July ALYOF Project

I'm running by the seat of my pants!  Here's my July project for ALYOF. I will get it quilted and bound. Yep, yep. I will!

Can't even get it to download right side up. Oh, well. I think it's Happy Hour . . . somewhere! 

Linking up with ALYOF

Quilting with a smile,
Barb

Goals Met for June's ALYOF!

My goodness! June has been about the busiest month yet this year, and I am so pleased that amidst all the drama and long hours with my Day Job, I was able to etch out a little time to finish up my goals for A Lovely Year of Finishes!  I know this looks like two finishes, but I'm only counting it as one. I basically quilted them at the same time to make good use of the backing fabric and save time.

I must admit, this was a fairly simple goal - I already had the table runners pieced and so I had to get them quilted and then bound. I've been enjoying them as they grace my coffee table and buffet . Very definitely a summery addition to the house.

And I am excited now because I have cleaned up my sewing studio and am now thinking about which project I shall finish for my July Goal. Hmmm....several possibilities come to mind. Doesn't it feel good to get a project wrapped up and put to good use?  Very satisfying.

Click on the button below to see what projects others have been finishing up this month.

Quilting with a smile,
Barb

Linking up with Pink Doxies Pet Projects

ALYOF to Match The Awesome Weather

Yes! In a super-busy month, I finished my May Goal. Yes!

I made it a simple goal because I knew I'd be hoofin' it to get everything accomplished this month.  I'm glad I did. This month's goal was to complete the binding on my Charm Pack Cherry quilt with a black background. I do like the turquoise binding - kinda sets it off.  The print fabric is Moda's Barcelona, and the entire lap quilt takes 2 charm packs of the print and 2 charm packs of the solid.

 It was an interesting process to make the quilt in two different background colors. I like each one.

On a side note, the arthritis in my hands has been acting up.  Not fun. But then last night, I had an unusual thing happen. The ring finger on my right hand (of course, I'm right handed)  decided to voluntary, and without any prior approval from me, snap into a semi-permanent position with the fingertip down against my palm. And it refused to snap back into place.

Owie! So after I stopped panicking, calmed down and took some Ibuprofen, and soaked my hand in hot water and then in one of my flax seed hot packs (gotta love those hot packs!), I was relaxed and the tendon gave way and it went back to normal.  Which is a good thing. Except after a visit with a surgeon today who specializes in hands, she gave me a cortisone shot to reduce the inflammation. Owie again!  At my age, I just don't do 'owie' well, lol.  Hopefully, though, it will give that hand some relief. After all, I have a big To Do List and all of it, every bit of it, involves my hands. Wish me luck so I don't need surgery!

Looking forward to seeing everyone's finishes for May.  And remember: quilt with a smile!

Barb

Linking up with Linky Tuesday, ALYOF, Thread & Needle Thursday, and Quilt Story.

Goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes May 2014

At one point in time, Green Fairy Quilts was having this super-duper sale on charm packs.  Oh, yea - it was about the time that I ran across the Charm Pack Cherry pattern.  So I stocked up because I liked the way this pattern showcased the fabrics in a charm pack, and I could get pre-cut solids in charms, and what could be easier than laying out your design, stitching it up, cutting blocks in two, stitching again, and suddenly a quilt is born!

So I am working my way through my charm packs.  This is what the quilt looks like with a dark background.

Here's the first quilt I did with a white background.  Quite a different look, eh?

I got this little gem quilted and now just need to find some fabric for the binding and get it finished up.  I decided this will be my project for May, because as simple as it sounds, getting this quilt finished this month will be a challenge. Busy-ness abounds at my house this time of year.

Yard work, yard sale, and my Day Job are all getting in my way of quilting (shakes head in dismay).  But, it all must be done. Especially the Yard Sale. When we moved into our new home a year ago, we had enough storage room in the shop for all the things We Never Use But Can't Seem To Part With. The Day of Reckoning for those things is upon us now, and it's time to de-stash.  A lot of the boxes are things from our kids' childhoods that I can't seem to toss out. My plan is to keep them until they get a place of their own, and then load up their cars and send all this stuff on its merry way. One day.

Quilting with a smile,
Barb

Linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes, Fabric Tuesday, Linky Party Tuesday.

I'm Ready For Christmas - Nine Months Early!

Thank you to Shanna and Melissa for hosting the Lovely Year of Finishes.  It has caused me to pull this wall hanging out of my UFO pile and finish it up. And I'm thrilled I did!

This was one of the first quilts I pieced, and the very first I ever tried any applique techniques. After I got it finished, I decided it would be great to cozy up in and use it as a lap quilt, but with the applique I don't think that's such a good idea. Once I decided to use it as a wall hanging, as was the original intent of the pattern, I sewed fun red buttons on the holly leaves to make it a wee bit more festive.

The fabric squares appear to be very shiny, but that's probably a result of using the flash on my camera.

I had fun quilting all sections of this quilt. I especially like the curved floral motif I made  for each square in the body of the quilt.

And the texture on the backside is fun, too!

All in all, this will make a nice decoration for a big wall that we have and add to the festivity of Christmas for years to come. And maybe, one day if I have grandchildren, they will like the Christmas stockings and enjoy it, too!

This was also one of my finishes for the first quarter of the 2014 Finish Along - yes!  I got 2 out of 3 goals done, and got some things finished that weren't even on the list. So I'm a happy quitler!

Always quilt with a smile,
Barb

Linking up with:
A Lovely Year of Finishes
Linky Tuesday
Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday
Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?
Link-A-Finish Friday 
Needle And Thread Thursday
2014 Finish Along