A June Progress Report

I've gotten sidetracked by a few things, but my June goal is slowly getting there.  I was nearly finished appliqueing some blue star blocks when I decided to make it my June goal to turn them into a donation quilt.  I started making nine-patches for the alternate blocks, but got tired of that, so I ended up making a second kind, too.   Then somewhere along the way I realized I was using two different shades of gray.  It's a scrappy quilt, though, right? 

The blocks look good together .....

..... and I was able to pull the perfect backing fabric from my stash.  It's the same fabric I used for the background in Natalie's quilt - "Essentials" by Wilmington Prints.

 That project is set aside for now.  My daughter-in-law asked me to make a quilt for her friend's twin grand-daughters.  I was pretty excited to be asked to make such a special quilt, and maybe a little excited to buy something new and fun to work with.  I found this collection called "Seashore Drive" by Sherri & Chelsi for Moda Fabrics.  It was hard to pick out only ten of them.  I fell in love with all the prints in the line.

It's even prettier when you add some Kona White.

I can't get away from those Half Square Triangles, can I?

But, just wait until you see what I'm doing with them!

July Goal for "A Lovely Year of Finishes"

Setting a goal at all for July is kind of scary since I will be out of town for about half of the month.  I've been really motivated lately so I'm going for it!

My grandson, Noah, is ready for a new quilt.  I asked him what kind of quilt he wants (Never do that!  Just ask what color they like!) and he said he wants a lacrosse quilt.  I thought, "Oh no, where will I find lacrosse fabric?"  Then he added the fact that he also likes the University of North Carolina.  Yikes!

Well, Quiltshops.com to the rescue once again!  First, I found these cool prints from the "Sew Sporty" collection by Dan Morris for RJR Rabrics. 

Then I ordered some of this Officially Licensed Collegiate Print.

Figuring out how to use these prints together was the next bridge to cross, so I just started doodling.  I have no idea if I saw this idea somewhere or if it's out of my own head, but I decided it would work.  I thought that adding this black-on-navy print would work well.  It's "Nature's Basket" from Moda.  The other fabric will be used for the backing.

I got one block made and everything else cut out to take to retreat with me.

I wasn't really loving the fabrics together in the block, but the more blocks I made and laid out on the floor, the more I liked it.  Once they were all stitched together I decided it actually looks pretty cool.  I love the way the blocks seem to float on the quilt top.  Now it needs a dark border and it will be ready to baste.   

So, as far as goals for July go ........ I would really like to get the final border on, baste it, quilt it, and put on the binding.  In other words -- finish Noah's quilt. 

Wish me luck!! 

I am linking up to A Lovely Year of Finishes Goal Setting Party for July at Fiber of All Sorts.  

It's In The Mail

I just fell in love with this fabric so I had to make a matching pillowcase for Aemarys's quilt before I put it into the mail to her.

It's from the "Keep it Sassy" line by Moda and comes in several other colors.  The Cotton Candy pink is from the tried and true Kona Solids which I usually buy from The Fat Quarter Shop.  You can get just about any color you want in that line!

Can you believe I even found a purple and pink dotted note card to include?  

I put it into a big plastic storage bag, then packaged it and shipped it out earlier this week.  She might even be sleeping under it tonight.  

Retreat Projects

The Moda Jelly Roll I threw into my retreat bag at the last minute was Basic Grey Urban Couture.  My friend Rose Mary had given this to me, too.  (She is too good to me!)  

I found a pattern I wanted to use in Diane's magazine, the Spring 2013 issue of Quilting Quickly.

Fortunately I like to make a single block when I start a new pattern instead of chain piecing the whole thing.  I would have ruined every single block if I had chain pieced.  There is a mistake in the pattern!  

Instead of the pieces looking like they show in the pattern....... 

......they are really supposed to look like this.

Otherwise the stars don't turn out right.

Once that was straightened out I made blocks until I ran out of muslin.

Then I got out the pillowcases and started on them..........

A Close Call

I was all packed and ready to leave for Retreat on Monday morning.  I hadn't really taken as much time to plan projects as I normally do, but I was satisfied with the main idea -- a baby quilt made with really bright solids and a bright white background.  

I had this stack of half yards of Marcus Fabrics which I had purchased at a quilt show.......

.......and this stack of brights that my friend Rose Mary had given me when she was my Secret Quilter.

What gorgeous colors!  I was a happy girl!!

But not for long.  I am normally not a pre-washer, but I got to thinking about how this quilt would be totally ruined if these colors happen to bleed onto that white background.  I had to leave the house pretty soon so I didn't have enough time to properly test the fabrics.  I just chose one from each line, wet the ends with hot water, and laid them out on a paper towel.  

YIKES!

The aqua didn't bleed as badly as the pink, but it did bleed, and there was no time left to set the colors.  

I needed to leave the house in just a few minutes and I only had three pillowcases packed to work on.

I ran into my sewing room, grabbed a Moda Jelly Roll, a stack of muslin, and a box of 2" squares, then threw them into my tote bag with no plan whatsoever and hit the road!

Whew! 

(.......to be continued.......)

So Who Could Make "Just One Star" ??

I'm sure you have seen a lot of blog posts about the "Just One Star" project sponsored by Moda Fabrics.  

They have asked quilters to send in "just one block" to help comfort a soldier.  The goal is to make, quilt and bind 100 quilts in 100 days using the Flag of Valor pattern developed by Minick and Simpson for Quilts of Valor.  The deadline for the blocks is May 1st, so I got busy this morning.......

.....and got my blocks made!  I'll have to get to the Post Office with them on Monday.

Of course, I couldn't just make one block.  I don't want to tarnish my reputation as an over-achiever!

http://qovf.org/