Finally... a quilting finish for 2017

Well, it's finally done and on the wall. My Jelly Roll Race Gone Plaid... and, I love it!! I finished it 3/31/17 and I'm just a bit surprised it took me so long to complete since I started working on it mid-January. I know I haven't had much time in the sewing room, but mid-January? :))

Actually in my own defense, I've been very busy working out in our yard. Last March I tore out the backyard borders, covered them in newspaper layers, and topped them with bark. In the meantime, I've been pulling any weeds that managed to grow through and finally decided it was time to start planting. We had to rent an auger since there are so many roots from the trees planted behind our property that's it's impossible to dig through. The Auger worked well and it was fun to get a great many holes dug in one afternoon. The majority have been filled with plants which are doing well and there's just one 20 ft area where I'll need professional help since I want to plant another three good-sized palm trees.

My herb garden is doing extremely well. I'll be using a lot of it fresh, and drying quite a bit for my own use, but I have so much I would like to share. If you are in my neck of the woods and would like some fresh herbs, give me a holler via email.

I've also finished the knitting project I have been working on for five months so now I'll have to think of another project to keep me busy in the evenings in front of the tv.

I've still got these blocks to sell... if you think the price I'm asking is too high, please make me an offer! :)

Take care,

I started 2017 with UFO projects: 32
I have found (buried in my sewing room and elsewhere in the house) YTD: 0
I have started YTD: 1 ongoing project (composed of 34 units as of 4/5/17)
I have given away UFO projects YTD:0
I have thrown out or otherwise dismantled YTD: -2
I have sold unfinished UFO projects YTD:0
I have finished YTD: -1 "finished-for-now" project (composed of 41 units as of 4/27/17)
I have finished YTD: -1
Projects remaining YTD: 29

Jelly Roll Race going Plaid!

I'm not sure I've ever gone this long without posting, but honestly I have not felt like writing anything. What I have been doing is working on this UFO project as well as another ongoing project (consisting of finished units).

This quilt has been fun actually, even though when I dragged it out to work on it I was less than thrilled. I got into it as time progressed and now it's turning out to be one of my favorite quilts.

I originally made a Jelly Roll Race quilt out of scrappy, 2 1/2 inch strips of different lengths. They were basically left over from other projects and when I finished it I didn't care for it and stuck it into the UFO pile. When I got it out again to work on, I decided to treat the quilt top as fabric and cut it into 9 1/2" blocks. I happened to be looking at Karla Alexander's book, Color Shuffle, at the time and liked the Plaid Passions pattern... so my quilt is based loosely on that pattern, although I made it narrower because I like "banner" size so I can hang it on my wall.

I've got it basted (and the pins are closed) now and I'm getting ready to start quilting it. I'm going to do a plaid quilting design... should be easy and I think it will look great with the quilt.

Take care,

I started 2017 with UFO projects: 32
I have found (buried in my sewing room and elsewhere in the house) YTD:0
I have started YTD: 1 ongoing project (composed of 33 units as of 3/22/17)
I have given away UFO projects YTD:0
I have thrown out or otherwise dismantled YTD: -1
I have sold unfinished UFO projects YTD:0
I have finished YTD: -1 ongoing project (composed of 33 units as of 3/22/17)
Projects remaining YTD: 31

Six!! The Zenith Quilt

This quilt is the Zenith Quilt Pattern by Stephanie Prescott and it's an easy quilt to make using 60 degree half rectangles. I tried an experiment with this quilt, trying to use fabrics that didn't seem all that compatible with each other since I'm trying to expand my ability to combine interesting (and not just pretty) fabrics.  I'm really pleased with the end result. Please excuse the crease/fold down the middle of the quilt that's from having it folded tightly. It will disappear with use. As you all already know, I'm enjoying being able to count up my completed projects and cross them off my ever-growing (it seems like) UFO/WIP list! This is number six.

The quilting is the same as what I did for the Scrap Vomit, and the Many Trips Around the World quilts... wavy horizontal lines. I love the feel that it gives the quilt and it's super simple to quilt.

And, this is the backing...

When I was taking the photographs outside, I noticed that the quilt is much more vibrant because of the beautiful outdoor light. I'll have to make sure I use it/keep it in a room with lots of bright, natural light. Hubby was commenting that the minute we decided to go out and take photos, the wind started to blow. He's right... it did, but it was a nice, cool breeze so we thought it was worth it! :)

Take care,

Circle of Illusion WIP - what to do with it?

This is the next WIP I think I want to work on, but I don't really have a clue what to do with it. A lot of the finished Circle of Illusion quilts use this as the center medallion, and I would prefer not to do that if I can think of something else to do.  We'll see...

I got online and found a photo of our class, showing how much/how little we each accomplished in class. We're the sixth photo down the page and you can see that I didn't get very far. I never do get much done in any class I've taken, because I'm usually trying to absorb what we're being told/shown. I get the basics and then I can finish up at home.

I pulled some fabrics and another one of my WIPs and started playing around a bit, but a good idea still hasn't popped into my head yet.

If you have any suggestions/ideas for me in regards to getting this finished, I would love to hear them! :)

Take care,

~ Five ~ Scrap Vomit Quilt!!

I started this quilt in February 2014 and by September 2014 the top was completed. It was one of my Tuesday and Thursday quilt class projects, which is one of the reasons that it took me so long to get it done. I then basted it/got it ready to quilt and put in on the top of the UFO stack and that's where it's been ever since. I finished it on 5/17/16.

If you are interested in seeing progress shots, they are here and here.

Take care,

Time gets away from us, doesn't it?

I've been so involved in other aspects of my life that I haven't been posting nearly as often as I used to. I'm sure those of you who have been reading my blog for years have noticed. I still love my blog, but find it a bit more difficult to think of interesting things to write about. I've also fallen off the photography bandwagon for awhile. I haven't used my good camera in many months and that is something I want to rectify... I miss it!

I have managed to finish another UFO (well, technically I still have one side of the binding to sew down by hand, but I'm counting it as finished since that will happen today). I'm still somewhat surprised at myself for sticking with my goal of working on as many of my UFOs as I can. I seem to have developed a very short attention span over the years. I thought for sure that I would want to start something new by now, but it hasn't happened. This is my 4th finish for the year.

I started this Scrappy Trips Around the World in 2014 - only 2 years ago!!. :) And, I used random fabrics - meaning I just grabbed them out of a basket and sewed them together. I did make sure that I used the darkest fabric for the middle row so the design would work out, but other than that there are some really ugly fabrics in this quilt.  Turns out that I love it!!! I'm going to keep this one (unless someone offers me some good $$ and begs with me to part with it) because it's so cheerful and happy. It's fairly large too.

I quilted it horizontally using wavy lines, which left it soft and cuddly. I seem to gravitate towards the simple quilting styles these days.

It rained Friday and yesterday and it was forecast for today, but so far the clouds have just blown over. Isn't that wonderful? I mean about us getting rain. The landscape is green and lovely right now and the roses are prolific! I don't know if I'm just appreciating them more because of our drought situation or they really are more spectacular than usual, but they are gorgeous!!

Ok... off topic but, I'm wondering why this bill was defeated last week?

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend... I am!!

Take care,

A great start to 2016!

Wow... it's already 32 days into the new year and you would not believe the "to do" list I have started for 2016! I've got a big year planned.

My UFO list is at 38 and I'm sure I'll find another couple projects in my sewing room that I forgot about. I gave away several projects that I knew I had no interest in finishing and I'm hoping that I'll get to see them completed by the recipient. Actually, it was quite motivating to list and prioritize all of those unfinished projects. I don't plan on finishing all of them, or even half of them, but if I can make a dent, I will be extremely happy. In that regard, I've already completed one project, except for the binding and I'm working on that today. Photo to come soon!

Our year has certainly started off right. We've had rain... and it's been good rain. Rain that can actually be measured. It has cleaned everything - not only the air itself, but streets and buildings.Today, it's cold out but it's supposed to warm up into the high 70's by Saturday/Sunday. I'll bet that sounds nice to those of you in the colder climates, but I would rather have the cold/rainy weather. Our hills are just starting to green up and we haven't seen that in quite awhile.

I have too much going on the first part of the year so I declined to sign up for the Spring Semester of quilting. I'll miss it (I'm sure more than they will miss me), but I'll go back in the Fall. I've got some kitchen remodeling and wood flooring to do and that will keep me busy, I'm sure. And, one of the benefits of sewing at home on Thursday is that I'll be able to get some of the UFO's, that are too large to work on in class, completed. I'm so looking forward to it.

Anybody go to Road to California? I went with some friends and we had a great time. I was so impressed with the quilt pictured above, but feel sad that I didn't get the name of the maker. I can only say that it was truly outstanding!!  Next month, we're going to QuiltCon. I've never been so I'm anxious to see what it's like.

Guess that's it for today!

Take care,