I finished!

I finished two projects this last week! It always feels good to finish a project, but then I feel a little bit lost until I figure out what I'm going to do next.

I'm most excited about the Sunburst Christmas Tree Skirt. It was a blast to make and went together easily and quickly. I decided against heavy quilting since it really doesn't need it. Each "starburst" section was assembled QAYG so it's already quilted to some degree. I just stitched in the ditch between each "starburst" section and I'm happy. Besides, if all goes well, it will not be all that visible behind gifts, right? :)

I mentioned that I was working on the tree skirt as a part of the All People Quilt 2018 UFO Challenge and it did spur me on to get it completed in January. I finished it on the 29th... right under the wire.

I just checked and February's project is #9 on our lists. That's the Traverse Bag for me! I cut it out in October of last year when my friend Pat was here. We were going to work on them together and get them finished the week she was here visiting but that fell by the wayside quickly. We were too busy visiting quilt shops and just generally having fun doing other things. Anyway, I'm anxious to get started on it and get it completed! It's always fun to cross these UFO/WIP projects off the list!

In addition, I got the Go With the Flow socks finished too. I had to rip out at least half a sock two times while I was working on these, so I basically knit three socks! I don't ever mind ripping out and starting again since I love to knit and it's just more knitting! :)

I understand the pattern has been discontinued and that's a shame. I wonder why?

Take care,

Started 2018 with UFO projects: 22
New YTD: 3
Gave away YTD:0
Trashed/dismantled YTD:
Sold unfinished UFOs YTD:0
Finished YTD: -3
So far 2018: 22

To quilt or not?

I'm working on my Starburst Christmas Tree Skirt today. I've got the skirt done, and the backing is pinned but now I'm trying to decide if I want it quilted or not. I like the look of it the way it is and could just quilt in the ditch for each "spike" of the skirt to secure it. It would also look good to quilt following the "chevron" of the fabric strips (if that makes any sense).

Got any suggestions?

Take care,

Started 2018 with UFO projects: 22
New YTD:2
Gave away YTD:0
Trashed/dismantled YTD:
Sold unfinished UFOs YTD:0
Finished YTD: -1
So far 2018: 23

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

Lucy Boston blocks 1 - 4

I've hopped onto the Lucy Boston bandwagon after watching all the gorgeous blocks being put together by Alewives Fabrics. I fell in love with the shop when we visited a couple of years ago. It's one of the best shops I've been to in a very long time and it's located in the beautiful village of Damariscotta Mills on the shores of the Damariscotta River/Salt Bay.

Anyway, I've put together these first four, unsewn, blocks so that I'll have handwork when I need it.

I do have to say that I don't find these blocks all that easy in regards to fabric choices even with the h-u-g-e stash of fabric that I have, but they are definitely fun to make!

Take care,

Six years in the making... and it's finished! - #10

Yippee!! I finished my NY Beauty quilt on 7/28/16... only six years after starting it.

I loved making this quilt since it was a first in so many ways. I tried paper piecing for the first time... I found free blocks online (here) and printed them off onto bond paper. And, at first, it was a real struggle to wrap my head around how to paper piece since it seemed as though I was wasting a huge amount of fabric! :) But, I got over that and with practice, I came to quite like paper piecing. I also used some batiks and a lot of my own hand-dyed fabrics - something I've not done before this quilt although I have a huge stash of batiks and quite a lot of my own hand-dyed fabrics.

As you can see, I quilted it using organically straight lines about 1/2 inch apart since I wanted a more modern look than these quilts are known for having. I agonized for quite some time trying to decide how to quilt it, but kept coming back to the straight, vertical lines. Even as I started it, I wasn't sure it was the right choice. But, I love the way it looks so I'm happy I went with my instincts. And, it's the 10th WIP I'm able to cross of my list for 2016... I'm on a roll!

Progress shots along the way are here, here, here, and here!

When I showed it to my husband he said, "Wow... that's a work of art!" That made my day!

I've finally caught up posting finished projects and from now on, I hope to keep them in order! It got confusing (even to me and I knew what I was doing)!

Take care,

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,

Halloween! (#'s 7 & 8)

Two more UFO/WIP projects finished a couple of weeks ago, and with plenty of time to spare since they are both for Halloween.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this Which Witches Boot (a Crabapple Hill pattern) quilt. I tried embroidering with perle cotton for the first time and I'm sold... it's so easy and is such a nice finish. It didn't take long at all to complete the embroidery panel. And, since orange peels are one of my favorite blocks to make, this border was a joy to make and it also went together pretty quickly. One of my goals with this little quilt/wall-hanging was to make it look like Halloween without using any obviously Halloween fabrics and I think I succeeded. However, for the backing I did use a great black with white Halloween print (see below) which was perfect! This is my seventh finish for the year!

The wonderful backing fabric...

The Halloween pillow that follows (number eight - yippee!!) was made from a length of fabric, purchased at Material Girl Fabrics in Redmond, Oregon, that contained two different panels. What a great little shop that is, and with a wonderful selection of fabrics! I loved spending time (and $$) there!

I started by quilting both panels - the usual way - using a lightweight cotton fabric (I use older quilting fabrics that I'm not in love with anymore since they won't show anyway) as a backing, then batting and the panel. That creates a nice, quilted texture that's not too flimsy for a pillow. The finished pillow ended up at 20" and I put a zipper on the bottom seam so it won't be visible when it's on a sofa or chair.

Since we don't have children and we don't see our niece and nephew very often (and miss them terribly), we sometimes feel that we miss out on the fun/spirit of the holidays. I'm trying to remedy that with this quilt top and pillow. Hopefully, it will feel a lot more like Halloween this year!

Take care,