I might need to change the name

of my blog to a title that includes something about being a block-of-the-month addict.  Before one can wind down I'm starting another!  (You haven't even seen the one that I'm 3 months into because I haven't started it yet.)

This newest one, Winter Solstice,  is an online group started by Paulette of Sweet P Quilting and Creations.

The homespuns and rustic look spoke to me.

 The pattern is out of the book: Life in the Country. 

 

Our first assignment was to make the two barns.  

When making houses and barns out of homespun or plaids you have to be ready for a bit of a wonky look.  That sort of thing usually gets lost when the whole quilt is finished.

I had a helper (or anti-helper) in my sewing room yesterday.

Murphy has a 'thing' for thread.  If I'm sewing the binding on a quilt I have to keep all the raw edges hidden or he chews on the threads.  He discovered the shelf of thread yesterday.  He is trying to eat the loose ends...the stinker.  He also found the waste basket. 

Pam

I am driven

to tie up some loose ends in my sewing cave.  I am working away on various odds and ends before leaving for some time away.

The most recent finish was my July block for Quilt Doodle Doodles block of the month. 

 

A cute line of steaming cups of cocoa.  

I have more pictures of another project or two but those will have to wait until I have more time.

Pam

Playing Catch Up

I keep thinking about all the things I said I'd post then I either don't have a picture or have something else to post.  So, today I will catch up a couple things. 

First...

my new Pfaff Performance 5.0  has come home.  It is such fun.   The learning curve was almost 0 since my previous Pfaff had similar features.  There are some new things I'm enjoying...like the automatic thread snips.  My old machine had it but I never used it.  Why?  I don't know.  It also has the knee lift...although I haven't done anything that would need it.  I sometimes use it on my travel machine so I already know I like it. 

Next...a quick quilt for Buttercup's birthday. 

I guess I don't have a close up.  It just uses the same sailboat fabric as The Scholar's birthday quilt.  It is meant to be used.  Tossed around, taken to college or camp and thrown in the washing machine.  It isn't anything fancy.


The back uses 2 strips that started out on the front.  When I laid them all out it was much too wide.
I put them on the back between strips of manatee fabric. 

Love the manatee fabric.  It has so much depth.  It made a nice backing because I didn't have to cut it up into small pieces.

I recently went to an antique mall and bought an old ladder to display quilts.  I just pulled out quilts that were on hand to try it out.  It will be fun to change out the quilts by season or theme.

I still have a class project I haven't unpacked and photograph.  So many projects, so little time.

Happy Friday.

Pam

The Olive Quilt.

Last summer I bought some fabric and a pattern designed to feature mainly one focus fabric.  The name of the pattern just never stuck because I kept calling it 'The Olive Quilt'.

It is a Villa Rosa Designs pattern called Sundance.  It's one of those post card patterns seen in quilt stores.  I'm sure I would have looked right past it but the shop owner suggested it when she asked what I was going to do with the two yards of fabric I 'just had to have'.

From the back view you can see why I dubbed it: The Olive Quilt.  It uses two yards of a focus fabric with these olive looking blocks inserted. 

The fabric waited around my sewing room for months until one day when I just walked in, planning to work on something else, and had to pick it up and make a quilt.  It is a one day project that, given my hectic and unfocused schedule, took me two months. 

I love Woodie cars and the whole beach-y theme so this fabric had to come home with me.

It doesn't really show, but I used a hibiscus flower panto which was one of the reasons it took so long to finish.  I had to order the pattern then was shipped the wrong one so had to wait some more.

Another reason it took two months to finish was because I needed to shop for backing.  I found this fabric at the same shop....vintage camp post cards.  I had to insert a piece of blue water-like fabric but it all goes together pretty well. 

I have another finish to show next time.  All the puttering and not finishing makes it look like I've suddenly become very busy in my sewing room.  In reality, it is just that I am finally managing to focus on one project at a time until it is done.

Pam

Buttercup turns 18.

My baby is 18 today.  Milestone birthdays are always the most exciting. 

Here she is turning 10.  The cake looked like a hamburger with a side of fries. 

Choosing a picture isn't always easy.  I don't have many pictures on my computer from when she was young and didn't get one scanned in before today.  Sorry, Birthday girl.  

She is off working at her summer camp job but we will celebrate tomorrow. 

Pam

A brand new graduate!

Buttercup is one happy girl. She made the most of her high school years but there is still nothing like that feeling of accomplishment when you are finally finished.

We had a nice family supper at home before heading off to the ceremony.  

Along with a laptop for college, she got the usual laundry basket full of college goodies.  Including the mug she's reading....Don't Let the Muggles Get You Down.  Always good advice.

I thought I'd be a little sad but it was fun seeing the kids I've known for years shine up on that stage.

Summer has finally arrived and my boys have a new spot to watch the world go by.

I am organizing some sewing and shopping for a new sewing machine.  I'm looking forward to some long lazy days of sewing.  With my two side kicks and my camera I hope to be able to show everyone what I've done as I go. 

Pam

Long time no post.

I am a week shy of being MIA for an entire month! Phew.  It has been a wild ride...this life I lead.  It is a full time job just keeping my household moving along without a pending graduation.  Imagine when there is one.  BUSY with all caps.

We tried to be involved parents without hovering so we have had a lot of end-of-year activities of our own.  One boosters group had a get together recently where we found ourselves to be in a unique (to us) positions.  We were the ones that everyone looked at with envy since we were the only people (at the party, anyhow) who are graduating our last child.  Woot!  Fist pumps!  Happy dances all around!  It was awesome. 

In one week Buttercup will graduate high school.  As busy and as involved as she was during school it is nothing compared to all the things happening in the last 4 to 6 weeks.  I am exhausted.  I am also working a whole lot of extra hours in preparation for a big change.  The timing is complicated...but my summer will become a wide open slate soon.

My sewing room is like an abandoned warehouse.  So sad.  I did manage to assemble the June installment of Quilt Doodle Designs 2014 Block of the Month.  

Given my schedule, while I made the May installment in May, I never photographed it.

Here they are together.

The little pine tree is May and the skates are June.

They should look more like something once they are attached to their neighboring blocks.

The June block was supposed to be hockey skates.  I preferred the look of white ice skates.  And, not to shame my alma mater but, I'd never seen hockey skates with a curled up tip.  So either they were white with a curled up tip or black (like the model) with straight blades (unlike the model).

I went to an all day class hosted by a young quilt designer last week but you will have to live in suspense.  I haven't even unpacked my bags.  However, it will give me something to write about next time...whether I've had any actual sewing time or not.

Pam