Life is good!

This was definitely a fun project!  It was another Moda Bakeshop one, made from a Hi De Ho Jelly Roll and yardage.  I'd originally wanted the triangle pieces to be five strips, but I couldn't quite squeeze enough triangles out of a strip set that way.  Regardless, I do like the way it turned out.  I used a polka dot for the background, which was kind of a fun change from the usual white, too.  The sun was on its way down when I was taking pictures, but I think the bridge may be a new favorite spot for showing off quilts. I'm still learning how to use my good camera.  A work in progress, as with so much else.   I did a scrappy binding from leftover jelly rolls, and love the bit of color it gives it.   I'm not sure where this one will be going - a good friend is having a baby girl, though, so I strongly suspect it may be headed east in a couple of months! 

Not a lot of quilting progress, but I have finished several shirts recently, and finished cutting out a couple more garments.  I've been trying to get at least a few minutes of sewing in each day, although sometimes it just still doesn't happen!  I've made significant progress on Daisy Chain and Scrappy Chevrons, and at least purchased backing fabric for three of the tops, so that's something.  Recent Completions!! Whirligig WIPs: Daisy Chain (for the church dinner)    Farmer's Wife (LONG term project! - 20 blocks completed) Scrappy Chevrons (leader and ender setup) Needs Binding Avalon BOM  At the quilter: Top Completed, waiting for quilting: Stardust Swoon Mosaic Madonna and Child Park Bench  Breezeway Planning: Secret Garden (layer cake quilt) Snowbird BOM Elementary UFO's: Craftsy QAYG quilt (three of twelve completed) Vintage Modern Scrappy Fabulous Flowers - stalled until I figure out how to fix it...

Every once in a while a quilt top sneaks into my WIP list, without being in the planning stage first.  For a recent birthday, I treated myself to a half yard bundle of Downton Abbey fabric.  It was the first set that came out, and I just adore them.  They sat in a place of honor in my stash, and I'd frequently just pet them.  Last week, however, I got it into my head to actually USE them, and before I could talk myself out of it, I'd cut into the Lady Edith colorway (and really, who doesn't have sympathy for poor Lady Edith??) and finished a quilt top.  The pattern was Breezeway, from a quilting magazine.  I'll have to check and see which one, but it used large rectangles in the center of each block, and I thought it would be perfect for showing off these prints.  I love how it turned out - now to get it quilted!  I'd love to splurge and get enough of the Downton Abbey print with Highclere Castle on it for the backing, but that would be far m...

This was another sister-commissioned project.  Since she has four girls, all of whom have a quilt from me, and this is at least my second, and possibly third one I've done for a fundraiser for her kids' school, plus the baby project, my sister is definitely my best (and okay, only!) customer.  :) This was another fundraiser project.  It's a Moda Bakeshop pattern, and with the ombre fabrics, goes together incredibly quickly. My mother recently raided by scrap bin, and made me 50 yards of scrappy bias binding.  I used it on this project, and just love the pop it gave it. I used a pieced backing, and love how that eats up the stash fabrics.  Unfortunately that picture was lost in the ether, but regardless, another completed project!

This is one that my sister commissioned, as a baby quilt for a friend.  The baby's name is Voss, which is definitely unusual, but let me play with a bit of large scale alphabet appliqué. The pattern is Northern Lights, by Jaybird quilts.  It uses the Hex-n-more ruler, and with that tool it goes together very quickly.   It's all Kona solids.  I usually don't work with just solids, but this was a fun project to do, and it does make me want to branch out to more solids.  The "V" I made freehand, and I think it turned out pretty well.  I used good old wonder under to iron it in place, then used a zigzag to secure it. The quilter alternated fill patterns in the colors, and I love the result.  It gives it a bit more definition and variety. Obviously my quilt holder likes it!  It's hopefully in the hands of its new owner now, and I can happily check off another finished project.

I don't seem to have spent much time in the sewing room lately, but I'm working on it!  I have started a couple of clothing projects.  My summer wardrobe is a bit thin, I've discovered, so I'm trying to work on that.  I have a feeling the entire summer is just going to fly by without me getting to spend much time working on sewing or stitching of any sort! Recent Completions!! WIPs: Daisy Chain (for the church dinner)    Farmer's Wife (LONG term project! - 20 blocks completed) Scrappy Chevrons (leader and ender setup) Needs Binding Avalon BOM  At the quilter: Secret Project Top Completed, waiting for quilting: Stardust Swoon Mosaic Madonna and Child Park Bench (15 of 15 completed) Planning: Secret Garden (layer cake quilt) Snowbird BOM Elementary UFO's: Craftsy QAYG quilt (three of twelve completed) Vintage Modern Scrappy Fabulous Flowers - stalled until I figure out how to fix it...

I swear, I have been accomplishing things!  Although it doesn't feel like it sometimes...  This is my latest secret project sneak peek...  At the quilter now, and I'm anxious to get the final product back! This is a cross stitch project at least six years in the making.  Still technically not done, since I need to actually turn it into a stocking... My newest cross stitch WIP, and I just love this one.  The fact that it uses only one color of floss is a real bonus, as it's very easy to pick it up and work on it for five minutes.  I never have to worry about finding the right color! And there is outside work in progress.  Good black dirt from Dad - it definitely pays to have a farmer for a father.  Where else am I going to get that much ameliorated soil?? And I cleaned my carpets.  Yuck!  But at least they're clean now... This is another REALLY old WIP.  And I definitely do have to wor...