Rainbow Scrap Challenge and One Monthly Goal

This year I've gone wild with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I'm not sure why I am making 3 different block sets but I am.  Since I rarely post about the blocks I thought I'd drag them all out and show all of what I am making for the RSC.  

First up a single block each month.  This is called Bright Block by Ravenna87.  (I'm sorry to admit I have no idea where I got this from.) It's not very exciting yet but wait til I get some sashing and the flying geese border.  It is really cute. 

Next up is a Propeller Block.  I used one that Jan at The Colorful Fabricholic gave directions for.  And, if you click on Newer Posts at the bottom of the post it will take you to her next post where she shows several ways you can lay out the block.  I started the first two months by making 4 of the blocks but for some unknown reason I went to 3 for March. I may go back to making 4 blocks just so I have lots of blocks to play with when I'm ready to make a quilt or 3. By the way, that top left block is actually a dark green with light green swirls in it. It may not make it to any of the final quilts.

My last set of blocks is based on Stash Statement by Kelly Young.  You can see the pattern I'm using here. It's been a lot of fun to make these blocks -- I'm making them oversized and then trimming to the size needed. 

In these pictures I'm trying to get an idea on the color of background fabric I want to use.  I will probably make the quilt smaller than the one Kelly features.  I like the fabric on the left but I don't have enough.  The fabric on the right is too dull for these pretties.  And below is a definite NO! in my mind.  I may have a hard time using that fabric for anything. 

One of these days I'll take the blocks to a quilt store and audition fabric for the backing. I could actually being making the rows each month and be well on the way to a finish by the end of the year. 

Before I lose my opportunity to link up to the One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts here's my goal for April.  

You may be asking yourself what I'm going to be working on -- Pillow Shams. Not my favorite activity but our bed and Sea Glass will look so much better with turquoise pillow shams instead of boring white pillow cases.  My plan is to set Ruthie to quilting designs on the center rectangle and then finish off the shams. I'm tired of all the white in the bedroom so I'm pretty darn sure I will finish these this month with no problems!  

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts' April Goal Setting Linky Party and SOScrappy's Scrap Happy Saturday.  (Hum, interesting how my pillow shams work right in with the Aqua at RSC this month.)  I'm ready to finish my goals for this week so I'm heading down to the studio.  I need to sew! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meandering and OMG Finish 12 - 31 - 2019

The last post of 2018! 

And the best thing about this post is I've succeeded on my One Monthly Goal for December finish quilting Jamestown Landing.  Yeehaw! Here are the pics as I quilted my Jamestown Landing. I had finished the first two rows when I took this picture.  I used Melody, one of my favorite quilting designs. And, I have now named my turquoise version of Jamestown Landing "Sea Glass."  Thanks to Nancy at Wyoming Breezes for suggesting the quilt looked like sea glass.  

All the quilting is done and it's coming off the frame. 

Friday I made the binding and Saturday I stitched it on by machine. And, amazingly enough I also made and attached the label before I stitched the binding.   Sometimes the whole binding is sewn by machine but this time I'm hand stitching the second side.  About half is done and the last part will be done by the end of News Years Eve! I'm sure I will be successful.  I was tickled to find this cute binding fabric in my stash.  

Here's how I did with my goals, this last week of 2018. 

December 24, 2018

Finish Theo’s ornament √

Quilt my Jamestown Landing √

Watch a few grands if needed √

Work on black and white log cabin (UFO) √

Make binding for Jamestown Landing √

Now, what will I work on in 2019.  Well, here's what I'm planning on working on the first week! 

December 31, 2018

Finish sewing the binding on Sea Glass 

Continue making log cabin blocks

Start cutting out kits for the in house retreat

…. don’t know what else I’ll do but surely other stuff will get done

Sew the airplane friendship star blocks into at least one quilt top

I'm linking up with my normal Monday linky parties: Oh Scrap and Monday Making. I'll check to see if Main Crush Monday and Moving It Forward are posted too.  I'm adding What I Made Monday over at Pretty Piney. And, lest I forget, Elm Street Quilts December Finish blog!  

Happy New Year!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 12 - 24 - 2018

Wow!  It's almost over.  The month, the year, and Christmas.  We are planning a low key Christmas for just the two of us but will be enjoying lots of family at Kevin and Aimee's house tomorrow afternoon.  Should be fun. 

This week flew by, just as I suspected it would.  We started out with Ellie spending the night and then going to get a bear from Build-A-Bear.  It amazes me how easy it is to put together a bear there.  I especially think they did stuffing and tying off the opening really well. Ellie enjoyed getting a bear with lots of lights and sparkles. 

There was a wonderful Christmas display at the mall and I was able to snap a great pic of her with a reindeer.  She still likes to pose for the camera. 

On Saturday Aimee, Mimi and Grammy (me) took Ellie on an excellent adventure.  Her Christmas present from the grandmas was an American Girl doll.  So we braved the big mall in northern Virginia to go to the American Girl store.  Ellie was pretty surprised and the two grandmas got teary eyed.  But she eventually picked out a doll that is called something like looks like me.  Except Ellie wanted a blond doll with no freckles.  So that is what she got.  We had lunch with our dolls and people. Heck, I brought my Kit doll that I won (with lots of clothes and quilts) from a quilt guild in Maryland quite a few years ago.  Just like the last time lunch was ridiculously slow.  I had salmon and it was great -- much better than the pizza I had last time I went. 

Surprisingly parking and driving to and from wasn't as bad as I expected. (and I wasn't driving so of course it wasn't bad for me!)  Until Pat and I decided to go home. (The guys stayed at Kevin's house.)  The 40 minute drive was listed as over 3 hours if we took I 95.  Instead we took back country roads and got home about 2 hours later but it was a pleasant trip and we were always moving.  Luckily we got home just as it started to get dark. 

I didn't get much studio time this past week.  But I did drag out log cabin blocks -- a UFO.  I'd like to make twin size quilts for two beds.  But it will take a million blocks -- or so it seems to me.  Most of my time was taken up with getting presents finished and wrapped.  My best accomplishment was getting my Jamestown Landing quilt loaded on Ruthie. I didn't get any quilting done until today.  I'm using Melody designed by Sarah Ann Myers.  I really hope to have all the quilting done this week.  And, if luck is on my side, I'll get the binding started.  Cross my fingers -- maybe I'll get the binding on the quilt and have a great finish for the end of the year! 

Here's what got done last week: 

December 17, 2018

Finish up the Angel ornaments (again! Sigh.)√ 

Work on Counted Cross Stitch ornament √

Wrap Christmas presents√

Load Jamestown Landing√ and start quilting no quilting done by Sunday pm

Buy the last of the Christmas Presents√ 

Enjoy Ellie’s sleepover√

And here's what I hope to do this week: 

December 24, 2018

Finish Theo’s ornament 

Quilt my Jamestown Landing 

Watch a few grands if needed

Work on black and white log cabin (UFO)

Make binding for Jamestown Landing 

I'm calling it quits now.  I have a few stray gifts to wrap and a little more to be done to Theo's cross stitched ornament.  

I'm linking up with Monday Making and Oh Scrap. Several of my go-to Monday linky parties aren't partying this week.  When you have a quiet moment surf the internet to get yourself revved up again for lots of quilty excitement in 2019. 

Happy Quilting! Bonnie 

December OMG

For December One Monthly Goal I will (hopefully) 

Load and Quilt my Jamestown Landing Quilt! 

Here is the backing and the quilt top sitting on Ruthie. I probably won't load her until after the 17th.  We've got concerts coming up and things to do.  But, I might surprise myself and do it this coming week and get on with the quilting.  Time will tell.  

I haven't figured out what I'll use for the binding.  I'll probably need to buy some fabric for it but I'm going to wait until I've finished quilting it.  Who knows, maybe I have a big enough piece in my stash to make the binding. 

I'm taking several quilts and these pillowcases down to Country Piecemakers for our donation groups.  I'll post pictures soon -- yes, I've actually taken pictures of everything I'm donating tomorrow!  Here are 2 pillowcases I finished in November because I really hadn't used much fabric. I bought both of these fabrics on Black Friday, 2017 at JoAnn's Fabric Store.  I got a really good deal and was happy to be able to find the cuff and accent pieces in my stash.

Today I'm sneaking into the Elm Creak Quilt's OMG December Link Up party at the last minute (hours?) and Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. That's it for me today.  I'm going to do a little blog hopping to see what folks are working on or hoping to work on. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Moving Forward! Goal Met

I've met my One Monthly Goal at the last minute.  I wanted to get all 42 blocks finished and put together.  About an hour ago I finished that. 

Here's a photo while I was pinning the last row on. 

And, the finished inside of the top.  There is a small border and a string pieced border still to come.  

June starts tomorrow and I'll have to come up with another goal.  Hum, maybe it's time to grab a ufo to finish.  I have a bit of time to make that decision.  I'm heading back to the studio to see if I can finish that Looney Tunes small quilt.  I need to trim it and add the binding.  There's a chance I could finish it tonight!  

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts and Needle and Thread Thursday.  I'm looking forward to spending some time seeing finished goals and inspiring projects. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

May OMG

It's time to announce May's One Monthly Goal.  It took me awhile to decide but here it is. 

I will finish all the units and put the blocks together for my Jamestown Landing quilt.  

Here's what's done so far:  I have 236 broken dishes units. Way over the 210 I need.  So done with those! Yippee!  I have 117 of 168 of the string blocks done.  These are not my favorite blocks!  My plan is to make the rest of the string units.  Then I will get at least 42 blocks made.  

Here's what it looks like now. 

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts linky party announcing May's One Monthly Goal and Confessions of a Fabric Addict's Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop? 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings

It's nice to be home after a great week up in Maryland at the Faithful Circle Quilter's show.  The weather was spectacular on Friday and Saturday.  The crowds came out to see the quilts, shop the vendors and bid in the silent auction.  Although I haven't heard anything about the financial results all other signs point to a very successful show.  And, boy, Sharon and I were exhausted by Saturday evening as we worked all 3 days the show was open.  It takes a day and a half to hang the quilts, display the $10 and under sales items, prep the silent auction and get all the "stuff" organized for the yard sale section, etc.  But at the other end -- take down on Saturday is amazing. 

For the most part all quilts were taken down, folded, bagged and the the poles were down within 2 hours of closing the show.  I felt like a monkey running up and down my ladder removing quilts from poles.  But the section Sharon and I were working in was completely down and poles put away by the time we left at about 5:15.  (The show closed at 4:00. There were a couple more people working on our section.)  I spent the last 30 minutes or so taking quilts to folks who were busy working in other areas.  All in all, it was a great show; so fun for me to see friends I don't get to see often; and spend more time with my friend, Sharon. I didn't take a whole lot of pictures of quilts this year but I do have a few more to share that I will try to do later in the week. 

Do you like to support Quilts of Valor?  I do and sometimes I like to make just a few blocks, not make a whole quilt.  If you like that idea there is time left for you to contribute blocks to the current block drive. Go to Quilts of Valor to see the specifics on the 2018 Block Drive.  I have to say I've seen several blocks made up and I really like how they look.  Blocks need to be received in Texas by May 1, 2018.  They will be distributed at National Conference to State Coordinators based on the number turned in by their state.  So, even though we might mail them to Texas, they'll come back to our own state.  Here's the first one I've made.  I'm hoping to make a couple of more before Wednesday when our guild is collecting them in time to send out to Texas.  

The directions are on the web site.  Read them carefully because they have specific requests about color and placement of the colors.  I really like this block a lot.  They also give Accuquilt die numbers too.  I suspect I'll use this block again for some other quilts. 

I'm still getting some sewing time in on my Jamestown Landing.  Here's what my ironing board looked like after my last sewing session before leaving for Maryland.

Let's see -- finished string blocks, telephone book foundations, finished broken dishes units, string blocks waiting to trimmed and a few pieces to make into broken dishes.  Hum, that plastic container?  I had some nuts in it for a snack. At this point I don't have many more broken dishes to do but I do have another 80 or so string blocks to finish.  Ugh.  Not my favorite block.  Slowly, but surely, I am making progress on this quilt. Are you sick of reading about it yet??? 

Last weeks goals were done with one exception. Nothing more was done on the T Shirt quilt. You'll be seeing it on my list again this week. (And hopefully that will be the last time you see it on my list!) 

April 9, 2018

Bind T-shirt quilt

Continue to work on Jamestown Landing√

Visit Sharon & work the FCQ Quilt Show √

Stitch on little bunny piece√

And this coming week I'll be trying to get these 4 items done.

April 16, 2018

Bind T-shirt quilt

Finish little bunny piece

Quilt Braid Shuffle

Keep cutting kits for retreat*

*I'm hoping to have several baby quilts available to sew at retreat.  I like variety and have learned that I need simple things to work on that have already been cut.  I've got a couple of groupings of fabric for smaller quilts so that is what I'm working on.  

I'll be linking up with my regular linky parties.  I've missed spending time on the various quilting blogs so I hope to spend more time this week. Here are the links: Monday Making, Oh Scrap!, Moving It Forward, and Main Crush Monday that will be available tomorrow. (So hopefully I'll remember to come back and update the link!) 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 
  

Monday Meanderings 3 - 12 - 2018

I've been making steady progress on my Jamestown Landing quilt.  Mostly I've been making broken dishes units.  But I have made a few more blocks.  Here they are on the design wall.

Hum, there are a lot of the more green than turquoise pieces.  I won't be putting rows or bigger squares together now since I really want to mix up the fabrics a lot.  At the class I lost count of how many half triangle squares I'd made.  I keep making some but who knows whether I need lots more or 5 more.  I do know I will make some pillow shams so I'll need extra blocks.  I haven't been working on the string blocks at all.  I think I need 100 more of those.  I prefer the blocks that look more white with less beiges in them.  Me thinks I'll be making more of those then I need too. 

My OMG is showing progress.  In fact, when I looked at it last night I realized I probably have enough of the blocks done.  I've even got a few extra of those blocks ready to put into a doll quilt.  

Although this week was busy I did squeeze in a little shopping time.  Yes, I enhanced my stash a bit.  Although all purchases except one were for specific quilts.  I'm a fan of Kona solid fabrics these days.  So when they were on sale at JoAnn stores and there was a 25% off all purchases I went over to pick some up.  Royal, red and white. (No this isn't the color scheme of a new quilt!)  The multi-color fabric was really hard to find this year.  In fact, this doesn't have quite the colors I was hoping for.  I wanted more primary colors but this will do.  Hum, don't know when I'll get to either of these projects.  One may get cut out and go with me to the retreat in May. 

The Alabama T shirt quilt I'm making for a customer is now to the point I can make real progress on. I've got the design planned.  It's time to execute it.  First up is trimming the shirts to a bit bigger than needed and adding the stabilizer.  I would love to get that done this week.  

I'm linking up to my regular linky parties: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward.  Go get a cup of tea (or coffee, just not my thing!) and spend some time seeing what is going on across the internet. 

Happy Quilting! Bonnie