2016 Finishes

It was a productive year. 2016 held quite a few finishes for me.

1. Vintage Stitches, Thimbleberries quilt from 2006

2. Hexagon Table Runner, made from a charm pack

3. Blue & Green a mystery quilt from Silly Goose Quilts

4. Hand Pieced Mini Quilt from a 1992 class

 5. Trail Mix, many pieces, many colors

6. Pumpkin Stars, an unexpected treasure

7. Dresden Basket Topper, leftover from mini quilt above

8. Red & Green Table Topper

9. Round About Wall Hanging/Table Topper

10. Teal Blue Dresden Table Topper

11. Simply Woven Christmas Quilt

12. Checkers Quilted Mat

13. Name Pillow

14. Gifts for friends in Japan

15. And the following tops ready to be quilted:

I'll have to tally up my total yardage I busted for this year. It has been a good year.

2017 First Quarter Finish Along

Happy New Year! Another fresh start of a new year which will hopefully hold many good promises and goals come true! I know I am looking forward to accomplishing more completions on my UFO list and even starting a few new projects (of course). 

2016 was a productive year. I have a list of my finishes here. Now to list my top goals for the first quarter of 2017 and link them to the 2017 Finish Along.

 

2017 Finish Along

1. Buggy Barn Baskets quilt top needs to be quilted. Last quarter I completed the top but there was not enough time for the quilting. I think I will use flannel as the backing for extra warmth and heighten the "cozy factor". I treated the borders differently than the pattern directed. I think I like this floating border better. Buggy Barn designs are so cute and easy to piece but there is a lot of waste. If that is something that would bother you, you have been warned. :-)

2. Rose Wreath - blocks are done, it just needs assembled and quilted. I love red and would really like to have this finished to enjoy for Valentine's day. I plan on hand quilting this one.

3. Japanese Friendship Stars are a carry over from last quarter. Blocks need to be sewn together with some kind of setting. I have a special hanger for these so I am looking forward to seeing this finished and displayed.

4. Alley Kats Pillows and Matching Quilt - these are nearly done. Just a little more quilting, and binding, and stuffing of two pillows. So cute!

This was a pre-printed kit by Springs fabrics (are they still in business?) purchased many moons ago. I know it is "country" but I like it anyway. The hardest part was just finding enough buttons for the eyes. And there is a basket around the house somewhere for those kats...
 

5. New Year's Eve Mystery - this was the first time I participated in this event and it really was fun. I already had a layer cake package, along with a few complimentary fabrics so the planning was already done. The week before, the cutting instructions were posted so on new year's eve, it was marathon sewing and trying to keep up with the clues as they came up. Anxious to get this done and sent to my long arm quilter.

6. Umbrellas - an unfinished class project. I did not care for Leah Day's butterflies so I used an applique umbrella block instead. This block was taken from my local quilt shop's Row by Row pattern when water was the theme. 2015? Anyway, the colors, fabrics, and pattern are all coordinates from that year.  (I wonder what this year's Row by Row theme will be)

7. Grand Illusion -  I really need to get this one completed. At the very least get it into a top ready for quilting. Such pretty colors I really do not know why I have not finished it yet ... although I may stall on some time working up a different sashing treatment than what Bonnie has designed. 

8. En Provence Mystery Quilt - it is beginning to become a tradition at my house. Participating in Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts in November are always big temptations. I know why she picks this time of year, but it is hard for me to begin new projects with preparations for Christmas demanding my time. Thus, as I cut and sew a few steps when her clues are posted, I know it will not get serious effort until after the new year. So here we are with another huge project waiting for completion. My darling grand daughter just had her room painted so these colors will work perfectly with what she has chosen. (my incentive) 


 
Well, there is my list for the first quarter of 2017. I know there is a lot to complete here, but I am stocking up on some good audiobooks (just finished "American Heiress", by Jeffrey Toobin) and hoping for some snow.

Pillowcases

Pillowcases was number 6 in my 4th Quarter list of goals for the 2016 Finish Along. 

I made these using the "burrito method"  as explained at Seasoned Homemaker blog site. Pillowcases really are a fun sewing project. I made four but did not have the fabrics collected when the above picture was taken.

 

Another finish to count for 2016!

See more finishes at She Can Quilt blog where you can also join in the Finish Alongs.

Name Pillow

Name Pillows was number 7 in my 4th Quarter list of goals for the 2016 Finish Along.   

Wow! This pillow finished at 67" x 24"! My DGD (darling grand daughter) loved it!  I hand appliqued and hand quilted the letters and the light squares in the center. The outside border blocks were meandered with the sewing machine. I made a pillow insert so that the top can be removed and washed if needed. 

This was another fun project I finished in 2016!

 
 See more finishes at She Can Quilt blog where you can also join in the Finish Alongs.
 

Quilted Checkerboard

This was number 5 in my 4th Quarter list of goals for the 2016 Finish Along.  

I finally did find the game pieces so it is now all together for some family fun on the floor!

The squares measure at 3" and the total piece is 36" square. I really like the borders and it was hand quilted using red thread by me.

 Another finish for 2016!

 

2016 4th Quarter FInish

Christmas Simply Woven Quilt - third in my list of goals to finish before 2016 is over. (See 2016 Finish Along)

I began this quilt in January of 2016 and pulled it out this last quarter to finish before Christmas. I used various strips from my own stash of Christmas fabrics instead of using jelly rolls. I even had 10 extra blocks leftover! This is a great pattern if you want something that will go together quickly. No seams to match, just press your horizontal seams in the opposite direction that you press the vertical strips.

I did not get the big quilt quilted in time for Christmas 2016 but I am happy to have the top completed, the backing assembled and ready, and together it is ready for the trip to the long arm quilter.

Those leftover blocks were assembled 3 x 3 with sashing and the cornerstones were from one block cut in quarters. Altogether it measures 56" x 56" square. The backing was made from a Christmas print that had deer, rabbits, owls, and fox, with enough leftover to make a pillowcase. 

This project was machine quilted by me and is entirely finished. It was given to the grand-kids to snuggle under  while dreaming about Christmas. 

Can you find one block that is not quite like the others? I did not see this until the top was done and was a pinned sandwich! Ha! I did not pay attention as I rotated the block for the last strip. It is part of its story now.

You can find more Finish Along finishes here.