I just attended my first Online Quilt Festival with Mancuso. They ran a Facebook Live all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Everything was based in the Eastern Time Zone which was a problem for me but I know they were doing the best they could. I had planned on spending time on Friday checking everything out before my class on Saturday. The day ended up getting away from me and I didn’t actually do any of the normal things. Hopefully someone out there can give more details on how it works.
My class today was good. I actually stayed up better. How much of that was because I was in my own sewing studio and didn’t have to borrow something I forgot and how much of that I wasn’t walking around the classroom looking at everyone’s stuff, I can’t say for sure. Zoom sure did allow everyone to see what the teacher is doing without peeking over a shoulder here or a head there. Overall, I thought it went very well. I took the Hunter’s Star class with Quilt Maven Dave Sirota. I took a class using his technique a few years ago but I felt more stuck this time. I just wish I didn’t have to get up at 5:30am my time to do. Still, well worth it.
My other quilt festival buddies were all in attendance as well. We chatted some online, but more in our phone group chats then in Zoom. It was great catching up with everyone! A fun day that I would repeat again. There were a few people on the class who said they set up a sewing day with their friends via Zoom. Now doesn’t that sound like a blast. The kittens (Simba and Nala) were happy they got to meet everyone and help mom with her sewing.
Sew-A-Long Updates
2020 Quilters Planner Block of the Month & 2020 Patterns by Jen Monthly Color Challenge
I found myself way busier than I expected in the month of the June. I have gotten both blocks cut and expect to sew this weekend. I am loving the Alison Glass blue fabrics for the Monthly Color Challenge. I went ahead and cut both June & July for Quilters Planner just so I could feel ahead of the game.
Cotton Cuts 2019 Fall & 2020 Spring Mystery Quilts
Once again I have nothing to report. Cosmos (Fall 2019) is ready to be assembled and Name of the Rose (Spring 2020) is here waiting patiently for it’s turn on the sewing machine. I have a few days left.
Paper Pieces Lost and Found Quilt Sew A Long
Overall I am feeling pretty good with this SAL even though I am technically still behind. I finished both of May’s blocks this month. I showed you block 9 already so here is Block 10:
I have already cut both blocks 11 & 12 for June and have basted all of block 11 and half of block 12. The color choices are not really me so I am not really happy with what I am seeing but , I know they will look great.
Pat Sloan’s Sew-A-Longs
In May I participated in the Rainbows HST SAL. I still just need to piece and border it. Soon…. June is all about Free Motion Quilting. With this I was able to get my placemats done and I am super stoked. They look great. Bigger than I realized but still perfect. 
Sadly I have not FMQ every day like we are supposed to be doing. I bought a few panels but never got them basted. I did do the doodling on paper most days which I feel makes a huge difference. We were supposed to start a new SAL on 6/24 but Pat fell and broke both of her wrists. She is still planning on doing her Picnic SAL, it is just delayed as she has to do some things a little different. This one is tentatively starting on July 1st or July 8th depending on when she has surgery. The Jolly Bar Sampler sewalong with Fat Quarter Shop that Pat was going to lead, is still starting this Monday. I originally was going to do another Christmas quilt, but I opted to do a cat quilt instead.
Then Came June Meadowland & Sugaridoo Row by Row QAL
Meadowland just needs to assemble the blocks while Sugaridoo I am simply hung up on it because they use freezer paper. After my class today, I am either going to use the no paper method we learned or just let this one go. I made the first row and never made another because she uses freezer paper foundation paper piecing for the whole row. We are month 8 already.
That wraps up the active SAL. A few more start in July but we will wait until next time.
APQ Resolution – June Quilt
As you may remember my June Quilt project for the UFO challenge is my Over and Under Quilt. All the borders are on and I located the backing. Two weeks ago I did actually finish basting the quilt and last weekend (after my machine broke) I finished the “Stay” stitching which is just some stitch in the ditch. All week I have been toying with ideas on how I am going to quilt it. Now that I have my B880 back, we will attempt to finish the FMQ before Tuesday. I am opting with a all over loopy meander which I have practiced several times. I am still deciding if I will do any quilting in the actual Over and Under pieces. I am thinking if I do it will be minimal. Here it is after the stitch in the ditch. This one I will keep going until it is done. I am way to close to stop now.
English Paper Piecing
My other EPP projects beside the LOST & FOUND quilt is still Farmer’s Wife and Ruby’s Garden. Today I cut two more #FW1920EPP blocks (43 & 44) and I have all the units sewn together for Block 42. Here is the latest pictures:
Ruby’s Garden I have managed to cut and glue baste several different blocks but have not sewn any this month.
I did cut my 4 different hexagon blocks from The New Hexagon book for coordinating mug rugs and potholders for my May table runner. I even got the mug rugs glue basted. I think they are so adorable. Take a quick peek!
Machine Applique Projects
Not a lot to report on these projects. I have finished the hand embroidery on Santa and Friends Adoornament Wall Hanging which makes that one a finish as well as on Give Thanks and Winter A Year In Words Wall Hangings. These last two just need their hanging sleeves and binding now.
Under My Needle (Other Projects)
I finished quilting the coordinating placemats for my May Table Runner as well as cut the Napkins. The placemats just need some binding (which is cut and ready) and the napkins just needed a quick trip under the needle to be done. I am excited as these will go on the island for immediate use in kitchen. I think my next table runner should be finishing up my October set. They are in process. If I start now, maybe they will actually be done in time. LOL!
I have sitting by the sewing machine a jelly roll race quilt with 2 1/2 inch squares for in between. I need to do part one all in one sitting so I need at least an hour or two to start that one. I want to add my borders to my Mama Gypsy so they are on then I will probably put that one away for now as I absolutely need to finish the Christmas Advent quilt. If you remember, this one needs its pieced border (which I have to still sew) and then one larger border. Now that stores are opening up, I am hoping to run over and pick up something that goes with it for the second border.
Wrap Up
I have not worked on my 365 quilt challenge in at least a week. I kind of lost my motivation when I got behind again. Some of these blocks take a couple of hours to make. While I want to finish this challenge, it is a huge time suck and very hard for someone like me with ADD to stay focused for extended period of time. I will keep plugging away but it is not a priority. As I finish a block, I will share with everyone. I am not seeing that happening this next week or so with all these new SAL starting and my wrapping up of old SAL.
The kittens are growing like little weeds. They were very helpful with today’s class. They love sleeping on the fabric but Nala absolutely loves to be inside the quilts. The feature picture is her hiding inside the Over and Under quilt while I was stitching in the ditch last weekend.
Stay safe and keep stitching!
Peggy Stockwell