Aunt Carol's Blue Wave Quilt

Wohoo! I made it to my goal and then some for  A Lovely Year of Finishes.  My goal was to back and quilt the blue wave quilt and I was even able to get the binding on and totally finish it.

The back is a semi-solid blue from Kona Bay fabrics with a strip of beachy footprints through it.  

I free motioned waves into each of the strips in the french braid sections and then added a swirly squiggle to the outer blue border.

This quilt was screaming for a trip to the beach for a photo shoot.  And, as luck would have it, they just opened up a section of Island Beach State Park.  Yes it was cold, foggy, and windy, but it was totally worth it.

Quilt Stats:
44" x 58"
Pellon Natures Touch 100% Cotton batting
machine quilted by me using Coats and Clark machine quilting thread
For my amazing Godmother, Aunt Carol, January 2013

I am linking up to Freemotion By the River's Linky Party Tuesday and Fabric Tuesday on Quilt Story.

A little update...

This past week has been kind of a roller coaster with some things going on so it is always nice to be able to it at my machine and get some things stitched up. (So much easier when I don't feel the room is spinning)

I stitched up a tote bag for Hopeful Threads January project.  It is reversible and basically similar to my 10 minute tote I usually make except I added a pocket.

I am going to try and make at least one more tote to send out.  This goes along with my new years resolution of making at least one item to donate every month this year.  

I have been working on my Starburst quilt a long also that Melissa at Happy Quilting is hosting.  This week's blocks were goose in the corner and half square triangles.  I finished mine up yesterday, all pressed and ready to go.  

A long chain of squares for hst's

All ready for the next step

Mom is still working on hers.  She has sewn and pressed some half square triangles and asked me to square them up for her.  So I will be working on that later.  Although it seems to be more work, I am really enjoying working on this with her. (at least for now, haha)

Mom's waiting to be trimed

Today I will be linking up to...

Starburst Quilt Along

I recently joined the Starburst Quilt Along over with Melissa at Happy Quilting.

I pulled my fabrics last week.

 This week's assignment was cutting so I cut... and cut... and cut.

 Then mom asked what I was doing and decided to join in, too.  Lucky her, not only did she pull the fabrics from my stash, but she also let me do all her cutting for her.  I see this being more work for me than it will be for her, haha.

Mom's fabrics

Head over and see what everyone has chosen to use.  I can't wait to see how different they will all be.

The Jersey Shore is Open

Source

Just wanted to help spread the word that The Jersey Shore is still here.  Slowly but surely towns are being able to expand open areas.  Shops and restaurants are beginning to reopen.  I have been out in Point Pleasant supporting my community and hope that others will follow.  

This article from the Asbury Park Press has some great info.  

Listing of the open stores and restaurants and some great information for all.  It is being updated daily.  

Visit the Shore

I love my home here on the shore!  

Barnegat Lighthouse June 2012

Oh and if you are interested... local charities helping local residents

Hometown Heros

Restore the Shore

Circle Meets Square in Square

Project Quilting kicked off this week and I jumped at the opportunity to participate.  This weeks challenge was square in square and after a little thinking and looking through my squares I had on hand I came up with this....

It is called Circle Meets Square in Square.  I made it with a 5 inch charm pack and a 2.5 inch charm pack of Juggling Summer and a few solids I had in my stash.  (A goal that I have set is to only use from my stash for these projects)

I did pebble quilting in the larger squares and then again in the small squares in squares.  I love how the pebble quilting looks on the back.

I did a strip with a few extra 2.5 inch charms on the back to add some interest.  

This lap quilt measures 34"x 38", and I can't help but love how it turned out.  

Head on over to the flickr page to see the other great projects from this weeks challenge of Project Quilting.

Blue Wave Quilt

or maybe Beachy Blue quilt... ok I don't know what I am calling it, but I am excited to say that Aunt Carol's blue quilt top is done.

I added the borders and now the hard part, deciding on a backing.  I am really trying hard to pull from my stash and not buy new, but none of my fabrics are saying, "use me", you know what I mean?.  But, yay, I am on my way to my goal for January.

I am linking up to Linky Party Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.  Love to see all the great projects in one place!

Here is to a year of finishes

I recently saw that on Fiber of All Sorts and Sew Bittersweet Designs that there is a great group starting this year.  It is called...

It is all about finishing those works in progress.  For me it will totally help me focus on finishing things.  I currently have 14 unfinished projects (eek).  So I am starting January with finishing Aunt Carol's quilt.  

My goal is to get the borders on and then to quilt it before the end of the month.  I really want to completely finish it and think it is totally possible as long as nothing else comes up, but you know it usually does.  This is going to be a nice throw quilt for her.  

And time to mention my resolution for the year.  I am going to try to sew from my stash as much as possible.  But before that started I gave myself permission to hit the after Christmas sale.  So now I will admit I went on a little fabric bender today... I may have gone a little overboard.

I bought 24 yards of fabric.  It was all on great sales.  It gave me a chance to restock some of my Christmas prints that I used this year and to dig through the great sale bin.  

Now starts my fabric diet, haha.  

Goodbye 2012

Hello 2013!

This year has been an interesting one.  It is not ending exactly how I planned, but that is how life happens.

This year I started my blog and I have loved sharing my sewing activities here with you.  I was able to spend so much time with my nephews, it is amazing to see how they grow.  I did have another knee surgery (2 in 8 months blah) but hopefully within the next month I will have a few more answers and I can get back to being more active.

But overall, I really can't complain.  I completed many quilts for family, friends, and those effected by Hurricane Sandy.   I tried new techniques from free motion quilting to paper piecing   The last month has flown by with so many finishes.  And tonight I spent much of the evening sewing at my brand new sewing machine that I got for Christmas.

A little sample of some finishes

. Modern mini, 2. Mustache Mini Quilt, 3. Puddle Quilt, 4. NJ quilt, 5. Black and White Quilt, 6. Pink and Purple Baby Quilt 2, 7. Postage Stamp Baby Quilt and Mini Quilt, 8. Zigzag Pillow Shams, 9. tetris top complete, 10. Anthony's quilt, 11. horse show ribbon quilt, 12. Chasing Rain Baby Quilt (1), 13. Aunt Viola's Quilt (4), 14. Matt and his space quilt, 15. superman, 16. Scrappy pouch.

So here is to a happy healthy 2013!