OMG For August

Wow it's August already! For this months OMG I want to get my sashing and cornerstones done on Pat Sloan's Main Street QAL. Right now I'm auditioning fabrics for the cornerstones. I doubt I'll get the border done too, but I'm hoping to at least get it going!

 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal  August Link-up.

We're on block 9 in this QAL, but it wouldn't be hard to catch up! Stop by Pat's blog and download the blocks. She leaves them up for free always! 

See ya later this month, with hopefully a finished sashing and cornerstones!!!

Sheila 

Main Street's Block 8

Here's the latest block...at least as of 8/6/2019! Tomorrow is Wednesday which means Pat Sloan puts out the latest block for her QAL Main Street. But today I'm sharing Block 8 Beauty Shop/Barber Shop.

The more blocks we make the better I love this fabric bundle. It's called Evening Romance and I picked it up at Connecting Threads in the Clearance department. They no longer have the fat quarter bundle they only have yardage and a few kits available. They have some wonderful collections...check out Sea From Space! I don't know if I will be able to wait for it to go to clearance! I may have buy it much sooner!!!

Another online store I like to shop is Bear Creek Quilt Company. They have a monthly special called Aurifil Thread Gem Pack. It consists of 3 spools of that month's gem color which includes a light, medium, and dark spool. And the price is very reasonable! Even the past months are at a great discount. If you are a lover of Aurifil like me you will definitely love these gems!!! Check out my years worth!!! This months gems are in the bag.

Aren't they wonderful! I love color and I can look at them all day! I'm not sure if I'll keep them in their gem collections or put them in number or color order. I also have a bigger case I found to use with my Aurifil and I may use that instead of the little cases...decisions, decisions! How do you organize your thread? What works for you and what doesn't? Help me figure this one out!!!

Please note that I have no affiliation with the links I offer. I'm just giving you links to my favorite things and places. Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you'll come back again!

Sheila

Find And Fix Friday!

I thought it would be fun to share my machines with you. I'll show you my babies, what I'm working on with them, tell you how I came across them and what I decided to name them. I'm fairly new to collecting them and what I've learn to fix them I found online. So if you've been on the fence about getting an oldie but a goodie that needs some work I hope I'll be able to take away your fear.

So this month lets look at my first vintage machine, the one that started it all...

Meet Sigmund.

He is a Singer Model 185J circa 1954. He uses a class 66 bobbin and a standard 15 x 1 needle. I found him on Marketplace. It was about an hour away so hubby and I took a Sunday drive on January 21, 2018 to pick him up. The lady selling it wasn't sure if it worked. She was only using it as decoration because of his sea green color...hence his name Sigmund the Sea Sew Monster. Do you remember that show? It was a kids show that ran from 1973 to 1975 and produced by Sid and Marty Krofft. 

We got him home and he needed a bit of a clean up. You should have seen the lint! I oiled him up and tentatively I plugged him in and tried him out and happily he ran! I use him daily now and had to fix his timing only once.

 He didn't have a case or a bottom and I didn't want to put him in a cabinet, so I made him a box to sit in. I matched up the paint the best I could, using Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Gloss Sage Green #249094. It's a tad darker, but it's pretty darn close. I may use it to paint the foot petal as you can see it's in need of a paint job. Sigmund though is looking good with only a few spots where the paint has come off and thankfully no rust. To keep him rust free I use a car polish all over his body a couple times a year.

The funny thing is I purchased him to take to sew days with my quilt guild, he was already heavy but with the  box he's a monster! I did recently purchase a Tutto large sewing cart to help get him where we need to go. 

The price I paid for this sweet machine...$27.! I've heard of people paying $25 and get the case that went with them!!! I thought I got a good price! 

Are you wondering what is under my needle? I'm tackling the curve!!! I've started an apple core quilt, more on that later.

Thanks for stopping by! I would love to hear if you have this model or the 185K and how you like it.

Until next time, give your machine some love and clean out the lint! I know I need to do mine! I'm thinking he may want a drink of some oil too.

Sheila

OMG And Main Street's Block 7

Well this month came and gone way to fast! Here we are at the end of July and that means time to post our progress for the One Monthly Goal. 

Unfortunately I didn't get as far along as I had hoped. I think I'm going to do a lot of big blocks to get this back done...I can't have the backing with more stitches than the front! {too late!!}

I'm doing the back in an improve style. By the time I'm done with the back I think this quilt will be reversible! Definitely a simple all over quilting will be in order. 

Don't forget to play along! August starts a new month for the OMG!

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

I have Block #7 of Pat Sloan's Main Street finished up. She just posted Block #8 today! She also posted the layout a couple weeks ago, I need to get on that so I can stay ahead.

Block #7 The Bank

 I did press it even though it doesn't look like it! No matter what I can't seem to get it to lay flat and I don't want to wet it now in case it shrinks. I think I will wet the fabric and iron it before cutting out the pieces! And I think a little bit of spray starch will do wonders too. 

Well off to do some more sewing!

Sheila

August's Monthly Color Challenge

It's my month! This month's block is called Marigold. My dad loved marigolds, me not so much. I called them stink weeds. But now I always have marigolds growing. I save the seeds and replant every year...and I do have a bunch of seeds!!!

I'm using batiks for my quilt blocks. I just love how batiks go together and the movement they create. And the colors are just yummy!!!

Jen's block is so easy and stitches up in no time. I'm thinking a whole quilt of this block would be fun.

To get the instructions for this block head to Patterns By Jen it's only available until the end of August. After that you can get it and the other months through her Payhip account.
Check out some of the other bloggers that are also posting their blocks!

*Note* Due to the early release of the block some of the links may not
work until August 1st.

Jen- Patterns By Jen
 Joanne - Quilts By Joanne
Kathy - Penny for my Thoughts
Pamela - Pamela Quilts
Sarah - The Quilted Diary

Share your block by using #2019monthlycolorchallenge on social media we'd love to see your block!
Thank you for visiting my blog! Please come back or better yet sign up to get my posts!!!!
Sheila

Main Street Block #6 and a Snowflake Block

This is block #6 of Pat Sloan's Main Street QAL. It's called Books On Main. I really like how easy this block went together and I can't wait to see how they all go together in a quilt!

And here is the Snowflake Block...

I love snowflakes! I actually had a cat named snowflake...he was a real flake! hahaha He was beautiful, pure white long hair and icy blue eyes. So when I saw this pattern I had to make it and of course use an icy blue in it! This is block 2 of the Merry Mini Christmas hosted by Fat Quarter Shop. Here is the video for this block to help you put the block together. I'm debating whether to do a table runner of just snowflakes or go ahead and do the other three blocks and make the mini quilt. I'm not sure if I have enough of this fabric pull to do both, so stay tuned!!!

Have a Merry Christmas in July!!!!

Sheila

Some Fun Blocks To Share

I'll keep them short and sweet since it is summer time and there is so much to do!!! 

Here is Block #4 of Pat Sloan's Main Street QAL. It's called Courthouse.

And this is Block #5 Ice Cream Parlour. 

The fabric is from Connecting Threads. I bought it on clearance and the fat quarter bundles are no longer available, but they do have yardage of some of the patterns.

Here are the Out Of This World blocks also a Pat Sloan QAL. She puts it out the first of the month.

 

Block 6 Books On Space

Block 7 First Moon Walk

I found the light blue fabric at Bear Creek Quilt Co. and had to have it for this quilt! I figured we still have enough blocks to be done that I can add this to the mix. I may have to move a few blocks, but it should be fine. 

Last is Aurifil's DOM quilt a long

These two blocks are from 2016

I don't know which I love more the corals or the teals!

This block is from 2017 Called Dutch Treat

I'm lovin this color combination! Here's a link to Aurifil's patterns if you are interested in following along or want to get crazy and do some of the older years blocks like me! Scroll down to find Designer of the Month with Pat Sloan then they are separated by year. The new blocks come out the 15th of the month and you can follow Pat Sloan's site and get alerts when a new block is available.

Thanks for visiting!

Sheila

July's OMG!

I've missed the last couple months of doing the OMG (One Monthly Goal) But I'm trying to get back in the swing because it really motivates me to get a project done!

So for this months OMG I'm going to piece together a backing for my Let's Go Camping top. It's been done since the end of December and needs to get in line for quilting! I would love to use the pretty batik in brown with the green and yellow pine cones and swirls, but I don't know when I'll get back to the quilt shop or if they even have it anymore!

 Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal July Link-up.

As you can see I have plenty of fabric left from this project to do a backing...or two! I'm always afraid I won't have enough fabric to finish the quilt. Then there is always the fabric that I find after I've started and think "oh that will be perfect!" Hahahaa

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I hope you'll come back, I have some blocks to share later!

Sheila

Main Streets Block 3

It's been a crazy week and this week doesn't look like it'll calm down any! But I did get my Block 3 from Pat Sloan's Main Street QAL done just in time! 

Block 3 Movie Theater

I love the corals in this bundle, but to be honest I haven't been sure how these colors work together. After looking at the three blocks I have done so far I am a little happier with them! This QAL is only 12 blocks, but I'm not sure how the setting will be! She'll be post the layout on July10! There is still time to join in the fun!

Sheila

A Flower Bouquet Top Finish!

YEAH! My top for A Flower Bouquet is finished! And I love it! I usually don't add much light colors in my quilts, but this one I did and I'm really loving how it turned out. I'm not sure when I'm going to get around to quilting it, but I'm already thinking of using a matching red thread and an all over pattern that mimics the flowers in the material. So without further ado here is my top!

The light is behind my boy and the quilt so the picture isn't as good as I would like, but I do love the area that the light shines through. It gives it a stain glass effect. Do you see the butterflies? I added three fabric origami butterflies to the quilt. Right now they are just pinned on, after I quilt it I will sew them down. After all it is a flower bouquet and I think it deserve a few butterflies!

Thanks for stopping by! I look forward to reading your comments!

Sheila

Sew Much Fun!

I have a few blocks to share with you! First the 20th and final block in Pat Sloan's A Flower Bouquet! But you still can get all her blocks to this and other QALs she has hosted!

Here is the 2nd block of Pat's new QAL Main Street. I really like this block. I put it together late Tuesday night after a long day...and I mixed up the position of the pieces! Never sew when you're exhausted!!!! Even still I like how it looks and I think I'll just leave it the way it is.

And finally Aurifil's Designer Of The Month QAL... I love how this block came out!!! And I'm loving the colors I'm using in these blocks! I can't seem to get these colors accurate. The center is a royal purple surrounded by a deep teal and light teal the four corners are a light purple and the outer blocks are a medium teal and the solid is Kona cotton in Natural. I'm not just doing this years DOM I'm also doing previous years. I'm hoping to get a king size quilt out of it. I'll try to get a photo of all the blocks done so far so you can see all the yummy colors!

That's it for today. I'll be taking a photo of my finished top of A Flower Bouquet. I'm thrilled with the results of that QAL. So chat soon!!!

Sheila

June's OMG And New QAL!

Happy June everyone! It's already starting out as a crazy month! But a fun one! Hopefully I'll have pictures and a better explanation soon.

Right now I'm getting my OMG or my One Monthly Goal all figured out.

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal June Link-up.

I want to get Pat Sloan's A Flower Bouquet top assembled. I have three rows complete and of those  two of the rows are sewn together. I need to do the sashing that goes between rows 2 and 3 done and the last two rows of blocks and the sashing sewn together also the very last block needs to be made and it will be ready for quilting. So I'm thinking it's doable, at least I'm hoping it is!

I'm really excited about getting this done! My first red and white quilt. Can you call it a red and white quilt when it has a tan color in it too? 

Here is the next QAL that Pat Sloan is hosting.

It's called Main Street and this is block 1 5 and Dime Store. Since we just started out you have plenty of time to join in!

Well that's all for today! I'll be back in the next couple days...unless time escapes me again!

See ya soon!

Sheila

Sometimes You Just Have To Make A Whale

Well at least I do! I've been collecting whale patterns for a while and I found two blogs that were what I was looking for. The one blog actually got the idea from the other blog, so it's basically the same design. Here's the blog I got it from, she also links to the other blog... http://www.allmyfriendsareflowers.com/2013/12/denim-whale-tutorial-printable-pattern.html

I changed a few things and I think it made my whale a little lumpy. I also sewed on the line instead of cutting him out on the line so I'm sure that made him thicker. And I did change the tail so it was more like their tail. Did you know they photograph the tails to keep track of that individual! I may make more later, but at least I got it out of my system for now! But I have be collecting shark patterns soooo....

Now on to OMG, One Monthly Goal. I'm so happy to say that I DID finish my goal!!!

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

I'm calling it Starry Night because Van Gogh's Starry Night inspired the quilting of this one. I stitched circular stitches around the stars and swirls through the rest of the quilt. It quilted up fast and I love how it turned out. The batting I used is 50-50 blend of Bamboo and Cotton I purchased from Fat Quarter Shop. I can see me using this again and again! It's so soft and quilted up beautifully. On the back I put tabs along the top so when it's too warm out to use it can still be enjoyed as a wall hanging.

This is the back. I did an improve strip of the fabric I used on the front. I enjoyed the free style of this so much I may have to do a top of improved strips!

And  now for the Quilt A Longs...

I have a few blocks done from the quilt a longs I'm participating in. First Pat Sloan's A Flower Bouquet.

This is Block #5 When To Garden

 Block #15 Rose Garden

 Block #18 Secret Garden

Block #19 Master Gardener

Now for Pat Sloan's Out Of This World QAL

Block #5 Astronauts 

This is the Aurifil Designer of the Month quilt a long and this is the block for May. It was suppose to be all red for ruby's, but I decide to do a sapphire and emerald in mine.

I've been enjoying these quilt a longs and I'm now sewing the sashing and cornerstones on the Flower Bouquet. I'm so excited about finishing it!

I hope you've had a fun and productive sewing adventure! I'm thinking of more sea creatures to sew!

Sheila

Let's Get Busy!

I missed last months OMG (One Monthly Goal) and really need the motivation it gives me! I'm still trying to get my Oh My Stars finished. So for my OMG I want to have this quilted. Here's the top waiting for me to quilt it...

And here is the back with an improv strip and the top nicely folded and waiting patiently for me to complete it!

Check out Patty's Elm Street Quilts Blog for more details!

Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal May Link-up.

I hope to see you there!

Sheila

Too Long...Part Two

I thought I would give you a little more details of why I was MIA. This past winter was hard on me. I didn't get sick, but I was so tired. Many days it was all I could do to get up and get my son off to school. I finally went to see my doctor and told her about my symptoms and about how tired I was. She had me have blood work done and tested my iron, vitamin D and vitamin B12. I thought for sure it was my iron again, but instead it was the D and B12! Makes sense, every winter since we moved here I've been getting more and more tired! She put me on a high dose of vitamin D2 and an over the counter B12. I've been on the vitamins for 2 weeks now and I'm feeling so much better! So if you're feeling overly tired and you're over 50 talk to your doctor!!!

First I want to show a project I've been wanting to do for quite some time. Now that I have my energy back I was able to get it done...

My bedroom! I love it so much, it makes me happy every time I walk into my room! I have been wanting to hang the quilt shelf for some time. After I put the shelf up I thought framed orphan blocks would be a great filler. I think I'll add a few smaller blocks to fill in some more. The quilt on the bed is Pat Sloan's Solstice quilt pattern that was from 2017 and on the one hanging from the shelf is also from Pat Sloan. It's a recent QAL called In The Summer Time. We just finished it up this past summer, but you can still get her patterns for free (including Solstice) from all her past quilt a longs at her website.

The framed orphan blocks are from Aurifil's Designer Of the Month QAL that Pat Sloan hosts. What can I say, I enjoy her QALs!  They have a new block a month going and though I wasn't going to start another QAL I couldn't help myself!!! I decided to not only do this years blocks, but some of the past blocks. I want to make a king size quilt using several years worth of DOM blocks. Here's what I have done so far...

This block is from 2017 and is called Bright Sun. It's also one of the blocks on my wall, but they are done in batiks. I'm doing these blocks in Boundless Collage from Bluprint. I've amassed quite a collection of the Collage fabric and I just love the colors! Here are this years Aurifil DOM blocks....

 This is January's block called Updated Wedding Ring.

 Here is March's block, Harvest. This is the block that pulled me in!

And here is April's block called Tradition With A Twist. I really like the way all these have turned out, but I really love this one because of the illusion of a circle and of course the blue and yellow! I haven't done February's yet it has a whole lot of tiny pieces!!!! As you can see this quilt is going to be very colorful! 

I'm also working on a baby quilt for my cousin. I'm using a Storm At Sea pattern from Electric Quilt. I upgraded to EQ8 and I am having a blast playing with designs!!!! I haven't taken photos of it yet, but I will and I'll get them posted!

Have you ever shopped at Bear Creek Quilting Co? It's an online quilt shop and let me just say I have been shopping with them for almost as long as I've been quilting! I love that they show you more of the fabric in their bundles and I'm in love with the Aurifil Gem packs! Every month they do the birth stone with 3 Aurifil spools of thread...the big spools! And the price is so reasonable! I've collected them from the start and only missed January. Mainly because I thought I bought it and was too tired to verify! Oh well I'll pick it up next shopping trip since the price is still pretty good for a three pack of thread. Also they are looking for Ambassadors! I'm not sure how much longer as it started the beginning of April. Check them out you'll love them too!

So what have you been working on? Is there another QAL I should be doing???? hahaha

Chat soon!

Sheila

Too Long Away From The Blog!

Wow has it really been over a month! I've been sewing every day, even if it was only a few minutes a day. So I have a lot to show you!

First I'll show Pat Sloan's Out Of This World monthly quilt a long. 

Block #3 Where To Learn

 This month's block we had to make 4 blocks! The first block took a little longer, but the other three came together a lot faster. 

The next months block was Block #4 Space Crazy

I absolutely love this block! I wish the constellations could be seen. But their are more blocks to make and I'm sure I'll be using this fabric again! Pat gave the layout for this quilt a long and I started putting the blocks together. I think it's going to be a fun quilt.

Next I'll show Pat Sloan's other Quilt A Long, A Flower Bouquet.

Here is Block #11 Green Grass

I think this would have been a lot better if I was using other colors, but this is going to be a red and white quilt so I had to make do.

Block #12 Marigolds

 This block made me think of my dad. He loved marigolds and always had them in the garden. I would tease him and called them stink weeds. I now make sure to have them in my garden. They are very beneficial keeping bad bugs away.

Block #13 Veggie Garden

This was an easy block to make. Pat used a few of her scraps for the light areas. I only did one spot and decided I would rather not do that. You can see the one square I did, but I have a plan to hid that when it's through. I'm excited to see it finished!

Block #14 Garden Center

This is one of my favorite blocks...but their is more!

I haven't made block #15 yet, but soon! Here is Block #16 First Blooms

This is another block I just love! Pat give a bonus layout using 4 of these blocks and I'm thinking they would make a great piece for the table.

Block #17 Perennials and Annuals

This has got to be my favorite block! I love how it came together. I'm starting to put these blocks together too. Pat gave two options for the layout. I'm doing the traditional method. I like the look of sashing and cornerstones and I'm using that red fabric in the half square triangles for the cornerstones. Their's only 3 blocks left so I better get busy!

I do have more to show, but this post is pretty long already! I hope you'll stop by again for a visit. Even better sign up and never miss a post! I'm working on some tips to show you!

Sheila