AmandaJean's QAL ~~ Top Finished!

A Finish! Just last night I was whining about not getting anywhere this week and in desperation (almost) I made a little bag just to make myself feel better. 

This morning I checked on Crazy Mom Quilts to see whether AmandaJean's quilt along instructions for week four were up. I'd decided to participate a couple of weeks ago. While working on all those blue scraps, I sewed up enough for this QAL, too. (I've been eating up some blue scraps, let me tell you!) There you go--a project with a purpose!

Because I had everything already cut out, it took almost no time to get the pieces on the design wall. I have to admit that it took a couple of minutes to wrap my head around the on-point setting. Perhaps the fact that I'd somehow missed one set of triangles made a difference. (There's a block E?) Ha! I cut those out and suddenly everything fit together! 

Once I got past that niggly problem, it was off to the races. Well, race when some grandie wasn't hanging around "bored." Now you know I heard enough of that with my own kids. 

In no time all the pieces were connected to create one wow quilt top. I love it! I think it's that crazy orange, which had to be turned around at random because the print didn't match up along the edges where the quarter pieces are. No problem, I switched them around before sewing and then didn't look at it again. I really liked AmandaJean's use of two different aquas, so I did the same with the reds, but it's not terribly obvious unless you know it. 

I can't wait to load it on the long-arm. Hopefully that will be tomorrow and I'll have it quilted before leaving for vacation. I haven't measured it but it's big. Much bigger than I expected, but that's a good thing. 

Are you participating in AmandaJean's QAL?  If so, how is it going? Remember to include her hashtag: #JunequiltQAL

Linking up with

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

TGIFF (Thank Goodness it is Friday Finish)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Crazy Mom Quilts (Finish it up Friday)

When nothing works...

push through and find a way. I'm not sure how good that advice is, but it's what I've been trying to do all week. 

I can't seem to get on track and work on a project. I've been doing stuff: cleaning; making kits for our trip; sewing scraps into slabs; cutting fabric. You know, sort of "two steps forward, one step back." Or is that "one step forward, two steps back"? Either way, I'm doing a lot of dancing in circles. 

And feel that I'm getting no where in particular. 

 I had to find something I could finish. And since I was playing around with this fabric, trying to come up with an idea that I liked after I tested it, I decided to turn what was cut (and not working) into a small bag. 

Turns out I like the small bag much more than anything that was happening on the design wall. So I guess pushing through is perhaps the best advice I can give right now. 
How is your sewing coming along?

Pin It Weekly #209

Happy Wednesday! It's time for Pin It Weekly and I have been pinning some new quilting ideas. One of those ideas is a new board of quilting books. Already I have over 125 pins. 

I've also been pinning quilt blocks because I've been looking for a few blocks that really speak to me. I'm working on a special project and want some ideas. While I'm doing that, though, I'm pinning what I find. 

As I mentioned earlier, these are all on my "quilt, blocks" board along with, oh, 450 other pins. 

Have a great week!

Currently in Progress

I thought I'd give a little tease of the art quilt I am working on. Reds, neutrals, greens in snippets, slivers, and slices.

And because I can't remember whether I mentioned this big fat hexie pincushion, here she is. I bought a new hexie ruler last weekend at Joanne Fabrics and used the largest size to make a pincushion. I got so excited that I didn't think to quilt it! Crazy, I know. This one is going to my guild meeting to give away as a door prize. I haven't been in months, so it's definitely time to show up. lol I'm afraid they will forget who I am!

And that is my goings on for now. 
Come back tomorrow for Pin It Weekly. 
Happy Quilting

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Waterparks

Summer is here and waterparks are an important, fun way to spend a summer day. These pins are from a simple search not a particular board, but you'll see that there are plenty of rides, slides and pools from around the world and everyone makes for great fun.

Disney World FL

Bali

Beijing

London

Dubai

Ohio

Bulgaria

Gulf Shores AL

So scary that I couldn't look long enough to determine the place!

Summer themed quilts are always fun...

Happy Summer! I hope this inspires you to make a summer themed quilt. You can find these and many other on my "heart, quilts" Pinterest board.

That Crazy Redbird

I can not tell you how many times a day I say those words! "That crazy redbird" is making a mess on every window he attacks. We'll have to pressure wash the house. (Yes, it needs pressure washing already. That's not the point!)

Jenny has been parking just anywhere in the middle of the parking area, which is pretty big. When I asked her why, she said it's because the birds are leaving droppings on her dark paint. It's nasty. This video is mostly for her benefit, but I thought it funny enough to share. Keep in mind that I had to stay inside the studio so as not to scare him and it was showering. Just keep your eye on the side mirror.

"Under the Haystack Fast Asleep" ~~ Finish

I've been on a tear in an attempt to use up some of the blue fabric in the stash. It's beginning to become a burden. Actually it's more like seasickness. But I'm determined. I have one more quilt top complete and ready to go on the long arm for quilting. This one, though, is complete and ready to go to a baby boy.  I'm calling it "Under the Haystack Fast Asleep."

Did you notice the green chair. It's part of the set with this orange chair. 

 For this quarter square log cabin, I decided to make the blocks wonky. Talk about add some movement! It may be the reason that I'm sick of working with the quilts. 

Of course, I could just be sick of the weather. Tropical Storm Cindy is doing her job very well. Thunder rolls with very little time between each burst. The puppies are getting hoarse from barking at the thunder.

And in case the weather and the puppies are not enough to entertain, we have an incessant red bird attacking himself against our windows. Now we get one every year (I wonder if it's a family trait) but those have always chosen one window. This guy will attack any window: the bow window in the living room, the window near the long arm, the kitchen window, the window by the machine. 

Quilt Stats
Name:	Under the Haystack Fast Asleep
Size:	40" X 40"
Fabrics:	Variety of blues from stash
Background:	n/a
Binding:	scrap fabrics left from blocks
Pattern:	Wonky Quarter Log Cabin
Quilting:	practice quilting / variety of motifs

It's all well and good to have an extra quilt or two for those times when you need one quick, but you know, I needed a little diversion. That said, I made a pincushion. I bought a new ruler--one for making hexies. It allows measurements for 1" to 5" hexies. So I cut out two 5" pieces, sewed around the block, leaving an opening of course. Then turned it right side out and stuffed it with walnut shells. Easy, easy! I didn't quilt it because truthfully I didn't even think about it. How silly is that? (Maybe don't answer that question. hehe)

Linking up with

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Crazy Mom Quilts 

My Quilt Infatuation
Busy Hands Quilts
TGIFF at Slice of Pi