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!

March OMG 2018 Update

My OMG (One monthly goal) for March was to continue to work on the Laundry Day Tee.

I had already finished one tunic. 

I was hoping to sew five more!

And I am happy to say that I accomplished the goal!

I learned that I do not enjoy using Jack the Ripper on stretch knit seams!  I suggest getting it right the first time.

Having said that, these tunics are made from a beginner’s pattern…easy to sew…so long as one pins this slippery fabric well, and doesn’t get too confident by the time one is sewing her sixth tunic!

I now have six simple tunics that I can wear with pajamas or jeans.  Versatile and comfortable.  Just the way I like it!

I also wanted to complete 3 blocks for the Squared Away Sampler sponsored by So Scrappy and The Academic Quilter.  You can see the blocks that I made by clicking here.

The last goal for March was to make progress on quilting my friendship row by row.  Not much to see here, but I have worked on it a little bit.

Overall, I am pleased with my productiveness this month.  

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 March. I find it inspiring and motivating!

January OMG 2018

I let myself get distracted by Bonnie Hunter’s On Ringo Lake mystery.  It is a good distraction!

Bonnie helps me to overcome my fondness to pet my fabric and actually use it!

She also helps me to look at color/value in new ways!

And I learn new-to-me methods for rotary cutting.

I enjoy the social media fellowship of many, many other quilters working Bonnie’s mystery, too!

Win-win!

I am also happy that Patty, at Elm Street Quilts, is continuing OMG (One Monthly Goal) in 2018.

OMG provides me with accountability and motivation to make progress on projects, and sometimes I even have a finish!

My work hours should be less in January, so my goal is to turn On Ringo Lake into a flimsy.

I have clues 1 & 2 done, as well as 3 & 4. 

Clue 5 is in progress.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG). Click on the link and check out the other goals for January!  It is fun to see what other’s are working on!

December OMG 2017 Goal Update and Ringo Lake Mystery

My OMG/UFO goal for December was the number 10 (drawn by Patchwork Times).

I wanted to get the borders sewn on The Case of the Secret Garden.  I would have liked to have gotten this flimsy basted, too, but the day job was very busy.

And I was distracted by holiday fun.

I was also distracted by Bonnie Hunter’s On Ringo Lake mystery.

Clues 3 & 4 in progress:

Clues 1 & 2 are here.

I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for One Monthly Goal (OMG). Click on the link and check out the other goals for December!

Also, check out the mystery fun over at Quiltville!