I've just finished the last block in the Sew Lux BOM series.  Block #12.  This is the series that I did in two different color ways so I now have 24 completed blocks, with two blocks of each pattern.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do with these blocks and even how many I'll end up using.  There were a couple of blocks that I didn't like so I may exclude them.  I'm just glad that I have all of the blocks completed and can decide how to use them....whenever.

 

 

 

Same block pattern, different fabrics.

The 12th and final block arrived last week from the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM series. 

 

Here it is, pieces cut and ready to assemble.  I continue to use my penny system to identify my pieces and it has saved me from many a mix up.

 

 

 

 All assembled and ready to become a quilt.

 

As of last night, I actually have all 12 blocks sashed and sewn together and I'm now ready to add the borders.  Hopefully, I'll get this done and posted quickly.  I really do love all of the blocks and the fabrics that were chosen for this series so I'm excited to get this one finished. 

 

And look..... here's the Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery Block for April.... block #11 out of 12.  One more month and I can finish both of my BOM series.

 

 

I haven't signed up for any more BOM series for the time being.  I have so many other things that should be worked on that I decided to skip a year of BOMs.  I leave this decision "subject to change" if a really great series comes along!

I know I'm not late with these blocks for a change!  Here are April's BOMs from Sew Lux Fabrics.  This is Block #11, so this series is coming to an end with the next block.  Right now, I'm thinking that I'll combine both fabric lines into one quilt, maybe eliminating a couple of blocks that weren't my favorites. 

 

 

 

Same block, different fabrics.

 

 

Here's block #10 in the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month series.  Apparently, the last three blocks will be kind of flowery.  As usual, I just love their block patterns.  Always so unique and creative. 

 

I've also been working on a new quilt using a bright, batik jelly roll.  The blocks are all finished and I'm ready for the sashing and borders.  It will be nice to get this one completed, as I've had the jelly roll over two years.  It's far from my oldest UFO, but it will still feel wonderful to complete.  Phew....

BOM

It's a record for me!  My Sew Lux Boms arrived today and I actually finished both of them and put them on the blog..... all in one day.  Yippee! 

 

Same block, two fabric collections.

 

 

 

 This block is OK but there is very little contrast. 

 

It's sure nice to be on track with this series!

Yippee..... My backlog of BOMs are all finished!  It felt really nice to see that stack of BOMs get smaller and smaller.  The March blocks will be here in another week or so I'm happy to be ready for their arrival.

 

The first two are from Sew Lux Fabrics.  Same block pattern, different fabrics.  The first block has the prettiest combination of fabrics!  I like the unusual version of Flying Geese.

 

 

 

 

The next three blocks are from the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM.  These blocks have just been a joy to put together as each block is so clever and unique.  The first three blocks in this series were baskets, the next three blocks were stars, and now these three blocks are houses.  The common denominator for all of the blocks has been the navy square near the center of each block.  I can't wait to see what the last three blocks will be!

 

 

That's it for today.  We are expecting our next major snow storm to begin Saturday night and I'm planning on getting some sewing done (between shoveling) while waiting it out.  Spring..... where are you?! 

More BOMs were finished today.  I love the fabrics in this first block ... they are so warm, happy, and spring-like!

 

 

 

   Same block.... different fabric.

 

  Another block.....

Different fabric.

And here's a generous giveaway that I won last week from Carol at Just Let Me Quilt!  I won a gift certificate from Quilt Taffy and this is what I bought..... a yard of Ghastlie Christmas fabric and a charm pack.  I was a happy camper to have won this.  If you haven't ordered from Quilt Taffy before, give them a visit.  I ordered this fabric on Friday and it arrived on Monday.  Can't get much faster than that!  Many  heartfelt thanks to Carol and Quilt Taffy!

 

 

Well, back to the BOM sewing.  I still have 5 blocks to make in order to be ready for the next ones that will arrive in early March..... better plug in the iron and get sewing..... 

I'm still nipping away at my stack of BOMs.  Here are the next ones in line from Sew Lux Fabrics .... again.... same pattern, two different fabric lines.

 

 

 

 

To be continued.......

 

I made these blocks yesterday afternoon while the snow was falling.  This is the same block sewn with two different fabric lines.  This BOM series was offered by Sew Lux Fabrics and this is block #4.  Like yesterdays BOM series, I'm very far behind.  I have blocks #5 through #9 piling up in my sewing room.  And this is "times two" since I'm doing the blocks in two color ways. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm done shoveling for the day and now I can focus on more BOMs.  We only got about 5" of snow last night, but it was enough to make shoveling an Olympic event at my house.  I made my first round of shoveling around 6 AM while it was nice and peaceful.  Then I went back out later in the morning to tackle the driveway. 

 

A warm up is on the way for a few days and no more snow is expected until Sunday.  Of course in Indiana, this is subject to change at the drop of a hat (or snowflake). 

 

I let myself get behind on my Designer Mystery BOM series.  Not too far behind.....only two blocks.  I'm now back on target and waiting for November's block to arrive in a few weeks.  I thought this was going to be a basket quilt, since the first three blocks were baskets...... but..... obviously..... these are not baskets. 

 

 

I really love this next star block!

I found a little treasure on Ebay last week..... a vintage sewing kit nestled inside a large, plastic spool of thread. 

 

It separates into three parts......

The lid.....

 

 

The top section..... which has a scissor (this goes through to the bottom layer) , a needle packet--only one needle remains, a button holder with 4 buttons, and a rolled up paper tape measure.  There are two empty slots and I don't know what they would have held.

And the bottom layer...... this holds one small spool of thread and a plastic thimble.  Two other pegs would hold more tiny spools of thread.

 

 What a cute little treasure!

 

Now on to the Sew Lux BOM series.....I'm 4 blocks behind!

I focused on my BOM's this week and finished all three.  The first two are the BOM's from Sew Lux Fabric..... same pattern, two color ways.  The corners were paper pieced so these blocks went together really quickly.  The background fabric is white, even though it seems to have a blue cast on my monitor. 

 

 

 

This block is from The Fat Quarter Shop.  This is the 3rd block in this series and now I'm sure that this is going to be a basket quilt.  So far, all three basket blocks also share that blue square in the center.  Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts designed this block.  I just love these blocks!

 

Before.....

 

 

 

After.....

 

 

 

 

Here's the second block in the Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM.  Since this is also the second basket block, two for two, I'm seeing a potential pattern.  It might be too soon to call, but I'd be really happy with a basket quilt made out of these great fabrics.  We'll see what next month brings!

I finished this month's Sew Lux BOM.  (Yeah... I'm on schedule....two months in a row!)  Again, I'm doing this BOM series with two fabric lines.... same pattern..... different fabrics. 

 

The first block is done with the original fabrics, the fabrics that are shown in the directions.  It came out pretty well without too much trouble.  I like the way the directional middle fabric gives kind of a spinning effect. 

 

 

 

The second block didn't go as smoothly.  I'm not even sure if I have the fabrics in the right places even though they tell you which fabrics are A, B, and C.  I do wish they would enclose a photo of the finished block using the alternate fabrics.  I'm a visual kind of person and I'm not sure if I've put this together correctly or not.  It really doesn't matter, but I do think I'd like the navy on the outside, similar to the first block. 
 

 

I will probably get my Fat Quarter Shop BOM in the mail tomorrow or the next day and I'm actually ready to work on it.  Bring it on!

 

I'm on a roll...... here's Block #1 in the newest Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM!  This is the first in the new series of 12, the June block.  It may be almost the end of June, but I'm still, for this moment in time, caught up.  I love the Avalon fabric line and I thought this was a really nice basket pattern.  OK..... bring on the July block!

 

 

 

And then there were 12........, 12 blocks.  I finally finished the last block in the Designer Mystery BOM series!  I've loved all of the blocks and the fabric selection, which was Vintage Modern. 

 

 

 

 

This is a gallon size baggie filled with all of the leftover fabric from this BOM series.  It weighs almost 2 pounds!  Some of the pieces are small, like the triangles that you cut off of Flying Geese, but there are also larger pieces...... many FQ's and even larger pieces.  I would guess that there are about 5 yards in this baggie, plenty to make many more blocks, use as sashing, or whatever.  This is what has impressed me the most with The Fat Quarter Shop BOM's...... they are so generous with their allotted fabric that you don't have to worry about making a wrong cut.... there's plenty of fabric for a do-over.

 

 

 

 

I'm now ready to start the next Designer Mystery BOM series using the Avalon  fabric line, which I also love.  I've already received Block 1 and Block 2 will be here in a couple of weeks.  I always have good intentions to keep up to date, but life sure has a way of interfering with my sewing time.  We'll see how it goes this time around! 

Another Designer Mystery BOM.  This is the 11th block...... only one to go!  If any of you have made this block, you might notice that my block "swirls" in the wrong direction.  I messed up on the first cut that I made and decided that if I messed up the same way on the next 7 cuts, it would still come out OK..... just backwards.  Anyway, it worked!  Off to make block #12......

 

 

Hope you had a pleasant, relaxing week end.  I didn't get much sewing done, but I did get to spend a little time in my sewing room this afternoon. 

 

First..... here's my sweet Oliver in one of his favorite spots, checking out his backyard turf.  Strictly and indoor cat, he keeps careful watch over his yard and lets me know if there is an uninvited intruder.....AKA- a stray cat or juicy bird.

 

 

 

 

I didn't get caught up with my Designer Mystery BOM series, but I did get one block done. I'm not going to beat myself up for only making one block..... one block is better than none!

 

 

 

 

Here's a little tip that I use to keep things organized while I'm making blocks.  This particular BOM series has a lot of pieces in the blocks and it gets confusing sometimes.  It's easy to pick up the wrong piece.  Many of these pieces are the same size, and even the same fabric, but they go in different places.  I just use pennies with an alphabet sticker pressed on top and place them on the pieces as soon as they are cut.  I use pennies because they are weighty enough that if I have my ceiling fan on, they stay in place....little pieces of paper drift around.  You could use any sticker to write your alphabet or row number, use a label maker..... whatever.  It helps me keep track of the pieces and I make fewer mistakes in construction. 

 

 

 

Happy sewing!

Sewphie and I had a little quality time together yesterday and I was able to work on my Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM series.  I finished Block 7, Block 8, and Block 9.  I'm getting there!  Hope to get 10, 11, and 12 finished today or over the week end..... and then I'm ready to start this year's BOM.  This BOM series runs from June to the following May, so saying "this year's" is a little confusing.  In any case.... there are 12 blocks in the series and I'm behind!

 

 

I haven't had much to post around here lately, but here are a couple of BOM's to show.  At least I've managed to make a few simple blocks. 

 

I just joined the Sew Lux Fabric BOM club.  The link is on my side bar too.  It's their first BOM club and you could join with fabric kits, or just the PDF patterns.  Well..... I just couldn't decide which fabric line I liked best, so I joined two BOM's!  (I did use some restraint.... there is a third fabric line to choose from too....PB & J!)  This block was made with Happy Go Lucky fabric.  I just love the bright colors.

 

 

 

 

 Here's the same block pattern, using Honey, Honey fabric.  So far, I like the first one the best.

 

 

 

 

This BOM fabric just came in the mail Friday and is the 2013 Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM.  I joined this club last year, as well, but have not finished all of the blocks.  I'm going to make a point of getting last year's blocks done before starting this new BOM series..... at least that's the plan!

 

Hope you'll join me in one or more of these BOM clubs..... it's always a nice surprise to find the next BOM kit in your mailbox each month!