Number 2 - Second Quarter Finish A Long 2016

This was number 2 on my list of goals for the 2nd Quarter Finish A-Long 2016. You can find my list here.  

One of my oldest (and dearest) projects is finally finished and is laying nicely on our gate-leg table in the living room. I wonder what took me so long! Well, I have plenty of excuses but now I can Snoopy dance because she is done!

 

Each of these 9 blocks finished at 5 1/2". I drafted and cut the templates which were then hand-pieced. I learned so much in this class. It was definitely a game changer! If you can break it down and draw it, you can do anything you dream of.

I love birds so I had to add a few. And the flowers just evolved as I cut out pieces of leftover fabrics I set aside with this unfinished project. 

Hand quilting on this in the evenings was so relaxing. It was hard to know when to quit. 

Now I am happy to link this finish on 2016 Finish A Long on She Can Quilt. Join with us if you have not already done so.

2016 Winter Finishes

Besides working on a couple of quilt tops and getting them ready for the long-arm quilter, I have managed a couple of genuine finishes so far! I love the winter months sewing in the "studio".

2006 Thimbleberries' Vintage Stitches
I am so glad this is finished. It has been a good lesson on why we should not let some projects age for too long because I am not sure I even like this quilt anymore. It is completed though and I still have 12 more blocks to set into another quilt. (I chose not to make it reversible.) Maybe the next one will excite me. I am waiting for inspiration. 

Vintage Stitches back

This quilt is quite large and because of the dark colors it looks really warm, doesn't it? We will probably sleep under it a couple of times before giving it away. And if I snapped this picture earlier I would have caught my Christmas Cactus in full bloom! 

The backing fabric came with the member's kit which is a hexagon patchwork that is a "cheater cloth". I omitted this fabric on the front of the quilt as you can see, but had plenty for the backing.


Hexagon Tablerunner
There is a lot of hand quilting in this little runner. I did not add binding but folded the top and backing together and invisibly stitched them together for clean edges. She looks nice on the counter next to the Fiestaware I received from my daughter last Christmas. I'll have to keep a close eye on this. She may want to "borrow" it for her own. (grin)

No binding technique

Happy stitching! The days are getting longer!

2nd Quarter Goals for 2016

I'm loving the challenge of setting these finishing goals! These lists keep us motivated and focused, don't they? You too can link up your list with this global community of quilters at the 2016 Finish-a-long. There will be a random draw for prizes sponsored by some generous sponsors at the end of each quarter with no penalty for not finishing something on your list. How is that for incentive?

  

 

 

 

1- Blue & Green Quilt.

I really do not have any other name for this quilt. It is a completed mystery quilt from Silly Goose Quilts that I started late last fall. I created the borders with the leftovers and she finished at 91"x91". She is presently at the long-arm quilters so I will be able to get the binding and label on before the close of this next quarter. I also pieced the backing from a few larger pieces I had stashed away that were blue and green. I am so anxious for this to come home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 - Hand Pieced Mini Quilt.

This is one of my oldest of older UFOs. This was the result of a hand piecing class I took in 1993 (?). The delay in finishing this was because I could not make up my mind on what kind of border to add. I love applique and I think the borders have added a little charm. So she is finally sandwiched and I am presently hand quilting it in the evenings. The entire quilt I can say is hand sewn. Now I can finally add the leftover fabrics to my stash (minus the binding of course). She will finish at approximately 28"x28".

 

 

 

 

 

3 - Trail Mix Quilt

This project has really been fun! I love little blocks and this has plenty! All blocks are completed (see stack here) and are now ready to be assembled and sewn together in rows. I tested a temporary placement as pictured. It even has blocks from my number 1 - Blue & Green Quilt still on the design wall. With only the blocks finished, there is a lot of sewing left to do!

 

 

 

 

4 - Grand Illusion 2014

This is an uncompleted mystery quilt project from Bonnie Hunter. I do not know if this pattern is still available on her site but she has many others if you want to check her out. 

Just look at all those pieces!

  I only have 13 out of 25 blocks completed, units for sashings are ready and the border pieces are only cut out so there is a lot yet to do on this but it is possible to get her done before the end of June. At least the top anyway. This will be the fourth Bonnie Hunter quilt I have made. 

I skipped last year's mystery with her because this one was not finished but it is so beautiful! I have the directions downloaded with this on my wish list.

 

 

 

 

 

5 - Woolen Comforter

This top is finally completed after many years in storage. I found a nice flannel from Moda and am using an 80% cotton, 20% polyester Quilter's Dream batting (because it is lightweight). She is all ready to sandwich together, and will be tied and not quilted. I hope to tackle this soon as it will be a warm quilt to work on. 

 

I will be very very happy to complete these five before the end of this quarter. They are probably more than I can accomplish but it is good to aim high, right?

 

I'm looking forward to seeing your second quarter goals for the 2016 Finish-A-Long. If you haven't joined the challenge yet you can link up here. Happy stitching!

A Fresh New Year with Fresh New Insights

2015 was a fairly productive year with 9 complete finishes, several tops done and ready for quilting, and a fun project making a Mermaid Tail for my grand-daughter at Christmas. I used up 68 yards of fabric BUT I gained little ground because I went to a garage sale of a "quilty" friend and bought over 80 yards from her! She is a former quilt-shop employee, and her treasures were priced as steals, so how could I resist? Well, now I have some quilt-shop quality fabrics for backings, etc. 

My UFO management has changed this year as I have come to realize I will not live long enough to make all the quilts I want to make (sound familiar?). So some new rules to live by in 2016 are:

1. I shall be more careful about beginning new projects. I have gone through all cupboards and drawers, and have found 31 UFOs. It is time to finish or fling. I know this must be a common state for most quilters but I would like to get this number into single digits at least.
2. I shall not purchase more fabrics unless it is to finish a UFO. The reality is, there is just so much room, and no more. I need and enjoy working in a tidy and organized space so I have reached my limit. 
3. My priority list is printed and posted on the studio wall for reference and focus. Most of these projects are completed blocks that simply need assembled into a top. "Let's get this one done!" I have gone as far as stacking these priorities in pretty boxes on my trunk so I have to look at them every time I enter the room. Pinning a sample block on the wall helps too.
4. My tastes and skills are changing. New starts and new beginnings these days are quilts with applique and hand piecing, (Thanks Quiltmania). The process of completing these into tops has slowed my progress down, but these are the quilts I really want to work on. Now is the time to get the old list done and move on to some heirloom quality quilts.
5. I shall have one table-topper kit in the works each month. Can also be read as, "complete one table-topper kit each month." Yeah, I have enough for the year. These are nice quick projects for when you need a "finish fix". Nothing feels as good as that final stitch.

My design wall this month is holding one of my oldest UFOs...I think it is THE oldest - a wool comforter that was cut into squares in the 1980's. Many of these squares were cut from my school skirts. Those were the days of dress codes, remember? 

I originally planned to construct these blocks into Trip Around the World blocks set on the diagonal but because I just want to get these done, I have opted for 9-patch blocks set with sashings. Working with wool is way different than cottons. I have to clean my bobbin area after each fill up because of the lint. And nothing will lay those seams down except steam. See the difference?

I remember my mother telling me these comforters were typically backed with flannel and tied. I will definitely back it with flannel but I am not so sure about tying. Because it is wool and its heavy weight, should I use batting? Maybe a thin loft for body? 


My trail mix is coming together this month. I love how this has eaten up some of my stash. I hope it doesn't look like mud for I have used mostly scraps smaller than fat quarters. No other plan here. It just feels good to use up those odd sized pieces. These little 6 1/2" blocks are fun to piece too. So easy and so addictive. I think I have about 30 more blocks to finish.

I found an orphan block that I made during a hand piecing class in 1992. I loved that class as we learned how to hand piece Y seams and draft patterns on graph paper. This small 6" Dresden block was a leftover (so glad I kept it) so I hand quilted it, added narrow binding, and now I have a topper for my button basket. I'm charmed.

Another table-topper I accumulated somewhere (I did not make this top). I hand-quilted it so she is finished and on the gate-leg table now with my chalkware pug.

   
My name is moving up fast on the queen's list at Stashbusters. I fear I will have to pay the penalty without a finish soon. Time for some mojo to kick in. 

Hoping for a quilt-filled year.