Share a Finish Friday - Time Flies

I refer to this guy as, 'Time Flies'

These little hour glass squares were leftover after piecing my donation quilt from last year's 100 Quilt for Kids. I can't believe a year has gone by and it is time again to link up our donation quilts! Hosted this year by Heather of Quilts in the Queue , she has worked hard to obtain oodles of incentives! I thought about what to make and remembered all the odd scraps I had saved, dug them up, made some pinwheels, and finally arranged everything with some negative space.

(This pool was closed when I went for laps. It is still 90 degrees around here, but school has begun.
Is summer really over? What a shame!
I don't remember going to school in August...)

I wanted to play with the quilting a bit since I had all that space. The bubble-cables are a new pattern for me. I had sketched them in my notebook awhile back, from a library book by Angela Walters. I just visited her blog for the first time, and (wow!), noticed some beautiful paisley feathers she has been doing. I saved the link so I can return to check out her video tutorial!

This baby quilt is for Project Linus.
I thought Winnie the Pooh was perfect for the back.
And I found one more orphan patch...

I am pleased to announce that this quilty finish meets my August AYOLF goal (#49) and I can link up with Fiber of all Sorts Finishes Party!

Over the weekend, I will be visiting and linking up as well with Friday Finishes:

 

TGIFF, held this week at Ms. Midge,

 

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

 

Thank you so much for reading today, hope you have a terrific holiday weekend!

Surprised by my New Sister - Swap Package Received!!

Just as I was packaging the gifty creation for my Secret Sister, the postman rang my doorbell with a surprise for me! What great timing!
Heather, from A Reformed Heath'n, has been stalking me this summer!

When I opened the Mini, and caught my breath, I was really surprised because it resembles my business card a bit, except much better. But, I thought, has she ever seen my card? Then I thought about the Aurifil BOM I have been doing in this color combo, as well as this months' AYOLF goal. I love the colors, but really had not realized I have been favoring them like I have.

 Funny, right?





The Canning Jar Cozy, as I have named it, was actually the first thing I opened and fondled, and I immediately welled up a bit. I have never received such a nice package like this, and it felt a bit emotional. I really love it and want to make some of these! Heather quilted it with swirls all around, and it fits perfectly snug but still slides off for washing.
Other goodies were stashed inside: a super-cute pattern, a bracelet made for a quilter (that reminds me of some really great years!), and I think the metal magnet box is for needles??

I twice remember tearing up when packing a quilty surprise for the mail. In May I sent SEW STAUNCH! as a surprise mini, in honor of the late Kathreen Ricketson. Then in June I finished a 30 year-old orphan block found at a yard sale, and returned it to it's maker. Both instances, I was quite compelled, and then excited to mail them!

'It's a Sister Thing's Secret Pal Swap' has been really fun!
The Swap is the brainchild of Michele at Quilts From My Crayon Box and we Sister's have her to thank for hooking us all up!

 

 

Walk of Shame - 10 Quilty Little Secrets

Ten Quilty Quirks I am only somewhat ashamed to admit:

1. I personally like the Aurifil ad campaign. I am a long time fan of their thread, and I take it in good humor. I live in Vegas, and Yes, I even enjoyed The Thunder from Down Under Show.

2. Call it a Pet Peeve, but pets are not allowed anywhere near my fabric.

3. Fabric stored in plastic makes me cringe.

4. I try not to let Holiday Hoop-la distract me. I prefer functional projects - I dig tree skirts and holiday quilts, but holiday crafting in general I avoid.

5. Quilting is expensive and I cannot possibly keep up with all the trends. I try to stick with my own ideas and let my stash speak to me. Inevitably I end up with new fabric and projects though - swaps and such ;-) Blogland is so full of evil temptation!

6. Sometimes blogging feels a bit superficial to me. I have never bought a lottery ticket and I very rarely gamble, but I love hosting giveaways and you know I love to win fabric too. Isn't it all a big fabric swap in a way? Some sort of innate thrill vested in us by previous generations of fabric hoarders and swappers. Anyway, I like connecting with other quilter's, and just like quilting - fabric and friendships are about quality rather than quantity.

7. I quilt alone. Packing my machine to guild, or class, just doesn't appeal to me. I have dreamt of founding a Co-op for quilter's with a dreamy, mega-studio . Perhaps open 24hrs. And a lap pool in the back, with a swim-up bar. And all the boys from the Burrito Quilt Calendar are invited.

8. I quilt alone even when Captain Morgan is invited.

9. My most valued resource while learning to quilt was , and still is, the library. I have never purchased a new pattern. Magazines are probably my #1 favorite resource over the years, although the technical articles seem like they have declined. Is quilting dumbing down?

10. I don't care for quilting gadgets. I would like to try the slider, though it's a pricey piece of plastic and I doubt I will ever do it.  I really don't mind if they bury me with my hair clips.
Anything that eats into my fabric budget is taboo for me. I wanted to ask for my money back after taking my first-ever quilting class last year. Very disappointed when leaving, and all I could think of was the 7+ yards of fabric I could have purchased with the money. I liked the teacher and her work, and I like her books, but I felt a bit foolish with my money, and my time that day.

Amy, over at 13 Spools has provided a linkup where you too can confess bitch  moan share:

Starting the week with BOM's Away!

Our weekend was spent catching up on household stuff.
Finally, it looks like a normal week ahead!

A quick share to start the week, here is my August BOM for the Aurifil Designer Series.

 Button Block is designed by Michele Foster - Link to Aurifil to check out Michele's interview and the free pattern link! I will share it with their Flickr Group and cross my fingers I win a thread bundle this month ;-D

Although it has been a challenge finding time for sewing this month, I have managed to complete my two main goals. I look forward to posting my Sister Swap project soon, and here is a preview of Time Flies, my finish for 100 Quilts for Kids.

Need to get this photographed for a post this week!

Linking up today with Lyn at What a Hoot, for BOM's Away!

August Goals!

A quick post to share my goal quilt with Fiber of all Sort's linky party, A Lovely Year of Finishes!

This month, I plan to finish at least one quilt for the 100 Quilts for Kids campaign, hosted by Heather at Quilts in the Queue. Heather is determined to surpass 200 donated quilts this year and she has lined up a lot of support (great prizes!), quilts are already being linked up by quilter's donating to various charities of their choice.

I enjoy donating baby quilts for Project Linus. In anticipation of this year's event, I have already prepared a top to quilt, and named it 'Time Flies'. It is made of leftover patchwork, with spinners and hourglasses, and the quilt has some good negative space that I plan to use for at least one new-to-me FMQ pattern.

Winnie the Pooh will be perfect for the backing! He seems to be looking wonderously at a leaf...