OMG For 2023!

 If you never heard of OMG that is run by Patty of Elm Street Quilts then I encourage you to look into this!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal January Link-up

I didn't get to participate much last year, but I really wanted to! I get so much more completed when I play along. So this month I will be trying to finish Pat Sloan's Hometown Charms QAL. I have three more blocks to finish and the sashing that has some piecing.

Do you participate? Wish me luck!

Sheila

Well darn I missed getting this in on time. I keep forgetting I'm now on CST and thought I still had an hour. That'll be my improvement this year, watch my timing!

Happy New Year!

 Out with the old, in with the new. Are you ready for the new year? Are you ready for 2022 to leave? This past year wasn't as bad as 2020 and 2021. Hopefully next year will be even better for all of us!

This years finishes are few, but I do have finishes!

There are a bunch of links (they will open to a new tab), most free and I'm not affiliated at this time to any.

In quilts, Valentine's Day wall hanging, Oh My Stars table runner and I finally finished the Jelly Snowflake from last year... or was it the year before!? I still have to hide the stitches from the problems I had with my quilting machine. But I can get nice and cozy will I do that. Here's a picture of it, I'll have a better when when I'm finished with the thread mess.

I completed a flimsy of the String Bean quilt from Pat Sloan's block a day in March. She does this every year. I believe this was her third year and she is talking about 2023's block, or at least trying to decide which block would be good. She picks an easy block, beginner friendly and easy to keep up. I don't think I have a picture of it yet, but I will post one as soon as I get one.

Other projects are; several cloth napkins, Tilda Duck from Tilda's Hot Chocolate book and fabric eggs. I finished another Rhapsody shirts from Love Notions and in the crochet department I made the Chill Time cardigan.

For Cross Stitching I finished Chicken Love, Stitches in aquas and Little Quaker Christmas.

The Love Chicken pattern is free from Fat Quarter Shop. Head there for that and other patterns.

Stitches and Little Quaker Christmas are free patterns from Aurifil <follow that link to their site of not only these two but a bunch of cross stitch patterns that are free!

I have several QALs I've started this year, you have to add to the WIPs! Most are Pat Sloan's QALs including Sweet Dreams (4 blocks left), another String Bean Block A Day (10 blocks left), Summer Camp (all blocks done), Hometown Charms (3 blocks left). A couple through Fat Quarter Shop that I started but haven't quite finished are FlapJacks and Christmas Time Mystery QAL both are free quilt a longs. The Christmas Time mystery link will take you to a page that also has the cross stitch patterns, they are patterns are separate so you'll have to go to several pages.

I also started a pattern I designed and hope to get that up and available for you. 

That is basically my year in crafy review. This didn't include my drawings because I didn't track them, but I will from now forward! I'm hoping for more finishes next year, but then aren't we all!

The very best New Year to all! Love Y'all and thanks for stopping by!

Sheila

Hi Y'all! And Merry Christmas!!!

 I know it's been way too long! I've been feeling off and overwhelmed, but I'm much better now! :D 

I've been tending the chickens and it sparked my love of drawing...

This is Dorothy she's a Mystic Marans. I'm still working on her, but wanted to share what I have done so far. I use mostly Prismacolor pencils on Cansons paper. I've been trying different types of colored pencils, Faber Castell for one. I use to do pet portraits and absolutely loved it. I plan on starting a youtube channel for those who want to learn about drawing and using colored pencils. Hopefully that will start the beginning of the year.

I haven't given up on quilting in case you are wondering! I just finished up on Pat Sloan's 'Oh My Stars' table runner. Something quick and easy to get me back on track. I'm also trying to finish up on her Hometown Charms QAL. The end of a QAL always has me dragging my feet! 

The table runner was easy to quilt, except my machine was acting up again. But even with the problems, it only took me an hour and half to quilt it. So here it is...

I had an issue with attaching the binding ends together and after 3x's I decided it just didn't matter! Of course the red flange really draws the eye to the misalignment. Even though I still like how it came out and I'm very happy with it. It fits on the coffee table perfect. Here is the back, which I think that side can be used as the top too!

 Here is a close up of the quilting. Notice the holly leaves and snowflakes, I had fun!

I hope you are enjoying the season. We are getting the arctic blast right now as I type! So I better get this uploaded before we lose power!

Merry Christmas all!

Sheila

Time Flies!

I can't believe how long it's been since I've done a post! Bad Blogger, bad! So much has been going on, working in the garden, doing home improvement projects, trying to organize my studio and getting chickens! The last one is something I've wanted to do for a long time, more on that later.

As for my quilting, I seem to be stalled. I started doing cross stitch and not being a fast stitcher I've fallen behind (I was doing The Fat Quarter Shops stitch alongs). I decided that stitching before bed would be the only time I would work on it and if I fell behind it didn't matter, it's not going anywhere! But the time it took away from my quilting has made it hard for me to get into my room. Yesterday I decided enough foolishness and got back to work! Pat Sloan's QAL just posted it's last block this past Wednesday and I am two blocks behind. Not bad considering! I cut out the fabric for those and should have them done today or tomorrow. I've also been dragging my feet about the sashing and cornerstones. I think I have it figured out so I'll get on that too! 

I'm also working on a two quilts I designed one is for a coworker of my husband and the other is for a friend of ours. It's a ocean theme. HERE is the original post for it. I do have a lot more done then that, but it's pretty sad this post was back in November 2020! I did stop for a time, especially due to the move last year. I believe I only have 6 more blocks to do, then sashing and cornerstones. The one for my husbands coworker is a quilt that I started back in March! I made the blocks to look like sunflowers so I'm calling it Sunflower Field. I am trying to write up the instructions for it, but I'm new at it so it's taking longer than I would like. I'll try to post a photo of the finished block later. Right now I think I have enough Foundation Papers pieced to do 4 blocks... I need 18! I need to figure out how to sew faster! 

Here's a stack of sunflower petals.

And this is one of my favorite blocks in the ocean quilt. Sorry for the wrinkles, I grabbed the pile and took the photo not realizing it needed an iron taken to it and I just wanted to get this posted.

I'm thinking of calling this quilt either Picture This or Snapshot. What do you think? 

So those are my two designs I've been working on. Now for Pat Sloan's QAL...

Here it is up on my make- shift design wall. I was/am trying to see what I like for the sashing and border and if the block placement will work. Hopefully I can get this turning into a flimsy and start deciding on how I want to quilt it.

And now for the chickens!...

They are peaking out to see if I'm coming to let them out of the coop!

The light color one on the left is Rose, the one in the front right is Blanche, the tall black one is Dorothy and the one between Dorothy and Blanche is Sophia...you can see below Sophia has a pearl necklace 😂When she was younger it was two rows of white that made me think of pearls, she has since gotten more pearls. 

 Yes I named them after the Golden Girls!

 So that's it for now. I will try not to stay away so long. I'm a big believer in schedules and routines. I just have to get mine back together! 

Have a wonderful day and I'll see you soon!!

Sheila

 

The Days Are A Blur. Plus A New Years Start...OMG For February!

Wow has it really been over 7 months since my last post!!!! So much has been going on, some good some bad. All I know is this years has been hard on our family. My husband lost two of his brothers within months of each other and his father the beginning of the year.

We decided to move to Bowling Green since our son was going to go to WKU. Finding a house was crazy! I would send texts to our realtor about a house we wanted to see and it was already off market! We did finally find a house and it's only 3 minutes from Timmy's dorm! He's been coming home on the weekends, and I think that has helped him deal with the newness of it all. Duke and Gracie are very happy when he comes home...Me too! Duke and Timmy have gotten very close and it makes me so happy to see the bond they have.

 I love the way Duke is hugging Timmy back by leaning his head into him.

I don't think I ever gave an update on Duke and Timmy. In the beginning he was afraid of Tim and Timmy. After 2 1/2 weeks he went to Tim, but Timmy was proving more of a challenge. The Rescue we were working with almost wouldn't let us keep him because they were worried about Duke never getting used to Timmy or afraid he would bite ending with us giving him up or having to have him put down if he did bite. But I saw that he was interested and just needed more time. He never showed aggression or any indication of biting. When he was scared he would run away from Timmy. It took him around 4 months to finally go to Timmy. I thank Gracie for that! Duke would watch them together and you could tell he wanted some of that attention too. Now Timmy is Dukes boy. He misses him all week, I catch him in Timmy's bed whenever I leave his door open with the saddest of faces. And when Timmy comes home he gets bunches of hugs. I believe Timmy is benefiting from his hugs as much as Duke is.

Our new home was also very close to the tornado that went through western KY in December. It was very scary and way too close for my liking! But we were blessed and had very little damage. The homes a couple blocks away are still waiting on work to be done. And the main street just past that still looks like a war zone.

That's about it on the update of my life, onward with the projects I've been doing!

My first finish of the new year! Well, maybe finished...

Pat Sloan used this block in her new QAL Sweet Dreams that is going on now. She suggested making a throw and has a free pattern available at her site. I'm not sure if I'm going to put another border on, maybe the strips of fabrics I used for the hearts and I'm not sure if I'll do the big HST in the outer border. I used fabric from another sew along and I still have a few blocks left to do and I don't want to use up that fabric on this and not be able to finish it. I plan on working on that, in fact that will be my OMG for February. 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal February Link-up

I want to finish my Home Is... quilt from Pat Sloan's spring QAL. I have three of the big sections done and put together, I just have to make six blocks and 4 of those are super easy. So my goal is to complete the Home Is... quilt top! I'm not sure about borders, but if I can get the blocks sewn together I will be very happy. 

I'm hoping to get these up on the bulletin board so I can see them better. But there is a bunch of blocks you can't see. I do have a spot in my new Studio for a design wall, just need to buy the material for that. Until then my bulletin board will have to do.

Another project I have been working on is also one of Pat Sloan's QAL called Fall Frolic. I decided to do mine from a fat quarter bundle I bought awhile ago. Most of the fabric was Return To Winter's Lane and Signature Linen by Kate & Birdie Paper Co. for Moda. I added Winter Wonderland (Clothworks) and for my solids I used Kona Cotton in Mushroom. I also purchased a .5 yard of Poppy for the border in case I didn't have enough, but I think I have plenty. The blocks are done I just have a few sashing blocks left to do. Here are some of my favorites.

The sashing blocks are simple, economy blocks using the papers from Fat Quarter Shop. You don't need to use the papers, but I got them in one of FQS Sew Sampler boxes and figured I might as well use them!

I do have more projects to show you, but this post is already a novel! So I'll do another post in a couple days with those in it!  Thank you for taking time to visit my blog! Hope to see you for Part 2 of catching up!

Sheila

 

July Is Here! How Did That Happen? OMG, Block Count, And Finally Finished!

July already? How did that happen! I don't know about you, but the older I get the faster the year goes! This month is, for me, an anxious month. My hubby starts his new job in Franklin Ky and we have be looking for a home somewhere around the Bowling Green area. We've been packing everyday and now have a house full of boxes! I'm embarrassed to say I don't feel like I've made a dent in my art studio!

I make a point to sew everyday, it calms me...most days! I say most days because I'm working on Jelly Snowflake again and again it's giving me fits! I had this as my OMG for March and didn't finish because my Tiara 3 Long arm wouldn't cooperate. I decided to try again to get it out of the way for the tentative move and I've found a way to make it work most of the time. I'm making this my One Monthly Goal, to finish the quilting on the snowflake quilt! Next month my OMG will probably be to hide all those threads! 😆

Here's a close up of some of my stitches. I saw this pattern on Angela Walters Free Motion Challenge, the link takes you to her video. If you are wanting to learn how to quilt or add more variety to your repertoire check out Angela's videos! And don't forget to print out the diagram and tip sheet. She really is great at helping new quilters!

 Look at all those threads! EEEK I think that will be a good distraction on our ride to Bowling Green. It's at least 2 hours away and hubby will be driving, a great way to spend my time productively and get my daily sewing in!

Here is another close up of my Paisley Feathers. Not as smooth as I would like, but considering having to deal with skipped stitches I'm fine with it.

As much as I would love to say I will have the binding put on too, I don't want to push it! I think I'll be lucky to get it quilted!!!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal July Link-up

I want to say if you are on the fence about playing along in OMG, you really should! I find it helps keep me on track, motivated and gets me blogging, introduces me to other quilt bloggers and there are prizes!!! I'm happy to say I won a $25 gift card to Fat Quarter Shop!!! I feel like I'm a winner ever time I get a project complete!I 

Here are updated posts of my journal pages for tracking "my sew everyday" and projects in the works.

These 2 pages are my new starts for 2021.

s

This page gives me a more detailed snapshot of the projects.

My pages with all my WIPS! How embarrassing!

Do you keep track of your daily habit, like sewing everyday?

Last months block count is 4! Yes only 4 blocks, but I did get 4 shirts done and finally completed the Out Of This World quilt!!!! I've also been sketching, doing the ICAD Index-Card-A-Day by Daisy Yellow. In the next couple days I'll post what I have done so far. I must admit I haven't worked on it everyday, but the last few days I've been getting better!

I hope you had a productive June and your July is even more eventful!

Sheila 

Duke had a hard day hiding for the noisy booms of fireworks.
 I'm sorry to say I missed out on the OMG for this month. Hopefully next month!!!

My OMG Finished Early And A Tutorial On Binding

 I'm so happy to say I finished my OMG!!!! Early in fact! I also took the time to take photos so I could give a tutorial on binding a quilt. I know, I know there are so many tutorials out there but It seems to be the one thing that people are looking for the most. And since I don't put binding on near enough to remember, having it posted here will help me find it easier!!! 😆

Here is my finished Out Of This World Quilt bound and ready for college! 

Check others finishes by heading to Elm Street Quilt!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal - June Finish Link-up

This post is heavy with photos in hopes to help you as much as possible.

From the very first quilt I made I have done the binding with a flange, extra color is always a good thing!!! It's also done with the sewing machine...no hand sewing! I'm not good at hand sewing (but I'm working on it this year!) and I want to get the quilts done as fast as possible so I can get on with the next one!

I had the binding already done so I don't have photos of the making of that, but it's two strips the wider one is the flange color and the narrow is the binding. The flange is 1 3/4" and the binding is 1 3/8" sewn together the length of the strips. Iron the flange up to the outer binding. Fold your binding, wrong sides together and have the raw edges line up, iron to give it a crease and hold the fold. Your flange should be peeking out when looking at the top of the binding. 

The dark blue fabric is the outer part of my binding and the orange is the flange.

Starting at the middle edge of the quilt and having a tail of about 8" to 12" of the binding free (you'll need it to attach it to the other end) lay the outer part of your binding (raw edge) to the backside raw edge of your quilt. What you see is the flange and the back of my quilt. I use clips to hold it all the way around the quilt.

At the first corner (actually all the corners!) you fold the binding so that it is even with the edge of the quilt and crease the 45 degree fold.

Then you fold it back so that the next fold is even with the first edge of the quilt.

See how it the binding follows the quilt>>>

Below I show how I use the clips to hold the corner in place.

 

 Continue around the quilt doing the other 3 corners the same way.

 

 

 With the binding clipped on and having a gap between where you started and ended attaching the binding, about 12" you should have extra binding on both ends. Starting around where the clip is, sew the binding to the quilt using 1/4" seem allowance and back stitch in the beginning and end. Remember don't sew the gap to give you room to work on attaching the ends.

 Now here is the part that I need a refresher every time I bind a quilt! Attaching the ends!!!

  Cut a section off (it doesn't have to be very big). We are going to use the piece to give us the width of the binding and help connect the ends.

Lay the tails of the strips over each other (the bottom strip is peaking out to know where it is) and unfold the piece you just cut off. Place it vertically (notice the fold) over the two strips.>>>

One end of the piece will line up with the bottom  strip that is peaking out. 

 

You will cut the top strip where the other end of the piece is...Be sure to cut the top strip and not the bottom!

<<<Here is the binding after cutting the strip. The cut piece is laying on top to the right.

 

 Unfold the binding end and fold the one end 45 degree so that the top corner folds down to the edge. Finger press to make a crease. Notice that your outer binding is the small triangle at the top.

Open up the binding ends and pin the top flange corner to the top main binding corner, right sides together.

Notice where my fingers are pinched in the photo below.

To make sure you have it right before sewing, pin along the crease and open. The binding should line up.

I use clips to hold the binding in place.

Sew along the crease. Notice you are sewing like you sewn your binding together. If you see the binding is forming an "A", you are sewing the line that crosses the A! 

Notice the bottom corner is following the center line of the 1/4" washi...This stuff works great! I love it for HST!!!

The "A" is crossed! The other crease you see is when I did it wrong! Thank goodness I pinned first and fixed my mistake before sewing!!!!

Fold the binding back together and check that the flange is lined up and the binding fits against the quilt.

 

 

<<< I love when the flange lines up!!!

 

Unfold the binding again...

 

it's safe to cut the excess off.

 Then open seam and iron flat.

 

 

Lay flat against the quilt and continue/finish sewing the binding down.

Fold the binding over to the front of the quilt, clipping it down as you go around. You want the binding to be right up against the edge of the quilt.

To miter the corner fold flat past the corner.

 

Then finger press the other side over to give the nice finished corner. Clip to hold it in place.

 

Continue around until it's all folded over and ready to sew down.

Your top thread should match the flange color and the bobbin should match your backing. I'm using Aurifil #2277 Light Red Orange on top and #2783 Medium Delft Blue in the bobbin.

 

You will stitch on the flange close to the outer binding. On this quilt the flange is the orange and the blue to the right is the outer binding.

 

 

 

 

 

Sew all the way around until you come to the beginning.

 

 

And you are done!!! On to the next project! who am I kidding, I have several going at a time! Doesn't everyone!!!

I hope you find this technique useful! I would love to hear how you do yours and if you ever tried to do it all by machine.

This is the You Tube video I watch when I try and remember how to join the binding...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1srfubwAIQ&list=PLGlIVNYaoGssyqUp9ZHIiUmQBCei_J1XO&index=7

Thank you for visiting and I hope to see you again!

Sheila