I started working on a new project yesterday.... a small wall hanging for the 2013 Mennonite Hunger Relief Auction.  It's held in late September and I have donated a quilt or hanging for the past 4 years.  This year, I decided to go small.  Really small.  These blocks are 4" finished and have 37 pieces in them!  Although the pattern is easy, it still took me about 2 hours to make just one block. 

 

 

 

Sorry about the poor picture quality.  I have a new photo editing program and I'm still in the learning curve.  This block is actually perfectly square, but the tips are not laying flat on my board which makes it look distorted. 

 

 

 

 

This is one of those projects that you have to walk away from and change pace once in awhile.  It does get tedious.  I'm only doing four main blocks, some smaller PP sashing blocks, and then the border.  I has to be hand quilted to be donated in this particular auction..... I hate to hand quilt with my terrible arthritis...... but I will only be quilting the outer borders and maybe a spot or two in the blocks.  I'll just have to see how it goes.  I may also tat a border around the perimeter of the blocks too.  Most of this is just up in the air and I'm designing as I go, hoping for a happy ending.  Hmmm....... 

 

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......

 

 

I stopped in one of our thrift shops the other day and found this little steal for only $3.00.  I love old sewing machine attachments and goodies.  This box was taped shut.... (unfortunately, with a scotch-type tape) ..... and I ended up removing a little bit of the box hide to get the tape off and open the box. 

 

 

This is what I found inside the box.  Lots of attachments and they are all in good shape.  The box did not include the foot that the attachments attach to..... make sense?  I may already have that foot in some of my other sewing machine implements.... I'll have to take a look. 

 

 

Also in the box..... I saved the best for last....... were these screwdrivers and awl.  These will be loved and used often.  What a great buy for $3.00!

 

 

I hope you find some unexpected treasures today!

Follow me with Bloglovin"

 

For what it's worth..... I have added a button on my sidebar to follow me via bloglovin'.  I'm still not the least bit clear about this whole changeover.... but I needed to keep up with the trend.  I joined with just my email..... not through Facebook, so if you are like me and don't want any more things running on your FB page than necessary, you can join and follow through email.

(Good grief ..... why did they mess with Google and something that worked so well?!)

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!

 

 

Tammy Bag Blog Hop

Hello Everyone! 

 

 

Today is the last day of the Tammy Bag Blog Hop and my day to show you my creation. 

I wasn't sure I was going to be able to get this bag finished because of health issues and computer issues.  I'm writing this post early (it's hopefully scheduled for the proper day to publicly post) just in case my laptop takes its' last breath. 

I must thank Madame Samm for this blog hop (nothing new about that)..... but this time, she is also hosting the hop and has  designed the pattern that we all used to make our Tammy bags.  If you are interested in making a Tammy Bag yourself, click here to find the pattern in Madame Samm's Craftsy Store. 

There have been some really beautiful and creative Tammy Bags in this hop..... tons of eye candy!  Here's the list of the other bloggers that are sharing their bags with us today.  Please stop by each blog and admire their Tammy Bags!
  

Felicia

Dawn

Carol

Britt-Inger

Kiera
Sharon
Jeanie (ME)
Mandy
Theresa
Mdm Samm

Here's my Tammy Bag!  I had this fabric in my stash and found the purse clasp at Joann's, so the cost was only a few dollars.  For the most part, I more or less followed the directions provided.  This pattern does have lots of room for personalization and making it your own.  I chose these cute Jazz Cats for my Tammy purse.  My pictures are not great and don't quite show the exact color of the fabric.  It's more of a royal blue with a purple cast.

Large, lined pockets on both sides on the outside.......

 

Large, lined pockets on both sides of the inside......
 

 

I don't know how I'm going to use this bag just yet, but I thought I'd show it with some maracas.  The bag is large enough for many uses......I'm just not sure what mine will actually be housing. 

Thanks so much for visiting today!  I'm hoping that I'll be able to sew and be more active in Blogland soon.  I surely do miss my sewing machine!

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!

 

My humble, heartfelt gratitude to all

who serve and have served....

It's For The Birds Blog Hop

My day has arrived to show you my birdie project.  I really enjoyed visiting all of my fellow birdie bloggers last week and I know this week will be just as inspiring.  I hope you've been hopping along too!  The list of bloggers that are joining me today are listed at the end of this post.  Please fly on over to each of them!

 

 

I must always mind my manners and start my blog hop posts with HUGE thank you's to our hostess, Mary, and to Madame Samm, the overall chief cook and bottle washer of all of these hops.  They both have put in endless hours to keep this blog hop moving along without a hitch. Thank you, thank you!

 

 

As usual, I didn't know what I was going to make and had to sleep on it for a few days.  I'm one of those people that finds inspiration while dreaming.  Sometimes I don't remember the dream, but I remember the solutions to my issues.  It's not a fail proof system, but it often works.

 

I came up with a kind of fantasy forest with birds and trees in fun, happy colors.  I knew that I was going to use some sort of inspirational quote and found one that I really liked.  This wall hanging measures 21" x 26"..... a fairly good sized hanging. 

 

 

 

Here's the quote I chose.  I think you'll be able to read it quite clearly on your monitor. 

 

 

 

A close up of one of my birdies....one that is holding up one end of the quote quilt.  I made their eyes and their tales out of beads.  The tails are strung on wire, shaped in the loops, then tacked in two spots.  I just wanted a little dimension to go along with the dimension of the quote quilt (say that quickly five times!).

 

 

 You know that I had to include a cat in my project somewhere.  I had some fabric that had cat faces in a diamondy shape that really looked like they were peering out of knot holes.  Even though the scale is goofy, I had to include them in my forest and hide them in the trees. 

 

 

I'm not sure who is the most concerned..... the cats watching the birds or the birds watching the cats!  In my fantasy forest, they all live in harmony!

 

 

 

 

I also wanted to show you another use for Wonder Clips.  I was wrestling with the quote quilt,  twisted ribbons, and the heart buttons......things were slipping and sliding and I couldn't get a handle on things until I used my Wonder Clips to hold everything together while I sewed all of the layers.  It worked seamlessly!

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed your stroll through my fantasy forest.  I've enjoyed your company and hope that you will come back soon!

 

 

 Now keep the momentum going and hop over to these other bloggers today.  Let them know how much you

appreciate their great projects!

 

http://www.quiltsmiles.blogspot.com

http://sewdarnquilt.blogspot.com

www.cindycraftycreations.blogspot.com

http://madebymeinred.blogspot.com

http://featheredneststudio.com

http://cmyprims.blogspot.com

http://ukcitycrafter.wordpress.com

www.gracieoliverarts.blogspot.com (this is me!)

http://quilterinthecloset.blogspot.com

http://quilttotheedge.blogspot.com

http://aroundthehomestead.blogspot.com

http://sewpeacetopeace.blogspot.com

www.caliquilter.com/blog/

http://pamela-kieffer.blogspot.com

 

It's almost time for the "It's For The Birds Blog Hop!" 

 

It begins this Tuesday, May 7th and continues through

May 15th.....no week ends. 

 

Here's the full schedule of all of the participants.  It's a huge flock of bloggers, each making their own creations with a bird theme.  My day is May 13th and I hope you'll check out the project I made that came from my own little bird brain!

 

Tuesday, May 7

 

http://www.fiberbabble.com

http://Sewincrediblycrazy.blogspot.com

www.SquawkThat.com

http://Scrapatches.blogspot.com

http://Kwiltypleasures.blogspot.com

www.sowingstitches.blogspot.com

www.justquiltit.blogspot.com

http://krislovesfabric.blogspot.com

http://apassionforapplique.blogspot.com

http://dancingmoon-carla.blogspot.com

http://bumbleberrystitchn.wordpress.com

http://Sewandsowfarm.blogspot.com

http://Ipiece2-Mary.blogspot.com

http://sharon-dancingthruthreads.blogspot.com

http://www.iliketoquiltblog.blogspot.com/

http://catsnqlts2.blogspot.com

Wednesday, May 8

http://sunshinequilting.blogspot.com

http://feltfree-p.blogspot.no

http://busyascanbe.blogspot.com

http://quiltdoodledesigns.blogspot.com

http://buzzingandbumbling.blogspot.com

http://patchouli-moon-studio.blogspot.com

http://ecoughlindesigns.blogspot.com

http://mywhittleadventures.blogspot.com

http://SewMuch2Luv.blogspot.com

www.natilittlethings.blogspot.com

http://justletmequilt.blogspot.com

http://ncweekendquilter.blogspot.com

http://Selinaquilts.blogspot.com

http://saneandcrazy.blogspot.com

http://abis-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com

http://roseprairiequilts.blogspot.com

http://marlarockscrafts.blogspot.com

 

Thursday, May 9

http://englating.se/wp

http://lauraluvsloons.blogspot.com

http://marjoriesbusycorner.blogspot.ca

http://ruffhaven.blogspot.com

www.pigtalesandquilts.com

http://debbykratovilquilts.blogspot.com

http://why-knot-kwilt.blogspot.com

http://beaquilter.com

http://gwenbru.blogspot.com

http://pccrafty.blogspot.com

http://pumpkinpatchquilter.blogspot.com

http://sherry-blessingsfromournest.blogspot.com

http://zellerwear.blogspot.com

http://crafting365days.blogspot.com.au

http://charlottescreationsanew.blogspot.com

http://Janesquilting.blogspot.com

http://Ipiece2-Mary.blogspot.com Robin Sheaffer

Friday, May 10

http://ssparrowinflight.blogspot.com

http://Hillvalleyquilter.blogspot.se

http://mcsqrd.blogspot.com

http://loveitsewit.blogspot.com

http://piecepeacenc.blogspot.com

http://grammieq.blogspot.com

http://meadowbrook-Kristen.blogspot.com

http://scrapbook-ChickADoodle.blogspot.com

www.craftyshenanigans.blogspot.co.uk

http://Stitchingbythebeach.blogspot.com

www.thebusybeequiltshop.blogspot.com

http://morestarsincomanche.blogspot.com

http://lesquilts.blogspot.ca

http://suebeesworld.blogspot.com

http://mtnmommy2.blogspot.com

www.thatlookslikeitneedsstitches.blogspot.com

http://www.freshcutquilts.com

Monday, May 13

http://www.quiltsmiles.blogspot.com

http://sewdarnquilt.blogspot.com

www.cindycraftycreations.blogspot.com

http://madebymeinred.blogspot.com

http://featheredneststudio.com

http://cmyprims.blogspot.com

http://ukcitycrafter.wordpress.com

www.gracieoliverarts.blogspot.com

http://cateslinens.blogspot.com

http://quilterinthecloset.blogspot.com

http://quilttotheedge.blogspot.com

http://aroundthehomestead.blogspot.com

http://sewpeacetopeace.blogspot.com

www.caliquilter.com/blog/

http://pamela-kieffer.blogspot.com

 

Tuesday, May 14

http://www.intheboondocks.blogspot.com

http://mychellem.blogspot.com

www.thimblemouseandspouse.blogspot.com

www.quiltingandsewingarts.com

http://Sewgratefulquilts.wordpress.com

www.aquiltingsheep.com

http://tricia-ramblingsofaquilter.blogspot.com

http://sewmanyyarns.blogspot.com

www.moosestashquilting.blogspot.com

http://bethstrand.wordpress.com

http://quiltoo.blogspot.com

http://teatimecreations.blogspot.ca/

http://secretlystitching.blogspot.gr/

Wednesday, May 15

http://cariboucrossingchronicles.blogspot.ca

www.notionnanny.blogspot.com

http://crookedgulleyartquilts.blogspot.com

http://Karamino.blogspot.com

http://celticthistlestitches.blogspot.com

www.sewmolliesue.com

http://devotedquilter.blogspot.com

http://mystitchin-n-stuff.blogspot.com

www.quiltscapesqs.com

http://kocanquilt.blogspot.com

http://createinthesticks.blogspot.com

http://quiltingwithterryandthecats.blogspot.com

http://Sewwequilt.com

Here's a little tease of my project.  The backside.  As of this posting, it isn't finished and I need to really focus to get it ready for it's debut on the 13th!

 

 

 

And on another note..... here's a tree that I have on my tiny patch of land in the back yard.  It's in its full glory right now and the scent, as you walk by, is intoxicating.  This tree was a gift from a friend and I planted it many years ago.  It continues to bring lots of pleasure each year.  Oh.... it's a Red Jade Weeping Crab Apple, for those who are interested.  

 

 

 

 

Close up of the flowers......mmmmmmmmm

 

 

 

Finally, here's my "all season" Christmas Cactus.  It's been blooming off and on for most of the year and has quite a batch of blooms on it today. 

 

Hope to see you back here on the 13th. Please visit the other blog links above to see some wonderful, creative, bird themed projects!  I guarantee these bloggers will inspire and amaze you!