Thankful Thursday

What a week this has been!  In the midst of getting College E ready to head back today and Little S starting tomorrow I held a sewing class at the library yesterday.  Way back when I picked the date I had no idea what the week would be like.  But sewing is my therapy, so all is well!

Learning to use her mother's machine!

We had 5 brand new sewists come to the class.  Little Miss A had sewn with her grandma and had her own machine, but that was a quite a while ago, so she was really starting from scratch along with everyone else.  They were all so excited.  I love the enthusiasm when they first press the pedal and see it go!! First they practiced sewing straight lines on gingham and pivoting at the corners.

Slow & Steady

We talked about different kinds of fabrics and sewing projects.  Also demonstrated the different parts of the machine and dos and don'ts.  I love teaching about using a "spider".  Did anyone else learn about "spiders" way back from Eleanor Burns on TV?

Separating the project from the spider.

Now I use Bonnie Hunter's leaders & enders method, but by starting with the spider the students learn why it is so helpful.  After we get the straight lines down, we will move on to leaders & enders.  They were duly impressed by my X Marks the Spot Quilt which is the result of consistent leadering & ending!

Lots of Leaders & Enders

Then they were pedal to the metal making travel tissue covers.  That is such a fun first project.  Guaranteed success and practical too.  Perfect for Back to School!

Unsewing.  It happens to all of us.

By the end of the class my stress of getting all my girls to the right place at the right time with the right stuff was gone.  I know that if I had stayed home I would not have taken the time to sew, but teaching the class was just what I needed.

Careful straight line stitching

I am so thankful to these ladies of all ages for giving up one of the last afternoons of their summer vacation to learn to sew.

Cowboy Quilt and More

Fabric In:  Nothing at all was added to the stash this week.  Yippee!

Fabric Out:
Cowboy Quilt top is finished.  2.7 yards

Cowboy Quilt

Bright Hexagons got quilted so the backing can get counted out.  2.33 yards

flannel bear backing for bright hexagons

4 more burp cloths for the craft fair.  1.4 yards

Mickey Mouse Burp Cloths

Jungle Animals & Checks

Fabric Purchased since last report: 0 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 71.51 yards

Fabric Acquired since last report: 0 yards

Fabric Acquired YTD: 22.65 yards

Fabric Used since last report: 6.43 yards
Fabric Used YTD: 111.7 yards

Total: 17.54 yards destashed

A better week for fabric getting used.  The Cowboy Quilt progress was a bit of a surprise, but sometimes things are just ready to get done.

Don't forget to check out the August Giveaway.  Help me get more fabric out of the stash.

Kate over at Life In Pieces has challenged us to try to stitch 15 minutes each day.  I had another good week.  I think the end of summer vacation is motivating.

Days stitched since last report: 7/7
Days stitched this year: 200/216
Success Rate: 93%

Linking up to QuiltPaintCreate and Life in Pieces to keep accountable.

August Giveaway

I am nearing the end of my hexagon block journey.  This was an idea that Little S saw and liked.  I have worked away at it as Leaders & Enders for about a year now and am winding down.

Brights pinned and ready to quilt.

The bright hexagon quilt just needs a binding.

Tropicals on the design wall.

The tropical hexagon blocks are done.

Pastels waiting for some friends.

The pastel hexagon block layout is in need of a few more, but there are no more in the precut bag that will work with this color scheme.

So I have decided to give away the remaining precut hexagons.  Many are fussy cut for an I Spy quilt.  Some are from the same fabric.  There are approximately 75 hexagons in total.

Variety of Hexagons

Warning: there were cut with scissors about 15-20 years ago and are not uniform.  The winner may want to trim them down to be smaller uniform hexagons or cut them into squares or take your chances like it did!

Approximate size

Just leave a comment telling what is most unusual block shape or tricky combination you have sewn.

As always thank you for participating.  A winner will be chosen at the end of August.

Giveaway Winner for July

And the winner is ....

Moira!

Moira said:
"Love the panel! Favorite state - Arizona would have to be at the top of that list after spending 30+ yrs there. However, I'm currently in TX where the job and my new house is. I do like TX, and also like to visit Massachusetts (love, love, love Boston!). But really anywhere God decides to place me is where I'm happy being."

I am so glad these cute bears are finding a new home.

Bye Bye Bears!

Thank you to everyone who participated.

Check back soon to see the August Giveaway!

BOM Challenge - Month 8

Good thing I was ahead of things, because this week has been a bit hectic.

But because I had gotten ahead I had also gotten confused about which block was which month.

In July I reported that I had made an extra month 6 to make up the the lack of a month 7.  That wasn't the case at all.  I had month 7 and it was this block.

BOM Month 7

Which made month 8 be the duplicate of month 6.

Bottom line is that I am current and no longer confused.  I have a Month 9 and have it set out to work on next so maybe I will keep it straight for the next month.

Linking up to Jo's Country Junction to show out BOM progress.

Cowboy Quilt is a Flimsy

I am not sure why, but this quilt has always made me think of cowboys.  There were no cowboys or horses or bandanas involved in the making of this quilt, but it still makes me think of cowboys.

It's a flimsy!

I had finished the center a while back and then it waited for just the right borders.  One of my summer thrift store fabric purchases was dark brown and that was just what this quilt needed for an inner border to frame it all up.  I already had the aqua with brown dots for the outer border.  I made square in a square blocks for the corners.

Now to choose a backing.  Auditions will be held this weekend.

Linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict and Busy Hands Quilts to show off finishes.

Thankful Thursday

As our summer vacation comes to an end I can honestly say it was a good one.  We didn't go anywhere.  We didn't do anything out of the ordinary.  We had some major "upsets" at the start of the summer, but it turned out just fine.

I did not get as much accomplished as I imagined I would, but that didn't matter.  The important thing is that I was able to spend time with all of my girls.

Don't feed your sister to the alligator!  2011

Grown Up R works full time, but doesn't live too far away, so we fit in some outings, lunches and dinners.  She is helping with me a side project in her down time and we are in frequent communication about that.  She makes sure to have her sisters over regularly and spend time with them.

College E was home for the summer and I am trying to take full advantage of her being here.   Sometimes it is having her sit on the kitchen counter and tell me how her day went.  Sometimes it is just knowing that she is up in her room.  We even got in a few outings with just the two of us, when Little S was away on her trips.

Little S keeps me young.  I can't go anywhere without her, so I think it was nice for both of us when she had her own trips this summer.  One was a mission trip with her church youth group and the other was a Young Life camp with her after school youth group.  We share a love of musicals, so we will celebrate the end of summer vacation with a local production of "In the Heights."  This might be as close as we get to "Hamilton" so we are excited.  Her sisters are thanking their lucky stars they don't have to go with us!

Sunset on Assateague Island.  2012

I am thankful that my girls truly love each other and being with each other.  No arguing or bickering, not even when they were little.  I am thankful for the uniqueness of each daughter and that what makes them unique is just what our family needs.