Shake off those Winter Blues!

It's another Monday, a new week with new challenges, new tasks, and a new blog hop!  The focus is on Blue with the Winter Blues Blog Hop, hosted by Carla of Creatin' In the Sticks.  I'll be posting on that for Tuesday and I can't wait to share my project with you.

Then on Wednesday I'll be sharing what I got in my first Island Batik Ambassador Box for 2020 - so much quilting goodness!

Speaking of goodness I was happy to get an order from Fabric.com this week - it all started with a yard of linen that is going to be made into an artist apron for one of my daughters.  Then I needed a yard of Island Batik for something I'm working on, and then they had a really good sale on some other pretty fabrics plus I found the coordinating fabric for yet another project, and by that time I might as well order one more yard of something for free shipping! 

I think I ended up with a total of 9 yards of fabric for $50.00, so a very good deal, and I will put it all to good use.  I need to keep a list of backings for all my UFO's that I'm working on so I can purchase those when I need to level up an order for free shipping next time.

I didn't do very well last week on working on the projects I planned to work on, but I did get a lot done on some other projects.  This week I'll do better!  I did get one block done for Crazy Jane.  I cut out the templates for another one, but ended up dumping water on them, so I need to make a new set.  Will I ever learn?

I also got a pattern written up last week, so that's one of my goals for the month.  Friday night I taught a class for a friend.  We used Mod Podge to glue fabric on the back of clear plates.  They came out really pretty!

This clever lady brought a sticker to add words to hers!  I'm not much for glue or paint, but this was actually pretty fun! 

This weekend I worked on the sashing for the 2019 Color Challenge - so fun!  Lots of sewing, but totally worth it!

Isn't this sooo gorgeous?  That black and white sashing just takes this quilt to a whole new level, I think!  You can read more about the sashing here.  I used all Island Batik from my scrap bin for this quilt, plus the solid black and white for the sashing - love how crisp it presses for those checkerboards!

Jen is starting a new 2020 Color Challenge this month, so you might want to sew along.  It's really easy, just a block a month and at the end you have a quilt!  Great for using up scraps and just having fun!  This year's blocks are inspired by birds.  I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy playing along with her.

I'll be back on Tuesday with the Winter Blues blog hop - here's the schedule for the week:

Monday, January 20th

Just Let Me Quilt

Bumbleberry Stitches

QuiltFabrication

Mary Mack Made Mine
VROOMANS QUILTS
Just Because Quilts
Kathleen McMusing

Den syende himmel
Beaquilter

Tuesday, January 21st

Quilted Delights

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Farm Quilter

Homespun Hannah's Blog
Elizabeth Coughlin Designs
Quilting & Learning: What a Combo
Life in the Scrapatch
PamelaQuilts
Home Sewn By Us

Wednesday, January 22nd

Little Bunny Quilts

For the love of geese

The Joyful Quilter

Ms P Designs USA
Quilt Schmilt
Karen's Korner
Made By Marney
Podunk Pretties
Sunshine in the Attic

Thursday, January 23rd

Websterquilt

Songbird Designs

Cynthia's Creating Ark

Storied Quilts
Patchwork Breeze
Seams To Be Sew
HeARTsCreations
Becky’s quilts and adventures
DesertSky Quilting

Friday, January 24th

MooseStashQuilting
Selina Quilts
LimeLeaves Design
Karrin's Crazy World
Sew Many Yarns
Domestic Felicity
DayBrook Designs

Creatin' in the Sticks

Have a great Monday!

Wednesday WIPs - 8-14

Obviously I have my moments of being technologically challenged - I’ve been updating some past blog posts, and somehow this one decided it wants to be a new post!  (And it may well be a new post to many of you!).  I’ve updated the links, plus added a sign up for my 2020 Quilt Along at the bottom of my post, so you’ll want to check that out as well...so enjoy this post from 2013!

Despite having a super busy week last week I did manage to start and finish a project!  We got in a new book and ruler at Threads That Bind, and Sharan asked me to play around with it and see if it might be fun for a class or two.  After playing with it, I definitely vote yes.  Although I've been avoiding buying any more new rulers because I simply have so many of them, the Triangler is a ruler that I think I would use a lot - plus you can use it for more than one quilt design!

I made this charming table runner in just an afternoon (even counting the time spent ripping out 1/2 of it because I thought I was creating a shortcut way of sewing it together...)  I even got it quilted and bound the next day.  I loved the way it was quilted in the book, so I just copied that.Oh, the book is called Angles With Ease - I expect you will see a couple more of the quilts here in the next few weeks :)

And I worked on more Blocks for my Classic Christmas Block of the Month out of these fabrics -

Hope to be as productive this coming week!  At least it won't be as hectic!

As usual - go check the Quiltsy Blog for more WIPs!

Thanks for visiting my blog!  Sign up for my 2019 Quilt Along - Stepping Stones.  This quilt is a great skill builder, are you ready to step up your piecing skills?

Sign Up Here!

Wednesday at the Quilt Shop

Today I spent working at my local quilt shop. I checked in some new fabrics, worked on cutting kits and helped customers. I really love seeing the new fabrics that come in, but it's such a temptation. I always want to make something fun out of them, and right now have at least 4 shop samples on my table that I need to get finished! But I was really good today - I only brought home two fat quartes and a small remnant from the end of a bolt.

I already used the two fat quarters - I sandwiched and quilted them, and I cut the finished sandwich into pieces that I will use to make some checkbook covers, wallets and eyeglass cases for my etsy shop. I decided that I will allow myself to choose two fat quarters a week for this purpose. It's great practice for free-motion quilting.

Speaking of which, my machine seemed to be rattling tonight. I hope it was just the little door to the bobbin area not being closed right. Tomorrow I will give my machine a good oiling and cleaning and hope it sounds all right. I usually do all my own maintenace, which is why I choose machines that are fairly simple and don't have a lot of electronics. So far so good, but I have given this machine a lot of use, so I do realize that eventually I will probably need to have it looked at by a professional. I just hope it isn't soon!