Last July Finish

I know technically, this really isn't finished, but lets not get technical.  I had several other July finishes here.

This is one of my oldest UFOs.  It was the very first scrap quilt I ever started.  For those that haven't tried scrappy, the first one is the hardest.  I had a really hard time putting these colors together.  In the beginning I was trying to match the colors in each block.  I did a lot of complaining and doubting along the way.

Now that I understand value a little better (keep in mind I started this about 10 years ago), I would have done better on my red selection. I am pleased to have this one quilted an ready to bind.  It is a pattern from Love of Quilting magazine.

These are my August Goals.

August Goals

I have already exceeded my goal for finishes this year. August will be an adjustment month for both my family and myself since we will be easing back into the school schedule.  I hope to have just finishes for August.  As I look through my picture parade of unfinished projects, I notice lots of completions.  I did not find a lot of projects that were exciting me for this month.  I hope this won't end my desire to finish things.

1. Quilt my bright Christmas Star quilt
   
   
2. Quilt something for fall
3. Sew the blocks together for my bright scrap quilt
4. Sew the blocks together for my bright log cabin

Feeling Lost

I am feeling a little lost, like I should be camping at the ball park tonight.  I have come to my senses.  I am giddy with excitement!  I remembered we are having a sew-in on Sunday.  Very few things are better than a day away with friends!  Now for the hard part - what should I bring to sew?

Have a great weekend.

Food for Thought today - Jelly Roll vs. Layer Cake

Did you ever think about how much fabric was in a Jelly Roll vs. a Layer Cake?  Which one give you more fabric?  They are exactly the same!

2 1/2" X 40" X 40 pieces = 4,000 Square Inches

10" x 10" x 40 pieces = 4,000 Square Inches

In terms of body shape, I wish I was more like a jelly roll (long and skinny), but in reality, I am more layer cake shaped

Since they are the same amount of fabric, It is best to evaluate the pattern you want to use and determine which will give you the least amount of scrap.

July Progress

I working away on my July list.  I am working hard to get 1/3 of my list done by the end of the year.  Just one more week until school starts.  I think the kids are ready to go.

This first runner was a class sample a few years ago.  It was very loosely based on a quilt from American Patchwork & Quilting.  It is all trimmed and ready for binding.

 This is the same pattern with different colors.  Since these were small projects, I tried some new to me quilting designs.  I tried to just relax and have some fun with them.
This was a simple stripe table runner.  I quilted  a simple stipple on the blue and red quilt, and I quilted the nutcracker runner a little more detail

This runner sat forever because I was puzzled how to quilt it.

 I selected a swirling design in the neutrals and a loopy designer in the darker colors.  This is a Bonnie Hunter pattern from her book Scraps and Shirttails.

 I am excited to mark off these 5 UFOs.  Yes, I know there isn't binding on them, but it is close enough for me.

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.

Finishes from 2012

I just remembered to update my finishes page tab on the right side of my blog.  I was extremely excited to go through my UFO parade and look at all the quilts that have been completed.  I am up to 22 finishes!!  My goal for the year was 20 finishes from the list.  I have finished 1/4 of my UFOs in the first 7 months of the year.  I still have a long way to go, but this is encouraging.  I hope to have 1/3 of my UFOs done by the end of the year.  

At this rate....It will only take me 3 years to get caught up.   Come to think of it, that seems like a long time.  

Label Tutorial

I promised a little label tutorial today, so here it goes.  I print my labels using Microsoft Word and use Printed Treasures fabric.  Feel free to use muslin and write on your fabric with any pigma ink pen.  My handwriting is awful, so I go with the printed method.

I like to save selvages for various things, but if you don't, cut a few selvages from the fabric that you used on the quilt top or just fabric that matches the quilt.  (I recently moved my selvages to this great container.  If only I had remembered this before I wasted most of the morning looking for them.)
Pick, Print, or Make a label with the information to your liking.  Grab a pile of selvages.  I trimmed my selvage 1" from the woven edge.  You can make them as narrow or wide as you prefer

Sew a selvage piece to one edge of your label and press.  Now you have a finished edge on your label that won't ravel.  I like to use the selvages with the writings and dots on them.  Trim selvage piece even with the label.

Now add the second piece of selvage to an adjacent side.  Finger press the end of the selvage piece you are adding.  Line up the edge with the edge of the previous addition

Sew this piece of the selvage to the label.  Trim the non-folded end even with the label

Add the next piece the same way.

 I like to pin the final piece in place with the edge rolled down and lined up.  I trim the selvage piece 1/4" beyond the selvage that is already sewn on

 Pin both ends of the last selvage piece to be added.















Now you have a completed label with all finished edges

 The back of the label will look like this.


Now grab your favorite hand sewing supplies and get busy.








You can either pin your label in place, or my favorite is the soluble 2 sided tape.

UFO Finish

I finished the binding on this oldie.  I have a much larger version of this quilt that still needs quilted.  Perhaps I should finish that one also.  I don't know what year I started this quilt, but it has been more than 5.

I have another finish to post tomorrow as well as a label tutorial.  

Where have I been?

Well I have been out playing in the rain (and not in a good way).  We have never had a baseball season like this one before.  After 5 days solid of downpours and rain outs, I was in no mood to quilt.  I was in a funk and having a pity party for myself.  The grand finale was when my studio came within inches of flooding.  I am so thankful for my children that evacuated my studio quickly.  It took me most of the week to get things organized again, but I looked at is as another opportunity to purge.

Today- I am just admiring the sun.  It seems like months since I have seen it shining so brightly.

My good friend Eleanor finished several bindings for me this month.  I thought I would post some updated photos of my recent finishes.  I posted these without bindings, but they always look so much better once the binding is added.

 This first quilt needs to find a new home.  My girls think it is the ugliest thing ever.  I have to admit that I liked the fabrics a whole lot better when I started it many years ago.

Do you have any suggestions on the best way to determine a price or how to sell quilts?

 This bright quilt is from Scrapbasket Sensations by Kim Brackett.  I just love that book.  This is the perfect book for jelly flops and leftover 2 1/2" scraps.  It is for my daughter's friend for her birthday next month

 I love how this border fabric enhances this twister quilt.  I had this fabric in my stash and it was an amazing complement to the charm pack and scraps in the center.  The binding is from the collection fabulous fall and it happened to be the perfect finish.  I love it when my stash plays nicely into my plan.

I was able to use up a lot of scraps to finish this large twister quilt.
















Several people in my quilt group have been making baby quilts using such bright and cheerful colors.  I thought it would be fun to make up some more jelly flops in bright colors.  I think pulling these colors from the shelf was just what I needed to get me out of my pity party. I will have these for sale at our next meeting along with some low volume bundles.

I am spending the evening at the ball park again tonight, but there is no rain in the forecast.  Baseball is definitely more fun without rain.

July Goals

I am still on a high from all the June Finishes.  I want to keep that feeling going, so I picked a pile of small projects to finish this month.  Most of them are table toppers and should be quick finishes.  I hope to finish half of these.  I need to get back to quilting for customers.  This is my last full month before the kids go back to school.

My studio is a bit messy.  On my summer list was to paint a dresser that I keep in my studio.  It's contents have been emptied and are scattered everywhere.  I am planning on getting it sanded and primed tonight.  I picked a nice lime green color to paint it.

In addition to the quilting, I hope to get most of the quilts from last month bound.

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

June Finishes

1. Bound the Large Twister Quilt (With Eleanor)
2. Bound the town square quilt (With Eleanor)
3. Quilted the grey/white chevron quilt (new start this year)
4. Tumbler Quilt Bound and completed (no photo)
5. Quilted the grey/yellow Plus Quilt
6. Quilted the Small crazy star quilt
7. Quilted Halloween Take 5 Quilt
8. Quilted the Apple table topper (snowball/Table topper)
9. Quilted the snowball/9 patch Christmas Table topper
10. Quilted small twister quilt
11. Quilted Christmas Take 5 quilt

This is quite a list for me.  I was able to complete a ton of stuff around the house too.  Not all of these are finished - technically....but close enough for me.  I will have a binding day soon!!

This week will be filled with dance.  This is the last time I will see one of my girls dance on the stage at one of these venues.  I have mixed emotions.  It is sad to close this chapter in my life, but another adventure is just around the corner.

It is hard to believe the year is half over.  If I counted correctly, I have 18 finishes from the UFO list.  I am very pleased with my progress so far.  If I can finish 10 more in the second half, I will have reduced my pile by one 1/3!!  This is such a good feeling!!