Make-A-List Monday - No Rest For the Wicked!

Hi, all!

I hope you've had a fabulous Labor Day weekend - it's been an exciting one around here, as we've been watching the numbers coming in related to the movie War Room.  As part of his job, my husband has been very involved with this movie (he even has a teeny-tiny part in it!) and in case you haven't heard, it is the number one movie in the country for the Labor Day weekend!  Woohoo!!  Lots of happy dances have been happening around here!

So now, let's see how last week's list went...

1.  Make a back for the "What's On The Bookshelf Wednesday" quilt.

2.  Quilt and bind the WOTBW quilt.

Done and done!  Come back this Wednesday to hear about a great new book and see the front of this quilt!

3.  Write up the "secret for now" pattern.

Done!  More about this one on September 18th!

4.  Pack up and mail the One Million Pageviews giveaway items.

Done and hopefully received!

5.  Quilt a friend's vintage quilt top.

Done!  Isn't this a beautiful feedback quilt?

6.  Quilt my niece's quilt top.

Partially done - but Jolene ate a piece of thread she shouldn't have, and I had to do some (hair raising) surgery today!  I finally got the piece of thread out, but the timing still isn't right.  I've got a good friend coming to help me fix it on Friday, thankfully!  But here's a pic of what I'm doing on my niece's quilt...

7.  Pull together all the parts needed for the quilt racks for the September 19th quilt show.

I was supposed to be working on that today, but instead I was doing major long arm surgery (see #6 above...)

8.  If the fabric arrives, start cutting out the "secret for now" quilt.

The fabric has arrived, and I've pressed it.  I plan to start cutting bright and early tomorrow morning!

9.  Order solids for Emmy's and Nathanael's annual quilts.

Done! Hancock's of Paducah had a great sale, so I got them for a very good price.  I can't wait to start working on them!

10.  Pull fabrics for Lilli's annual quilt.

As much as I wish I had, I haven't gotten to this one yet.  Bummer!

11.  Work on Nathanael's hospital.

I did get to do a little bit on this last night!

12.  Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that come up.

Done!  We gave away several this week...

This quilt went to a 7-year old girl who had surgery for a tumor on her spine...

This one went to a baby born prematurely with many medical issues.  She isn't expected to live long...

...and so this quilt went to her parents in hopes that it will provide them some comfort in the hospital and after they return home.

This quilt went to a man who has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

So that's the result of last week's list.  Not completely done, but I didn't hold out much hope for that because it was so long.  And I added an extra quilt and a major long arm repair job to the list mid-week!  So I'm happy.  Here's what's on tap for this week...

1.  Piece the "secret for now" quilt.

2.  Purchase the parts for and assemble the quilt racks for the September 19th quilt show.

3.   Fix Jolene's timing.

4.  Finish my niece's quilt.

5.  Pull fabrics for Lilli's annual quilt.

6.  Work on Nathanael's stocking.

7.  Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that come up.

That's plenty to keep me busy this week, when combined with a couple of mornings with the littles and two mornings sewing at church with the ministry members!  Looks like I really need to hit it hard tomorrow...

So now the question is - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? I Love Bright Colors!

Hi, all!

Friday is upon us once again, and that means it's time to get our whoop whoop on!  Are you ready?  After much hard work, a lot of seam ripping, and some speedy binding, I am!  So let's get started!!

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A few weeks ago, I asked Christa Watson, who blogs over at Christa Quilts, if she would let me review her upcoming book, Machine Quilting With Style, on an upcoming Wednesday book review post. I was so excited when she said yes!!

But I was even more excited when I saw the fabulous quilts in the book - so much so that about halfway through, I got on-line and ordered some fabric to make one of them!  I'm not going to show you the front yet - I'm saving that for Wednesday's post - but I'd like to show you the back of the quilt today!

Aren't those colors fabulous?  

The black just makes them sing!

Unable to decide what single color to use in the bobbin, I used a rainbow variegated thread on the back of the quilt - 

and I love the results!

Just look at all that gorgeous color and texture!

I can't wait to get it out of the dryer and see if it's as snuggly as it looks like it will be.  Come back on Wednesday to see the results - and the front of the quilt!  It's a stunner!

So that's what I'm happy dancing over this week -

can I get a whoop whoop?

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And now it's your turn!

What's making you whoop it up this week?

What's got you doing a happy little dance?

Share - because we want to dance right along with you!

Let's have a party!!

The linky will remain open until Sunday midnight - 

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

What's On The Bookshelf Wednesday - Big City Inspiration!!

Hi, all!

Time to check out another great book today!  I'm sure all of you have experienced this - you are out walking or driving around, and you see something and think, "Hey, that could be a quilt!"  Well, our book today was inspired by just that...

City Quilts by Cherri House is one of my favorite "inspiration" books!  She took common sights in the big city and created quilts that echo those inspirations...

...like windows on skyscrapers...

...or city aviation.  I love that this quilt is a little different from the others in the book - featuring pinwheels and flying geese to reinforce the original inspiration!

And how's this for finding inspiration in unusual places?  City Shops derives its inspiration from the lowly bar code - 

something we see every day!

My favorite quilt in the book is also the only one that I've already made - City Green. You can see my version, called Marine, under the book in the first picture of this post.

I love the way Cheri not only chose the greens, but also the light neutrals of the buildings and walkways, to put in her quilt.  Isn't it gorgeous?

All of the quilts in this book are made with solids, which I just love - they are so versatile, and there are so many colors available in solid fabrics these days!  (I must confess, sometimes I take out my various color cards and just look at the beautiful array of colors!)

There is a wonderfully chatty section at the beginning of the book that talks about inspiration, design, and some great insights on color.  There is also a small section of the book devoted to quilt making essentials, useful, but not overwhelming.  The bulk of the book focuses on twelve stunning quilts that will make you want to rush out and buy solid fabrics!!

Every time I look at this book, I flash back to the trips I've taken to New York City - the quilts are so evocative of the things I've seen while traveling there.  And I want to make them all!!

And just for fun, here's a shot of Marine - 

my version of City Green!

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So that's what's on my bookshelf this week.  Have you looked at yours lately?

Hugs!

Sarah