First and Third

This week has been a hard one and a wonderful one.  I have worked a lot this week at the local quilt shop.  The Owners of the quilt shop are Husband and wife.  The wife whom I'll - Mrs. Owner - her Mother is not doing well.  She has been in and out the hospital over the last couple of months and is now home with hospice.   :(   She used to be a big part of the shop also and we all know her and love her.  That's been rough for us sewers too.   So I worked All day Tuesday and Wednesday and then pretty much all day Thursday.  This is also the weekend of the CRQ quilt show. The shop was planning on being there to display their quilting machines because they are Handi Quilter Dealers, and originally I was going to work the booth with Mrs. Owner at the show.  But with all that's going on they decided to just take the machines to have there with flyers would be better than pulling out all together.  So on Thursday my husband helped  Mr. Owner load up the machines and set them up at the show while I watched the shop.  When they were done, we ate some lunch and then hubby and I went home and Mr. Owner stayed until closing.   Then Today hubby and I went and helped him load up the machines and bring them back to the shop.
I hate the reason that I had for working this week - but have to say it's been fun and I had fun with some customers too.  I even saw a couple of them at the quilt show when I went.
Okay on to the quilt show.  Since Mr. Owner took over for Friday - Hubby and I were able to go to the quilt show.  And I was so happily surprised.  I got a 3rd place and a 1st place ribbon on the quilts I entered.  :)
Here is Sweet Land of Liberty:

And it's 3rd place ribbon.  :)

Now here is my Sea Turtles: 

And it's 1st Place Ribbon

This was extra special for the fact that I did the piecing and quilting on this and it got 1st.  

(Yes I'm in shorts in February) 

I really didn't have full confidence with my free motion quilting and this is just - Wow.  I want to use this as an inspiration to keep going.  

Okay because I was working in the shop I have not been sewing much but have managed to finish up a couple of things.  First is my "L" Block for the Buttermilk Basin  "Let it Snow"  BOM. 

I started this some time after the 15th of last month and the next letter should be coming out around the 15th of this month. 

  And the other thing I finished was a sewing mat that goes under your machine for my friend Vickie.  Her Birthday was the 2nd and she asked for one so I said sure.  Her and I have a love for working with wool so I put a couple of wool flowers at the bottom on the pocket. 

That's about it for now.  I've started and I'm almost done with the February Scavenger block, but I'll wait to show you that until I get it finished, And I also fused a humming bird on a tea towel to make and have ready for a gift.  I will be doing a black blanket stitch around all the pieces. 

That's it for now.  I did my house cleaning today and we are leaving a little bit to go to see "The Little River Band"  So hopefully after we sleep in tomorrow I can get up and get some sewing done.  

Have a Blessed Evening

Lynn 

Artsy Tartsy

Artsy Tartsy - you thought I was going to say something else didn't you.  :)   I am revisiting some of my Art Quilts to link to Tuesday's Archives with Val 


Here are my Black Birds - This was a class my friend taught.  It was a great class learning how to mix textures.  It has wire, cloth and paint.

These are my Dragon Flies - This was a class where we learned to use inks and mix with gel to paint on the fabric and then quilt around it. 

This is the quilt that I painted using the techniques I learned in the dragon fly class. It was for an auction to raise money for awareness for sex trafficking in Kolkata India. 

Here are my Sea Turtles that I made and quilted and am entering in our quilt show next month. I am actually going to have it judged, so I'll have to let you know how I do.  

It was fun looking back on my Art quilts.  I have a few more I'm working but I'll save them for another day.

Have a Blessed day!

Lynn

Busy and Fun

The last few days have been busy and fun.  I had a couple of deadlines to make, 3 potlucks, and some goals to knock off the list.  I am happy to say - it all came together and I'm on the home stretch. So lets see - when I left off last I had finished the quilting on my challenge quilt and just needed to hand stitch the binding and put a label on it, that was on Sunday.
Monday was a little of a low key day, we did our 3 mile walk, (try to do that any day I'm not leaving for a sewing event) then we had lunch and took a nap.  Shhh don't tell anyone :)  then I continued on with the ornaments I was making to give to my quilty friends.  And I made a big green salad because I was taking lunch in for all my Tuesday sewing buddies at the quilt shop.
Tuesday I went to the shop for Open Sew and finished the binding on the challenge quilt.  I took in lunch for everyone  Hot dogs, salad, chips and cookies.  It was fun and my little present to them.  After I got home I made a label for the challenge quilt and got it sewn on.
Wednesday was another home day so we did out walk.  Then I got the applications ready for the other quilts I wanted to put in the February quilt show.  My Turtles:

And Sweet Land of Liberty:

Then I continued on with the ornaments.

Thursday - was my CRQ guild meeting and potluck (2nd big lunch of the week).  Today was the day to turn in the challenge quilt and the applications for the other quilts to be in the quilt show.  I also had 3 "Dolls in a Bag" that I needed to deliver that were ordered at the other guild meeting.  

Here are the three she got.   

Then once the meeting was over and all was cleaned up I came home.   Hubby and I had a couple of errands to run so we did those, stopped and saw our friends at the quilt shop and then we went to the 2 for 1 buffet at one of the casinos.  

Friday was another home day - so we did our walk and I finished the ornaments.  Whew - finally finished them.  And then made a macaroni salad for the potluck on Saturday.   Yep - potluck #3.  :) 

Saturday was Open Sew / Potluck day and the day that I got to hand out all my little Ornaments.  Yeah!  

There were about 16 total but here is a group of them.  

While I was there I finished my wool wall hanging "Bethlehem" that is for my Sister. 

So as a recap - I got the challenge quilt done, applications for other quilts done, Bethlehem done,  Ornaments done, and got the Supply list ready for the January SNR Workshop.  

Today - Sunday - We've taken our walk and had lunch already, now I need to get busy and get the next Doll Bag done.  Needs to be finished by Tuesday.  When I get that done, I'll be starting on the the mixer cover.  That however may not happen until tomorrow or Tuesday.   

I'll let you know How I do - Until then have a very Blessed Day!  

Lynn 

September Goals

Well August was kinda a bust in some ways - I did not get all the things done that I wanted to and as I stated in my other poster here- the retreat was not as productive as I had anticipated. I took about 5 projects to the retreat knowing that I wouldn't get them all done,  but thought I would get maybe 2 1/2 done. Nope that didn't happen . If you want to read about it you can click the link above.  But it is September and since it's already the 3rd and I haven't blogged, wrapped up August or listed September goals I am starting out of the gate behind.  I have had a lot going on and I do want to share some of that but I'll save it for another post.  So with no further ado - August wrap up.

1. Blog more - Well I tied with July so I guess that's ok - E for Effort
2. Mystery Monday - Complete it.   A+  Done and using alot.  I've always wanted to make one of these and let it intimidate me so Now I'm happy I did it.  :)

3. Woodsy Quilt - Do a new Block and or Redo Bears - Well No Progress but E for Effort.  I found a pattern that will work perfect for the center Bear Block and I am going to alter it so that there are two bears instead of one.  So I did some work on it all - I just didn't do any work on an actual block.
4. Wool project "Bethlehem" - Finish .... No Progress at all.
5.   Finish quilting the Sea Turtles and then start on Bee Hive Baby.  1/2 done.  I finished the turtles and then took the Bee Hive Baby to the retreat, however as you can read in my other posts, I didn't finish anything at the retreat.  :)  so only 1/2 done.
Here are the Sea Turtles -

6. Embroidery - Vintage Kitchen - Done.  I was able to finish this on our little trip we took at the first of the month.  Yay!

7.  Piecing Project - Chocolate Stars - Finish top - Success finally.

8.  Charity -   Nothing new done.
9. Boutique -  Dolls in a Bag - A+ -   And probably a big reason why some other stuff didn't get done.  :). Also I went helped out for a day at our local quilt shop.  They had a bunch of stuff dropped off and donated to them so they had a give away day.  At the end of the day I volunteered to drop the remaining stuff off at the local senior center and found out that they are having a craft fair at the end of October.  So now instead of gearing this stuff up for the February quilt show boutique - I am going to enter the craft fair - see what I can sell - and then replenish for the boutique.  Here's a peek at some stuff I'm working on.

I have more on this later but I've been making these little pillows and blankets and they will go into the little bags that are above.  :) 

10.  APQ - UFO Buster #2.  It was my wool crazy and ark crazy projects - No Progress.
11.  New projects - Start my challenge quilt for the quilt show.   Goal Met -

It's not sewn together I want to finish the hand stitching on the center wool applique first.   But I definitely got a good start on it. 

12.  New Project - Start and get most of the SNR Guild project that I'll be teaching in October done so I can show it at the September business meeting.  - Goal Met!   Pictures on this later!  

I have the pattern drawn, 2/3 of the directions written and 1/2 of the project stitched. 

13.  Complete the rest of the Row by Row that I was going to use for the bench pillow.   No Progress. 

Okay so here's the Tally for the month.   5 Goals met,   1 - 1/2 met 1/2 not,  2 E for Effort and 4 not met.   So 7 1/2 to 4 1/2  - the scale is slightly leaning towards the met side  -- ha ha  :)  

Okay now for September

1. Keep on with Blogging more. 

2. Embroidery - The last block for Vintage Kitchen.  Then I can work on assembling it. 

3.  Finish the SNR Workshop project.  - I will post pictures of this in a later post.  It is a small wall hanging that is done in wool felt. 

4.  The Bears.  Using the pattern pictured above I am going to do one the way it's pictured and one reversed so that there are two bears.  I would like to have this drawn out on a vinyl over lay and *extra credit * if I can get it traced out on the fusible. 

5.  Work on projects to sell at the craft fair.  

It seems like a short list - but knowing how much time each of these things are going to take along with the fact that both of the guilds are starting back up this month and there will be extra time spent on that too, I think it's enough.  

I have a lot of things I normally like to incorporate into my monthly sewing - but if I get all this stuff done and want to do something else I probably need to do more on the bear block.   My sweet Sister has been waiting so so long (maybe close to 3 years) for this quilt - I really want to give it more attention. 

I will keep you posted as I work on things this month and see how good I can be at staying focused. With both guilds starting up I know there will be new projects and as much as I say I don't want to start new things - I get sucked in.  :)  

Have a Blessed day! 

Lynn 

July finishes and August Goals.

1. Continue to blog more ... still doing better. So I'd say goal met.
2.  Mail the Not Forgotten Quilt. Complete.  The Auction was Friday night I'm still waiting to hear how it did.

#2.  Mystery Monday - Complete   It was a notebook cover. 

4. Top stitch the Woodsy Squirrel  - Complete.  There will probably be more stitching some thread play - but that will be done when I quilt it. 

5. Progress on SNR Guild Mystery Quilt - Goal met.  I completed the top.  I started the month with only a few 9 patches done.  I had already cut them and realized I forgot to take a picture so you'll have to trust me on that one. 

I finished sewing the rest together, then chopped them apart. 

Then sewed them back together. And now I have a new top.  

6. APQ random number UFO buster.  #1. 

Henrietta Whiskers - goal met. I wanted to make progress on this one and I did. Very little but progress.  It is a hand pieced, hand appliqued quilt, I started with only two blocks done.  

and I got this much of a block done.

7.   Not like I planned.   Well I put this one in because it seems like there is always some kind of project that comes up that takes me away from my goals.  Well I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not to put that in.  First off I did have a lot of Not like I planned things that came up.  Yikes.  

         A.  We were on vacation , came home and decided to paint living room, kitchen and bathroom. 

         B.  We were wrapping the painting up and our Arizona room flooded and we had to tear out all the carpet.  This is also my sewing room.  So I had it all cleaned and set up pretty like I wanted it and bam  total chaos.  So these were definitely "Not Planned" events. I was talking about Not Planned Sewing events but that still counts and not sure I want to put that on the list again - ha ha. Even though I know things come up I don't want them to be like that.  I have however rearranged all the bins of my stuff and my sewing tables AGAIN...  I decided to bring my sewing tables closer to this end of the room because it is closer to the air conditioning.  So here is the new arrangement.  Once Monsoon season is over and we are sure everything is sealed up right we will do something to the floors - but for now I'm liking the fact that I can wheel my sewing chair around on the concrete real speedy like.  

 8. Charity work -  Well there are a couple of things, part of which I don't have pictures of.  We made curtains for an old school house that is going to be part of a historic arena in the area and the old school house is going to be a museum.  Then we are sewing things that can be sold in our next quilt show boutique to help the guild - we are making little fabric boxes and coasters and  bottle covers.  This fabric box and set of coasters are ones I made for someone else but they are the same type we made for the guild.  

And here are some bottle covers that I made for the guild.  So I'd say this goal is met. 

9.  Start quilting one of my tops.  - Goal met.   

This is a goal and an extra credit.  For extra credit that I noted on my goal list but not on my blog cause I thought there was no way to get to my extra credit - I said I wanted to do the top stitching on my Sea Turtles from last September. Well, I got the top stitching done and have started quilting it, I'm actually pretty close to being done.  I'll finish up in August for sure.  Here's how it was when I started the top stitching. 

         Here's where I'm at now.  It has a fin that will hang loose on top of the quilt 3D.  That's why there is a little paper and pin there.   I've put it in for the picture but it needs to be quilted before the final attachment.  Please excuse the threads I have a lot of burying to do.  :) 

10.  Work on and make progress on the wool projects I prepped.   Well I didn't make much progress but I did make some - so - Goal met.  I've done a blanket stitch around the star, the staph, the grassy hill and part of the shepherd's clothing.  Still need to do the sheep, the buildings and the rest of the shepherd. 

11. Vintage Kitchen - I had a few to do on this.  I wanted to do the alternate block for #5.  Then I needed to do #6 for June and #7 for July.  Boy when you get behind it snowballs.  :)  - Goal met I got them all done.  

The month ended up being really productive.  We were on vacation until the 8th.  Then came home and did the painting and home repairs.  And on top of the things listed above, I made 6 presents for people. Most of them are Birthday presents so I can't show them right now, but some of them I can be shown later in the month.  :) 

August 

1.  I'm going to keep going with this one * Blog More * 

2.  New - Mystery Monday - complete it. That's always a gamble since I don't know what it is.  

3.  Woodsy Quilt - Make a new animal block.  I'm torn between a rabbit and a fox.  I'll let you know.

4.  Wool Project - finish Bethlehem wall hanging. (Pictured above) 

5.  Quilting -  First, finish the Sea Turtles, then start quilting another top.  I haven't decided which one for sure but I'm leaning towards "Beehive Baby".  I've had this top done for way too long.  I took inventory of already completed tops - I need to knock out some serious quilting to get these done.  :) 

6. Embroidery - Vintage Kitchen Block # 8  - I am still doing all of my blocks in a salmon color, but this is the block.  

#7.  Pieced - UFO  Chocolate Stars. - It's a BOM quilt that I started a few many years ago.  ha ha.  I want to make progress on it.   I'd really like to finish the top - so we'll see.  

I have 10 of the 12 blocks done and then there are 40 friendship stars around the border.  

Here's a close up so you can see the colors a little better.  The original pattern was done in browns which is probably why it was called Chocolate Stars, but I think I'll rename mine to Strawberries n Mint, what do you think?   LOL

Here's a close up of the 10th block so you can see the colors better. 

#8.  Charity/Boutique - If we don't have small projects that need to be done for the boutique I will work on getting a top done for one of the guilds.  I have material and projects for quilts from both.  

Here are some blocks that were donated - I'm going to put a common sashing on each of them and then a border.  

#9.  Boutique - in addition to the guild making money in the boutique, we can make our own stuff and sell in the boutique.  I have a few things I would like to make to sell for myself.  So I will say the goal is to plan out and start on some of these items. 

#10.  All People Quilts - Random UFO Buster # ________  I'll know on Monday which number is picked and will update you on the UFO and what the starting status is.  Since I don't know which project will be picked, to meet my goal, I will say - Make Progress. 

#11.  Challenge Quilt - Also for the quilt show in February 2016 they are having a challenge quilt.  So I want to start on that.  Again I have some Ideas so I need to finalize the plan and start it. 

#12.  SNR guild workshop - I'm teaching a class in October at the SNR guild workshop.  I have created a pattern and have put in an order for the supplies.  I need to make up the sample to show at the September meeting to get sign ups.  I need to write out the instructions and draw out the pattern pieces to be cut.  I will be doing this in wool felt.  I prefer felted wool but am trying to keep the costs down for those who want to participate. Anyhow, I need to get that pretty close to done this month. 

#13 Row by Row pillow.  There is the nation wide Row by Row experience going on.  I have not traveled enough to collect a lot of the patterns but I am going to use the pattern from our local quilt shop to create one of the bench pillows.  On the 3rd Saturday of the month we are doing bench pillows from Kimber Belle.   But we're also improvising.  A few of us are using the Row by Row as our August Pillow.  So I want to finish my pillow form, and make the Fabrics Unlimited Row by Row for it.  

Well I've made a pretty long list - but what I haven't shared is that I have two tricks up my sleeve. My hubby's brother is in town and so I've had a little extra time in the sewing room and will until the 23rd of August AND I am going to  a retreat.  Not only do I get to go there for 3 days but this time I'm staying overnight.  So I can get up as early as I want and stay as late as I want and sew as much as I want.  :)  So between these two things - I'm hoping that I will get real close to meeting and completing all my goals this month. 

Wish me luck.  :)

Have a blessed day! 

Lynn 

Progress and New Goals

If you are looking for "Grow your Blog" Click here!

Well January was the first time in a long time if ever that I published my list of goals for the month.  And I have to say it was a great motivator  to keep me focused and on track.  However it was very revealing to me how much I can get distracted and want to stray from my first of the month to do/wish list.  *grin* 

So how did I do you ask?  Pretty good I think!  
Here goes:

#1.   Baby Quilt for my Great Grandson Benji...  "Monsters"  I free motion quilted all the blocks, which I'm just beginning on that so I am really pleased that I got it ......DONE!!!
  

#2.  The BOM from Peggy Anne's.... No Progress.

#3.  Twas the Night Before Christmas, Santa Block...... there was progress but it is not done - so that will carry over to February.  

#4.   Jacquelynne Steves "Sweet Simplicity" BOM blocks 1,2 and 3 .... Done!!!  

#5.   "Vintage Kitchen"  BOM by Jenny of Elefantz Block 1.... Done!!!  As I mentioned before, I am doing this in a salmon color.  

6.  ABCD Quilt.   I was not sure what to expect on this and so in my goals setting for January, I left it as a question of what would be accomplished.  I went to the class and I made all the blocks at the class.  So I'm going to count this as a goal met.

The process that the teacher uses is that you make a bunch of these blocks and then you have unlimited amount of quilts that you can make from them depending on how you arrange them.  Here is a sampling of the blocks we made in the class.This was a quick lay out and may not be the finished lay out. 

7.  Bears Block for my Sister's "Woodsy" quilt that I am designing. 

Well - I made progress but it's not complete with top stitching that was my goal. It won't look so choppy once I do some thread painting on it.  *smile* 

  

8.  Doll Quilt for "Doll Quilters Monthly" Swap.... Done!!!  I've been doing this swap for a couple of years now, but have decided to take a break for a while, so this is my last swap. My partner has not received her quilt yet so I can only show a peek for now.  

Extra Credit For January -  To finish the binding on a quilt from too long ago.... I didn't get that far - so of course that will carry forward.  :)  

I have to say I am very pleased with all that I got done and the progress I made.  The list really did help me to stay focused.  

So what's on the agenda for February -  This list is going to be a long one, however I have a 3 day sewing retreat to work on whatever I want to so I am planning to be able to accomplish a little more than normal.   We'll see.  *wink*

February

#1.  Carry over from January - the Peggy Anne's BOM Quilt.  I still need to do the last block and it has 96 piano keys for one of the borders.  I want to finish the top. 

#2.   I have been going to a class at the local quilt shop called "Mystery Monday"  in January the project was this 35x35 quilt that could be a lap quilt or table topper and so I picked colors I wanted for a table topper.  We worked that day and the next to get it done but we didn't.  I want to finish the whole thing quilting and all.  

Here are the 2 of 9 blocks needed.  There will be 5 of the one on the left and 4 of the one on the right.    

#3.  Mystery Monday for February will be happening again this Monday the 2nd.  All I know is it is going to be applique, with  our choice of machine or hand.  I've been doing so much fusible applique lately that I want to do this one by hand.  So I will take a gamble and say I'll finish it.  ha ha 

#4. ABCD Quilt - I want to get the blocks trimmed and decide on a lay out and finish the top.  See blocks above.  

#5.  Vintage Kitchen  by Jenny of Elefantz - finish the 2nd Block.  I'm not sure which one it will be, January's block was the top left one. You can still join in click here.  

#6.   Sweet Simplicity by Jacquelynne Steves BOM.  I want to do the final 3 blocks.  This was a 4 block BOM, however she has given us 2 bonus blocks in case we wanted to make this a 6 block quilt.  I want to use this a table topper, so I will be doing all 6 blocks.  The remaining 3 that I will be doing is the top left block and the bottom 2 on the 6 block quilt.  The there I've already completed are above.

#7  Birdhouse BOM  - This is a project for the Stitch N Rippit guild.  I need to do the block for January which is the snowman in the top left corner, and I will get the February one at the next meeting so I want to complete both blocks.  

#8  Carry over from January and continuing on with the Woodsy Quilt, I want to finish the bear(s) block top stitching and thread painting.  Pictured Above. 

  

#9.  Tea Leaf Table Runner.  This is a workshop that we had at the Colorado Quilters Guild a few months back.  It is a Judy Niemeyer paper pieced pattern.  I just need to applique the leaf on the background and then quilt and bind.  I want to complete that.   

10.  There is a workshop in February at the Stitch N Rippit guild for a St Paddy Day Table runner.  I don't know how detailed it is so I want to at least finish the top. 

Before I get to the extra credit - I also need to make myself a name tag for the Stitch N Rippits guild meetings, and I also have a block that I need to make for a surprise gift for one of our members of one of the guilds - can't say more than that.  And I am hosting a give away on my blog post "Grow your Blog" which is open until February 14th.  (Quick - go leave a comment) And I will be making a set of mug rugs or a pincushion depending on who wins.... so there's 3 more things.  :)  

Extra Credit

EX1.  Quilt and bind ABCD Quilt

EX2.  Top Stitch the Quail block I've already done for the Woodsy Quilt.  

EX3.  Start top stitching my Sea Turtles quilt. 

EX4.  Make another block for the Woodsy Quilt.  I don't know if it will be a fox,  a rabbit or a bird.... But make another block towards it. 

  

Well if you made it this far - Thank you and have a blessed day! Lynn