Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Cranky and determined - Building Blocks Tuesday

I know, it is Wednesday.  LATE Wednesday.  But I was determined not to post this week until I had actually sewn something!  Forgive me.


Mineral block for Ella


Now, why I chose this block to end my long hiatus from my machine, I will never know.  I mean, yes, I needed to make this mineral block for Ella in the Bee Hive Bee, but wow!  It made me a bit cranky making it.  This is not necessarily a difficult block.  The components are super easy to put together.  Sewing the 3.5 inch components together gets a little more intense if you want things to line up properly.  Really though, it was all the little pieces that got me cranky.  Not including the cutting of all those little 1.25 inch and 1.75 inch squares, it took me a little too long to make this one block.  I should have started out with something easier and more satisfying.  But hey, I guess it IS done and I can cross it off my list of "to do's".

What blocks have you working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.


Quilter in the Closet

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading,

Jen



Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Trapped in a Time Vortex or Am I Lazy? - Building Blocks Tuesday

I must be trapped in a time vortex.  That is the only explanation.  Here it is Wednesday and not only did I forget to post a new link up yesterday, I also never got to sit down at my machine and make anything as I planned to do every day since last Tuesday.  Where does the time go?

I do have some quilty pictures to show you though....

RW&B New York Beauty


Remember this UFO?  My Red, White and Blue New York Beauty.  I got as far as piecing the top together and just put it aside.  Most of my UFO's get to that point and stall.  I think it is because I always have grand plans to quilt my quilts very intensely and I it takes me a while to get up enough energy to actually DO it.  Or I am lazy.  It could very well be that too!

RW&B New York Beauty Quilt


I did not quilt this NY Beauty.  I came to my senses and determined that it may never get finished unless I just let go of it and let someone else quilt it.  This quilt was destined to be a charity quilt from the start, so when Debra, a fellow guild member offered to quilt it up on her longarm in time to finish it for the auction later this month, I said, "YES!".

I think she did a lovely job of it, and I feel pretty great that a pretty quilt of mine will be in the auction this year.  I usually have at least one, but I didn't have anything ready for this year.

Speaking of.....if you are in the Southern California area and fancy a quilty day of fun, please check out our guild's outdoor quilt show and auction.  It is Saturday, September 26th from 10 am to 4 pm in the little town of Blue Jay, CA (near Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear).  It is a great venue, and I love touring the quilts outside.  It gives the experience a completely different feel than if you go to a show in a convention center or museum.  The guild also has a charity auction starting a 1 pm to benefit Camp Paivika, an outstanding camp for handicap people (not just kids).  It always shocks me how little some of the truly amazing quilts sell for.  So if you are looking for quilts at a bargain, the auction could be for you!  Last year we raised over $8,000 for the camp, and our goal this year is $10,000.  I hope you join us!


Before I wrap it up for the week, I wanted to share a pic of our new family member, Reagan.

Reagan and I out for a hike


Our new home is situated near a bunch of hiking and equestrian trails, and going for a hike is one of his favorite things to do.  I keep telling myself that with all these hills, I will be my high school size in no time (it hasn't quite happened as I thought).  He is such a sweet boy.  Still not a huge fan of the hubby, but we have at least reached a point of mutual tolerance.  On the other hand, I thought we had reached that point with the cat too and she has been ambushing Reagan for a whack or two while he sleeps at night.  Poor puppy.  Wish us luck as time goes on.

What blocks have you working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.


Quilter in the Closet

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading,

Jen



Monday, August 24, 2015

Precious pink bunting blocks - Building Blocks Tuesday

Did you all feel that strange rumbling yesterday?  Like a tiny earthquake?  No need to worry, it was just me, doing the happy dance.  The girls returned to school yesterday, and even though it is only half days all this week, I am extremely pleased.

Please don't misunderstand.  I have had a great summer with the girls.  We had a lovely vacation, and for the first summer ever, I didn't schedule them in camps for the rest of their summer.  So, we got plenty of quality time.  However, it has also meant that it looks like we are camping in our new house, as at least half of our stuff is still either in boxes or in random places throughout the house. Time for me to get organized and make this place a home!

Yesterday, we took a big step forward and started having some closets installed in their bedrooms.  The guys should finish up sometime today and I will finally be able to put their clothes and books away in their proper places.  No more shoes in a giant box.  No more books in the dirty laundry hamper.  I will likely be sorting stuff out for the rest of the week, but at least I now have a place to put everything!

I don't have any new blocks to share of my own this week, but as it is my month in the We Bee With It Bee, I have received these adorable bunting blocks from two of my bee mates, Katie and Celeste.  Thank you, ladies!  I'm hoping to make a precious little quilt for Olivia's new PINK room.


Bunting Blocks from Friends


What blocks have you working on this week?  I would love to see.  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  This free linky will stay open until the first Monday of next month, but I will repost it every Tuesday until a new month starts.


Quilter in the Closet

Rules:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful blocks, not just the blog homepage.  Flickr and Instagram pictures are also OK.
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please grab my button and post it in your blog post or sidebar.
4) Visit other linky participants!


Thanks for reading,

Jen