Another Monthly Project

Another monthly project I'm working on this year is Saturday in the City - out of Tula Pink's Modern Quilt Blocks book.  I'm supposed to make ten blocks each month and so far I'm keeping up!  I just made the ten blocks for June this weekend.
The first two months I really struggled with my fabric choices, contrast, and using large prints.  I think I am starting to get the hang of it, although some of these blocks still do not have a lot of contrast.  In some cases though, that was by choice!

I am getting kind of excited to see all of these in one quilt!

I really like the two above a lot.  You can see on the right that I already found a way to use that iron fabric!  Does anyone else have a hard time getting good yellow fabric?  I do not have a lot of great yellows in my stash for some reason.

OK, no more excuses - time to work on that wedding quilt!

Two More Minis Finished

I finished up the monthly minis for July for my daughters.  Looks like a day at the beach!  I hope they like them!
I have decided that I have too many monthly projects going on this year!  So many that I am only barely able to keep up with them each month and am not getting much else done.  Therefore I have decided that next year I will only do ONE monthly project. I would say none, but there is one at Hi Fashion that I want to sign up for, to make another gift.  I think I should be able to keep up with ONE, and still have time to work on other unfinished projects (like Dear Jane) and projects I have been wanting to make for a long time.  So that's my plan and I'm sticking to it!  I wrote it down for all the world to see, so I have to now, right?

Have a very Happy Sunday!!

Beatle Bag

Yesterday I took a class to learn how to make
The Beatle Bag.  I first saw this bag on The Quilt Show website and went online and ordered the pattern.  It comes with the plastic inserts and the instructions for making it.  When is arrived, I put it on my shelf....
Then I received Teresa's newsletter and discovered that she was teaching a class on how to make the bag, and it was on a day I could go!  What better way to get something done than to sign up for the class!  It worked!  I got the bag done and I really like it.  If I had not signed up for the class, the pattern sadly, would probably still be sitting on my shelf.  So, while I might not have needed the class to learn how to make it, because I had the pattern after all, I needed the class to make myself get it done :)  We take classes for a variety of reasons, to learn something, to socialize with our friends, to have uninterrupted sewing time ... and sometimes - just to make yourself get something done.

I am happy with the way my Beatle Bag turned out!  It has all kinds of pockets and compartments and a pin cushion on the inside, so it will be very useful for taking projects "on the road", or even back and forth to classes.

I do have to say one thing about the class though.  The teacher was great, the other students were fun, but the class was held in the classroom at Hobby Lobby and it was FREEZING.  It was 86 degrees outside, so I did not think to bring my winter coat, but I sure needed it.  To top it off, I'm pretty sure I was sitting right under the vent the cold air was blowing out of.  I was so cold all day - my nose even started running.  At the end of the day I was so happy to climb into my HOT car for the drive home that I even went the long way just to give me some time to warm up :)

N,O,P and R

A friend of mine ask for help in repairing a doll that was made by a friend for her daughter over 30 years ago. The doll need her "hair done", re-curled and sewn back in, in several spots.  After I finished I sent her this picture and told her the doll didn't appear too happy with me for having poked a needle in her head over and over!  My friend was happy though, to have her hair looking good again :)

I have been getting a small amount of quilting projects worked on lately!  Yesterday I was able to finish up the June TQS blocks for the A-Z With Ewe and Me quilt!  These are the four letters that I worked on this month.  You can see this whole unit only measures 8 1/2 x 12 inches.

I used some wool appliqué for the basket and added some little button embellishments on the flowers.

This month we were to sew everything we have done sew far together - so this is what the two I am making look like so far!  Some of my sashing looks a little crooked.... I may have to do some re-sewing or creative pressing.

Off to a quilt class today, to make a Beatle Bag!

Shopping!

Besides stopping at quilt SHOWS when we are out of town, our car frequently stops at quilt SHOPS.  We have well-trained vehicles, what can I say?
So, our recent visit to Logan included a stop at their local quilt shop "My Girlfriends Quilt Shop".  It's a GREAT store, full of fun stuff. I couldn't resist bringing home a few things....
Such as this Metro Rings pattern and the Quick Curve Ruler that enables you to make this cool quilt :)

And a few fun fat quarters - even though I don't really NEED them....

Look at this fun iron fabric!  And it's yellow, which is a color I DO need more of.  Easy to talk myself into this one.

I almost, but not quite, got out of there without buying this great fat quarter bundle.  It has all kinds of fun fabrics in it.  I am sure they will be very useful in a future project.

After we got home I went to Sew Savvy at Hi Fashion and saw many new things they brought in from Quilt Market.  They also had the Metro Rings pattern and the Quick Curve Ruler.  And they had the book below with even more patterns that I can make with the Quick Curve Ruler, so I needed to get that.
Then I couldn't resist this Nancy Halvorsen book that contains the pattern for this adorable stuffed nativity.  I see myself making a few sets of these for future grandchildren :)  At this rate, I don't think I will ever run out of things to do and projects to make!
Happy Quilting!

Sunroom Progress

They are making a lot of progress on the sunroom!

We woke up to this truck at 6:15 this morning delivering shingles up the conveyor belt to the roof.  I guess they will start tomorrow and work through the weekend.

Following are some pictures of how things are looking at the moment :)

There is still one window to be installed in this wall.  It just hasn't come in yet.

The yard is taking a little bit of a beating, but overall do OK.

Skylights are in!  There are four all together.

This is Mike's "baby".  He is excited about it!

OK, I need to return to quilting so I have some quilt related things to blog about!
Have a great day!

A New Generation

When visiting my Mom last week I went with her to the Crochet Club.  One of the gals brought her daughter who sat next to my Mom working on a little wall quilt. She was busy hand stitching around little Sunbonnet Sues.  They are all making items for a craft sale to be held on July 4th weekend.  My Mom is working on a baby afghan.  I couldn't resist snapping this picture of the two of them, two completely different generations, working side by side.  We need to pass down our knowledge and skills to the younger generations, so they too can enjoy the process of creating!  I know I am grateful for all that I've learned from my mother and grandmothers!

Gotta love Maxine :)

The Beauty Around Us

Last week we traveled to Utah to celebrate Mike's parents' 62nd Wedding Anniversary!  Hurray for them and congratulations on a long and wonderful marriage and a great family :)

Today I was reading an article in the latest Machine Quilting Unlimited magazine called "From Photo to Quilt" by Susan Brubaker Knapp.  She said one of her favorite quotes is by Henry David Thoreau, "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads."  Susan said that she loves this quote and that "I think it applies to inspiration too.  Sometimes the best ideas for art - the most amazing beauty - are right in front of you, if you are willing to slow down, and if you are emotionally and creatively open to the possibilities."  She said she takes her camera with her wherever she goes and hopes people ask themselves the question, "I wonder what I would find if I really looked around me?"

I just so happened to have snapped some interesting photos myself while we were traveling.  I find that since I started quilting, I notice texture, color and interesting shapes more than I used to.  Sometimes I snap photos just because something is unique and interesting looking to me.  My photos may never make it into a quilt, as a photo, but they may be inspiration for color, design or texture.

I love this red tree growing in front of Mike's parents' house.

We went to Utah State University for a concert on Sunday evening and I spotted this ivy growing up the side of the building - I had to get a picture!  It was just so interesting looking!

This is a photo my daughter Megan took while hiking with her husband on Saturday up in the Utah mountains.  Simply gorgeous - and very peaceful looking.

In the article, Susan said, "Here is my best advice:  Don't just look.  See.  I believe this is what separates really visually creative people from the masses.  You can learn this skill and become one of them."

I am still learning, but I enjoy looking AND seeing!

Brigham City Quilt Show - Part Two

Here are the remaining photos I took at the quilt show in Brigham City.  This quilt is very traditional and looks very complicated.  The workmanship was fantastic.

While I was there several people came in looking for the "Dragon Fly Quilt".  I really like this one!  It has a bit of a cathedral window in it!

This was another popular quilt.  I saw the same quilt and pattern at a quilt store in Logan on Monday.  Still, a bright, fun, cheerful quilt!

For the patriotic!  Very nice.

Loved the quilting on this one.  I need to get busy quilting that wedding quilt!  Ah!











Old McDonald had a farm ... quilt....  Have a great day!