Butterfly Threads Quilting 2016 Mystery Quilt

Ok I have a confession--I usually do not enjoy mystery quilts! I made one about 16 years ago--it was a two color project and I did not like how it turned out. I was frustrated and disappointed because I spent a lot of money on the fabric and did not like the results. I had pretty much sworn off mystery quilts after that, but I will make an exception for scrappy mysteries and Diane! I am a scrap quilter and I am very good at quilting from my stash--which is why I love her book, Scrap Quilt Secrets. I want to make the cover quilt, Crazy Daisy, for my own bed.

Speaking of an exception for scrappy mysteries, I have all my Scrap Dance Tango Blocks together. Doesn't it look fabulous? I am going to add a 4 inch border maybe a brown and it will make a fantastic lap quilt.

I even already have a backing. It is the softest, blue gray fabric from Andover and I got it for $3 a yard several years ago. I think it will be perfect! Thank you to Carole for her mystery quilt along! Details can be found here:

https://frommycarolinahome.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/scrap-dance-tango-mystery-quilt-2016/

Diane hosted a mystery quilt on her blog back in 2014. I loved how it looked like my favorite sunflowers, so I made one and actually kept it for myself. The pattern is still available here 

http://www.butterflythreadsquilting.com/p/free-patterns.html

She has also announced a Summer Scrappy Mystery Quilt 2016

http://www.butterflythreadsquilting.com/2016/06/summer-scrappy-mystery-quilt-2016.html

I dug into my stash and found this gorgeous Minick and Simpson fabric. I bought it as a flat fold several years ago for cheap. I am planning on using it for my border fabric and backing.

My main color is navy,

accent colors are red, green, and brown,

and my background will be cream and beige.

The first clue is posted here

http://www.butterflythreadsquilting.com/2016/07/2016-mystery-quilt-clue-1.html

It is a wet, rainy gray day here, so I will be cutting the strips and sewing them right up.

How about you? Do you want to join in some scrappy fun?

Week 4 Summer 2016

Well yesterday I turned into a domestic diva! I started my day baking banana bread and doing laundry. Then, I picked snap peas and shucked them. My hubby had to deal with a plumbing issue in our daughter's bathroom which meant nearly everything came out of our linen closet, so it was a perfect time to reorganize it. I had picked up some salmon to barbecue, but my hubby was too tired for that so I found a great and easy recipe on Pinterest. Here is the link http://cafedelites.com/2016/05/16/sheet-pan-chili-lime-salmon/

Our healthy, delicious dinner was on the table in 15 minutes.

I do have a finish this week, but it is secret--this is all I can show you!

 I picked up this metal, vintage picnic basket several weeks ago. I was not sure if I was going to keep it or gift it. It is a great size. The handles are wood and comfortable to carry. I decided to keep it.

The only problem it has is slight rusting on the bottom.

I am going to use foam core and this sunflower fabric to make a panel on the bottom to cover the rust and provide a good lining. I think it will be a great sewing basket.

I have all my Scrap Dance Tango blocks laid out on my bed waiting to be stitched together. I think it is scrappy perfection!

For Slow Sunday Stitching, I will be binding a couple more secret sewing projects. Check out everyone else's projects here

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2016/06/slow-sunday-stitching-anniversary.html

I am off to get a walk in while it is still cool enough.

Have a great week!

Back in the Sewing Room

Hi! Tuesday I had to go for my post op appointment--my doctor gave me my gallstones and talk about gross! I brought them home to gross out my family and then threw them away--YUCK.  No wonder I had felt like crap for so long. I was able to get my Pfaff fixed while I spent the day in Grand Junction. My machine needed a new bobbin casing as I had worn a groove into the other one. I immediately got to work on my Scrape Dance Tango Mystery Blocks. I have all 63 done. I intended to make the lap size quilt, but may decide to go bigger once I get these blocks together.  This will a fabulous scrappy top. I am also working on some other projects, but they are secrets.  I binge watched Orange Is the New Black's new season and started on House of Cards while I sewed. 

We are finally getting a break from the heat in the afternoons with some thunder showers. This afternoon's was a doozy! In less than an hour, we had1.5 inches of rain and some lightning strikes in  our neighborhood.

 My dogs don't mind the rain, but lightning and thunder are terrifying for them.

Fergie likes Jeff's lap.  Bella preferred our bed with Heather.

Lola always likes the corner floor space of our sectional. The good news is that after the storm, it has been cooler and lovely out.

I made some Cowboy Caviar this afternoon and will either make some amazing gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner or funeral sandwiches--recipes on Pinterest. Either choice will be delicious! I hope to have some things to post on Sunday.

Week 3 Summer 2016

 I'm back! I left on Sunday and got back Friday night from my training in Denver. The training was good and it was a really fun hanging out in the evenings with colleagues. A dozen teachers with an open bar most of the evenings is highly entertaining! I did not touch the handwork I brought, but it is ready whenever I need it. I did sew yesterday and today, but it is secret sewing.

It is hot here, so I plan on staying cool watching soccer and binding my secret sewing. Check out everyone else's handwork projects here

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2016/06/slow-sunday-stitching-and-quilt-canada.html

Happy Father's Day!

Week 2 Summer 2016

Hi Everybody,

I had a busy week  2 of summer sewing and designing, but most of what I worked on is secret! Reveals can't be shared for awhile yet.

I am off today for a week long training in Denver. We, there are like 13 of us, are going to University of Denver to be trained on Problem Based Learning (PBL). Then, we will train other teachers in our school district on it. Usually when I head out of town, I bring sewing with me for evenings in my hotel like Bonnie Hunter, but we are carpooling. Therefore, luggage space will be a premium, so I decided to bring my Down in the Garden to work on. It will fit in my backpack. After the tedious drive, over I hope to sit in the A/C of our suite and drink some wine while I stitch the evening away. Sounds like a perfect way to participate in Slow Sunday Stitching

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2016/06/slow-sunday-stitching.html

I also loaded up some books on my Kindle. I have had some questions about summer reading. If you want to feel like you are away at the beach without being at the beach, I recommend two authors Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer. They both write good chick lit stories that take place on Nantucket--you can't get more beachy than that!

Have a great week!

Tanya

Summer Sewing Mojo

I headed into a clean sewing room yesterday and tried to decide what to work on...I have lots of new projects waiting, but I decided to work on the Bloom Blocks from the Lori Holt Sew Along. I was pretty productive. This is Block 10.

Bloom Block 14

Bloom Block 11

Bloom Block 13

Bloom Block 12

 Bloom Block 15

 and Bloom Block 16. I have four more blocks to go. My machine started acting up during these blocks for some reason this blanket stitch is not a good one for it, but was the main reason I bought the machine in 2011. It is very frustrating because I already had it "fixed" back in March for $100 and that shop has since closed. Now, it needs to go to a repair shop an hour plus away. I made an appointment for when I go to my post op appointment on the 21st and busted out my Singer Featherweight for piecing at least, but all my appliqué projects will just have to wait.

I went into my local fabric store to check in and see how I could help prep for our upcoming local quilt show. They are participating in the national row along as well as a local row along. For the local row along, she had designed mountains and trees to go with our locale. I said it needed a log cabin and she asked me if I wanted to design one--this is what I came up with. I am really pleased with how it turned out. It was a little bit of a challenge because it is a 9.5 inch block and getting the sidewalk right took several tries.  Of course, the embroidery detail makes it so sweet. Now, I get to write up the pattern--another challenge.

Well aside from my Pfaff going down and limiting my appliquéing, I think my summer sewing mojo is back! 

Week 1 Summer 2016

My first week of summer is over--I don't count my two days last week especially since they involved surgery! This first week included my birthday and I hosted my book club. We read a pretty light and fun read

Although, it is a beach read, we managed to have a lively discussion about marriages and dating. I served amazing banh mi sandwiches with the pork cooked simply in my crock pot. Here is a link to the recipe:  http://www.greensnchocolate.com/2015/03/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-banh-mi/

I also made an ice cream pie using a tutorial from the Pioneer Woman on Instagram. I am thrilled to say I had no issues with starting to eat regular foods again.  By the way, I am tanyaquiltsinco on Instagram and I would love to connect with some of you.

Did you see the picture of the Summerville Vintage Picnic Box? There is a gorgeous kit to make it that was my birthday present from my sister. It is so much fun getting presents from fellow quilters. She also gave my mom the same kit for Mother's Day and got one for herself. We are going to have our own quilt along this summer. I am planing on adding a border of additional blocks to make it big enough for our bed. One of my quilting goals this year was to finally make a quilt for my own bed, so here is the perfect opportunity.

 My mom and I celebrated my birthday with a visit to the fabric store, the antique mall, and thai food from our local thai food truck. I found this great vintage picnic basket already painted with aqua chalk paint for only $12. The inside is in great shape. I could not pass it up since I am obsessed with baskets and it was indeed a "treat yo self" item as my daughter would say.

 My mom and dad got me a giant cutting mat for my sewing room table--5 feet long and a small cutting mat. Then, mom had me pick out some of these gorgeous fabrics to add to my stash. I love quilty presents!

I have been back in my sewing room being productive. I am comfortable sitting at my sewing machine, ironing, and cutting, but not quite ready to pin baste a couple of projects that I need to get quilted--too much bending at the waist. This week I tidied up my sewing room to prepare for a productive summer and made these trees.

The trees will be part of this quilt--Town Square from Lori Holt's Quilty Fun. It is so cheerful and scrappy--my favorites.

I intend to use mine for a tablecloth, so my One Monthly Goal (OMG) for June is to get this top pieced. Check out everyone's goals here: 

http://redletterquilts.blogspot.com/2016/06/one-monthly-goal-june-linkup-goalsetting.html

I plan on working on my sheep--all that is left is to add in the flowers. This will be my project for Slow Sunday Stitching. Here is the link to more handwork inspiration:

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2016/06/slow-sunday-stitching-needles.html

I am also up to some secret sewing, but I won't be able to reveal it for awhile! Have a great week!