Another Goal Completed!!

Earlier this month, I set a goal, with ALYOF, to finish doing the blanket-stitch applique around 16 cars blocks.  I got a lot accomplished the first weekend, and I thought I might get the entire quilt top completed before the end of the month.  

But then other things happened.  My third grandchild, a granddaughter, Jordyn Lee, made her appearance on June 11th, and babies have a way of capturing your complete attention!  I've also been busy working on the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild's quilt show which happens next month.  And then there is the five miles a day I'm walking....four miles in the morning and another mile in the evening.  That really cuts into your sewing time, but I need to keep at it!

But I am happy to say I did complete the goal.  I blanket-stitched around all 16 car blocks!

And I want to give you a sneak peak at how these blocks will be used in a quilt.

Check back in the next day or two, because my July goal will be to finish the quilt!!!!!

Be sure to stop by Sew Bittersweet Designs or Fiber of All Sorts to see everyone else's completed goals.  The year is half over.  Can you believe it???

H2H Finished Quilts!

It's time to reveal the finished quilts I'll be donating to the Hands2Help challenge this year.  If you are unfamiliar with Hands2Help, please read all about it on Sarah Craig's blog, Confessions of Fabric Addict.  Thanks to Sarah for her efforts in organizing quilters for such worthy causes.   

The first quilt is for a girl, although I know a few grown-ups who would love to snuggle

with it as well.  It's approximately 53" x 65".

It was made from a Benartex kit with a collection of fabrics from Princess Boutique,

by Kimiko Ikeda.  The kit came with pre-cut pieces of 3"x3", 3"x6", 3"x9" and 3"x12", 

along with several suggested block designs.  I loved the fabric but just

wasn't thrilled with any of the block designs and layouts, so I cut the

fabric a bit and came up with my own blocks.

I am really pleased with the way it turned out.  I am now on the lookout for another collection

of fabric in bright colors to make another similar quilt.  I was able to find a 

multi-colored paisley-type fabric for the backing.  (And I've been trying to 

pick off that small piece of thread on the aqua fabric, but it just won't come off.)

My second quilt is using spaceship fabric from Joann's in bright, primary colors.  

It measures approximately 40" x 52".

I used a block I created that I call "X" Marks the Spot.  It's the

perfect block for focus fabric that you want to highlight.  

(Watch my blog for another quilt where I've used this block, in a larger size, 

to make a baby quilt.)

I used the same spaceship fabric for the backing, 

and I quilted it with a stars and loops design.

I've decided that both of these quilts are going to Quilts of Compassion.  The quilts

are distributed to a wide variety of folks in need.

They will be put in the mail next week.  

Be sure to check out all the Hands2Help quilts at the linky party.  

And I think I'll get started on some quilts for next year's effort early!

June goal!

My goal for June for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to complete the machine applique stitching 

on some blocks that are already fused and waiting to be stitched.  There are a total of 16 blocks
needed for the quilt I'm working on.  I have my threads picked out and am ready to begin!

I sometimes tend to over-think things, though.  So even though I have done machine applique 

many times in the past, I still went in search of some last-minute advice/inspiration.  

If you're interested in perfecting your machine applique, check out the tutorials over at 

The Crafty Quilter.  I like her sample stitch card.  I have little bits of paper 

with stitch lengths/widths written on them, hopefully with the project as well, 

so I know what stitch settings to use when I get back to it.  

I think the stitch card is a much better way of keeping track of things.  

Be sure to check all the goals for June.....and maybe include your own goal!