Happy finish!

I love these fabrics.  Such a beautiful quilt.  It is a great weekend retreat with friends at the library.

Plus Quilt

I couldn't take it any longer.  I had to know what it was going to look like with my color choices.  I thought this would make more of a dent in my blue scraps, but the bin is still packed.  Maybe these icy colors will summon the polar vortex back.

I am not sure if I like the 2 blue blocks in there.  I was undecided when I started making this quilt if I wanted to venture into the "dark" side.  I made a few extras in case I had to omit them.  I used Kona Snow for the light and assorted scraps that were gifted to me for the blues.  The blacks finish at 6" and I plan to stagger them.  I got my inspiration from this quilt (and the desire to use up some light and medium blues).

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.

NewFOs now become UFOs?

I have really struggled with what to classify my projects of 2013 (NewFOs) as.   My primary focus last year was to finish my old projects that were abandoned long ago.  I did start and finish several new projects along the way in addition to my UFOs, however, I still had some unfinished projects at the end of the year.  When I counted up my works in process, I had more than I thought.  I am afraid if I don't add  them to the UFO list they will get forgotten like the items of the UFO parade.  I am going to give them their own special spot in this blog post so they don't get forgotten.  It really helped me to have all my UFO listed in the parade so I could quickly reference them.

1.  Baby Kameryn's quilt.  She is 4 months old, so I better get busy and get this quilted.













2.  Floor pillow for the family room quilted and waiting for me to put it together.

3.  Braided runner that I did as a class demonstration.   

4.  The start of a project using the Hex n' More Ruler

 5.  This is a log cabin quilt for my brother.  The pattern is from Quilty magazine (Strawberries and Cream).  I have the borders on it and the backing pulled so I can get it pieced.

 6.  This is another demonstration quilt.  I finished the top but I didn't get it quilted.

 7.  This was a runner I made with the X- Block Ruler.  I think I should finish this one for Valentine's day.  It would look festive on the table.

 8.  This is the tree skirt I just started after Christmas.  I have the backing made, so hopefully I can mark this one off my list also.

9.  I finished this quilt at a retreat in Shipshe on October.  Somehow it was pushed to the side and never got quilted.  I used this tutorial as a rough guide line.

 10. & 11.  #10 is in the background and it is a scrappy swoon supersized.  I worked on it at Shipse, but I didn't bring all the pieces to get it together.  #11 is a smaller version of the scrappy log cabin quilt from Quilty magazine.  I started it after Christmas when I found a box of 1 1/4" strips that were lonely on the shelf.  All the blocks are completed, but I need to put them together.

In my mind (before I actually took pictures and counted) I had 3 or 4 projects left unfinished.  I guess these pictures will keep me accountable.  I did finish over 20 projects from the UFO list, so at least the list didn't grow larger.

Edit:  
Found this Newfo in January and I wanted to makes sure it didn't get forgotton

#11.  4 lonely Swoon blocks that need to put together

Quilter ADD

With the end of the year quickly approaching, one would think I could stay focused and achieve a few more completions.  Yesterday my friend Tina came over for a little socialization.  I bounced from project to project and made lots of messes in my studio.  It is hard to explain how it can feel so fulfilling to just sit in my studio and piddle (is that even a word).

Remember this tree skirt.  I do not recall the pattern, but something went terribly wrong with color placement (or choices).  My hubby said it was because I didn't like the fabric any longer.  I came to the decision yesterday that I was putting the up for adoption.  I don't want to waste any more time on it.  It will become my first finish of 2014!

While Tina was here, I was thinking about a tree skirt pattern that I have been wanting to try.  It is on the insert that comes with the 10 degree wedge ruler.  I pulled the fabric, cut them and started to sew.  I was able to get the tree skirt together in one afternoon and evening.  It is 2 of the same fabrics that were in the original tree skirt.  By removing the red, somehow it all looks better.  There is red in the pear fabric, but I don't think it was enough blend with the large amount of red on my first attempt.

As always my 2 favorite models were ready for a photo opportunity.  I barely snapped the first picture before they joined me.

This will be gifted to someone for next year's Christmas.  The pattern was easy to make and I am pleased with how it turned out.

Which Border

I eliminated some of the prints from the last post and went looking through my stash for more border options.  I also started looking for the perfect backing (since that seems to be a tough decision for me).

What do you think of these border options?  I am certain of the red for the first border, but I am leaning toward one of the green prints on the left for the second border.  Leave me a comment and let me know which one is your favorite.

This pattern is from McCall's Quilting November/December 2011.  I think it would also make a great tree skirt.

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

3 more sleeps and I will be off to a quilting retreat with around 80 other quilters.  I have my projects picked and packed.  I tried not to pack too much this time.  I am always afraid that I will run out of projects to work on, but this time I tried to be conservative.

Class sample

The old "unfinisher" me would have stuffed these pieces into a box.  I am determined not to continue down that path.  This pattern went together very quickly.  It is a little tricky on which way to cut the half squares.  Just remember the secondary colors  go the opposite of the primary colors.

When you are adding the sashing strips to the half squares, press them in half to find the middle.  Align the middles then pin together.  When you square these up, it is the small triangle that get trimmed down.

Sew the 4 quarters together.  Since everything is squared up, they should line up well.

Add the last 3 sashing strips.

Now for borders.  Decisions, decisions.....  Which outer border do you like?

Retreating

I was asked if I quit blogging.  Well, I haven't, but I haven't been doing any sewing.  It was great to have some sewing time with friends this weekend. I worked on several things, but none of them were from the UFO parade.

I finished my braided runner flimsy that I used to demonstrate at class.  I think it looks very Irish (ND) if you ask me.

I put together this tree skirt for a wedding gift next month.  I am pleased that I was able to use the blue snowman scraps, and I had the border fabrics in my resource center.

I pieced this pillow top from scraps that my good friend Dottie gifted me.  

I made 2 more swoon blocks in an attempt to make my quilt not so pink,

I worked a little bit on this jelly roll pattern that I plan to do a little demonstration on.

I guess I didn't take a photo of the other quilt top I put together, so I will save that for another blog post.

I have never posted from my phone before.  I hope it goes well

Chevron Quilt Photo Session

I wanted to share some photos of my chevron quilt with the binding on.  I had perfect weather to take the photos.  I love the contrast of the garden behind the quilt.  I went a little heavy on the photos.

This quilt is on its way to Colorado in time for the new addition to the family.  This was a new start for 2013, but the good news is that I finished it in the same year.

Graduation Quilt

This is my youngest daughter Delaney all dolled up for 6th grade graduation.  Dressing up is not normally her thing, so I enjoyed taking the opportunity to snap some photos of her.

It was fun to watch both the girls working together.  They both seemed to be excited about the process. 

Delaney wanted a picture of herself with her teacher before the gift was given.  

I don't think I have ever seen this teacher without her infectious smile.  

Delaney predicted that her teacher would be releasing lots of tears during the graduation, but she was wrong.  She was able to keep herself together until she opened Delaney's gift.

My quilt was well received.  It was not perceived as John Deere or BP.  Her first thoughts were school colors.  It brought her to tears.  She loved and appreciated her gift greatly.

The Pink Quilt

My girls say this quilt is just too pink, but I like it.  Neither one of them are pink girls.  I didn't overload them on pink when they were young, so I am not sure why this is.

I put the borders on this quilt a few weeks ago, so I wanted to quilt it before I lost interest.  This quilt is for a special young lady that is 2 weeks old.  I am planning on attaching the binding by machine again.  I hope to get a little better each time.

Instead of a simple loopy meander, I wanted to see how well I could make circles.  I was aiming for sort of a bubble pattern and practicing my spacing.

I like how it turned out and I would do this freehand pattern again.  The thread is Aurifil 40wt, and the batting is Thinsulate.  I love this batting so much.  When I run out of my stockpile supply, I will switch to Dream Puff from Quilter's Dream.  It is the closest I have found to the Thinsulate brand

The month is almost over, I all my finishes have been from recent starts.  Hopefully I can get one or two more finishes before the month is over.  One week!

Nautical Baby Quilt

I am doing terrible at making finishes from my UFOs this month.  I still have my Farmer's Wife blocks on my design wall, so I had to put up a second temporary design wall to work on a baby quilt.  I haven't had much time to sew, and most of my time has been used to make baby quilts for upcoming baby showers.  I am really pleased with how this quilt turned out.

I started this quilt at a retreat last weekend.  I had it mostly together, then I didn't like how it looked.  I was making up the pattern as I went.  Last week, I worked on taking it apart.  On Saturday morning, I was determined to make plan "B" work.  I quilted it on Sunday, and bound it completely by machine also.  I used this tutorial as a guide.  I still need some practice, but I am pleased with how it turned out.  I tried several different feet on my machine.  I am still deciding which one I like best.




I had an idea for a much more elaborate quilting plan, but I opted for a simple (and quick) plan instead.  I didn't want the quilting too dense.

 The weather was so nice this afternoon that I couldn't resist taking the quilt out among the spring flowers for a few photos.

Just for the record, since I have been mostly labeled the UN-finisher.  I started and finished this quilt complete with binding in one weekend.  This is a record - Perhaps it should go in the history books.

Stop over to Patchwork Times to see what others are working on this week.

Focus... or lack of I should say

I have a long list of things that need to be done, or things I should be doing, but I am grazing from one project to the next.  My design wall looks like a windstorm attacked it.

I have a couple of swoon block that I am trying to salvage, a lot of Farmer's Wife blocks, and the start of a nautical baby quilt hanging there.

 I made the swoon block on the right, and it turned out PINK- both my girls said it was really ugly.  I thought if I made another block that wasn't so PINK, I might be able to help it.  I think it made it worse.  I plan to do 2 more blocks.  I have one block cut out and I am trying to decided on the color of the last block.  I am entertaining the idea of that yellow- in hopes of toning down the pick background.  Somehow I thought the pink I chose for a background was pale.  I guess I shouldn't choose colors so late at night.  I actually thought about white when I started the block, but it just didn't seem right.
These pendants are the start of a baby quilt.  I don't have any idea or pattern.  Can you believe I did not have a polka dot in my stash to match these nautical colors.  I have 2 more baby quilt cut out and kitted for the next retreat, but I haven't started sewing them yet.

I have 4 nieces expecting this year.  This is only the beginning of the baby quilts.

On this weeks agenda - cut the background pieces for this quilt.  I was going to use one fabric for the background.  I really tried to convince myself!  In the back of my mind, I remembered that my whites container was stuffed.  I plan to iron these scraps that are at least 2 1/2" wide and cut them the lengths needed for the pattern.

I realize none of these items are on my April goals list.  I hope to get to my goal list before the end of the month, but until then, I am just going to play with scraps and have some fun.  After all, that is the whole point of this hobby.

I received a new grab bag from This-n-that Fabrics today.  I think they have the best deal on scrap bags.  Most of the pieces are at least a fat eighth.  This represents what I received in my 3# bag.  It is fun to add selections to my stash that I never would have picked.  Part of the entertainment is just sorting the bag.

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