Sew Sunshine

  I decided to join in the Modern Mini Challenge put on by Jennifer at  Ellison Lane .   I am using a Mini I made earlier this year that I am kind of proud of.  My first time sewing in circles and I loved it so much I did it 16 times on this mini.  This is called "Sequence"   it is 16.25 x 18.25 Sewn in circles Quilted by machine with walking foot The back reminds me of a embossed tin ceiling. :) This was my own design, stitched and quilted by me.  It is not to late to entry your Modern Mini into the Modern Mini Quilt Challenge ...you have until June 16th at 5:00 p.m.

Whew...first off my little panic is over. Something caused the 'insert' picture function not to work here on blogger.  I am not the sharpest when it comes to computer stuff so this had me stumped. Miraculously today it works.  Two days of sweating for nothing....almost. (more about that later) Saturday I was invited to meet up with some of my local quilty gals to work on some blocks for the charity they picked.   The Child Advocacy Center in Lincoln NE .  Some of the girls came up with a simple block and because I can't sit and sew in a big time block (back issues) I worked at home off and on all week. For a few hours yesterday morning I went to join them and worked the ironing board for the sewers that came.   Scraps turned into: It reminded me so much of stained glass windows. I walked to the park and tried to take a pic with the sun behind. **still working on better pics.  I now have the back sewn up and will be sandwiching that up this week and getting i

Today is the first day of the   2013 New Blogger Blog Hop put on by Plum and June .   I am so  excited to be included in this  hop.  I can't wait to meet new friends, chat about Modern Quilting and figure out a few things about blogging from people who have been able to figure "it" out in the blogging world.  First up today is this group.  Friday, June 7th Nancy @  Owen's Olivia Amy @  13 Spools Ashley @  Wasn't Quilt In A Day Casey @  The Studiolo   Nanette @  Yeah, I Made That Ange @  Heart Of Charnwood Kim @  Robot Mom Sews Erica @  Kitchen Table Quilting I hope you give them a visit and come back each Friday during June and July to visit everyone on the blog hop.  **** I am end of June so I hope you stop back by.  Coming up: Friday, June 14 Friday, June 7th Nancy @  Owen's Olivia Amy @  13 Spools Ashley @  Wasn't Quilt In A Day Casey @  The Studiolo   Nanette @  Yeah, I Made That Ange @  Heart

First, my June project.  I am making it an easy one: My  Modern BOM 2 Hour by Hour block . I have enough blocks done for a quilt I just need to put them together and figure out a way to quilt it with the spaces between. That is a challenge in itself but I am looking forward to it. :) May Report Card My OMG (Omaha Modern Quilt Guild) BOM for May is a "Ribbon Block" done by Lee over at www.freshlypieced.blogspot.com . I had some trouble with it so only made one. Not sure what I will do with it but it looks pretty with my blooming clematis!  I do have lots of finishes: (1) Modern BOM2 block for May was a "Stained Glass Block" My finished quilt: (2,3,4) Over at www.persimondreams.com I was participating in several challenges: Fat Quarter Shop fabric bundle challenge was my "One Fish, Two Fish quilt" I also did the My Favorite Block Quilt along and for this I did my "Hoot" Quilt. In a random drawing for the winn

  May challenge for Off Season Project Quilting which you can find out about  here   Is the Patone Challenge.  The idea is to make something using part or all of these Patone colors for 2013: On a recent shopping trip to my local Cosmic Cow quilt shop I found a fabric line by Benartex called Manhattan Modern. It has many of the Patone colors in it.  Since I was thinking of combining this challenge with my very own Make and Use/Wear it challenge, I opted to make a quilted bag and a quilted bag insert.  Colors in this print piece: Dusk blue, monaco blue, tender shoots, emerald, linen and my fav grayed jade. I liked that so much I used a grayed jade upholstery for the bottom and handle backs.   The smaller bag works as an insert in the larger tote bag. I plan to use it to carry small sewing projects to and fro.  Both bags are quilted as you go with the sew and flip method. I lined both the large tote and the small sewing carryall.  The large tote is 20w x 15h wi

Yes ...I made it! May Finish sponsored by  Fiber of All sorts and Bittersweet Designs .   I had a UFO from 2012 that I committed to work on this month, with the long holiday weekend it was more difficult to fit it all in but...Here it is.  Has bits of Nebraska Husker fabric in it along with their red and white theme.   I made my own trip around the world with the Lil' Twister quilt block. I didn't have the ruler but it still worked out. I ended up doing a straight line in both directions with red thread since the design is so busy. 

It has been a strange week. I got really motivated to get going on things in some challenges I have been in. I knew the Memorial weekend was coming up but that I would have time after to have a nice month of finishes at the end. Wrong! I totally forgot about the  Persimon Dreams  "My Favorite Block Quilt Along" which is due May 25th.    I made 12 of the 20 blocks. Two of them I made twice so I figured why not go for a finish. One of my blocks is not exactly what it was supposed to be ...it was a paper pieced fiasco but the others turned out pretty well. I have 13 blocks on the front and one of my favs on the back.  Close up of my spiral quilting. I now know there is a wrong way to spiral. Let's hope I remember that for next time. :) I am happy for the finish! I think it turned out pretty cute. 

  Here it is ...the Final Challenge. I don't know how to even go about telling Kim over at  Persimon Dreams  how much I have enjoyed participating in her Project Quilting this season. It has helped me get back into quilting and sewing which I was not sure I was even going to do again.  Last year in the spring, my Mom got sick and we ended up having to move her to a nursing care facility. She was 93 and lived by herself in a house across the road from our old farm.  Mom passed away and we buried her the day before her 94th birthday in the fall.  I learned almost everything I know about sewing from her and we shared a love of quilts.  When I saw the Project Quilting challenge I felt I had to give it a go.  The challenges were just fun and no pressure on judging or even finishing.  My mom loved the t.v. show Project Runway and I think secretly wished she could do something like that. I just thought it would be a great tribute to her to participate and hopefully she has followed alon

  Geta over at  Geta's Quilting Studio  is hosting a "Quilter's Favorites"  linky party.  I am new the blogging world and trying to get back into sewing and quilting.  I am not an expert in any way but I just used one of Geta's tutorials and so I thought it appropriate for me to participate.  I have learned so many things from the wonderful blogging world. Bloggers are so caring and accessible.  They tend to share freely of their work and designs as well as tips and tricks. Often there are challenges to get you to try something out of your realm and there is always something to learn.  Some Favorite Tools: I do have some favorite tools that I have found to be wonderful.    I love the Havel's Sewing Embroidery Scissors - It has a curved up blade so you can get really close to the fabric to snip threads. I just won this from my quilt guild last week and used it on the challenge piece I made this week (using Geta's tutorial) I love the Fr