I'm back and so soon 😜

 I'm back again with more updates of what's been happening. Since I didn't want to overwhelm my last post, I decided to split it in 2 so here is part 2.

August's color of the month for the RSC is yellow! Since I was on vacation for the first 2 weeks of August, I got started with my yellow button blocks this past week. 

I can't wait to see all these buttons together as I now have quite the stack of button blocks! I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @SO Scrappy

This is the 3rd year that I have participated in the #30daysofimprovqal hosted by @shannonfraserdesigns and Amanda @broadclothstudio. The QAL started on July 30th and we are in the 4th week. Again, I was on vacation for the first 2 weeks but caught up by doing all 3 prompts in one week - stripes, L shapes, and triangles! This week was curves! 

As you can see, this year I am sewing only from my green scrap bin. I will probably make a few more blocks as we arrange and rearrange in Composition Week next week. 

Before my vacation, I pulled out a UFO that I started last year called 'Oh Say Can You Sew' on Facebook. The original quilt pattern called for 1152 - 1 1/2" HST. 

That is where I stopped and put the project bin away.  

After pulling that bin out again, I decided to cut down the size of the finished quilt so I would need to make fewer HSTs to finish. I would only need 648. The quilt will still be a nice size laid out in a 5x7 grid. 

Here is a peek at my current progress. I have all the blocks finished and I'm working on piecing the sashing. All fabrics are from my stash or scraps. 

I think that I can see the light at the end of this tunnel. It is rare for me to put away a quilt that I have started for as long as this one sat. Do you have projects that you give up on? Do you eventually finish them? 

A finish and some catching up!

 Once again I am finding myself playing catch up with my monthly obligations...like QALs and sewalongs and charity blocks. I think that maybe I over committed this year but I have a hard time NOT joining in. It leaves little time for my own designing and for sewing for my family, friends, and me.

So when I found out that a close friend's daughter was going to have a baby, I needed to get busy and make and complete a baby quilt. 

Forest animals is the theme for the baby's room and shower. So I found some paper pieced animals and trees designed by MadebyMarney on Etsy. Mary's style is unique and cute. I added the squirrel designed by Protoquilt. I did change the patterns a bit and I embroidered the eyes, noses, and other markings (instead of buttons). I added the words and designed the layout. 

The blocks are all paper pieced except for the Forest Friends which is appliqued.  The sashing and border print is a woodland animal print I found at Joann's. The backing is one piece of another woodland printed fabric. 

The animal blocks are 8" squares and the tree block is 12" square.

I quilted with a stipple across the quilt being careful not to sew over the embroidered features. The quilt finishes at 37" x 40". 

                                     I hope mama and baby like it!                                            Linking to Favorite Monthly Finish @Meadow Mist Designs.

In August, I participated in the #30daysofimprovqal on Instagram. This was the 2nd year. Each week there is a shape that was the focus: stripes, polygons, triangles, and curves. On 5 days of the week a new prompt was announced to help you make your block. All the fabric that I used was from my stash. The last week focused on composition. At first I thought I would do a more traditional layout giving each block its own space. But the more I looked at it hanging on my design wall, I wasn't satisfied. I ripped it all out and began rearranging, adding and stitching it back together. This is how it turned out. 

I straight line quilted every 1/2" from the top to the bottom. 

I added corners for hanging. 

This quilt finishes at 27" x 31.5" This quilt is gifted to a friend.

It is now nearing the end of September and I just got started on light blue for my RSC blocks. They came together pretty quickly.

Hang Ten in blue and all nine colors.

Squiggle in blue and all 9 colors

And my 3rd RSC block in blue and all nine colors

I'll keep working and hopefully will be ready to go before October comes. I got a few more things to catch up on!

August: Vacation, Quilting and the End of Summer

 My husband and I were able to get away for a fabulous and much needed vacation to Colorado. We spent time relaxing, hiking and sightseeing! There is no end to the beauty of the mountains! To see pictures from my vacation you can visit me on Instagram or Facebook. Here a taste of the beauty!

Since I knew that I would be away for the start of the #30daysofimprovqal, I worked ahead so I could post on IG. The first week of the challenge was stripes. The goal is 5 blocks each week made using the daily prompts and improv cutting and sewing. 

Week 2 was playing with polygons

Now that I'm home, Week 3 has been completed but I will save those for another post. 

I also worked ahead on my RSC blocks! August color is ORANGE!

I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @So Scrappy

I brought my 4 New York Beauty blocks that I finished with me to Colorado to do a photoshoot 'in the wild'. These blocks were designed by Elizabeth Eastman of OP Quilt and were free on her blog. I always wanted to try some New York Beauty blocks and this was a great opportunity to get started! I love them!

On our way home, we made a stop in Hamilton, MO....Quilt Town USA! I would guess that every quilter has heard of the Missouri Star Quilt Co. and Jenny Doan. I had never had the chance to actual go and visit. Here are a few glimpses from the town.

My husband is a good sport and supporter of my quilting! ✂️

Since this post is getting so long, I'll be back with what I have done since coming home to catch up! 😉

Trying to keep my head above the water!

 Why is it that life seems to keep getting busier? 

I just don't seem to have enough time to keep up with quilting, blogging, and visiting blogs with the time that is left over after work and family commitments. Anyone else feel the same?

Well, enough complaining! I need to enjoy the moments! 

October's monthly color is light green. Here are my blocks. 

Joy Luck

Wonky Shoo Fly

I'm thinking I will add at least one more color for the wonky shoo fly and 

several for the Joy Luck to make them a nice size quilt. We will see!

Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @ So Scrappy.

I did have a finish since I last posted! I finished my #30daysofimprovqal quilt.

This challenge took place during the month of August. I chose to 

add large borders of Kona white around the grid of blocks to make 

a good size throw quilt. I quilted from top to bottom in straight 

lines about 1/2" apart. 

The backing fabric was used to based the colors for the challenge blocks. The binding is left over pieces from the front fabrics. 

This quilt was gifted as a wedding gift for my daughter's 

sister-in-law and husband.

I will be linking to Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, linky party at Patchwork and Quilts, Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts and Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting.

Finally, I can show you my September calendar journal! We have been having quite the printer problems and finally broke down and bought a new one. I have been keeping notes on paper until I was able to get the calendar printed. 

My October step for the Macaron Mystery is finished ~ 60 flying geese. 

I'm excited to see what the next step is. 

Until next time, happy quilting!