January's OMG, Latest QAL and More Bullet Journal

 Can you, as a quilter think of anything more exhilarating than the possibilities that a new bundle of fabric holds. Even more thrilling is the start of a new project, the fabric uncut, the placements of the fabric in that first block and in the case of a QAL, a mystery of what the future blocks may hold...

That's what I was feeling Wednesday morning! Pat Sloan's new QAL started called Home Is... I'm not much for applique, but if I want to grow as a quilter I have to work on building my skills. Her first block has a small applique heart on it and if you really don't want to attempt it you don't have to put it in. I chose to challenge myself! Here's my block 

 

and a close up of the applique heart.

I used Aurifil #2425 Bright Pink to stitch around the heart and I'm using Edyta Sitar's Sweet Sixteen fabric for this QAL. Don't you just love those little birdies!

Now onto my OMG for January...

Since I didn't complete my OMG for last month I'm carrying it over. I'm happy to say that I finally finished the third block! Only one left, then quilt, bind and done!

 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal January Link-up

And that's my OMG this month it is the same as last month, complete the Merry Mini wall hanging... Get it quilted and binding on! I'm feeling pretty good about getting things accomplished this month. I hope it lasts all year! 

I had a few comments and interest on my bullet journal last post, so I thought I would talk more about how I use it with my quilting. I don't spend too much time drawing in it or making it too fancy. I need it to be a way of organizing my thoughts. I get overwhelmed if too much is swimming around my brain and have always found jotting down a To-Do list help settle me. But I would end up with post-it notes and scraps of papers getting lost which doesn't help keep my brain settled. I started to use a journal a few years ago and I'm still working on ways to make it work for me. Here is last years page of how I keep track of what needs to get done or what I decide not to work on or just save the patterns to.

Sometimes it helps remind me of upcoming QALs or let's me see I have way too much I want to do! I can also look at my list and figure out what I have to work on next. I use this along with the Project List that I shared last post. This breaks down the projects into how many blocks are in the quilt or when the next one comes out.

You don't need a fancy journal to keep track like this, just a notebook will do. I started out by using a binder with pages I printed out. It helped me figure out what I want to keep track of, what I don't and how I want to set things up. Last years journal was a little less artsy than the previous year, but I did use it to think up quilting ideas or blocks I'd like to try. I do like looking at some of the drawings I did in 2019 when I had a moment to play. Maybe I'll do more of those too!

If you have any questions I'd love to help! If you are interested in more of my pages let me know and I'll post them next time. I keep everything in my journals...dinner ideas, sew everyday tracker, yoga tracker, and my daily happenings along with quotes and whatever is interesting me at the moment. 

Until next time!

Sheila

For all the animal lovers...                     Me and Duke,

He has helped me heal with his gentle soul.

Welcome 2021 And What's In Store

 What's in store quilting wise that is! I want to join more links and get more done! Last year I only finished 3 quilts! How sad!!! I did complete several flimsies...Is that how you spell the plural of flimsy? Anyway, I have found several blogs that I enjoy and a few new ones that I want to participate in along with the ones that I already participate in. I put their buttons on the right and it should take you to their blogs to find out more about their link ups.

One of the new ones is Quilting Gail. She runs the PHD or Projects Half Done. I love that don't you! Check out her blog for the details! Here is my list of PHDs, I keep a bullet journal and figured it would be easiest just to post the pages from that. 

Numbers 25 and 26 are my ongoing projects. I'm using certain blocks from the past Aurifil DOM QAL along with some from this year. I love the ease of coloring in the sections that are done. As you see I have more than 12! I like that I can pick and choose what I want to work on and try to get finished.

This is my pages for this years starts. I doubt it will stay that empty for long!!! I already put in Pat Sloan's QAL that starts January 6th and Jen Shaffer of Patterns By Jen. She runs the Color Challenge every year and I've been one of the Color Challenge bloggers that participates in showing my version. This year I believe we are including recipes!!! I'm hoping that this year I will get to complete my quilt!

Of course I'll continue to link up with OMG, For The Love Of Geese, and Free Motion Mavericks, hopefully more often, at least that's the goal. I'm going to try and not start too many QALs, they usually get me bogged down. I will do Pat Sloan's QALs. She is the first QAL I participated in when I started quilting and feel a connection with her. 

The second page is for something new I want to do and that is to start making my own quilts and writing up patterns. I have several that I'm excited about trying, a few I already have the material for! 

So let's get this year going!!!!

Sheila

No OMG Finish

My OMG for this month was to finish the Merry Mini quilt, including quilting it. I would love to say I worked really hard to get it done, but I had a lot on my mind. I wasn't even able to get the third block done! So many days I just sat in front of the sewing machine and more times than not I would get the pieces mixed up and just plain frustrated. If you don't follow my blog, the reason is due to the loss of my mom this month. So much on my mind, so much still to do. I did complete my Cozy Things quilt flimsy this month. Maybe I should have put that down as my OMG!😁 It's all good. 

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

 

Onto other subjects...

We had a white Christmas! It wasn't suppose to snow much on Christmas eve and not at all on Christmas day, but it snowed and kept on snowing. I believe it was mom knowing how much we wanted a white Christmas and letting us know she was with us. The dogs were as happy as pups. They played and chased each other and ate the snow! silly puppies!

From our family to yours, I hope you all have a much happier, healthier and calmer New Year! Until next time...

Sheila

Getting Things Done...

 Though I really don't know how I am getting anything done!! A lot of the time I just sit in front of my machine, lost, dazed and confused! I know I'll pull myself back together, hopefully sooner instead of later!

I did finish my quilt top for Cozy Things QAL that Pat Sloan ran. You can get to the blocks from HERE. With this link you can also check out her next QAL, Home Is... that starts January 6, 2021 and runs until June 2, 2021. 

I have the backing and the binding ready. The binding is a diagonal peppermint candy stripe. I've never used striped binding and I really like the candy cane look of it. I can't wait to see it done! The backing is red polar fleece with white swirly snowflakes for cozy cuddling! I'm just waiting on the batting and I'll stitch up a quick swirly pattern to get it done and on the couch!

Another quilt I finished on December 6, but haven't posted yet is The Ultimate Beginner Quilt that Fat Quarter Shop ran a year ago July. You can find the pattern HERE. I used Finding Nemo and Finding Dory fabric that I found on clearance at Fat Quarter Shop. The quilt will go to a local charity as soon as I can find out where to go! Usually our guild handles that, but with them not meeting and my friend who has the contacts and used to take my quilts has moved! Bummer! Here it is... I'm calling it Finding Nemo/Dory.

I really like how this came out...I'm a lover of the ocean and I also love both Finding Nemo and Finding Dory movies. What can I say, I'm a kid at heart!!!

Here are some of the blocks close up to show the quilting. I did a swirly wavy pattern to mimic water. Some parts came out watery, some I just don't know! hahaha

I used Aurifil #4663 Baby Blue Eyes, a variegated thread, in both the top and bobbin.

My goal for next year is to get my patterns written up and available for you. I have several planned already, all in different stages of progress. My son will be going off to college in the fall and I'm hoping to help him out with the sales from my patterns. I hope you'll follow my blog so you won't miss my goings on!

I linked up with Pat Sloan, Wednesday Wait Loss and Free Motion Mavericks

Until next time...Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming,

Sheila

 

Changes

 One of the dogs I rescued and actually let go of was adopted by my new friend Lynn who lives in NY. She sends me pictures of Yeti and her dog and we chat (email style) and get to know each other. I've enjoyed our correspondence, but so much more lately. A week ago today my mother passed away. It's been difficult but I know she was in pain and was ready to see dad again. We had a good talk the Friday before and even though she was very coherent and alert I could tell she knew the end was near. But being so alert it came as such a shock when they told me to get to the hospital as soon as possible on Sunday. She wasn't awake when we walked in the room and wasn't going to wake up. I watch the monitor of her breathing and then I realized she wasn't breathing anymore. She had waited for us to come so we could say goodbye. 

As I was saying, I have a new friend in NY and she has been there for me. She sends me pictures of Yeti and Sabre playing in the snow and just checking in on me. As I responded to her last email and made the comment about how I love seeing how handsome Yeti's getting I realized that's what life is, it's all about the changes and how we handle them. 

When I was fostering, Yeti was the second rescue we helped. Gracie was our first and our first fail. My husband didn't want to do anymore, but I felt there was still more I needed to help. So I talked him into Yeti. Yeti was a pup, maybe 4 months old who had demodex mange from neglect. We had him a month and he was looking better before he left. But wow the pictures I get of him now! He is so handsome, a real showstopper!!! Here are some before and after...

on his way to us, poor baby. I knew he needed me!

I knew he was going to be big...look at those legs and paws!

His hair was spars and he looked so sad when he first got here.

But he did love all the toys and enjoyed playing with Gracie.

The ball was heavy, but he isn't one to give up!

Yeti and Gracie

He's a quick learner. Especially where treats are involved! 

I feel like she's telling him the secrets of being a Great Pyrenees.

Timmy and Yeti, doesn't Yeti look so much happier than he did a month ago! July 10th we went to meet up with the ladies who would be bringing him to his new life. He would be traveling with a bus full of other dogs and cats heading to new furever homes. I believe it took him 20 or 22 hours to get to his new mom Lynn! 

Yeti now, isn't he handsome!!!

 

As I look at how Yeti has changed I think of this year. The changes we have gone through and how they have changed us. Next year will be more changes. Timmy will be graduating and heading off to college. We are thinking of moving. This house is too big for the 2 of us, even with our 2 big pups. Who knows what else is in store for us, hopefully good things. Always hope for good.

Until next time,

Sheila

Hello December And My OMG!

 Well December finally made it! This year is not one that I want to remember too often or too easily! And I hope and pray next year is much kinder to us all. I know come January 1st everything will go back to normal, but wouldn't it be nice!

December here in Kentucky has been on the chilly side. The dogs love it, me I just throw another quilt on the bed! We had our first snow and it was beautiful. I wasn't sure if the pups would enjoy it or not. I'm happy to say they loved it! Gracie would get snowballs all over her feet. She would let me clean them off and was ready to go back out. Duke would play snowplow and eat the snow! Gracie enjoyed eating it too but loved rolling around in it. The next morning they ran to the window like kids to see if it was still there and then run to the door to go out. My son is already asking when it'll snow again. It says 7% chance tonight...so I doubt we'll get much if any. 

 

Now for my OMG...

I started the Merry Mini QAL last year (I believe it was through Fat Quarter Shop hosting it) and only completed one block and started the second. There are only 4 blocks in the quilt! I did finish the second block the beginning of the month so at least that's one less! My plan is to finish this quilt (including quilting it) so I can hang it up on the wall rack for the winter. Right now I still have the Kitty on the Pumpkin  hanging up! 

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal December Link-up

And I'll close here with Duke sitting in my chair... He thinks his butt goes on the armrest! hahahaa I hope that leaves you with a smile!!!

Until next post, have a wonderful time!

Sheila

Crisp Fall Days... A Delayed Post

 First I must mention that I started this posts the end of October! I thought I posted it and was side tracked by my mom becoming ill and in the hospital.

 Are you having cool days in your area? If you are, are you enjoying it? My windows are open and I find myself walking around the veggie garden over and over. I picked the majority of tomatoes even though they were still green. I'm having a time with snails this year and I don't want them or the cold get them before I do! Inside I have several projects going and I thought I'd share some with you!

First, I started the Stitch Pink QAL. I try to resist, but I do love a QAL and I have this beautiful fabric I've been holding onto, Tickled Pink. I love the dusty rose and raspberry colors in this line. Even the browns have a tint of rose in them. I bought it when it was discounted and now I wish i could have bought more...I'm thinking of the borders. But it'll come together. Here are some blocks that I've done so far...

Second is my design. I'm making it for our friends son who just graduated with a degree in Marine Biology. I've always been interested in marine life and have collected sea creature fabric for awhile. I wanted something that would showcase the fabric and this design does that. It will be great for your favorite fabrics with large prints. Here are a few blocks I have done so far...

I have borders to add to some and I have about 5 more blocks to do then I can start putting them all together. I'm very excited about how this is coming out! I can't wait to show you and will be writing up a pattern for it!

 Of course I had to quilt a long with Pat Sloan's latest QAL, Cozy Things! She just released block #5 this past Wednesday.  Her blocks are still available so you still have time to join in!

I'm using a fat quarter bundle I purchased at Fat Quarter Shop when it was on their flash sale...I love a bargain! It's Deer Christmas by Moda and I added Cat-I-Tude Christmas by Benartex (a pink snowflake with lots of movement), Fall Into Winter by Michael Miller (the pretty green center in the second block) and the background is a white on white snowflake that I had on hand, no id on the edge sorry. I wish it did I would have bought more if it's still available!

 

Another QAL I'm working on is Edyta Sitar's Alaska Quilt. You need the pattern, which I had for awhile. I figured I would get more done if I played along. I wish she posted every other week. I find many of the blocks are very involved and take me longer than I like, but I love her quilts and I'm determined to finish one of them!

 

I'm also making the Jelly Snowflake with Pat Sloan. I added triangles to the center square of the star block. I believe they call it a snowball block. I love it but it took longer to complete. Which made me fall behind and now it's over. I also got stalled on the 4th block since I wanted to change that one too along with adding a center block. I hope to get it done for the winter, we shall see!

Can you believe this Thursday is Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful day of fun, food and family! See ya later,

Sheila

It's October! OMG For October And A Finish!

Happy October! How's the weather in your world? It's chilly here. Wonderful for cozying up with a quilt and watching some old TV shows. But who has time for that! There are quilts to be made, binding to be added, designs to be put to paper and quilting to be done!

 

For this months OMG I would like to finish my Jelly Snowflake. The Fat Quarter Shop ran the quilt-a-long in July and Pat Sloan is running it again. I wanted to do the QAL when the Fat Quarter Shop was running it, but I had a few too many projects going. But then I always have too many projects in the works! ahahaha I wouldn't have it any other way! When Pat said she was running the QAL again I figured now was a good time. She started it September 8 and ran until October 6. I know, only a few days left and I only have the first blocks done and over half of the second blocks done. I decide to change them a little and it caused more work, but I don't mind and it makes it even more unique. I also plan on changing the other blocks too, so I know I won't get it done by the 6th! I do plan on having it pieced by the end of the month though! That's my goal! 

 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal October Link-up

 

On the finished side...

 Kitty and Pumpkin, my design that I started last year! I put it aside since I didn't complete it for Halloween and so many other projects  awaited my attention. Now I'm waiting for a wall mounted quilt rack to hang it up on. I plan on using the rack to hang small holiday and seasonal quilts on. I guess I better get busy making more wall hangings!

I enjoyed quilting it. I added texture like hairs  on the kitty, veins in the leaves and swirls in the sky to give movement. I put buttons for the pumpkins eyes and filled in the mouth except for the lower part to give the look of a tongue. I used Aurifil thread in 2692-Black, 2890-Very Dark Grass Green, 2135-Yellow, 2235-Orange, 2425-Bright Pink,  2715-Robin Egg and the bobbin thread was 2600-Dove. 

I've also linked up with For The Love Of Geese and her Put Your Foot down! Join in, it's on Thursdays!!! And Free Motion Mavericks!!!

 

Time to get back to designing my next wall hanging!! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Sheila

October Color Challenge!

 This is my month of Jen's Color Challenge! This month is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet or the color olive green.

This is a wonderful block and not as hard as you might think! I think a whole quilt of this block in different colors would be so beautiful!

I like to match up the threads to each months block so that if I decide to quilt it with the coordinating threads I already know what colors I need. My go to thread is Aurifil 40wt. The bottom thread color is 2887 Very Dark Olive and the second is 2890 Very Dark Grass Green, but I think 2892 Pine would be a better match. Sounds like a good reason to buy more thread!

Head to Jen's blog to get the directions for this months block and then to the other fine quilters for their blocks

Jen Shaffer of Patterns By Jen

 

Fawn Benzing of Quilty Creations By Fawn

Roseanne Nelson of Home Sewn By Us

Stephanie Jacobson of Steph Jacobson Designs

 Alla Bianca of Rainbows. Bunnies. Cupcakes

 Kathy Bruckman of Kathy's Kwilts And More

Kathy Nester of Penny For My Thoughts 

Joanne Hubbard of Everyone Deserves A Quilt 

 

Sponsors October thru December

Said With Love - PDF Pattern

For The Love Of Geese - PDF Pattern 

P&B Textiles - Fabric Bundle of over 60 fat quarters

Quilters Dream Batting - Dream Blend - 70% Cotton 30% Poly - 60" x 60"

Warm Company - Warm and Plush - 45" x 60"

Warm Company - 1 package of Lite Steam -A- Seam 2

Island Batik - 3 1/2 yards of assorted fabric

Patterns By Jen - Superior Thread S-Fine 50

Patterns By Jen - PDF Pattern

Wow those are some great sponsors! So don't forget to share your block for a chance to win.

I hope your October is wonderful! See you later!

Sheila

Foster Fail #2 Introducing Duke!

I've been working on my laptop the last few days loading programs (EQ8 and Photoshop) and photos from my phone. It's smaller than my old laptop but I'm liking it a lot better. It also can turn into a tablet. I'm not sure why I would want it as a tablet, but I guess I'll figure that out later. Anyway I loaded the photos from my phone and now I can share our latest foster dog Hondo. We are planning on keeping him and waiting for word back about the adoption. We really don't think Hondo fits for him and have started calling him Duke. Duke is an Akbash. They are from Turkey and are similar to Great Pyrenees in many ways. They tend to be taller and leaner than Great Pyrenees and have shorter hair. But both are guardian dogs that are independent and have a tendency to bark a lot. So here's Duke!

<---This is Duke on his way home with us on July 30, the day before hubby and my 27th Anniversary. He was looking rough and was so underweight! He weighed in at 88.5 lbs and he should be 115 at least! ^ The photo above was the first couple of days. He pretty much stayed near me so he could keep an eye on me. He bonded with me on the car ride home, but was afraid of everyone else. He wasn't socialized and everything frightened him. He would get scared and unable to move so I would go to him and say "walk with me" and he would follow. It took him 2 1/2 weeks to get use to hubby and he's still having a hard time taking to Timmy. 

 

It was 8-9-20 when he first started to play. Gracie was trying to get him to play with her since day one. He would watch her play with toys and finally he picked up the toy and made it squeak. He liked it so much he kept squeaking it. Pretty soon most of the toys were around our dining room table since that was his safe place to go. He learned a lot from just watching Gracie. He watches Timmy and Gracie interact and we're hoping that will help him come out of his shell and trust Timmy.

As you can see Duke is the larger dog. Also Gracie who is a Great Pyrenees has the longer hair.

 

 

 

Poor Duke doesn't like thunderstorms and will squeeze between my chair and the ottoman. Especially when I'm sitting there. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gracie and Duke, they are so sweet together!

  

 

 

Duke likes going wherever I go, but usually gets car sick, poor puppy.

 

Gracie and Duke, partners in crime.
 

 

 

 

 

 I think he looks stunning!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and letting me tell you about Duke!

Sheila

End Of Summer

Where did the summer go!

As for my OMG from August I'm still working on it. Yes I know it's almost the end of September! I had some issues, besides having my son always in my studio doing his school work I had issues with skipped stitches. Of course when you put things off there will be problems! I'm not sure if it was me, my machine, batting or the backing I was using. The batting is a less expensive muslin I bought online from Marshall Dry Goods, it's good for trying out patterns for clothes without using your expensive fabric. The batting I'm using is a thin batting and the thread is Aurifil, but in a 40 weight for the top thread. With all these things it's why I have a headache from the skipped stitches. But as far as the muslin, I'm happy with it. I used it to make the pillow, the back of the quilted top and the back of the pillowcase, all for the dog so I don't want to use expensive fabric. I'm also going to use it on the back of two wall hangings that I'll share later.

 

I'm not too crazy how I quilted this, but I had to stitch close since it's for Gracie our dog and I want to make sure it stays secure. It gave me ideas how I will quilt my bed quilt that has the same material from Tula Pink in it. It's huge and heavy and I'm having a hard time spray basting it since I hang them on the wall to do that. I may have to lay it on the floor and spray baste it like that, but my knees are already crying about the thought of that!

I have some happy news on Tuesday my new laptop will be here. My other laptop died on me in February and then March brought Covid-19 (son home daily and using my studio for school) so it's been hard for me to get on my computer that is in my studio to do much blogging. I tried doing as much as I could on my phone then get on the computer and polish it up, but that got old very quick! I thought about getting my laptop fixed and I still might, but I'm thinking it's the motherboard and I'm not sure they can fix or replace that in the laptop...I will have to ask my computer guy. Anyway, I have Gracie's Improve Quilt to post and give you instruction on that and I'll have an update on our newest foster dog. I have a couple other quilt designs I want to work on EQ8 to finish, so a new laptop will be a lifesaver for me!

 

Here is a sneak peek at our latest foster...though it looks like we may be keeping him!

I hope your Sunday and the rest of the week will be wonderful for you. Enjoy the cooler temperatures if you got 'em! Fall never seems to last long enough does it!?

Sheila

August! Time for OMG

 WOW, did I fail keeping up my blog or what! But I have good reason, I've been fostering a Great Pyrenees puppy! I'll have to post more about him later and about our newest foster. For now I just wanted to post my OMG for this month since I've been MIA the last few months.

I haven't been able to find a pillow big enough or fluffy enough for Gracie...well at least one I wouldn't have to break the bank to afford it! My husband suggested I make her one so here is the top I came up with....

 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal August Link-up

I'm calling it Gracie's Semi-improve Log Cabin Quilt. But instead of a quilt it'll be a quilted pillow top. My OMG is to finish the pillow this month! I used left over fabric from my Stay@Home QAL Pat Sloan hosted in April. But really I have so much more Tula Pink fabric left I can make another queen size quilt...OK a king size! The solid is Kona Cotton in black. I've written up some basic rules/directions that I followed so it's not completely improvised and would resemble a log cabin block. I'll post the instructions soon! Be sure to follow my blog so you won't miss out on it or if your interested in what's going on with my fostering efforts, which very well could be another foster fail!

Hope to see you again!

Sheila