July monthly mini

Well, I warned you that you would laugh when you saw how simple my July monthly mini was. Here is it! 

 And, it was even simpler because I had a stack of 4 patches already done. Cyndi (Busy Thimble) gave me 750 inch and a half squares and I use them as “feeder” pieces beside my sewing machine while I am working on other projects.

As you will see, my cohorts in the monthly mini project have been much more creative! Please visit and see their wonderful minis. Let me know if I have missed anyone. Happy quilting!

Barb (Fun with Barb)

Janet (Rogue Quilter)
Randy (Barrister’s Block)

Kyle (Timeless Reflections)
Sandy (My Material Creations)
Barbara (Quilts, Gravestonesand Other Elusive Ancestors)
Shasta (High Road Quilter)

Karen (Log Cabin Quilter)

Summer!

I’m back – did you miss me? I am really looking forward to catching up with my Blog reading!

I’ve decided that next year I am going to skip July. Oh wait, that is what I did this year! Yes, it has been a trying and fitful month. I just couldn’t stay focused. I would walk into my sewing room and fondle each of the 15 ongoing projects, and walk out as my eyes glazed over. Part of my problem is that I am in between major applique projects.

I always have “busy” hand work at the ready (EPP, mini bindings, etc.) but, I feel lost without a serious applique mission. I have a few on the horizon that should bring me out of this fog by Fall so stay tuned.

In the meantime, I have managed to get “clue #1” of Kevin’s (Kevin the Quilter) summer mystery sew-a-long done.

aerial view

You can see that my “summer fog” crept into my sewing machine and caused a few minor mishaps.

I can’t wait for the next clue!

And, my monthly mini is almost complete. It’s o.k. to give a little chuckle when you see how simple and small it is!

I had a fabulous time at the Vermont show in June and was able to meet up with lots of friends. My friend Randy (Barrister's Block) came to visit me with her friend, Claire (Cspoonquilt). We had a great time at my husband's family summer home before we all went to the show.

Randy and Claire brought me all sorts of goodies, but I just had to share this little pin cushion that Randy made for me.

The elephant is a vintage planter (my favorite kind!) and she made a felted wool ball in colors to match the elephant. Too cute! 

I entered my Noah and Matilda potholder quilt in the Vermont show. 

We (the Seven Sewing Sisters) arrived too late for the award ceremony so we just went straight to the quilts. It took me a while to find my quilt because Sharon Waddell's fabulous antique exhibit captured me and would not let go! There were many people all standing around my quilt and I heard "Gee, I wonder why this quilt didn't get a ribbon?". I stood there a while listening to the comments and then a few friends came over and said, "wow, you were robbed!". Now, I am the first person to say that I don't enter shows for ribbons (and I truly do just like to share my work), but I have to admit I was disappointed. So, back we went to our hotel. Came in the next morning to get my badge (no ribbon, but at least I get in free!) and the lady at the desk couldn't find one for me. Hmmm, this is getting interesting! But, finally a sweet young woman came over and said, "Oh I am soooo sorry, I was the one in charge of ribbons last night and I somehow missed yours. Long story short (I know, too late) I had won a blue ribbon. There is no moral to the story, just a good laugh! Please visit Barb's (Fun with Barb), Randy's (Barrister's Block) and Gladi's (Gladiquilts) to see excellent shots of the show. I really stink at photography! 

I have been plugging along on my c1880 blocks with Pam Buda at Marcus Fabrics.

It has been so much fun making these little guys.  I joined through Cyndi's Busy Thimble quilt shop. Visit Pam's website (here) to find out how to join the club. And visit Janet (Rogue Quilter) to see her glorious version in the making! 

Last, but not least, if you are looking for a great (and I mean super!!) book to buy this summer, I highly recommend this one.

Lori Lee and Kay Triplett have done a fabulous job with this book. I have many of their books, but this is my new favorite. I will tempt you with just one photograph.

You can get your copy (here). You won't be disappointed! 

If all goes well, I'll be posting the monthly mini's next week. Wishing you all cooler temps and lots of quilting time! 

Vintage Patchwork - July project

Vintage Patchwork (by PamBuda) project #7, “Scarlet”. 

When I started this monthly project back in January, I cut out each month’s project (as Pam suggests in the book) and placed them in labeled bags. I did not try to match Pam’s fabrics, I just chose 40 ten inch squares of my favorite fabrics. I found it interesting that the colors for this little project were so close to Pam’s.

This is the first one that I had trouble with. I am not the best at following directions. I suggest that you pay close attention to Pam’s tips

if you want yours to come out correctly! Her message and helpful hints were spot on - if only I had read them first!! I had to “improvise” after I realized that I did not adhere to the written instructions. I was able to fix the problem, but I admit I took the photo from as far back as I could!!

It is still sweet and will become part of someone’s Christmas package this year. Thanks Pam for another great project and I will pay closer attention to the next one!

Dark Solstice - June Mini

I thought it would be nice to make something with flowers for my June mini. I have boxes full of little hexie flowers that were already stitched, so this would be easy peasy. 

I found myself pulling out these dark fabrics and realized it was reflective of our dark and dreary Spring! I just stitched them together, popped out the oaktag papers and appliqued it onto this gray fabric. I punch a hole in the center of my templates for easy removal with tweezers and they are reusable.

I searched for the darkest fabric in my stash for the border and voila! 

I felt if I used a bright yellow floral for the back, the sun might finally come out.

Let me tell you, it worked! Just as I finished the binding, the sun came out and we had two lovely days of sunshine in a row! The mold is beginning to recede!

Click on the links to my fellow mini makers to see their delightful creations.

Quilting Babcia - (Amity Quilter) 

Randy -  (Barrister’s Block)
Barb - (Fun with Barb) 
Sandy - (My Material Creations) 
Barbara - (Quilts, Gravestones and Other Elusive Ancestors) 
Janet - (Rogue Quilter)

I just returned from the Vermont Quilt Festival where I met up with Randy (Barrister's Block) and Barb (Fun with Barb). What a ball! I will post more later, but you will want to check out Barb and Randy's blogs as they are much better photographers! I've been pretty bad about reading and commenting in Blogland this week. I do hope to catch up next week! 

Happy Summer to all!

C1880 9-patch blocks

It has been the worst Spring ever for me! Dark, dreary weather and a few other not so nice surprises. So… it was very nice to find these wonderful little blocks (and label for the back of my quilt) from Pam Buda in my mailbox.

I am so thankful that Pam asked me to participate in the swap of these little gems.

I have had so much fun making these, but I am not very good about posting! Now on to piecing the rows.

Do check out Pam’s Blog (here) and Facebook page (here) join in the fun!

I am off to the Vermont QuiltFestival for a few days of Q & R (quilts and relaxation). Hope to see you there! And, I hope when things settle down, I will be a better Blogger!

Vintage Patchwork - June project

This month’s project from PamBuda’s Vintage Patchwork is called “Little Women”. It is a sweet one for sure. I did simple machine quilting in the ditch as I wanted to get it done in time to send it off as soon as I finished it.

I sent 8 of my monthly mini quilts (posted previously on my blog) to the Hopes and Dreams quilt challenge for ALS.

I have lost two friends to this dreaded disease in the past few years and I want to do all I can to help this project. I found out about it in a pamphlet in a package of Quilters Dream wool batting. You can make a quilt for an ALS patient or send a mini quilt to be sold to raise funds. The information is on their website (here). Count each day as a blessing. 

Monthly mini/indigo challenge

This month’s mini is a “twofer”! It is my monthly mini, but also a challenge proposed by Sandy (My Material Creations). 

When Sandy posted that she had acquired some wonderful antique indigo fabrics (here) I admit I was green with envy. All I could think of was how I hoped I could stumble onto a treasure trove like that someday. And just like that, my dream came true.

Sandy asked me if I would like to be part of a 4 person [Sandy (My Material Creations), Janet (RogueQuilter), Barbara (Quilts Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors) and me] challenge to make a little quilt utilizing these fabulous fabrics. Would I? Oh yes!!

I was overwhelmed when my package of “scraps” arrived in the mail. A gallon sized bag of 17 different antique (c1890) indigo prints. Wow! I couldn’t wait to start. Sandy had already given us a taste of her little blue and white 9-patch (here) – gorgeous! Janet’s post of her little cheddar and blue gem (here) really got the juices flowing!

So, what if I could make one using my favorite colors. I went to my antique bin to see if I could find enough color to suit me. I’m happy with how the center came out. 

I was able to find a border print (c1880) that I rescued from a mouse eaten quilt top years ago. I hand quilted it using a split wool batting.

Normally I make oversized blocks and just lop off edges as I work along. I am much more careful with these antique pieces, giving them the respect they deserve. I wonder if 100 years from now, someone will find my stash of fabrics and be as thrilled with them as I am with these.

Just look at the gorgeous creations our team came up with!
Sandy (My Material Creations)

Janet (Rogue Quilter)

Barbara (Quilts Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors)

Thanks Sandy, for the fabrics and the challenge!

 And, here are a few non-indigo monthly minis:
Barb (Fun with Barb) made a marvelous modern mini (here)
Sandy (My Material Creations) made a second mini just for the monthly challenge (here) wow!
Pat (Taylor's Outback) made an adorable mini from Pam Buda's Vintage Patchwork this month. Check it out (here) is is so sweet!

Great job everyone!