Wild and Goosey Check In and More

I managed to sneak in my Wild and Goosey block this weekend.  Here it is!  It has a few Eye Spy fabrics in it since I was cutting and organizing those today too.  I didn't realize that Quiltmaker had the pattern available for free online til somone posted it in the Quiltville Open Studio Facebook group that I moderate for Bonnie.  If you haven't started this one, do a few and make a tablerunner if you can stop at just a few!  Wild and Goosey Free Paper Pieced Pattern!

 I spent Friday night and Saturday with one of my favorite nephews--Colton!  He has gotten so big and is signing (milk, more, please, thank you,.   all done and now he signs Angela too).  He is quite a communicator for one who isn't really talking yet.  Seriously a smart little guy and the time went fast!  Mom, Dad, Colton and I went up to Prescott to a craft sale.  It was a gorgeous day (cooler up there than down here) and it was great fun.  I forgot my fitbit at home and thought I had lost it there which led to much retracing of steps (all not being counted--grrr!) but I had happily forgotten it on my pj's!

 Kathy made her second Jelly Bean Blast block...she wants to make Bonnie's Wanderlust Pattern.  It is going to be so pretty!

 I did get the yellow border on both Packer quilts, and one outer border on too.  I didn't think I had enough Packer fabric do finish the second one (so I was going to go green scrappy) but in cleaning out the eye spy stuff I found more so I think I can finish the second one after all!

Here is the Eye Spy with one more long row added...most likely will add more before I put the border on this one, have some cut and ready to go!  I work about three hours tomorrow so other than that and the drive there and back I plan to be sewing!

August NewFo Linky Party!

It is time again for the NewFo Linky Party!  I am so excited that I started two quilts this month and even more excited that I plan to get the borders and backing taken care of for these two today!  The pattern is from Amy's "March" Quilt inspired by a photo in a calendar.  I decided to make a small one for each of my little nephews--Ben and Colton.  Here they are though I call them March on Green Bay Packers.  These were fun and fast to make and I am really pleased with the way the yellow squares carry your eye all over.  I was also happy to use some of my donated Packer fabric from Tamara in them.  Happy dance all around!  Go check out the linky party on the Cat Patches blog!

If you too are a Packer fan or love Packer Quilts, please visit the Green Bay Packer Quilts facebook page and like it.  Feel free to add any of your Packer colored or themed quilts to the page too!  GO PACK GO!

Hawaii Sunset is a Flimsy--Cue the Singing Angels!

 I spent some hours today making the other three borders for Hawaii Sunset and then tonight I managed to get them all attached!  The pictures are not great but I could not wait to get some and call this one done!

 So happy that Jo got me started and Amy, Andra and Angela were willing to join me in making one!  It was great fun--now that it is done!  I am astonished that I was able to do this one with magazine directions, I think I might finally be an intermediate quilter, lol!

 Kathy is coming along on her Jelly Bean block for Wanderlust.  This is a Bonnie Hunter pattern from Quiltmaker--my favorite quilting magazine.  She did not screw up the part I thought she did...she just has the center star to go.  Really super cute block!

Tonight we went to the Nimble Thimbles (and two other guilds too) Barn Quilts presentation.  The door prize was this cool metalwork quilt block!  Suzi Parron (who wrote the first book on Barn Quilts) was the speaker and she was great.  She is working on her second book on the topic now.  She showed us quite a slide show and I loved the "I'm Lovin it" quilt block on the side of a McDonalds which was really unique.  I could not find a picture of it online so I guess we have to wait for the next book to see it again!

Here is Suzi, she signed my book for me! 

Hawaii Sunset Bucket List Quilt Sees Progress!

If you have a great memory, you may recall I started working on the Hawaii Sunset quilt two years ago when I saw Jo of Jo's Country Junction making one.  That led to a little challenge in which Andra, Amy and I exchanged some little geese and then Angela got in on the action too!  Andra finished her quilt a long while ago, Amy finished hers this past week and Angela was about done the other day too!  So since I don't want to be too far in the dust I decided to take advantage of the fact that I only worked one job today and so was home early for me.  I started with the middle row--I was dreading the sashings and the on point setting.  I wound up just cutting the sashing diagonals as I went, made it easier for me!

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 Pictures of something this size suck at night...I have to drag it outside in the sun to do it justice but here it is sans borders (which are not yet pieced though the four patches are made!).  I am SEW happy that my bloggy friends kept on with this quilt and that pushed me--this seriously could have been that one UFO that just hangs out forever.  Funny it took a few hours to get the top together tonight but I did not have to rip even once and it really wasn't near as hard as I thought it would be the three times I dug it out and put it back!

 

Satisfying Sunday!

 Kathy and I drove across town today to get cheap fruits and veges.  We spent 64 bucks and got a ton of stuff.  We then spent an hour or two with me cleaning the fridge and some fruit (and bagging it up for work each day this week) and Kathy cleaning and chopping veges for the freezer and fruit for the fridge.  Almost all healthy choices in that fridge!  Chicken fajitas on tap for dinner tomorrow--you can see all those chopped peppers in there.

 Tamara sent me some leftover blocks and we reworked them into this cute top (two more blocks left over).  I think we will add a border to the narrow sides at least.

 I spent a lot of time today finishing up my March on Green Bay Packers # 2 quilt top too.  It also needs borders along with its twin.

 One of these is for Ben and one for Colton this Christmas.  I think they will really love them.

 Kathy decided to go nuts and start on another Bonnie project!  I am so excited she is doing this one because I love it but I do not want to make this one--looks complicated.  Can you guess it is Wanderlust from Quiltmaker.  I already see she did the blue geese the same blue but when she does the hst four patch in the corner she will need to change the goose to match on that side.  See why I am not doing it, lol it is a gorgeous quilt though!

My friend Kelli gave me some Packer squares a few months ago and since I was on a Packers kick I decided to sew them into rows.  I have another stack of squares so thinking this will be twice as wide when done.
All in all, a very productive sewing Sunday!  I feel like I got everything done I wanted to and I am ready to take a break from sewing and get to work tomorrow!  I hope your weekend included some sewing or whatever it is you love!

Christmas Gift Push!

 I decided to make several of the gals in my family a sleep mask for Christmas.  Just something fun and I actually use mine when the Arizona sun streams in our windows.  The cat loves to sit in the window so the blinds are half up and she moves the curtains getting in and out of the window so most every morning I am in the sun!

 I also worked on this March on Bay Packers (Quilt two) today.  All the parts are ready to go into blocks (one leftover block from the last quilt) and I know this one will come together fast--maybe yet tonight?

 I managed to get in my Wild and Goosey weekend block.  Apparently I was in a pink mood, lol.  Now I have another row started!

 I got my toes done in purple today since tomorrow I go back to my college interpreting job (YAY!)!  Really looking forward to that and I like the schedule I have so far.  I will go to my phone interpreting job about three nights a week but this week I only work that job on Friday so it is going to feel like I have all kinds of time on my hands!

March on Green Bay Packers!

 Last night I dug through my hst's (I have zillions!) and did not find one that would work for this block!  Wrong sizes, wrong colors, etc.  So eventually I made my own (took less time than the search, haha!) and so here is Bouncing Betty.  Linking up with Angela for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  While digging I found a leftover Orca Bay block that is the same size as these, so I threw it in the pile--may as well use it!

 I subcut my shirtings/whites and made four patches so I could whip these blocks up.

 It went together really fast and I have an extra block, extra parts and more than enough shirtings/whites left to make another one.  I am pretty sure one of my nephews will wind up with this quilt, so I should make another one so they have a matched pair.

 I had to see how it was looking.  I did not fussy cut the squares in the middle but I like how you get glimpses of Packer stuff!

 Amy's Passions has the tutorial for this quick quilt--she calls it "March" since hers was all green.  I shall call mine March on Green Bay Packers!  I am pretty sure I will add a yellow scrappy thinner border and then some Packer wider fabric on the outside...thinking on that still.  Thanks again to Tamara over at Bunbear Quilts for thinking of me and sending me Packer scraps and blocks--all these centers came from her gift!

 And while we are on the topic of GB Packers, my daughter surprised me with a belated bday gift of a Packer banner and a Melissa Etheridge coffee mug.  I love the thin lip of it and it has a cool design.  Hannah got to see Melissa in concert this past summer, one day I hope to see her too!  Already hung the banner in our Packer room!

  

 While I am on bday gifts, my best friend Monica in Wisconsin sent me all these goodies!  She says that these two air fresheners together are her favorite.  I hung one of each from my quilting studio fan and it smells fresh and clean in here!  One can never go wrong sending me books and coffee and I love trying out her favorite scent!

 A few days ago a coworker (Del) surprised me with gifts too.  It was completely unexpected, she is really a great gal who makes work go faster and a lot more fun.  She gave me some teas to try and a Starbucks card--cannot go wrong with that.

Last night I finished reading "A Sliver of Light" which was quite informative about prison in the Middle East and today I am listening to "China Girls" by Lisa See while I sew.  Kathy is off working, so I am going to go get some healthy spaghetti sauce going and work out before heading back up here to sew some more!
Lost 4.8 pounds this week for a total of 54.8!  Made up for last week's one pound gain!

Quilt Cam Fun!

 Last night I was motivated to get out this long forgotten hand sewn hexie project (seriously the longest running project I have ever had!) and sew on a few hexies.  It it tucked away again til I go in and get bifocals!  Yes, since the last time I did this my eyes have changed and I found it frustrating to not be able to see as I used to.  The last time I went to the eye doctor (last fall) he told me I should get bifocals and I did not believe him...I could see fine, apparently he knows more about my eyes than I do and I should have listened to him!  Anyway I am due to go back in about September and so I cannot wait to see better close up!

 Tonight I came home and got some fish, sweet potatoes and green beans going.  I then did some Quilt Cam sewing with Bonnie then dinner was done and I ate and worked out.  Jammed to ABBA and discovered my workout is more effective and energetic and seemed to go faster with music instead of the TV.  Think there will be more music.  Here is my very happy fitbit--first time I have ever seen eight leaves!

 Nailed my steps and the best part is 24 very active minutes....when I first got my fitbit it had zero forever and once in a while it would tell me one or two very active...so this makes me happy!

 Then back up to finish my Quilt Cam start on this extra Wild and Goosey block.  I was overjoyed to get another row on.  I swear this quilt never gets any larger....something Alice in Wonderland is going on with it!

Around the World Blog Hop!

Today I am participating in the Around the World Blog Hop--I was invited by Gina over at Occasional Quilter.  The goal of this hop is to share a bit about my creative process (or lack thereof) and invite others to join in the fun!  You can read Gina's post HERE.  It is always neat to see how other folks create so I will be linking up to three more blogs at the end of my post so the fun can continue.   I also love the ability to connect with other bloggers and see what they are doing that inspires me!

Who am I?
I am "Andee in AZ" and Bonnie Hunter's # 1 Fan!  At least that is how I identify myself to all my quilty friends.  I have been seriously addicted to quilting for the past ten years or so.  I sew a lot!  People seem to think I get lots done, my most frequent comments are about how many finishes I have.  I always have several works in progress and a few marinating but I rarely have anything I can really call a UFO--I am a finisher!

What am I working on?

If you follow my blog you are aware of all the fun stuff I am sewing, but in case you are new I will share what I have been up to lately!

I have been on a Block of the Month kick this year!  I am working on this Quilt of Valor from the Quilter's Newsletter Magazine "Ooh Rah!" pattern on their website.  Check out the pattern if you want it.  I donate my Quilts of Valor to Alycia in Colorado!  She has a great blog with pictures of soldiers getting quilts and can always find someone willing to quilt and bind my flimsy so I can donate my fabric and time doing what I like to do--piece them!

I am working on the Classic Meets Modern Quilalong on Sew at Home Mummy's blog.  This BOM is obviously modern and while there are tutorials that are super easy to follow, there are also suggestions to help make each block more uniquely your own.  This is about as far as I go toward designing anything!  I love that it stretches me and that each block is incredibly fun--I am not sure I can give this one away when I get it done!

For my third BOM, I am working on "Traditions" which is from a local shop BOM.  Here is what I have so far on those blocks.  The best part of this one is the cost of all the fabric for the blocks is ten bucks as long as you keep up with each block and show up to pick up the next block on your day/time.  Fits my current budget and keeps me on track!

I also have a long term leaders and enders project.  This is a challenge set forth by Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville in which we make a specific block as leaders and enders between other projects.  This year Bonnie has us sewing lozenges!  I have found I do better with this sort of thing if I do it by color--turning it into a smaller monthly goal so I do the Rainbow Block of the Month color for each month and by the end of the year I will have enough for a full quilt.  This month the color is lime green--I went ahead and did all the greens so I may just start assembling some of what I have this month so it doesn't wait til December!

I am also doing the Rainbow Scrap Challenge Sampler.  Angela is hosting this at her blog this year.  We follow the rainbow color and make fun blocks that Angela suggests and provides tutorials for.    Here are all the blocks I had done about a month ago, and the red ones added since.  I have never done so many 6 inch finished blocks and it is really fun to use my precut scraps and have such variety in here!  I also love that there are traditional and more modern looking blocks. 

 Another long term project I am working on is Wild and Goosey--designed by Bonnie Hunter.  This pattern is from Quiltmaker.  It is in the May/June issue from 2013 and you can find it here.  These blocks are paper pieced and are each one is scrappy goodness!  I love each and every block!

I feel like the brights make this one look more modern.

Hawaii Sunset on the other hand is old fashioned traditional!  I love it too!  This one is waiting on sashing and borders to be complete.  I love civil war fabrics almost as much as I love modern fabrics.  I just keep putting off finishing this one!

 I can almost label this quilt a UFO...this is Talkin' Turkey (another Bonnie Hunter don't you know) which I did for the Rainbow BOM last year.  I had hopes of making another of each color this year but I just have not done it!  I love to look at the blocks and do plan to get it back under the needle soon.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I am a pattern follower and rarely venture out from a pattern!  When I first started quilting I really preferred working with one line of fabrics, or at least coordinating fabrics and I mostly did traditional piecing.  As time went on I realized I really like the look of scrappy!  It took Bonnie Hunter's Orange Crush mystery quilt and alot of time sewing on it with tons of different fabrics for me to fall in love with scrappy!  I love scrappy even more than coordinated now!  Then farther along the line I realized I loved the look of modern quilts!  I started sewing more modern stuff, but at the same time I kept on sewing traditional stuff.  So that might make me unique, it seems like most quilters I know prefer one style over another and I really like them both equally! 

Why do I write/create what I do?
I love to document things.  I started out writing in a journal and putting real pictures in it of each and every quilt I sewed.  I number my quilts too!  Eventually I found someone's blog and decided to start writing online--eventually I stopped writing in my journal and the online outlet became my documentation of my quilting and my life.  I wish I could read about my great grandmother's life and so I hope one day my descendants will read about me and my family. 

Now be sure to continue hopping along and visit three of my bloggy friends!
1. Ros the Quilter is my go to longarmer of choice who lives about forty minutes from me.  She is a dog lover and fab grandma who always has tales of the grands on her blog--along with lots of quilty goodness of course! She also loves Bonnie!
2. Amy of Amy's Passions is a fellow Packer fan who lives really close to my Dad's old place in Wisconsin!  We have shopped at the same quilt shops and share a love of all things Bonnie Hunter but we have yet to meet in person.  Her blog has quilting, crocheting, life, kids, gardening and lately even hobby farming!  I feel like I know this lady without actually meeting her.
3. Angela of SoScrappy shares my name, my love of Bonnie, and all kinds of inspiration on her blog!  She writes of work and home, kids, trips and lots of quilty stuff!  She hosts the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and has a weekly link up for all of us rainbow sewers!  I have not met her in person yet,  
since she is in Florida, but I am hoping one day I will meet her too!