Patches and Petals

Bonnie's UFO Challenge!

We all love the thought of a completed project, and Bonnie's UFO Challenge is the perfect incentive to help motivate us into action! 

Yes, those UFO's lurking in the back of our sewing cubbies...ugggh.  Let's be honest, we look at them, pull them out and admire them, talk about finishing them, and then place them back nice and neatly in the back of the cupboard, again! 

I've come to realize, I sometimes even enjoy taking the trip down memory lane...just look on the selvedges of your UFO fabrics, they tell a story all their own!

So, I gave this challenge some earnest thought and decided this could be a win/win situation:

• A little bonus incentive to get some of those older UFO's completed and checked off my to-do list! 
  
• I love the prospect of winning quilty things:)
  
• Check off one of those "New Year's Resolutions", which was to complete 4 UFO projects.  (i haven't worked on any, yet.) 
  
• I wouldn't have to put them on next year's list, again!
  
• I would have four completed Christmas gifts if I just finished 4 of my UFO's!! Woohoo!!!

My two projects for August are - my Roll 'n Go:

and Animal panel quilt: 

I have to bind and assemble the roll-n-go, and on the animal quilt I have to bind it and write up pattern instructions.  So, lets get started...

The rules of this challenge:

• Every month complete one UnFinished Object (UFO) or project from your sewing room.

• The UFO or project chosen must be at least 6 months old.
  
• Sign up before the 15th of the current month, and let us know what project or UFO you have committed to complete. All online participants should have their projects posted no later than the 15th of the current month, at 12:00 a.m. PST, to be eligible for that month's challenge.
• Participants that cannot make our Thursday evening Sit & Stitch to show off their selected project, send me an e-mail with the name of your project and a picture, and we'll post it here on the blog, my email address is:  martha@martinasfabric.com
• If you have a blog, please post photos and details on your blog. Then, comment here with the link to your post so we can visit and check out your challenge project!
• Show your completed project on the last Thursday of the month; our online participants please send us a picture of your completed project. If you have a blog, please post photos and details on your blog, then comment here with the link to your post so we can visit:) These must be posted no later than 12:00 pm PST on the last Thursday of the month.
  
• Everyone who completes their listed project will be entered in the drawing.
• The drawing winner will receive a gift from Bonnie's Quilting Room.
• You may sign up for and complete as many projects as you like. Each project will earn one (1) drawing entry.
• If you sign up to complete a project and do not follow through, you must give your favorite quilting buddy the opportunity to select, from your stash of treasured fat quarters, one Fat Quarter for their very own collection ~ and don't forget to take a picture, post it, and tell us what fortunate quilting buddy received your coveted gift! 

Our August Prize:

This sweet little sewing bag and goodies PLUS a copy of the Capital City Quilter's Recipe Book!  (pic coming soon!!)

Looking forward to a couple completed UFO's!!! 

Happy Sewing!

Lots Going On....

Hello again! The whole month of July has come and gone - that's just incredible!  It's been really busy both at home and at the shop; and suffice to say the month was full of both great joy and sorrow.  There is much to be greatful for and we should not take tomorrow for granted.

A quick rundown of July - the first two weeks, my friend Suzanne and I tested out Kwik Sew's new Fat Quarter Bag pattern, and we had a blast!  Suzanne is a relatively new sewist, and took the challenge of her second sewing project in stride.  We started out making 4-5 bags for gifts for several of her family and friends.  By the time we finished this project we'd made 13 - WOW!!  Our daughters Krystle and Michaela did some modeling just so we could show these off...

This is definitely a pattern we'll keep around for a while:)  More pics with other fantastic fabric combinations here.

Somewhere along the week a pattern and jelly roll "spoke to me" and I started on a new jelly roll quilt using Frolic by Sandy Gervais.  I've not had the opportunity to begin sewing it yet, but I'll keep you posted:)  It's looking like one of those easy, simple piecing, with fabulous results type projects - WOOHOO!!

Our One Million Pillowcase Challenge sewing event was July 17th.  A special thank you to Jan and Linda - I couldn't have done it without you!  To all the wonderful women who joined us that Saturday - thank you, thank you, thank you!  We completed 132 pillowcases!

Thank you for helping make this such a successful sewing event, I've posted more pictures of our day here.

The latter part of July was beautiful and I can't say I spent a whole lot of time in my sewing room...the weather was tooo nice for that.  However, I did indulge in another one of my favorite activities - harvesting and putting away food for the winter.  It is one of the things I look forward to all year! There is always such a sense of accomplishment as you watch the pantry get stocked up for the winter...it's very rewarding work!

So, while I stayed home and harvested the mint and herb beds, Creighton (my Studly) went on a very successful fishing trip.  Mmmm....what at catch;-)

 

He does all the filleting for me - I know, I'm a lucky gal!

 

 The fillets are sized down to fit in pint size canning jars, and the packing begins...

 

These are looking good!  I need 18 for a canner load...we're half way there!

A few hours later the jars come out of the canner and we sit back and listen to the melodic "pop" of lids sealing on the jars.  A sure sign all is airtight and ready for the pantry!  We'll definitely be enjoying these later this year. 

The weatherman is promising more sunny skies tomorrow...aren't we lucky!  I'm off to sew, maybe I'll get that Frolic jelly roll project pieced before that sun arrives to tempt me out of my sewing room!

Have a great week and Happy Sewing!