Housekeeping - Whoops!!

Welcome to a housekeeping post here at The Joyful Quilter!!  If you DO NOT follow me by email, simply disregard this post.  For those who have previously chosen to receive my posts via email, please continue reading.

I knew it was coming...

Feedburner was dying a slow death, but I didn't have time to deal with it before now.

I know that waiting until the last moment to take care of something is never a good plan and seriously thought I'd make the switch to a new service during the middle of the month.

That didn't happen...

Instead, my world blew up and I've been stressed beyond belief since then.  It nothing awful, but it's been time consuming and super stressful.

My apologies to you, dear readers!!

At Miss Pat's suggestion, I have moved my "Follow me on Bloglovin" button up to the top of my sidebar.  I tried to move everyone to Follow.It, but was unsuccessful.

I'm SEW sorry...

... To have failed you all.  This is obviously NOT my most stellar moment!  I had really hoped for the seamless transition that more tech savvy bloggers had found.  Automatic emails with no effort on your part was the goal.

Alas..

If you were signed up to follow The Joyful Quilter by email, after today, you are left with no emails coming to your email when I release a new post.  I hope you won't forget me.

OR WILL YOU???

In a fit of desperation, I landed on this YouTube video that shed some light on the process.  Thank you to Peggy K. for rescuing me when I had lost all hope of switching my subscriber list to a new service!

For other bloggers who have waited for the last day to make the switch (or if you missed that final day for Feedburner!), your subscriber list SHOULD still be available for download.  There might be a gap in service to subscribers, but all is not lost.

Edited to add...

Emailed posts coming soon to an inbox near you via follow.it!  Just not soon enough to prevent a delivery disturbance.  :o((

Until next time...

I'm waiting for an email, too!!!

Wonderful Wednesday - The 3 Musketeers Quilt Again!

Welcome to another edition of Wonderful Wednesday!!  I am SEW pleased to report that I have (finally) caught up with one of my mini groups for a Sew Day.  This was the first time we've been in the same place at the same time in more than a year!   Visiting with these two made for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon:

The day was SEW productive...

Extraordinary, really!  Especially, since I didn't even pack a sewing machine.  I had planned to use B's while she was cutting or pressing, but she just brought in another machine to use instead.  She had an ulterior motive, as I was sewing the HSTs for her portion of our quilt swap:

In between stitching sessions, I cut and prepared binding for my Birthday Quilt:

Choosing an alternate binding for my June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge was also high on my task list:

On the way to and from the pressing station, I enjoyed the view of this lovely deck garden:

Helena chose, cut, and stitched borders...

... For this gorgeous UFO quilt from WAY back in the day:

Helena is happy to have made progress on this quilt:

Britt made binding for the quilt that recently came off the rails of my longarm.  It was the jumping off point for our Quilt-ing Swap:

While I didn't get a photo of the binding, I did capture this photo of her at the twining loom:

Complete with an action shot...

... And a photo of the nearly completed rug:

I also took pictures of a couple of her finished rugs.  This is a lighter weight one made with thinner fabric strips...

One that was made more plush by using wider fabric strips:

Anyone need a desk?  This one is bound for the local Habitat ReStore later in the week:

Thank you to Helena for suggesting that we get together and to Britt for hosting our little reunion!  Color me oh-SEW-happy:

Until next time...

Quilting friends are THE BEST!!!

Tidy Up Tuesday - June TABLE SCRAPS Finish

Welcome to another edition of Tidy Up Tuesday!!  I'm here to share my completed entry for the June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge.  I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I didn't finish it for last Friday's post.

You see...

I had a week last week and didn't actually manage to finish my challenge entry until this afternoon.  Friends helped me choose from these PURPLE binding fabrics yesterday afternoon:

During a quilting break this morning, I applied the binding:

A little while later, I decided to go ahead and stitch it down:

Here is the completed mug rug on the cutting table with my PURPLE travel mug:

Then, it was time for a quick garden tour.  I can't believe that I have matching PURPLE mums in June:

I went right inside and put my new mug rug on my side of the bed:

I'm very happy to have made the (extended) deadline for this month's TABLE SCRAPS Challenge.  Visit THIS LINK to see all of the lovely PURPLE table coverings.

Until next time...

Whew!!  SEW fun!!!

Mail Call Monday - Prize Alert

Welcome to another edition of Mail Call Monday!!  I regret to inform any jealous readers that I won another prize drawing.  I feel confident that everyone else will be happy for me, as I really needed a pick-me-up after the stressful week I endured last week.

What did you win, Joyful???

Ann @ Fiber Designs by Ann was having a giveaway for a selection of lovely painted fabrics she had made.  You know the saying, right?

"One artist's trash is another quilter's treasure."

I was pleased to find that I was one of her five winners.  Here is the package that arrived over the weekend:

Let's have a peek:

Here is Ann's card, if you would like to contact her about her work:

Look how beautiful this hand painted half yard of fabric is:

I didn't have time to check which way is up:

I think it's gorgeous, any way you look at it!  Thank you for sharing, Ann.  It will work SEW beautifully with a new piece for my Small Seascape Series.

Until next time...

Paint the town HAPPY!!!

The Guest Blogger(s) - Vol. 18 - Connie's PURPLE Convertible

 Welcome another edition of The Guest Blogger(s)!!  Now that I have your attention, let me just clarify that we've NOT talking about a car.  LOL!

What ARE you talking about, Joyful???

I'm talking about the project that Connie made for this month's TABLE SCRAPS Challenge.  :o))

When I checked in with Connie about a project, this is what she had to say:

Yes, I have a completed Table Scrap! Purple is a favorite color of my daughter and of several nieces. No wonder I have so many purple scraps as you can see in the storage shoebox. Most of the purple fabrics in my project are from her quilt:

You and others have shown great mats for sewing machines. Another motivation for my project choice is the post-Covid return to group sewing.This took me on a search of saved Pinterest pics. My sewing mat and thread catcher is from Lillyella Stitchery. I think that I pinned it many, many years ago:

Thank you for being inspiration and motivation to finally make it!

My photos were taken in our RV with the smaller machine that travels with me:

We are looking forward to getting some trips in it later in the year.

Hope you are keeping cool and safe in the heat,

Connie

Share the quilty love for Connie's Undercover Maker's Mat in the comments below!!  I  know that you enjoyed seeing her fun project as much as I did!  Thanks SEW much for dropping by with an entry for the Table Scraps Challenge, Connie.  It is a pleasure to posting your work here on the blog!

Link Party Reminder...

The June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Link Party will be open this weekend with extended hours!!  Friday, June 26th @ 12:01 AM - MONDAY, June 28th @ 11:59 PM.  I'm hoping that YOU will join us.  Find the Link-up HERE.

Until next time...

Topper those tables!!!

Sew Some Love - Positivity QAL - The Block Drive

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!!  If you have visited here before, you might know that I have a heart for charity quilting and occasionally host block drives for various charitable causes.  I've got a new one for you!

Read on to find out more...

Have you heard about the Positivity QAL by Preeti @ Sew Preeti Quilts?  Well, today I'm here to share the first two blocks for the Positivity QAL Block Drive being hosted here at The Joyful Quilter:

They were delivered by my good friend Knittingsuek:

They turned out beautifully (and gave you an excuse to stop by for a  little visit, too.)  Thanks SEW much for jumping in to make a pair of blocks, Sue!!  If YOU haven't heard about the Positivity QAL Block Drive, don't worry.  This post IS the announcement!  :o))

Here's the back story...

Along with quilting a Positivity QAL quilt for one lucky winner, I decided that I would like to make a quilt, too.  If I'm mailing one quilt to Bernie for Mercyful Quilts, I might as well mail two or three, right?  :o))

I assembled my first block...

... And then lamented my lack of success in the Quilters Knitting group on Ravelry:

"With the way my schedule is going, that may end up all I do during the QAL. Some days, I really wish that I had assistance in performing a variety of quilting tasks! (Pressing Assistant, Cutting Assistant, etc.) Hmm… You’ve given me an idea.

I’m wondering if anyone here would like to make a block or two (or 10) of the basic Positivity QAL Plus blocks and mail them to me for assembly? A group quilt would be SEW much more manageable for me! Our quilters have helped out in the past. Drop me a reply if you are interested. If so, I’ll start a new discussion thread.

(Not necessarily YOU, Judi! Just anyone in the group would might like to help me make a quilt to donate to Mercyful Quilts.)"

Next...

Because of that lightbulb moment (and thanks to my friend, Judi) a solution to my momentary ineptitude was born.  She "watered" that seed for a group quilt (by volunteering to help.)  That seed sprouted and later spread in my (quilting) garden.

The Positivity QAL Block Drive grew out of this post...

Hello, Quilters!

I recently posted about a friend’s Positivity QAL to benefit Mercyful Quilts. When discussing it on the 2021 BOM / QAL / FAL / Challenges thread, I wondered if any of you might like to help me by making this into a group quilt.

Please note: Your block will look a little different from mine, as I cut the wrong sized pieces for my sample. Pieces should NOT be cut at the FINISHED size!! Sigh…

Some of you have helped with block collections in the past. Any takers for making SIMPLE PLUS blocks for this project?? Preeti has a block tutorial HERE. Scroll down the the number 1. SIMPLE PLUS for the block instructions we will be using.

Mercyful Quilt requests 60” x 80” quilts for their recipients. I’m thinking of a quilt with 24 PURPLE Plus/WHITE background and 24 WHITE Plus/PURPLE background. I had originally thought of using batik for the purple, but quality quilting cotton will work just as well. Solids or prints will be fine for this project.

Please let me know here in the thread if YOU plan to make some blocks. I would gratefully accept your assistance! Blocks will be due by the last week of July.

Thank you for any help you can provide and thanks to sheepless for suggesting that I offer this up to the entire group!

NOTICE: The block deadline will be July 30th so that I might have time to finish the quilt by the end of August. The goal is for the Positivity QAL quilts to arrive at Mercyful Quilts by September 5th. I haven’t decided how realistic that is, but it’s good to have a plan!

This is where my readers come in...

I've decided to offer the same "deal" to my lovely blog readers.  There are no guarantees that our group quilt will be completed by the end of Preeti's QAL, but Mercyful Quilts need continues throughout the year and I'd be happy to assemble a second quilt (or more) if readers would like to contribute to the collection.

Would YOU like to make some blocks for a Positivity QAL Block Drive quilt, too?  If so, let me know in the comments below.  Details for my Block Drive for the Positivity QAL can be found above.  

Here are the highlights...

Use the Simple Plus blocks from Preeti's tutorial.

For each quilt, I will need quilt with 24 PURPLE Plus/WHITE background and 24 WHITE Plus/PURPLE background. I had originally thought of using batik for the purple, but quality quilting cotton will work just as well. Solids or prints will be fine for this project.

Block mailing deadline July 30th!

Pairs of block preferred, but NOT required.

Joining in the Positivity Progress Link Up

with

Bernie @ Needle and Foot Quilting

Until next time...

SEW some love!!!

The Guest Blogger(s) - Vol. 17 - Jan's PURPLE Placemat

Welcome to an IG edition of The Guest Blogger(s)!!  Jan posted her entry there, but had trouble joining the June 2021 Table Scraps Link Party.  She has chosen to make the same pattern in a rainbow of colors.

In keeping with June's Color of the Month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, this is her pretty PURPLE placemat:

Share the quilty love for Jan's project in the comments below.  I know that you enjoyed seeing her Ribbon Heart Mini Quilt as much as I did!  Thanks SEW much for participating the Table Scraps Challenge and contacting me about posting your project here on the blog, Jan!

Link Party Reminder...

The June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Link Party will be open this weekend with extended hours!!  Friday, June 26th @ 12:01 AM - MONDAY, June 28th @ 11:59 PM.  I'm hoping that YOU will join us.  Find the Link-up HERE.

Until next time...

Place a mat on that empty table!!!

The Guest Blogger(s) - Vol. 16 - Pat Quilts PURPLE

Welcome to another edition of The Guest Blogger(s)!!  I'm back with another lovely entry for the June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge.  You see, this morning I heard from Miss Pat.

Pat stated the following...

My June Table Scraps runner in purple consists of 24 different blocks of purple flowers, mostly left over from making 2 commission quilts in 2018.  I actually had sewn 27 together, at first, due to my miscalculation on how many I needed for the space I was filling.  It measures 40.5 x 16".

The back is a Robert Kaufman Fusions blender that I seem to have bought in multiple colors.  I'm glad I chose the green binding as it makes a subtle edge.  The batting is ThermolamPlus and I stitched in the ditch.

Share the quilty love for Pat's project in the comments below.  I know that you enjoyed seeing her sweet scrappy table runner as much as I did!  Thanks SEW much for participating the the Table Scraps Challenge and allowing me to post your creations here on the blog, Pat!

Link Party Reminder...

The June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Link Party will be open this weekend with extended hours!!  Friday, June 26th @ 12:01 AM - MONDAY, June 28th @ 11:59 PM.  I'm hoping that YOU will join us.  Find the Link-up HERE.

Until next time...

Run(ner) off those empty tables!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC21 - Week 26

Welcome to Week 26 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week life has gotten in the way of (the majority of) my PURPLE sewing.

SUNDAY - Sew Some Love Sunday

MONDAY - Mail Call Monday

I quilted this afternoon and evening.  The end is near:

TUESDAY - It's Tidy Up Tuesday and I'm happy to say that I did do a few quilty tasks.  My part of the Quilting Swap is done and delivered!!!  Now, I can finally start on the binding of my Birthday Quilt (without guilt of knowing that I had an unfair advantage.)  Yay!!  A completed quilt is soon to be revealed - once it's finished, of course.  :o))

While I was out, I also did a quilt pick-up.  I'll be quilting 3 small quilts for a new friend.  (Thanks, Ann Z. and thanks to SZQ, too!!!)

WEDNESDAY - Make sure you don't miss this week's edition of Wonderful Wednesday.  I couldn't believe my eyes!  YOU might be surprised, too.

Zoom with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color:

THURSDAY - The Guest Blogger(s)

ZoomBEE

Then...

Knittingsuek stopped by to drop off the first two blocks for the Positivity QAL group quilt we are making with members of the Quilters Knitting group on Ravelry and other quilting friends:

I was rewarded with this surprised and happy smile when I handed over one of my favorite convertible tote bag/backpack/purse.  She remarked on it the last time she was here, loved it, and I felt that she needed a little pick-me-up this week:

Now...

I'm ready for today's brave adventure - dressed in PURPLE for my friends at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge:

What are you talking about, Joyful???

Goodbye, messy bun:

Welcome back, summer short cut:

I don't miss the weight of this mess of COVID hair being attached to my scalp:

FRIDAY - TABLE SCRAPS Challenge/ Link Party

ZoomKNIT

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  I hope you will join me in visiting Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.

Don't miss another edition of The Guest Blogger(s) HERE on the blog.

Until next time...

Get SCRAPPY!!!

June 2021 - TABLE SCRAPS Runner/Topper Challenge/Link Party

Welcome to the June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Runner/Topper Challenge!!  Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to enter your table runner/topper, mug rug, etc. in the Link Party by Monday, June 28, 2021 at 11:59 PM (EST.)

This month's inspiration photo:

Lina Castaneda on Unsplash

No blog?  No problem, you will be able to have your scrappy table runners/toppers hosted here on The Joyful Quilter.  Just pop me an email with your name/state and a photo of your completed project and I will add it to a follow-up post.

From our participants...

I've been thinking of making the Leftovers pattern that Joanne @ Canuck Quilter offers in her shop.

Judy @ J.Biggs Scrap Pieces recently made a Supernova Table Topper using Sarah's tutorial HERE on Confessions of a Fabric Addict:

If you've got a really small table (or if you just want to make a coaster) check out the tiny Supernova mini I made in THIS POST.

Got favorites???

Email me , if you have a "go to" runner or topper pattern.  I'll add it to a future post.  Thanks!

Where's the table covering, Joyful???

I almost missed today's deadline.  Since it was PURPLE month at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I pulled out this Quilted Scrap Basket:

You can find the tutorial HERE.

SEW...

What happened next was I grabbed an off-cut from one of my current projects, thinking that might be a good start:

I had a plan, but by the time I got around to sewing, I had forgotten what the design was supposed to be!  Here's what I ended up with:

Next, I cut a scrap strip in three pieces.  I stitched two of them together to make the back of my little mat and put the other piece back in the scrap basket:

The small table runner was then layered with a piece of scrap batting:

It was quilted up with straight and wavy lines:

Here is my (incomplete) June 2021 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge...

Life got in the way this month.  I've got the binding ready to go on, but that won't happen before this post goes live!  I'll try to do better in July and will add the completed photo here as soon as I apply the bind that came straight out of the scrap binding drawer.

Linking up with Alycia

for

Finished (Or NOT) Friday

and

Sharing with Cynthia

for

Oh Scrap!

And, with that...

It's time to add your own projects to the Table Scraps Link Party below!!  Here's hoping that YOU had better luck on finishing up your runner/topper/placemat, etc.

Until next time...

It's a Cover Up!!!