Minis and More

First of all ... a question.  Is anyone else having problems with Blogger again?  None of my comments are coming through my e-mails AGAIN and every post lately has spam posted in the comment section.  Since I am not being notified by e-mail, I have no idea they are there unless I go back to all the past comments.  It is beyond frustrating.  I tried the changing e-mail fix that worked last time, but it did not work this time.

Anyway....it's the end of the month which means it is time to post my Minis and More project.  Thank you to Sherri and Michele for hosting the event each month and selecting our projects.

This month was Sherri's Endless Summer pattern.  It was a fun little pattern to make.

Be sure to check Michele and Sherri's blogs on the 1st of the month to see all the versions that have been made using the pattern.

It has been a cooler than normal September for us, but we decided to take Toby for a walk on the beach.  It was a beautiful day and not a soul on the beach.

I love seeing how people build little structures with the driftwood.  There has been a lot this year with the fires last winter.

The Island Princess was in port in Santa Barbara.  It left Alaska and was headed to Mexico.

Another bit of sewing that I did over the weekend was the Swoon Sixteen through FQS.  The little points really reminded me of houses so I added windows and doors.  I think I will make it into a cushion.

The fabrics were from my Seeing Stars QAL.  This week we were to add twenty eight 4.5" stars.  The design called for applique, but I decided to piece stars instead.  After several stupid math calculations, I finally managed to get 28 stars.

Photographing them was a bigger challenge than the math!  This guy thinks everything on the ground is meant to be a bed.

The winner of my Words to Live By giveaway (Sharon) has not replied to my e-mail yet.  If I still have no response, I will select a new name tomorrow and post it on Thursday.

So Dearly Part 6

Today is my day to share Part 6 of the So Dearly QAL hosted by Gosia at Quilts My Way.

We are approaching the end of our QAL.  With just two more parts to come, I'm sure everyone is getting a good idea of our end design.

I had decided on a neutral color range right from the beginning and I am so glad that I did.

I have a funny story about my brick colored background fabric.  I bought it months ago at my LQS for another project, but it wasn't quite right.  At the time I purchased it, I left about a half yard on the bolt.  Fast forward several months and I started to get concerned that I might not have enough for my QAL.  I went back to see if I could locate the maker and possibly order more.  As you know, batiks do not have identification on them.  Lo and behold, that half yard was STILL there.  Needless to say, I bought it!

These are my completed sections.  So....what do you think it will be????

Time remains to join us.  The patterns are still available and there are some great prizes to be had and a special prize for young participants.

THE Table

Many, many moons ago we had a coffee table.  We were newlyweds and had moved to Pensacola, FL for my husband's flight training.  We owned two bar stools, a dresser and a bed.  That was it.  We purchased a hatch cover that came from an old Liberty ship.  We found a welder who made us two legs and created our "table".  

That table traveled to all of our future military stations with us and eventually became the center of our homes.  The children grew and the table saw many little cars and trucks raced on it, building blocks were stacked on it, forts were made by covering it and it eventually became doll ballroom floors and other imaginary items.  

Eventually the kids headed off to college and we relocated.  The hatch cover became a coffee table in a college apartment and made more memories.  In the end, it ended up stored in the garage awaiting a much needed makeover.

Last week was my husband's birthday and our son refinished it for the occasion.  It's like having an old friend back in your life.  We're ready for more memories to be made on it.  

I remember the little holes in the handles always held small treasures.  Things have not changed with a new set of young ones around.  

I tried to locate some old photos of it, but WHY would I have taken pictures of a table before I started blogging?  The photos I do have of it are faded and it is generally covered with gift wrap from Christmas, games or toys.

The winner of my Words to Live By giveaway goes to RNG Sharon.  I've sent you an e-mail, Sharon.  If I do not receive a response in a week, I will draw a new winner.

Words to Live By Hop

Today is my day for the Words to Live By Blog Hop.  I hope you have visited the other participants and have entered at each stop to win a fat quarter bundle of this GREAT new fabric by Cherry Guidry and Benartex Fabrics.  I have loved Cherry's patterns and am so impressed with her fabric designs.  It's so nice to see someone venture out and become so successful in this creative world. 

From the moment I received these fabrics, I was smitten.  The colors are so soft and peaceful and who can resist the fabulous designs?  The keys....the daisies....the wood grains and the texts - each wonderful.  These were the fabrics that I selected to use for my project.

I knew I wanted a pattern to show off these fabrics so I resorted to the Disappearing Hourglass that Jenny shows us on the Missouri Star Quilt tutorial.

Without a design wall, the floor becomes the spot for my layout.  Of course, as soon as I put anything down there, my sewing companion needs to check it out.  I think he approves!

I always love seeing the quilts draped over the quilting frame early in the morning.  The filtered sun coming through the windows really makes the quilting design pop.

All finished and ready for its photo shoot.

Can you STILL spot my quilt inspector?  It's definitely a hit in his book.  I also LOVE the way this turned out.  It's such a calming quilt to me.  Thank you Cherry, Lisa and Benartex for giving me a chance to play with this amazing fabric line.

Benartex is going to give one of my U.S. readers a fat quarter bundle of some of these fun fabrics.  Just leave me a comment and tell me which one in the line of fabrics is your favorite.  You can see the full line HERE.  I will draw a winner on September 19th.

Words to Live By Hop Schedule:

Tuesday: Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts

Wednesday: Benartex Design Team

Thursday: Carol @ Just Let Me Quilt

Friday: Mary @ Needled Mom

This Week

It's so hard to imagine that it has been seventeen years since our country was attacked.  I am sure we can each remember where we were when we heard the news.  Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the victims in a special way today.

You know that you haven't blogged in awhile when you have to look at photos to see what you have done lately!  It has been a busy time, but I am trying to stay up to date on the Happy Quilting Seeing Stars QAL.  

Last week we completed these stars.

This week we were to create nine improv stars.  I don't do improv.  I am such a control freak about matching my points, etc. so my improv never looks "improv".  I did manage to muddle through the nine star blocks.

The blocks seem to be getting smaller each week.  I wonder what tomorrow's blocks will be.

Secretly, I have been working on a project from these great fabrics that I have shared before.

Here is a hint of what I have created with them.  Don't you love the keys?

You can see the entire project in the Words to Live By blog hop.  My day is Friday, but be sure to check out the other participants and enter to win a bundle of fat quarters of Words to Live By from Cherry Guidry and Benartex Fabrics.  

Words to Live By Hop Schedule

Tuesday: Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts

Wednesday: Benartex Design Team

Thursday: Carol @ Just Let Me Quilt

Friday:  Me @ Needled Mom

For all of you in the path of Florence, please stay safe.  

Quilters Meet and Greet

I was invited to participate in Benita's 2018 Quilter's Meet and Greet.  It's a great way to meet other bloggers, IG-ers and FB-ers.  There is also a grand prize that would be an amazing win by some lucky person.

My blogging journey started thanks to a friend in Maine who talked me into blogging so we could share our quilting with each other.  Along the way I have met some wonderful and inspiring fellow bloggers.  I know many have gone to other forms of social media, but our online friendships have continued.  As well, I have had the great pleasure of meeting several of them in person. 

Benita asked us to share our favorite quilts.  Is that not like choosing your favorite child??  Of course my real favorites would be the ones made for grandchildren that are well worn well loved.  I have thirty grandchildren and each received a quilt as newborns.  Here are a couple of the last few finishes.

Pattern by Sew Fresh Quilts

Pattern by Sew Fresh Quilts

 A yearly project from Quiltville is the highly anticipated Mystery Quilt.  I have completed four of those.  They involve a lot of piecing, but I have so enjoyed joining the quilting community in making them.

On Ringo Lake

Allietare

En Provence

Easy Street

Through the years I have enjoyed various quilting bees and blog hops.  As well as meeting new friends, some fun quilts and projects have come from the sharing.

Paper Doll pattern by Stephanie (IG sadunphy )

Of course many of the quilts go as gifts and donation quilts through my guild.  It's always a joy to see them loved and used.

My sewing passion did not start with quilting.  I have always loved clothing construction as well as cross stitch, knitting, tatting and most any kind of needlework.

Of course, your "favorite" quilt could be one that you are currently working to complete too.  lol

Now that you have visited here, be sure to pop over to Benita's site to meet other quilters through the month of September.  Be sure to enter for the grand prize which will be won on October 1st.