Summer Has Arrived

Summer has finally arrived and it is packing a punch.  The high yesterday was 107* and is right up there again today.  The heatwave is suppose to break this evening and take us back to more seasonal temperatures.  I finally get to add those red fabrics to my Temperature Quilt.

It has been a busy week.  They were suppose to start on refinishing the wood floors on Friday, but that got postponed until Monday.  The closets, drawers and curios are now all emptied in anticipation.  Lots of purging has gone on here.

As well, we had the big July 4th party on Wednesday.  We do the BBQ and everyone brings side dishes so it makes it easier.  Games are played during the day and then the little ones light sparklers when it gets to be dusk.

My cousin's son is in L.A. for a summer internship so he and his friend joined us as well.

June was my month to be queen in our Gridster Bee.  I just love seeing the variation of the fabrics.  I'm looking forward to getting all of these together.

Several years ago I participated in the MCM Bee.  For my month I chose blocks to create the Woven pattern.  The blocks had been boxed up for too long.  I pulled them all out and added some more to create this layout.  I am calling it Sand and Sea.  It will be fun to get this one finished.

One last bit of sewing here.  While these little ones were staying with us this week, we had a chance to make some pink polka dot pajama bottoms.  The girls both loved them and didn't want to take them off.  Win/win!

I'm hoping to get some good sewing time in the next few weeks while they work on the floors.  I certainly won't be cleaning house!  That will come afterwards.  SIGH.

Welcome, December

December....how can that be?  I'm fairly certain that this year went much faster than it should have.  Ready or not, here it is.  I know I am not alone in disbelief.

The crud has struck like a vengeance around here so accomplishing much has been a bit of a challenge.  Thankfully, commitments and entertaining have forced us to keep moving.  We had our big Thanksgiving last weekend - in the rain - and then our annual Christmas dinner here last night.  Now that those two big dinners are behind me, I managed to slip away into my sewing space today.  I have missed the dates with my sewing machine. 

There is no way that I can keep up with the annual Bonnie Hunter's Mystery quilt during these busy days.  I am partway through step one, but worked on step two today.  Although these are not "my" colors, I love the way they are all coming together. 

My sister is also doing the Mystery.  This is her first time doing one and we've been having fun sharing our photos with each other.  Although I have not been able to convince her to start her blog YET, she is posting her progress on her IG account (alaskanquilter) along with some amazing quilts that she has been creating.  If you follow her you will also see some spectacular views from her Alaskan sewing studio.

December was the final month of our MCM Bee.  Elizabeth is the queen bee this month and requested that we make a block of the block that we requested when we were queen bee.  Isn't that a great idea?  This was the block I sent her.

The only other sewing I have finished is my postcard from Sheila's postcard swap. This one went off to Brazil.

Do you remember the cope that I reconstructed?  It was a thrill to receive a photo of it in use.

When the whole gang is here for Thanksgiving we try to get a group photo.  The rain canceled our attempt this year so we gathered after church the next day for our photo.  We were missing one who had to head back to college early that morning.

I have an update on my iron.  I did contact Oliso as Candace suggested.  Even though the guarantee had expired, Oliso did offer to replace the iron for about a third of the price of buying a new one.  It is so nice when a company stands behind their product. 

It looks like winter has finally arrived to the better part of the country.  Our temps have also taken a dip.  It is the time of the year when the fires in the fireplace feel really good.  I guess it is December.  Enjoy the days ahead.

Pattern Testing

I recently had the opportunity to pattern test for Emily of Em's Scrapbag.  If you are not familiar with Emily, she does an amazing job with scrap quilts.  Her patterns always help to make a dent in the stashed fabrics.  This is called Shooting Stars.

She recently showed her finish on her blog.  I love how the same pattern can look so different.  While hers is soft and quiet, mine screams fall in showy reds, oranges and yellows.  Scraps!  I enjoyed sewing the pattern so much that I added a few more squares to make a larger finish.

Don't you love the zig zag effect that is achieved?

While I would not normally use grays with these colors, this was a fabric that I had in quantity sufficient to make it.  I like the way it worked out and I really like the design in the fabric.

I couldn't decide what color of binding to use so used a scrappy red, yellow and charcoal.

For the backing, I used and extra wide backing fabric from Backside Fabrics.  This is a new to me shop and I was so pleased with their service.  The shipping was quick and they have a marvelous selection of wide backings.  The best part is that my backings came torn across rather than cut.  I always tear my backing fabrics to be sure that I have a straight of grain cut.  Needless to say, that means I always order more than I need to accommodate the loss that is achieved from tearing across.  I will definitely be using them as my source for the extra wide fabrics in the future.

Halloween was here and gone in a flash.  I added two more trick or treat bags for the youngest trick or treaters in the family.

As well this week I worked on my November MCM Bee blocks.   This is for Nancy. I am not an improv quilter so this was a wee bit of a challenge for me.  Her quilt should look amazing when finished.

These blocks went to Cindy as our final month in our Spelling Bee.  I really like her selection this month.

With the shorter days and cooler nights the poinsettia is starting to blush red in the leaves.  It won't be long before they are red.

I was a bit lucky this week as I received a note from Jeanna that I had won her giveaway.  I get to have some fun shopping at the Fat Quarter Shop.  Thanks so much, Jeanna, for the great giveaway and thanks also to the FQS for their support for all quilters.

Catching Up on Some Fun Sewing

Being away from the sewing machine for several weeks meant that I had to make up for lost time.  ;-)

One of our granddaughters has a birthday tomorrow and her request was for doll clothes for her 18" doll.  Of course, I LOVE sewing doll clothes.  I used to enjoy sewing for my own dolls and I was taken back to those olden days while I stitched these outfits.

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought this was necessary.

I had such fun with this little day outing dress with the waist bag.

Of course every doll needs some soft lounging p.j.s and a matching robe.

I also caught up and mailed off my bee blocks for October.  First off was for our MCM Bee.

Finally for our Spelling Bee.

Bring on November!!!

Linking up with Val's Quilting Studio

Linking up with Freemotion by the River linky Tuesday

Linking up with Quilt Fabrication Midweek Makers

Linking up with Busy Hands Quilt

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.....

e...e...eeeee

So.... how many of us are making the Elm Street QAL quilt?  This week the first sewing started and I had such fun choosing fabrics and putting my e's together.

My computer got sick this week so it has spent the last week in caring hands and has finally been returned.  I'm still trying to navigate around all of the new applications since it was all updated.

Meanwhile, I have had a little more time to spend in my sewing space which was great.  I managed to get my Round Robin quilt finished.  

The signature blocks were used on the back.

When our British friends were here in the spring we made her beautiful zig zag quilt.  There were a lot of leftover bits that were cut off the edges.  I squared those up and made usable blocks with them for a donation baby quilt.  

Then I backed it with the sweetest plush fabric.  It is so soft and cuddly.

I also finished my bee blocks for the MCM bee that I participate in each month.  These blocks were such fun to make and I think it will make a spectacular finish.  

We are forecast for a heat wave this weekend.  I am looking forward to it as it has been such a cool summer for us so far.  We were at my nephew's wedding last Saturday evening and people were wearing their ski parkas or were wrapped in blankets to keep warm.  It was crazy.  

Stitching and All

First of all, the winner of my Crafted Applique giveaway is Linda at Chirp.  Congratulations, Linda.  You will enjoy this book.

This week has been a week of bits and pieces of everything.  I've been doing cross stitching on my never ending Nativity project in the evenings.  I did a lot of it while we were on vacation so have continued to work on it in the hopes of finishing it this year.  I need to finish the second shepherd and then onto the last one.  I am feeling like it is getting close now.

You can see the slow progress since the last time I showed it.  I'd hate to think of how many hours I have in this already. lol

Carla is the queen for our Mid Century Modern Bee this month.  Her request is for churn dash blocks.

Months ago Ida had asked me if I would join in a Round Robin with her, two of her sisters and her niece.  It was so much fun to work on a different quilt each month and send it on to the next person.  I sent off  a center bear paw block.  I forgot to photograph it before I sent it, but I cropped the picture.

This is the way it returned to me.  I love how fancy my lonely little block became a 64" square flimsy.  I hope Ida will show you some of the others as they were wonderful.  Now....to get it quilted.

My words are almost ready to be made into a quilt.  I have so many ideas about how to finish it off.

These are the words that I made for Susan for the month of May.

As well as sewing, I have been refinishing an oak trestle table and benches.  Again, I did not get a picture of it before (darn), but will post the finish when it is done.  We've had this table since our children were young and we are passing it on to our daughter's family.  It is great for little ones.

We've had a busy month already with five birthdays, wedding anniversaries, First Communion, Confirmations and bridal showers.  The college grandchildren are home for the summer so life is great and keeping us busy, but I'm still taking time to smell the flowers.