Binding Done!

 The Pat Sloan Storytelling Library BOM was quilted by Barb and delivered to me yesterday.  I finished up the clue for Good Fortune and got it bound tonight.

Ros quilted Betty's Choice for me and also delivered it to the party.  This was a Rainbow Scrap Challenge that Amy and I did in 2015.  I made the Betty's Choice blocks (in Quiltmaker, they are a Bonnie block) and Amy made the nine patch/couthouse steps blocks.  Ros liked it so much she wants the pattern.  I put a scrappy binding on both these quilts..love how they look..love using up extra binding from my drawer..and did not have to make new binding!
I also got the eye spy squares baby quilt tied at my sister's on Thanksgiving.  The picture does not want to upload though.
So happy to have some quilting mojo back.
I was pretty active this past long weekend and am feeling alright!  Now to get through the work week!

 Mondqy night I got these quilted and bound for a pair of Kathy's coworkers.  She was still working on clue one.  The pattern is free online.  It is called Simple Gifts by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr.  It is my go to baby quilt pattern.  Quick and I can quilt it fairly decently myself.

Some Almost Finishes!

Ros brought me this quilt from a few years back. It was a Rainbow Scrap Challenge that Amy and I did together. I did the Betty's Choice blocks for each of us and she did the nine patch/courthouse steps joiner block.  It turned out great and everyone was oohing and aahing over it and Ros' quilting at the kickoff party this year.  I need to put a scrappy binding on it and gift it as a baby quilt.

It is a bit wrinkled, but Kathy managed to get the last seam in her En Provence just in the nick of time.  She did it in Patriot's colors.  

We decided to get her draped in--though a year late!

On a Roll!

 Ros quilted up my En Provence this week!  I need to pick it up and get a binding on it.

Here is a close up of the quilting she did.

 Here is my Bonnie signed label.  I have to right my name on it.

I also was on a roll this week--I quilted up this Bonnie inspired tablerunner.  I was super excited to see Bonnie's pattern will be coming out in Quiltmaker but here is what I came up with after seeing her pumpkins! I may be keeping this one.

Barb gave me this tablerunner and so I finally got it quilted. It will be gifted to someone soon.

I also finished the piano key border on the Betty's Choice and Amy's alternate blocks.  I made a backing and this one is ready to go to the longarmer.

Linking up with Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Angela's Blog!

May Catch Up!

Way behind on my blogging!  I did finish the green May blocks (Straits of Mackinac) for the Rainbow Block of the Month!  Looking forward to the next color.  I skipped the "rainbow" choice for last month so I need to pick a color Angela is not going to pick to replace it.  One of these days!

Barb quilted this beauty for me!  This is the Rainbow Scrap Challenge from 2014!  I did not include the sashings as Angela did, but I am super happy with it.  This will be for my cousin Linc and his new wife Christin's wedding gift in June.  

I also finally managed to get the center and the first border on my Betty's Choice and Amy exchange blocks!  I am working on a piano key border in all the colors for this one.  

I completed the 35th Ave. BOM for May.  Here they all are.

This is the All People Quilt UFO choice from my list this month.  I got these blocks somewhere (guild maybe) and they were mostly done.  I am not an applique person (love it but not to do myself!) so I am super happy with my quilting around all the leaf parts so hold it all down.  I think this will be for my mom for her birthday in August.

Barb gave me these cool embroidered frogs playing baseball.  Linc's older brother Luke and his wife Ashley are having their first little one, a boy and Luke LOVES baseball so I made this one to send back for him.

I am also sending  back Danny's braid for Luke and Ashley's wedding quilt (I never sent one!).  Luke and Linc's sister Crystal had a little girl so am sending London the pastel paisley quilt  made awhile back.  Not to be outdone, my other cousin Ashley had baby number three (another boy) named Knoxton a few days ago so I am sending him the nine patch and snowballs quilt.  I think that catches me up on all the gifts!

I won a blog drawing over at Stash Bandit!  This is all the loot I got!  Diane sent me two magazines with her own patterns in them.  I love the windmills in different sizes and may have to make at least one!  Thanks!

Monday Stitching with a Friend

 I worked early today so after that and Pilates I went to Barb's to sew.  I first cut out a bunch of hexagons for more potholders.  I have a whole stack cut and ready to sew.  Next I finally put together this Betty's Choice top which I made in 2015 as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge Linking up with the  RSC .
Amy of Amy's Passions made the alternate connector block and we swapped a set each.  Super happy with this and may take Amy's suggestion to put a thin white border on it and then a colorful piano key border of 4.5 inches.  Really fun!

I also took apart my Little Bit Hexie quilt and made scanter seams so it would fit together better.  Happy with this one too!  Pattern is from Quiltville.

Kevin the Quilter posted cute trees last Christmas and though I kitted it up with scraps I had, I never had time to get to it.Today I made two trees, they were really fun. I may make a couple more and do a little wallhanging.  You can find his pattern here!
Now to update my Pinterest UFO list!

Playing with the Rainbow!

Amy sent me her Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks and I could not resist playing with them, with my Betty's Choice blocks, to see what they would look like.  

I think this last one is the winner so far.  Amy says she is going to play with sashing when she gets time and I may just wait to see what fantabulous layout she comes up with!  Linking up with SoScrappy!

 She also sent me some surprises!  I got some fabric...LOVE those buttons!  AND she sent me some of her homemade soap!  Three different smells, one better than the next!  I don't know if it was just coincidence or if she just knows me and what I like but if I were out picking my own smells I would have come up with these!

 Today I was supposed to go hike but have had a three day migraine so was not up to it.  By this afternoon I was feeling better though so Kathy, Barb and I went to the Rusty Barn Quilt Sale at the fairgrounds.  We ran into lots of quilty friends which was super fun!  BJ, Andrea, Jennifer, Laura, Margarite, Crystal, Debbie, and Berta!  I bought all these goodies and Kathy got some soap and dog shampoo.

 Came home and sewed up the Circa 2016 nine patch blocks for the Temecula Quilt Company mystery.  Love working with civil war fabrics again!

Saturday and Some of Sunday Sewing!

 Here is the first block of the Patriotic BOM from 35th Ave.  All done for January!

 I was also super excited to get my Allietare shirt and magnet!  Later on I will order the pin and maybe a travel coffee mug.  They were not ready when I placed this order and I didn't want to wait.  They sent me a coupon so it is all good.  If you want any of the products that ForestJane puts together for Quiltville (profits go to purchasing sewing things for charity sews) go to Zazzle.com and search "Forestjane" and all should come up!  Of course on the back of my shirt is my usual proclamation!

 I worked quite awhile on the Nimble Thimbles mystery last night.  I had to do some unsewing and to take my time a bit to get the points to line up decently.  I used the 20 dollar chevron ruler I bought from Quiltz last shop hop to make the chevrons. I gotta say I LOVE it.  The units were great and it did not take me too long to figure out how to use it to get the best results!

I am still in Weight Watchers and am still exercising daily.  I have been staying about the same weight for the past 5 months.  It is not for lack of trying, but between the stress of my life, the medication changes (for the chronic migraines) and the migraines themselves I am happy I have not just gained or given up!  I would really like to get to 105 down this week so am working extra hard.  This morning (54 degrees when we started and 49 when we finished) Kathy and I headed out to hike.  It is only her second hike since her knee replacement surgery eight weeks ago so after a few minutes we split up. I headed all the way down into the mountain and then up and out on the Ridgeline.  This is a challenging hike for me but I am getting faster at it and am happy to listen to some tunes and get my steps in!

 I was happy to have this jacket Becky passed on to me, I think it is the first time I have hiked and kept my jacket on the entire time!  It was chilly.

 After a hot shower I got to finishing up the clue for the Nimble Thimbles mystery.  I am about out of the dimples in the shade I started with, but had another shade which was super close.  So I added it in and unless I look super closely you really cannot tell.

 And all the parts waiting on the next clue.

 Amy (of Amy's Passions) has completed her last block for our swap!  She is sending me the blocks above and I am sending her half the blocks from below. Gonna be a fun quilt when it is done!

Since this was our RSC this past year I am linking up with Angela over at SoSrcappy and next up I hope to work on the blue blocks from the sampler chain I am still working on!

Rainbows of Fun!

 Amy suggested Grey for the last Rainbow Scrap Challenge color since Angela left it up to her readers this month.  I cannot quite figure out why I have extra blue blocks (at this point) and which color must be missing.  I may go back through Angela's blog to try to see if I missed one without realizing it!  I think this works fine but it bugs me that I may have missed one!  Amy and I will be swapping the alternate blocks--no rush Amy I have plenty to keep me busy until they arrive!  (I still need to sew up last year's RSC challenge blocks into a flimsy!) Edit* I am linking up with SoScrappy for the RSC!

 My friend Barb asked if she could have some of my Packer fabric temporarily and surprised me with a Featherweight cushion/cover and the iron holder I have been wanting to make for two or three years!  I AM SEW HAPPY to have matching Packer stuff for my travel machine and iron.  Last year she made me the scissor lanyard in Packer colors too.  Thanks Barb!

 I made up a few more blocks for the "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" mini from Temecula Quilt Company.  I am not really coordinating my fabric..just using scraps and such.  When I see the end result I may redo a few blocks.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge in Cafe

Just under the wire I got these brown blocks made.  Thought I was all caught up for October (which has been a whirlwind fast month!) and then I realized I haven't made my Betty's Choice blocks!  So I am hoping to whip those up shortly!  Linking up with Angela over at SoScrappy!
edit  Here are the Betty's Choice blocks too!

I don't think I mentioned that while I was at quilt camp my oldest son Coleman and his new wife Chelsea decided (randomly with no plan) to put some of their stuff in their semi reliable van (puppy and cat included) and move to Arizona.  About three weeks ago we let a friend who is down on his luck move into Coleman's room and so now Coleman and wife are in my spare Packer room which is mostly used to wrapping gifts and storing sewing machines unless we have company.  My house looks like a bomb went off as we relocate tons of stuff and I am now wrapping gifts on my bed again.  The friend is supposed to leave in March or so and I am secretly hoping that happens sooner so we can move these two downstairs.  Anyway life is stressful and I am trying to stay focused on eating right and exercising!  I did go on my first hike all alone this past week, and I lost two pounds!

I am so happy to be getting back to hiking now that it is cooler again!  Tonight we are going to meet up with the little ones and walk around Trick or Treating for a bit.  Will be fun to see them all in costume.