Projectus Interuptus

As I mentioned in my last post, this summer seems like it has started to fly by all of a sudden!  I think because I had a list of quilty things I was going to get done this summer and it's looking like that's not going to happen.  I had it all planned out and now it feels like it's all just blown out the window.  Why?  Because we're leaving for vacation at the end of the week and by the time we get back, summer's over!  One of my goals set in Spring was to make a "summery" quilt this summer.  I guess I'm going to have to say Beach Cottage was my summery quilt because that top is done (though not quilted yet).  However, I wanted it to be Seaside Cotillion...

No the greatest photo of the quilt pattern, but it very lovely.  Really.  So, I started, as you see above.  Made all of my strips and even got two of the blocks done.  I was very organized, had all the strips laid out in order on my cutting table so I could easily put them together to sew my blocks.  Then I realized, OH MY GOODNESS, it's August!  Before I go on vacation I need to not only get my Jelly Roll Sampler block #12 finished, but I've got to get the whole top together so I can put it in the contest!  And, I've got to get my A Year of Schnibbles August quilt finished.  It's not even started.  I don't even have the fabric for it.  So, I hop right on the internet and quickly decide I'm using Prayer Flag..I've got to tell you, I am loving this fabric for my quilt...

I'm doing the Plan C Schnibble this month.  The other choice was Short Story, but I'm doing the larger version of that (already have the two layer cakes of Sultry by Basic Grey) in Carrie Nelson's Schnibbles Times Two book, and I certainly don't have time to make a larger quilt at this point!  So, Plan C it is!  Luckily, I had the fabric in two days and started right in.  However, that meant that my grand plan to catch up on my Snowbound BOM by making 4 blocks in August also flew right out the window.  Along with quilting Madeline, Joy Luck, Cameos and Beach Cottage.  (I also have to fess up - I won another gift certificate in the A Year of Schnibbles contest for Joy Luck - this has been most lucrative - LOL!  Not only am I getting all of these awesome quilts that I probably wouldn't have made, but I can keep buying more fabric!)  Also, off the radar until fall is the Dresden Plate quilt that has been itching to go from my mind to fabric.  Even got the handy-dandy EZ Dresden Ruler and this lovely Lecien fabric - Flower Sugar.  On clearance no less!

(Turn your head to the side now - sorry about that!)

I am quilt-stressed.  As I said, we leave at the end of next week.  And I have to work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.  Last weekend, as I mentioned not one stitch got sewn.  Putting aside everything else, I still have to get the JRS quilt put together and my Plan C Schnibble top completed and posted before I go.  Now, what happens if they don't get done and I don't post them?  Nothing.  I just don't get to be in the contests that month. (And I probably should be in either because I've already won two prizes in Schnibbles and a prize in JRS).  Not the end of the world, not even a big deal.  Except I hate to have committed to something (even in my mind) and not follow through.  But, it really remains to be seen if I do finish.  Because things like, oh, maybe packing for the big trip, definitely have to take precedence!  Stay tuned!

The Saga of the last Jelly Roll Sampler Block #12

We're at the last block in the Jelly Roll Sampler quilt-along - already!  Wow, that went fast (as has this summer, but that's another post).  So, I dutifully print out my block from Konda's Moose on the Porch blog.  Now, I've also been following along with (but not yet making) another Jelly Roll Sampler block quilt-along from a shop in Cornwall, England called The Quilt Room.  I've been printing out those blocks every month too.  I really, really liked the August block from The Quilt Room and thought, I may even make a whole quilt out of that.  The two patterns sat in a pile in my sewing room for a week or so.  Then I realized I'd better get in gear and get the Moose on the Porch JRS quilt block done before the deadline.  So, I pull out the pattern and remembered, hey, I really liked this block - cool!  I cut and stitched it up Monday night and admired my (very orange!) handiwork.  Love it!  Really do think I'll make a whole quilt out of this block someday - just probably not so orange o:).   Put your sunglasses on for this one...

Then, the next night, I'm all set to start my new August Schnibble (because it's now the 2nd week in August already - yikes!)  Then, I'm looking through "the pile" and see the real Moose on the Porch JRS block pattern.  Uh oh, made the wrong block dang-nabbit!  I'm on a bunch of (self-imposed) deadlines sewing-wise right now and I lost a whole night's sewing making the wrong block (as much as I love it).  This is the REAL block...

Okay, so now what do I do with my very orange Quilt Room block?  I really, really like it, but it will be hard to fit 13 blocks in a quilt.  And I am certainly not using it in another quilt, because all that orange would blind you, and besides, it's in the fabrics that all of my Moose on the Porch JRS blocks are in.  Do I leave out one of the JRS blocks that I've already done?  I don't want to make any of the blocks feel bad.  Or have one of the designers think I don't like their blocks.  Dilemmas, dilemmas.   I'm going to have to ponder this one o:)

An unexpected day off /JRS #11 and Schnibbles!

I got a 7am phone call this morning from my boss - of course my stomach immediately fell as I thought, oh no, who died (even though our families are friendly, he doesn't generally give me good morning wake-up calls!).  Luckily, the first thing he said was "nobody died."  Then he said "the good news is you don't have to go into work today."  Since it was only a blown transformer (meaning we'll have no a/c, servers, phones, or lights all day) and nothing bad happened to the building, it's a bonus day off for me!  So, I'm declaring this Quilting Day at Denise's house!  Wish you could join me o:)

So, I thought I'd take the time to get a little blogging in.  Here's is the next to last Jelly  Roll Sampler block - number 11.  One more to go.  When it's finished, I think I'm going to donate this very colorful quilt to one of the children's charities.

I have to say something about the jelly roll I used for this quilt.  Last year I made these as Christmas gifts...

I was a fabric basket-making fool for a couple of months last Fall.  They were fun, but I was basketed-out by the time I was finished-LOL!  I decided I wasn't going to spend the money to purchase the "good" Jelly Rolls for these, but I found the chain craft stores carried generic jelly rolls and with your 40 or 50% off coupons, I could get them for about $6.  Sweet!  So, I stocked up.  Now, they were fine for basket making, but as I found out when making this quilt, they are not all cut precisely at 2-1/2", not even in one strip.  I was wondering why some of my JRS blocks weren't coming out right.  I've been piecing for more than 16 years, I am a fairly good piecer, not perfect, but I know I'm not THAT bad!  I finally decided to measure the strips and, my oh my, quality control is really missing there!  I have a few of those jelly rolls left over and I think I'll just keep them for basket making!  Or, I guess I could cut them down to 1.5" strips.  Anyway, just a warning!

I also finished my Joy Luck, the July "A Year of Schnibbles", quilt.  Not very creative of me and it looks just like the cover...

since I used the same fabric.  I really liked the original, so decided to be a lemming again and just follow along o:) since I had a FQ bundle of Verna.  So, I just cut my own charm squares.  Now, originally, I was planning on using just two different Asian prints from stash along with a background, but when I pulled out what I had, I wasn't feeling it.  Since I didn't want to buy new fabric, I just decided to go ahead with the Verna.  And I'm glad I did!  I'm still deciding how I want to quilt it.  I'd like to do some sort of Asian design, but I'm not sure what that is yet!  I've got to get some backing for this and I think I'm going to do a Kona solid for the binding.  Maybe a hot pink.

Now, I'm off to quilt for the day - - Yippee!!!

Jelly Roll Sampler Block #9 and My June Schnibble...

It's the end of another month...and another Schnibble is in the can!  I wasn't sure I was going to do this one, but I decided I had the perfect charm pack for "State Fair".  I used Moda's Wonderland by MoMo.  To get enough darker charm squares, I added from my stash, used some Kona Snow for the background ....

Since I had to pull out quite a few charm squares from the pack because they were too light, I put them all together to make a scrappy back - how's that for stashbusting - LOL!  I think I'm going to quilt this with some freehand daisies.  Now I'm  glad I made it and I will have entry in the Schnibble parade this month!

And, here is my Jelly Roll Sampler block #9.  Wow, was this an easy block to do! Only three more to go!

And would you believe this...I won ANOTHER giveaway! From BryeLynn of the wonderful SewStitchCreate podcast/blog. An embroidered Christmas ornament is on it's way to me as I write! How fun. I'll post a photo when I get it. Thanks, Brye!!

Jelly Roll Sampler #8 and a New Schnibble!

We're coming down the home stretch for the Jelly Roll Sampler quilt. Block number 8 is in the can! I made a few changes to the pattern - I did some 2-1/2 squares in the middle 9-patch instead of making all the squares from two fabrics. I also used only one fabric for the inner border. I made the changes only based on the fabrics I was using, not because I didn't like the original. I'm happy with my version though...

The only other quilty business I accomplished this weekend (clearly, I did not get to sew as much as I'd have liked!), was to start my newest Schnibble! I was not going to participate this month in the Year of Schnibbles, but the more I looked at the pattern - State Fair - I thought, oh, why not! I had the perfect fabric too - two charm packs of Moda's Wonderland by MoMo. I'm using Kona Snow for the white.  I'm having to add some fabrics from my stash because I had to pull out a number of lighter fabrics from the charm packs that just won't work. But I spotted a jelly roll in the cupboard that will fit in nicely!  Here are my blocks so far - just the Wonderland, I haven't made any blocks with the add-in fabrics yet.  The blocks are fun to make and coming along nicely!

We had guests for dinner on Saturday night (the reason I didn't get all that much sewing in, what with the cleaning and the shopping and the making of the dinner!), and dinner was delicious if I do say so myself - and the guests said so too! o:).  Along with a parmesan risotto and garlic green beans- I made Ina Garten's Shrimp Scampi.  My oh my, if you like shrimp, make this - it was simply divine!

Jelly Roll Sampler #7

Oooohhh, my aching back!  My husband and I spent yesterday doing yardwork.  I love beautiful landscaping and gardens - but I hate to do it.  So does he.  I wish we did, but we don't, so, we don't do it very often, but a few times a year you must give the outside of the house a little TLC.  It doesn't help that our neighbor right next door's hobby is working in his yard.  I keep telling him...just keep going right - LOL!  So, this is what we accomplished....

We weeded, trimmed all the bushes, put down many bags of mulch, and filled baskets with annuals.

We also found this pretty lilly that I couldn't resist buying....

We also planted some herbs and tomatoes on the side of the house.  I put them in a different spot from last year. Last year, I spent a bunch of money on herbs, vegetables and tomatoes. Not much took...only got a couple of tomatoes but the herbs and other veggies didn't really do anything. Except the mint. I don't think you can kill mint. It creeps and spreads and comes back year after year! Anyone for a mojito! So, I'm hoping changing locations will work for the rest of our little garden. And it's far away from the mint!

To make sure I get a little quilty something in this post...here's my Jelly Roll Sampler block number 7...

Happy Memorial Day to everyone!

May Mayhem Roundup - Week 3

Pioneer Quilter Kelly, hostess of May Mayhem, mentioned the feeling of “stalling out” last week – I know what she means. I felt like I was going gang busters the first couple of weeks and last week, while I got a lot accomplished when I put it on paper, didn’t feel as productive. While things like moving the machine is a huge accomplishment, and making binding, prepping backings and tracing appliqué, which was most of what I accomplished, is definitely not as exciting as finishing a quilt top and that’s probably why I felt that way. But, all of those things need to get done.

Mon - Made binding for Beach Cottage - 1/2 hour

Tue - Traced applique for Lady Madonna; made Jelly Roll Sampler Block #6; stitched on Winter Wonderland block - 2 hrs

Wed - moved HQ16 upstairs - 6.5 hours!!! That was it for that day - (it took so long because both rooms had to be cleaned out) we went out for happy hour after-LOL, then I came home and crashed! Ooooh, my aching back!

Thu - Trace remainder of LM Applique; stitched on Winter Wonderland block - 45 mins (I was still REALLY tired from Wednesday o:) )

Fri - prepped backing and batting for Reveille - 1/2 hour

Sat - Cut out fabric for Madeline Schnibble; put Reveille on frame and starting quilting! - 3 hrs

Sun - Finished quilting Reveille; prep backing for Flying Cranes quilt and put on frame; make and sew on binding on Reveille; made one Madeline block - 3-1/2 hours

Jelly Roll Fun!

While I was trolling the quilting blogs a week or so ago, I stumbled upon the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt-A-Long that's going on.  Since I wasn't too far behind, I thought I'd jump in.  I had a jelly roll in mind and found some background fabric in my stash...

I got the Jelly Rolls at AC Moore before Christmas when I was in my fabric basket making phase (I'll post some photos of them at some point - they were lots of fun to make, but I'm kind of basket-ed out for now since I made so many).  Since you needed strips for the baskets, I thought I'd just get Jelly Rolls and since they were pretty cheap at JoAnns or AC Moore, and with those 40% off coupons they were even cheaper, it made the baskets pretty economical.  I had a roll left over and loved the fabrics so thought I use that for my sampler.  Since these rolls only contain 20 strips each, I had to go and buy another.  Luckily, they still had rolls of the same fabrics!
So, here are the first four blocks.  They post a new block every two weeks and the quilt along runs until August 2, I believe.  You post your finished blocks on the Flickr group page and someone wins a prize every two weeks!  Fun!

This past weekend I also accomplished getting all 80 of the beach cottage blocks up on the design wall.  At first I was very unhappy with my contrast - the block design kind of got lost.  I played around and I think I got it the best it can be...when I saw the photo, I was happier with the way it looked.  I know I'll like this quilt though - soft and summery!  I've got two rows put together so far.  I had hoped to be putting a row a night together this week but this turned out to be one of those weeks where life got in the way a little bit, so I'm way behind.  And, tonight, no sewing will get done as we're going to the city to celebrate our daughter's 21st birthday.  I don't know HOW she got that old?!?!  She's thrilled.  And, it is kind of a relief when they turn 21 - LOL!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARIEL!!