Sunday, May 28, 2017

May Goals Update

It's the end of May and I need to update you on my goals. 
One on my goals was to quilt the city bank quilt. Unfortunately, after receiving the new foot and rulers, I have not had time to sit down and try them out. The end of the school year has been super busy. Just 3 days left! 
So my city bank quilt still needs to be quilted. 
Sandwiched and basted and ready to go!
UPDATE:Since posting this, I have been able to get most of the quilting completed...only 13 of the 42 blocks to go!

My 2nd goal for May was to start piecing butterfly blocks for my nieces 2nd baby's quilt. I was much more successful in achieving this goal (working in smaller bits of time). It is all pieced together and ready to be sandwiched. However, that can't happen until I quilt City Bank! 
How's that for motivation!
I used 4 different butterfly blocks patterns....2 of them are 8" blocks and 2 are 4" blocks. 3 of the 4 block patterns were paper pieced. I wanted the butterflies to be angled but not at the 45° (on point) so I played with half square rectangles allowing a gentler angle. 
I anchored the quilt with a row of pretty flowers. 
I also finished the May challenge for RSC and The Milky Way QAL (see post).


Sunday, May 7, 2017

The neighborhood has grown!

Remember my little blue houses? 
The last time I posted about the neighborhood, there were 38 houses. Now the neighborhood has grown to 48 houses!
I add a house or 2 when I'm between projects or only have a limited amount of time to play. This isn't a population boom but slow and steady growth. I'm planning on more houses! No deadline, no pressure!
I'm loving it!
Yesterday, I took some time to work on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks and The Milky Way QAL. May's color is green so I pulled my green scraps bin (which is almost as full as my blue bin) and started putting together like greens. 
5 little spools of green! 
Here are all the spools together so far.
Cute! Aren't they?
I'm linking up to Scrap Happy Saturday over at So Scrappy and Oh Scrap over at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

For the Milky Way QAL, I'm using the same color (makes it easy), green. This month's star is called Vega. It is the 5th brightest star. 
Here are the first 5 stars together.
It is a bit of a mystery to me on how these will play together at the end. 
Time will tell. To learn more head over to Blossom Heart Quilts.

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Setting some goals for May

It's May! Time is flying by! It is time to set some goals for May. I am looking forward to quilting the City Bank quilt. 
(pattern name from the book City Quilts...the quilt will be named later)
At the International Quilt Festival in Chicago, I purchased the foot and several rulers to learn FMQ with rulers on my domestic machine! There was a bit of a faux pas as I purchased a high shank foot/rulers
but my machine is actually a low shank. Before purchasing, I did ask the Janome dealer (I have an Elna which is now owned by Janome) to verify the shank and I unfortunately, received incorrect information. Since I wasn't entirely sure, I had asked the store if I could return it if it proved different. They were very accommodating, and I am happy to say I received the new foot/rulers today! I'm very excited to get started! 
So my goal for May is to quilt and bind this quilt!
One of my nieces, also due in June expecting her 2nd baby, asked me to make  a baby quilt for her and the baby. The theme for the baby's room is butterflies with the colors of teal and purple. 
My goal for May will be to start making butterfly blocks and piecing this quilt. 
I have little planned for this quilt. I have done some searching for butterfly blocks and I have started collecting fabrics. I hope this isn't too hefty a goal as school is quite busy as the school year draws to a close. 
Summer is just around the corner!
I will continue to keep up with the RSC and The Milky Way QAL. 
May's color is green!
I'm linking my goals up at OMG-May Link-up @ Elm Street Quilts.