Oh Scrap! and OMG

The title of this blog post sounds like quilter’s cussing, doesn’t it? LOL. Actually, Oh Scrap and OMG (One Monthly Goal) are blog linky parties that I occasionally link up to (and would do so more often if I had anything share-worthy). 

First, let’s start with OMG. I didn’t make my November goal, which was to finish my daughter Megan’s All You Need is Love quilt. It’s going to be a Christmas present. I  had a slight issue with wonkiness - some of the measurements were off kilter. So that necessitated some un-sewing (that sounds better than ripping out, doesn’t it?) and re-sewing. But I got it done and progressed to the next and final round. But I didn’t finish. So, I’ve set the finish of this quilt as my December goal for OMG and I’m linking up to Patty’s monthly goal-setting party at Elm Street Quilts. 

This is where the quilt stands now. It’s a completed flimsy that is right on the measurements. The final row is flying geese windmill blocks on the sides and a colored stripe bordered by two plain white (Kona Snow) strips. The four cornerstones came from a block I had on one of my Pinterest boards. My daughter saw it and wanted it. It was designed by Amy Gibson for a now-discontinued Craftsy quilt. Anyway, you can see it HERE. I just drafted my own version of the cornerstone block.

Tomorrow I’ll sew up a backing and hopefully get it basted.  Then I’ve got all week to get it quilted Rather than quilting just one overall design (which would be fine by her as she’s not a quilter) I’m leaning toward doing some different but not too over-the-top designs. Stay tuned.

Today, which is a snowy and cold winter’s Sunday (and so nice with the fireplace going and the Christmas tree lit up), I’m also linking up to Cynthia Brunz’ Oh Scrap! linky at her inspirational blog Quilting is More Fun Than Housework. I have missed my regular scrap piecing and quilting in the mad rush of Thanksgiving through end-of-year holidays. I decided I needed to make a pencil case for my colored pencils. I’ve been using them a lot this year to draft several quilts, including the quilt above (All You Need is Love) and Lattice Birds, which I hope to get back to soon. But I digress....

So, I found the perfect scrap in my stash for the pencil case, and found a coordinating cheddar colored scrap to go with it:

But those are regular No. 2 pencils, not colored. I mean, it would still make a cute pencil case, and I still plan to make one (or two), but it led me to continue searching my scraps. 

I recently ordered two fat quarters from Spoonflower when they had a Buy 1 Get 1 Free sale on their fat quarters. I knew that my favorite fabric designer, Tamara Kate, has an account there with lots of designs available for purchase. What I didn’t know (until I was checking out with my purchase) was that I had Spoonflower credits on my account. So my total cost for 2 fat quarters plus postage was $1.25. Can’t beat that!

This first fat quarter will make a darling colored pencil case! And probably with enough left over to do some fun fussy cutting. The second fat quarter is just FUN. What I’m going to do with it is still a mystery. But the cats like it and I’m a Pisces so it works for me!

Pincushions Done; Scratch one off that list!

In my last post, I outlined my ten goals for the 4th quarter of this year. I am participating in Andrea’s 2015 Finish Along and decided there was no time to waste in getting to that list.

Here are my four scrappy pincushions, which were #4 on that list.

Fronts. Can you tell I was trying to use up that black gingham??

Backs: I was also using scraps here.....

So, they are not the cutest pincushions ever created, LOL, but some have vintage buttons (they are going to family for Christmas) and the best thing - THEY ARE DONE!!   One down, nine more items on my list to go........

And here are some blocks that represent progress on my Farm Girl Quilt.  I have another couple to do for the quilt before beginning to piece the top together. But that is OK; I love this process of selecting and making the blocks. Still thinking I need a turkey and an apple core and/or half-cut apple.

Corn and Tomatoes II

Bumblebee. He still needs his antennae embroidered.

Woolly Sheep

And still more progress. I have sewn all 30 blocks (16” each) together on my Rainbow Orbs quilt. Right now it measures 80x96”, and as you can see from the pictures below, it already has the Feline Seal of Approval. That is very important you know.

Rainbow Orbs is resting while I finish my black needlepoint/CQ for a photo shoot. And then I will begin piecing the back for Orbs - you may remember it will be that Hoffman digital cityscape print, with color gradation around it. I am thinking I will bind the whole thing with some black and white stripe; you can never go wrong with a striped binding!  :-)

So, as you see, I have been busy. We are also finalizing our wills and trust with the attorney this week and next, so there is never a dull moment.

OH! I almost forgot! I have been so darn lucky these last couple weeks.  After the Quilt Adoption from a couple posts ago, dear Cynthia Brunz of Quilting is More Fun Than Housework notified me that I had won a pair of Gingher 9” scissors she was giving away for participating. Then, one morning last week I got an email from Angela of So Scrappy telling me that I had won the August bundle of hand-dyed fabrics from Vickie Welsh. An indigo bundle! (check out her amazing hand-dyed fabrics!!).  As if that was not enough, that very afternoon, I got a private message on my iPad from Meg Cox, Editor of Quilt Journalist Tells All and the President of the Quilt Alliance; I had won her monthly newsletter drawing. My prizes? A copy of the newly-released Spoonflower Handbook and a six-month subscription to Creative Bug.  I am just totally beside myself!!

Thanks to all the wonderful people I mentioned in the paragraph above! I linked to everyone so you could check out their wonderful services and products. The world of quilts and the people in it are just amazing.

So what I am going to do now?? QUICK!! I am going to buy a lottery ticket and enter Missouri Star’s birthday bash giveaway....  (just kidding; I will give you all a chance.......)

Hugs,