April Finish

April has been a tough month for getting stuff done.  I was pretty sick most of the month so I really did not get as much done as I would have liked.

I worked on UFO #1 but it is a huge project so I did not even come close to completing it.

This last weekend I realized that it is almost May and I have a deadline to get my 'guilt' quilt done.  I hate to admit it but several years ago when I was attending the local quilt guild I was given a charity quilt to piece into a top.  I am sorry to say I found it last year buried on a shelf with other UFO's when I was pulling stuff out of my sewing room.  At the time I could not work on it since the reason I was pulling everything out of the sewing room was because wood floors were going down.  I 'found' it again before Christmas, let's just say that 'life happens while you are making other plans'.  I made progress at the time but still did not get all the block sewn together.  I put it on my list of UFO's to finish this year.  This next weekend is the guild's quilt show.  I decided that I needed to get that top together and drop it off at the show.  I have not been able to attend guild meeting in probably seven maybe eight years because my work hours changed.  So this quilt top is long over due...that is why it is my 'guilt' quilt.  Every time I have run across it in the last year I have felt guilty that it has taken me so long to complete.

This was on the list of UFO's for this year but it was not #1....until I switched them.

February turned into March

February was been busy, as a matter of fact it was so busy that I never got this posted.  It is now the end of March.  I have continued working on my UFO's.  One of the big ones is for my Hoop Sister's Feathered Star.   I am attempting to get done is all of my blocks embroidered.  I fell behind getting them done by November.  I have 17 more block to embroider before I lay them you and start the assembly.  I am really not looking forward to that part - which is very likely why I have put off working on this one.  Maybe I will like it when I get it completed.  Right now I am not in love the the quilt or the process.  Oh well, live and learn.

I have been following 52 quilts in 52 weeks UFO challenge for the year and am working on UFO #6 this February.  I did complete the UFO for last month and since #6 is a wall hanging I should be able to complete it.

In late February, my daughter in law called and ask me to make a quilt for her foster daughter before she was returned to her father.  She had been using a quilt that I had made the year before for my daughter-in-law that my grandsons had asked me to make for mothers day.  Although I know that my DIL would have given Sienna the quilt she did not want to hurt the boys feelings.  I made big 8 inch blocks with sashing because it was quick.  She ask for it on a Saturday I completed in Sunday and took it to my daughter to quilt.  It was quilted on Monday and I started attaching binding on Wednesday.  My husband bound it and took it to her on Thursday.  I have a terrible picture of it.  It was to dark and rainy.  Needless to say I did not get UFO #6 done for February.

I worked on laying out a quilt during the Super Bowl and sewed it together this last weekend.  I learned a valuable lesson....never lay a quilt out at my youngest daughter's house.  I have been using the lint roller on every block as I sewed it together to remove dog hair.   However, as the quilt was waiting to get good enough light to take a picture my oldest daughter stopped by and took it to her house.  I still do not have a picture.



I also began doing the little cross stitch blocks the Little Miss Shabby.  They are small and cute. But I am very out of practice and have made numerous mistakes.  And ripped several times.  No pictures yet. Not until I get it right.

I have the blocks all pieced for the zig zag quilt.  When I began laying this quilt out I discovered that I have sewed over half the block incorrectly.  This one looked so easy.  Looks can be deceiving.  It has two blocks and I got pretty good doing the first one then started doing the second but somehow I keep going back to the first block.  This was UFO for the Month of March.

And here is UFO #6

It should have been completed before Christmas now it really does not matter if it takes a while to get this one quilted.

I am now waiting to find out the UFO number for April.

January finishes

I am going to go ahead and post this today because it is doubtful that I will get another on finished by the 31st.  If I do it would be great but I am swamped at work with several huge projects with deadlines fast approaching.  I will be working extra.

My goal for this month was to finish three quilt tops.  Last weekend I was out of town.  I thought I would get to sew on MLK day but I ended up working the holiday.   I did get 2/3's of the way there this weekend.  I finished two quilt tops.  I never did get the third one laid out.  Instead I dug out a different UFO and sewed the strips together now I will need to cut them and make the blocks.  I was sewing, just not on what I planned to work on.  It was sunny on Sunday so I drove the quilt tops over to my daughter house so I could have her hold them up outside.  The pictures are not the best because not only was it sunny it was windy so I was facing into the sun to get the shoot.  Otherwise the wind was wrapping the quilt around my daughter.

I also sewed the back for the Daliha Quilt.  The other one will have minky on the back so I made the front to fit the minky.

I then made the back for one of my daughters quilts.  She has been trying to figure out the piecing for several months now.  I gave her a piece of fabric from my stash that was for the same line.  She had found a good size end of bolt some where a while back that just need a little more fabric sewn on one end to make it long enough for another strip.  But the quilt is big and was going to need a third strip.  She has a bunch of fat quarters so I was going to use those.  Then we found that she had 6 half yard pieces.  I ended up using those instead.  The quilt top was started last May when her husband's aunt invited her to a quilt retreat. She got all the blocks made while she was there and finished it up last May or June.  Now the back is done.  Before she will be able to quilt it she has to finish up a quilt she is doing for a charity raffle and mine.  I am holding on to her back until it is done.

Now just because I really don't have enough to do i have decided to participate in the Quilty Stitches sampler with Little Miss Shabby http://www.littlemissshabby.com/

Plans for the New Year

Well it has been a busy end of the year, although Christmas day was actually pretty quiet.  Just my husband and I.  We actually went out to dinner so I was able to sew all day.

So in December I made gifts for friends at work.  I made two mug rugs using left over fabric from Bear Mountain Log Cabin.  I actually made them fairly large.  I like to be able to hold a bowl or plate on them.....usually in front of the TV.  She said her husband loved the size.

 I had another friend who had requested one or two dozen mug rugs.  I got nine done for her.  They were from left over block from another quilt.  Great way to use up orphan blocks.   These I quilted using my embroidery machine.

For Christmas I also made a pillow case for every grandchild.  I forgot to take a picture on with the last one made for the foster grandchild.  It was a different colorway of the same fabric.

I did finish getting the names on all the stockings.  Here they are hanging up.

I cheated and had my husband bind 4 of my quilts for me in December.  Since they had been sitting around since last spring waiting for me to bind them I decided that having him do them would at least get them into the done pile.  Hey, whatever it takes.  This time of year is so hard to take good looking pictures.

I also bound two quilts from the same pile.  The second one I started way back in 2005 and was my first finish of 2013.  I finished it on January 1st.  I realized I had stopped working on it back when I started it because I had used one of the fabrics for it in something else and never replaced it.  I decided to use what I had and not worry about it.

This year I need to keep better track of what I have completed during the year.  I know I did more than this I had nine quilts that I had to bind and this is only six.  But I can't remember the other ones and did not take pictures of them.
That will be part of my 2014 goals to be better at taking photos and documenting my completed projects.
My goal for 2014 is to use fabric.  I have a bunch to use.  I planned on going through the piles this last weekend and finding all my UFO's so that I would know where I stood but instead I started a new quilt.  I got the blocks all sewn and need to lay it out.  It is one of Camilla Roskelley's quilts.  Piece of Cake 2.  Fun and easy to put together.  You feel like you accomplished a lot by the end of a few hours of sewing.
I changed up another quilt that I started in November and then decided to make bigger.  I cut out more fabric and started sewing that one also.
I then worked on a quilt top that I am making for me that will have minky on the back.  I just need to lay that one out also.  I am making this one because I have quilt envy.  My husband was given a minky backed quilt for Christmas that our oldest daughter made.  I love that quilt.  It is so warm and wonderful to cuddle up under.  Now I need one.  He had to bind it himself because my daughter did not have time.  But he is well trained to do binding.

All that just to avoid finding my UFO's...I made two more and made another project bigger.

So this next weekend.  I plan on looking for UFO's and making a list of projects.

The first ones I will work on in January are the ones listed above.  I also still need to finish some more mug rugs for my friend.
I really want to do the APQ quilt along.  Do I have time?  Or will I just start another UFO?  I am sure I have enough fabric to pull from my stash for it.  If I am able to do that next weekend I may start it.  We will have to see.

I know that I started a quilt for my youngest daughter last year.  That will be on my list for this year.  I will put that one on the list for February.

Also I need to make a baby quilt for a gift.  That will have to be January or February - the baby is due in March.  I have already pulled the fabric.

Another goal for 2014 is to quilt a quilt on my home machine.  Not a full size.  I will start with a baby quilt.

One more goal is to really look at what I have a de-stash.  There are fabrics I have that I will never use. My tastes have changed.

That is what I have planned so far.  When I pull out the UFO's I will list more.

Where did the months go?

Good Grief is it really November?  When did that happen?  I have been busy but I feel like I have not gotten much accomplished. 

I did finish the stamp quilt to the flimsy stage.  I have the backing cut and together.

Not good light.  If I don't have anyone around to hold it up outside I have to take it in the house and the light is just not good.

I began and finished another quilt - Disappearing 4 patch made from Kate Spain's Cuzco.  I had the fabric since last spring and had been wanting to cut into it for awhile.  I just realized that I only took photos with my phone so I will have get them from there.

Here is what the block looks like after it has been cut apart and re-sewn.  It goes together quickly but I after you cut them you have to be careful to get them sewn together correctly.  I was so afraid of messing up the piece that I would cut one block and then sew it together before I would cut another one.  No chain piecing with that.

It was to big for the design wall.  So the floor had to do.

I did this at my daughters and we had plenty of help.  Kids running across it and the dog coming thru.

I have now the rows sewn together and the boarders on.

The outer boarder has piano keys.  I think they turned out pretty darned good.  So another one to the flimsy stage.  I also have the backing made for this one.

I also finished a quilt that had been a block of the month thru one of the local quilt shops.   Again to the flimsy stage.  I still need to get the back from the shop.

Hmm...those steps are looking very much in need of paint.  Not going to happen this year the rains have already started.

I almost forgot.  I also made a table runner.  I just needed something that I could make quickly.
This picture is before I got the binding on it.  This was a quilt as you go.

I have gone a little crazy lately with my fabric buying......boy is that an understatement.  I have enough new fabric for at least 10 more quilts. Oh dear.  All those new fabrics coming out and the older fabrics going on sale.  And I do so love a sale.

What I did this weekend.  Beside going to a Craft Store Christmas Open house and the birthday party for the 8 years old grandson - was work on adding names to some Christmas Stockings.  Over the years, I have given Stockings to all the grand kids.  Usually by their first Christmas.  Last year I got a big fancy embroidery sewing machine.  So this year my daughter-in-law ask me to add names to the stockings.  She is not a seamstress and had not a clue as to what it would take to go back and add them but I said I would do it so now I am on a time schedule.  I am sure she will want them soon after Thanksgiving and I have procrastinated awhile about starting them.  I hate to rip.  That said I got started this week end and managed to get three of them done.

I think they came out pretty good.

These were the three easy one.  I had to take off the cuff.  Open it up.  Add a shape flex to the cuff.  Load a stabilizer in the hoop.  Baste the open flat cuff onto the stabilizer - after making sure I was putting the name in the right spot.  That meant getting them centered, and on the correct side going the correct direction.  That all took longer than the stitch out.

One of the three remaining is on a fabric that I will most likely not be able to baste into the hoop.  I will have to attach it to the stabilizer with a spray adhesive, hope it does not move.
Most of the name are five to six letters, except my son,  he has eight, that I am going to have to figure out if it will fit with the same font size.

I have used the embroidery part of my sewing machine for designs that I have imported this is the first time I have branched out and done something that was not preloaded.

UFO for August

I have several UFO's in my sewing room and I got to work on a couple of them this month.  I started this one last November, but then I decided that I needed to change the floor in my sewing room and for several months everything else got put on hold.  I have worked a several others in the meantime and finally got back to this one this month.

The fabric is Moda Blitzen by Basic Grey. I bought this fabric last year in Bend when I visited a fabric store after The Sisters Quilt Show.  I really like this Christmas fabric.  I actually finished this a couple of weeks ago but kept forgetting to ask someone to hold it up so I could take a picture.  I still need to get a back made for it but I have the fabric already.

The next project that I plan on completing this month is partially sewn and some is on the design wall.

It you look close you will see that this is also made out of the Blitzen fabric.  I had a jelly roll that I used to make these blocks I have completed 10 block and have 10 more to make.  I have more of the blitzen for the sashing and borders.

This is actually the third quilt made out of this fabric.  I made a buzz saw quilt out of a layer cake.  It is with my daughter to be quilted.    I must remember to take a photo to post of it.

I still have a charm pack of this fabric and a bunch of scraps so looks like I will be making at least one more project with the Blitzen.

I have a goal to finish 13 UFO's this year but I have not progressed very far with them.  I was attempting to remember what else I had completed this year and I finally remembered that I put together a quilt top from 2004 but I did not take a picture of it before I took it to my daughter.
I have also gotten binding on about 4 quilts this year.  Andrea had wanted to slow down my sewing so she have quilted a bunch of my quilts in January.  Although I think she still has a bunch of my quilts to do.
I also completed a log cabin quilt that I had started last year.  It also needs a picture taken, but at least it is already quilted....I will need someone to hold it up.  The binding is sewn on one side but not sewn down on the back. - found a picture of the quilting.  This was taken while it was still on the machine.  It turned out beautiful.

I have finished a gift for a friend in June.  I did a patriotic table runner for her.   I had trouble getting a good picture.  It was still pretty rainy here in June so the light was not good.

I gave this to her for her birthday which is July 3rd.

My daughter also asked me this spring to make a wall hanging for her quilting room.

Cruel me  - told her she had to quilt it herself.  This was made with a mini charm pack.

But what has kept me super busy is trying to get my embroidery blocks done for a Hoop Sisters Feathered Star.  I am not anywhere near getting it done.
I have also been working on a block of the month.  I picked up the last block patterns last week and just need to get the two blocks sewn.  Next month we get the completion instructions.  I have some of the sashing already together but also need to finish that.  Good grief.  I need to get busy.

Finishing projects

I wish that I could say that I had really finished a project today, however what I really did today was baby sit for my daughter so the she could sew together a quilt top.  She took a class today from Violet Craft at Quilter's Delight. She complete Violet's new herringing bone pattern quilt.  The pattern just came out at quilt market.  My daughters quilt is beautiful! You can see it on Violets instagram site. If I knew how to link it I would however I am not a follower.  Guess I better figure out how to do that.

Well after much procrastination I finally sync'd my phone so I could add a photo of my daughters quilt top.  She has since quilted it.

I did get a chance to sew for a bit before the grandchildren arrived this morning.  But once both sets got here sewing was out of the question.  I had a scare that I had messed up my machine when I broke a needle.  I never did find a portion of the needle.  When I attempted to continue sewing the machine sounded funny.  Luckily I discovered that I had not rethreaded the bobbin.  Whee that was close.  I love my little machine.  I find that even though I bought a new big embroidery machine I go back to my old machine for sewing.

I have been watching some Craftsy classes and working on a quilt from the class.  I have made some progress but since I also signed up for two - yes two blocks of the month I have been busy working on one of them a lot.

Well lets see if I can save this thing...and publish it...