UFO-WIP Listing - 2015 January

With the start of the new year comes an accounting and reporting of progress and accomplishments in 2014.  Also an attempt to get organized and plan for 2015.  So,here is my list....

Completed in 2014

2014 (6) Mitten ornaments (jan)

2014 (6) Star ornaments (nov)

2014 (6) Gingerbread Man ornaments (nov)

2014 (6) Tatted wreaths (dec)

2012 Orca Bay

2013 Daisy Placemats

2013 Red/Blue floral placemats

2013 Blue Toil Baby Quilt

2014 (2) blue doggie baby quilt

2014 (2) pink squares baby quilt

2014 Little Brother Quilt

2014 Middle Brother Quilt

2013 Blue floral placemats

2014 (3) Christmas Tablerunners

2014 (2) Cracker Barrel Tablerunners

2012 Christmas Swap Blocks

Waiting to be Quilted

Rosewood Cottage (since 2006) quilting by hand

Monkey Wrench BOM (since 2007) for sale

Class Projects Started

2006 Barn Blocks

2010 Swartz Creek Quilt

2012 Basic Class Wall Hanging…. Borders, quilting

2012 Winston Ways

2012 Turkey Tracks

2012 Midnight FIGHT
2013 Maddie Bea (becky’s barn)

2013 Spring Wall Hanging (WSS project)

2013 Becky’s Barn Basket wall hanging… borders, quilting

UFO – WIP

2009 1950s Santa

2009 Sunbonnet sue …prairie point borders

2010 Vicksburg BOM 

2011 Cheddar Bowties 2011 Happiness Key

2011 Novelty Quilt (pat sloan)

2011 Dear Jane/Hot Momma Rose

2012 Pillow Cover …assembly

2012 Red/White D4P… (needs quilting/binding)

2013 Celtic Solstice (nov) (clue 1)

2014 Cracker Barrel quilt (jan)… (needs binding)

2014 Grand Illusion (working on clues 2&3)

2014 Blue/Yellow Scrappy (needs quilting/binding)

Kits Not Yet Started

2012 maria’s stars

2012 Black white gray stars

Pastel stars

Pink baby quilt

5-star Table runner

Parisian 20

Cardinal wall hanging (blue)

Quilt Diva

Colonial Christmas

Golden stars table runner

CJ’s care bears

Iris table runner

2 American Dolls

Charm square CW strings

Jamestown landing BOM

Green/pink BOM

Orphan Fan Blocks

Heart Blocks

Pumpkin wall hanging

4^th July wall hanging

Recycle quilt teddy bears

Sewing Vacation Part Three

I stopped at the dollar store to pick up a few items for dinner and these towels with matching potholders caught my eye.  These are a poplular craft item at our church Fall Festival so I stitched up a few.  I like adding new variety to my inventory.

 

This is my last day for sewing before packing up to head home.  I pulled out a kit of several Disappearing 40 Patch blocks and stitched together this wall hanging.

  

 I miss-cut one of the blocks and that made me short one of the black print blocks for the corner.  I don't think it sticks out too much.

I have a bunch of extra Cracker Barrel parts and 7 extra blocks. They are 12 inch blocks and I'm thinking 4 placemats and a table runner.  I also have extra fabric that I can make more blocks and maybe a small lap quilt.  I'll decide later how much more I want to work with this.

 My last project for this vacation are red/white basket blocks.  I didn't have time to sew them, but I now have 20 kits cut and ready to use as leader/enders when I get home.  I bought 12 Thangles kits at my LQS...but didn't purchase those Thangles papers.  Instead I used my easy angle ruler instead and I was able to make their 12 kits stretch to make 20 blocks!  

The beds are now stripped and dishes done.  Hubby is hooking his trailer and boat up to the car and it's time for me to sign off and load everything else into my van for the ride home.

It has been a fun and relaxing week.... and I am positive we will be back here next year.

Sewing Vacation Part Deux

Friday was my day to drive up Paducha and search Hancocks for backings and borders for my projects.  

I found this blues/white geometric fabric that will make the perfect backing for Cracker Barrel



 I had to search long and hard for a border fabric for the blue baby quilt.  I walked up and down every aisle in search of something perfect.  I thought  the clamshell design in this fabric mimicked the circular dots in the blue sashing.  Also the variety of colors seemed to blend with the colors in the toile.

 

Next I needed something to bring all the colors of the Quiltmakers Block Swap quilt together.  I think this pink floral fit the bill nicely.  I draws on the floral shapes of the center block, the pink of the border and the pale orange and green throughout.  I even found another small piece of pale green on the discount table to use for binding.

I spent a lot of time browsing through the discount table at the front of the store...looking for nothing in particular.  These fabrics struck me as pretty and I will be making placemats with them when I get home.

I also found this beach themed fabric... perfect to use for a backing or borders for my Happiness Key wall hanging designed by Pat Sloan a couple years ago.  That is another project that I must pull out and finish one of these days.

It had been a day of threatening storms... nothing happened here at the cabin but I drove through some heavy downpours both to and from Paducha.   I quickly cut and stitched the newly acquired borders and now have 4 tops ready for quilting..(pink baby, blue baby, quiltmakers and cracker barrel)

 

Just before sunset the sun peaked through the clouds and gave us a spectacular rainbow!  I hope the pictures on my camera capture it better than this phone picture.  It only lasted a minute, but it was gorgeous!

A Sewing Vacation

I have really enjoyed my vacation this past week.  We rented a cabin on Lake Barkley in KY.  One bedroom, a couple of pull-out couches... just perfect for the three of us.  It was a bit crowded when my daughter and grandsons came for a visit mid-week, but we're family and it's good to be close... once in a while...for a short time.

Although I've taken pictures with my camera, I forgot the cord to connect and download to the computer, so for now, these pictures are emailed and downloaded from my phone..a bit blurry, but good enough.

I set up my little 221 featherweight in the corner behind the kitchen table and had a blast sewing away on UFOs that I never could find time to complete at home.

    

The most important project of the week was to embroider a face on Bunny.  I had made this bunny as an Easter present for my oldest grandson from one of his receiving blankets when he was 2.  He was always carrying his blanket around and tripping over it.  So, rather than have him looking like a bruised up Linus, I decided a stuffed toy would be easier to carry.  Now that he is 5, he has been asking me to give Bunny a face.

 



He was thrilled to arrive at the cabin for a visit to find Bunny with a face laying on his sleeping bag.

I also made both boys a pair of Lightning McQueen pajama pants.  I have more fabric to make a matching top, but that will have to wait.  They have gone home and I have no T-shirts of theirs to use as a pattern.

First quilt done was Cracker Barrel... a UFO from 2007.  I had been working on these blocks as a leader/ender since January.  The rail fences were made and all the white triangles sewn on.  Several hours  of happily chain-piecing while also  watching the World Cup games and the blue triangles were sewn on too.  The blocks and rows were quickly assembled, borders on and call it done (except for the quilting!)

Next up was my Quiltmakers Block Party swap blocks from 2012. I had gone to Williamsburg, took Bonnies three classes and participated in the swap and haven't touched any of it since returning home.  

I had made and received 12 blocks, but some of them just didn't seem to fit the designated color-way and I just couldn't include those odd-balls in this quilt.  I  raided my stash and found the pink for sashing.

Next was to sew together another pink charm-square quilt.  These are my most popular item I have made and sold for the last 5 years...and I need a few for the upcoming shows in the fall.  I collect various pale pinks, cut 5inch charms, a white inner border and then find a final outer border.  It's an easy quilt to piece together in just a couple hours.

 

 

This next project is a BOM designed by Pat Sloan.  I made the first block back in January when the sew-along began... and then just never found time to make each additional monthly block.  I am really happy to be able to get caught up with these.  The first block is a 24in center and other blocks are 10in and will surround the center block.  I am all caught up  now and ready for the new block in July.

 

 

 

 

This next quilt I made from some blocks I had in my stash.  I had made these blocks several years ago, but not really liking them, I put them aside.  I decided now was the time to do something with them. I am sure I had more of this fabric to finish the quilt, but it has disappeared over time.  While I don't love this it is done, and maybe someone will have a little baby boy that can love it.

  

 



There are more pictures and projects to show... but I'll save that for another post.

 

 

Another Aquisition and UFO Progress

I was recently volunteering at the local Habitat ReStore, helping my daughter earn sweat equity hours.  On a shelf, in the back, I spied this serger on a top shelf.  I have never used one, but I understand they are great for finishing the edges of a quilt before binding.  So, I asked about it.  It had not been plugged in or tested, but if I wanted it, I could take it home, as is, for $10.  I turned the flywheel (is that what it's called?) a few times and it appeared to be stitching the newspaper (rolling eyes here) so it came home with me.  With all the tops I plan on completing this year, I think that she will be a nice addition to my machine collection.

In January, I had several projects that were near completion... just needing borders or a bit more hand stitching.  There were several others that were just waiting their turn on the quilter.   Pat Sloan is blogging monthly tips and ideas on how to move projects along, so I have jumped on the bandwagon too.

First, I made a list ... a long list... of all the projects I have on hand in various stages of completion. 

Then I decided to make some progress... starting with actually quilting some of the tops I had already completed.  When not taking care of family and activities, I spend most of my time quilting for customers or making donations or gifts... not quilting something for me.  So, my UFO busting plan is to get my tops out of topville this year!

In January, I completed Lucky Charms... a free pattern by Pat Sloan.  It is now hanging in my living room.    



 



In February, I completed my Welcome Basket Sampler... my modified version of another design Pat Sloan. I started this in a class with Pat back in 2010.  It hung as a flimsy on my wall last fall.  Now it is ready for hanging this fall.  This wall hanging won a blue ribbon at the district women's club competition and is currently on its way to Nashville for state level competition! 

In March, I completed a jelly roll quilt, my ScrapMania Thangles quilt, and a baby quilt for my soon to be born grandson (oops need to get a picture of that one!) My proudest completion this year is the wall banner for my son's class.  I blogged about it earlier; I started working with the "kids" individually in September, helping them choose a shape, fuse it and blanket stitch it to the background.  I was able to complete the final construction in time to hang for Easter celebrations at the church.

Now it's April and next up is my Baltimore Album quilt.  I purchased this quilt kit from my LQS several years ago and then just got busy and never got it made.  Last year I assembled the quilt and this year it will be completed.  It is the first one that my husband actually said he liked... without any prompting from me!  Definitely a keeper!  It is currently on the quilter and I hope to have it ready to bind this weeken. 

UFO Listing

It's that time of year again... new resolutions, new goals.  To that end, Pat Sloan is starting her UFO Busting "Program" this week... You can follow along on her blog beginning here... 

http://blog.patsloan.com/2013/01/pat-sloan-12-ufo-busting-tips-know-what-you-have-is-tip1.html

The first step is to know what I have.  With last years UFO listing as a guideline, I am taking inventory of what I have done in 2012 and what still remains hidden in boxes, totes and closets.


COMPLETED IN 2012
Improv Block Quilt (february)
Scotts Squares (december)
Pink Baby Flannel (november)
Pink Baby FQ (november)
3 pj pants for grandson (december)
8 table runners (november)
50 mini purses (August)

WAITING TO BE QUILTED
Orange/Blue Jelly Roll (Sept 2012)
Antique top acquired at Bell Buckle 2012
Christmas Swap Blocks (moved up in march 2012)
Baltimore Album Quilt (moved up in april 2012)
ScrapMania Thangles Quilt (moved up in june 2012)
Civil War Snowball Quilt (made sometime in 2011)
Rosewood Cottage - 1/2 hand quilted (waiting since 2006)
Lucky Charms (waiting since 2010)
Basket Sampler Quilt (waiting since 2011)
Birthday Star (waiting since 2008)...may get rid of this one
Monkey Wrench BOM (waiting since 2007)... trying to sell as a top
Set of 4 placemats (waiting since 2011)

WORK-IN-PROGRESS
2012 Orca Bay - some of steps 1-4 completed (working as a leader/ender)
2012 Cheddar Bowties - 81 blocks complete (1/4 of the quilt)...hand project
2012 Easy Street - working on step 8
2012 Florabunda - 4 more blocks to make


ALMOST DONE
2012 Basic Class Wall Hanging - need to finish hand applique on 4th block then assemble
2012 Pillow Cover - assemble parts
2009 Sunbonnet Sue - needs 3 prairie point borders to be a flimsy
2012 Blue Baby Flannel (gift for grandson)
2012 Becky's Barn Basket Blocks (small wallhanging)


CLASS PROJECTS STARTED
2012 Winston Ways (2 blocks)
2012 Turkey Tracks (2 blocks)
2012 Midnight Flight (1 block)


STARTED AND STOPPED DEAD
2010 Vicksburg BOM - 3 to hand applique..I may just assemble the completed blocks into a flimsy and quit
2011 Happiness Key - background prepared
2011 Dear Jane/Hot Momma Rose - 3 blocks complete
2010 Swartz Creek Quilt - unfinished class project
2009 1950s Santa - applique - working on block 2 of 12
2006 Barn Blocks - 5 more applique blocks, then log cabin blocks to assemble


KITS NOT YET STARTED
Pastel stars
Pink Baby Quilt
5-Star Tablerunner
Parisian 20
Cardinal Wall Hanging
Quilt Diva
Colonial Christmas
Golden Stars tablerunner
CJ's Care Bears
Iris Table Runner
2 American Dolls
Charm Square CW String blocks
Jamestown Landing BOM
Green/Pink BOM
Black White & Red
Orphan Fan Blocks
Heart Blocks
Pumpkin wall hanging
4th July Wall Hanging - paper pieced
Recycle Quilt Teddy Bears
2012 Maria's Stars
2012 Black White Gray Stars
at least 12 QOM kits

The Problem with Chain Piecing

I love chain piecing... it is an efficient way creating identical block parts one after another... mindless work that quickly gets the job done.

The problem  is when I do something wrong... like stitching the yellow square on in the wrong direction.
And since I'm chain piecing I do it wrong multiple times  (in this case 72 wrongly sewn blocks).  I sewed.  I pressed.   I should have double checked before cutting off the bonus triangles... but nooooo!

And of course, I have no more of this fabric!  I bought it last year when I was in East Tennessee.  It was one of those sales where there is a pile of assorted scraps and you fill your bag with whatever you want for a few dollars.  I don't have time to spend the day driving back East in hopes of finding more, so I gave my husband a fabric sample as he headed out the door to work and if I didn't find anything in town... as a last ditch effort... I would call him and he would go to the quilt shop near work to look for something for me. (Isn't he the best!)  So I spent way too much time this morning driving around town looking for a replacement... willing the fabrics I saw in front of me to match.  Unfortunately, the local quilt shop is closing soon and is down to bare bones with nothing even close. I found some near misses in  Hobby Lobby, Hancocks or even Wal-Mart... but nothing that spoke to me like the original fabric.  I called my husband at work and he went over on his lunch hour and came home with  a couple possibilities.

Here are the 3 best alternatives

I'm not really loving any one of them so I'll make several blocks with each alternative and that will be that.  They don't look bad, they just aren't as good as the original to me.  (sigh)

UFO Update... Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there.   It's been just a year since we lost my Dad... but we will celebrate with my husband... my children's Dad and I'm sure Pop will be with us in spirit.

POP

Yesterday I was up early and got all the cutting done for my swap blocks before my grandson was up and running.

I stayed busy all day with my grandson... who is a very busy, non-stop three year old. 

Putting some of that energy to good use!

We got out to the garden and picked blueberries and blackberries with a minimum number of dropped berries and stomped plants!  Then came in for some berry topped ice-cream YUMM!

Last evening while he watched Scooby-doo and settled down a bit before bed I drew the lines.  I still haven't figured a more efficient way to do this... If anyone has any ideas, please let me know as I have 144 squares to mark.

This morning... I was up at 5am and while everyone slept (especially and including the grandson) I spent two hours sewing....

chain piecing

Using Orca Bay string blocks as a leader/ender

Chain sewed the squares on each side of the rectangle

Chain sewed each one a second time to make Bonus Blocks... Bonnie would be proud!

Snipped off the Bonus Blocks

First section and Bonus Blocks all pressed neatly

Now to repeat with the second section

But first, since it is Father's Day... after church...   Since both daughter's work evenings we decided to celebrate with a family brunch rather than dinner... and my grandson just had to help with the cooking!

We made vegetable quiche and ham and egg pie... named as such because "real men don't each quiche!" but they do love pie! LOL

I forgot to take the after pictures, but we all enjoyed our short family time together before my youngest daughter headed off to work and the oldest took her son home.  Now I have some time for more sewing as Dad has requested pizza for dinner to be delivered by our youngest daughter later this evening! 

Hope you are all enjoying your Father's Day celebration!