End of the Month Progress

I can't believe we are already at the end of February.   I'm so looking forward to March.....I love spring time, tulips, daffodils, daylight savings, I can go on and on.

Here is a recap of what I finished in February:

Stash Bee - February
Pippy Longstocking for Tanya

Liberty & Justice - February
20.5" block for Vickie

Stash Bee - March
Churn Block for Emily (thanks to Emily who posted earlier today what she wanted for March)

Sew South Retreat - House Block



When I was at a retreat a month ago, I worked hard into the night on the #scrappytripalong that went viral on Instagram around the first of January.  This past weekend I finished sewing together the top and it is ready to be quilted.  I've never FMQ such a large quilt (72 x 84) before and I'm planning on sewing straight lines 1/4" from the seams.  This will be on my to do list for April while my husband is away turkey hunting.

Finally, I have a quilt done for 2013.  I'm always amazed at all the blogs that I read and how many quilts each blogger has already finished in 2013.  I guess I need to step it up a bit.

Quilt Stats
Name:  Sparkle Plenty
Size: 48" square
Fabric:  Polka dot charms from many charm square swaps I've participated in
Backing:  Bear Country Dots Blue by Moda

See you in March!!

I'm linking up to Lily's Quilts for her Fresh Sewing Day.

What Ive been working on

This post was to be part of my late Happy New Year post, but I couldn't get my photos uploaded yesterday.  Thanks to the great advice I received.....it worked!

I've been busy since we returned from Seattle on the 4th. I'm pleased to say that I'm caught up with my bee blocks from December.

Liberty & Justice Bee, Stash Bee, Books & Block Bee

I know I'm late on my word of the year..... my word is:

ˈsɪm pləˌfaɪ/ Show Spelled

sim·pli·fy:

/ˈsɪm pləˌfaɪ/ Show Spelled to make less complex or complicated; make plainer or easier:

All my bees will be ending sometime this year.  I have learned so many new techniques and have met so many nice creative sewers .  In the future, I'll keep it down to one bee instead of four which will help me simplify my sewing life.  Four is quite overwhelming.  I'll wait until the end of 2013 beginning of 2014 to find a new bee to join.

This is also my year to work through my scraps and all the material I've purchased working at a quilt store.  I'm currently cutting my scrap strips for the #scrappytripalong that started the beginning of this year.  I'm also going to make the #scrapvomit quilt using 2 1/2" squares.  This will definitely simplify my sewing stash.  It will also give me two great quilts.

Happy Quilting!

I'm finally caught up with my Bee's

I hate when I'm running behind on a block for a bee.  Nothing is worse than to still be working on it a few days after it is due.  Not this month.......I'm done!!

Left:  Liberty & Justice Bee - Warden's Cross for Danielle
Middle:  Books and Block Bee - Link's Bee for Tracey
Right:  Stash Bee - Uneven Stacked Coins for Lisa

Now that I'm done with my August bee blocks, I'm off to make some gifts. 

Have a great Sunday!

A new month!

I didn't get much accomplished as I had hoped for the month of July.  I have so much on my to do list for August, I have to get busy.

Here are the blocks I accomplished for my four bees that I'm in:

Below are the two quilts that were created out of my blocks that were sent to me from my hive #1 mates from Stash Bee. 

The quilt on the left is before I added additional borders which I forgot to take prior to sending it off to the long arm quilter.  The quilt on the right is ready to be shipped off to a long arm quilter.  Thanks to my mom for making an additional two blocks and piecing it all together for me.  Once I get them back, I'll be sure to take pictures before I send them off to QOV.  Thanks again to my hive mates over at Stash Bee for making the bordered star block for me.

It is still so hot here in Atlanta, so I'm off to my cool basement where my sewing room is to sew on a secret project and watch the Olympics.  Go USA!!

I'm linking over at:

I love receiving mail!

While on vacation I had our mail stopped.  Look what the mailman hand delivered to me yesterday!

This is just the my fun mail. Didn't think you'd want to see the JUNK mail and bills.

Most of the packages were from the bee "Stash Bee".  It is sure fun being the Queen Bee for the month of March.  Here is what my design board looks like so far.

Not in any special order - waiting for 9 more stars.

Once this bordered star quilt is pieced together, I'll request a long-arm quilter to quilt it and then it will be shipped off to a SOLDIER through the QOV program.

Next in the mail was 3 yards of fabric I ordered from Fat Quarter Shop for the Rainbow Fabric Charm Swap that I signed up for.  I was given "aqua" as my color.  Tomorrow I need to cut this fun fabric up into 5" charm squares and get it in the mail to Sara over at Modern Pink Designs.

Sassy Aqua Dots - Sassy Aqua Daisies - Little Apple Aqua

Last package to open up is my monthly package from Pink Chalk Fabrics - the charming solids club.

Every month I receive 2 charm packs and 6 coordinating fat eighths for only $24.95 plus S&H.  I think it is a great deal.

I haven't sewed since the day I left for Seattle on the 15th and I miss it.  Tomorrow my husband is heading out really early to go "turkey" hunting for 4 days, so I'll be down in my sewing room getting caught up on BOM blocks, bees, baby quilt, the grannie square quilt, etc.....I'm so excited.

Today is my birthday and it has been a great day! Our friends from Atlanta that we spent time in Seattle last week with, gave my husband this hydrangea to give to me. 

My hubby took an extra vacation day to hang out with me today.  We took my mom out to lunch, he planted 4 knockout rose bushes and this hydrangea this afternoon, he picked up Chinese Food for dinner, and just brought me a glass of Merlot to drink while writing this post. What a great husband!!

The real icing on the cake was our 2 older grandsons (6 & 4) calling me on the phone this evening and singing happy birthday to me....love those boys!

Hope you had a great day like I had!!

Cindy

Bordered Star

The first week in February I noticed on Pinterest a beautiful paper pieced star block.  I pinned it and put it on my project inspiration board.  This coming March I'm the queen bee for the Stash Bee hive #1 group and decided that I'd love to have all of the bees make a patriotic star and then I'll make a Quilts of Valor quilt or 2 from them. 

If you haven't seen the Lone Starburst block all over Pinterest yet.  Here it is:

Picture from Six White Horses

Anna started her blog Six White Horses in January of this year.  Her work is amazing!  Go over and say hello!

Her friend Monica has a blog The Quilting Climber and she made her own version "bordered star" as well.  She drafted up a version that's a bit bigger (less background space), which is available via her blog.  You really need to go visit her as well and see the tulip quilt that she just made.  She is taking a class on designing nature quilts. 

Picture from The Quilting Climber

So between last night and this morning, I made my block to show the Stash Bee what they'll be making in March.

Today on the Craftsy Block of the Month Blog Tour is Charlie from Qubee Quilts.  Go say hi and enter for the $25 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop.

Happy Quilting!

Cindy

My Scrappy Dresden Tree Block

I joined a new bee that started this month called Stash Bee.  Sunni from Love Affair With My Brother is our lovely host and she is also the Queen Bee this month.  Her block for January 2012 is called the "Tree of Life!". 

Here is my "Tree of Life" I created for Sunni. 

I can't wait to see how Sunni's quilt looks when she is done.  The variety of TREES is amazing.  Come on over to Stash Bee and see what we are up to.

Happy Quilting!

Cindy

Stash Bee

I've joined another bee.  Sunni over at Love Affair with my Brother has started a bee that starts in 2012.

Come on over to Stash Bee and check it out.

Have a great Saturday!

Cindy