April OMG 2019

“Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.” ― Helen Keller

Work hours have increased; it is time to get outside and play in the garden; and I do have vacation time coming.  It is a lot to pack into the month.

So, I am going to keep this month’s OMG very simple, but even so, I am not sure that I can complete it. 

I purchased this cute llama print a couple of months ago (or so).  

When I get home from work, I love to get comfy in a t-shirt and pajama bottoms, so I intended to make pajamas with it.

I have the pieces cut out…all two of them.  Ha, ha!  Not even any pockets!

What is your OMG for April?

Let’s all link up with OMG at Elm Street Quilts.  We can inspire and support one another as we work on our projects!

March OMG 2019

I know the cat lovers (there are a lot of us) will appreciate my goal for this month.

I need some kitty quilts for my living room chairs (Or do they belong to the kitty?).  She has her own beds (2 of them) and her own tower with another bed, but she would rather curl up in the chairs.  I know that she likes a soft quilt, so it is past time to give her one or two of her own.

I am using this simple block:

There are several setting designs, depending upon how you turn the block.

I’ve chosen the following two settings:

These quilts will be 24″ when finished.

And that is the goal for March…to sandwich the tops, quilt them, and bind them.

I am linking up with OMG at Elm Street Quilts.  It will be fun and inspiring to visit the other bloggers who have linked up and see what they are working on.

February OMG 2019 Update

It is time to share how I did with my February OMG.

It is a great feeling to report that I accomplished the goal of quilting the Leavenworth quilt, and it is also bound and finished!

I don’t like the border that I finished the quilt with…I think the corners overwhelm the quilt.  However, it has grown on me since I washed and dried the quilt.  I wish I took a photo of that because it now has wonderful texture!

Finishing two large quilts (Sugar Town) in one month is a record for me!  I really had to focus and manage my time, but it is worth it!

The photos aren’t great, but they are proof of reaching the goal line!

For more about this quilt, including lots of examples of virtual quilts made from the Leavenworth Nine Patch block, click here and here.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts OMG (One Monthly Goal).  Click on the link to get inspired by more goal setters and their accomplishments! 

September OMG 2018

“By all these lovely tokens 
September days are here, 
With summer’s best of weather 
And autumn’s best of cheer.” 
–  Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885

 

September came fast and it is already time to declare the sewing goals for the new month.

Dark blue is the RSC18 color for September, and I will be piecing three 5 inch blocks for the Squared Away Sampler project.  You can see my progress so far this year by clicking here.

For my second goal, I intend to complete the remaining fabric pages of my President’s book.  I continued to make good progress last month, and I am sure I that can finish this project this month. 

 

I recently took the time to clean up my fabric stash, and I now have a pile of small scraps that I do not want to put back on the shelves.  I intend to get these pieces cut into usable strip sizes.

Not a goal, but the bow tie leader/enders are growing!

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts OMG (One Monthly Goal).  Check out the other participants and get motivated!

August OMG 2018 Update

I kept my August sewing goals simple because I wasn’t sure how much I could accomplish between the day job and summer days outdoors.

It turns out that I couldn’t spend time outdoors because the air quality is hazardous with wildfire smoke.  I may have lost the summer, but I did gain time in the sewing studio.

I completed my three blocks for the RSC18 Squared Away Sampler, and you can find that post (and information about the sampler) by clicking here.

I stated that I wanted to complete six more pages of my President’s book.

I am very happy to announce that I finished nine pages!

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You can see more pages and read about my project by clicking here.

And I completed my bonus goal!  I really wanted to finish the On Ringo Lake (ORL) Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt, and I did!

I have already gifted this quilt to a special young fellow who has had a rough time of it.  

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG).  Head on over to see what everyone else has done with their August goals and get inspired!

July OMG 2018 Update

July has gone by very fast!  At least for me it has.  I’ve had a great time visiting with family this month and enjoying the summer days!

Not a lot of sewing has been accomplished, but it is time to share how I did with meeting my OMG (One Monthly Goal) for July.

Goal 1 was to piece three 5 inch blocks for the Squared Away Sampler project.  I completed this goal and you can see my progress by clicking here.

Goal 2 was to free motion quilt 6 blocks for my President’s fabric memory book.  (You can read about that here.)  I am happy to report that I completed 10 blocks!

I had intended to use the blocks as practice for all sorts of free motion quilting designs, but changed my mind.  Instead, I want to keep it simple.  I am echo quilting, as well as meandering and a bit of pebbling.

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I have pieced together a few more leader/enders to make bow ties with.  I am pinning them in groups of 10 so that it is easy to count how many I have.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG).  Head on over to see what everyone else has done with their July goals!

April OMG 2018 Update

How did April fly by so fast?  It is already time to share how I did with  my goals for April.

My first goal was to sew a flimsy.  I already had the pieces cut, and I am happy to say that I was able to sew this together:

It still needs borders, and some applique, but I reached the goal for the month.

If you would like to see the pattern (Butterfly Garden) click on the link above.  It will take you to my April goals where I share where to find the pattern.

My next goal for April was to find a pattern and cut the fabric for a new peg (clothespin) bag.  I went down the rabbit hole (Pinterest) for ideas and I have the fabric cut.  I have a photo, but it isn’t much to look at, since I haven’t finished the bag.

The hanger is child-size, and is lying underneath what will be the top of the bag.  The fabric under the hanger is the lining for the bag, and you are looking at the wrong side of it.

I am not sharing a pattern, since, after looking at several on Pinterest, I am going with my own thing.  We will see how it turns out.

Goal 3 was to sew my three blocks for the RSC18 Squared Away Scrap Sampler.  I finished the blocks and posted about them here.

I am happy, happy, happy with Goal #4!  I not only made progress with quilting the Friendship Row by Row quilt, but I finished the quilting!  Woohoo!

I don’t have close-up photos of the quilting, but, believe me, you don’t want to see them.  This is the very first time that I have machine quilted with a frame.  Let’s just say that it was a huge learning experience!

The back:

It still needs binding.  Maybe that will be next month’s goal.

If you’d like to read the brief history of this quilt, I blogged about it here. That was a year ago!  Time flies!

Between sewing and the job, I am also gardening.  I haven’t accomplished as much outside as I would have liked, but it has been glorious enjoying the sunshine and seeing the promise of spring blooming.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG). Click on the link and see what other goals were accomplished for April. I find it inspiring and motivating!