August Goals

Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb. 

Sir Winston Churchill

Well another month has flown by!  I spent most of it with a Christmas mindset and now must come back to the present.  I had a busy month with many goals and made half of them.  I'm calling it a good month because it was a LONG LIST!

Adding to my angst was continuing internet connection difficulties.  I have self diagnosed a router problem and will getting a new one this week.  Hopefully that will be the solution.  I would have done more blogging if it had not been such an exercise in frustration for me.  I have learned when to just walk away and get on with something else.

Charity Baby Quilt

 You can see more details of the Tweety Bird quilt on THIS POST. 

Christmas Tree Skirt

The directions for making the Tree Skirt can be FOUND HERE.

Christmas Table Runner

More pictures of the Table Runner and the quilting on it ARE HERE.  There is a GIVEAWAY OPEN on that post through August 9th.

Flannel Baby Blanket

I have been trying to get the tutorial for the Flannel Baby Blanket done all year.  It was one of those things that needed less than 30 minutes of sewing to finish and then the pictures edited.  It's all done so be looking for the tutorial to post.  It is a great fast gift for a shower.

I'll share a couple of other pictures of NEW PROJECTS on my New UFO Post soon.

July Goals:

1. Get Christmas Project #1 made and blogged about - DONE
2. Get Christmas Project(s) for Blog Hop #2 done and ready to blog about - DONE
3. Get the Baby Blanket Finished (and the tutorial written) - DONE
4. Get the Top done for the Grandson's Quilt - No Progress
5. Spend MORE QUALITY TIME with my new INNOVA!!! - DONE
6. Get at least one Charity Quilt Quilted - DONE
7. Get at least one Charity Quilt Bound - DONE
8. Make progress on piecing a Charity Quilt - No Progress BUT 2 Cut Out
9. Quilt and Bind Log Cabin Quilt - No Progress
10. Quilt Turning 20 Quilt  - No Progress

This month I need to be chained to my Innova Longarm!  I have at least 12 BED SIZED quilt tops that need to be done SOON!  I'm finally feeling comfortable enough with the machine to get busy on them.  I didn't put them all on the list for the month but I'm hoping to at least make a large dent in the stack!

August Goals:

1. Get the Top done for the Grandson's Quilt 
2. Get at least one Charity Quilt Bound 
3. Make progress on piecing a Charity Quilt
4. Quilt and Bind Log Cabin Quilt
5. Quilt Turning 20 Quilt 
6. Quilt Bow Tie Quilt #1
7. Quilt Bow Tie Quilt # 2
8. Quilt Angel Quilt
9. Quilt Christmas Quilt
10. Quilt E. C.'s Bed Sized Quilt 
11. Get Pincushion(s) Made for September Blog Hop

I'm linking with: Lily's Quilts Fresh Sewing Day and Patchwork Times Get It Done and Freemotion By the River and Live a Colorful Life

My Day on the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree. 

Roy L. Smith

Today is my day on the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop.  First I want to say a big thank you to Madame Sam from Sew We Quilt and Carol from Just Let Me Quilt for making this event possible. Just looking at the posts done yesterday, the first day of the hop, was enough to inspire some more projects for Christmas.  

I was in another Christmas Blog Hop in July and that project was rather large.  This time I went a little smaller.  So without delay let me share the table runner I made for this event.  I really love how it looks on my dining table!

Size 19" x 43" 

This was made from a book by Terry Atkinson call Minnesota Hot Dish.  I don't think it is available anymore but you may be able to find another quilter who has it.

Free Motion Quilting done on my Innova Longarm Machine

A Closer Look at the Muslin Backing

I added an accent flange at the binding.

The threads match too closely for the quilting to stand out.  The top is all batik fabrics.

How about a giveaway?

This little pattern is a good one for beginners.  It could be made to look like a Christmas quilt but doesn't have to.  It also contains the stitchery pattern below.

I'll even add some floss so all you will need to get started is a hoop, fabric and a needle.

All the blog hoppers for each day are listed here at Just Let Me Quilt.

These are the ones who you can visit today:

August 1

Vroomans Quilts

Abyquilt

MacDonald’s Patch

Life and Everything Around It

Hill Valley Quilter

Traveling Quilter

Quilting Lines You are here!

The Reluctant Quilter

Pig Tales and Quilts

Teatime Creations

Ravelly1

This Giveaway is Closed.  Thanks for commenting.

Linking with: Link a Finish Friday and Sew Many Ways

Oh! Tweety Baby!

When I was a young man, I didn't think about having a family. My wife and I were too poor to have babies. Then all of a sudden, one came along and scared the hell out of us because we had no money. Once the baby arrives, you make do somehow. You fall in love with the baby and life adjusts itself. You find you don't need as much money as you thought. When that happens, you can ask the questions that should have come before the baby. 

Ray Bradbury

I thought I'd take a few minutes to share one of my finishes for the month.  I've been trying to get better acquainted with Aislin Joy my new Innova longarm.  We have been getting along pretty well so far.  I finished this charity baby quilt and tried several new things on it.

This is the second panel like this that I've quilted.  I shared the other one a while back.

What's not to love about Tweety Bird?

I tried to see how small I could get with some background shells.

I used the plaid as a guide for some Terry Twist quilting.  It gives some good texture.

 Here is a view of the back.

I used a 3 step Zig Zag to stitch the binding down.  Can't say I'm thrilled with it but it holds it down OK.  Next time I'll use a more decorative stitch.  I have dozens to choose from on my machine and this is a good place to play with them.

I'm linking to New to Me at Celtic Thistle Stitches

Today is the first day of the Ho, Ho, Ho Blog Hop.  My post is tomorrow so I need to go finish things up,  In the meantime check out the list of the ones posting today at Sew We Quilt or you can see the list for the whole hop at Just Let Me Quilt

I've Been Bizzy

O Lord! thou knowest how busy I must be this day:  

if I forget thee, do not thou forget me. 

Sir Jacob Astley

I haven't been blogging much because I have been busy trying to get a number of project finished.  Progress has been made and I will be sharing the results in the next few days.  I've even finished up a tutorial that has been in the works since early this year!  

First let me share some of the flowers that have been blooming and blooming at the back door of my studio this summer.

After trying several times with bought plants these two came up from some scattered seeds a year after planting.  They had a few blooms last year but with all the rain this year they have just gone crazy!  

In just a few days I will be posting on the HO! HO! HO! Blog Hop.  The button is in my sidebar.  So I am working away at my project for it.  If time allows there may be even more than one.  Make sure you check on Thursday to see what I've been working on.

I have been planning for a while to add some product reviews to my blog.  I thought I'd start today with a gadget that I picked up at a show back in the spring.  I've used it a few times now and I really like it.

Quick - Cut Thread Cutter

 

It has two non-skid pads so it stays put while you use it.

Press down on each side of the thread between chain pieced units

Side view of the blade

I can not get a website to come up for it but it is in the Checker Distributors Catalog.  You should be able to ask for it at your local quilt shop if they don't carry it.  Retail $14.95  There are replacement blades available also.  It really made the chain pieced units come apart quickly to use it.  All you do is move to the next unit.  I did like it better when there was 2 or 3 stitches between the pieces.  Sometimes I butt mine closer than that.

It is small enough to sit at the side of my machine and not get in the way.  If I keep it there it will not get buried and I will use it more often.  Maybe things don't get buried at your studio but they sure do at mine.  LOL

Now for a preview of a coming tutorial.

Last but by no means least!  If the quote today puzzled you it fits this day for sure.  I got a call this morning saying my daughter was in an accident on her way to work today.  One of her tires blew apart and when she put on brakes her truck swerved off the road and flipped over several times.  She had managed to get partly out when help arrived but the truck was already on fire.  The officers helped her get out the rest of the way and she was only scratched up from the broken glass.  She will be very sore but she is OK!

Needless to say the whole family is counting our Many Blessings and Very Thankful for the Good Lord's protection of her!

What are you grateful for today?

The Last Christmas in July Project

Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present.

Roger Babson 

It's finally time for the leader of the Blog Hop to share.  Julie has create a really nice table runner that could be used for any season.  You will find it HERE.  She also made a PDF file of the instructions that you can download.  

While you are at her site take a look around.  She has been doing a Christmas Project once each month all year.  There are some really cute ideas there.

Tomorrow she will review all the projects from the hop. 

I'll be back to my regular posting after this week.  I have a few things to share.  

I was shocked that we actually had a day without any rain Tuesday.  Then last night there were several be thunderstorm and even some hail.  This has been the wettest year we have had in a long time!  Everything is green and growing though.  My husband can't keep up with the grass cutting.  LOL

Christmas In July Day Six

When you are grateful - when you can see what you have - you unlock blessings to flow in your life.

Suze Orman

Blogging is bringing so many blessings to my life.  It is so nice to make new quilting friends around the country and world.  It also gives me a few deadlines that I have to hustle to meet at times.  LOL  That's OK because it usually requires me to put on my create hat and do something new that I wouldn't have made time for otherwise.



I hope you have been enjoying the Christmas in July Blog Hop!  It's always fun to see what other quilters come up with!  If you haven't been keeping up with the post you can find the whole list of the Blogs participating HERE.
Today's blogger is Sheri at Sunshine in the Attic.  She is sharing a delightful Attic Windows Quilt made from a snow scene.  
Are you enjoying this Blog Hop?  What is your favorite project so far?  Which one do you think you will you actually make?   

My Christmas in July

Christmas isn't a season.  It's a feeling.  

Edna Ferber

Ah, at last it's my turn to share.  Thanks to Julie at The Crafty Quilter for putting this great hop together.  I knew what I wanted to make just as soon as heard about it.  My idea was to make a Christmas Tree Skirt.  As it turned out this could be a Christmas Tablecloth if you don't need a Tree Skirt.  I had a hard time deciding which way to go with it so there may be another one created soon.
If you haven't been to my blog before WELCOME!!!  I hope you will take a few minutes to explore it.  You can get to know a little more about me by checking out some of the links in my sidebar.
Now, everyone so far in this hop has made a small project.  This could be a small Tree Skirt if that's what you need.  You can adjust the measurements to make it any size you want.  I seldom do really small quilts and this one got really big.  There is a reason however.  My son complained that the 54" Tree Skirt I gave him a few years ago wasn't big enough.  He always gets a live tree and his tree stand holds several gallons of water and is huge.  By the time a tree skirt covers the bulk of it there is very little left to reach the floor.  I think this one will do the trick!
Hexies are all the rage in the Quilting World these days.  When I was deciding what shape to use it was a simple choice.
First Make a Pattern:
I used freezer paper for this which is 18" wide.  If you have some wider paper, wrapping paper for example, use it.  You also need a 24" ruler that has 60 degree markings on it.

This makes a pattern that is 21" from top to bottom.  If your fabric is not that wide from the top of the selvage to the fold make adjustments in where the line is drawn.  For example: for a 20" width the line would be drawn 2" away from the edge of the freezer paper.

Pin your pattern to the fabric with the small edge at the fold.  Place ruler along the drawn line and cut along the angled edges.   

Remove pattern and for the second cut place it on the fabric with the long straight edge along the fold this time and the angle lining up with the previous cut.  Pin in place and cut 2 more wedges.  Repeat with the pattern in the original position and cut again so you have a total of SIX WEDGES.
If you want a plain tree skirt that measure about 44" across you just need to sew these wedges together.  
Want it a little bigger?  Let's see what borders will do.

To keep this post from being so long the tutorial for the pieced border is in the next post.  You Can See It HERE.

After the pieced border unit is made attach it to the wedge matching centers.  Place the 60 degree line along one of the straight seams and trim the angle through the borders.

You could stop and finish it at this point if you like the size.  I added one more 4 1/2" border of the center fabric.  Then all that was left was to sew the wedges together matching seams at the borders.  Leave one side open for a Tree Skirt or stitch them all shut for a tablecloth. 

Tip:  You may find quilting easier if you stitch all the wedges together, quilt it then split one seam open.  It is easier to baste and handle that way.

Quilt as desired and bind.  Make ties or use Velcro squares for closures along the open edge.

Simple stippling around the squares make them pop.  I did a larger meandering on the center print since it was so busy nothing fancier would show up anyway. 

Final size is about 70" across and 80" point to point.  I know that sounds huge but I have seen many live and artificial trees that it would barely be showing out from under the branches.  A tall tree stand takes a lot of it up vertically.

To use this as a Tablecloth seam up the last two wedges and applique a circle or hexagon in the center.  

Fabric Yardage
Main Print:  2 yards for the Center and 1 yard for the Outer Border Green Print:  1 1/4 yards for Accent Borders and Pieced Border Red Print:  1 yard for Pieced Border and Binding White Print:  1 1/2 yards for Pieced Border Background  
Let me know if you think a large Tree Skirt like this would work for anyone you know.  I'm planning a Christmas Linky Party in December featuring Tree Skirts.  I'd love to have you link up then.  You have a few months to get one made if you haven't made one before.  This really was a fast piecing project.  I hope you will try it!
Linking with:  Crazy Mom Quilts and My Quilt Infatuation and Richard and Tanya Quilts