Third Review for September

The cotton fields are coming into bloom. Before long it will look like a 'field of snow'. 

Here we are, almost at the end of September. 

I posted my intentions on the first, and I've done two reviews during this month. I'll be adding pictures and text over the next few days as they roll on by. 

I now have the sashing/border around the center piece, and black borders on also. The final border of 1" finished half square triangles will have to wait until I can find my Thangles for making them. Well, I tried to find them, but I didn't. I'm not waiting any longer. Here is my pile of HSTs all pressed and ready to be trimmed to 1&1/2" square! 96 of them to do. 

And I have finished this quilt made with deconstructed screen printed fabrics. 

The feather wreath block is so soft. This quilt was pieced improvisationally. That made it necessary for me to customize each design to the area it would go into! It's pretty busy, but that doesn't seem to slow anyone down from wanting to try it out.

And here's a closer look at the binding. I sewed it by machine with my favorite decorative stitch, I call 'heartbeat'. 

I finished off this next piece into an over sized mug rug. I like lots of cookies with my coffee!!

And the reverse for when I want a bit of a change of scenery. The quilt design only shows up well in dim light. 

Then I got busy with a piece I had on one of my design walls for 'way too long' and added borders, put on a facing, inserted a piece of Peltex for structure, and added a piece of fabric over the back. It looks a lot like the insidecover of a hand bound book. I attached the hand dyed lace piece with buttons. On this picture, my caterpillar still had his tail. He has since gotten a docking! 

My next activity will be trimming up those half square triangles and making the border with them for my little "woolies" piece. And they are done and attached. Next step will be the quilting of it. 

I also took my Sunrise/Sunset piece off the design wall, mounted it onto the long arm and worked out a design. I had already stitched in the ditch around the border. It has been trimmed and a binding attached to the front. Just waiting for hand stitching the binding to the back, etc. 

I'm definitely learning how to tweak designs to fit into the spaces I want them for. 

And I've just started reading this book:

It's very interesting and something I never learned much about as I grew up. Jesus and God yes, but Holy Spirit not very much. 

What's been on your reading radar lately?

It's 12:11am Tuesday, I think I'd better get some sleep so I can get at more sewing and quilting tomorrow. 

I'll do the final review in a couple of days, but this is so full of pictures I think I'd better post it now. 

May God bless you with a restfilled night,

Luann

Second Update on September Intentions

Middleton Place is a lovely place, with plenty of walking paths and delightful eye candy for a nature lover. So, yes, I am walking more and enjoying my surroundings. That was the first intention that I listed, and it's well underway. 

The above image is the picture I took of my thread nests laying on my kitchen table. The picture below is of the fabric I ordered from Spoonflower with the image printed.  It's an online site for printing your own designs. I had this printed onto a silk. They have several kinds of fabric, as well as wallpaper and gift wrap!! If you haven't checked them out, getting an account is free and you can purchase samples, fat quarters or yards! 

  

I had every intention to use this piece for part of my Beginnings/Nests quilt, but the silk is so gorgeous I'm going to have a hard time cutting or stitching it into a quilt! Maybe I'll need to order another fat quarter in quilter's cotton??

Bindings onto four more charity quilts, now waiting to be delivered. 

Improvisational table runner was quilted and bound in time to give to my new Pastor's wife at a 'meet and greet' our Ladies Ministry group had for her. 

Then I was able to finish the tablecloth and two placemats from that same improvisational workshop. 

Next is a closeup of the quilting pattern I  chose to enhance the geometric shapes. I used a unconventional way of screen printing the leaf onto the top, before quilting. 

I sure am enjoying the unique things I can do with my longarm. 

I'm always taking pictures of the ironwork gates I see when I go into Charleston. I have several ideas that I think would look great as quilts. 

Worked on these little blocks at With These Hands meeting. The background fabric was cut to 5x6 and will be trimmed to 4 1/2" by 5 1/2". I don't usually work this small, but I bought the kit several years ago and I want to get it finished. 

I continued the hand stitching but didn't do all blanket stitch edges! A girl has to follow her own heart, right? I was getting bored, so I did some stab stitches to hold mini leaves in place on the purple posey block in the right column. 

And last night I got the last of the twelve little blocks done, attached the sashings (these are cut 1" wide, to finish at 1/2" wide!!), and I got the blocks sewed into the center piece. It needs more borders, etc. but I'm very pleased with how far I've gotten it. 

Yesterday was an awesome day. We invested time in our relationship with God. When I read in The Bible, pray for direction, and 'listen' to His promptings, my day goes well. I am so blessed!!

May God bless you today, with contentment in your life,

Luann

My Only Goal for 2015

The following picture is of a beautiful wall hanging I saw at a wedding back in February, 2013. I don't know the artists, but I know the subject!

The first post of the year is my hardest!  

I spend quite some time trying to set some reasonable goals, but not too comfortable. I have made lists, crossed things off, added more items, and realized that they just weren't what I wanted to say. 

This year is different for me.

In December I felt led by The Holy Spirit to drop out of several group activities and personal pursuits. 24 hours each day is all I have, and I want them to be of value. So, there's a lot of letting go going on. And, it's not bothering me. But I was still bothered by the whole "goal" thing. So, I asked for some clarity and this morning I received my answer. 

What was bothering me? All of the goals that I have ever had were related! The common thread was that it really didn't matter if that particular goal happened today, tomorrow, or a year from now. There was something bigger than all of them. My goals were too small and in all reality, very attainable.

I knew what that one major goal was. I'd known for a long time. I just never put it into words. 

I know I will fall far short of it!  But, I know that as long as my heart's desire is right, I will succeed!

Bringing Honor and Glory to GOD in all I do, for the rest of my life. 

Let God Inspire Us To Create to His Glory and Honor

Luann