July Goal

After last week's marathon quilting session, I took time off to recharge. I caught up on paperwork, solidified fabric choices for a few upcoming projects, returned the quilts, and even cleaned most of the house. Once I felt a little more recharged, I turned to determining which project I wanted to select for July's goal. I removed one option since I completed it yesterday!

I was able to quilt and bind the donation quilt over the past few days. Here it is, front and back, draped over the longarm frame.


I wasn't able to get pictures last night when I had help and daylight, so here are a few poor photos I snapped early this morning (still no quilt holders since two are asleep and one is at work). We'll just call these how not to take finished quilt photos. 😏


If you haven't been by here recently, this quilt is from circa 2000. The pattern was published in American Patchwork & Quilting in 1999 and I last remember working on it in 2000/2001. I quit working on it because it was supposed to have 12" appliqué borders all the way around and I do not enjoy appliqué. I took it out of the storage box last month, decided it didn't really need the borders, pulled fabrics from my stash for the backing, and it will now be donated to the local guild's community quilts program. It is nice to see how much my skills have grown in the last 20 years.

So, with this project completed, that left me with a few choices for OMG. I could work on the gray string pieces for Grassy Creek. I'd debated whether I wanted to do the strings or not, but have decided in favor. However, I want a little break from this quilt, so maybe that will be August's goal.  I have a test quilt that needs to be done this month, which is a definite priority, but I can't share photos of it, so that makes it a no-go for OMG. I need to make myself some shirts, but not sure if the pattern will fit well or not, so would prefer not to share photos of myself. I have some quilts that need to be bound...hmm, maybe.  I have my ongoing quest to organize all the Kona cotton squares...it's in progress, but not a true sewing project. Guild quilt...can't share the whole thing yet since we've set it up as a mystery quilt. Okay, that leaves this one:

I am planning to sew a mini quilt using this cute little koala pattern from Quiet Play. This is just for fun (though aren't most quilt projects?) and July is my birthday month, so it can be my own little birthday gift to myself. It's small enough that I have a shot at getting it done along with my secret test quilt project. I am planning to piece, quilt, and bind it during July.

I can now share a few mini projects I completed in June.  I made these for Deborah for a guild mini swap. She likes fall colors and owls. I purchased the backing fabric and the rest was all from stash for both projects. {Side note: somehow these didn't make a noticeable dent in the scrap bin even though it felt like I pulled a lot of fabric out. } I wasn't entirely sure which way I wanted to go, so ended up with two projects.  This first one is a free project I found on Pinterest called Dr. Whoot

The second project was based on an image I saw on Pinterest. I planned out my project in EQ8 and learned how to make custom paper piecing templates. Maybe you remember this photo? 

This project was actually my first idea, but it wasn't coming together as I had hoped (the inspiration project was amazing and mine was decidedly not), which is when I switched over to the owl. I had enough time to revisit, rip apart, and redo, so I decided to give her both. This leaf one I made into a pillow cover so maybe it will be a little more useful. It's quilted with a tiny scale Unwind pattern. I hoped that it was reminiscent of falling leaves.

The only other thing I've worked on this week is Keetah's quilt. I offered her the choice of off-white or gold thread and she picked the gold, which is Glide Sand. This color goes with so many different quilts that come through my door. The quilting design is Oodles of Doodles.

I came close on the thread. Don't worry, I had a second cone.  Part way through the row: will it make it?

Finished.  Whew!
I have a busy week of quilting ahead of me. My little quilting business turns two in July! I'm so thankful that people are willing to let me quilt for them. Never in a million years would I have ever guessed that this is where I'd be.

Another exciting thing is that after a year and a half, we are finally going to be able to travel home to see our families this month. 

Take care. Thanks for stopping by.

Linking with For the Love of Geese, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Alycia Quilts.

5 comments

  1. Looks perfectly good without borders!!! Cute koala pattern. Yes, for most quilts being fun projects!!! Close cut on the thread chicken! I'm often doing that with the bobbin, if you know what I mean!

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  2. I have always wanted to make a similar fall leaf quilt--ever since I started quilting umpteen years ago--and I still haven't! Yours looks fun...maybe this year?? That's quite the feat on playing thread chicken! Good luck on your goals--seen and unseen!

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  3. Love the owl pattern, thanks for sharing that. I've made the complete quilt with the Koala bear and all the rest. Loved it all, so cute. Good luck with it.

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  4. Your Donation quilt is amazing! Even without the quilt holders haha!

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  5. So pretty. The owl is darling, perhaps make another to put with the Koala and make a large quilt? Love it when I beat the end of the thread. Good luck on your July goal, hoping to have 3 or 4 finishes myself this month. Not likely but I can dream. Thank you for linking up.

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