Number 108

All done!  

This quilt started out as Jubilee Celebration and ended up as something else.  I need to come up with a better name than Not Jubilee Celebration, maybe Summer Celebration or Sister's Celebration.

I love outdoor quilt pictures I see on other blogs so I thought I would give it a try.  We've had a wonderful summer of  rain, cool nights, and warm not hot days, which has resulted in a very green, very pretty lawn at my house.  What a perfect time to take some pictures.

Why do other bloggers outdoor quilt pictures look so neat, so serene, so perfect?  I didn't even notice the light breeze until I tried to get my quilt to lay flat.

And what's up with all those lumps and bumps?  I guess I have green but clumpy grass.

The colors sure are nice though.

This is Lifetime Quilt Number 108

The pattern is Jubilee Celebration by Bonnie Blue Quilts

The pattern finished at 91" x 108", my version finished at 76" x 90"

It has approximately 1,767 pieces from 67 different fabrics.

I would have to say this project was definitely a joint effort, the pattern by Paula Barnes, the kit by Country Sampler, and a few modifications by me.

My sewcation is officially over, but I took advantage of every free minute I had, back to my normal routine, which is pretty quilter friendly too.

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It's a Sew-cation!

So we've decided my at home retreat should be called a sew-cation.  Regardless of what it's called I hope you get to have one soon, even if it's only for one day.

I had a little set back on Wednesday, a storm blew through Wednesday afternoon knocking out the power for 3 hours!  I used the time to do some picking up around the house, sort some laundry, and eat some ice cream.  (I wasn't sure how long the power would be out and I didn't want it to go to waste)

But I still managed to accomplish a lot.

Know what you get when you add this, 

to this?

You get this!

Three borders and this one will be done!

I'm still working on my mini basket blocks and clown pants, look for updates next week.

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And Then . . .

And then, 

there were 10.

10 teenie weenie itsy bitsy ridiculously cute mini cake stand basket blocks.  I'm not tired of making these blocks, yet!  10 down 20 more to go.

It's just Cooper and I at home this week, so I thought it would be the perfect time to have a sewing retreat, at home.  Is that called an advance, a stay-cation? Whatever it's called all I'm doing is sewing and walking the dog.  I'm not doing laundry, running errands, or cooking.  I'm living off of cereal, sandwiches, and Lean Cuisines, and so far it's been nothing but fun

I've decided to go with 32 Sister's Choice blocks for Not Jubilee Celebration, these 32 blocks.  I think I made 35, 3 didn't make the final cut.  I like the looks, variation and shading of these blocks.

It's amazing how much I can accomplish with days of 14 hours of sewing time.

Now I'm working on the sashing.

I hope to have that sashing done and on those blocks by Friday, should be a piece of cake. 

 I recommend this retreat at home thing, now if I could just come up with the perfect name for it, besides great.

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More Not JC and Something New

Eleven Not Jubilee Celebration blocks are all pieced.  

My blocks finish at 7 1/2 inches and the block pattern is Sister's Choice.  Most Sister's Choice blocks don't have background fabric in that center square along each edge, but I liked this look better so that's what I went with.

I don't think that grey and maroon block on the left is going to make the cut.

The blocks in the pattern are called Anvil blocks and finish at 9 inches.

This top finishes at 91" x 108".  I've yet to decide what size to make my version, but I'm pretty confident it won't be that big.

I got something new for my sewing room last week.  I've been looking for a bulletin board/cork board for my sewing room for ages, but could never find the right size or the right look.  I stumbled across this magnetic board in a gift shop and love it, love it more than a cork board I think.

There are all kinds of cute magnets that you can buy for the board, plus, post-its stick to the metal surface just fine.  I have all sorts of lists and reminders, but they are in a basket and I don't look through that basket very often.  Now it's nice to have a few things that I want to think about out where they remind me to think about them.  

This board is 16 inches square and is  made by Demdaco.

And now, on a totally different and humiliating subject, someone was directed to an offensive site from a link on my blog, the link to Diana's Coastal Lily quilt.  I'm not sure how something like that could happen, but if it happened to you I am so sorry. I don't even allow advertising on my blog, you can imagine how embarrassed I am that something like that happened on my blog.  I have removed the link and won't be linking to any other blogs for a while.  I'm not sure if my blog has a virus or what.   I did read online that some blog readers, when read from an iPad, are directing folks to offensive sites from links.  I don't subscribe to any of the blog readers and am not all that familiar with the process.  At any rate, you will not be getting any links from this blog so the coast is clear.  I run a "G" rated blog, don't even get close to "PG" and will never be "X" rated.  And again, I am so sorry if you were mistakenly directed to an offending site.

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The day after

How was your 4th of July?  Ours was pretty much perfect, the weather was wonderful, a huge improvement over last year when we broke our all time temperature high with 101 degrees.  It was sunny, cool, and pleasant here.  I started the day with a walk, watched the local 4 mile race around town,  went to a movie, grilled, and watched fireworks.  I would say I made the most of my day, PLUS I even had time to sew a little.

Two more itsy bitsy teenie weenie basket blocks are done.  I've cut all my background fabric for the remaining 26 blocks and am thinking that maybe I'll make two every other day, instead of one every day.

I also made one more Not Jubilee Celebration block, yip, I think I like this block a lot better than the one in the pattern, I'll be sticking with it.

Diane sewed along with me while I was working on Coastal Lily and just finished up her top.  She added an outer border to all 4 sides which I think you'll like.  Diane selected bright colored fabric for her version which was a big change of pace for her, just like it was for me.

Enjoy your weekend,

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