Sew & Tell Friday #19

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time coming up with blog post titles.  

Wednesdays (Wonderful Wednesday) and Fridays (Sew and Tell) are taken care of.  That only leaves me three days a week, since I don't post on weekends, to come up with clever titles, but I still struggle.

So it figures that today when I don't need a cute title, I came up with Little Pink Houses!

This week was spent working on a little of this and a little of that.  My Friday finishes are blocks for 

V's Call for Help Basics Home Gather.

  Little Pink House #1

Little Pink House #2

Little Pink House #3

While sewing, I kept singing John Cougar  John Cougar Mellancamp  John Mellancamp's little Pink Houses  for you and me.  What a blast from the past!!!

I hope to put all five of these house blocks in the mail to Victoria this weekend.

Would you like to make some?  Victoria is collecting house blocks through April.

Be sure to visit all the Sew and Tell Friday participants to see their accomplishments this week.  

Have an amazing weekend!

This and That

Have you seen this kit?

It is the Moda Advent Banner Box.  You think I can get this done in time for Christmas?

This is the February table runner kit from the Fat Quarter Shop.  Don't you love this pattern?  Of course, January's runner hasn't been started completed yet.

I did put the final block on this charity quilt.  I have the backing prepared and hope to quilt it tomorrow.  If so, another February goal I can cross off my list!

This is the second block made for the Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Along.

Here they are side by side.  Can't wait to see next week's pattern!

Have an amazing day!

Wonderful Wednesday!

No Montana wildflowers or Florida orchid pictures today.

My toes are finally free of these.....

....fuzzy, warm, comfy but claustrophobic Merrells!!!!

My toes are happy and so is Max!!!!!  

Have an amazing day!!

I Did It!

After much deliberation, I made my first Dear Jane block.

I've been thinking about this project for a while after seeing several out in Blogland.  The only thing I knew for sure, is that I wanted to do it Liberated style....mainly because some of the blocks involved complicated paper piecing which I avoid at all costs!.  

I pondered color choices for a while.  Anya was gracious with her time and advice in answering my many questions and suggested that I graph out my overall color plan.  My idea is to go with Jane's color and fabric scheme with the twist being to use fresh fabrics from modern designers like Rachel is doing with her Modern Siggy Swap.

I started with a really easy one.  This is what they call Simple Simon or M-10.

This is my version.  Really simple block to make.  But I forgot about the Liberated part.

 

Luckily, the block was a tad too big.  I used Gwen's method of liberating nine patches.  You can't really tell since I didn't have much room to work with, but it is a little wonky.

I also got one of my pinwheel blocks done for the Pinwheel Sampler Quilt Along.  I am using Kate Spain's Verna for this project.

Have an amazing day!

Back to Work

I don't usually get much sewing done during the weekend as I'm doing family things.  This weekend was no exception.

I decided on the backing and border for my Amish quilt top.  It is basted and ready for quilting.  If only I could decide how to quilt this.  I think I am going to hand quilt it, but what color thread and what pattern, I have no idea.  Help me, please!

I managed to sew one long strip of my LOVE quilt.  I'm taking it one block at a time and deciding which fabric to use as I go along.  

There are only six days left in February.  I know I will not meet all my February goals, but I'd like to make one Dear Jane block by then.  Actually, if I accomplish that I will have met all my goals but one.  That's not too bad considering I worked on some projects not listed as goals.  

Time to get back to work.  Have an amazing day!!!

Sew & Tell Friday #18

Happy Friday again!  These Sew and Tell Fridays make me realize how fast time goes by.  

Now, restrain yourself from getting too excited over the complicated project I am showing you.  I needed a little something for a last minute teacher's gift.  My daughter helped me make these bookmarks.

Here's the flip side.  Two will go to my daughter's teacher with a Barnes and Noble gift card.  I'm going to keep two on hand with the extra gift card I bought for when I forget a gift  emergencies.

Whew!  For a while there, I thought the bookmarks were all I had to share today.  But, I was able to find time to work on my Amish project.  I finished adding the aqua and black stripes since the last time.  The liberated part of the stripes was having different widths and a little bit of wavy going on.  I'm not sure about the red border, but it is what it is.

Part of the Liberated Amish Get Together's challenge was to add letters or numbers somewhere in the quilt.  After some pondering, I added the JMR since this is destined for Montana.  It's our "brand" for all things Montana.  It took me several tries to get the letters the way I wanted.  So now my top is complete.  Next I need to decide how to quilt it and what color to use for the binding.  Any suggestions?  Should I go with red again or another dark like the inner border?

Enjoy all the other Sew and Tell Friday posts.  Have an amazing weekend!!!

LOVE Project

What to do?  Still not much sewing going on.  Lots of sickness going on though.

I added some stripes to my Amish quilt.  I just hope I don't run out of the aqua fabric.

While watching the Olympics, I tried to decide what to do with my Amy Butler Love fabrics.

I am hesitant to cut into those beautiful fabrics.  Since I haven't found a quilt pattern with big enough blocks to showcase the fabrics, I sketched out an idea of my own.

I'd like to get started on this soon.  Wish me luck on this latest "doing my own thing".

Have an amazing day!!

Wonderful Wednesday!

Florida pictures for a change.

Daylilies and a hibiscus rather than wildflowers.

I get so excited over Montana wildflowers that I sometimes forget to notice and appreciate the beauty of Florida.

Have an amazing day!!

A Setback

My idea of getting back into a routine didn't exactly work out for me yesterday.  My husband and son both decided to choose Monday to stay home sick.  Today, my daughter and I have joined the party.  Ugh!

These gorgeous flowers did arrive for me yesterday.  Thanks Dad!!!  I guess the florist messing up the Valentine's Day order actually worked in my favor.  They certainly brightened my day.

I guess UPS doesn't take off President's Day.  This book was also delivered to me yesterday.  I'll probably spend some time browsing this while lounging on the couch today.  I'm hoping to get inspiration for another AAQI quilt.  I also hope to catch up on my emails and blog reading as I am WAY behind on that.

I did find some time to sneak into my studio in between checking on my boys.  I made two house blocks for V's Basics Inc. charity project.  This was another first for me.  I've never made houses before.  (I'm starting to realize there is a lot of quilting out there still for me to discover!!)

I think the colors work better together in this block.  I plan to make some more.  Would you like to make some houses?  Victoria is collecting as many as she can get for this wonderful organization that helps put families back into homes.  Click on the button to learn all about it.

You can also Click here to read the post (in case my button link doesn't work).  Thanks.

Have an amazing day!!

A Start

  It is the middle of February, and I still don't feel like I've gotten back into a routine after the Christmas holidays.  Our winter break is over, and the kids are back in school today.  I think it is time to get my act together.

This is the quilt that I have decided to use as my inspiration for the Liberated Amish Challenge.  There are a couple of others in the book that I'd also like to make....if I have time.  I can cross #2 off my February list of goals.

For the liberated part, I made my 36 center "squares" various sizes rather than uniform squares.  There are still six down and six across.

The inner border is attached, and I am auditioning the stripes.  Now that I have started on this quilt, I can cross #3 off my list.  That leaves #4 and #5.

In case you were wondering, my son's soccer team made it through to the Regions Semi-Finals, where, unfortunately, they were beaten by a better team.  This is disappointing as they have made it to the State Final 4 the last couple of years.  My son will be a senior next year and is hopeful they will win the State Championship then.  My daughter played the harp in her first Guild Festival Sunday.  I am excited to say she scored a Superior which is the highest.  What a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day!  (Actually, having the guild on Valentine's Day is not the way we wanted to spend the day....but the Superior made it better.)

Have an amazing day!!

Sew & Tell Friday #17

Happy Friday and Happy Valentine's Day (a little early)!!!

My kids have been out of school this week, and we have been lazy.  That's my excuse anyway for not having much to show this week.  I did make all my 101 siggy blocks, sign them (which was the hardest part for me) and put them in the mail (the next hardest thing for me).

I also finished this little mini quilt for Valentine's Day.  Just a simple heart made with honey bun strips.  I then cut out a little heart in the center and then appliqued the bigger heart to the red background, batting and backing all in one step.

When I saw how cute the two heart shapes looked on the back, I decided no other quilting was needed.

This is my Life is Just a Box of Chocolates mini that I was really excited about.  The picture came out blurry, and I didn't even bother to retake it.  That's because my sewing abilities (or lack thereof) did not keep up with the brilliant idea visualized in my mind.  This one will need a redo.

Max and I wish you a very Happy Valentine's weekend!!!  Can't you tell how excited Max is about wearing his Valentine bandana and hanging out in my studio?

Click on the Sew and Tell Friday button and see all the wonderful finishes.  

Have an amazing weekend!!