Light of Hope

At girls camp this year our theme was 'We Are A Light of Hope.'  We focused on how each girl is a light in the world.  How her good influence helps the world be a better place, giving hope and light to all she comes in contact with.  I know these girls are amazing.  No I am not biased in any way.  I feel so blessed to work with them and their other leaders.  They strengthen me and help me to be a better person.

I wanted to thank our camp director.  Someone I knew casually before camp but now will be a dear friend.  So I made this journal for her.  I had each of the girls write in it to let her know how much they loved and appreciated all her hard work.  It was fun to make and seeing her face light up when I gave it to her made my day.

Linking up with Sarah with this happy little finish

From Keepsake:

Take 10% Off Your Purchase of $80 or More at Keepsake Quilting with Offer Code KQAUG1080 Take 20% Off at Keepsake NeedleArts with Offer Code NAAUG20

I Got Lucky

Last fall I taught a spiderweb class at a private retreat for some friends.  They really loved my Stellar Stars Caught in a Web.  I wanted to show them other ways this fun quilt could be put together so I started this bright and cherry quilt. 

 I put it away shortly after the class because I was running out of background fabric, Trade Winds by Lily Ashbury for Moda.  It did not help that I made that  center left block backwards.  I'm sure you've never done that before.  Grrrr!

 I found it again while cleaning.  I really wanted to make it bigger and thought maybe I could maybe find a similar background as I knew it would near impossible to find the Trade Winds fabric as it is several years old.  On a whim I thought I'd do a Google search and see if I could find any.  At first I only found other pieces in the line.  But lucky me after several stops around the web I found a yard of it.  A few days latter it arrived at my home.

I cut me some more kites and got busy make more webs. This time being extra careful not to make any backwards.

Smiling as I chained them through, cause these bright cheery colors sure make me happy, and I feel so lucky to have found more background.

From Keepsake Quilting

Garden Tea Party Block of The Month Quilt

Prize Winning Float

You may remember back in April I told you about being on a committee to build a float.  It really stressed me out at the time.  I even called my dad in tears once worried about how I was going to pull this off. My medium is fabric.  I knew little to nothing about building a float, and my hubby and I were in charge of building the base  for everything to go one. 

 We were given a platform built around and old van.  Thanks to an amazing contractor, I had an in with because his wife owns the local quilt store and is my friend, and a group of amazing people we were able to turn the tank looking plywood on wheels into a desert terrain.

 Others on the committee sculpted animals and cactus. Isn't that ox amazing?  It was really fun watching that being formed out of a block of Styrofoam.  Others built the wagon and got costumes for the people on the float.

 All the hard work paid off as we won awards in all four of the parades we were in.

 Don't Miss Christmas in July Savings at Shop Fons & Porter 
First Call for Fall at Keepsake Quilting
Get a Holiday Head Start at Keepsake Quilting

Scrappy Binding Finish

It's no secret I love a scrappy binding.  I even have a tutorial for one here.  My Greater Than the Sum quilt was recently quilted, very simply with organic lines at varying widths.  I felt it needed a scrappy binding to go with the scrappy plus blocks.  I had a few bits of leftover binding that I sewed together.  That only got me half way so I cut some bias strips from bits in my scrap bins.

Doesn't it look so yummy all spiraled around? Lots of pretty scrappy goodness going on here.

And here is the finished quilt, ready for a special baby soon to be arriving this fall.

Linking up with Sarah to share a little whoop whoop
 Don't Miss Christmas in July Savings at Shop Fons & Porter 
First Call for Fall at Keepsake Quilting
Get a Holiday Head Start at Keepsake Quilting

Mountain Inspiration

My blue scrap bin has been getting harder and harder to get the lid on.  I've been looking for a way to use up some of it's scrappy goodness, to eliminate this problem.  Inspired by the beauty of the mountains at girls camp, I started to form an idea.  In addition to my blue bin I pulled scraps from my green and yellow bin.

Got busy and started cutting strips, mostly green and blue with just a hint of yellow.

 Then I started sewing them into quarter log cabins.

I'm still forming a plan but I'm liking the results so far.
Save 30% on Digital Patterns at Shop Fons & Porter with Offer Code JULY30
Shop Melanie McNeice Products at Stitch Craft Create
Pre-Order Sew Fantasy Toys and Receive a Free eBook at Stitch Craft Create
Take 10% Off Kids Crafts at the Hobby Warehouse

Hidden Treasures

I found these cuties while cleaning my sewing room this weekend.  Don't you just love it when you find hidden treasures?  I had totally forgot I had made them.  They seem too cute to just become orphans, but I'm not sure how I want to use them yet.

They would make a cute baby quilt.  I've also been wanting to do a sample quilt, something similar to Gypsy Wife or My Small World.  I might have to start sketching something out.  I am leaning more that way.

What hidden treasures have you found recently?  Did you remember them when you found them?Save 30% on Digital Patterns at Shop Fons & Porter with Offer Code JULY30

It's That Time of Year Again.

Being a part of the young women's group in my church I get some pretty awesome perks, not the least of which is girls camp. I have so much fun with these awesome girls.  We play.

 Do service.  The girls used a log splitter to create firewood for other campers.  Some of my littlest girls were hefting the largest logs.

 Enjoy wild life.  These dear were not afraid of us at all.  You could get so close.  One morning while I was reading a buck walked by not more than 10 feet away, his antlers in velvet.  Followed shortly by a doe and her fawn.  About 10 minutes later another doe and her two fawn followed.  Oh, how I wish I had my camera for that little parade.

 We also did a ropes course this year with a giant swing.  These young women can be the worst kind of peer pressure.  Because of there constant coaxing I was hoisted high into the trees and sung.  SCARRY!  I screamed like a girl!  :)  Don't have a picture of that.  But they got a good one and assure me it will be shared on Facebook.  Here is a video to give you an idea of the insanity. Gotta love those girls.

In preparation for all of this my son, Neil and I screen printed 24 hoodies.  Our living room looked like a see of pink.

 Because of a few hiccups we were up late Sunday night getting them printed.  Neil told me to go to bed, since I had to be up early to leave for camp, he stayed up a couple hours latter heat setting them.

It was so worth it.  The girls loved them!

Hexie Star Progress

I've been making slow progress on my hexie stars. I have almost eight done now.  I know, I know I'm a speed demon.  :)

 I was running out of star points.  Not only did I not have a lot of points, my color selections was dwindling.

 So I pulled some light blues, browns, oranges, and golds.

Now it's back to my lightning fast piecing.  Hee hee!

Zucchini Lemon Bread

Summer is here and the garden is producing. If you are like me you have a zucchini in that garden.  My dad says 'Zucchini is what you plant so you can feel like a successful gardener.' Well, I'm feeling successful.  We have already produced several.  One of my favorite things to do with zucchini is  Lemon Zucchini Bread.  It is heavenly!

Here is the recipe:

Lemon Zucchini Bread

2 cup flour                                                1 1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt                                               2 Tbs. lemon juice

2 tsp. Baking powder                               1/2 cup buttermilk 

2 eggs                                                       zest of one lemon

1/2 cup oil                                                1 cup Zuccini

Mix dry ingredients. Add the rest and mix until moist.  Bake 350* for 40-45 minutes

Glaze

1 cup powdered sugar                                      2 Tbs. lemon juice

1 Tbs. milk                                                                                    

Combine and drizzle over loaf

Hope you enjoy!  What is your favorite zucchini recipe.

Greater Than the Sum of it's Parts

I finished adding strips and squaring up my wonky plus blocks.  I had several layouts to choose from. I finally decided to go with this one.  Though someday I may revisit this block and go with another of the layouts. They are pretty fun to make after all.

Once the blocks and rows where sewn together it was off to the garden to enjoy the cool sunny morning.  I've decided to call this little math quilt, Greater Than the Sum of it's Parts.

I'm linking up with Sarah to celebrate this little finish.  Whoop!  Whoop!

Scrap Quilts Summer 2015

25% Off 25 Kits at Keepsake Quilting with Offer Code KQ1514

What Cha Up To?

Adding borders to my wonky plus blocks (tutorial here) today.  Squaring them up and getting ready to decide on a setting.

What cha up to today?
  Pre-Order Patchwork Quilts & Gifts and Get a Free eBook at Stitch Craft Create
Craft it With Hama Beads eBook at Stitch Craft Create
Shop the Rock Around the Block Quilt Kit at Shop Fons & Porter
Shop the Peppermint Santas Quilt Kit at Shop Fons & Porter

Mountain Blossoms

Do you have a layer cake laying around?  Or a bunch of leftovers from ones previously used?  Would you like to find a home for them?  Have I got a quick and easy solution for you.  Mountain Blossoms is a quick and easy play on the disappearing nine patch.

 You can find the pattern on Moda Bake Shop today.  It makes a 68 1/2" x 77 1/2" quilt.  I used a Mountain Bloom layer cake.

But you can play with that to make the size you want.