Sewing with friends

A little retreat sewing is simply good for the soul.  I worked on completing 42 blocks each (a and b) for my daughter's quilt.  I have more to go but I had to take a break from making them.

As a group, we worked on the free tree pattern from Sew kind Of Wonderful.  It is fun  to do a pattern together.  Here is the forrest of trees.  I did not get mine put together, but I have a good start.

I also wanted to try the metro rings pattern by the same designer.  It was very easy to put together.  The trees are a free pattern on the website using the mini ruler and the ring pattern is available for purchase using the regular ruler.

In the past I have always focused on WIPs and UFOS.  This year I think I will see the glass as half full and I am going to count my completions.  For 2017, I currently have 0 completions.  I consider a completion something that is quilted or ready for use. 

How am I doing?

This is week 2, and this is my second post.  Doing well on that goal, but I haven't started on the other 4.

I hadn't turned the sewing machine on in quite some time, so I powered her up and put the sashing between these 3 block.  I am now ready to add it to the quilting pile

I also pulled 2 projects to work on at the retreat this weekend.  Those on point symmetry things really test my brain  these days.

Motivation 2017

Welcome 2017!  I am looking forward to a new year.

It has been about 18 months since my last blog post.  I have found that blogging really helps keeps me focused and motivated.  When I am sitting in my studio dreaming about all the new projects I want to start, having my monthly goal posted on my blog brings me back to reality and gives me a little direction.  So without wasting any more time, I am setting some easy January goals.

1. Quilt 2 customer quilts
2. Quilt 1 item from my UFO parade 2014
3. Quilt 1 item from  my recent quilt flimsy pile
4. Get my paperwork in order for taxes
5. Blog at least once a week

May already?

I can't believe May is almost over.  I have been so busy I haven't even blogged since April.  I only completed 1/5 of my April goals, so I am working on the same goals for May.  I haven't even had much time to turn on the sewing machine.

Sometimes life takes you in a different direction.  I started a Facebook page to promote my new fabrics and interesting color combinations.  You can view my page by either searching for "Patchwork Playground" in the search box.  You don't even need a Facebook account to do this.  If you would like to see my stuff on your news feed, simply click the like button.  I have started vending at some local quilt retreats.  I really enjoy getting out and meeting new people and helping people pick great fabrics.  I mostly sell Moda fabrics and pre-cuts, but I carry a few bolts from other companies.

I am going to try to keep up with both pages, but when life gets busy, it is much easier to do a Facebook post than type a blog entry.

I did manage to make a few boxy bags to showcase some of my fabrics.  The pattern is Mallory's Big Box from This 'n That.  I wanted to showcase some of my more modern fabrics with traditional ones in the first box.

The second box was to showoff some fun fabrics.  I love the asterisks for the lining.  It was the perfect choice.

If I will try to post more regularly in the summer, but if you are looking for me, you can stop over to Facebook also.  

https://www.facebook.com/patchwork.playground

Until next time, keep on stitching!

April Goals and March achievements

Where have I been?  It was spring break for my kids and we did our first road trip.  I will post more about this later in the week after I get caught up a bit.

How did I do with my March goals.  I quilted several customer quilts, I bound all my January projects, and I am continuing to work on cutting and organizing my scraps.    I made a few more blocks for my blue quilt, but I still have more to go.  I also did not start my t-shirt quilt yet (yes, I know....I am dragging my feet on this one).

April Goals will remain similar to previous months- 

1. Quilt 2 customer quilts 
2. Quilt one of my quilts from the UFO parade (it is feeling so great to finish these)
3. Work on the t-shirt quilt (really I am going to do it this month)
4. Continue to cut and organize scraps
5. Make and attach a hanging sleeve for the green log cabin quilt that I finished

Having been on vacation, I haven't been in the studio for more than 10 days.  I am looking forward to a little sewing time in the near future.  I am missing my fabric fondling.  

Friday Focus

Normally I like to do a post on what I finished during the week, but I haven't had time to turn my machine on until today.

I am just smitten with the Quick Curve Ruler.  I used the ruler to make these pumpkins.  I wanted to try another pattern to see if it was easy also.  I looked through the book, then I settled on one of the free patterns from Jenny's blog.  Way back when, our quilt group was going to give the poinsettia pattern a try but never did.

I can say that it was really simple too!  The hardest part with these blocks is trimming them up.  It really isn't hard, but I can never figure out which way to put the ruler on the block.  It seems really silly, but I swear I have to turn the ruler 4 or 5 times before I get it right.  Being a leftie, I am sometimes challenged in the rightie world.  This is not my normal color range, but I am enjoying playing with the softer colors.  This is likely to become another pillow.  It will finish at 20"

Do you see those little bits of color behind the block?  You need to look really close.....



 I couldn't tease you and then not show.  These are the new bolts that just arrived.

 I have been tied up most of the week with serving shift dinners for my family. Delaney at 5:00, Gavin at 6:00, Mason and Estelle at 6:30 and be at the play at 7:00. That makes for a crazy evening!

My son, Gavin is one of the brothers in the play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

I am proud of him for his hard work in learning all the steps and the songs. He is doing a great job.

My host daughter is not in the play, but the other 2 exchange students are.  This is their first experience being on stage and they are doing an excellent job (especially since English is not their first language)

The beauty on the left is from the Czech Republic, and the one on the right is from Germany.

Tonight is the last performance so I will be going to support them.  Delaney is in the choir and is doing a great job.  All the sets are really amazing.

Saturday is a wrestling day, but maybe Sunday I can have some sewing moments.

DWM - Something New to show

I had hoped to work on my blue/brown/green strip stack quilt this weekend, but I still didn't have my 1/4" foot.  I don't like to work on a quilt with more than one machine, so I went with a different project.  I bound two quilts and passed them along to a friend for hand work (thank you, thank you)

This isn't actually new, it is on the UFO list from last year.  It is the canned pears pattern from Fig Tree.  Beware that if you make it larger, your columns will be different lengths.  I put it away last year because I didn't want to deal with how to make them even last year.  It is now in one piece and I have the tiny 4 patches for the checkerboard done also.  It feels great to have this one down to the borders.  Since I made it bigger, I need to figure out what size to make the inner border so that the pieced border will fit.  Time to turn on my math brain again.

My group also played with the quick curve ruler.  I don't live in the Southern Hemisphere, so it is a little out of season.  Several people from the group made pumpkins.  Mine are the tall skinny ones in the middle of the bottom and the fat ones on the lower left.  A few of Ellen's beads also made it into the photo along with pumpkins from the other members.

I really enjoyed using the ruler and I can see me making more projects.  The instructions were easy to understand and the curves were easy to sew.  I love how all the pumpkins turned out so differently.  

I hope to do a little quilting this week and maybe sew a few more strip stack blocks.  My new feet for my machine arrived on Saturday.  Life is too short to spend it looking for lost items (especially ones that can be replaced so easily).

It won't be long and my flowers should be popping up from the long winter rest.

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