Here's what's happening!

The month of July has been filled with demolition/renovation of our kitchen. It has made me stay at home with workers coming and going. Some of my time at home has been spent cleaning out kitchen cabinets, sorting things we don't use or need, and living out of boxes! However, I have given myself permission to spend time in my sewing room also!

The color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this month is blue which happens to be my most overflowing scrap bin. I made these 5 little spools blocks!

These don't use up a lot of scraps but I am lovin' these mini spool blocks! Linking up at So Scrappy.

I also used blue for this month's Milky Way Star ~ Regel.

Here are all the stars in the Milky Way...so far!

I may add some mini stars! Go over to Blossom Heart Quilts to see more.

I joined the Grandma's Kitchen Sew Along with Pat Sloan. This is the first time that I joined one of Pat's QAL. It is perfect for Domestic Diva by Riley Blake that I have had in my stash for quite some time. I won 2 charm packs way back when...but I didn't have any yardage. I did find some online and ordered 2 pieces for the bigger pieces needed. I also went to the fabric store to find some corals to coordinate. 

The blocks are released every Wednesday, so far 3 have been released. 

The first block is The Kitchen Table. It was easy to make out of the charm squares and some background fabrics. 

The second block needed longer than 5" so I'm waiting on my fabric order. 

The third block is The Key Holder. 

(The lighter coral fabric is one of the fabrics I found to coordinate with Domestic Diva)

I love how Pat includes a little story about her memories of her grandma's kitchen. I'm really enjoying this Sew Along! Head over to Pat Sloan's blog for all the information and blocks!

Finally, here is a cute picture of my niece's daughter with the quilt I made for her! She loved it!

It's Time

It is time to set some goals for July! We will be going through a kitchen renovation which will limit my time in my sewing room. 

Before the major packing started, I managed to sandwich my Go Cubs Go! quilt. So my goal is to move it forward and decide on the quilting and get it started.

The color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is blue so I will make my spool blocks and I will use blue for this month's Milky Way QAL star, Regel.

I also joined in Pat Sloan's new Sew Along, Grandma's Kitchen. The first block was released on June 28th called The Kitchen Table. A block is released every Wednesday. There are 4 Wednesday in July so I hope to be able to get most of them done before I update my progress. 

I'm linking up to Elm Street Quilts - July Goals.

I really like stating my goals each month as it keeps me focused. I have learned to be realistic in setting goals and to be happy if I achieve more. 

Have a great 4th of July!

June Goals Update

It is just a day away from the end of June! It has been a busy month! 

Regardless of the busyness, I managed to complete all my goals!

My first goal was to complete the baby quilt for my niece's 2nd baby daughter. 

I decided to name this quilt Spread Your Wings. Some of the blocks are paper pieced and some are pieced. I played around with the angles so the butterflies would appear like they were fluttering about.

I FMQ with meandering loops like the flight of a butterfly. 

It finished at 35" x 42 1/2"

I used various teals and purples, some from my stash, others I purchased for this project from Connecting Threads. The background is Kona white.

On the back I pieced an extra butterfly block. 

A bonus was to complete the city bank quilt (renamed The Colors of Purple). 

I finally got it quilted using my new rulers in a clamshell pattern. 

This quilt is made using mostly solids...Kona and American Made, some Grunge, a Tula Pink print, and the green print from my stash. 

The back is a piece I found at Joann's that coordinated well.

Pattern is from the book City Quilts by Cherri House.

The finished size is 60" x 69"

I also finished by Rainbow Scrap blocks in yellow!

And the Milky Way QAL using yellow. This month's star is called Capella. 

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts ~ June finish, Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy, #milkywaysampler.

Here are a few pictures from our time in the Pacific NW and Vancouver and my semi surprise Birthday party. Enjoy!

Mt St Helen

 Lynn Canyon Park

 Shannon Falls, Vancouver

biking Stanley Park, Vancouver

 Butchart Gardens, Victoria

Goldstream Falls, Victoria

My family~first time we were together is quite a while! Surprise!

Only Mike (our son-in-law) is missing. ❤️

June goals

June is under way! Schools out! Vacations begin!

June will be a short month as far as quilting hours go for me. We have a 10 day vacay planned which will commence this week! 

After our return, we have a party for someone turning 60! And...we are in the middle of a kitchen and mudroom renovation project which we hoped would be done while we were away...but that isn't going to happen as the counters aren't going to be ready. I also have taken on 2 alteration jobs!

Call us me crazy! 

So for my June goals...

I will complete the quilting and binding the city bank quilt AND sandwich, quilt and bind the butterfly baby quilt. 

My niece has had her baby girl so this needs to happen!

Anything that is achieved beyond that is bonus! 

The color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is YELLOW 

and the star for the Milky Way QAL is called Capella! 

Linking up to OMG June Goals at Elm Street Quilts.

May Goals Update

It's the end of May and I need to update you on my goals. 

One on my goals was to quilt the city bank quilt. Unfortunately, after receiving the new foot and rulers, I have not had time to sit down and try them out. The end of the school year has been super busy. Just 3 days left! 

So my city bank quilt still needs to be quilted. 

Sandwiched and basted and ready to go!

UPDATE:Since posting this, I have been able to get most of the quilting completed...only 13 of the 42 blocks to go!

My 2nd goal for May was to start piecing butterfly blocks for my nieces 2nd baby's quilt. I was much more successful in achieving this goal (working in smaller bits of time). It is all pieced together and ready to be sandwiched. However, that can't happen until I quilt City Bank! 

How's that for motivation!

I used 4 different butterfly blocks patterns....2 of them are 8" blocks and 2 are 4" blocks. 3 of the 4 block patterns were paper pieced. I wanted the butterflies to be angled but not at the 45° (on point) so I played with half square rectangles allowing a gentler angle. 

I anchored the quilt with a row of pretty flowers. 

I also finished the May challenge for RSC and The Milky Way QAL (see post).

Linking up to OMG-May Finish Up @ Elm Street Quilts.

The neighborhood has grown!

Remember my little blue houses? 

The last time I posted about the neighborhood, there were 38 houses. Now the neighborhood has grown to 48 houses!

I add a house or 2 when I'm between projects or only have a limited amount of time to play. This isn't a population boom but slow and steady growth. I'm planning on more houses! No deadline, no pressure!

I'm loving it!

Yesterday, I took some time to work on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks and The Milky Way QAL. May's color is green so I pulled my green scraps bin (which is almost as full as my blue bin) and started putting together like greens. 

5 little spools of green! 

Here are all the spools together so far.

Cute! Aren't they?

I'm linking up to Scrap Happy Saturday over at So Scrappy and Oh Scrap over at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

For the Milky Way QAL, I'm using the same color (makes it easy), green. This month's star is called Vega. It is the 5th brightest star. 

Here are the first 5 stars together.

It is a bit of a mystery to me on how these will play together at the end. 

Time will tell. To learn more head over to Blossom Heart Quilts.

Setting some goals for May

It's May! Time is flying by! It is time to set some goals for May. I am looking forward to quilting the City Bank quilt. 

(pattern name from the book City Quilts...the quilt will be named later)

At the International Quilt Festival in Chicago, I purchased the foot and several rulers to learn FMQ with rulers on my domestic machine! There was a bit of a faux pas as I purchased a high shank foot/rulers

but my machine is actually a low shank. Before purchasing, I did ask the Janome dealer (I have an Elna which is now owned by Janome) to verify the shank and I unfortunately, received incorrect information. Since I wasn't entirely sure, I had asked the store if I could return it if it proved different. They were very accommodating, and I am happy to say I received the new foot/rulers today! I'm very excited to get started! 

So my goal for May is to quilt and bind this quilt!

One of my nieces, also due in June expecting her 2nd baby, asked me to make  a baby quilt for her and the baby. The theme for the baby's room is butterflies with the colors of teal and purple. 

My goal for May will be to start making butterfly blocks and piecing this quilt. 

I have little planned for this quilt. I have done some searching for butterfly blocks and I have started collecting fabrics. I hope this isn't too hefty a goal as school is quite busy as the school year draws to a close. 

Summer is just around the corner!

I will continue to keep up with the RSC and The Milky Way QAL. 

May's color is green!

I'm linking my goals up at OMG-May Link-up @ Elm Street Quilts.