’t purchased any new fabric, I really am using my stash.

The pattern is Lanterns of Hope... (photo borrowed from String and Story)

This is my fabric pull.  Quite a bit subdued compared to HollyAnne's.

I’ve stayed on task with the schedule and will finish the last four blocks during tonight's social hour.  These are log cabin type blocks and work up super fast.

So, this is how I will spend my FNSI.  Are you sewing along?

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Blogger Comments Fixed? Can it be?

My new friend Sheryl who blogs at I Am – Blog published instructions on how to receive comment notifications via email agian.  I’ll admit that I tried this in the past – many months ago - and it didn’t work but I also saw new words in the settings this morning which tells me Google / Blogger has made some changes.  So, even though she learned about this from someone else,  THANK YOU, SHERYL for sharing it with me and all your readers!

Here are the instructions…

Go to your Settings, select Email.

Delete the email(s) listed under “Comment Notification Email” and, this is important, click SAVE SETTINGS

I went a step further and closed my browser, waited a few minutes then opened it again. (because I am crazy like that!

I went back into Settings, selected Email again and added the email address where I want to receive notifications.

Again, click SAVE SETTINGS

I received a Comment Subscription email.  It gave me the option to Subscribe or Decline the invitation to receive comment notifications.  I selected Subscribe and immediately received a confirmation. 

I went to my most recent blog post and added a ‘test’ comment.

Guess what?  It worked!

Please help spread the word.  I heard this didn’t work for some folks but it may be that they didn’t save their settings after each step?  I would be interested in knowing if this does or doesn’t work for you if you are a Blogger client and decide to give this a try.

In other news...I have held on to my sewing mojo and look forward to sharing with you this weekend.

Enjoy the remainder of your week!

FNSI and Another Weekend Gone

Weekends always seem to pass quickly but it feels like camping weekends go even faster.

We set up camp in the rain on Friday and since there was lightening, my sewing was delayed a bit.

I did, however, complete my Friday Night Sew In goals.  Visit Wendy at Sugarlane Designs to see how others spent their Friday night.

Farm Girl Vintage Spring Star Block

Farm Girl Vintage Winter Star Block

Mini Star Quilt (flimsy) from From My Carolina Home

I guess the picnic tablecloth didn’t make such a great backdrop for the photos but it was what I had.

We were visited by this little Florida Scrub Jay.  

My husband was so excited because they are considered to be in ‘vulnerable’ conservation status.

I made a light dinner Saturday night.  Fresh shrimp with zucchini and yellow squash, tossed in salt, pepper, Old Bay Seasoning and olive oil.  Everything is put together and baked (on the grill) in the aluminum foil.  Delicious meal and easy clean up.

It will be back to the grind tomorrow.  I hope you had a nice weekend and got to stitch some too.

Friday Night Sew In - FNSI - Making Preparations

Last Friday’s enjoyment from participating in Cheryll’s Friday Night with Friends inspired me to sign up for Wendy’s Friday Night Sew In this week.

Cheryll’s FNwF typically occurs the first Friday of each month (this month was an exception) and Wendy hosts FNSI on the third Friday. If I’m going to sew on Fridays then I may as well link up with others for encouragement and fun, right?

The last couple of days I’ve prepped some blocks to sew…

June’s Farm Girl Vintage assignment from Dawn

A little red, white and blue

A free tutorial by Carole From My Carolina Home

  

And the glaze is setting on some lemon ricotta cookies.  These should get me through the evening...

The cookie recipe is from Sally’s Baking Addiction (I skipped the almond extract) but I prefer Giada’s lemon glaze better.  It’s thicker and I love the texture the lemon zest adds.

My FNSI will be enjoyed in Arya the Airstream as we are going to spend the weekend at a local state park.  Hubby is doing what he can to bring down my cabin fever 😊

So, what are your plans for the weekend?  If you are sewing, why not join us for FNSI?