The Sky Has Fallen ...

... on my sewing table!

Surprise, surprise ... unwelcome surprise.

My long time readers may remember that last February in the midst of the winter that would not end, the ceiling in the bay wall area where my sewing machine lives started dripping from ice dams on the roof.

  I blogged about this here. 

It dried, I sewed on and I learned to live with the slightly ugly ceiling 

while our attentions and efforts have been focus 

on more pressing home improvement issues.

Last Friday, the ceiling said "my turn!" 

The big splat you see on the above table grazed the back on my covered sewing machine.

My sewing machine is fine ... thank goodness!

I had to move everything  so we could work.

My hubby did all the real work.

My computer is just to the right of the area in this photo and it, too, has been covered.

Here is this WIP today.

The new plaster has dried and the has been painted.

The new paint is drying.

The covers are off.

Tomorrow I home to move all my sewing stuff back.

I hope to be sewing ... 

again ... soon ... really ... ;)

One Block

Seriously?

One Block?

That is all I have to show for my sewing accomplishments for the summer right now.

That is a pretty sad state of quilty affairs, if I say so myself. 

Which I do ... since I need tell myself to get some serious quality time with my sewing machine!

Life is always better and happier when seen from my happy quilty place.

This block is Block 1 from a local BOM that I am participating in at

Quilter's Way in Acton, MA

The program is set up so that you pay for the first block and a small registration fee and if you show up each month with your completed block you get the next block kit free.

I also signed up for the extra challenge kit at $6 per month.

My block is a variation of the sample block as I changed  out two of the solid colors 

and added the print to the quilt in the center square.  

As long as you make the block, how you choose to place the colors and such is okay at Quilter's Way where they encourage creativity.

As Jane, the owner, is very creative this is a great way to learn new tips and tricks and techniques.

The method for making the above block was new to me and I really like it.

Sorry I cannot share what I learned as it is Jane's idea.

If you want to learn ... 

See Jane.

See Jane Sew.

There were three choices of colorways for this Saturday Sampler BOM.

I signed up this year because I saw this fabric  ... 

... and I fell in love!

This fabric is from the

Glow Collection by Amy Butler

I wanted much more than the small pieces in the kit,

so I found it HERE at Fabric.com

which I purchased for the backing of my quilt.

I also purchased a yard of each on these fabrics at Quilter's Way on their monthly deal.

The one on the left is for my binding fabric, I think.

The one on the right will up here and there in my blocks.

The monthly deal is another good reason for participating in this Saturday Sampler.

There is so much quilty inspiration in this shop.

If you live near Acton Woods stop by 

Quilter's Way 

 sometime and enjoy the creative vibes and friendly, knowledgeable people.

There are some other fun shops in this plaza an a good coffee spot.

I do not know what the layout of the final quilt will be.

That is a mystery that only Jane knows.

I like mysteries ... :)

Thanks, Jane.

Here are the rest of my monthly block kits that I have accumulated.

I used my "one free month" option last month as I did not get Block 2 done.

Really?

I did not get one quilt block sewn in the month of July???

:: sigh ::

I know there have been a lot of things that took priority over my sewing this summer,

but I still feel like such a slacker.

Time to sew!

:)

Back to Blogging!

I am back!!

Did you miss me? ... ;)

It has been a long, hot and stormy summer.

There have been a few happy sunny days, too.

There has not been much stitching and quilting happening here.

More on that in the next few days.

I have been missing my sewing machine and my quilty friends.  

Thank you to all who have stopped by or sent me a note.

Please accept my apologies if I did not find the time to get back to you.

All is okay in my scrapatch and I am happy to get back to blogging and sewing.

When   Marian @ Seams To Be Sew

asked me if I would like to participate in the 

Halloween Haunts 2015 Blog Hop

that she is hosting and organizing I was sew happy!

I love Halloween and have a fun project in the plans.

What a great way to get back to blog hopping.

As we say in my quilty corner,  it is

 "sew wicked awesome" !!

Sign Ups are open!

To join in this quilty fun ...

Sign Up Here!

Thanks, Marian!

I hope to see you hopping and haunting with us ... :)

On My Bird Feeder Today

That's not a sparrow!

That is an American Goldfinch!

Goldfinches are not uncommon to my state.

In the Goldfinch Facts from the Massachusetts Audubon ,

I live in one of the "probable" squares on the map,

but I consider these a rare treat in my tiny urban backyard.

Oh, look ... this colorful little guy has a pretty mate!

I am seeing these two regularly on my feeder.

I am hoping they are nest building near me and will be bringing the babies in a few weeks.

Makes my day very sunny and bright ... :)

A Gathering of Eagle Quilters

Do you "Quilt Like An  Eagle" ?

These Quilters Do!

Audrey has been nice enough to invite me to join this convocation of eagle quilters with my

Eye of the Eagle Quit

My quilt is only an easy panel quilt.

Most of the awe inspiring quilts on their blog and Pinterest boards are beyond my quilty abilities
but I am going to try my hand a piecing or paper piecing an eagle block to add to this display.

I have started this
Quilty Like An Eagle
 Pinterest Board for inspiration.

If you have made, or are working on or are gathering ideas for making an eagle quilt,

Here are the Guidelines for joining

Contact information for Audrey and Angie is on their sidebar.

I will be taking outdoor photos of my eye quilt and posting my quilt there soon.

Hope to see you flying with us!

:)

R&R Time ~ Farm Girl Vintage

R&R Time

I need to take a few short breaks here and there from the pattern and quilt I am working on
and the overtime burnout that my quilty muse has been feeling lately.

Sew I have decided to seek my inner vintage farm girl and sew a few blocks.

It is not Friday and it is Week 7

... so I am (not very fashionably) late to this party ...

Farm Girl Friday Sew Along

 but I finally got a

Bee In My Bonnet

and had to buy the  Farm Girl Vintage book and join this fun.

My fabrics of choice are some that have been in stash for some time. 

"Rise N Shine" by Glenna Hailey,

from Maywood Studio

is my fabrics of choice for starting this project.

Colors are red/green/yellow/black and creamy white.

I am adding some other fabrics from my repros stash as needed ...

and maybe some gingham ... hmmmmm.


I think that I want to add blue to my quilt ... ???

Do y'all think that either of these blue 30's print from

The Feedsack Lady

works with the other fabrics?

Blue #1 ... from Darlene Zimmerman's "Garden Party"

or

Blue # 2 ... from Darlene Zimmerman's Mama's Feedsacks

or

Option # 3 ... I keep digging for a better blue

or

Option #4 ... no blue in this quilt


Do y'all think that this blue 30's print from

The Feedsack Lady

works with the other fabrics?


Opinions welcome ... :)

Time to sew!

An Early Release FQB!

Oh, My!

 Prints Charming by Sandy Gervais!

It is an early release bundle.

These fabrics will be in the shops in October.

The colors are teals and olives, berries and cream ... sew yummy!

Now what shall I make?

Something for a princess perhaps?

My quilty muse and I are enjoying the dreamy fabrics ... :-)

Catching Up on the Fabric News

Sharing the News from Andover Fabrics!

I saw this first in the Bear Creek Quilt Company news.

53 piece Fabric Collection coming in November!

I found one picture from the Quilt market on the Auribuzz News

More news and images coming in July.

I am sew excited!

Looking forward to seeing these fabrics ... :)

A Sneak Peak and Back To Blogging!

A Hexie Flower

I have been making many of these for a soon-to-be-revealed project.

My computer has been taking an unscheduled spa vacation 

while keeping my tech crew hubby working overtime. 

If you commented or emailed and did not receive a response from me,

please excuse my lack of response. 

I am hoping my computer is ready for some serious computing.

[Edit:  6/9/15 - As it turned out, 
I was a little premature in thinking my computer problems were over.  
Now I have a new hard drive.  
Now I hope I am back to blogging. ]

I have a lot of catching up to do.

~  ~ ~ 

Slow Stitching Sunday ~ Everly's Baby Quilt

A new hand stitch project!

A lovely lady who went to market sent me this lovely sampler of

Aurifil Embroidery Thread

I love the colors and threads!

I knew right away what I wanted to use this for ...

The Quilty Aunties at the Quilt & Needle

started this baby quilt for my granddarling Everly

when she was still a bump of a Sprout.

A friend hand quilted the center until life happened and she was only able
to complete the center of the quilt.  Now I am working on finishing it.
I have never hand quilted before.
After thoughts of machine quilting the rest, an attempt to use the same thread and stitch length as in the middle ... neither of which seemed the right solution ...

I concluded that these lovely threads were destined to finish this pretty baby quilty ...

I am off to a slow stitching start.

My thread and stitches will not be as small and even as those in the center,

but they shall be rounds of all these pretty colors for my grand-darling's little fingers to enjoy the colors and textures. 

Linking up today with all the beautiful hand-work @ 

Slow Stitching Sunday @ Kathy's Quilts

Have a Happy and Slow Sunday ... :)

Fabric Loving in the Scrapatch

This lovely fabric is an Ambleside Petite Fat Quarter Bundle!

I was the lucky winner of this lovely Giveaway

from

Sew Fresh Quilts

and 

Fat Quarter Shop

These pretty vintage looking fabrics remind me of the curtains and bed spread that my mother chose for my room when I was a very young girl.

I am not sure what I will make but I am thinking maybe a sweet lap quilt.

I really like the blue in this fabric and am thinking to put a light blue solid with these prints.

Thank you, Lorna and Kimberly!

These lovely new fabrics also arrived yesterday ...

I needed more of

this fabric

for this project

and  ... I could not resist a few more lovely

Lewis and Irene  fabrics.

I see some more coming into this shop that are calling my name.

I love these fabrics ... just look at this ... 

Bumbleberries!

I want some in every color!

<3 This could be my new favorite textural tonal fabric line! <3

While I was waiting for the coral bird fabric  so I could work on my quilt,

I made these ...

from
Harry Potter Fabric @ Spoonflower

This is the first time I used fabric from Spoonflower.

The was a screenprint on Kona ... really nice fabric.

My daughter had it sent to me for these strap covers.

These are for my daughter's Kinderpack.

I looked at some of these online and figured my own pattern ...

and they arrived and they fit ... :)

My daughter and her family are now stationed in the PNW
and this photo was taken at the Point Defiance Zoo.

I am hoping to visit them sometime this summer.

Back to quilting ... ;)

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend ...

and Remember.

Linking up today with

Fabric Frenzy @ Fort Worth Fabric Studio

<3

Quilt Blogger's Festival ~ Small Quilt Category

Hello!

This is Everly!

Everly is my grand-darling and she and I would like to show you her favorite quilt!

We are sharing this quilt in the
Small Quilt Category

in the

A big "Thank you!" to Amy @ Amy's Creative Side

for putting this big beautiful online quilt show together for us!

Here is Everly's quilt ...

This is my Prairie Pinwheels Quilt 

This quilt is my original design.

I constructed this bright and graphic quilt to have 

dimensional pinwheels in the sashing for little fingers to grasp.

Everly loves playing with her quilt!

... and sharing!

As you can see this quilt has been washed and enjoyed and shared many times.

This baby quilt measures 43" by 52"

Fabrics: 

Riley Blake Gingham

Medium Gingham Check for the Squares and outer border and binding

Small Gingham Check for the dimension pinwheels

Kona White Solid for the sashing

Aurifil 2021 50/2 for piecing and 40/2 for quilting

Here is a the center of the top without the border.

Here is the back of the quilt.

Close up of the quilting

Everly is now a year old and her quilt has gotten a lot of wash and wear.

She enjoys turning the pinwheels this way and that and can spend a lot of time playing with them.

I am sew happy that my grand-darling loves her quilt!

Everly and I hope you have enjoyed her quilt, too, and wish to say,

"Thank you for visiting!"

Enjoy all the quilts in the wonderful Quilt Bloggers Festival

Happy Quilting!