Quilting for my Momma

The last few months my ALYoF goal has to be to finish my mother's quilt.  

A few of life's curve balls have hit but I've finally prevailed.

Here is the finish quilt my mother made up.  I free-motion quilted and put the binding on for her.

I tested out tons of different patterns. 

It was quick once I got this on the machine.

And zipped it right out.

Far from perfect. . but still it doesn't matter.

So happy that she liked it.  And she's talking about doing a new one from the same pattern but out of Chicopee that I convinced her she needed :)

Gotta love learning.

Remember it's only hours left for May but it you can set a new A Lovely Year of Finishes June goal. 

Birthdays just Rock

This year with so much going on, good and not so good.

It was nice to have my birthday on a holiday weekend and all I wanted was to be home to relax. 

I got this and more!

I was spoiled by my fella with a birthday dinner, movies and shows, and pampering.

I had so many people with me a great day that helped me fell  the love .  I got a few gifties too :)

Like this box from Craftsy!



It was a nice surprise for sure.

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The best gift I got was time!

And ohhhhh baby did I use that time!

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I finished up the binding on my mom's quilt.  I'll post about this on Saturday after she has it in her hot hands.

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I finished up my 4x5 bee blocks.  

These are due today...so it's a good thing I got these finished :)

I like the way my sketch turned out and how very different it can look with fabric choices.

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My fella cleaned the kitchen floor.  So I basting quilts on the linoleum.

I think I like it, here is the proof...

Here's #1: 

From a layer cake.  Square it Up pattern by Sew Happy Geek

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#2:

This one is from the Sew.Happy.Quilt ~ QAL from the two talented ladies, Melissa at Sew BitterSweet Designs and Jenna at Sew Happy Geek.   And I threw in a center block from the Starburst QAL from Melissa at Happy Quilting

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And why not round it out with #3

This one is from a workshop that I took from ps I quilt

It's called skedaddle.

Rachel said that this is in the works of becoming a pattern so keep an eye out.

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Why stop there with the weekend love?!

I made up these two bindings!

I have a few more to go ... but not too shabby!

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And how about starting 2 new projects!  

These both are nearly 90% cut out.

I have the top portion of the above photo, a Metro Rings (by Sew Kind of Wonderful)  in Kate Spain - In From the Cold.... a holiday quilt.  I'm nearly in shock at myself! But this was so easy to cut out! No really!

The other new project, on the bottom right portion of the photo, is for my step-daughters favorite teacher.  It's all cut out and will slowly come to life.  HST's a way less exciting than curves even with a bloc_loc rulers :) Still I'm excited to have this one done as it's awesome colors!! It will be hard to send to it's way to it's eventual home I'm SURE!

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I even did some household chores and even slept!  

I haven't done so much in a weekend in a long time!  I'm pretty sure this means that this year is gonna ROCK!

Yeah for feeling good!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

May: A Lovely Year of Finishes - Finishes Party

Happy near the end of May...whaaa already?
I mean my previous post was sharing my March finish...yes late :)

Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are always so excited to run ALYoF with you. 

She's been doing the brunt of the work so please go share some love with her :)




I've finished my goal but I'll put that in a separate post.  
Okay one picture from me...my birthday gifty I got yesterday from Mary at Fairly Merry.

I love it to pieces...she gave me a basket as I've been ohhh-ing and awww-ing over. And those dots will soon be pieces!  Muhahahaha

*Edit - this is a Noodlehead divided basket. Aaaaaand Mary is also making them, if you are interested in the second option go check out her blog and email her.*

~~~~

How did you do on your goal?

You have two requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.

1. Link-up the first 7-days of the month
{if you are able include your link up # for easy verification}

and

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month. {this post that you're reading}

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.

Please grab a button or link back to Melissa and I so other people can join in the fun!

**Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at Melissa , so there is no need to enter twice **

~~~

Here is a list of our generous sponsors for May!!

May prizes include:

1. Fat quarter bundle from ADORNit

2. 3. Honey, Bunny and Doll – 2 Patterns

4. Sew Sweetness – 1 pdf Pattern

5. Thread Prize from Aurifil

6, 7. TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern
from Sew BitterSweet Designs ($10 value)

8. PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

 

9. Quilting Patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

10. 1 Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to

Stitches n’ Giggles (winners choice)

11. One PDF Pattern from Meadow Mist Designs

12. Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

13. Thimblepie’s Quilt Supplies - Custom fabric package, 4 yards (worth $20) plus free shipping

Geeze!  Fantastical amounts of goodness to share.  

Can't wait to read how you did

My March Finish - ALYoF

I realize that I'm late posting this ...but so many good reasons (or not).  

Besides being a lazy photographer,

I didn't have any color catchers in my house.  My fella even bought me flowers to make up for that fact. 

And life has been busy.

This quilt has been shown in the local quilt show.  Adore it!

I'm so proud of this quilt as it's done.  It's a physical example of the growth of my free motion quilting abilities. 

Quilt Stats:

Name: Boy Framed Up 

Size: approx. 52" x 52"

Fabrics:  Stash fabrics and batiks from my mom

Pattern:  All Framed Up from Sew BitterSweet Designs
Quilting: Machine quilted by me on my Pfaff Performance 2058

Started : June 2013

Completed: March 2014

I really do love this quilt.  I love that it was easy!  I finished the quilt top up in one night.  It was that fast!

The quilt back took longer to create as I wasn't following an awesome pattern.

Once I basted this beauty...the quilting went fast too!  The open areas made it where I could do some awesome testing of FMQ techniques.  

These aren't my colors but it's for someone that I love.  So I love love love it even more.

I'm not the only one using Melissa's patterns...
Go check out the other pattern testers (you know the ones that finished and photographed theirs on time) on Melissa's blog here

It's only because of ALYoF that I even look at these old projects.  

So happy Melissa puts up with me ;)

So this was my March finish.  I can't wait to share my April/May finish...yes I may actually have a finish this month!

May - A Lovely Year of Finishes Participant Highlight ~ Vera at Negligent Style

Here we are in the middle of another month.
It really is A Lovely Year of Finishes! 

  

Melissa and I are so excited to see and share all of your hard work. Along with this comes a fantastic highlight of a participant.

This month our feature comes all the way from the Czech Republic, you may know her as Vera @ Negligent Style.

~~~

Blog name: Negligent style

Blog address: http://negligentstylee.blogspot.cz/

Name you’re known by throughout quilting world: Vera @ Negligent style

What's your ALYoF goal this month? 

My goal is to make a bag out of Echino. I’m not using any specific pattern but I would like to end up with a messenger type of bag.

How do you approach your sewing goals? 

I need to have deadline on my goal and I have to put the WiP piece in a visible place. If I’m really into something I need to finish it quick while the interest last.

How do you organize/prioritize your projects? 

The most important is date. Priority goes to presents for certain occasions/dates and I like to get involved in QALs which also have specific dates for final linky party. I do admit I’m not very organized and procrastinate a lot.

What is your current favorite project that you are working on? Will you share pictures with us?

I love rainbow projects and I wanted to try the Hex N More ruler for a while so I combined those two which resulted in my current favorite WiP called Mini Disco. Hopefully it’ll become full size quilt with the splash of rainbow across. Here’s a peak.

What is your dream project to work on? 

I sort of had my dream come true and I would like to do it again. My friend, who runs fabric store, sent me her fabrics and I made her a quilt for display in her store and quilt market booth. I got to play with wide range of fabrics and the layout was up to me which I enjoyed very much.  

What is your favorite time of day to sew? 

That would be morning hours or any other with good daylight.

What is your favorite quilting/sewing accessory? 

I couldn’t possibly live without my ¼” patchwork foot with guide. That thing makes my seams even which is quite handy since I tend to be negligent :-)

What is your number one quilting/sewing goal for 2014? 

My number one goal is to keep on having fun with what I do. I hate to feel obligated.

What is one technique you really want to learn?

I want to get better and learn more about FMQ. I took the first steps already.  

~~~

Super excited to have Vera share some of her awesome projects.

Make sure to go check out her other amazing work on her blog! 

Hope keep up the good work everyone and keep on working towards your goal.

Like maybe I should bring out that thread ...yeah I should do that :)

April Winners ~ A Lovely Year of Finishes

Congrats to your finishers.  

It's so fun to celebrate our little successes! 

Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are always so excited to share your amazing talent.  

GO YOU

Here are our winners of the April prizes:

1. Aurifil - Thread prize 

Kristel - Work in Progress Girl

2. Quilting Lodge- quilting patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

Miss Mary - Walking With Feathers

3. Fat Quarter Shop- $15.00 Gift Certificate 

 Ella - Throw a Wench in the Works

4,5. TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern

from Sew BitterSweet Designs ($10 value)

 Rachell - Claddaghs Quilts & Stars
Carole - Fresh off the Frame

6. PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

Barb - Paint Creek Quilt

7. Sew Sweetness – 1 pdf Pattern

Pat - on Flickr

8. Thimblepie's Quilt Supplies - Custom fabric package, 4 yards (worth $20) plus free shipping

Barbara - Cat Patches

9. Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

Kathy - Kathy's Quilts

10. Stitches n' Giggles -1 Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate (winners choice)

Leah - Quilted Delights

11. Meadow Mist - 1 Digital pattern

Elizabeth - In The Boon Docks

~~~

Congrats to the awesome winners.  And everyone really you are all grand!

May: A Lovely Year of Finishes ~ Goal Setting Party

Wowza.  
Hello May!


Melissa from Sew BitterSweet Designs and I are always so excited to complete ALYoF with you


I'm still in shock from family happenings. 

I'm going to repeat my April goal.  

No shame in that :)

~~~

Do share, what's your May goal?

What one item will you choose?

You have two requirements to be entered into the prizes this month.

1. Link-up {on this post} the first 7-days of the month

and

2. Link-up in the last 7-days of the month.

Add your blog post or flickr photo (with appropriate descriptions) to the linky party below.

Please grab a button or link back to Melissa and I so other people can join in the fun!

**Please note, the linky party is the same here and over at Melissa , so there is no need to enter twice **

~~~

Here is a list of our generous sponsors for May!!

May prizes include:

1. Fat quarter bundle from ADORNit

2. 3. Honey, Bunny and Doll – 2 Patterns

4. Sew Sweetness – 1 pdf Pattern

5. Thread Prize from Aurifil

6, 7. TWO winners each getting to choose one pdf pattern
from Sew BitterSweet Designs ($10 value)

8. PDF Pattern from Persimon Dreams

 

9. Quilting Patterns designed by Quilting Lodge

10. 1 Charm pack or $10.00 gift certificate to

Stitches n’ Giggles (winners choice)

11. One PDF Pattern from Meadow Mist Designs

12. Green Fairy Quilts – 3 pdf patterns

13. Thimblepie’s Quilt Supplies - Custom fabric package, 4 yards (worth $20) plus free shipping

Geeze!  Fantastical amounts of goodness to share.  

And you get a finish out of it too!??  

Awesome

Enjoy your May.