February Goals

Bindings. Borders, and Applique are my focus this month.  More than half of my remaining UFOs need these few things.

1. Bind 8 quilts
2. Finish putting together Carolina Crossroads (In 2 pieces)
3. Put the borders on 2 quilts (KT log cabin, Monkey Quilt)
4. Do the applique on my table toppers and banners(2 winter banners, 2 snowman toppers, 1 spring banner, 1 summer banner)
5. Quilt 1 quilt of mine
6. Quilt 2 customer quilts
7. Put the blocks together on the my blue and white quilt

 I worked on this quilt at the last retreat.  It was a long forgotten project that is now ready for binding.  This is one of the quilts I hope to get bound this month.  I quilted it with a panto - Feathered Curls.  I  think it was the the perfect touch to finish it off.

This is an ambitious goal, but I have a retreat next weekend.  The forecast is snowy where I live-Bring it on so I can Sew, Sew, Sew. 

Mid-Week Check in

Who knows what day it really is?  I have to keep asking myself with so many snow days in a row.

I hit the 20 quilted (finished) mark yesterday.  I started trimming the edges in preparation of bindings.  I came to the realization that it will probably take me most of February to do all the bindings.  I also know it will be a challenge to find suitable bindings for some of the really old projects.

This pattern is called two-fer.  I have to admit that I like it a lot better quilted.

This is the other runner that is created from the strip sets.  I had multiple problems quilting this one (operator error), but it is ready for binding.

This runner is really wide for a table.  I am not sure I will be able to find a location for it.

I am itching for a new project like you wouldn't believe.
























































This week I hope to

• finish trimming the rest of my quilts in preparation for binding
• hang up my blue "plus" blocks to see how they look together
• attach the border strips to an old lodge quilt
• finish sewing the rows together for my Carolina Crossroads quilt.
• Get 2 customer quilts ready to quilt
  

Only a couple more days of January left.  I think I have accomplished everything on my January goal list.  I am already thinking about February goals.

How crazy is it when 8 degrees feels like a heat wave.  I will say - "thank you polar vortex for the extra time to sew this month"

More Lines

I decided to go with a FEW more lines on this quilt.  I left it hang for a while and I thought it needed just a few more.  I am pleased how the lines look.  I should have done a few lines horizontally also, but I am not going there now.  It is good to learn from decisions.  I was going to take it outside to get some good photos, but then I remembered that it was -12 out.  Those snow photos I am seeing on blogland are beautiful, but I wasn't up for it today.

I probably didn't pick the best quilting design for this quilt, but I wanted to practice straight lines.  The more I practice, the easier it gets.

I marked 2 more off my list today.  I'm OK if I am snowed in tomorrow too!

Monday Madness

It is still blowing snow and extremely cold here, so another day without school.  I can't recall ever missing this many days of school even as a child.  This is the view out my dining room window.

I have had lots of sewing and quilting time, so I don't mind at all.  I am thankful we have a a warm house and plenty of food.

I finished quilting a snowman wall hanging/table decoration yesterday.  This is from a class I taught, so I have 2 more samples yet to complete.  I need to add the eyes to make it look finished.  I am adding it to my completed page for January and crossing it off my UFO list.

 I have my Carolina crossroads rows pinned and I am ready to get these sewn together.

Unfortunately while cleaning, I came across yet another project I started in 2013.  I am adding it to my UFO list, and I added it to this post so it wouldn't be forgotten.

I have all my "plus" blocks made and I hope to put them together this week in between other projects.  Stop back later this week to see my progress.

This is the view out mu studio door.  The walkout is nearly full of snow.  It is so pretty as the sun shines upon it.  My son's 4 wheeler is barely visible under the snow.

Stop over to Judy's to see what others are working on this week.

Small Finish

Small finishes are just as good as large ones in my book.  This one is really old.  I ran into several problems because of my lack of knowledge.  Let me talk about the pitfalls.

• I thought chenille would be great for applique, but I couldn't applique the edge well.
• wool on top of chenille, on top of cotton is too think for a sewing machine.
• chenille isn't very durable and doesn't sew well.

I had a plan to finish this guy yesterday.  At the time I started this wall hanging (probably 10 years ago).  I didn't realize that felted wool wouldn't ravel.  I decided it really wasn't important to cover the edge of the wool pieces on the snowman and just went with a straight stitch.

I free motion quilted the background on my quilting machine first.  My hopping foot would not go over the chenille (let alone the wool).  I didn't want to mess with raising the hopping foot for one little 10 year old wall hanging.  I removed the quilt and took it to my regular sewing machine (Juki).  The hopping foot didn't hop high enough on that machine either.  I set the pressure on the lowest and woman-handled the quilt to quilt the scarf.  The chenille was sagging in the snowman, so I put on my walking foot and quilted some lines on the snowman.  The little balls of chenille would catch from time to time on my walking foot, so I had to be careful.  It is completed except for binding and button eyes.  It looks like there is still plenty of winter left to display it.

 My walkout basement has a significant drift.  It looks like a great day to stay in and do some more quilting.

Check out my pages tab on the right to watch my finishes add up for the year.

Friday Finishes

I wanted to get three quilts done this week, but I am pleased with 2 finishes.  I made this quilt last year for a dear teacher that was retiring.  It was really a hard quilt to let go of.  I used 2 1/2" square on the first one, and 3 1/2" squares on this larger quilt.  The pattern is from this quilt along.

I created a plus sign for the back since I didn't have enough of any one fabric.  I like how it adds interest.










I also finished this scrappy 4 patch quilt from my UFO Parade.  I am still on the uphill climb with my UFOs, but I am making significant progress.  I am getting closer to the top of the mountain (the half way point).  The quilt is from the book Jelly Roll Quilts.


 Once again, I was just a little short on the backing fabric so I added these little scraps of fabric.  It also prevented me from matching up the butterfly pattern (which I didn't do well on the first try).  It was win, win!!

 I am linking up with Amanda for finish it up Friday.  Stop on over to see what others are working on.

Friday Finish- (and a new start)

I managed one more finish this week.  I am about 1/3 done with my yearly goal of quilt finishes.  I would love for this to be the year I get my UFOs down to a manageable level.  In the first 3 weeks of this month, I have not made any fabric purchases or started any new projects.

I quilted a simple loopy design in the busy pear fabric, and I echoed the chevron in the accent strips.  I used this pattern to make the tree skirt.  I made a few modifications to the pattern.

I took a detour from the "finish" road when I saw this quilt.  At the end of December I could not close my scrap drawer for my blue fabrics.  When I sorted them, I noticed that almost all of the fabrics in the bin were of the light and medium variety.  I began searching for a pattern to use them with.  I even asked several friends to be on the lookout for something I could use light blues on.  I don't know what it was about this quilt, but it inspired me to start ironing "the pile".

I don't know what size her blocks were, but my scraps were pretty small so I drafted my pattern for a 6" finished block.  I know I have seen this pattern in a book, but I drafted my own pattern.  If you are interested in making this block, it can be made with a 2 1/2" X 7 1/2" strip of the color fabric.  5 - 6" finished crosses can be made with each jelly roll strip.

I was hooked the moment I finished my first 2 blocks.


I have a good variety of blues cut for the weekend retreat, and I used my Accucut to cut my background fabric (Kona Snow) efficiently.  I haven't decided if I should add a little light green to the palette yet.

 Stop back on Monday to see everything I accomplished at the retreat.  Thanks for stopping by.

I'm celebrating my finish by linking up with crazy mom quilts, Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and Link a Finish Friday.

#9 for the month

I am moving along on the UFO train this month.  The first book I have memory of reading is The Little Engine That Could-  I think I can....I think I can...

I had no intention of finishing this project this month.  I wasn't even considering it, but I thought if I loaded something quick, I could sneak in another finish.  This one has been in the ready to quilt pile for a few years.  I am not wild about the pattern, and I omitted the applique.  I wasn't sure how to quilt it, but I had the batting and backing cut and ready to go just waiting for the inspiration practice to arrive.

Parts of this turned out well, and lets just not criticize the ones that aren't so good.  Done is better than perfect (as far as quilting goes).  I still have a few threads to bury, I am moving it to the finish pile.  It looks like I accumulating quite a pile to bind.

Number 8 for the month

I know at some point I will run out of these quick finish projects, but I am enjoying it while it lasts.  I have more than 20 projects at the ready to quilt stage, so it is time I get them finished!  I am off to a quick start for January.

This is a runner that I pieced at Shipshe a few years ago as a leader/ender project.  I am happy with everything about this project.  I think I picked the perfect thread, the perfect quilting design, and I am pleased with my consistency.  I used King Tut dark grey on the top and Aurifil 40# in the bobbin (orange).  I am still a cotton thread girl.  King Tut is my favorite unless I am doing dense quilting.

It feels great to check another one off the list.   

Design Wall Monday

It's Monday again and I am back to work.  It was fabulous to have an extra week off! I think I could be a hermit as it really didn't bother me to stay home for 5 days straight.  My kids really enjoyed the extra time off, but they were ready to go back to school today.

I have been working extra hard on my own projects during this time. I have been piecing projects 2 at a time which is working really well for me.  I have also started pinning my blocks together in the evenings while watching football with the kids.

I have finally finished this spring table runner.  I have had it in the pile to quilt for ages but I wasn't sure what I wanted to quilt on it.  I decided to use it as a practice piece (which means I had a no rip policy).  There are areas which could be lots better, so don't look to closely.  Overall I think the designs I chose worked well together.

 I have this quilt half quilted.  I need to finish quilting it so I can mark it off my list too.











This Oldie from the UFO list is now in rows.  I am not willing to admit how old, but I will tell you it was the very first Bonnie Hunter mystery.  I started 2 of them at that time.  I finished the other one, but this one has been sitting around for a long time.  I did not sew my 9 patches in strips (I used 1 1/2" squares).  I hope to get the rows sewn together this week.  Those 1 1/2" squares take a lot of pinning.

Please ignore my piles below the quilt.  It looks like I need to go a little cleaning from my flurry of sewing.
















It is hard to believe, but this beauty is now 16.  I am so thankful that she will be driving soon.  She is such a great kid and helper to me.  I will miss her so much when she studies abroad for 12 months.  She will be leaving in just 6 short months.  She purchased her rotary blazer last week and she was so excited.  We should find out later this month where she will be traveling to.  It will be such an amazing experience for her.

She insisted on making her own birthday cake.  She still let us sing the birthday song to her, but she insisted on no candles this year.  Perhaps that is because her wish of being an exchange student is coming true.  Her brother never misses an opportunity to pick on her.  She is a good sport about it most of the time.

I hope you have a productive quilting week!

The word of the year TACKLE.  It applies to so many things in my life right now.

Three More for January

I am trying to get ahead of the game with my aggressive goal of 35 UFO finishes this year.  I finished 2 more runners yesterday and a wall hanging that were carried over from 2013.  It feels great to not have these items reside on the UFO list.

This is from the X-Block class that I tought.

I am pleased with the quilting on this one.  My daughter Sydney commented that she liked the quilting.   I took that as an extreme complement

I am not sure the fiber content of this batting.  I think it was a sample batting that I won at a retreat.  It is super soft (feels like 100% cotton), but it doesn't have a lot of body to it.  I am curious how it will look after washed.

This is the last finish of yesterday.  This was also a demo for quilt group.  I quilted a pantogram of leaves on it.  I used signature thread called latte on it.  It was the perfect color to blend in with all the colors.

Today is another snow day for my kids.  I have two more quilt ready to go, but I am not sure I will get to them today.

Quilter on a mission - Watch Out!!

Some finishes to report.

We are one week into the year.  The year that I have proclaimed "TACKLE" as my word.  This word coincides with lots of things this year not just in the sewing studio.  I have an aggressive goal of finishing 30 UFO this year.  Depending on how many projects I start this year, this should put my UFOs under 40 by the year end.

What is an acceptable number?  How many UFOs do you feel is manageable for you?  I have come up with the number 12.  I like to have projects at all stages and I like to have a little variety to keep my creativity going.

I have been enjoying lots of sewing time this week with the extreme temperatures and excess of snow.  I do not go stir crazy- in fact, I think I could become a hermit (unless someone takes my computer away).

Finish number one is a pillow that I started in 2013.  I used this tutorial for inserting the zipper in the back.  The fabrics were gifted to me from Dottie.  They match the wall hanging in my dining room very well.








It fits so well in this antique rocker that it looks like I made it to go there.  I made it as a floor pillow because we didn't have a couch in our family room.  Our new couch was delivered shortly after Christmas so now it becomes a couch pillow.

The next finish is from about 10 years ago, but I really can't say for sure.  I know I made so many blocks that I also made this baby quilt out of part of the blocks.  I quilted a simple pantograph patriot on it.  I had some thread issues in the beginning, but I was able to resolve them.








 The third finish is also another project from 2013.  This quilt goes to baby Kameryn who will be 5 months soon.  I quilted free hand bubbles on it and outlined her initial.  I love the texture the circles give the quilt.  I used flannel on the back to make the quilt extra soft.

 That makes 3 finishes in week one of the new year!  If only I could keep up this pace, I would be done with UFOs by June.