Temecula Quilt Co. Summer Sew-A-Long

Summer is coming to a wrap.  It sure did go by fast!  Fall seems to be in the air.  I think I am ready for the change.  Fall decorating, sweater, boots and college football…not to mention quilting.  BUT quilting is always in season here.  🙂

I still have several flannel quilts to share, but I thought I would sprinkle in some of my own projects here and there.  I would say since June, I have made a conscience effort to stitch every day.  Either hand work on wool or piecing.  It is a nice little mental break for me from the concentration of custom quilting.

My little quilt is called Summer Love!!  Because it is so darn adorable, you have to love it!!!  It finishes at about 16″x19″.

 Temecula Quilt Co. offered a little July sew-a-long on Instagram. (seriously you need to be on IG, also you can find me on Instagram @hrckal that is hrcka with a lower case L at the end. I almost post a photo there daily.  You can see peeks at what I am working on.) Then I believe they showed it on their blog.  Each day in July, you were to sew a little cake stand block that finishes at 2″.  I like to refer to them as little baskets.

Teeny tiny!  I made one and I was hooked!  Surprisingly, I kept up with it too!!  There were times when I was not home for days, but I made up for those.  At the end of the month, I had 31 little blocks.  I made my blocks totally from scraps.  I did not use any yardage.  Some of my blocks are completely scrappy.

They offered 3 different finishing instructions.  I chose the one with sashing and cornerstones.

I ended up needing one more block.  This finish needed 32 blocks.

All pieced!!

 And quilted!!!  I needed to try out a new monofilament thread from YLI, so this was also work related. 🙂  I used the monofilament around all the blocks and the stitch in the ditch.  I used So fine in the setting triangles.  Batting is Dream Blend.

 If you look closely, you can see that several blocks are scrappy.  I only used scraps.  Sometimes even 1″ squares from scrap collection.  Well it is all scraps except the sashing, cornerstones and setting triangles.  That DID come from yardage.  All reproduction fabric.

I used a low contrasting fabric for my cornerstones, a dark brown.  I did not want the typical red or black cornerstones.  I wanted the basket blocks to be the focal point.  I love how it turned out!!

Super small blocks in comparison with an Aurifil Spool.

Quilting is just some micro stipple to make the baskets pop.

The Back.

I have not found a place to hang it yet in my house.  Can you believe that??!!! I am so happy to have a finished project of my own!!!  I am so guilty of starting something with good intentions of finishing, but  then I get too busy or just plain lose interest.  The sense of accomplishment is almost intoxicating. 🙂

I purchased the darling quilt hanger from Primitive Gatherings in June when I was there.  You can probably order them online or call the shop.

In between all the running around this summer and quilting, I did have a girls’ night out with my friend Patti.  If you have been following me for a while, you know that I am a HUGE Keith Urban fan.  I took Patti to her very first KU concert at the beginning of the month.

 Don’t we look excited??!!  Patti is in the blue.

Keith rocking out with Little Big Town!!!  We had an amazing time!!  Kristin, my sis and I are going again in November.  LOL.

Speaking of Krisin, we are going to the Michigan State/Western Michigan game tonight in East Lansing.  She will be dressed in Bronco gear and I will be in Spartan Green!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend!