August Minis

I hope you'll agree that 

 our projects and stitching

should bring us pleasure, smiles

and even laughter.

Each month there is a group of bloggers

who have been challenged 

and, hopefully, have found joy in

creating a monthly mini and then 

sharing their creativity with others.

Our blogging friend, Wendy,

the Constant Quilter, has been the

facilitator of this diverse group.

Thank you ,Wendy.  I've appreciated your 

"constant" dedication! 

This month I only have a quilt top.

My attention had been diverted to stitching hst's!

Sunflowers and Sunshine

38" x 38"

Yellow scraps and a pattern

designed by Vanessa Goertzen of Lella Boutique

was fun to stitch 

during the last of the summer days.

You can get the free sunflower block

pattern here from Aurifil.

Yes, there were a few more

half square triangles to make,

but that yellow fabric 

was just so happy to play with. 

The four blocks went together quickly.

The striped border fabric had been used

in my daughter's first grade classroom 

as shelf drape.

Now it was happily being 

 used once again.

My fence line-up for this month had to be called

Sunflowers and Sunshine.

Here's a closer look at the middle quilt.

From where you're looking, it doesn't seem 

to fit the theme, but

 the border fabric was its ticket

to join in on the fence parade.

****

Also wanted to give you all an update on the free

"Oh, Say Can You Sew" mystery quilt

generously designed by Lisa Bongean.

The stack of 128 blocks

is ready and waiting 

for clue #6.

Until Next Time-

Kyle 

August Mini

 My August mini is called

No Rhyme nor Reason

33" x 33"

I noticed there has been several bloggers, like Barbara

of Quilts, Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors   

have been doing some tidying up of little bits and pieces

that had been accumulating.

I try and do the same thing as I end up with

small pieces leftover from a current project,

precutting different sizes of squares and strips.

Lately, I had even gone so far to sew some of the squares

into hst's with no plan in mind.

I thought, I probably should do something with them.

With a pile of quilt books

and a pile of hst's 

I found a pattern in 

Beyond the Battlefield 

by Mary Etherington and Connie Tesene

There was no event or plan or reason for choosing

this particular pattern, 

other than

I could use those half square triangles, 

it had some applique pieces,

and lots of red.

Add in some fun pinwheel blocks

and a flange binding and you've got a 

great combo.

Sometimes it important to

be a free spirit

and sew something 

for no rhyme or reason.

But speaking of a perfect combo....

"Garden fresh"

The garden is finally giving us some

perfect tomatoes.

Now go check out Wendy's blog,

The Constant Quilter

for more free spirited quilters.

Until Next Time-

Kyle

Live in the Sunshine

 

August is a serious time for ice cream.

It's time to start school no matter 

what form it takes.

Even my daughter who teaches first grade 
 has made quite a few adjustments. 

For me, it's time to share an August mini!!

The fields behind my house looked like the colors

of my quilt, golds and greens.

Wish it had been a field of sunflowers!

"Live in the Sunshine"

47" x 47"

(despite the skies still being smokey and hazy)

You might remember from earlier this summer
that I started appliqueing these sunflower blocks. 

 Susie Wright of 

Fixer of Old Quilts on Instagram had

drafted a pattern of an antique sunflower block

inspired by a 1862 quilt from the collection

of Cathy Erickson of quiltingcat2.

I decided to place the blocks all facing

the same directions, just like sunflowers

moving and following the sun during the day.

The border is designed with sets of golden flying geese

circling the field.

Again I tried to figure it out mathematically,

but luckily it worked out better in real life

than on paper!

All four corners actually, came out the same!

I kept the machine quilting simple

with echo quilting around the sunflowers,

straight lines in the skinny borders,

and leaves in the outer border.

I added the flange binding with the

dark gold and green to frame the whole design.

 

I found two older pieces in my stash for the backing,
 ancient yardage from South Seas designed by Theresa Kogut 

and a very old piece by Sandy Gervais.

Summer isn't really over yet.
There's still plenty of time to play

and even enjoy a little ice cream.

Until Next Time-

Kyle