June Goals

I have several goals for June.  However, I also have a lot of spare time.  I teach preschool and school is out!!!!  I also take online classes and the one I am currently taking only has two weeks left and I get the rest of the month off before starting the next one. That leaves a lot of hours to sew...

1. Finish my Monster Polka baby quilt - this is an easy finish, just a little bit of hand stitching to secure the binding and it will be done.

2.  Finish my Giraffe Crossing Tumbler - the giraffe appliques need to be blanket-stitched.  Then it needs to be sandwiched, quilted, and bound.

3.  Finish my Quilty Fun Sew Along sampler - the blocks for the top need sewn together.  The label block for the back needs to be made and it needs to be quilted and bound.

4.  Finish my Star Surround quilt - it is for my bedroom. It needs the bottom row sewn to the top and to be quilted and bound.

5. Make bedroom valances - I have the pattern and the fabric and would really like to get these done.

6.  Finish the Snug as a Bug Super-sized Nine Patch #3 - it needs to be quilted and bound.

Snug as a Bug Super-sized Nine Patch Quilts #1 and #2

I have set some lofty goals, but I really want to get all of these finished during the month of June.  Off I go to get started ...

Linking up with:
Fiber of All Sorts

Finally Back to Sewing/ 350 Blocks Project Update

I love to sew!!!  The beginning of this year has been so busy I hand not sewn one single stitch since before Christmas.  My classes and work kept me busy during the week and the weekends were filled with basketball tournaments, volleyball tournaments, and show choir.  All of these tend to be day long events and when you live in rural Iowa, they are hardly ever held close to home.

I was very excited to get back into sewing and quilting during March.  My current classes were finished in mid March and amazingly so was basketball, volleyball, and show choir.  I feel free!  It will not be long lived however, a new quarter starts Monday and soccer practice has officially started.  I've got to take advantage of the time while I have it.

I spent the past few weeks working on a baby quilt for a little boy that's due to arrive any day now.  I used the pattern Cowboy Baby from the book Material Obsession.  I love the colors and I think pinwheels are my new favorite block. I have it all pieced and ready to be quilted.

Pinwheel block

I have also been busy catching up on the Quilty Fun Sew Along that started last fall.  I was way behind, but am now caught up to where I should be.  This is the last week and I am excited that I have caught up with everyone else.

A few of the Quilty Fun blocks I have sewn this month.

In order to motivate myself, I joined the 2014 350 Blocks Project.  The idea is to try and piece 350 blocks this year.  Considering I didn't join until the middle of March, I feel I am off to a good start.  The baby quilt had 20 blocks.  I am counting 20 blocks for the Quilty Fun Sew Along.  I am also in the midst of piecing a quilt for my daughter that is graduating from high school at the end of May.  I can add 20 blocks to my total for that quilt as well.

Partially pieced top from Goldie's memory quilt.

That brings my grand total to 60 blocks.  WOW!  I didn't realize I had done that much sewing lately.  It feels good.

Linking up to:

Quilty Fun Sew Along Weeks Three and Four

I am still sewing along with Lori Holt and her Quilty Fun Sew Along.  I must say it really is fun.  You can find out all about it here.

Last week we did the courthouse steps block which were super easy.  I had never made this type of block before, but I really liked it.  The hardest part for me was choosing my fabrics.  I thought I had it all figured out and then decided I didn't like my first choices of fabric.

So I went back to my scraps and chose these fabrics instead.

This week we are making sewing baskets.  I love these little baskets.  They are adorable!

 

 

I have also been making my scrappy quilt binding as I go.  I want to use fabrics used in the quilt and I don't want to go back and have to find them when I only have the binding left.  (If I did I might not ever finish the quilt!)  I am using strips 2 1/2 inches wide by 5 inches long.

 



WIP Wednesday

There is not much work in progress today.  It is pie baking day after all!  I only have to make three pies: a pumpkin, an apple, and an Oreo.  The Oreo is already finished (I always do the easiest one first).

This afternoon when The Musician gets off work (she works at a grocery store when she is home from school) we are going to pick out our Christmas tree.  It used to be a family tradition every year, but last year no one wanted to go with my husband and I.  I was sad.  However, with Nina being here from China this year, I am making everyone go because she has never celebrated Christmas or been to a Christmas Tree Farm.

After that I am hoping to finish up my Sewing Baskets block for the Quilty Fun Sew Along.  Here's what I have so far:

I have also been working on Goldie's quilt this week, but I am a teeny bit frustrated with matching my seams.  This section is being especially troublesome.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!



Quilty Fun Sew Along Week 2

Week Two of Lori Holt's Quilty Fun Sew Along and Blog Tour is underway.  This week we make our twinkly winter stars.  I think they are just adorable.

Here's my finished twinkly winter stars.  Even the name is adorable!

I love the way they turned out.  Already looking forward to Week 3: Courthouse Steps.

Thanks Lori!

Quilty Fun Sew Along

This past Monday the Quilty Fun Sew Along by Lori Holt at Bee in My Bonnet started. (Click below for more information).

Quilty Fun Sew Along is also a blog tour with several great bloggers participating.  You need a copy of Lori's book, Quilty Fun, about 3 1/2 yards of background fabric, and your scrap pile to get started.

I was a little worried since I have just started quilting that I wouldn't have any scraps to choose from.

Then I remembered that I have tubs of fabric in my crawl space.  I kept all the fabric used in sewing clothes for my daughters' over the last twenty years.  (That makes me feel so old.)  I am sure I will be able to find enough fabric to use for my sampler.

This week we worked on the apple blocks.  They are so darling.  They were pretty simple and quick to make as well.  Go here for more information on making the apples.  Check mine out below.  I can't wait to get home from work tomorrow and start on Week 2.