April WIPs and Plans

Hello Everyone! I have a very busy couple of months ahead of me with family events and sewing commitments (mostly self-imposed). To help keep me focused, I sat down and planned out through June, and actually wrote down dates I want to have certain tasks for each project finished. I don’t usually plan that much detail so we’ll see how it goes. Today, I thought I would share what I’ve been working on and what’s coming up that will keep me busy.

First, though, how about a pretty rainbow seen from my front porch a couple of weeks ago. This is probably one of the prettiest and long lasting rainbows I’ve seen at home. If you look carefully, you can just make out the second rainbow above the main one. Maybe next week, I’ll have some azalea’s to show you. They are just starting to bloom and with all the rain we’ve had, it looks like they are going to be beautiful.

Now for what I’m working on.

Sew Your Stash Along Alternate Star Blocks

I’ve been making star blocks for the Sew Your Stash Along guild project. You can find the instructions and Diane’s (Butterfly Threads Quilting) version here. She used rail fence blocks, but I wanted something different. I had a layer cake of Project Red by Sweetwater (in my stash) that I thought would work. You can see my quilt through Step 3 here. My only concern is that these are a little more muted colors than what I already have. I plan to balance these out with the fabrics I’ll use in Step 5.

2017 Moda Blockheads 1

I’ve also spent a lot of time quilting my 2017 Moda Blockheads 1 quilt. I’ve quilted feathers in the sashing and ribbon candy in the inner border. I plan to quilt feathers in the outer border and then will use my ruler foot to quilt some curved cross-hatching in the setting triangles.

I put this quilt aside last November after quilting all the blocks to finish up my Holly-Daze quilt and Winterville quilt during December and January. I’ve entered the quilt in our local quilt show, Georgia Celebrates Quilts, and I’ll find out at the beginning of May if it’s been accepted.

Halloween Collection Fabrics

I’ve also spent some time working on the design for The Art of Home August Collection, which will be Halloween themed and a wall-hanging as the main project. The design is finished and I’ve started working on the applique pieces. On April 20th, I’ll be able to share the Cabin Collection that I designed.

In the late afternoons and evenings, I’ve gotten in some stitching time almost everyday.

Little House Needlework’s Jack Frost’s Tree Farm

I finished the first half of Part 1 of Jack Frost’s Tree Farm. I made some thread changes to the white (DMC 3865) and to the sign. I used DMC 3866 for the sign and Classic Colorworks Cherry Cobbler (instead of Black Coffee) for the lettering. I decided Part 1 would have to be a two month stitch and I’ll start Part 2, Douglas Fir in May.

After working on Jack, I moved on to Drawn Thread’s Welcome Summer. I’ve changed all the threads because the called for are Dinky Dye Silks (and I don’t have any). I plan to finish the stitching this week. I will either start on the next block of Farmhouse Christmas by Little House Needleworks or start on this…

…Home of a Needleworker Squared, also by Little House Needleworks. The chart and floss came as a kit from Fat Quarter Shop, which has embraced the new cross-stitch movement. If you like to cross-stitch, check out some of their selections. They also have very quick shipping.

Now for plans.

My nephew will be graduating from high school in June, so he needs a quilt. He is number 6 out of 7. My sister said he likes blue, so blue it will be. I found this Waterfall jelly roll by Kona and will use a Jr. Jelly Roll of Moda Grunge White Paper for the accent. The pattern is Low Voltage by Kari Nichols of Mountainpeek Creations. I found the pattern at my local quilt shop.

I laid out and numbered the strips. I think it will be easy to cut and sew, but keeping the strips in the right place will be critical for the look of the quilt. I’ve never made a graduated color quilt before, but I think it’s going to turn out awesome. The pre-cut strips will make it go quickly, too.

It’s time for Jacquelynne Steve’s free BOM again. You can visit Jacquelynne’s site and sign up for her newsletter so you’ll know when to sign up for the BOM. The patterns will be emailed to you starting the first Monday in July if you want to join in. Jacquelynne will be opening the club again for new members soon, too. To find out more about the club, visit here.

I will again be a featured blogger for the BOM this year and I have something different planned. I will be using Sunnyside Up by Corey Yoder for Moda for my project. Also, notice the DMC thread pack. Corey curated it for Fat Quarter Shop and it will go well with Sherri and Chelsi, Bonnie and Camille and Fig Tree fabric lines, too.

My plan is for this month is get started on the embroidery for the Halloween Collection and the BOM. I may not be able to do as much cross-stitch as I’ve been doing in order to work on the embroidery. We do have two trips planned, too. My husband and I are going camping for a few days later this month, then in May, my daughter is graduating and we plan to spend a week at the beach while we are in Pensacola. We are really excited about the graduation and beach trip. It’s also yard work time of year. Last week I put down 45 bales of pine straw and over the next few weeks, I’ll replant my containers and get my perirenal beds in shape. So, busy, busy, but better than being bored.

Also, I have the Minis and More project to think about. This month’s theme is flowers if you would like to join in and make a mini. Once you make it, you can send a picture to Sherri or Michele to be included in the parade at the beginning of next month. I think I have something in mind, but not 100 percent yet. I’ll let you know next time what I’ll be working on.

I hope you have a great week and thanks for stopping by.