Sew Sunshine

Two Finishes today!  This is my Creamsicle version of this 'block in a block' quilt.  And here is the Stained glass window version.... ( My Stargazer lily wanted to be in this picture) It was an overcast day...thunderstorms all night so the ground was wet. Sorry pics are kind of dark) These were made for the Lincoln Child Advocacy center. My neighborhood quilting gals got together one Saturday this month to work on these quilt blocks. I was not able to sew there so I made these two at home. I did go to the sewing day and ironed for others. :) I am so happy I was able to work on these and get some finish mojo going here!!!

Baby Steps...what I really want to say is One step forward, Two steps back but I am trying to talk myself into better spirits. :) Since my run in with 'hives' I am in slow motion.  I did manage to put the blocks together and cut some batting for a couple of small quilts I am getting ready for the The Child's Advocacy center here in Lincoln.  It looks like a creamsicle! I really like how it turned out and hope to figure out how to quilt it when my back is feeling up to par.  Some scraps I have an idea to do something with. So have been trying out this string idea.  Lots of possibilities.  Here I just wanted to share one funny thing. I do not have a green thumb so I try not to even have too many houseplants because it is a slow painful death for them usually. One of my sisters rescued this cracked tea pot from my Mother's basement when we were cleaning it out. She planted an aloe in the top and this is my result after several weeks of ownership. Still alive but

   Today is WIP day with Lee over at Freshly Pieced . For the last few weeks I have not been participating because I have been losing and so falling behind on my WIP's. Okay enough whining! I am taking charge and working on getting caught up. Today I am working on my Skill Builder blocks from Alyssa over at  Pileofabric .  Finally all three of these are put in their boarders and ready to quilt. I also have the hexi block (below)done that needs to be quilted too. I am going to watch the FMQing tips and after lunch hit the machine. I want to get them done because tomorrow two more blocks will be up to make.  Slow and steady wins the race??????? :)

  Here is my entry for  Le Challenge  Challenge 3 - Maritime: "Regatta" 17" x 17"   Paper pieced center design is the Sunshine block from  Compass Collection from Quilting on the Square I added the 1/2 " squares in the  border to represent numerous water events Machine quilted with YLI clear thread I think it looks very like a festive boat race!  I tried really hard to do a continuous quilting design because I didn't want to stop and start so much. (very hard to quilt clear on white background as is...if you know what I mean) There is still time for you to link up your idea of Maritime.  Come join in the fun.

  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