Goal completed, just in time!

Yay, I got my laptop back on-time to participate in the One Monthly Goal report!

My goal this month was to get my Nature's Neutrals quilt together and quilted.

.....and here it is....all done....and bound, to boot!

I even remembered to sew on one of my little tags....

This quilt was started as a block exchange which lasted two years. I loved the quilt since I first saw my friend's rendition a few years back and am so happy to now have one of my own. 

I'm also tickled that I saw another friend's idea for binding her quilt....which was the perfect binding, so I promptly copied used her's for inspiration for my own binding.

I'm not sure what I will do with this quilt....maybe it will be my Autumn quilt for my bed. I know one thing for sure, it won't be gifted....too many fond memories of friends in this one!

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal - August, and with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get A Whoop Whoop!.

Gratitude X3

I've had a nice start to my day with a bit of slow stitching.

It's going to be a busy Summer day, so I am always grateful to the peaceful way I begin each day.

Today I put the finishing touches on a block from my Simple Folk quilt....the block was from a couple of months ago, I just never got around to doing the heart....

.....and, yes, I do know that it turns out looking like a fancy, old-fashioned rubber glove! lol...

That didn't take long, so I continued on with a bit of binding....

I am grateful to seeing a friend's binding on a similar quilt....it turned out to be the perfect binding for mine!.....absolutely perfect!

Can you see that I've used the word "grateful" twice already....not on purpose. But I did listen to a podcast this morning while slow stitching....it talked about trying to say three things that you are grateful everyday. Evidently, this can help change your outlook on life, which I've heard before but always seem to forget. Maybe I'll have to set up some kind of reminder until it becomes a habit.

I will gift this quilt to my grandson at his 13th birthday party today. I am not happy whatsoever with this quilt in the end, but I'm sure he will love it...and I'll make it up to him in the future with another quilt, I am sure!

Here is Kirby, after a race he ran with me this Summer, which I don't think he'll ever do again! I am very grateful to have this young man in my life, xo.

Today I am linking up with Kathy for some Slow Sunday Stitching.

Keeping up.....so far!

I feel proud of myself this week! 

I've actually kept up with the first month of my latest starts :)

I've already shown you the block that begins the Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day BOM called Fun on the Farm....

I'm still not sure if the piggy block needs some embroidery or not....I'll probably just call it "done" as it is.


I've completed the first block for the Save the Bees sewalong...

I like the embellishing on the Bees block. I think the petals could use a little something, but I'm not quite sure yet what that something is.

I've also finished the first block of my Summertime Sampler, I just need to get some little beads for the eyes.

I also learned something new this week, thanks to a quilty friend of mine. Here I am with my first garlic braid that I've ever done...

Why does this give me such pleasure?,.....I don't know!!!, but it does.

Today I am linking up with Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Fridays and with Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?.

Oops, I did it again....

Ok, I'm saying right now.....no new projects for the rest of the year!!!

I am such a sucker for sew-alongs and BOM's. I am reluctant to say, but I'd better just come clean.....I've started three more :(

(please don't laugh at me, I know you are)



First I'll show a picture of a block I completed for my Simple Folk quilt...

Every block that I complete for this quilt is my new favourite!

And now to the new stuff....which, now that I think of it, means I will have lots to share on many upcoming Slow Sunday Stitching with Kathy! (and, yes Kathy, I know you are chuckling to yourself, you enabler you!)

I began the first block for the Save the Bees quilt...which you can read about HERE. 

I began by constructing the flower-head OTB....meaning "off the block" as it's so much easier to handle....

I started to applique the bees wing and realised that I didn't like my fabric choice, so this morning I switched up to the first block of the 
new Eleanor Burns mystery, Fun on the Farm, a free BOM.

I couldn't resist this one and I'm thinking it's out of sentiment. Back in the day, Eleanor Burns was one of the pioneers in bringing us a quilting show on TV. This would be before learning our craft was made easier by the internet, classes in quilt shops, etc.

It's funny, back then I regarded Eleanor as perhaps a senior....now I'm thinking she was probably younger than I am now! lol, that thought is a bit shocking to me for some reason!

Here is my first block, almost done...

It's an easy start and you can still join in....it's only one block per month....come on, jump in, the water is warm!

....and my third start this week.....

I've seen this quilt done up at a couple of quilt shows and it always catches my eye. I finally gave in and ordered the BOM which will be mailed out to me on a monthly basis from a shop right here in Ontario, which is nice. 

So, I'll say it one more time....no more new starts this year. 

The End!

I am linking up with Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching. I will browse through the other quilters that are linking up and I will not be led into temptation.

Another Beautiful Summer's Day!

It's another hot and humid weekend. I've had a bit of applique-time this morning, will have a bit of breakfast as I write this post and get outside to do a bit of yardwork before the day gets too hot.

I also have a bit of unexpected planting to do. We made our way to a local garden centre on Saturday to get a gift card for my son's upcoming birthday. So nice to get him something he really wants since I find it difficult to come up with birthday ideas for grown "children"! 

I thought that if I saw a nice phlox on sale I'd buy one for my own garden. Well, we found a phlox, a butterfly bush and a beautifully coloured echinacea. Garden centres are just as dangerous to visit as fabric stores!

Hmmm, the picture really doesn't do this one justice as it is quite a deep red in real life.

I had a few days this week where I didn't have the time to prep any applique and had to resort to some embroidery. I have to say, it's nice to have the embroidery as back-up, but I much prefer to applique.

I did finally get started on another block for my Simple Folk quilt. 

Sometimes I take a few moments to baste pieces to the block which will need other pieces stitched under it. I know I could use fabric glue, but the basting only takes a few moments and I do prefer it.

Most times it is vines and stems that are basted down. This block has a stem and an urn that I basted...

I love the flower on this block!

Today I am linking up with Kathy to see what others are doing for Slow Sunday Stitching. Kathy is working on a sewalong that actually starts tomorrow (which I am also going to do, lol).

Stay cool and enjoy the day!

One Monthly Goal - August

So......somehow July just sped on by and here we are in August....already.

I did not get my One Monthly Goal completed for July. I had high hopes right on up to the end of the month but it wasn't meant to be.

I figure, then, it must be meant to be for August, although, looking ahead, I'm not sure if it will be possible this month either. Oh well, I'll do my best to fit it in.

The quilt in question is my Nature's Neutrals...

I did manage to get a binding fabric picked out, thanks to inspiration from one of my quilty friends....so that is some kind of progress :)

Yesterday I picked up a few fabrics that I "need" for a small sewalong coming up next week (what the heck is the matter with me!) hosted by Jacquelynne Steves called Save the Bees, which you can have a look at HERE. It's just a small quilt, really, so how could I resist? 

Here are my fabrics...I just need to shop my stash for the rest...

I'm not one to make things from selvages, but I have to admit to starting saving some of them because they are just so cute...

As I was ready to finish my purchase I notice this fabric being folded back on the bolt....there was just a wee bit left and I could totally see it in a tote bag some day...

....and again with the selvage...

.....and, of course, in the above picture you can see the fat quarter of 30's that I picked up. Once in a while it's nice to fatten up the 30's box of fabric!

There is another sewalong starting today. 

This one is a mystery called Fun on the Farm and is hosted by Eleanor Burns. You can read about it HERE. I think I will try to hold off on this one until I see the next block. 

I thought this one would be pieced and would have no trouble keeping up with one block per month...but the first block is appliqued and I don't know how I could ever manage another hand-stitched project!

I'll print the first month's instructions off and wait and see.

Linking up with ....

Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Be Social
Susan at Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers
Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal