52 Quilts in 52 Weeks - June

I set a goal at the beginning of the year to make 52 charity quilts this year. (Read more about it here.) We are at the halfway mark, and I'm SO excited to share with you this month's update!

This month, I got five of my tops quilted - ON MY NEW (TO ME) LONGARM!!!

Play Ball!

This year was the first year both of my sons played t-ball. My youngest is three, and it became apparent within just a couple practices that his coach was more than the usual parent volunteer.

His coach is a parent volunteer, but she is coaching all three of her son's t-ball and baseball teams! She has a full-time job, then gave up all of her weeknights to coach teams of little people. Her enthusiasm and positive attitude was contagious. Her patience, kindness, and encouragement to the players (and the parents!) was remarkable. I haven't been a baseball mom for long, but it doesn't take an expert to know when you meet someone exceptional.

I wanted to say thank you in a way that would capture my gratitude and appreciation for all that she did for the team(s). And the only way I know how to thank someone to this level is to make a quilt.

It's time to Row x Row!

Do you Row x Row? Today is the first day to start collecting free patterns from shops all around the world! My local quilt shop participates each year, and I have been honored to write their pattern for the third year.

Teaching at MO Star Academy

Last week, I traveled to Hamilton, MO to the Missouri Star Quilt Co. to teach at their 2nd annual Missouri Star Academy!

Island Batik invited me as one of three teachers they sponsored (the other two were Tammy of Tamarinis and Jessica of Desert Bloom Quilting).

It's a Fireworks Show!

This month's Island Batik ambassador challenge was to make a modern quilt, crib size or larger. Well, that's what I try to do around here every day!

The most challenging part of the quilt was limiting myself to the fabrics Island Batik has sent me as an ambassador. Every idea I came up with was color specific, and I never had just the "right" colors.

Weave Your Jacket! + TGIFF

I've created a few woven quilts (like this one and this one), even a couple open woven quilts (like this one and this one). I absolutely love the texture and uniqueness produced with each weaving. So when I saw Tara of WEFTY Needle putting her weaving into a jean jacket, I knew I had to copy the idea!