February 2014 Summary

This may have been a short month, but I was busy.  The weather has continued with temperatures lower than average and more snow than usual.  We’ve had temps in the 60’s to tease us of Spring, followed by snow and even thunderstorms.

Quilting For Good – The weather allowed us to meet this month.  It was good to get together and sew on quilts for Mary’s Center.  I was able to finish quilting a quilt someone had previously started.  I’m hoping to work on my free motion quilting, but this one I just did straight-line stitching using a curvy decorative stitch.

These were not all done this day – but the one I quilted is on top of the middle pile in front.  With these 55 quilts, our total quilts made since 2005 is 1, 438!  We will definitely to 1,500 this year.

Fabric Café – Didn’t do any show samples this month.  But ended the month at a show.  Fabric Café was a vendor at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton, VA.  I got to visit with Donna & Robert, and helped work at their booth.

Quiltmaker – I tested the last 6 blocks for the Spring issue of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks, Volume 9.  I have them all hanging around the house and I must say these are some awesome blocks – The best I’ve tested so far!  I cannot wait to be able to share them with you during the Blog Tour in April.

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Year of Machine Quilting (Sponsored by Quiltmaker Magazine) – I have continued small practice assignments to gain confidence in using my domestic sewing machine to quilt my projects.  Mostly just learning how my machine works and how I need to change my habits.  Eventually there will be pictures, but not yet.

Block of the Months – Remember I am doing two BOMs.  One I know what the quilt will look and the other is a mystery.

Fat Quarter Shop – Wishes Quilt Along – Block #2 – Double Windmills was released 1/31 and I had mine finished 2/5 – YAY!

So cute and easy!  My Clapper was very handy pressing the points flat!

It’s not too late to join and support a good cause.  See details here.

Quilter’s Newsletter’s BOM – Ooh-Rah!! – Identified as The Colorado Quilt Block in the December 1969 issue of Quilters Newsletter Block #2 was released 2/5.  I cut the pieces for two versions of the block early in the month but I didn’t get it stitched yet.

Thursday Hand Sewing Group – Due to weather and other life-interruptions, I’ve missed this group this month.  Hoping for better weather next month.

Travels – Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival, Hampton, VA

On the Non-Sewing side – Unfortunately I have spent a good amount of time working on taxes – not fun, but an annual activity!

Finally – A Blog Note:  I want to welcome and thank all the new viewers & followers!  It’s exciting to see the numbers of visits and the countries they are from.  I have been working harder to be more consistent & organized about my blogging. I’m trying to post at least two times a week – Tip/Tutorial Tuesdays & Friday Finds, plus progress on my projects along the way.  I hope you will find my posts interesting.

I’m a couple of days behind, but I’ve linked with other bloggers on  Lilly’s Quilts to share what we’ve done in the past month.

Another link up on Lilly’s Quilts is open to small bloggers – I invite you to check out some of these smaller bloggers.

Happy Stitching!

Quilt Mouse