A Lovely Year of Finishes - July FInish

So happy to say that I more than completed my goal for the month of July.  Not only did I complete the pattern test top, which I love and used my special NJ fabrics for (pics soon I promise) but I finished 3 of the 4 memory quilts and they are already backed and basted!  The last one is partially sewn and the top will most likely be done by the end of the week.  

I chose a subway tile pattern for one of the quilts.  Honestly, I love that there are no corners to match with this pattern.   

Then, I used the same pieces from the subway tile quilt to make squares to go with the next two quilts.  I used strips in the one and patchwork squares in the other.

The last quilt that is in pieces is made with the strips, and longer ones, from the second quilt.  I tried to tie all the quilts together as much as possible without making them exactly the same.

Now to finish the last one and quilt them all.  Think I will make the deadline of August 17? 

Jersey Shore MQG Group Quilt

I may have mentioned a couple of times that I am a member of the Jersey Shore Mogern Quilt Guild.  It is a wonderful group of women with all levels of experience and all kinds of quilts.  I love seeing what everyone makes each month.

A few months ago we all made Scrappy Trip blocks to make a charity quilt.  When we gathered them all togerher it was decided to chop them all up, add white, and make a fun new pattern with them.

Diane worked with a couple other members and got the top pieced, I love all the different blocks that were made for the quilt.  Now I have it here, waiting to be quilted.  After I get these memory quilts done I am going to have this quilted.  My goal is to get it done before our next meeting in August.

After we all made the scrappy trip blocks we decided to make another group quilt.  I suggested the improv monochromatic log cabin blocks that I saw in the Scrappy Stash Quilt Along at Ellison Lane.  I received a bunch of blocks, three larger than the others.  I was so excited to see them up on my wall.  It was funny to see that no one made a yellow block!  I played with the layout a bit on my wall/guest bed.  I decided to fill in the gaps I would add yellow and maybe extend the color of a block it was next to.

Once I started piecing this quilt it flew together, I mean really flew, it only took about an hour and a half.  I admit I was having a really bad day and putting this together was the best distraction I could have asked for.  The members of our guild approved and that made me really happy.  I am loving the big blocks in the middle of the quilt, it just adds something to it.  Now to back it and quilt it.  I have a salmon color for the backing, I might add a strip or two to the back for fun.

I love the group at the Jersey Shore Modern Quilt Guild.  If you are visiting the Jersey Shore when we have a meeting please stop on by. :)

Project Quilting June Challenge - Blue Wave Pillow

Last month's Project Quilting challenge was the Texture Challenge.  I was a little late finishing my project for last month, but I did finish it and that is good at least.  I chose the bay for my texture.  The ripples, the waves, the light reflecting on it.  Although you cant feel all those things exactly, you can see them so I put that into this quilted pillow I created.

I used my 2.5" postage stamp charms and sliced them into quarters, making each little square 1.25" before I sewed them.  I laid out the center of the pillow fading from light to dark to light again.  I then sliced more charms in half making 1.25" x 2.5" tiles.  There are three rows of tiles surrounding the center squares.

I backed my square with flannel backed drapery lining and stitched in the ditch around some of the small squares in so it wouldn't shift.  Then I made an envelope style back to insert a pillow into.  

I am very happy with how this little pillow came out.  

Blue Wave Pillow

16" x 16"

Made in Lanoka Harbor, NJ

Suzi's Visit and Her New Quilt

In the beginning of June, my cousin Suzi came home for a visit.  It was so good to see her because I haven't seen her in years.  She is living in Alaska and loving it there.  So she and her boyfriend, Doug, came for a whirlwind trip of NJ and PA (and a trip to NYC of course).  

Suzi, Me, and Cindy on the boat

I decided that Suzi needed a new quilt to take back to Alaska with her.  Of course, in my true fashion, I waited until the last minute to finish it (or even start it).  In one night I whipped up a fun quilt for her.  On fathers day we had a BBQ and I was able to give it to her in person.  

I made her some pot holders last year with mustaches on them so I decided to continue the theme onto her quilt.  I used mostly neutral fabrics with just a touch of color.  There is a little pink in the floral print :) The back is a leaf sheet that I had in my sheet stash, easy for backing when I don't want to piece it.  

Matt helped me take pictures.  It was really windy and more pictures looked like the quilt was a flag than not.  He Said he was hoping it would blow into the pool, thanks Matt.  

 At the BBQ we played games and had some good food.

My mom and her sister, Aunt Katie, were table to spend a lot of time together.  Aunt Katie spent the night at our house.

They played a family game of kickball while I took pictures and we did a water balloon toss, although Chris was sneaking the balloons to play with before the toss.  

It was a fun family day.  And the best part was we extended our family fun time to the next day when we took Doug and Suzi on the boat to go crabbing.  Doug was all into going on the boat and seeing all the sights of the Barnegat Bay.  Though he was too afraid to hold a crab, haha.

Family fun days do not come around nearly enough but when they do we make them count.  Maybe next time the family fun day will be at Suzi's place in Alaska.

A Lovely Year of Finishes - July Goal

I can't believe it is already July, I feel like this year is slipping right by me.  When deciding my July goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes I found it easy since I am testing a pattern for the sweet Melissa at Sew Bittersweet Designs.  I pulled some fabrics out and I think this is what I am going with.  I am thinking of featuring my lighthouse batik.

But it might change cause I knocked over a stack of fabrics and I am liking how they look together now, haha. So we will see.

And I really need to get working on this box of clothing that once belonged to my friend, Heather's, mother in law.  She passed almost a year and a half ago.  Her husband's family had asked someone to make memory quilts for all 5 of her sons, but after a year only one was finished so I was asked to finish the last 4.  I have my designs planned and I am ready to cut the fabrics.  I decided they will each be different to 1, accommodate the limited sizes of clothing pieces that were cut before I received them and 2, not make it so obvious that 4 came from me and 1 from someone else.

Today I was asked by my sister if I could finish the quilts for the wedding anniversary of Heather's husband's parents.  The family will be getting together that day.  That day is August 17, not much time complete 4 quilts.  I asked my sister if she would help, she said of course pointing out she did take home-ec in 6th grade.  I think her banner she made is still around here somewhere.

So my goals are complete the quilt top for the pattern test and get at least 2 quilt tops pieced for Heather.  I know once I start it will go smoothly (hopefully)