Summer Bounty From My Garden

Why can’t I get color like this every month of the year?

Thanks to my little helpers, who helped “cut” to flowers.

Catch up on Blocks

I got behind on my blocks.  I spent two weeks catching up in my limited free time.  I am so thankful I got caught up since I’ve got vacation, birthdays, weddings, first days of school, etc., coming up at the end of summer and fall.

A spider block.  I did one in the spring for the bee, and once I did one, this one was easy.

The Easy Virginia Star.  She wanted it to look nostalgic.  I did paper piecing for this thinking it would be easy.  I have paper pieced before and found it very quick.  However, this pattern I found challenging and time consuming, and I had to modify it when I made a mistake.  Can you tell?  

And, something to represent a circle for Stephanie.  I appliquéd it on.   I am still not very confident or patient with curved seams.   I love her fabric choices.

Good news is it’s my turn for PTQB!  I am so excited to see what sort of blocks come back.   It was a lot of work getting all the 19 fabric envelopes ready to go out, but it will be fun to see the returns.   I am thankful to all those other ladies out there who will be making blocks for me.

Summer

Dear Blog,

Summer is here. Can you tell? I've been quiet here. Too busy playing outside with the kids to do any crafting on my own. My list still exists. I still want to sew a dress for Corinne, curtains for Nathan, finish making his room a boy room, curtains for my dining room, finish painting that bench and that rocking chair. Pretty much everything I had on my new year's resolution. Ha! The fun days of summer have gotten in my way.

I am only able to keep up with my quilting blocks for the quilting bee. Two of 3 that are on my to do list are done. The last should be finished this weekend and all 3 in the mail next week. Hopefully I remember to take a picture to post here and on flickr.

Colleen’s block

I finished Colleen’s block over the weekend.  I really love the way it turned out.

She gave us a lot of discretion on how to put it together.  I had a creative block for a few days, but then remembered this quilt from Ashley, at Film in the Fridge.  When I remembered that, I thought it would go well with all the very cool colors and shapes in the fabrics Colleen chose.

The square was slightly short of the requested 12.5”, so I hope that Colleen has some solid to wrap around the edge.  I think wrapping it in the dark blue of the center will really make it stand out.

I’d like to try this method again, in a small quilt.

On to other things…remember my list of things to do?  Well, I finished both the blocks (One really turned out horrible…so bad that I will not post about it), and the dress to be done by 6/15…not even started!  I went to my local library on Friday, picked up some books with the kids, and one for myself. 

Talk about a phenomenal book.  I have not been able to put this down.  If it wasn’t for taking care of the kids/house/laundry/work, I would have completed this book in 2 days. 

I have not really sat and read a book for quite a while.  I kept trying, but could not seem to get into the books I picked up.  It’s so nice to curl up and enjoy a good book again. 

Back to my page…

Giveaway winners

What a fun few days - a lot of you commented on my giveaways.

I used this random number generator to determine the winners. The lucky winners are #16, Stacey, for the cape, and #33, Lara, for the Onesi set. Congratulations!

Thanks for stopping by.

Next items on my list...

Wow, you guys have been awesome about commenting on this cape! I can't wait to see who wins it. I will do the drawing tomorrow evening and post the winner then.

This weekend I have gotten a little sewing in. I made 4 more capes! One for both of my kids, one for my nephew, and one for another little guy who turned 3. They all seemed to get a kick out of them.

I also finished a block, for the Pieced Together Quilting Bee. Just the last April block I had to do....now I have two May blocks waiting for me and I KNOW this week I will have two June blocks in the mail. I have GOT to get on top of those!

I hope to finish the May blocks quickly and get onto the Summer Dress Sew Along hosted by Stephanie. I have a deadline...that should help. I'd like to make a dress from this book, I think the one on the cover. I have some Amy Butler fabric waiting for me in my stash.

After I finish a dress for me, I'd really like to finish Nathan's room. Poor guy...he's been living with Laydbugs and Dragonflies as a leftover from his older sister, when I made all the curtains and bedding. It's time he gets a boy room!

For now, I am off to enjoy this beautiful summer day outdoors in the sun, sipping iced tea, floating in the pool. Ahhh. Cleaning? Sewing? They can all wait. :)

May Giveaway Day! Item #1

Today is the big day all over blogland!  I am participating in the May Giveaway day hosted by Sew Mama Sew.  Check it out for lots of other giveaways.  It’s a great way to check out other people’s blogs, too, and the wonderful handmade things they make.

I have two giveaways.  The post you are reading, and this post. 

Item #1:  I am giving away one of my favorite items to make…a cape for a little one! 

This is the 4th cape I have made using this tutorial from Puking Pastilles, and I am making 4 more this weekend! It's a great tutorial, a great gift, and such an easy thing to make and personalize! 

Details on the cape:  my model is a two year old of average height.  A typical boy and he loves the cape.  The inside is lined with star-covered fabric. 

Close-up of the back.   I forgot to give it a light ironing when I was finished (do you ever get that excited about a finished project?).  I will press it again before I mail it.

Details on the giveaway:

Please comment on this post for a chance to win this cape.  I will randomly choose a winner on June 1.    I will ship within and outside of the U.S. 

Enjoy Giveaway Day!