Nightingale Quilt Along

One of my sewing friends said she was doing the Nightingale Quilt Along and I fell in love with the pattern. Even though I didn't need another project, this has been a fun one to piece. I have 6 blocks done and 2 more in progress. The hardest challenge was getting the arrows to go the same direction, which isn't always possible. I'm using Glamping Gypsies fabric from Pearl Louise Designs.  

I do piece the FG and HST's then press and cut them during lunch the next day and then sew them together the next night. It is a process that works well for me. Although I did see where someone was trying to make a block in 35-minutes and now I have a "goal" to see if I can do one in under 30 minutes. 

 

May the 4th be with my quilting

May the 4th be with you - Press to the Dark Side... All the fun sayings for May. For only being 1 week into May, so far it has been productive. I made 5 more "heart" Sweet Pea Pods for my Cardiac Rehab friends when they finish.  

My APQ UFO for May is Takes the Cake, which are a bunch of 9 patches. I'm slowly piecing them as a leader ender and at the end of the night when I don't want to start anything new. 

I pieced my Nightingale block 1 and started 5 more blocks. I realized I can piece and then trim at work, so I have 5 ready to trim and then I'll finish sewing them tonight.  

I finished the Mini Brick Road table runner, which is an Atkinson Designs pattern. It is Glamping Gypsies fabric. 

I also finished this Hearts runner in LAmor fabric. The pattern is by Atkinson Designs. 

I made this Gala Wax and Wool Tote with Navy Waxed Canvas on the bottom. I put pink grunge in the lining. 

We also celebrated Mathew's 1st Holy Communion. 

 

Teacher Gifts

Each year I plan to make a quilt for the kids teacher's gift for Teacher Appreciation Week. This year I really struggled to find something that they would each like (because I don't know them well and nothing on their intro info gave me a clue). I did a bit of FB stalking to get a clue and asked the kids. 

For my daughter's main teacher I made a Random Shuffle quilt with minkee on the back. Glamping Gypsies is the fabric. She loves camping and biking. 

I used the same label and customized it. 

For my son's main teacher I did NE Huskers and a modified 5 yard quilt. I put Luxe Cuddle on the back. Do you know how hard it is to sew a label on it? Yuck!

My daughter's writing teacher loves to hunt deer and pheasants with her dad (who battled cancer and won), so I knew she loved those things. I made the top and another person wanted to buy it, so I ended up making this as a 2nd one, very similar with more phesants. 

The reading teacher was harder because I knew nothing. I did end up doing this one as I had it cut out and it was all hiking and birds-related, which is what my daughter told me she likes. 

Having been a teacher myself I know how much work goes into teaching. I am so appreciative of the work these teachers do and this is my way of showing it. 

 

April Quilting Review

April was a busy month in the sewing studio. I was busy finishing the quilts for the teachers, but in secret, so they wouldn't see them on my social media. I also finished this t-shirt quilt, based on Angela Walter's new pattern. I didn't add borders and did adjust the sizes. 

I also added a label so she could donate the quilt.

I started a charity block drive in my online quilting group and these were my sample blocks. I hope to get more cut out this week to donate to the cause as well. It's the Sewcialites Wisdom block.

I made 10 bags for Faith Formation teachers. We only had 6, but I used up the fabric and just made them to gift as necessary. I added a Bco gift card as well. These are loosely based on the Lazy Girl Becca bag. I just made them the size of the scrap fabrics I had for linings. 

I finished a top using this fabric I bought years ago. I hope to get these quilted for foster kids. We'll see how I do getting them done. The tops were quick and easy. 

I also started the "Frolic" mystery blocks. I got one done before other deadlines kept me doing other things. I love this quilt and will get it made, but for now it's back to the back burner. 

This is the other quilt top for foster kids gifting. I have 2 more panels and enough to make at least 2 more tops. 

I made the Wax and Wool Tote out of LoveScript canvas. It has a waxed canvas bottom. 

Yes, it's made with yellow for an SDSU bag. I may make another to donate to the Jacks Alumni banquet. 

I love this fabric. 

My April numbers are rather impressive, considering I was sick for a week. 

Stash report:

In this Month: 12.25 yards
Out this Month: 44 yards
In this Year: 71 yards
Out this Year: 115.23 yards
I'm ahead of the stash 44.25 yards!

I also sewed for 44 hours.