Can I get a Whoop-Whoop?? Feelin' Good - Lots Accomplished!

Hi, all!


Well, it's been a good week here - hot as all get-out, so staying inside was very attractive!  The only problem?  Without Lilli, I seem to have this insane desire to...... clean house?????  Who knew?  My husband loves it, though - poor guy, he puts up with a lot because of me!  But in between cleaning house, I did get a few quilty things done...


I finished the bindings on these two ministry quilts....

This quilt is made from blocks donated by Megan
of Crooked Seams - isn't it pretty?

This is another of Sharon Vrooman's beautiful tops -
I added the pansy border to match the pansy prints
in the quilt and quilted it!

In addition to finishing the binding on those two quilts, I quilted this pretty quilt, pieced by my friend and fellow quilt ministry member, Debora...

Isn't that a gorgeous thing?  So bright and cheerful - and made completely with donated fabrics out of the stash!!

And one other thing I did this week - with the help of a couple of quilt ministry members - is organize a pile of donated fabric that was cluttering up one corner of my sewing room!  

See that patch of floor in the bottom right of the picture?  Well, I haven't seen that piece of floor for months!!!  Hallelujah!!  And in a fit of housekeeping (how do I get rid of this desire to clean house???) I also went through the remaining bags and boxes that were in the foyer (remember this picture?) and got them sorted out and put away yesterday!!

So that's my whoop whoop for the week - although my husband's would probably be that I vacuumed yesterday, and we didn't even have company coming over!  What have you been working on this week?  Doesn't matter how big or small, finished or not - what have you been happy to accomplish?  Share - it's fun, you'll get lots of encouragement, and maybe inspire someone!!  You've got until Saturday at midnight to link up, too, so if you don't have anything yet, get to work and come back!!

Hugs!

Sarah

What's Cookin' at The Sweatshop, Week #3

Hi, all!


Wow - I can't believe I forgot that yesterday was Tuesday!  So this week's ministry update is a little late - I guess time flies when you're having fun!!  


Monday Cindy and Kathy from the quilt ministry came over and we worked on organizing some of the donated fabric that we've received in the past few weeks.  

I show you both of these pics because in the first one - you see that patch of floor at the bottom right?  Well, it's the first time I've seen it in about six months!  There was a pile of boxes there with fabric that I hadn't had a chance to get through - and now it's gone!  My sewing area feels twice as large now - and lots of storage space was uncovered, so we've got some more cubbies to fill up!  The shelves are stacked nice and full with folded yardage, and the scrap bins are overflowing - time to get to work with my Go! Cutter to knock them down to usable sizes!


This week we delivered a quilt to an older gentleman connected to our church who's dealing with cancer and other health problems...

This beautiful quilt was pieced by Sharon Vrooman of Vrooman's Quilts and donated to the ministry - we added borders and quilted it.  I do love string quilts - wish I had the patience to make one myself!!


We also delivered two quilts to church for our pastor to have available to give out at our monthly special prayer service if he felt someone needed an extra "hug" to take away with them...

This pretty rainbow version of a sudoku quilt was pieced by Cassie and quilted by me...

...and this is my contribution to the Great American Jelly Roll Race - it was so much fun to make!


I'm currently hand-sewing the binding on two quilts, a third is in the dryer getting its crinkly goodness, and they'll all be going to church tonight for our semi-annual GroupLink - a time when people can learn about the groups and activities that are available at our church. Hopefully we'll find a whole new batch of ladies (or even guys!) who want to learn to quilt!


I also just ran the totals for the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge - 47 active participants made and donated 62 quilts to Judi of Green Fairy Quilts for their charity that takes quilts, school supplies and food to orphans in Romania! Woohoo!!  I can't wait for next year!!


So that's what's going on in The Sweatshop this week!  And since we're all suffering from the heat, it seems, here's something to look forward to....

Can't you just feel the cool snap of the autumn air?  Bring it on!!!


Hugs!


Sarah

Make-A-List Monday #58! Getting back to normal.....

Hi, all!


Monday again - and I feel like things are maybe getting back to normal a little!  Of course, it feels a little strange without Lilli around, but I did get a lot done today - a couple of friends came over and helped me sort through a big stack of boxes full of donated fabric this morning!  My stash wall is beautifully organized and FULL - and unfortunately, so are the bins of scraps to be cut - but that's a job for another day!


So how did I do on last week's list?  Let's see....

1.  Finish those bee blocks!

I did, I did finish those bee blocks! 

And put them in the mail, too!

2.  Put a border on Lilli's quilt.

Got this one done, too!  Woohoo!!

3.  Make a back for Lilli's quilt.

Wait a minute!  What fool put this on the list..... 

oh wait, that was me..... oops.....

4.  Get the local Hands2Help quilts in the mail!

Done!  This beautiful stack of goodness 

is on its way to Utah!

5. Finish all the admin work for the Hands2Help challenge!

Finally all done!  Except for the giveaway drawings - 

and that's the easy part!

6.  Quilt at least one more ministry quilt.

Done!  Take a look at this pretty quilt....

It was made using blocks donated by Megan of Crooked Seams!  The binding still needs to be sewn down, but then it's ready for a new home...

So all in all, last week went pretty well!  But what's in store for this week?

1.  Make a back for Lilli's quilt! (Yes, really!)

2.  Quilt at least two more ministry quilts.

3.  Hand-sew the binding on two ministry quilts.

4.  Make backs (or con someone else into making backs)

for the eight ministry quilt tops that are ready for quilting!

5.  Sort through and cut down at least one tub of scraps.

Yes, it's ambitious - but remember, I'm toddlerless all the time now - and I've got to do something to fill my days!  Clean house or quilt - tough choice, but someone's got to do it!!

So what are you working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah


PS - be sure to stop in over at The Intrepid Thread - it's her two-year blogiversary and she's having a fabulous giveaway to celebrate!!!  Woohoo!!