Finished my RSC quilt for 2024

 Right before leaving for Colorado and our daughter's wedding, I put the final stitches in the binding of my 2024 Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt, Circle of Friends! 

Since we were driving to Colorado and spending about 10 - 12 days there, I tucked the quilt in the car hoping to get in a photo shoot. 

We were way too busy leading up to the wedding. It was a beautiful wedding! 

You know I needed to show of few snaps from the wedding!

Beautiful venue

The day after, we took off for a short trip into the mountains for some hiking (and photoshoot)!

Here is my finish!

The pattern is Circle of Friends. Here is the free tutorial. All the monthly color blocks were made from fabrics from my scrap bins. The flying geese border was previously made from prior RSC project's bonus HSTs. I put them together into flying geese. I had enough to go around 2 of the corners. Lesson:Don't throw away those bonus HSTs, they may come in handy someday!

I quilted it in a large off set spiral.  

Backing is scraps from a previous quilt back.

The photoshoot was taken at Maroon Bells near Aspen, Colorado. It was a beautiful, sunny, crisp day to hike and for the photoshoot!

The finished size of this quilt is 41" x 52.5"

Rainbow Scrap Challenge finished until next year! 

Need to find a block pattern to make next!

I'm linking to Wednesday Wait Loss @The Inquiring Quilter, Scrap Happy Saturday @SoScrapy, Finished or Not Friday @AlyciaQuilts, Midweek Makers @QuiltFabrication, Needle and Thread Thursday @MyQuiltInfatuation, and TGIFF @Devoted Quilter, Put Your Foot Down @A Quiltery, Off The Wall Friday @ Creations, Free Motion Mavericks @Quilting and Learning

Playing with Blue Scraps

 It has been a very busy time in my family but April started a new color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and I managed to squeeze in some time to play with my blue scrap bin and make 10 wonky shoo fly blocks! 

I also made 10 Joy Luck blocks!

Here are all 4 colors together!

I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @So Scrappy.

So why have I been so busy? 

As you may know, last May my daughter's family moved in with us. My SIL was to go back to school for nursing (a new career). Due to COVID-19, it was harder than expected to fulfil hours needed and school was postponed until this Fall. He did finish the required CNA program and is working as an aid. After almost a year with us, they bought a house close by and are trying to get it renovated before moving in. The house was previously owned by an older couple that haven't been living in the house for a year. It needed a lot of cleaning and updating. It isn't easy to find time when you have a 2 year old and jobs but thankfully they can stay with us until it is ready. 

Our grandson!

On top of the new house, our oldest daughter and her boyfriend got engaged 1 week before the close. 

Since they had been together for several years, they decided that they were going to get married on 4-3-21. They had a private wedding ceremony and then we met as a family at the Chicago Botanical Gardens for an small gathering! There will be more celebrating as it becomes safe to do it. 

We are so excited for them! What a beautiful day they had! ❤️

Work seems to get in the way...

Once again it has been a long time since my last post.  Since school has started, my time has become sew limited.  I have been sewing some but nothing to show quite yet. Several WIP's but no finishes.

I also needed to take my beloved machine in for a cleaning and tune up.  I was aghast when they said that he (the repairman) was 12 days out in his workload.  What was I going to do? Yes, I do have another machine but nothing like my Elna! I love it sew!! My second machine is a Husqvarna...not a shabby machine but in comparison...oh how I miss my Elna!  And yes I have a third machine and a serger but...

A couple of things of note...I have joined the Ghastlies Blog Hop! Watch for some great project from this wonderfully disturbing line of fabric by Alexander Henry.  Madame Samm over at Sew I Quilt is our host. Here is my Ghastlies signature.

Secondly, this month's Friday Night Sew-In is September 16th. Won't you join us?  Hope over to Heidi's blog and sign up. It's a great excuse to stay in a sew. 

Finally, I signed up for a swap on Flickr called Little Quilt. This is round 2 and I'm joining (if they want me.) I'm new to this so hopefully will figure out all the technical things...which is not one of my fortes. 

I leave you with some pictures of wedding sewing/crafts that I have not shared. What's a post without pictures?

I spent many hours [they were kinda addicting] making these fabric flowers for the headbands/barrettes/veil for the bridesmaids, flower girls and the bride. As well as the flowers on the flower girl dresses [which I also made.] 

I also hand stitched this pearl and lace cuff for my daughter.

in progress

Last weekend, we were camping in WI for the long weekend...an annual event with friends! This weekend is a 'bees and honey' weekend. We (not I, but my DH and friends) will rob the hives today and Sunday is the day we harvest this year's honey. YUM! 

Well, I'm hoping for some quilty finishes soon! In the meantime...

The wedding and some sewing...

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that this summer our DD2 got married!  The wedding was on July 16th and was a beautiful outdoor wedding at our friend's home.  They were married under an arch made by my DH from tree branches.  The reception was under a large white tent decorated with all the unique touches that made their day special. Here are some snapshot pictures of the day!

(taken before the wedding)

programs were made into a fan to keep your cool

ring bearer and flower girls

props for photo booth ~ vintage hats, mustaches, bow ties and a Polaroid camera 

(photo taken before the wedding)

lemonade stand ~photo taken before wedding

outdoor games for guests to enjoy between ceremony and reception

spinning plates are a big hit!

table settings ~  a unique plate, cup and silverwear at each place. 

centerpieces ~ bookart, cameras and wild flowers.

hanging hearts ~ the back drop behind the head table

cake table 

1st dance

Daddy/daughter dance

DD1, DH, DD3 ♥

Mr. & Mrs. ♥

There are so many more photos of the wedding but I hope this gives you a glimpse of the unique and beautiful day we had.  Thank you to all that had commented and encouraged throughout.  

Since the wedding, I have had a little time to catch up on some sewing...here is some what I've done.

I finished piecing the top and waiting on the backing fabric I ordered...should be here real soon! Thanks Kelly!

The Abby Tote by Vanessa at V and Co. ~ made for my mother's birthday gift. This is the second Abby Tote I have made. Super cute!

NOTE: Monday starts the Wantobe Quilter Campaign at Sew We Quilt.  There are lots of prizes to win. You must be signed up with a blogger that has the Wantobe button on their sidebar.  Why not me? If your interested, email me your name and phone number. If you are a quilter, there will be days for quilters to win also but you must be signed up. You don't want to miss out!

The countdown has begun...

to the wedding of our DD2! 

I have managed to sneak a few hours in my sewing room that isn't related to wedding things.  Here are my latest Simple Things QAL blocks.  

So far I have been able to keep up but I have a feeling that I may need to play catch up for the next couple of weeks.  Wedding company starts arriving Sunday! 

I will leave you with some new pictures of a quilt that I made my very dearest friend, Ruth.  I am so blessed by her friendship.  I made this quilt for her birthday before I started my blog. It is called A Perfect Relationship...not only for our friendship but also because she is a beautiful Rosemal painter and I love to quilt.  I put our 2 'loves' together as I quilted a Rosemal pattern on her quilt.  Note to self: post pictures of Rosemaling in a future post.

Take a look...