A couple of finishes...well almost.

Hello friends!

Thank you for your concern and well wishes during my recent health scare.  I am eating and feeling so much better.  I will see the doctor on Tuesday and find out exactly what I can and can't eat.
We have had a few busy weekends here.  With father's day and my sister's birthday and a Brewer game June went fast!  When I wasn't feeling very good I was still able to bind a couple of quilts.  I have 1 of the 3 completed with label and washing.  The other one is bound just needs a label and washing.  The third one is my big Swoon and needs binding, label and washing.  Here are a few pictures of the finished ones.

This is the Merry Mayhem Mystery Quilt from January 2014.  I can't believe I have this all finished!  I love it!  It is made from scraps but I did buy the border and backing fabric.  You can't really tell in the picture but the backing is a lime green with white flowers. Love!

This is a quilt I put together from a fat 8th bundle last summer.  The pattern is called Cobblestone Path and I believe it's from Moda.  The fabric is Cheep Talk from Connecting Threads and I backed it in this fun green with white dots.  My dear friend Charisma quilted both of these quilts for me.  She does such a wonderful job.  She sure does have a gift for creativity.  I am blessed by her.

Today will be a low key day.  Going to a graduation party and then I'm going to do some sewing.  My local guild is doing a block lotto for July and I think I might have the colors to join in.

Hope you all are enjoying these last days of June!

Blessings

Amy

Not much sewing going on...ill

Well I really wish I had some things done to show but I have been out of commission.  June 12 I was in so much pain in my lower left stomach I actually had to go to the doctor.  For those that know me I am very rarely sick so it had to be bad.  I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis.  It's an infection and inflammation of the colon.  I was given 2 antibiotics and have to go back July 1.  I have been eating very little but now that the meds are done I feel like I have to eat more.  It's just scary to know what I can and can not eat.  I will probably never again eat popcorn, berries and corn.  Popcorn was my favorite food.  Now prunes are. :(  I am actually starting to feel like my old self again.  I really think the medicine did a number on my system.

As you read in a previous post I am doing a doll swap from facebook.  My partner loved what I sent and today I received mine from her.

I love it all.  A doll quilt and a grocery bag!  I love it!  I am so glad I decided to join this little swap.  I am trying things I have never done before.  I don't do a lot with batiks and I have never done a label before.  And I free motion quilted for the first time.  July's swap is Christmas in July.  I can't wait!

I do have 1 of 3 tops bound and labeled.  I need to finish the other two.  But first I am going to do some cleaning and organizing.  I am tired of not finding things when I need them.

Hope you all have a blessed week!

Amy

June and a finish!

Hello!

Happy June!  Most of the schools are out already but my son is still in school until 10am on Thursday.  He is frantically studying for finals.  He starts his first job on Monday so he was in need of a car.  My friend found this on craigslist and we couldn't pass it up.

It's a 2000 Subaru Outback.  He was totally surprised. :)

I have not done too much sewing lately.  I am going to try and spend some of the summer with out my son home to organize and work again on UFOs.  I did join a Doll Quilt Swap on facebook that was organized by my friend Charisma.  My partner was Donna and she asked for purple and batiks.  Two of the things I do not have much of.  But that was no problem as my local quilt store has a wide variety of things.  I have a book with patterns for charm packs called 3 Times the Charm by Me and My Sister Designs.  I chose the Amanda pattern.

We were able to show them already and she loves it.  I actually do too.  I am so proud of this piece.  It is my first time free motion quilting.  There are places that may look like I was drinking and sewing but overall I am very happy with this!  I can't wait until next month to get another partner and make another one. 

This week I am going to work on bindings.  My dear friend Charisma has finished my three quilts and sent them back.  I need to get the bindings made and get them done.  I hope to put my Swoon quilt in our guilds quilt show that we have been asked to attend.  I have a meeting Thursday so we will see what they say.

Other than that I am going to work on cleaning up my sewing area and finishing more projects from years ago.  I do have a few new patterns to try but I have to finish at least three things first!

Blessings

Amy

Nordika

I am back to sewing!  I have had a few very busy weeks.  With all of the funerals and visits and then throw in my birthday on Monday, it's been busy.  I have celebrated now for 6 days straight.  I have some of the best friends in the world.  I am one lucky girl.  Ok, back to sewing.

I bought a fat quarter bundle of Nordika by Jeni Baker last year.  They had fabric launch party for her at my local quilt store and I went to check it out.  The colors are so rich and the fabric is so soft I just had to have some.  So I bought a bundle and the next day I had an email that I had won a bundle too!

I found a pattern in a British magazine called Popular Quilting.  The pattern is called Helsinki Square Dance and was easy to cut and sew.  It has over 400 pieces in it and measures 53x72.  I added the white and grey.

I am going to back it in the grey, black and white circles.  Not sure of the binding yet.

Tonight was the launch party for Jeni's new line-Dreamin' Vintage.

It totally looks like vintage sheets.  Tonight she was telling us about the daisies and how she photographed them in Madison and then computerized them.  So the daisies you see are Madison grown! I love that.  I bought a few fat quarters to make some small projects with.  This fabric is so soft!

Other than that I have made a few little coin purses.  I do have some aprons on my list.  And, when I get the 3 back from my long-armer I will have to bind them.  But other than that I don't have anything big on my list.  There are a few quilts I would like to try but I think I am going to try to finish some small things first.  I will update my 'to finish' list soon.

Blessings

Amy

Cancer sucks!

This is a personal post and I will not be offended if you don't read it.

The last two weeks have been awful.  My dear friend lost her husband.  He was diagnosed with melanoma the second week in March.  Had surgery to remove a tumor and went through radiation.  Last Friday, a blood clot formed in his leg and went to his heart.  They did everything they could for him but God has other plans.  This has really broken my heart.  They are good people and do not deserve this.  I had gone down to see my friend on Sunday.  It was very hard.  Then on Tuesday was the wake so my sister, son and I went to that.  They live near Rockford, Il and that is about and hour and a half away from me.  I was glad to be able to pay my respects.
On Wednesday my mom called to say that my cousin Heidi passed away too.  She had sarcoma.  They found a tumor in her leg about 16 months ago.  She was only 26.  So on Tuesday we are going to say good bye to her.  They live about 2 hours north of us.  She always had a smile on her face.  She would remember your name even if you hadn't seen her in years.  I had only seen her once many years ago and did not remember her name when we saw her at the zoo in Madison.  She knew us though!  She is my cousin's step daughter.  He took care of her when she got ill.
Also that night my sister learned that her high school biology partner also has melanoma.  He is 32 years old.  He has gone through as much treatment as he can.  He is married with a young daughter.
As I write this I am aware that today is Good Friday.  I never feel worthy of God's love on this day.  I am blessed to know that he does love me though. If you are a prayer warrior we really could use some prayers.  I know I will be praying for all of the families affected by this awful disease.
May you feel God's blessings today and always!
Happy Easter
Amy

Sewing break

Hello Friends

I have been taking a break from sewing for about a week now.  I have picked up crocheting Sashay scarves.  You can just search for it on Pinterest or You Tube.  I do not crochet very much.  I really only know how to chain stitch.  But these scarves are super easy.  If you can count to 10 you can make a scarf.  I have made 6 in the last 2 days.  I can usually make 2 in 1 hour and 45 minutes.  I recommend if you need a break to try this easy, fast and fun project.

I am glad that I have something new to work on as I need an easy project right now.  Tonight I learned of the passing of my friends husband.  On my last post I asked for prayers as they had just discovered his cancer.  He was home and doing well but had shortness of breath.  They found he had blood clots in his legs today.  His passing was sudden and very unexpected.  I am in shock.  So please pray for this family and hug your loved ones.

Blessings

Amy

I'm still here!

So sorry for the delay.  I have been sewing and not sewing for a while.  Thought I would bring you up to speed on what I have been doing.  My dear friend Charisma sent me her Amy Butler fabric to make a Swoon quilt.  After 20 hours the top is done!

I just love the colors in this!  I am sending her my Swoon to quilt and two others.  I can't wait to see what she does with them.  I will be posting them when I get them back.
I am also using some of her scraps to make two extra things.  Can't tell you what they are yet because she may be a reader here.  Other than that I have been doing a lot of quilt magazine reading.  I am addicted to Quilty and Love Patchwork and Quilting.  The LPQ mag is from the UK and I can get it at my local book store.  The Quilty mag I have on pre order and it gets delivered every two months.
I have had to do a lot of things with my son lately.  College prep things and wisdom teeth removal.  Not all fun. :(  I am going to finally get my labels on my finished quilts and get those washed and ready for selling or gifting.

My next project which is my continuing project is cutting up more fabric into scrappy sizes. I don't have a vision yet on what to do with them but I want them ready when I do.  Hope to be back here soon with some more finishes.

I am also asking for prayers for a dear friend of mine.  I met her on a quilt blog and we have become very close.  The beginning of this month her husband was diagnosed with Melanoma in his brain.  They are currently going through treatment in Chicago.  If any of you have the time and pray please say a few for my friends.  Thank you!

Blessings
Amy