PhD Challenge 2011

Well, I've taken the plunge and joined Myra's 2011 PhD Challenge [Projects Half Done]. I have commited to completing 4 project by the end of June. These 4 that I have in mind are in different stages of completion. 1st up is a small ticker tape quilt that needs the binding done, next is my son's guitar quilt, which I'm still sewing the top together, next up is my Halloween quilt top...I got it 1/2 done and stopped just prior to the holiday, so hopefully, I can complete so it can be used next year, and finally the daughters wonky star quilt...this one is still awating the completion of blocks from members of 2 bees I'm in, so that one will be last on my list. I plan to take pictures of each and post photos as I go along. So wish me luck in this venture and if you have any PhD's check out Myra's link.

Susan

More Stitchy Goodness

Here's a few shots of what I've been up to lately:

Molly's Nov. Disappearing 9 patch block-Rosey Little Bee
Fair & Square LHN design for Pokua

A photo of my finished blocks for the Simple Sampler Stitch Along -next up I need to decide on sashing

Sabrina's Wonky Star -Moody Blue's Bee

Hopefully, my next post will include a picture of the finished top for my son's quilt. I sent out guitar fabric back in July to the other Coast to Coast Bee members and got back 29 fantastic pinwheel blocks for his quilt. On my days off last week[thursday and sunday], I started sewing the blocks/rows together with a little bit of imput from my son[ he picked out a 5 1/2" black sashing/border]. Now I need another day to get the rest of it sewn together, but I don't have a day off till friday:( Also, in the works is my daughter's Wonky Star Quilt. So far, I have 16 blocks for her quilt from the other members of The Rosey Little Bee and a few I made. Since this isn't enough to make her a full size quilt I've sent out the same request to the members of The Scraptastic Bee. Hopefully, between the 2 bee's I'll have more then enough blocks to make her quilt.

So, now I'm off to get ready for work, since I close tonight.

Till next time....

Susan

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had a Wonderful Thanksgiving! We did! I've fallen a bit behind on my blogging...that's life in retail, especially at this time of year. SO, this post is a catch up on all the stitchy goodness I've been up to since my last post. This string block is for Lynz-Scraptastic Bee[Nov]. She sent some scraps from Breakfast at Tiffany's and some Moda bella grey for us to use. I only added a bit of fabric here and there.

This is a photo of my finished Circle Quilt in Fall colors. I gifted this to a pen pal who I finally met after 15 plus years, in Oct. She and her husband were visiting the DC and Baltimore area, so we were able to get together several times. We share a love of crafting and always give each other handmade gifts..this was an early Christmas present.

These 2 photo's are of Shari's Union Jack Blocks-Oct Coast to Coast Bee . She supplied the fabric and asked us to make 2 blocks. These are paper pieced and I was surprised how well mine turned out since this was a new block for me.

These 2 Halloween blocks were for Tami-Oct Scraptastic Bee. She sent a focus fabric[the spider web with eyes] and asked us to make whatever type of block we wanted. She plans to use these blocks to make her Halloween loving daughter a quilt.

So, that's what I've been up to lately. I know I've got more photo's of bee blocks to share, but my camera battery has just gone dead, so will save them till the next time.

On the home front the kids are doing well. My Daughter has adjusted to living at College and is enjoying that. Plus, she's doing extremely well in her classes. We are very happy and proud of her. She's planning a trip to New Orleans for Spring Break with some Professors and students to help rebuild for Habitat for Humanity.

I have joined couple more bees that start in Jan. I had so much fun with this first batch and since most of them end in Dec., I wanted to make sure I keep the fun coming:) I've also signed up for a Charity Bee-do.Good Stitches I'll be responsible for making 2 blocks a month for our group-Comfort-benefiting Christian Ministries through our Local Churches . Our quilter of the month will then put the quilt together/quilt it and send it off to our charity.

So, that's what I've been up to lately. Till next time....

Susan

Sew Scraps Along....another quilt along I've just gotta do!

http://www.pleasant-home.com/2010/10/sew-scraps-along-with-me.html

Go check it out!

Catching Up

This post is to catch up on all the sewing good stuff I've been up to lately.

Ist up is this Map of The States Block for Bibi. Her month was August in the Coast to Coast Bee. Next up are the lovely Wonky Stars for Nichol. She had September in the Scaptastic Bee. I just love these Wonky Stars and am having the ladies in the Rosey Little Bee do them for my month of October.

Wendy picked houses for her month of September in the Coast to Coast Bee. She said we could do some trees too, so I made a couple of those as well as 2 houses.

Sarah picked Little Miss Shabby's scapbuster block for September at The Rosey Little Bee.

And finally Sharon had us do this string block for September at the Moody Blues Bee. She sent some lovely batiks to use.

Life has been hectic here in our household. Am still getting used to working full time[in retail], while still running my high schooler around. Am also still adjusting to my daughter, who is in her 1st year at college and is living away from home:( I know it's ridiculous of me since she's only a 1/2 hour to 45 minutes away from home, but after 18 years of having her underfoot it's a big adjustment and I miss her!

I'm keeping up with my bees and a little bit of me sewing here and there. I've got 1 quilt in the binding stage[shh... it's been there for over a month now...just need to wait for a nice quiet evening with something good on TV that I had hand sew to]. Otherwise all is well here and I am looking forward to adjusting to life, so I can get more me/sewing time.

Till next time,

Susan

OHHH A Giveaways over at a la mode fabric

Accuquilt Go cutter and dies being given away over at a la mode fabric. Go check it out!

Simple Sampler Quilt a Long-Week 7 and Bee Blocks

Here are my latest quilt a long blocks and bee blocks.

Mosaic #10

This one was fun to do...really had to take my time so all the stripes went the correct way. I also had to add a new fabric since I'm just about out of my red sparkly solid fabric. Luckily, I had a white sparkly fabric in my stash:)

Practical Orchard Block

These two blocks were easier for me. Guess all those HST are coming in handy, still need a bit of work, but not so overwhelming anymore.

Sandie's August Block for the Moody Blues Bee

Pam asked for wonky crosses that are more rectangular then square for her August blocks-Rosey Little Bee

This was my 1st attempt, a bit straight

My 2nd block more wonky then the 1st

And finally a 3rd since I had fabric left.

Till next week, when I'll have my last set of quilt a long blocks to show off and another bee block to show you all.

Susan

I entered a Quilting Contest

I decided to enter my Wonky Log Cabin quilt over at The Quilting Gallery . Go check it out and vote for your favorite!

Week 6-Simple Sampler Quilt A Long

Here are the lastest additions in Amy's Simple Sampler Quilt A Long. I love the looks of these 2 blocks, though I need to work on not cutting off the points in the New Album block. New Album

Cross #5

I can't wait to see what Amy has in store for us next monday.

Week 5-Simple Sampler Quilt A Long Progress and Bee Blocks

Well, It took me till yesterday to complete this weeks quilt a long blocks. First up is the 6 grid chain...left side and on the right side is a variation on the 4 patch with hourglass blocks added. If you'd like to see the rest of the blocks I've made so far just check out the previous post.

Next up are 3 blocks I made for Liz's August Bee Blocks- Scraptastic Bee. Liz sent the Alexander Henry Owl print and asked us to made a wonky/funky square in square blocks for her. Here is what I managed to come up with. Hope she likes them.

So, I'm actually ahead of the game on my bees, since Liz mailed her fabric early and I had the free time to do them this month.

On another note I finally pulled out my circle quilt top yesterday and started quilted it...am just stippling it. Will post a photo once it's complete. My goal is to get the quilting done this week and make the binding for it. It would be a bit too much to think I could finish it completely this week, so the binding may be next week's challenge. Amy is helping to motivate me to complete a few things with her One Thing, One Week Challenge.

So, Not only am I doing her Quilt a Long, I'm challenging myself to complete the goals I set forth each week. So, far I'm ahead of schedule, as this week my goals were to make the 3 bee blocks and the 2 quilt a long blocks. And I managed to start quilting, too. Thanks, AMY! It's just the push I needed to get me going again.

So, until next time...

Susan

Week 4-Simple Sampler Quilt A Long & Bee Blocks

So, this is what I did this week....on my days off from work. These are week 4 blocks from the Simple Sampler Quilt A Long.

This week Amy had us doing a log cabin and a mosaic block. My mosaic needs work, but it's good practice. Below is a picture of all the blocks so far. I'm loving this. Unfortunately, my next day off isn't till thursday, so I probably won't have time to "play" with the next set of blocks till then...can't wait to see what's next. Here are a couple of Bee blocks that I completed this week. First up are small pinwheels using Oz by Moda for Nichol [Rosey Little Bee].

And finally a Wonky Star for Claire {Scraptastic Bee}. Claire sent us the center block and white and we added the fabric points. I really enjoyed this one and have added it to my to do list.

This month is my month for the Coast to Coast Bee and the ladies over there are making my son large pinwheels using 2 quitar fabrics I supplied and kona white. I'm so excited about this and so is my son...hopefully, he'll have a completed quilt for a Christmas gift this year:). I still need to pick out a block for my daughters "future" quilt. { Gotta take care of the kiddies first}. October is my month over at Rosey Little Bee, so I'm thinking that'll be "her" month, too, though I won't promise it as a Christmas gift.

Well, I'm off to work on the next set of bee blocks... Liz [Scraptastic Bee-August] sent some Alexander Henry Owls print fabric and asked for wonky/funky square in square blocks. She mailed her fabric early since she's away the later part of this month, so it's a perfect opportunity for me to get ahead for the month of August, since I should be busy getting my daughter ready to go to college and my son ready for his sophmore year in high school.

Till next time,

Susan

Quilt A Long Progress and Flea Market Find

First up is this Christmas fabric I found at a local Catholic Church Carnival that we attend every year. Inside one of the school building they always have a flea market to benefit the church. I got this 2 yards of snowflake fabric for.....50 cents! Here are my block pictures of week 3's Simple Sampler Quilt A Long. Love the red in these!

And here's a picture of my progress so far....

Can't wait to see what Amy has in store for us next!

Till Next Time,

Susan

Quilt A Long Blocks

I decided to join in on Amy's Simple Sampler Quilt a Long, but of course I've gotten off to a late start. [You can check out the details by clicking on the button on my side bar.] I had off on monday and today of this week, so I started catching up. I pulled my fabric....decided to go with some Christmas fabric I bought at the end of last season. Monday I did the 1st 2 blocks . Pictures posted below.

On monday I also cut out the fabric for the 1st of 2 , week 2 blocks...the one to the right and bright and early this morning I completed it and the 2nd block. So, I'm almost caught up, since week 3's instructions are up now. So, I'm off to write them down so I can get them done while I still have the time...since my "teenagers" are still asleep and the house is quiet:)

Maybe, I'll have a Christmas Quilt done before the holiday this year!

Susan

School Year's Coming to A Close...Finally!

School is finally coming to end in the next week and with this I will finally be down to working one job....so maybe I'll have time to keep up with all my sewing and blogging:) I am hopeful. Since November I've been working two jobs averaging 50-60 hours a week and just barely keeping up with my stitching obligations. Below are some photos of the May quilting bee blocks I've made...I still have two crumb blocks to finish up, but luckily I have tomorrow off from both jobs and plan to catch up then.Kelly at Scraptastic Bee asked for wonky houses, don't know how wonky mine are, but hope she likes them.

Ellen at C2C asked for squares in her blocks and this is what I came up with

Till next time,

Susan

Alive and Well

Yes, I'm still alive. As you can see from the massive upload of photos, I have been busy sewing and stitching. All of the blocks are for the various quilting bee's I have joined for this year. Concentric Squares for Heidi-Scraptastic Bee
LHN cross stitch pillow for Ina-HOE

Wonky houses for Jen-Rosy Little Bee

Family Blocks for Jennifer-Coast to Coast Block Party

Circle Blocks cut into 4" squares for Kristin-Scraptastic Bee

So, this is what I've been doing for Feb. and March. All are done and in the mail, just in the nick of time. Now I'm ready to start on April's blocks. Can't wait till my month's arrive...I've gotten tons of ideas from seeing what the other ladies have chosen, but I've got a bit to go since my months are in the 2nd half of the year.

Oh well, I'll keep this update short and hopefully I won't take so long till my next post. But life and working 2 jobs sure gets in the way. Till next time...I wish you all well.

Susan