Design Wall Monday

Last week was so busy, and this one is going to be even busier.  I probably won't be posting any more this week.  I didn't get any sewing done after I finished putting my plus quilt together.  I did pull out the next 2 project to be completed.

This sealed envelope is what will be consuming all my time this week.  My daughter's destination for next year is sealed in it.  She has been accepted by the Rotary Youth Exchange program and her country assignment is inside.  We received it on Saturday, and we are planning a reveal party for this coming Sunday.  We came up with the idea because every day at least 3 or 4 people asked us if we knew where she was going next year.  It is so exciting for all of us!

The project on the left is from a Lewis and Clark journey.  I have 12 blocks and I am not sure how I want to set them.  I believe I want to make 12 more alternate blocks.  I may even set them straights.

The other blocks are more sampler blocks.  They are also 12".  They definitely look better square than long.  I won't get to them this week, but having them out is the first step to finishing them.

I did manage to finish the binding on Kameryn's quilt during my orientation this weekend.  I still have to add the label then it will be ready to gift before the first birthday.

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

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.
   

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!