DrEAMi #29

Welcome to the June edition of Drop Everything And Make it! where we celebrate all things squirrel. As in chasing those shiny bauble-type projects that grab our attention and demand to be made, and right now. Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts sent me this in early May:

Awww. I mean who could resist cuddling one of those sweeties, eh? Let's see what squirrels of the quilty kind were shared last month, and then share any you may have chased in June in this month's linky party!

Opal Silk Placemats OMG

This is my OMG for June, and I'm happy to say it is done, and has been for a bit. Both of these are now residing in Brianne's house, so she has a set of four. The post with the first two is here.

She put in a request before Christmas, and I delivered, but just two to be sure I had her approval. I got that approval with the first two, so the next two went onto the list of need-to-makes...

I Like/Love #29

Here is my list of likes/loves for the month of June. Each week, or each month for me, a group of us post about things that we like, and link up at LeeAnna's blog, Not Afraid of Color.

1. I love that Bella is not spending so much time in the basement, avoiding Rufus. He is spending a lot of time on the deck, and when he's in the house, he's blocked off so he cannot chase her (or do worse, is my fear). After one scary incident where he was extremely strongly corrected by my husband, he seems to have realized she is off limits, but we still don't trust him as he has a high prey drive. Still, Bella has stared him down, barricade between them, and just once to my near heart attack, she'd somehow got in the same space as him, and I found them mere feet apart staring at each other, motionless. She's actually enjoyed a couple of afternoon naps on our bed again.

Beothuk Star Prizes

Wow! Eighteen beautiful versions of my design. I am truly honoured that each one of you made this quilt, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Shanawdithit would be so pleased, I am sure of it.

There are eleven sponsors, and a few are offering prizes to more than one winner, so there are a total of fourteen prizes to be had. Each participant will also get the pattern in PDF form. It will soon be for sale in my Etsy shop, but the instructions will remain as for all QALs, here on the blog under the "Quilt Alongs and TBT" tab. All right, drum roll please!

Or windblown Beothuk Star aka Sherbet Stars quilt...

Pastel Froth

Well look at me: it's not the last day of the month, or the first day of a new one, and my challenge is done! It was actually done a couple days ago, but A. rain all day yesterday, and B. sore finger from hand-stitching the facing meant I took breaks. This was an interesting challenge again this year: I made myself try this Texture Magic I've had for a few years with all the fabric to make the original project, but have kept putting it off. It also made me sit down and just do it: a faced binding. Yeah, I've quilted for over 20 years but have never finished a quilt in this way.

You know the saying about the biggest or hardest part of trying something new is the first step? I know that for a fact! Yet every time I do 'just do it' whether it's going for something scary in yoga like drop backs or going off on a travel adventure, or trying something new in my quilting/sewing life, I am always the richer for it, and the rush I get from facing the fears and conquering them is wonderful. Why don't you come on in and see what I made, or if you've been watching the progress on Instagram, then see how it all turned out?

Ladder Links in Modern by the Yard Issue #11

I am pretty pumped to announce another publication: my quilt Ladder Links is in the latest issue (out today) of Modern by the Yard. This is the ezine that Benartex puts out quarterly, and you can find it on their blog, Sew in Love With Fabric.

Each time I get a copy of my professionally photographed quilt, I always get such a thrill! This one gave me a good one, with its eggplant cushion, and fluffy rug accessories!

Beothuk Star QAL Final Parade of Finishes

Wow! I am so very excited to see the parade today and all week long of the Beothuk Star QAL quilt finishes. The main page for the QAL is here in case this is your first time visiting. The instructions will remain on the blog forever. I will be putting out a PDF of the pattern to purchase through my Etsy shop. Everyone who has finished a top or quilt will get a copy free.

Designing a quilt is a rush in and of itself, putting together the pattern is work and fun, and publishing the pattern is a little worrying: will people will like it, and/or even make it? When it is well-received, and then made by others, that rush become euphoric, truly. It's akin to seeing your child win an award, in school or in life. These are our quilt babies. I have loved seeing this baby evolve.