#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.

I tried...I really did!

I tried to let this bucket go to the trash bin without browsing.  I walked by many times.  I never reached down to peek in.  I moved it around the room.  The truth of the matter is, when I went to dump it I had to look (You probably know the rest of the story).

I sorted it.  That's just what I do.  Is it the Mom in me?  probably so.

I created this pile for my neighbor girl who received a sewing machine for Christmas.  She has just been burning up thread since she received it.  Since she is 8, these are already pre-cut.  

 This is the pile of goodies I saved for myself.  There are several nice quality pieces in there.

This pile of bits and pieces I didn't think were the best quality went to the trash.











So I admit it - I was a trash picker.  I did not dumpster dive on this excursion, but I won't say that is beyond me.

Last night I "TACKLED" some backings.  I made 3 backings in preparation for more quilting.

1. I made the backing for my brother's log cabin quilt.  I found a 4" X 30" scrap in my bin that gave me just enough of the fabric I needed to complete it.
2. I made the backing for my bright 4 patch quilt.  Dottie had gifted me a yellow fabric with butterflies during the scrap gifting Christmas party.  I had just enough to make it work
3. I made the backing for my green and black swoon quilt.  I did not have enough of any of the fabrics, so I had to get creative.  I think it is just perfect.

I don't have any finishes to report today, but perhaps I get get the batting cut for the next 3 quilts so they are ready to load.

I have a weekend retreat coming up on Friday, so I better start planning some piecing projects.  Perhaps I should tackle the applique on assorted projects in the UFO pile.  Each one has a tiny bit of applique.

Quilts with 2 1/2" strips

 My friend Tina came over this weekend and cut a mountain of scraps.  By mountain, I mean an entire trash bag.  It took her 2 ironing sessions just to get them all straightened out.  She cut them all in 2 1/2" strips.  Some of them were of the less than beautiful variety and some were leftovers from old projects.

This inspired me to go through my mountain of papers laying in various piles around my studio, and several binders where I had previously placed patterns and organized them. This was quite a task.  A task perfect to do while watching football.

When I first started quilting I saved patterns that interested me.  Some of them have been made, and others no longer interest me.  So I started several categories.

• Patterns that I don't like any more (taken to quilt group to gift or recycle)
• baby quilt patterns (of course these could be made larger)
• modern quilt patterns
• patterns for precuts
• scrap patterns
• seasonal patterns (have a whole binder of just Christmas)
• purses/bags/pillows and accessories.
• quilting ideas

I realized really quickly that most of the patterns that didn't interest me any longer were the ones made where all the fabrics matched.  I have been saying this for years....

"Once you go scrap, you never go back"

I think this is true for me.

I noticed that most of the patterns for precuts were also scrap patterns.  I decided to keep them separate for now, but I may merge them in the future.  I have several precut bundles so I wanted to keep these together.  I am hoping this system will work for me and I will use the patterns I have saved.    

My most important observations was that I must think I am going to live to be 1000.  In the future I will be more selective on which patterns I decide to print.  Killing trees is not making me sew any faster.

I have "tackled" my mountain of patterns!!

I came across these great scrap quilts and I thought I would share.  I love the king size version, and perhaps I would be able to shut my 2 1/2" square drawer and my 2 1/2" strip bin if I made it.  After I get to 20 finishes I want to start a new scrap pattern.

No post gets any views without pictures, so I thought I would post a picture of the quilt I am working on.  I am still deciding if it needs more quilting and what it needs.  Sometimes viewing a picture of it helps.

What do you think?  More quilting?  More lines? more of another design.  Decisions, decisions.
  

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.