Introducing..

Baby Bubble Wrap!

 The big-stitching and binding is complete!

It is so nice to have achieved my July goal for ALYOF!   (linkup #24)
Time now to link up with the July Finishes Party at Sew BitterSweet Designs!

The pool seemed like a great place to shoot this one, and that is all the excuse I needed yesterday..

POCHO, Double-gauze cotton fabric Designed by Naomi Ito and Nani IRO

A few first's:

First time for a whole-cloth quilt (only 37" x 28" but it is a whole quilt!)

First time hand-quilting a complete quilt (ditto!) (Prevencia No. 8 thread)

First time using double-gauze. This fabric is so soft, and will be even softer each time it is washed.

First time wrapping binding from the front of fabric! Big-stitched binding keeps the 'organic' vibe...

Generally, I avoid marking quilting lines like the plague, but I used a blue water soluble here. I think it is Dritz. Twice I dabbed a wet cloth to remove the blue, but it still has some. I did not want to wash this as I think it is so nice to receive quilts when they really look crisp and new. I will try dabbing one more time...

Another aquatic shot..

And full-on...

Thank you for reading today! I am celebrating with other Friday-Finishes at:

TGIFF, hosted this week at Dizzy Quilts , and also with..

Can I get a Whoop Whoop?, at Confessions of a Fabric Addict - (Sarah has added a third quilt to her raffle, and it is simply stunning!)

Have a great weekend, I hope you get a swim in !!

We're Talking July - Bring it on!

Time for three of my favorite link-ups!

Barbara encourages us to start new projects each and every month, without guilt or remorse. Her NewFO Linkup is certainly a party I can relate to! In June I pulled some double-gauze cotton from my stash and began my first hand-quilting effort. To ease the challenge, I chose to try big-stitch utility quilting.

The fabric is POCHO by Nano IRO and Naomi ITO. I'm keeping it simple, just randomly adding circles as I go. I am about half-way finished with a baby size quilt.  Here is the backside:

Finishing this is my official July goal for A Year of Love Lovely Finishes.

I am also working on a personal challenge this month, although it has been slow-going. I've had such interest in art quilting and never seem to actually branch out. There is always a project going on, and I just haven't done it. When I read that this month's Le Challenge theme is 'small', I immediately thought a small art quilt should be my challenge. The deadline is fast approaching, and I have been procrastinating, but it is still a goal I hope to achieve.

To conquer three birds with one stone (that is a hint!), I would also like to link up with Lily today for Fresh Sewing Day, so I made a simple collage to share with projects I worked on in June:-)

Thank you so much for reading today!