September - National Sewing Month and OMG

September is National Sewing Month so I consider it a great time to end my summer break from creating and get back to it.

We’ve enjoyed several long weekends traveling with and without our camper and it won’t end until mid-November.  I’m adjusting my daily schedule to allow time for sewing…which I have missed terribly.

One of our upcoming trips is to attend an Airstream rally in St. Augustine.  I’ve learned that a couple of dinners will be provided by others but we have to bring our own plates, flatware, etc.  I think a camper-related tote would be appropriate to carry those items.

I’ve selected this pattern

Miss June by Loft Creations

Stephanie Dunphy’s patterns are my favorite.  I’ve made several bags from her book Uncommonly Corduroy.  You can find the Miss June pattern on sale at Connecting Threads.

These are the fabrics I chose

The camper print and paisley are On the Road Again by Katie Doucette for Wilmington Prints.  The flamingo print is Roam Sweet Home by Kris Lammers for Maywood Studios.

And to get back into the swing of things…I’m committing this to be my One Monthly Goal hosted by Patty at Elm Street Quilts.

I hope you all have had a great summer and everyone in the U.S enjoy this long weekend!

Taking a Little Break

June ended up being so busy with work and travel that I didn’t accomplish all of my sewing goals.  I was feeling pretty sad about it and also a bit pressured to catch up on my lists.  When I get like that I do not enjoy the craft which defeats the purpose of having the hobby in the first place.

So, I’m going to take a break from sewing and blog posting…NOT blog reading and commenting, I love keeping up with all of my blog friends.  I will also continue to sew my Farm Girl Vintage blocks and the other block-of-the-month projects.  These are easy to keep up with and I may even pop-in a post about them.  I’ll get back to my One Monthly Goal and 17 UFO’s in 2017 efforts in August or September.

My husband retired the end of June and we have a few trips planned, both with and without the camper.  Our daughter changes college apartments July 31^st so we are going to have an action-packed July and August.  

For those on Instagram, I’m sure I’ll be sharing there 😊

Thank you for following and I look forward to catching up soon.

Have a great summer…

BOMs

This year I’ve committed to finish most, if not all, of my UFOs.  And I’ve also committed to use as much of my stash as possible…although I may have made a purchase or two of new fabric 😊

In an effort to use what I have on hand, I’m allowing myself some new projects.  One is Sherri’s A Quilting Life Block of the Month.  

This is the June block…

Another project is the Fat Quarter Shop 2017 Basket Sew Sampler Quilt.  I subscribe to their Sew Sampler Box and each month we get a new ‘recipe’ for a basket block.

Block #2 came in the May Sew Sampler box.

I’m also participating in a fun swap with Dawn and friends at sewyouquilt2.  This one is using scraps to create slab blocks.  You can read about it here.  The blocks I made for the swap are in the mail so I'll share those once I know the recipients have them.

June has been crazy busy with work activity and then we took the camper out last weekend.  I'll be playing catch-up in the sewing room this week.

Hope everyone's summer is off to a great start!

June OMG and UFOs

June is going to be a very busy month for me professionally and creatively.

I will be traveling quite a bit for work so that means I am going to have to be super focused while in the sewing room.

My One Monthly Goal for June is to turn these blocks into a flimsy.

This was a Saturday Sampler project at our local quilt shop back in….2009!  We used Marti Michell templates to create a different block each month.  These have been sitting in a pizza box since December of that year.  Guess it's time...

This project is also on my list for 17 UFO’s in 2017.

My UFO progress for May was a success.  I completed two more Farm Girl blocks from Lori Holt's Farm Girl Vintage book.

 Peas and Carrots

Postage Stamp

I also finished the knitting project from Michelle Hunter's Building Blocks book.

The table runners are in their flimsy stage but now I can't decide if they will stay table runners or if I will sew them together for a tablecloth and put it in Arya the Airstream.

So I think I will "table" (sorry!) this one until July.

In addition to the Saturday Sampler, my June UFO goals are to complete three Farm Girl blocks, finish the Swilly scarf...

Sorry for the bad photo...no sun today.

...and make progress on the Asanagi Wrap.

Photo from Google Search.

The pretty lady in the picture is Olga Buraya-Kefelian, the designer.  You can visit Olga at Olgajazzy.com.

I'm linking up at Elm Street Quilts for the June OMG and pomegranate and chintz for 17 UFOs in 2017.

Wish me luck!!

OMG Finish – May 2017

Just under the wire!

I am pleased to share my finished knitting project from Michelle Hunter’s Building Blocks book.  I have mentioned before that this book uses 12 different blocks to teach knitting techniques.  I was in such a hurry to finish before tonight’s OMG deadline that I didn’t photograph block 12 which was a lesson in advanced decreases.  Maybe you can spot it below.  Check out the third block in the third row from the top. 

This was my One Monthly Goal for May and it has been accomplished.

Visit Patty at Elm Street Quilts to see what others accomplished this month.

Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2017

H2H 2017 has come to an end and I am happy to have had the opportunity to participate.

Here are the quilty hugs that are on their way to Happy Chemo…

Kitty Cats

Ladybugs

I have been obsessed with polka dot binding lately.

Tumbler

I made this one last year and stashed it away…almost forgot about it.

Many thanks to Sarah for her hard work and dedication to this very worthy cause.

Please visit Confessions of a Fabric Addict to see some really amazing quilts that have been donated this year.

Have a great weekend everyone 😊

A Quilting Life Mystery BOM – May

Sherri posted her May BOM on May 2^nd and I actually completed the block that day.  I shared it on Instagram but forgot to post it here.

This is going to be a nice quilt at the end of the year.  I’m using a fat eighth of Autumn Woods by Katie & Birdie Paper Co. for Moda.  I can’t tell you what the background fabric is because it was just something in my stash without a label on the selvage…and it isn’t anything spectacular but I need to use it up.

Hope you have a great day!

2017 Basket Sew Sampler Quilt – Block 1

I recently subscribed to the Fat Quarter Shop’s Sew Sampler Box.  Each month a box arrives with not only fabric but some really useful tools and coupons.  The box also includes a block pattern recipe card.

I didn’t subscribe in time to get all of the 2016 recipe cards, although they are still available on the FQS website.

When I heard that the 2017 sew sampler quilt was a basket quilt designed by Lori Holt, I knew that I wanted to make it.  I do not have a basket quilt but love the look and I think I can use this as a scrap busting project.  

The recipe card includes instructions for three different sized blocks, 5 ½”, 10 ½” and 15 ½”.  I am making the 10 ½” blocks.  If you have been following my Farm Girl Vintage progress then you know that small blocks are not my thing, other than a lesson learned.

Here is my Block 1

This one worked up nice and quick…hope the others do the same 😊

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends.  My sister will be visiting from Houston and we are celebrating my baby girl’s 22^nd birthday.  YIKES!  Where does the time go?

Farm Girl Vintage – May Update

Dawn at sewyouquilt2 selected the Egg Basket and Postage Stamp blocks for our Lori Holt Farm Girl Vintage sew along.

I had already completed the egg basket…

I chose to make the Peas and Carrots block instead…

Here is my postage stamp…

These blocks are using up a lot of scraps and bits and pieces I have stashed, and that makes me very happy.

I hope you are having a great week.  I’ll be finishing the binding on my Hands to Help charity quilts this week…yay!

17 UFOs in 2017 and OMG – May Goal

Hard to believe it is already May 1^st…Happy May Day 😊

I’m pleased to say that I am making progress on my UFO busting.

You can see my finished Farm Girl blocks by clicking here.

I also completed two more Building Blocks from Michelle Hunter’s book.

 #10 was a lesson in the Slip-Slip-Knit (SSK) stitch

#11 was a lesson in the Make One stitch

#12 and final block is underway.

I’m learning Advanced Decreases in this lesson.

Next will be to ‘block’ each piece and then assemble them into a small afghan.  Sounds like a good project for my May OMG goal, so it is!

In addition to finishing this UFO, I’ll complete two more Farm Girl blocks and get back to the two table runners I missed in April.

Visit Patty at Elm Street Quilts to see what goals others have set for May and don’t forget Meredithe at pomegranate and chintz for 17 UFOs in 2017.

Have a great week!

OMG Finish – April 2017

I am very happy to report that the bird feeder hasn’t caused too much of a distraction and I was able to complete my April OMG.

These two little quilts are donation quilts that I wanted to have pieced this month.

They will be donated to Happy Chemo through Sarah’s Hands 2 Help Charity Quilt Challenge.  Quilting and binding will happen very quickly so the next time you see them will be during Sarah's next progress linky.

Visit Patty at Elm Street Quilts to see how everyone else did for April’s OMG.

Farm Girl Vintage Sew Along – April

Dawn at Sew You Quilt 2 selected the Mama Hen and Simple Star blocks for April’s Farm Girl Vintage sew along.

I had completed the Mama Hen block last year…

So, I decided to complete the Out to Pasture block in it’s place…

And here is my Simple Star block…

I look forward to seeing what Dawn selects for the May blocks.  I am very motivated to keep this going 😊

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Hands to Help Charity Quilt Challenge 2017 - Progress

Good evening, friends.

Just a quick check-in to share my progress on the H2H charity quilts.  You can click here to visit Sarah’s linky party and see how everyone else is doing.

The ladybugs have been pieced and just need to be trimmed, pressed, quilted and bound.

The kitty quilt is in the piecing stage.

Both are on schedule for being finished in about a week and a half.  I won’t be sewing this weekend as I’ll be at Disney with my daughter 😊

So, I will leave you with an early wish for a happy weekend.

A Quilting Life Mystery BOM – April

Here is my April block for Sherri’s BOM.  You can find the instructions for this block by visiting A Quilting Life, click here.

After creating the flying geese using her method, we were left with bonus half-square triangles that will be used in next month’s block.

Sherri recently hosted a giveaway for one of Olfa’s Splash rotary cutters that features their new Endurance blade…and I won!

I’m excited to give it a try.  Changing the blade is supposed to be easier with this one.

I’ve had some new visitors join the red-headed woodpecker, male cardinal and blue jays at my feeder.

Female Cardinal

The male is never too far away

Do you know what kind of bird this is?

I think it is some sort of finch.

And this guy, along with a few of his friends, are always trying to steal food.  They aren’t successful because the cage surrounding the seed bin slides closed as soon as they get on the feeder.

I’m happy to say that I’m on schedule with my sewing so far this month.  I’ll be back shortly to share my H2H charity quilt progress and Farm Girl blocks.

Have a blessed week everyone!

OMG – April 2017

It is time to select my One Monthly Goal project for April.  This one is quite important because it will benefit Sarah’s Hands to Help Quilt Challenge.

I am going to piece two simple quilts to be donated to Happy Chemo.

One will use these fabrics which I’ve shared before.

The second will include these cute fabrics.  Love the little kitties.

I placed my bird feeder outside so I can see it from my home office / sewing room. 

Here are a few visitors from last week.

Bluejays

(can you see the one in the tree?)

Cardinal 

Red-headed woodpecker

Let’s hope this bird feeder doesn’t cause too much of a distraction...I really need to accomplish my April OMG.  Click here to visit Patty and see what others have planned for this month.

17 UFOs in 2017 – March

We are already one-quarter of the way through 2017.  Time flies when you are having fun.

And fun is exactly what I’ve been having.  I was a bit off my creative game in February due to a couple of distractions…nothing bad.

This is one of them.

Long story short…my DH and I purchased a travel trailer last fall only to find that it, combined with the larger truck needed to pull it, was just too big for me.  I was not comfortable towing such a large unit and was no way going to try to back it in anywhere.  My DH didn’t have any issues with it but the idea is to eventually travel all over the country and one person shouldn’t be doing all of the driving.  So, after 4 months we downsized to a 25’ trailer and a smaller truck.  For the record, I must say that my DH wanted the Airstream in the beginning so he eventually got what he wanted.

Now, back to what this blog is really about…

I didn’t accomplish my February goals for OMG nor 17 UFOs in 2017 but I did have success in March.

Finished turning the Birdie Stitches blocks into small quilts to be displayed monthly.  Some of the binding looks black but it isn’t…I’m not a photographer by any means.

Building Blocks #8 was a lesson in Slip Stitch.

Building Blocks #9 was a lesson in Left Twist.

I also completed two Farm Girl Vintage blocks.  If you haven't see them already,click here.

My 17 UFOs in 2017 goals for April is to finish Building Blocks 10, 11 and 12.  I would also like to finish two summer table runners and two more Farm Girl Vintage blocks.

Wish me luck.  Be sure to visit pomegranate and chintz to see what others accomplished in March.  Thanks to Meredithe and Anne for the encouragement.

I’m off now to pack for the weekend…Arya the Airstream wants to go to the woods 😊

Have a lovely weekend, my friends.