Almost Perfect - May wrap up and June Goals

I knew it had been a while since I posted - but given a choice to blog or sew and guess what gets tossed to the wind.   Then I also had a fight with the garage door and it won impairing the use of my middle finger on my right hand so typing is a little of a challenge in itself.  ha ha  

Well I am very very pleased with all I got done in May. I pretty much nailed my goal list and then did a bunch of stuff that was not on the list.   So here's what I've been up to

1.  Mystery Monday - A once a month class at my local quilt shop Fabrics Unlimited.  This month we did these handy sewing mats to go under your sewing machine and hold all your goodies.  

I made extras this and another for my friends. I want to do at least one more - but I'm pretty sure there will be even more than one more.  

2.  Stitch N Rippits Charity Quilts - I wanted to quilt one and at least sandwich the other one which was a baby quilt.  Complete! 

Here's the 1st one:  

On this one you can't see the quilting from the top so I've taken a picture of the back.  I am using these charity quilts as practice for my free motion quilting.  We're always our worst critics so I'll say it like this "I can see a lot of  progress from when I started. "

Here is the next, it is a baby quilt and I wanted to at least get it sandwiched.  Well I did that and quilted and all that is left is the binding.    Yay!

My attempt at a rubber ducky.

3.  Vintage Kitchen #5 - Complete  

Then after I finished it I saw where a friend of mine that is also doing this BOM by Jenny of Elefantz substituted this block with a different one.  So I will probably use this block as a label and then copy her and do the other block like she did.  

4. SNR Guild workshop - Mondo bag - my goal was to at least start it.  - Complete!  I actually ended up finishing it.  So I'll say that's a extra point or two.  (Hey finish seem to be getting hard these days)

I even put the key fob in AND two pockets.  I didn't add the pockets that were optional in the pattern because that caused them to be at an angle.  So I winged it on my own.  One is smaller and one is narrow but deep.   Can you see it's already got a bunch of stuff it it.  More on that later. 

5. Two more of the little dresses for girls in Africa - this was a charity project for the SNR Guild.  - Complete!  

I even added little decorations on the front. 

I also had some pretty fabric (in the second picture below)  that I thought would be really cute for my twin great Nieces.  I don't get to see them really often but we will be seeing them at the beginning of July and they will be 3 at the end of July so I thought that would be perfect.  And at the suggestion of my husband I made them matching little purses.  I originally was going to make matching ones but the first one I made was way too long so instead of ripping it apart I figure I'll donate the big one and just made a new one.  Hard to see but I put little pockets on them too.  And the purses have Zippers.   I'll say that's worth an extra bonus point in itself. :)

Okay enough bragging - back to my list.  

6.  Ten Minute table runner.  - Complete!  (do you notice a streak here of the completes)   I have to say I'm kinda addicted to these.  They are fast - easy - and It's fun to figure out what kind of buttons you are going to decorate them with.  I made 3 total but have button to make 3 or 4 more.  :)  Here they are!   

7.  UFO Buster -  Progress - Done!   Yay - 7 for 7.  This sponsored by APQ, each month they draw a number and you find that number on the list and that's the UFO you work on for the month to finish or at least make progress on your UFO's. 

You can read my progress post and see pictures about this here: 

UFO Busting

8.  Woodsy Quilt Bears +1.  Kinda Complete.  

Here's Bear Progress the link to the post I made about this.  The bears are done - but I did not get to the squirrel block.  So 1/2 done 1/2 undone. 

9.  Dragon Flies and Cattails - Complete!  :)  

I love it - I love it - I love it!  And I am going to use the technique to do another wall hanging.  More about that later. 

10. Art Quilt Sewcial -  We didn't have a project - we were going to do some drawing using a grid system.  But I was ill and didn't make it to class. So since there wasn't a project to complete and since I wasn't there.  I say this is neither a pass or a fail.  :)  Nice to make your own rules huh? 

As far as the extras that I had listed - No progress on any of them.  

May Recap -  All goals met except the squirrel block for the woodsy quilt.  Extras, were 10 minute runners, extra pillowcase dresses, extra sewing mats, Top Stitching on the previous months self portrait.   And Started a baby quilt for a friend of my husbands. I put borders on a panel and pinned it and started a little of the quilting.  This one is going to be so much fun to quilt. 

So I am giving myself an Almost Perfect Score for the month.  

June Goals 

Well this may be a little tricky since we are leaving the last week of the month for vacation and I am honest enough to know that before vacation things go sideways. You think of things you want to make at the last minute as gifts and then there's pre-vacation shopping and cleaning.  So with all of that said I'm trying to not go overboard on my goals - ha ha.  Here goes - 

1.  Blog more about my progress.  Don't wait 20 days to blog it. 

2.  Mystery Monday  Complete whatever it is. 

3.  Finish the above Baby Quilt for husbands Friend.  Pictured above. 

4.   Finish Binding on Charity Baby Quilt. - Pictured above. 

5.  UFO Buster APQ Random # __________  Make Progress. 

6.  Class at Quilt Store - Black Birds.   Started and 1/2 done. My Friend Ronni made this art quilt and is going to teach a class on it.

7. Vintage Kitchen BOM Block # 6 and the alternate block for #5. 

This is the alternate block I'll have to see what Jenny posts for the block this month. 

8.  Woodsy Squirrel block.  At least have it fused. Extra Credit if I get it top stitched. 

9.  Not Forgotten Quilt - Here's a really big one.  I don't have to have this done until the middle of July - but since I will be gone from approx June 26-July 8th, if I don't have this complete I want it 90% done.  A family friend from our church in Oregon, is doing some mission work in Australia. And as a side trip they did some work in India with a church "Lighthouse Ministries"  that is helping rescue women and girls from sex trafficking.  The campaign is called "Not Forgotten" Well I said I would try to make a wall hanging art quilt to be auctioned off at her fund raising auction.  So I have my picture in mind and I am going to use the technique we learned with the dragonflies quilt to make it.  I don't want to show my design yet but I will keep you posted.  I am really excited and honored to do this and pray it will bring a really good price to help them. 

10. Pick one of my hand work projects to take on vacation so I can hand stitch while hubby drives and or when we are in motel rooms. I'll let you know what I pick when I figure it out. 

Extras:

Okay I always come up with huge amounts of extras so who knows what all will happen this month.  :)  But I told you I would tell you a little more about the Mondo bag.  Here's the rest of the story on that.  I got it finished and took it to the cottage on Friday.  We were having an organizing day of the fabric closet for SNR guild.  Well I ended up loading the Mondo bag up with orphan blocks to be sewn together into quilt tops and then finished into quilts.  I told them I wasn't bringing my Mondo bag to anything else ever again.  :)   So I now have a kit and a grocery bag of strips for quilts to make for CRQ guild and after Friday I have enough orphan blocks for at least 3 quilt tops for SNR guild.  So I don't think I'll have a problem finding extra things to do in June.  And if the sun and the moon line up just right I might even have enough time to pull out one of my other UFO's and work on it.  ha ha ha.  

If you made it this far - thank you and please leave a comment and let me know.  

Thanks again and have a Blessed Day!

Lynn 

Goal and UFO Busting

Seems like the first part of the month is always more productive than the later part so I am trying to take advantage of all I can get done towards goals and UFO's while I can.  

Goal # 3 Vintage Kitchen # 5  I got this done at the end of last week just haven't posted about it yet.  

Goal #7.  is the All People Quilts Random UFO Buster.  Well last month I was unable to make any progress at all but this month I am kicking bootie.  :)  

The random number this month was #12 which happens to be my wool project called My Favorite Things by Primitive Gatherings.  I started with 3 blocks that were fused and one block had some of the top stitching done.  I still have more time in the month but I've already done the top stitching on those 3 blocks.  (Didn't get a picture before I did the top stitching) but here is what I started with. 

Then I fused two more blocks and I'm getting them whip stitched and the top stitching done.

Then this afternoon I had a little time so I got these additional 5 blocks fused and ready to be stitched and the detail put on.  So we'll see where I get by the end of the month. 

Then the Big One  -   Goal # 8

 The woodsy quilt top stitching of the two blocks I have ready.  I have gone as far as I can go on these two blocks.  This is my ALYOF for the month but I can't find my link up and think I missed it somehow.  Anyway I got done what I wanted for this month but I still want to do one more block if I can.  I left the rest of the stitching to be done when I do the quilting.  But put in some of the feathers on the breast. 

The bears have some the stitching on them and again I will do more when I quilt.  I am still not convinced I am totally thrilled with the way the bears have turned out - but I am going to go with it for now because they have held me up for way way too long and go to the next animal.  I may redo them but that will be later. :0)

My next animal will be this squirrel.  

Well that's what I've gotten done the last few days.  Tomorrow I have open sew at the quilt shop - I haven't figured out what I am taking to work on - but hopefully it will get me closer to getting these goals getting done.  

Have a Blessed Day! 

Lynn 

Pretty in Pink - and is that me?

A few years ago my Sister and Brother in law took a really cool trip to Alaska - and I got a lousy T-Shirt.... NO just kidding.  But my Sis did bring me a really pretty fat quarter.  And I have hung on to it for all this time, because - you know it was special and because what can I make with a fat quarter?  So it was time again for Mystery Monday and it called for 1 Fat Quarter of a Focus fabric.   Yay!!  Okay time to pull out the special Fat quarter.   

Well as mysteries go you don't know what you are doing until you are almost done and so it was a very pleasant surprise that the project for this month is something I want to keep (I would have anyway cause it has the special FQ in it).  :)  But I also get to use it - alot.   Have I drug it out long enough?  Have you scrolled ahead and looked at the picture ahead of time anyway? 
Okay here goes. 





 










It's a sewing mat to go under my sewing machine that has pockets for all the little tools you are using while you are sewing. You know, the ones that get spread all over the table and under stuff.  The pretty Fat Quarter is the black with pink flowers.  
One of my friends wasn't able to come to Mystery Monday this month so on Tuesday I made her one too. 
Here's hers.  She likes purple. 

The other thing that I have been working  on is a self portrait.  A week ago I took a class for Art quilts and we did self portraits.  It was supposed to be whimsical and not realistic but.... I'm a little uptight that way sometimes.  :)   We weren't supposed to trace a picture of our selves so I had to free hand - I'm not a natural artist, Okay Okay  - Here's how it looked the night of class.  

And here's how it looked after I put some top stitching on it. 

I'm not sure it looks like me but it was fun trying.  :)  

Have a Blessed Day!  

Lynn 

Pretty lillte Dresses

One of the charity projects that we've been doing for the SNR guild are little pillowcase dresses for girls in Africa.  I have already made 3 but had fabric and some lace to make 2 more.   So I used the stuff I had gotten and pulled some from my stash and this is what I came up with.   I seriously could spend a whole month making these but I do have other things to get done.  :) 

Those are the two I finished over the weekend.  I put little yo you flowers on them.  :)  

Then I also completed what is called a "10 Minute Runner"  It did take me a pinch longer but it was my 1st one so maybe the next one will be quicker.  

It doesn't require batting or quilting so it really does go quick.  

So it was a great weekend and I'm also able to cross two things off my goal list already so I'm a happy quilter.  

Hope you have a Blessed day, 

Lynn 

Bears be done - ALYOF May

Okay here's my goal for this months A Lovely year of finishes. 



The Woodsy Quilt has been a WIP - UFO... on the mind but not progressed on for way too long.  So maybe if I put it here for a finish I'll actually make the progress I need to.  This is a quilt for my Sister that she thought up the idea 2+ years ago.  We have shopped for material - looked at pictures and discussed it way to much and I only have 1 and 1/2 blocks started not even done.  I have struggled with the center block which has bears in it and it stalemates me for the rest of the quilt.  

So here is what I have.  I need do some additional applique on the bears and then top stitch the bears and  do thread play on them.   

Then I also need to do the top stitching on the quail.  

Getting both of these blocks finished will be a huge finish for me.
And I hoping that it will be the fuel to get me going on the rest of the quilt.  I want to do so much more towards the quilt but considering that I  haven't been able to do this in the last year this will be great. 

Have a Blessed Day!

Lynn 

April Wrap up and May Goals

Well if you read my last post you will already know that my month derailed and I got off track.  As hard as I try to be realistic about how much I can accomplish and factor in things like spending time with Hubby and other things that might come up, I think I'm always hopeful I can accomplish so much more. However it doesn't always go as planned.  So I decided to give myself permission to go totally off course and enjoy the ride.  :)  
Okay what did I really get done? 

APRIL

1.  Project quilting - Random # UFO - WIP  to be announced the number will be picked on Monday.
Well the number they picked ended up being my "Folk Ark Gathering by Cheri Saffiote Payne"  but sorry....  No Progress

2. Vintage Kitchen Block #4 -- Done  

3. SNR - Charity Quilt.  Quilt the kit I made up and brought home to completion.
I got the borders on and  the back made and got it sandwiched ready to quilt but didn't get it quilted. So there is progress - just not done so I get a 1/2 on that one. 

4.  Mystery Monday - Don't know what it is but complete it!  Done.

We made rotary cutter cases.  And I made extras.  We are using them for eye glass cases too.  :)

5.  CRQ - charity Quilt top.  Make one,  if time allows, make a back and quilt it myself, instead of just the top. 

 Done Top made, back made, sandwiched, quilted and linking this to ALYOF.  Yahoo!

6. SNR guild workshop  the frog pincushion that I didn't get from last month.  Make it.  
No Progress.  I didn't get to go to the instructional workshop and then when I was asking how it went everyone was dismayed and confused on how to put it together and only 1 or 2 finished so due to all the other stuff that was doing I gave myself permission to leave that for later.  
It sounded like a good excuse to me.  ha ha

7.  SNR guild workshop - this month we are making a travel bag.  I'll say start it.  

Started and Finished  Done (Zipper and all)  

Extras that I want to do and need to be done.
* Work more on the Gray Heron - No Progress

* Work on the Woodsy quilt - No Progress

* Make a spring or summer table runner to change out for decoration.  Complete

And then there are all the extras that I did that wasn't part of the plan.  

First there is the SNR Charity Project.  This month we made Pillowcase dresses for little girls in Africa.  I have made 3 and have at least 2 more to make.  

Next I made Pincushions for our Quilt Show Boutique that will happen in Feb of 2016. 

No Picture at this time but I'm hoping to make more so maybe then. 

And when the month went sideways - and I wasn't able to do all I wanted to   I decided to just go with it.  Then we also had a wonderful surprise visit from some of our children and that was great.  So with all the distractions, I decided to stitch on Daisy Days which I haven't touched in several months.  It was a free BOM from Jenny of Elefantz.  I was doing really good at keeping up each month until about the 5th month  - but once I got behind I really got behind. 

 I got just a bit more done than in this picture but it's close. 

Then on Wednesday night - I went to what is called "Art Quilt Sew-cial"  at the local Quilt store Fabrics Unlimited.  

We were supposed to do "Whimsical"  self portraits - but I was being a little to serious about making it realistic and so this is what I came up with.  I still need to do a little detail work but here it is. 

There were a few other items that I also did - I made some pillow covers, made another set of curtains and who knows what but the month is ending and now I'm thinking of what all I think I want to accomplish in May.  LOL

MAY 

So for May - Like I told my friends, May is Animal month.  But I still have all this stuff that is due for the guild and charity that needs to be finished. And it seems that each month there is some class or project I want to do that despite my resistance to new stuff, I cave to the pressure.  :) 

So what do I mean by Animal Month.  Well I have the Woodsy Quilt that I have been meaning to do for almost 2+ years for my Sister that will include bears, and other woodsy animals.  Then I have the Sea Turtles that I took the class last September (I think) then a month ago I took another class by the same designer as the Sea Turtles which was a Grey Heron.  I need to make some serious progress on each of these projects. And I still have other stuff that needs to be taken care of.   Soooo here we go  :)

1.  May Mystery Monday - she claims we should be able to finish, so I'll say I will complete it. 

2. SNR Guild - I had one quilt that needed to be quilted and since I won't be there on Charity day because I'm taking a different class, I was given another quilt to quilt so now I have 2.  So I will quilt the one that is already sandwiched (See Picture #3 above)  that I didn't get quilted in April. And I will sandwich the other one it's a baby quilt and if  time allows I will quilt it too. 

3.  Vintage Kitchen by Jenny of Elefantz Block #5   I will stitch it. 

4.  SNR Workshop is a "Mondo Bag"  - I will at least start it. 

5.  SNR - African Dresses - I have a minimum of 2 more to make. 

6.  Make a Ten Minute Table runner.  More if I can - they are for presents. 

7.  All People quilts UFO Buster - After the random # is picked I will try to make progress.  They pick the random number on the 1st Monday of the month.  I will make another post showing where I'm at now so I can hopefully show progress at the end of the month. 

8.  ANIMALS - Woodsy Quilt.  Finish Bear block applique and top stitch, make another block a (Fox or Rabbit)

9. Dragonflies and Cattails It's a class that will teach us how to use - Tsukineko Inks and Fabrico Markers.  this will be on May 15th.   So I will say it is started.  Here is a picture of what we'll be doing. 

9.  Art Quilt Sew-Cial  - I Don't know what the project is this month but at least start it.  

EXTRA.......... 

X1.  Fuse the rest of the Grey Heron on the back ground.  This is the photo from the designer Toni Whitney. 

X2.  Top Stitch the Sea Turtles - this is where I am so far.  

X3.   Top Stitch the Grey Heron- pictured above. 

I have other things in my mind that I want to do - and this list is already so long.  I have friends birthday's that are coming up and I had things in mind to make them - so we will see.  I'm sure I will keep you posted. 

I haven't decided which project will be my "A Lovely Year of finishes"  I guess I'll have to figure that out. 

Thanks for stopping by - If you have read this far - leave a comment and maybe you'll get a pincushion or mug rug.  :)  Good thing you read it all huh?  

Have a blessed day.  

Lynn