June Goal

Well my June Goal was a complete toss up because I am currently sewing like a crazy momma to finish 12 reversible capes for my son's Superhero Birthday Party on Sunday, the 8th and that seems like a good goal that I am sure to finish.  BUT that just too easy because at the time of writing this, I am about 50% done with this project.

The biggest challenge this month is not to actually find the time to quilt or sew... it's to get it done while visiting my folks out of state without my sewing machine.  We leave a few days after the birthday party and will be there until the end of the month.  I can't imagine how I am going to manage 2 kids, 2 carseats, 3 backpack carry-ons and 1 checked bag to the airport so I am going to live my sweet Sister (Brother Innov-is NX-450Q) at home.  Even though my hubby bought me the most amazing Birthday/Mother's Day gift.

My Birthday/Mother's Day Gift

I have plans to make little Doc McStuffins doctor bags for my daughters Doc McStuffins Birthday Party when we return but thought, hey why not work on them at mom's house... she has a sewing machine?! So I talked with my mom about borrowing her machine and she not only offered to let me use it and give me time to work on the projects while she entertains the kids but will also help me figure out the pattern.  If you know me (or read my Facebook posts), you know that patterns and I DON'T get along.  Even the ones I make turn out horrible and the finished product, even worse!  I have given up on PJ pants and curtain projects because I couldn't figure out the pattern.  My mom said she just needs an example so, I went hunting through my daughters toys and found the below bag from last year's Halloween costume. Hopefully it will make it in the luggage, to grandmas and not be stolen by a little girl who now insist on carrying it everywhere since I "found it for her."

My June Goal will be to make at least 4 Doc McStuffins doctor bags something like the one below. Wish me luck!

May Finish

I am so excited to announce that I FINISHED my May goal.  My sweet little cousin will love it! The front is very girly pink and purple, a pattern that I found in a magazine and adapted... I don't remember which one.  The backing is black with multi-colored owls and the color of the owls match the stripe fabric.  I stitched in the ditch and used the stripe fabric as the binding.  It's a little smaller than twin size.

I love how the stripe fabric worked for the binding and I was very careful to make sure it wasn't stretched so that it was vertical throughout rather than a candy cane stripe.

This quilt was not without it's issues, I started the top around 9 years ago when I first started quilting and I still had a lot to learn.  Many of the cornerstones and strips on the top are wonky (stretched or not pressed correctly).  It was defiantly a challenge quilting it because the ditch I stitched in was wavy.  In all, I don't think most of the mistakes are too noticeable and I am sure she will love it anyway.

Ready to be shipped! But it'll have to wait until Christmas.

May Goal

Third time is a charm right?  I will yet again try to finish this adorable quilt.  Last month I was able to get it basted and started quilting it but then I got stuck because we went off to Hawaii for the last week of the month.  SO this month I WILL finish quilting it and bind it.  Here it is in it's current state.

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April Goal

I failed at my March Goal... just didn't have the time so I am now making it my April goal to baste, quilt and bind this quilt.

My guild's Fun Day is now over and many people enjoyed it. I worked hard along with the remainder of the committee to make the event successful and I'd say it was despite our shoestring budget.  We also made enough to seed next years committee so they won't have to make do like we did.  Now that the event is over and the quilt pattern revealed, I can now share my quilt.  Here it is in all it's glory. 

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March Goal

This month I have a lot going on so I am looking for a easy to finish project but if any of these projects were easy to finish, I'd be done with them already. Right?!  I finally decided on a quilt top I started for my husband's God-daughter who has now outgrown the girly quilt fabric.  I think my mom's half sister's daughter would greatly appreciate it so I am going to finish it for her.

The quilt top is complete; it just needs to be re-ironed because it's been in storage so long, sandwiched, quilted and bound.  That will be my goal for the month of March.

I purchased a fabric for the backing while back that I am now seriously reconsidering.... I don't know what I was thinking.  The fabric that I am questioning is the pink with butterflies in the below photo.

 Aside from the questionable butterfly fabric I have a good bit of fabric left from each portion of the quilt as well as some appliqué cut outs that I intended to be the label.  I defiantly think the pink/white/purple stripe would make a striking binding so I am going to try to avoid using it for anything else then perhaps buy a purple backing... a light lilac batik might be pretty.

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February Goal Complete

I can't believe it but I actually did it.  I put together a quilt top in one month... only because I had to.

Here are my fabrics->

Super Bowl Sunday, I had a nice little setup in the living room to cut during the game.  At one point I tried to haul my machine into the room to sew while I watched the game but quickly retreated when my husband gave me a nasty look.  

I even remember to collect my clippings to donate to the gal over at my LQS, she uses them as stuffing for some of her projects.  Now I just need to remember to drop them off.

The only way I can work on a quilt non-stop is to munch on sunflower seeds.  It helps keep my mind focused.  Here is my quilting table (in my quilting room, not my temporary side set up in the living room) with my left over fabric, seam ripper and Ranch sunflower seeds.  A recipe for success.

I absolutely love my focus fabric for this quilt, which I also used as my borders.  Check out the amazing marbled colors of blue, turquoise, brown and gold.  

I got hung up the organization of my quilt blocks and ended up changing my initial plan and while I love the finished product, it is not what I expected.  It took me several days to come to a final decision, which held up my progress but a few late nights were all I needed. Here I am working away while watching a movie... notice the laptop screen to the left of my machine?  That's so I can hear and see the movie while still keeping an eye on my 1/4" seams.

As I mentioned in my Goal Setting post, the pattern is a secret so I won't share the finished product with you yet (Melissa & Shanna, check your FB PM's for the finished picture).  I promise I can share it soon, the Fun Day event is Saturday, April 5th.  I will show off the finished quilt on the Facebook group because I love it and want to brag :D

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February Goal

I decided to volunteer for my quilt guilds' Fun Day Committee.  Our Fun Day is a day long event where attendees enjoy a day full of quilting and party fun.  The committee picks 1) a mystery pattern that is not known by any members until the day of the event and 2) fabric for all participants with a color theme of their choice.  Most patterns are for a wide range of experience levels so that everyone can enjoy the event.

Each committee member is responsible for making a quilt in the mystery pattern (it can have multiple variations) to be displayed at the event to help members choose their preferred pattern.  The event is being held April 5th this year. My goal for the month of February is to get my quilt top pieced for display at the event.

I choose the below batiks as the basis for my quilt top.