I have a feeling this is going to be a great week.  My boss left today for a week long cruise and I completed my July AYOS!

I present to you… Lincoln!

Another AYOS Done! Lincoln!!

Fabric is from the Boho collection by Urban Chiks for Moda.

Top finishes at just under 50″ square.

I’m thrilled with how this came out.  As I mentioned in an earlier email, I probably would not have ever purchased this fabric collection for myself – but I received two charm packs as part of my winnings from last month’s AYOS submission.  Once I got started with it, I truly enjoyed every minute working on this quilt.  I also decided that this would be a unique and beautiful baby girl quilt, so I added in the extra borders to maximize the size.

Here’s a picture of the two inserted 1 1/2″ finished inner white borders that vary from the small Lincoln pattern:

I happen to have some light/dark alternating pink polka dot flannel fabric that I am going to use for the backing – to make it extra soft for the baby.

I decided on a mitered outer border, which I usually don’t fool with – but I had long enough strips to give it a try.

Here’s my one perfect corner:

The other three corners ended up with a bit of a pucker in the seam – but not so bad as to want to rip out and do over (at least for me at the end stage of a quilt completion – although, maybe I just have to remove a few stitches from that corner…):

Here’s two more pictures on our side fence:

I’m so glad to have joined in this month.  However – depending on the pattern for August – I may have to take a break so I can get some other WIPs continued.  We will see on Thursday when the parade of quilts is made on Sinta and Sherri’s blogs!

Hope you have a great week ahead of you also.  Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Jennifer

Lincoln blocks are done!  Now just previewing the placement of them all before I starting sewing them together.

Tried to fussy cut some of the more appropriate pieces.  I’ll be leaving this red flower one in the center:

I am very likely to add on a couple of borders, perhaps following the guidance of the instructions for the larger Lincoln setting in the book.  Part of me wants to add in a white inner border just before the outer ring of Rail Fence blocks.  I may have to browse other blogs to see what everyone else is doing with their AYOS this month.

I have only about two weeks left to finish my Rally quilt.  Cutting it close!  Better get moving!

Thanks for stopping by today,

Jennifer

Well, even with my intent to stay focused on work this past week, I did get started with my AYOS project for July … LINCOLN Schnibble pattern by Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company.

I started with ordering the book, so I could add to my collection and get so many more great patterns at the same time.  I added in some Bella Solid “Feather” for the background out of my stash and my two charm packs of BOHO fabric by Urban Chiks, courtesy of Carrie Nelson herself from my prize package (see last post):

Now, mind you, I have my favorite designers and what I think are my favorite color schemes.  I had not purchased any of the BOHO collection because it didn’t seem ‘me’.  But I am so pleasantly surprised at how much I have enjoyed working with it!  Rich colors and the retro vibe feel is cheerful.  So, I started with my fabric selections for the 13 star points and centers.  Now tell me – don’t these colors look great??

I proceeded to cut up my squares for the star points and got them all grouped together with their centers.  You can also see the start of the rail fence pieces beginning to stack up on the right:

And the first block done and approved!  I love how the star floats in the background (there is more than 1/4″ seam allowance designed into that block), and even though I think it came out perfectly – it does help to have that cushion where you won’t cut off the points when you join everything together.  This picture below came out a bit dark.  It is a great block – unfinished at 5″ square:

As of today, I have my rail fence block 2/3 joined (two of the three strips are connected).  This will be so speedy!  I have a total of 4 star blocks done, so only 9 more to go.  I ordered my backing and binding from FQS yesterday, so it should be here by the weekend and maybe I can even get this quilted on my own machine before the end of the month!  Yippee!

Once that is done … look what I get to do next:

See you soon!

Thanks for visiting my site!

Jennifer

I have been following quilt blogs for a little over a year now.  I was stunned at how many there were and all the variations in style and tastes.  It has been a great hobby (?) or favorite activity to pop in every day or two to see what’s new.  And then there are the contests and giveaways!  This group is amazing in their endeavor to attract new followers and/or to just share in their love of quilting and reaching out to others of like mind.

Long intro to the fact that up until this past month, I have never won any of these contests, but I always enjoy the comments and blog posts that go along with them.  I don’t expect to win, but I join every now and then.

I hit the jackpot twice this past month!  I’m thrilled and it is just icing on the cake.

The first one was on a wonderful and beautiful blog by a quilter in Australia named Meredithe Clark.  She designs her own templates and patterns and has the blog Pomegranate and Chintz.  Check her out – you will love her pictures and she does a lot of quilting groups, and they eat very well I might add.  Usually beautiful food pics to go with their progress pictures.

The second one that I won was a drawing as a participant in the June AYOS sew along, hosted by Sherri and Sinta.  Two great bloggers and I would not hesitate to assume, wonderful people.  However, my prize was sponsored by Carrie Nelson herself!  She is owned by her beautiful dog, Miss Rosie, of Miss Rosie’s Quilt Co.  I feel like I have been touched by a celebrity!

Well, I got both packages this past week and can’t be happier.  I won a set of acrylic templates designed by Meredithe which I love!  (I love templates, they definitely fit my collection obsession).

Carrie Nelson sent over a great bundle of precuts.  I am pleasantly surprised that I received two BOHO charm packs as part of this package and have decided to honor the gift by using them in my July AYOS quilt, Lincoln.  I have already cut out my fabric, so more pictures on that progress early in the week.  I had also ordered the book “Another Bite of Schnibbles” so I could get the Lincoln pattern and there are so, so many more in the book that I plan to make.  (note … I could have sworn I already owned this book, but after dedicating at least two hours searching for it – I resigned myself to the fact that I did not, in fact, own this book.  But I have at least three others by Carrie Nelson – so that may explain the feeling).

Someday, I may have enough followers to offer giveaways and contests.  But until then, I enjoy seeing this community grow and share graciously – and glad that I found them.  And just in case I never win anything again, I have signed up for waaayyyy too many upcoming BOM patterns later in the fall.  A lot of great ones coming out this year, so it will keep me in touch with my postman!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jennifer