Sew Sunshine

and fellow lqg member  Steph .   Turning in circles approx. 38 x 48 stash fabric  walking foot and free motion Steph taught a quick HST class.  We were to let the hst's be random.  I think it fell together nicely.  I started with a FQ pack of 5 and added a few more from my stash. The Elizabeth Hartman butterfly fabric was perfect for the backing.  There were 3 offset groups of hst's that formed an hourglass square so I chose to feature those three with circle quilting. Two were done with walking foot and then I decided to try the free motion foot and just wing it. :) Large pebbles filled in the rest.  I really like how the colors worked together and a few more pieces got relegated to the smaller scrap bin.  This will go to Quilts for Kids charity.  Lastly I forgot to share my new favorite recipe. I decided to make a carrot cake for Easter. I found a recipe that is grain free, gl...

Last November I taught a class using the Quick Curve Ruler.  I had students who wanted to use the large ruler and some the small. My solution was to bring sample blocks to sew in both sizes. I already finished the Holiday runner that was the smaller sample blocks.  That one will go back to the lqg for a donation or auction item.  This one will head to my local chapter of Quilts for Kids. It is nice and bright so I hope some little one will love it.  I recently had a help meet sew day from this class and so there are a few more samples that were put on the back. It is such a great way to use the samples sewn and now the blocks didn't become orphans but a whole quilt.  I am so happy and proud of the members who contributed.  I quilted it with a little serpentine stitch. Simple and will hold together nicely for the many washing ahead.  Notice my matching garden/quilting gloves...bright seems to be my theme lately.   linking ...

  This month on March 17th was National Quilt Day at the local  International Quilt Study Center and Museum . I was one of 5 on the planning committee for this huge one day free event. We had local vendors and hands on learning about strings, handwork and I had this booth to make a community quilt.  We had a huge blast of people come through and make blocks early on. The idea was to create an interactive community project that is open to all ages and be open to quilters and non-quilters alike.  Our theme was "Love of Everyday things". Using the shapes and colored blocks you could create and appreciate everyday things whether it be a pin cushion or just use of color and shape. We took a lot of pictures of our participants and many can be found on IG at #loveofeverydaythingsquiltproject.  The community project then is to benefit another community organization. I chose our local  Child Advocacy Center .  The blocks were so popular that I am mak...

  Under the Rug - A scrappy strings challenge "Under the Rug" approx 52" x 64" String scraps Batting scraps cut into various sizes Batting foundation pieced  One of my local quilt guilds had a challenge to do a modern string quilt. I admit I have several different style of string based quilts going on already and didn't want to start something new. I decided to use a stack of left over strings from my  Steppin in time (courthouse steps quilt) .  Those and some leftover black and white prints plus the addition of the center black and white wavy stripe helped make this rug like quilt.   This is what I have left. It started out a huge neatly folded pile. I think of the color stack there is only 1 or 2 full width strings left. I had about 45 to start. Progress in my scrap pile!! I was finally able to take some time making some photos happen. This was a huge pile of debris branches the park and piled up in the culvert. It sort...

  "Spacious Beauty"  24"x 24" Freemotion foot spirals and space rocks! QCRuler pattern from One Wonderful Curve  by  SewKindofWonderful Linking up with  Elm Street Quilts   Not only did I finish in the nick of time but I used scraps on the back (some of my favorites I might add) and I put a label and hanging corners. Done and Done!   I love all the bright colors in this. The corners and print wedges were from the same fabric. Yummy and bright! I have been trying to practice more freemotion and more than just straight lines which is my go to.  I have done walking foot spirals before but this one is all freemotion so I could add my space rocks in. I just played and I think it is pretty good. I have some wobbles and longish stitches but overall happy. This baby I think will go in my new sewing space because of the color alone.  Original One monthy goal post  HERE   Also linking up with Sarah...

I was able to complete a simple goal in Jan. so I am back at it again. This one will also be a small project because I also want to so the Project quilting 9th season challenges too.  One monthly goal is a challenge set up by Patty over at  Elm Street Quilts .  This is a small wall hanging I made using the Quick Curve Ruler and fabrics from my stash. I am practicing freemotion quilting with Jess @Quilty Habit so maybe I can do some on this little project.  I forgot to mention on my goal finish link that I was also successful at wearing yoga clothes everyday at some point, and completed 31 days of yoga exercises for back and hips. I am amazed at how many more movements I can do. Working on knees and other parts as I cruise on into Feb.  And I actually read or listened to 11 books. It feels good to have my concentration working a bit better to be able to do this again.  I used to read a ton of books and health issues took that away. I...

"old red barn" Improv using orphan hst blocks  37"x34" It is finished! I will say I usually never have trouble with binding but I cut it too narrow and paid for it in a bit of wonky at the corners but the best part it is done. I didn't think I was going to make it since this is the last day of the month.  I actually really like how the orphan blocks worked into the piece with some other blocks I made.  It is a reminder of my old farm place when I was younger with a big red barn and windmill next to it. We had a silo too but it was blue not read but I wanted to keep my color palette. If you don't see a barn, silo and windmill that is okay. Never know where my mind travels but I do like the composition itself.  Here is the link for the original  POST You too can join the One Monthly goal challenge at  Elm Street Quilts  just click on over and get ready for Feb.  Used up some stash fabric in keeping with the black and white th...

After the post I wrote about "just doing" something I was motivated to participate in this weeks  Project Quilting 9.2 Challenge  at Persimon Dreams. It is nothing to write home to mother about but I want to use some things I have. I found a new package of the Tri-Recs rulers and grabbed a bunch of fabric and Ta-Da! The challenge was called Triangulation.  So Triangles I did!! This is approx 39" x 48" which is a great size for a local chapter of Quilts for Kids to accept. Two birds with one stone as they say.  Simple quilting lines with red violet thread and done. Machine binding went pretty quick.  I think I should have done more quilting but I washed it already and I like how soft it is. I am sure some little girl that is sick and spending time in a hospital will snuggle with it just fine.  I intended to get outside and take some kind of fun picture with this newly finished piece but alas.....I have some hot moist h...

So here we are almost to the end of the first month of 2018. I do not have much to show for it because I have spent most of my time keeping my head calm and my body together.   The year did not start out the way I thought it would. I avoided most planning endeavors and goal setting activities. These things I have looked forward to in the past, Until they n-e-v-e-r turned out the way I had planned. When it comes to quilting that is not a bad thing, but when it happens over and over in daily life then...not so much!  It is not all doom and gloom around here though.  I have been attempting simple yoga for 26 days in a row now.  Go Me!!!!  I am slowing finishing kitchen/dining remodel last bits and I have cleared some things out of my mind that I just do not have to do. Saying 'no' has been the hardest but I am trying to stick to it.  I am adopting a theme when it comes to sewing, quilting/making. It stems from my mom when she felt she always should...

In the spirit of not putting too much pressure on myself I decided to join  One monthly goal  at Elm Street Quilts. Basically you pick one thing to finish this month and blog about it and link to party. Then at the end of the month you link your finished blog post. One item. That works for me.  I am going to start with a simple project I started in Nov at my lqg sew day.  We brought some orphan blocks and we sewed and cut and sewed and cut and made something else. I think this is pretty fun so I am going to run with it.