Summer Butterflies, UFO's and Gifts!

It's been a busy few weeks! I was away for a short holiday and I had a guest in my sewing room for a few days! That means not too much time for sewing. I have begun some gift making already so those things remain secret for now. 

Before going away I managed to get my butterflies all together and basted. I LOVE the colors! They are certainly not my usual colors but I think they suit the theme! One of these quilts will be for me and the other will be a gift!

I started big stitching the first one with a ecru perle cotton. For the second one I will look for something in a light variegated color - maybe a Sulky 12wt. 

I haven't gotten far on it so I guess this will be for next summer.  

I always have a pile of leftover charm squares but these really do not blend with my existing pile so I am going to make a 'slab' with the leftovers and then make that into a couple of Sweetpea Pods.

I also got my next border pinned and not a stitch sewn yet...

I've been in gift mode so I pulled these gold and silver prints for a special Christmas gift.

While I was putting my sewing room back together after my guest left, I sorted through my UFO's. How could it be that I have more...not less...arrrrr! I am pinning the list to my bulletin board and will try my hardest to not start anything new until I have made some progress.

While on the plane heading to Montreal for my holiday, my Kindle decided it's battery was going to act up and died after being fully charged the night before (I thought it was a goner for sure but it seems to be working again). 

I needed a book for the trip so I picked up this at the airport bookstore in Toronto during our layover. It was inspiring but does NOT encourage me to finish my UFO list unless that is the challenge! It wants me to start something new...something challenging...something maybe a little crazy...

For the last few years I have been completely intrigued by the many '365' quilty challenges...circles, stars, sampler blocks and even non quilty challenges...such as a photo a day. There have been so many daily challenges and even weekly challenges that are inspiring. 

I think next year will be the year that I challenge myself but do I have what it takes to commit? 

That is the biggest question of all!

Does anyone else have the urge but doesn't want to be left with a big project you might not finish?

Happy Stitching!

Summer Cleaning

Summer has been hot and dry here and there has not been much sewing going on. Our air conditioning is not working and until the part we need arrives that means most days there is NO way I have been wanting to turn on an iron.

I've basted 3 more quilts so that is 4 quilts that need machine quilting. Another case of there being NO way I'm going to sit with a warm quilt on top of me. And a reminder to self...do not get such a backlog of quilts to finish ever again. It seems a bit overwhelming!

I finished another round on my hexagons. The next section I'll be starting is a row of neutral, then color (blue for this round) and then neutral again. The rounds just keep getting bigger but this is still pretty small. It is just 16" across! 

I arranged my courthouse steps blocks on my design wall. Here are all the rows organized to sew together! It took a bit of rearranging but I finally got it to a point where it had the look I was wanting. I can't wait for a cooler day so I can turn on my iron!

I made this tote bag and gave it away to a friend! I know she will enjoy it. 

It turned out wonderful! 

And I had picked up this cute little butterfly pattern thinking it would be sweet wall hanging on my condo door. Again it was the case of I can't on my iron because it is so hot but I got into my sewing room really early in the morning one day last week and got them fused. 

I buttonhole stitched all around and all that is left is the cute little antenna's! 

This is a great project for a charm pack! 

There are enough butterflies for two little quilts! I wonder who will get the second one?

I hope I actually get it done while summer is still here. Fall is showing up everywhere in the stores reminding me that it is not far away!

And I've also been slowly stitching away on my applique quilt. I am almost finished the second border. As I've been stitching I've been planning a bit of embroidery to add to it, and maybe a bit of beading as well. I'll get a photo next time to show!

Happy Stitching!