Summer Marches On

Time flies so quickly.  Here it is the middle of July already, and school will be right around the corner.  The boys are not looking forward to school at all.

Usually my canning starts in August, but I got an early start with these pickled beets a couple of weeks ago.  I thought I would share with you how they turned out.  I am the only one who likes pickled beets, so the 9 bottles I got done should last me the year.

I also finished two more projects of my own.  The fabric for this quilt was given to me at the store.  A customer was leaving town, and gave the fabric and a "Turning Twenty" pattern, to be given to someone who could make it.  A lady in our guild pieced the top and it came back to me.  So, I purchased the backing, batting and binding, and finished it off.  It will be donated this fall.

This next quilt was a mystery quilt through an online group.  The steps came every 3 days, and I got it done fairly quickly.  I kept up on all the steps.  Then I hung the top on my basement family room wall for quite a while.  Here it is, finally finished.  I love the graphic effect of the big square.  The way it came together was fun.

Then, I finished this store sample.  It is cute, but much bigger than I would have made it.  I think it would be fine with the panel and two or three borders.  However, it did turn out cute and I am done with it.  Hooray!!

Now, another quilt for the store to be done by August.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Happy Sewing!

Quilt Guild Challenge Revealed and Week 15

What a great week!  I worked hard, and have finished quite a bit, but the best thing was our Quilt Guild meeting today.  We finished our challenge quilts, and revealed them to each person.  It was exciting to see everyone's reactions to the quilt.

Here are the rules:  We each brought a bag with fabric in it to quilt guild.  We could not add our name or a pattern or suggestion to the fabric.  We then traded bags and went home with someone else's fabric and we were to make a top approximately 24" square for the other person, using only the fabric as inspiration.  We traded in October of 2011 and today we brought them back to trade back again.  We had 5 participants, and many wishing they had participated after seeing the results.

I started it off showing the quilt I finished for Alice.  I took this picture before taking it to Guild meeting.  I think it needs a border of the red, then another of the floral, but I ran out of the red fabric.  I think Alice can add to this very nicely.  Now, I want to make one for me.  I wrote down the instructions so I can.

Then, Alice showed the quilt for Lyn.  She hoped (by the fabric choice) that it was for Lyn and left stitching space for Lyn to fill.  Lyn does amazing embroidery work :)  I love the fun picot and scalloped borders.  Also, I love the green radiating lines formed by the squares leading out from the center.

Then, Lyn showed the one she worked on for Leslie.  She did some amazing embroidery work on it.  My pictures aren't close enough to show, but she worked very hard on it.  Leslie was almost in tears to realize it was for her.  It also has lots of fun buttons on it.  Beautiful work, my friend, Lyn.

Then, Leslie showed her work for Carol.  Leslie doesn't do pastels, so this was out of her comfort zone.  However, she pulled it off beautifully...I love the flowers in the corners.  I also enjoy how the colors play off each other.

Then, Carol showed the one she made for me.  It is a fabulous feathered star.  She said it was a difficult pattern, and she may never make one again.  I have always enjoyed the look of the feathered star, but never thought I would ever make one.  Now, I don't have too!  :)

Weren't those fabulous quilts?!  These ladies did an amazing job (that word, again...but true!), and I am so glad we took part in it.  There was a lot of excitement as each shared what they had done, and each saw what they received.  This was a very rewarding challenge - both to share and to receive.  There were several who expressed that they wished they had done it too, now that it was over.  One even asked me if I would do it again next year.  I am the president-elect, so I will not be able to do that, too.  I have to find 6-7 teachers for classes next year.  That is overwhelming enough!

Now for my finishes this week:

I took the time to make 2 skirts for me.  I loved the fabric and wanted to wear it, instead of hanging it on the wall.  This first one I bought in the shop I work in.

The second was on clearance at a shop 30 miles away.  I love the big flowers on both of them.  They make me smile to see them.

My hot pad count is up to 19.  I think I will make my goal of 40 for the year.  Hopefully even more than that.  It is a good thing for me to do when I am in meetings and need to listen, but like to keep my hands busy.  It is also good for those times when I am waiting for someone, or too tired to sew in the studio.

Now, for a confession.  I did really well, for one month, not buying any new projects.  However, when the new "Butterfields" line, from Henry Glass came in, I could not resist.  I had to do something with it.  So, on Wednesday, April 4th I bought the fabric, and by Monday, April 9th I had the top pieced.  So, here is the completed top (52" square).

And here is the fabric closer up.  I fell in love with all of the colors, but especially the pink dot.  I will use it for the binding after I get it quilted.  I have fabric left over, so I am trying to decide what those pieces will become.  I'll share more on these later.

So, all in all, a good week and lots of sewing time and accomplishments.  Thanks for letting me share with you.

Keep Sewing!

Mystery Solved & a Few Other Finishes

Our Quilt Guild did this quilt as a mystery.  I used "Summer's End" by Kansas Troubles.  I am thrilled with the result.  I don't think I want to add a border to it.  I hope to quilt it before May 10th. 

Then, I finished this quilt, using "Lilac Hill" fabric.  

Can you believe that quilt is only 16x20 inches.  It is called "Delectable Mountains" and it is from the Fat Quarter Quilting book by Lori Smith.

Next, I finished these place mats for Easter.  I wanted to use them to decorate the shelves of my kitchen hutch.  I may make enough to switch out frequently through the year. I did learn that next time I will quilt all over a sandwich made from 2 1/2-yard pieces, instead of cutting them to size first.  That way, I can quilt better without worrying about getting too close to the edge.  

And, finally, the second Chocolate inspired table topper.  

This one, I used a different back on, but the front is the same.  I had a difficult time with the inside corners, but it worked out okay.  

Here you can see some of the quilting.  I am very pleased!

Now I can add them to my list of finished projects.  Yahoo!!!

What are you sewing?

Another Finish...

or two.

I finished these bags.  They are tote bags for shopping days.  I can fit a lot in these bags.

Then, I saw this chocolate fabric at work, and had to do something with it.  So, I adapted a charm-pack pattern, and used yardage instead.  Here you can see I used the chocolate on the back, too.

 I am using this quilt as a sample for my machine quilting class.  I hope it is eye-catching enough!

I had enough fabric for two of these, just had to use a different back on the other one.  It is still waiting for the binding to be finished.  All in good time!

Happy sewing!