Friday, April 29, 2016

Quilt Stories Spooky 2016

One of the goals I set for myself this year is to make and finish quilts for my children and - as I figure it out - their significant others.

It just so happens that this occurred to me as the first birthday in the year rolled past.... so he will have to wait :-)  But his fiancee had the next birthday so I put my thinking cap on!  She loves Halloween so I decided a quick jelly roll race design with as many weird fabrics as I could find would fit the bill.

I found a couple of jelly rolls in black / white / lime / purple & orange [NOT Halloween per se] and went shopping for a yard each of anything I could find.   I pulled from my stash too - but managed to come up with a large assortment of sparkles and glow in the dark and skeletons and ghosts..... everything you need for a kooky crazy SPOOKY quilt.

I had a little help putting it together.....

And found a lovely deep purple for the backing...

It worked up quickly and I think it turned out nicely!  I made a coordinating pillowcase - deep purple with little black cats that have glowing eyes :-)

For a 2016 start AND finish.... it made me smile!


Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Moving Along....

So yet again, I've been lax in keeping up with my blog....  still working on a focus - but perhaps the search for a focus is the point :-)

Since I last wrote, we traveled a bit.. to the Outer Banks for one of our usual treks.... and to St Louis for a business trip.

I've kept up with crafting.... just finished a quilt that I can't reveal yet because it's a gift.  I'll give it this weekend so I can share then.   I'm WAY behind on the quilt-alongs because I spent almost 2 weeks simply quilting on this quilt!  But I have faithfully printed out instructions and cut fabric so I can jump in and go... maybe tonight!

I've also kept up with photos of what I've done so I can begin to share that along the way as it fits.  

I have a bit more traveling in the next couple of months... a stint at the beach again in May.... and then Ireland (WOO-HOO!) in June.

But here we go..... things will have to shift a bit..... for the season.... canning and yardwork is beginning.... and for family... I've been asked to help with the grands over the summer.  So sewing will have to slow down....  I'm beginning to choose which to pack away and which to continue.... And that itself will neaten up my crafting space.

My focus is also changing up.... I have decided to walk in the Komen 3 Day again this year.  It will be my 6th walk with my partner in Pittsburgh.... and we are traveling to Michigan in August to do this.  I will need to focus on raising money - $2300 - and training so that I am physically able to keep up.

Financially we are sucking in the belt hard here at home so that we can enjoy our trips.  I will try to keep you posted along the way.  I miss writing... sometimes it's just hard....

Mostly my life looks like quilting and fighting to keep the cats off the quilts...... 

cleaning veggies and preserving them [though I was asked to sell some of them at a local farmers market... and since I do it for fun and my husband doesn't eat any jams or pickles.... my basement is starting to look like a doomsday prepper's larder.. it's not a bad idea :-)]

... like cleaning out stuff because we have too much clutter and getting my house in some kind of manageable order...

and like running, running, running.... busy all the time....

I'll try to do better...  

Have a good week! 

I'll be back in a day or so with the Quilt Stories for 2016!

It's a busy year... and I am still working hard to get back that energy to make my life the way I want it.

Monday, April 4, 2016

Modern HST Sampler April 4, 2016

My first quarter blocks!

This is a super quilt along!  Great pace - 2 per month and 12.5-inch blocks so pretty easy!  You can use your favorite method of making Half-Square Triangles (HSTs) or learn some new ways!


Can't wait to see the blocks from next quarter!

Thank you Alyce from Blossom Heart Quilts for hosting this project!