Patriotic progress

 Ahh it feels so good to have a few patriotic table runners done this past week. First up is a fun delectable mountains 48" long runner using only two fabrics. I used the tutorial from Bonnie Hunter for her Scrappy Mountain Majesty.

These two are ones I designed last year so I whipped up two new ones for the shop.

In the last post several of you seem to enjoy my photo from my Arizona trip.  So here are a few more.

Oh the things you see in the middle of the desert!!  It must have been an Halloween decoration, it was huge!

These two photos were taken in the Sedona area. The most beautiful red rock formations, one could look at them all day.

What a contrast in color from red rock to brown/gray tone with trees and snow on the mountains. See that twisty winding road?  We drove that in our truck(without the camper). We went up a lot in elevation, what a view!!

Don't forget the Kitchen Stitchin' blog hop started today, my day is Friday. I hope you will come back to see what I whipped up;)

Linking with Design Wall Monday, Monday Making

Butterflys a fluttering and Ladybugs a crawling

 Oh my but it feels great to be back at my longarm again.  First up I pieced, quilted, appliqued and bound this fun butterfly table runner. It's from my newest pattern called All A Flutter, you can find the pattern HERE.  It is so easy and quick to whip up.  The border fabric I had in my stash, purchased a while back specifically to make this runner. A quick trip to the store yielded the other fabrics to coordinate. I love the bit of stripe that I found for the binding.

I pieced the lady bug runner a couple weeks back while I was in Arizona. It was the first piece I put on my longarm upon returning. The pattern for this is by Suzanne's Art House. 

Yes I went to Arizona again to visit family, what a great time we had.  Here is one of the things we did while there. Such beautiful country down there and one can really get around and see things in an ATV.

I really enjoyed the break but it's time to buckle down and get back to work.  Both my Etsy shops are open and quilting ensues!  My plan today is to work on a panel for the panel challenge over at Prairie Moon. Tomorrow I will be working on a tutorial for Accuquilt. It's been a whole year since I wrote one so it will be a challenge to relearn how to do that!  Then there are a couple of blog hops I signed up for. You can see those at the top of my right sidebar. The sewing machine will be humming, oh and I need to take one of them in for a cleaning today. 

Linking with:

Midweek Makers

Wednesday Wait Loss

Put Your Foot Down

Donation quilts for Hands2Help

 I needed to dig out the quilts that I have made to be used for the Hands2Help charity drive this year.  Often during the year, when I have time, I piece the tops and quilt them later.  So it is time to start getting backings together so they get in line for the quilting machine.

Here are a few I have pieced so far. 

This one used lots of scraps. Not the prettiest quilt but it will keep someone warm.

This one used 5 fat quarters plus the sashing and background. 

I loved using the Creative Grids Half Rectangle ruler to make this fun, colorful quilt for a child. 

I loved the process so much I made another using different fabrics.

 This is made using the same ruler but a different layout. Lots of possibilities.

There might be a few more pieced still in the closet, but these were easily accessed!  If I get these quilted up in the next month I will see about the others. 

It is check in week for the Hands2Help project so I am linking up at Sarah's blog, Confessions of a Fabric Addict. Sarah has hosted this fun event for several years.  Are you participating this year?

Also linking up at Oh Scrap because that first quilt is definitely scraps!

Cute Lady Bugs

I couldn't resist making this lady bug runner again.  It's not that I like the real lady bugs but these are just darling and fun aren't they?

The pattern is by Suzanne's Art House.  You can see HERE where I made an almost identical one to this.  I will get to the quilting of this one pretty soon I think as it is a nice one for summer. 

Outstanding Blogger Award

I was reading my usual blogs I follow Monday morning and discovered that Diann from Little Penquin Quilts blog had nominated me for the Outstanding Blogger Award!  I was beyond thrilled to bits!! I have followed Diann for a long time, as quilters we inspire each other. Thanks Diann!

The Outstanding Blogger Award is given one blogger to another. It’s a way of supporting and acknowledging one another. As an award recipient, I get to answer some questions which Diann asked. And then I get to nominate some blogs I enjoy.

• What got you started on your blogging journey?  I read other quilt blogs for a couple years before I jumped in.  It's a way to document what I have made.  Unknown to me that I would have followers and I would meet other quilters in the process.  Sometimes I have met them in person after chatting through our blogs for some time. I started blogging Dec. 25th of 2009.

• What's your proudest accomplishment as a quilter?  There are two answers for this.  One being that I am so proud that I have learned how to longarm quilt (16 years now).  The second that I have two successful Etsy shops(links on my right side bar). It's such a thrill that total strangers that have never seen nor felt my quilting in person buys it from my online shop. 
  
  
  

• What makes you laugh the most?  My husband, every day I think he feels it is his duty to make me chuckle about something silly. 
• What's the best quilty gift you were ever given?  Tons of fabric.  Several people, over the years, have given me fabric to be used for donation quilts.  I appreciate that so much, it keeps me being able to give comfort to others.
• What's on your quilty bucket list?  Going to the big quilt shows. Two years ago I went to Road To California.  I have been to Paducah Kentucky for Quilt Week in the spring. I would love to go to Houston's Quilt Festival in the fall some year. 

I would like to Nominate: 

Kathleen at Kathleen McMusing

Jennifer at The Inquiring Quilter

Emily at The Darling Dogwood

Connie at Free Motion By The river

Cheree at The Morning Latte

If you don't want to participate that's okay, just know that I love reading your blog!  If you want to participate please consider answering these questions so we get to know you a bit better. And then choose who you would like to nominate.

• Do you like having a deadline or do you work better when you are not underpressure?
• Are you one who likes taking classes or do you enjoy figuring out how to do it on your own?
• What is your favorite snack?
• What is your first memory of learning how to sew?
• Have you ever taught someone how to quilt?
• What was your least favorite quilt you ever made?

Iris Quilt

You have been getting teased a little with glimpses of this project here and there as I have worked on it off and on for the past couple months.  But here is the completed top of this lap quilt.  The pattern is The Iris Quilt by Kitchen Table Quilting.  Please excuse my poor photo. I had this all folded up, thought I had taken photos and then when I started to write this post I found I had not taken them.  I don't have access to my big ironing board right now or I would have repressed it.

This is an easy strip pieced quilt, pieced on the diagonal, using a jelly roll. But I really think it could be fun in all scraps too!  I still need to trim the edges so it will be a 59" x 69" rectangle, but that will wait until I have access to my kitchen island and my big cutting mat. No hurry to get this finished up, so it will just rest on a shelf until it is next in line to get done.  I have enjoyed my journey in getting this jelly roll used up:) well, there are a few scraps to add to the scrap bin.

A couple of future goals for me are to think up projects for two fun blog hops I am joining in.  Plus I might work on a panel for the panel challenge!  It's gonna be a busy April I think. 

Progress Has Been Made

 My quilting peeps, progress has been made!  In the last few days I had some solid sewing time and a lap quilt I started back in February is now more than strip sets sewn together.  It went from this...

To this... Actually there were more strip sets cut into various sizes but I forgot to snap a photo!

And then I started laying them on my design wall and sewing into rows. 

I am pleased with how it is coming together.  Tomorrow I will be able to work on it for a few more hours.  I hope you are getting sewing therapy time this week.  I know I was sorely in need of it!!  

Linking with: 

Finished or Not Friday

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop 

Another rope bowl

 I just had so much fun making the first rope bowl that I had to do another. I gave the first one to my sister-in-law Karen, she loved it!  You can see that one here.

This one I made a bit larger and used plain rope for the main part and just wrapped in colors of batik here and there.  I set my rotary cutter in there for perspective. 

I find that the very ending of the rope is a bit tricky so I coiled the rope in a spiral after wrapping it with the batik fabric. And then I glue the spiral to the bowl. 

My sister-in-law, Judi, made another one also.  Hers is the one on the right.  I love how she finished the top!  It was so fun to sew together.  

Here is the inside of hers.  Both of ours are about the same size.  

This week I hope to get back to piecing of a quilt top that I started several weeks ago.  So stayed tuned to later in the week when I will check back in with a progress report.  I hope you all have been well and stayed busy quilting or perhaps outside enjoying the nice weather like I have been.  

Linking with:

Monday Making

Design Wall Monday

Donation quilt progress

 I have been working on HRT's, half rectangle triangles that is.  The creative Grids ruler I am using makes the process so easy. No trimming.  

First I decided on cutting 8" strips of 5 different colors with two prints from each color way.  And then cutting 8" strips of the background fabric.  I love quilts with white in them for the background, but for donation quilts one never knows where they will go and if they have the ability to keep them clean. So I thought choosing this floral print with white would help it show less white but still give me the style I like.

As I was making it I thought I could either make two smaller quilts or one small lap size given the number of HRT's I cut. I chose to do two smaller quilts.  The first layout is the one above and this is the second one. I like them both!  These will make great baby quilts for twins! These will finish at 37" square.

I am thrilled to have two baby quilts pieced. These might just be perfect to use as donations for Hands2Help hosted by Sarah at Confessions of A Fabric Addict.  I will piece a few more before I quilt them all at the same time. 

Linking with:

Midweek Makers

Wednesday Wait Loss

All A Flutter-Pattern Release

 Today I am releasing a new table runner pattern called 'All A Flutter'. Three cute butterflies are fluttering about on this table runner.  These are easy and quick to applique. You can literally make this in one day. 

Buy it today and you'll be all ready for spring and summer.  And we are anxiously awaiting warmer temps aren't we!  

It can be made in any color way you like. Perhaps you even have some in your stash that you would like to use up. 

Next week my friend Wendy at Pieceful Thoughts will show you her version she made while testing the pattern for me.  It's so pretty!!!   Thanks Wendy for being a great tester!

You can find my patterns in My Etsy Pattern Shop.

Linking with

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop

Finished or Not Friday

Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday

Peacock Party

Beauty Pageant 119

Midweek Makers

Wednesday Wait Loss

Joyful Quilter-Tablescraps

Time flys!

 It didn't seem like 20 days ago since my last post but that is what it says!  Time is flying by like crazy isn't it?  

I really haven't done a whole lot of sewing during that time either. But here is what I did get done.  I pieced five of my Gobble it Up!  table runners.  I like knowing that I have a stash of them in my closet ready to be quilted when the busy season starts. That way I only have to quilt them up and get them listed in my Etsy shop when it gets closer to fall. 

One day I visited a local quilt shop, you know looking for a few new pieces of fabrics to inspire me.  They were having customer appreciation days with door prizes. I didn't even know what the prizes were, but I signed up, it doesn't hurt to do that;)  And at the end of the day they called to say I was one of four grand prize winners!!!  OMG here is what I won.  A CutterPillar light box!  This is going to be really nice to use for both applique and for my card making.  It is thin and pretty light weight and that it is a pretty green doesn't hurt either! The neat thing is that it has a cutting mat with gridlines that you lay over it and you can cut right there. I'll be anxious to try it out. 

Even though I didn't get a lot of sewing done I still had a good week. I hope you all did too.  Hopefully I will have more quilting time and energy this week!  

Some goals met some not

 And does it bother me that some goals were not met?  No it doesn't right now.  I wanted to start something fun just because I could!!  So I pulled this jelly roll of Riley Blake off the shelf.  Aren't these just such fun colors and the prints, well there are several that quickly became my favorite.

Never wear a black shirt or pants when working with precuts that have been pinked!!  I quickly became polka doted with white specks:(  Oh well I was still having fun and made quick work of a bunch of strip sets.  I am using a pattern by Kitchen Table Quilting called The Iris Quilt. 

Before starting the new project above I made 6 more brown/neutral log cabins. 

And the last Christmas diamonds table runner for a while. I had kitted up 3 of them and they are all pieced now. 

Do you tend to get upset with yourself if you don't meet your goals.  I don't think we should as long as we are doing something, after all that would still be progress!  I am not sure what I will work on this week, perhaps I will get back to working on the black/gray quilt that I posted last week, time will tell;)

Until then I am sending good vibes out to all of you that you will accomplish something fun this week! 

Be sure to stop by the HomeSewnByUs blog for To Do Tuesday to see all the fun things our fellow blogger friends have been working on. Perhaps you will be inspired to try something new!  

Weekly goals-finished or not

 Did January just fly past in a blur?  I sure think it did.  Last week I mentioned I wanted to piece another diamond table runner and try to make some more log cabin blocks. Was I able to do that?

Here is the newest diamond table runner all pieced.  One would think I would be tired of using Christmas fabric at this time of year.  But I have sewn out of season for years so it doesn't bother me at all. 

The log cabin blocks are moving along with a few red ones and a few blue ones. I really like this setting don't you?

A new project was started also, it's always fun to start something new.  I had this gray/black strip set setting around for a while and it finally spoke up and said 'get on with it would you'!!  So I listened this time. 

This week I should be able to finish up the black and gray blocks and assemble them into rows. And move the log cabins onward too. 

If you would like to see what other quilters did this week join me at the To Do Tuesday linky party at HomeSewnByUs blog. 

Did I meet my weekly goal

I am enjoying my time of bouncing around with my projects.  After such a busy 2020 in my Etsy shops, I am enjoying a break for a couple months.  Playing or working on whatever I want each day feels good!

So did I meet my goals this week... I mentioned I might work on another diamond runner and maybe make more log cabin blocks.  

Five more log cabins were built to make a total of six brown/light blocks.

My box looked so neat and tidy before building these cabins and then after going through each stack to choose which fabrics to use it didn't look so nice(I won't show you that!).  

After that it was time for a super fun day, sewing with my sister in law!!  The last time we were together we decided we wanted to make rope bowls using cotton clothesline as the base.  You wrap skinny 3/4" strips of fabric around the clothesline cord and zig zag them together.  Around and around you go until you have the base of the bowl done and then you tilt the bowl up so that you can form the sides. Super fun to do.  

I chose to use four bright Island Batik fat quarters for mine.  I think mine is about 10" across.  I didn't have a particular size in mind when I started.   And then to give it a bit more pizazz I added two swirls to the outside. 

It was so fun to make and I had a bit more cord to use up, so I made a small little bowl.  I haven't decided how I want to end it yet so I left it unfinished for now.  It it is about six inches across. 

So in the end the diamond table runner didn't make an appearance.  Maybe next week. I also want to keep on with the log cabin blocks. I'll see ya in a week to show you what I accomplished;)  In the meantime you can see lots of inspiration over at the To Do Tuesday linky party hosted by Roseanne and Sue. 

Also linking with Midweek Makers and Wednesday Wait Loss