Happy Monday everyone!  I am just back from doing BodyStep at the gym this morning.  I’m a WeightWatcher and there running a new ‘Live Life Active’ campaign.  Working out hasn’t really been an issue for me – I really do enjoy it but this new campaign has relit the fire in me and I’ve made a huge point to make sure I get to the gym.  Last week I earned 63 activity points!  I’m pretty excited about that.   Anyway – we’ll see if it makes a difference in my weight loss this week…I’m guessing it won’t this week, but next week should be huge. 

Anyway – I’m also super excited about this afternoon!  A lady is coming to help teach me how to work through my issues with my long arm quilting machine!  I can’t wait to really feel comfortable with it and know what to do when certain problems arise  - like stitches skipping and needles breaking.  It’s been hard to work through them when I only get a few minutes at a time down there.  My mother-in-law is taking my kids for the afternoon so I can really focus on my machine!

And then – to top off the cake for today (or I should say Strawberry Banana Cream Pie since I’m making that for dessert tonight) – Judy Martin is coming to my quilt guild to talk!  SUPER Excited!

Now let’s take a quick peak at my quilt along progress:

2012 8-inch Sampler Quilt from all different Quilt Along’s, Block’s of the Months, and my Own Ideas! – 35 blocks made!

Can you find the two ‘Spinning Nine’ Blocks I made for my quilt?

I have two of every block made for the Blogger’s BOM !  I’m still really enjoying the fun!

I finished the 10 blocks from the New York Beauty Quilt Along!  I was definitely getting the hang of these by the end BUT I definitely think I’m going to keep at just 1 each for this quilt – but boy – do I LOVE them!

I still only have the sole Mariner’s Compass Block done from the aid of Chris Lynn Kirsch’s class and her new self-published book, Compass Capers.  I will definitely be making at least one more of these for this piece – in fact it’s on my

I did a really fun ‘star’ block from the Crumb Along.  It is such a fabulous way to make a quilt!  I may have to make more than two of each of these…we’ll see what happens…

I have plan to put my own personal ‘tweak’ onto the blocks from the ‘Beginner’s Quilt Along’ that’s starting up soon over at the Quilting Gallery. 

I’m up to 35 8-inch blocks made and I am so so so LOVING this quilt!

You can see what everyone else’s blocks for the Quilter’s BOM look like in the flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/bloggersbom/pool/with/6789066490/

and for the New York Beauty Quilt Along in this flickr group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/1900096@N20/

and for the Crumb Along: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1722689@N25/

FabricFascination

Next up: the BOM from FabricFascination. Sometime’s BOM’s are nice to just have the fabric all sent already precut for you – and that’s exactly what I’m doing with this one. I have my June block all finished up but I’m going to make you wait to see it until Kym blogs about her’s over at Fabric Fascination!. She showed off the baby quilt she made from the April Block here and then Amy Schimler featured it on her blog too!

• Overview of the Block of the Month Club
• Block of the Month Pre-Cut Kits
• Block 1:
  • Blog Post
  • Pre-Cut Kit
• Block 2:
  • Blog Post
  • Project from Block
  • Pre-Cut Kit
• Block 3
  • Blog Post
  • Pre-Cut Kit
• Block 4
  • Blog Post
  • Pre-Cut Kit
• Block 5
  • Blog Post
  • Pre-Cut Kit
  • Baby Quilt

The Craftsy Block of the Month

I now have 12 blocks made for the Craftsy Bock of the Month!  June was a ‘Modern Nine Patch’ and we made an Octagon and a Greek Cross.  They were easy peasy this month which just makes my wait longer for next months blocks!  oh – well!  I am still loving this red/turquoise/grey color scheme for this quilt – I think it’s going to be pretty spectacular in the end!

And here’s the Craftsy Block of the Month Flickr Group if you want to see what others’ looks like:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/craftsyblockofthemonth/

I’ll try to post soon about my adventures with the long arm today and how the talk went with Judy Martin – so excited!