A Summer Cool Off

Is it time for a cooling post for the summer heat?  So many people have been experiencing heat and humidity this month.  During the summer, Gosia has a Hello Sunshine Challenge.  She chooses the wonderful summer colors and the challenge is to create a project using them.  Pulling fabrics from my stash, this is my cool off.

Be sure to check out the challenge.

The pattern is a Fig Tree, Mini Pops.  It was the selected pattern for Sherri and Michele's Minis and More journey a few months ago.  I loved the pattern, but never found the time to make it.  This month's project is a free choice mini and I went back to the Mini Pops.  I love the way it turned out and it makes such a great summer table runner.

Have you ever wondered how much change you collect over a year?  I have enjoyed reading how much people have managed to gather over the last few years and decided to play along this year.  Perhaps I will have a fun shopping spree at my favorite LQS next July.  One year.....I wonder how much I will have collected from my ever heavy bag, laundry, etc.  You can join in at Val's Quilting Studio.

Linking up with Finished or Not Fridays.

Finishing July

As another month comes to a close, we move closer and closer to Christmas.  Have you enjoyed all of the great Christmas in July posts and projects?  There are so many great ideas which I am sure that I will wish I had done when December rolls around.  ;-)

What did I accomplish this week?  Well....I did finish the horse quilt in time for the birthday next Monday.

 The back....

I did the quilting with a star and horseshoe pantograph.

The same group that worked on our Round Robin will now be doing a Row by Row Robin.  I have finished my first row and my spacer rows, but am considering maybe replacing the black spacer rows with two white rows instead.  My thought was to alternate dark and light, but I'm not sure that I care for that idea.  I might alternate with a checkerboard row.  Any thoughts?

My #spellingbee block went out to Simone this month.  I had a hard time wrapping my mind around the colors in this one and made the first word in purple.  Fortunately, one of the other bee-ers recognized my mistake before I sent it off.  It was taxing on the mind to make purple in coral.

A young couple at church had a little baby girl so a couple of burp cloths were sewn up this week.

I had company in my sewing room yesterday when I went to sit at the machine.  This was what I put my hand on when I went to pull out my chair.  It scared us both half to death, but its colors were so pretty - orange and iridescent green.  I did manage to capture it and return it to the outside where it belongs.

I did get some really fun mail this week.  It came from a giveaway that Elizabeth had.  I have loved looking through these Uppercase magazines.  There are so many exceptionally talented and creative people in the world.  Speaking of talented....Elizabeth is someone who fits into that category.  Her work never ceases to amaze me and she tackles it with such precision.

We enjoyed our nephew's wedding last weekend.  It was a perfect day for a wedding with a beach reception.  I managed to grab a shot of a few of our "children" and a couple of their spouses.

So.....that has been my week.  How was yours?


Linking up with Finished or not Friday.

Bits and Pieces

Another week of summer is now in the books.  It seems to be going so quickly.  There just never seem to be enough hours in the day for all I want to do.  I know most everyone can relate.

Little bits of stitching time does eventually make for finishes.  This summer I have been participating in the Elm Street Quilts QAL and now have it to the flimsy stage.  There is still time to join in on the fun.

I received my nativity piece back from the framers and they did a great job on it.

I guess my Santa cross stitch was a bit too obvious last week.  He has such a recognizable face.  Now.....to put him together.

I was playing a bit with some jelly (Gelli) printing this week - just for some different play time.

From that I made a fabric postcard.

What has consumed the majority of my stitching time this week has been trying to finish up the horse quilt.  It is getting there and I'll show photos once it is finished.  The 16th birthday is at the end of the month so I still have a few days left.  ;-)

Linking up this week with Myra at Busy Hands Quilts.

Whoa

I could be saying that to slow the summer from speeding past, but it really has to do with a quilt that I am working on for our granddaughter's 16th birthday.  I made all of the children quilts when they were born, but each of the girls has requested a "grown up" one when they turn sixteen.  This one is for the horse owner/lover in the family.  It will consist of blocks with horses for the centerpieces.

We had a great July 4th party here.  There really wasn't much time for picture taking, but I did manage to snap a couple.  We had about 125 people here with several guests visiting from quite a distance - Chicago and Austria.

Meanwhile, I managed to get my bee blocks completed for the Mid Century Bee that I am in.  I love Sherrie's choice of log cabins.

Having finished my large cross stitch project, I started a smaller one.  It is stitched in a single thread over one stitch on Laguna 25 ct. so these stitches are tiny.  Can you guess what it will be?  I love having a slow stitching project to pick up and enjoy some quiet time.  I'll be linking this one up with Kathy for the Slow Stitching Sundays.

I'm off for more horse stitching.....