Midnight Mystery Quilt Top

I bought this fabric a few months ago to use in making a mystery quilt.  It is always fun to see how the fabrics work together.  This mystery quilt was designed by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs. 

These are the flying geese I made at the beginning of the project.

I finished sewing the blocks together at the Best Friends Quilt Retreat I attended this weekend.  I bought the backing and binding fabric and will finish the project after I have someone quilt it for me.  I guess this is not finished until it is bound and quilted but it feels good to get it this far in the process.  

Cross Stitch Fun

Sometimes it is nice to pick up a cross stitch project and let it be a bit of creative therapy.  I used to spend hours working on cross stitch projects but quilting, embroidery and other projects seem to be more of my focus.  In the past month or so I have made a couple of cross stitch projects that have been fun to do and make me want to do more.

This was made from a kit I won in a giveaway, it is a cheerful addition to my kitchen shelf.

This project came from the Country Living magazine.  There have been fun projects like this one in several recent issues.  I have a collection of blue glass canning jars so I started on this project as soon as I saw it.  I have a couple more designs from Country Living magazine on my list that I want to stitch.  Visit here to see the fun designs.  In fact I think I will locate the bird cross stitch now and get ready to start it next.  Keep creating and be sure to enjoy the process.

Daisy Days February Goal

My February finish goal on my APQ UFO Challenge 2016 list is my Daisy Days project.   I have had the embroidery done for some time and since the project for this month is number 5 on my list I decide to get at it.  Here it is while I was working on it at the last Sit and Sew I attended.  I love the green we chose for sashing, thanks Melanie.  I stopped by her shop Fabric Chicks on my way to Coupeville for the Sit and Sew and we found the perfect fabric. You can visit Melanie here on Instagram

Here is my list and #5 is the selected project for the month of February - Daisy Days.  This project is one of the many I have made using Jenny of Elefantz designs.  Visit her blog, I know you will enjoy reading and will fall in love with her embroidery designs.

I tried to stay focused on my goal and not be distracted by the other projects I brought to the Sit and Sew.

This is what the quilt top looks like now.  I still have to get it quilted before the end on the month.  I am not sure how I will finish it, maybe some hand quilting and a few ties with pearl cotton.  Stay tuned and happy February.  Be available to others, they will be a blessing to you.

Mystery Monday #9 - A UFO Finally Finished

Do you ever have projects that you just want to get done but are waiting for something to motivate you?  This happens to me too often but I am thankful that I was motivated to complete this project. One of my co-workers was leaving us for another job and I often sew a bag of some sort when this happens.  I work for a library system and book bags, story bags and bags for all sorts of uses are around everywhere.  So this unfinished bag I started when following Mystery Monday #9 at Little Bits of This and That.  Thank you Sherri for taking the time to create this Mystery Monday project.

Here it is ready to be filled with all sorts of things.  It was made with charm squares so it has so many fun fabrics in it.

This projects was number 2 on my Allpeoplequilt's UFO Challenge 2016 list.

I know that this bag will be enjoyed and I had fun with the process.  Another project complete and I can cross it off my long list.

Fun With Fabric

This is my a mug rug I made for my daughter for Christmas.  I used a pattern designed by Julie Cefalu of The Crafty Quilter.  I forgot to add the steam coming from the cup, I didn't notice until I took a look at this picture.  I'll do that next time and do a better job on the binding too.  It is interesting what you notice when you take a good look at the pictures you are adding to a blog post.

Lori Holt's calendar

My friend Melanie gave me this fun calendar when I visited her shop last week.  I love Lori's patterns and designs, this calendar is full of beautiful pictures. Melanie's shop is called Fabric Chicks.  You should visit her shop here on Facebook or here on Instagram, she has some great items on sale.

Fabric therapy - Strawberry Fields Revisited by Fig Tree.  Melanie knows that I love Fig Tree fabrics so she set this aside for me.  I know this will be fun to work with and make a beautiful quilt top.

I went to a baby shower last weekend.  The couple has decided not to wait to see if it is a boy or a girl.  I decided to make a couple of reversible bibs.  This was a fun and quick project.

Sewing is so much fun!

First Finish 2016

I have finished my first project for 2016, a pillow I made for my sister for Christmas.  I am a little late getting it done but was slowed down by the nineteen pillowcases I completed for my grandchildren.  I thought that my sister would understand the delay a little better than the little ones.

This picture shows four of the nineteen pillowcases.  I was in such a hurry to get everything wrapped and forgot to take a picture.  The zipper bag was one of the six I made for my daughters and daughters in law.

My sisters and I drew names and got together before Christmas to exchange gifts and have a progressive dinner.  Our husbands came to the dinner and we had a great time.  I chose this pillow cover from the Better Homes and Gardens Make It Yourself magazine Fall and Winter 2015. This project was designed by Amy Sinibaldi of Nana Company.  

This is Lynda's pillow cover completed.  It was fun to put together and nice to complete my first project for the year.  This project was listed on my first quarter 2016 Finish Along post here.  Now on to the next one!

                                                    

I will be linking this post to the Q1 2016 Finish Along post at Clover and Violet

First Quarter Finish Goals

I was thinking about my goals for this year and it is pretty easy to find a word to describe what I want to do regarding sewing and other projects and the word is FINISH.  I looked around to find so many things I have begun working on.  I really love most of them and want to finish them.  I want to complete projects and share the finished items with friends and loved ones that will enjoy them and use them.

I do have another word that I want to keep in mind in the next year.  That word is AVAILABLE.  I want to be available to those around me and aware of what I might be able to do to enrich some one's life.   I want to ask myself this question, "Am I available to others when I might be a help or encouragement?"  I don't want my "Finish" goals to be so consuming that I don't see others around me.  With that said, I am going to share pictures of some of my projects that I would love to finish this quarter.

Spools quilt - ready for binding

Christmas pillow, gift to my sister, needs binding.

Sunnyside quilt kit, 6 blocks complete 18 to go.

Mini quilt from Konda's book ready to make a pillow or mini.

Another, sames a above.

Number 3 from Konda's stitch along.

I finished this quilt top from  he Simply Retro book,  This quilt is one I am going to try to quilt myself.

My Petals table topper is ready for quilting and binding.

I have 3 quilts I just got back from my quilter and getting the binding on all three of these quilts in also an important part of my goal list.  I will be linking with Clover & Violet for the 2016 Finish Along.

I will work to complete as many of these things as possible but focus on remaining available to those around me.  I hope your new year brings many blessings.