Red, White, and Blue...

Today is the day I'm one of the hostess' for the Red, White, and Blue blog hop being head-up by Jane over at Jane's Fabrics and Quilts.

I designed my block with a few small basics put together...and it ended up turning out to have a Southwestern flair - at least to me :)

So, here it is...it finish slightly under size...at 12.25, instead of 12.5 even though that is what I entered into the  quilt program as the finished size.

However, it is a free program and it was really helpful in getting templates for the triangle borders. I also learned that the squared off corners on the templates are a necessity for more nicely 'squared-up' triangle sections.

Update: I've had a few people ask about the program I used... and Miss Jane, our Hop Hostess, suggested I add the link. I used Quilt Assistant. It is a relatively quick download [if I remember right :)], but do keep in mind, it is free, so it has a few quirks to work around :)

I love these fabrics together and made two more blocks...

then I took the three blocks, rotated them a little, added a small white border around the outside, and made a table runner/wall hanging... bound in a great red and white striped material.

This is my results of my first design for my first blog hop!

In this, I used a thin, plain white flannel (reminds me of homemade diaper material) that I got at the local Mennonite bulk food store. It made it a wonderful weight for this purpose... and would make a great batting for a summer quilt!

On the back is red and white gingham, also from the bulk store!

Be sure to check out the other ladies hosting today on the blog hop...

July 9th

Home Designs by Amanda - you're here! :)

A Stitch in Time

Karen ~ Briarside Lane

Stitching by the Lake

Moose Stash Quilting

It's been fun trying to design something and see the progression of it into something!

Another Update: In an attempt to get back into the swing of things...I'm going to link up this post to Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday, see my sidebar for their button :)

And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove what is that good,

and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:2

This verse was discussed in Sunday School yesterday...the part about conformed, and that the meaning refers to being squeezed into a mold. We need to watch that we are not conformed - aka squeezed - into the mold that the world would have for us. As a Christian, I need to make sure I am doing what God wants me to do, with all aspects of my life... including my blog. This encouraged me to keep including the Spiritual Reflections sections even if it seems that that section may turn some people off from my blog.

God's Word will not return void (Isa. 55:11)... 

Happy 4th...

We had a wonderful Independence day here, despite the heat and humidity...hope you had a great day as well!

Happy 4th of July...

If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray,

and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin,

and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14

I posted this last year for the 4th of July and so again, as we reflect on the founding of our country...which was founded on Christian principles...we need to pray and follow after God to return to what our founding father's foresaw for our country.

Hope you had a happy 4th of July...

For Fun...

So Quick...

Yesterday afternoon I was able to make 10 blocks for Margaret's Hope Chest.

They were SO fast and easy to make!

The tutorial for these blocks are on Margaret's Hope Chest page. They do have the raw edging...so I'm not sure that I'd like a whole quilt made from this pattern, but the joy that these quilts will bring to the kids - they are great!

Hope you're doing well this week!
I'd also like to say thank you to my husband for get me an air conditioner for our bedroom (which is also where my sewing/office area is)... it's been great with the heat wave we've had the last couple of days!

But ye, brethern, be not weary in well doing.

2 Thessalonians 3:13

Another Change...

The pile of flannel that I've had plans for since this time last year is finally cut, however, not for the first two patterns I had picked out for it. I went from the Log Cabin Chairs pattern I had designed...to the Stars & Diamonds...then on to one of these...

(Love this one! ~click on picture for source info~)

Third times a charm, right?
So, the final choice of pattern...a Plus Quilt.

After picking out the pattern, I used a free quilt program and colored in the blocks to correspond with the material I'm using. However, I did have to find a few extra materials to finish having enough blocks. Also, I decide to go with all the same size blocks rather than making the longer middle sections of the plus sign.

So, I do have all 210 6.5"x6.5" squares cut out and ready to sew together, however, I'm going to be working on another quilt for a little while, so this one will be on hold again... just not as far back in the pile as it had been!

The other quilt is a lattice type quilt... like this, only in different colors :)

(~click on picture for source info~)

The material for this has been cut for a couple of months, but I really need to start sewing it together. I did about 10 of the HST triangles last night... I have a BUNCH more to go :)

I also need to do a couple of small projects, one includes making up some of these blocks...

These blocks will be sent to Michigan to Margaret's Hope Chest to be sewn into quilts for kids. You can read all about it and see the tutorial on making these squares all at the Margaret's Hope Chest Blog. A bonus, the deadline was extended to the end of July, so there is still plenty of time to join in!

I'm excited to try out some monochromatic sewing... I think this will be fun!

Have a great mid-week... hope to join up with Lee on WIP Wednesday tomorrow at Freshly Pieced (if I remember!)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God, and keep His commandments:

for this is the whole duty of man.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Maxi Skirt...

I can't believe how quickly time goes by... mid-June ALREADY???

This past weekend we had a youth rally that we attended with our church teens. It was a fun weekend and I wore two new skirts I made for the occasion.

I really like how the Maxi skirt turned out...

Long, slightly flowy, and oh so comfy! The light weight jersey makes it a great skirt for summer!

Here's the back...

Followed no pattern. Made from three panels of fabric. The waist is just hemmed then I roll it down some.
It was very quick and easy to make!

Love those kind of projects :)

On Monday, I rearranged my sewing and office area...more open and more desk space. Now I hope to go do some sewing in my clean space :)

The heavens declare the glory of God;

and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psalm 19:1

Change of Mind...

Last year about this time I came up with a quilt design that I drew out on the computer and had the material all picked out for it...

But it kept getting pushed aside... and pushed aside... and pushed aside... well, you get the idea!

However, about two months ago (I think) I made one of the blocks.

In this modified Log Cabin block, I had a few problem areas. The one block helped me see where my errors were and I reconfigured a couple of small things....and then it got pushed aside, AGAIN!

Well, Saturday night I pulled the pattern out again and decided that the problem area I have to work with is just to much for me right now!

So, I think that this beautiful pile of flannel needs to become a quilt soon...just in a different pattern!

Changing your mind is a woman's prerogative, right? :)

So, on to picking out a different pattern...
which I think I found this morning sketched out on graph paper under the Log Cabin pattern papers.

It has stars and diamonds :)

I was thinking about making the diamonds as 9-patch...what do you think?

UPDATE: Here it is with some colors added...

Still thinking about what to do with the Diamond sections.

...I could get some HST's going...
I think there could be a bunch of possibilities with this one. Any suggestions?
Also, I have to make sure that this pattern is alright with the recipient...my husband!

I'll probably include this post on the WIP Wednesday, with Lee at Freshly Pieced, when the link becomes available!

So they sat down with him upon the ground 

seven days and seven nights,

 and none spake a word unto him: 

for they saw that his grief was great.

Job 2:13

Sometimes there are occasions when our friends go through a particular rough spot in life and we may not know what exactly to say to them. Here in Job, just after he lost everything, his friends came and comforted with just their presence. Are we willing to just be there for our friends, even we we don't know what to say?

Sometimes not saying anything is better, 'cause as we follow the rest of Job's story we find that once the friends started talking, they weren't much help! Be there for your friends and ask God for guidance in what to say!

Amanda