October's Hodgepodge

  October has been a big hodgepodge of things finished, started, and prepared.   The quilts are washed, stacked and ready for the trunk show next week.  Workshop materials are prepared for the Feathers Class.  Thanks for bearing with me as that consumed my focus.
   My re-cap of October projects....

  Finished:  Let's Book It project from May.  Thanks to Dana's suggestion, of Stormy Days, I went with no borders and let the blended trip blocks speak for themselves.   This is entered in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

  This is the ongoing Let's Book It project.....time to pull it out again.  Find the details on Let's Book It at Vroomans Quilts.
 






  And a NewFO for this month........details at Cat Patches.  This was one of those quick projects that called to me, and became a finished NewFO.   Frosted Pumpkin wall hanging could be turned into a cute table runner too.  The original pattern is from Jill at Quilt Rat.  


  And there's a started/partial watercolor wall hanging on the design wall.....but more on that next month.  Next month will be simple.....work on the Book It project and the watercolor, since we will be gone the last week.  I also have a Habitat for Humanity quilt to quilt....maybe.
   But the scariest news on this last day of October......Forget the frost.......snow flurries/dusting  are forecast for our area tonight!   That has never happened here.....not this early in the year....not here!   I need to hunt the socks and pull out a sweatshirt.  Wishing you sweet treats and happy stitching.  

May NewFO and finishes for SO/SN

   May was a short month for me, but I did have that big finish!

Something Old  was The Buzz Saw quilt. Begun last fall and finally bound and done!  This one is also called The Whopper due to its size.

Something New was Charming Bricks.  Technically it was done but not bound and finished until May.  This was the "extra" Let's Book It project from April.






  May's NewFO is a variation of the Hot Dish Pattern....and May's Let's Book It.  I started out thinking it would look like this photo from the cover of Quilter Magazine.  Yet when I laid out the pieces, I did not like it.  I don't know if it was my selection of florals, but I knew it was a bust before I began to sew.   Sometimes you need to quit before you begin.  I needed a plan B because  plan A was out the door.



  By luck /chance/ happenstance/ or maybe by magnetic attraction I saw a post by Deb at A Simple Life Quilts about her finish of a Minnesota Hot Dish quilt.  I realized it was the same block pattern with the value placement changed around!  I did a post and tutorial with my "recipe" for the block here.     I have 12 blocks on the design wall and the remainder are in the piecing process.








 




 I have several leftovers to work on in June as well.  I started a couple of watercolor wall hangings that are calling to me.  The first cascade  is ready to be quilted.

  The second cascade is ready to have the rows sewn and then quilted.






  Then there is a quilt that needs quilting for Habitat for Humanity, four placemats to be quilted, and a cover for the Tiara to be made, and two scheduled classes to teach.  With all of this hanging around, I may not leave my room for a couple of weeks.  Somebody needs to get busy.

Linking to Cat Patches for the New FO.  Linking to Never too Hot to Stitch for SO/SN.

End of the month and what NewFO?

  Sometimes things just kick you in the behind.  This month was one of them for me.  Whatever I thought I would accomplish just got pushed aside, or covered up in other things. Being gone for a week just compounded my delay in progress, and those Roman Shades that were to be so easy......ugh!
   Roman Shades.....the next time I get such a bright idea, someone please remind me to re-think my plan.  I literally spent an entire afternoon attempting to get the pieces taken apart.  Sir Old Man came to my rescue, as usual, and used some of those tools in the shop to remove the splines to get things apart.  Then there was the lining that took twice as much as I had calculated.  And the cording that took 3 times what I thought......so now you have the idea.  They still are not finished and I can not see the floor of the sewing room.  When I do get these done, I am done with home-dec stuff!

 October's two finishes are a saving grace.  Pinwheel Pot Luck is going to Habitat for Humanity.  It has been hanging around for about a year....a NewFO that finally got finished.

  Potpourri was a NewFO last month and a nice finish for October.  I had intended to use this lap quilt as a class sample.  Instead, it is going to be donated for an auction to raise funds for a girl with excessive medical expenses.


November plans:
   Make another faux braid for a class sample...NewFO.
    Clean up the sewing room floor.....finish those shades.
     Take a deep breathe and find the "quilt mojo" under all the mess.

  Don't forget the Blogger's Quilt Festival that is going on.   Potpourri is entered in the Throw Quilt category.....hint.
Linking to Cat Patches for the NewFO monthly.     Happy stitching.   

Faux Braid teaser

 
  I thought I would stir the pot with a little tease on the Faux Braid....my NewFO has begun.    I was in a rush, so pardon the wonky photos.


 Eight blocks--so far-- set side by side for the diagonal layout.










 Or if you prefer..... set on point to create vertical rows.

   I am thinking the diagonal for the florals, but a fall tone in the vertical setting  would be great.

   The tutorial is here.
  Insight:  Be sure to follow the instructions when assembling.
   In other words, do not get distracted by the movie you are watching.  If you switch sides that you need to add strips to during the process, you will be ripping and miss all the car chase scene!  Ask me how I know  ;D.

Another doll quilt arrive.....with instructions!  I will post them tomorrow.......because it's an easy scrappy quilt for "Double Sliced Layer Cake."   Sounds good, doesn't it.
Tonight is the challenge reveal at guild, so I am rushing to get things finished before I go.  Till then, happy stitching.    

Progress for September

   The house is quiet now....company is gone and the laundry is caught up. This week has flown by, yet even so I managed to get a bit done on my September list.
  The Scrappy Trip Around the World is ready to put together...yea!  I will web the rows together and add a simple border to this one.
  What I learned on this one......Follow the plan on pressing the seams.  Bonnie's hints on this make it so easy to get things to match up.








    Between loads of laundry I was cutting up fabric.  Now the cutting is done for the first Faux Braid --my NewFO--using floral fabrics from the stash.   I can't wait to see what they look like.  So some stitching is planned for them over the weekend.  For the instructions to this....click here  for Tutorial at VroomansQuilts. 

  And lastly, I put together a quick doll quilt....or two!   I had a pile of floral units pieced and put them together in a zig-zag pattern.   This is the one for Sydney, the twins sister.

  And more doll quilts arrived in the mail.  I am heading outside to take some photos and post them tomorrow.
Happy stitching.

End of August and NewFO

   Time to bring all the August projects together and see where I ended up.  I am cutting this month a day short because of family coming in for the weekend.   Holiday weekend, too.....and the last hurrah for Summer.
   The partial section of watercolor that was a UFO became Renewed.  Turned on end, added to, some thread painting and done.  I am enjoying this daily now, as it is in the sewing room.











   Twin Chevrons----for Maria's twin boys---are pieced and quilted.  Some how I knew I needed these to be done sooner than later....and sure enough, the twins arrived early.   The boys are thriving and still in NICU .  Maria is home and recovering.  We dropped a meal off to them yesterday and while I visited with Maria, Sir Old Man made friends with Sydney, her young daughter.   When we left, Sir Old Man had an insightful idea......give a doll quilt to Sydney so she doesn't feel left out when the chevron quilts are given.     Absolutely brilliant idea......add a NewFO for September.

 An unexpected project...NewFO, begun and completed in August.
This is for my older nephew's birthday tomorrow, as a memento/reminder of his trip to Alaska this summer.
  I detailed this process here.

   The scrappy TAW, a  NewFO started a couple of months ago,  is large enough now for the design wall.  I am still sewing strips and making strata to cut apart in between other stuff.  So this one could just go on and on.  But I will stop when it is large enough for a large lap quilt.  This is going to be for Habitat for Humanity  project at guild.

   As for the other project that was on my list for August.....mainly the Buzz Saw quilt.  The borders are on.  It is pressed.  Now to tackle the pinning to ready it for quilting.  I have that planned, so it is just the pinning to do....when Sir Old Man is able to help!


Plans  for September:

Photo snitched from Vroomans Quilts!

•   Quilt the Buzz Saw.  I know everyone is tired of hearing about it!
•   Make a doll quilt for Sydney....a small NewFO.
•   Continue with the Scrappy Trip around the World.
•   Start a NewFO.....see photo I snitched from Sharon at Vroomans Quilts.  She created this using a jelly roll and getting the look of a faux braid.  I love the diagonal design, and the easy assembly of the quarter log cabin block.    I have a few ideas for this that I will share soon.  

Linking to Cat Patches for   NewFO.
Enjoy the holiday weekend......I will hold the doll quilts to share for another day or two.  Happy stitching.

NewFO in July

  Whew!  For some reason July has seemed like a long month to me....all the rainy days, and I think I'm ready to start a new month!  I can't believe I am saying that, since August is the really hot one, but that only means cooler weather will be here soon.

 July NewFO:     I started the string pieced geese last month.  Sorry to say I lost interest in them.    I turned part of them into 2 place mats.  Maybe the remaining ones will end up in something.  But these 2 are fine by me and just need to get quilted and finished.    Remember it is okay to give yourself permission to change your mind, alter the plans, and do something different.  Otherwise, give it away!  

  So the Scrappy Trip Around the World became my for real New FO for July.  The pattern is from Bonnie Hunter.  Five blocks done  and a few more strip sets sewn.  I am working on these at night as I feel like it.   I was really surprised how quickly they go together.  So far I have just thrown things in with no thought as to placement....except for the dark value running on the diagonal.  For right now anything goes.  Later I may play around with the value placement and see what happens.  










Confession Time:
   When I was re-arranging the sewing room for the new machine and cutting table, I uncovered a real UFO.  A forgotten project that was started last year sometime before I broke my shoulder.  I don't even remember exactly what I had in mind with it, as it was only a partial piece....a watercolor project.    I plan on adding to this one and coming up with a finished piece.


   So that means NewFOs are on the horizon for August.
I have a plan for that.....2 baby quilts and bibs made from the leftovers!    Maria is expecting twins in early October and finally let us know it is boys on the way.  I decided on a modern style chevron / zig zag pattern.  I got the large blocks cut and ready to pair and stitch.  Then this morning I saw the cutest bibs---scrappy bibs---on Pinterest.  So I tracked down a pattern to use.  I don't plan on using batting in the bibs, just a bit of top stitching to hold all in place.  

      Plans for August:

•   Finish the 2 place mats.....those stringy geese.
•   Add to the watercolor and get a vision for it.
•   Get the baby quilts pieced and make 2 bibs.  An almost finish would be good here!
•   Continue making Scrappy TAW blocks.
• Buzz Saw quilt.....get those borders on!

Linking to Cat Patches for the July NewFO linky.    By the way,  Mrs. CatPatches put out a strong hint about something special coming up on Friday.....it's about covering outbuildings.  I am fairly certain I know what it is, I am very interested, and thought about not even mentioning/sharing/letting anyone else know.........but here I go opening up my mouth.  Be sure to check it out.
  Happy stitching.

Insights

When my mind is cluttered,  I catch myself talking out loud.  Not to anyone....just to verbalize what I am trying to figure out.     It drives Sir Old Man crazy and he tries to answer or participate in the conversation.  So this post is to de-clutter my head.......it is really blocking my creative instinct.

   String geese.....some things work and some things don't.  I  added the background to a few those I had made.  Once I got them onto the design wall, I realized I did not want to make a large quilt this way.  I like them....but all those different sizes mean a lot of fussy piecing to make them fit together.   It is not something I want to spend time doing.   I have been looking at them for a couple of days.... I think I will play around with what I have completed, and maybe do a runner and some place mats, or just a small quilt.  .
   Insight:  Admit it when you don't like a project.   Don't let it  be a UFO.  Turn it into something small and useful.

 
  I needed to feel like I was making headway on projects, so I turned to some quilting.    Nothing like hands on fabric and going fast to make you feel better.  I  used the "Jester Hat" quilting motif from Wendy at Ivory Spring on the string quilt that was ready to go.    She taught this during our 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge....and I finally got the hang of doing it all over, edge to edge style.
   Insight:  See practice is good!




Maybe  a NewFO.......I still have a lot of strips....but then who doesn't?  What I need  to start is  an on-going/ kitchen sink/waste nothing project.  A project I am not compelled to finish in a season, but that can grow a lot or a little and still be something.  The best place to look for an idea was at Quiltville.

   My choice is the Scrappy Trip Around the World.  From my 2 1/2" bin, I pulled  strips that were long enough  for 6 blocks.   I will tackle the unsorted box for more long  strips later.  These blocks are 12 1/2"....so a couple of dozen could make a small lap quilt.

Insight:  Don't be compelled to finish this in a month.  Let it grow.  




   OK, now that I got all this out,  I feel so much better.   I think I am ready to move on and find that creative mojo.
 Happy stitching.  

June starts and finishes

  June------ A better month of starts and finishes......

• The blocks for the Buzz Saw quilt--old NewFO-- are sewn together.   Now to find the border fabric...somewhere in my mess.
• The Tiara quilter arrived and has been put to good use!  :D
• NewFO----Small quilt made and quilted for practice.....going to Phoebe.
• Quilted and finished the watercolor strings quilt....Ripples.
• Quilting done on the guild challenge quilt.  Ready for binding.
• Blocks completed for the jewels string quilt.  Ready to be joined.
• Started flying geese string blocks.....NewFO.....whatever was I thinking!
• Top constructed for braid demo. New FO that was unexpected.    Dana pinned it , so now I need to finish it!

Guild challenge quilted;  small quilt finished for Phoebe;  Ripples quilted and bound;  jewel string blocks;  flying geese string blocks;  French Braid table runner.

  I feel better after reading that list!  I actually did a lot better than I thought this month....at least I got one finished!

July plans  Here's what I need/plan/want  to do.

•   Priority one-----Bind, label,  and finish the guild challenge quilt.  
•   Jeweled string blocks----sew them together into a top.  
•   Braid table runner----"uncover"  the batting ---again hidden in the mess---and finish this up.
•   Make more string  geese!
•   Buzz Saw quilt----- work on the border.    
•   Start a NewFO----????  It better be a small project!  Actually I have that urge or need to create feeling that is only satisfied by working with a watercolor design.  So that's the plan, now I need a good inspiration  image.  

I'm linking to the NewFO party at Cat Patches......check out what others are up to.    Mrs. Cat Patches is a great enabler to get things rolling, and the cats provide endless entertainment.  I'm thinking she should write a book about Smitty's adventures.
Stay cool ---I'm still sorting through bins and boxes----and happy stitching.

Linked to 2013  The Year of Finished projects at Never too hot to Stitch.

May NewFOs

 
 I'm playing again this month.......I am glad I decided to keep it simple this month since we were gone for part of it.  I managed to hit most of my goals.

    My official New FO for May is the Buzz Saw quilt.  All the units are sewn, and about a third of them are joined into blocks.  No new photo as my camera died today!  But you get the idea.

















Unofficial New FOs.......are the string snack mats.
All the narrow strings and slivers from the Buzz Saw blocks were used to make 4 snack mats---9"  by 12".   Oops....they are completed FOs!   But I think that counts.

  Second unofficial NewFO.....I started a class at Craftsy --- Art Quilt Backgrounds: Beyond Log Cabins.  I managed to squeeze in 3 lessons and have several more to view.  The first 3 covered fabric selections, and wonky piecing of the log cabins.  I'm looking forward to the rest of the topics, especially the screen printing technique and surface designs.


June plans:  Once again,  I am keeping it very simple for this next month.

• Get the Buzz Saw blocks joined.
• Quilt, quilt, quilt.....at least one of the tops in the pile.
• Pin baste the water color string quilt.
• Work on string blocks for Faceted Jewels II.
• Finish up the art quilt class on Craftsy.

Linking to Cat Patches for this month's Linky Party.   Be sure to check out all the links and see what is going on.  

Happy stitching.  

New FO for April

   Not bad this month.  I stuck to my plans and had a finish, a new start, and 2  in progress.    I think this planning stuff really does work!    OK, I do the work, and the planning keeps me focused.  I am not sure where the days went this month, so I am glad I planned a lighter load. Now about that NewFO........

 
 The NewFO took  up a lot of time because of all the prepping and cutting.   But the first full block---18" buzzsaw  block-- is done.
   I expect  this will be in progress for a while, as I have about 40 of these to put together!










The rest of the fabric is stacked in strips and ready to turn into blocks, which will really go fast this month.  I just need to sort them a bit and make sure I get a good mix and variety in each large block.

Note:  This block uses the technique for Delectable Mountains from large HSTs plus and an extra strip.  I explained my measurements in this post.

   

   This was some  free motion quilting practice time, not really a project.  I wanted to see if  I could do a feather with a center stem--yes!--and individual plumes--yes!---with a branch--yes!  The outlining and meandering are rather boring to me...........so when I ran out of bobbin I stopped  :(

   This was a lot more fun, just feathers and curls.  On the far right I was playing around with another version  of a feather that Patsy Thompson uses.
Can you believe I was battling feathers 15 months ago?  I am here to say practice times 3 and anyone can do this.  

  More progress on the watercolor strip quilt, which was a NewFO a couple of months ago.   It is probably long enough and needs maybe one more row before I call this one done.  I used a lot of strips but once again they seem to continue to multiply on me.
















  The NewFO from January is a top.  The borders were added to this challenge quilt--that was my goal for this month.  Now it is ready to pin for quilting.

  EQ7 is starting up some summer drawing lessons....see the button in the side bar.  I hope to participate and learn a lot more about it.  There was a major upgrade that came across last week for EQ7.  I haven't had enough time to discover what was added.

May's NewFO?   Do I need another project?   Not really, but there are all those strips and strings.....so May will be an easy NewFO.  It will be a short sewing time month for me as I have a classes  to teach and  we are planning to venture north to see the furkins .....and daughter and son-in-law.   So if anyone wants to string along----oops, I mean sew along---with me, then get those strings sorted into color families and make some plans accordingly.

Linking to NewFO at CatPatches.
Happy stitching.

The first cut

   Why is the first cut always the hardest?   All that lovely fabric just waiting for the rotary cutter.....and I was so hesitant to take the first slice.   Be brave and do it, so I did.
   At the top of the photo are  the  large
10 " squares of background fabric and squares of the batiks and Stonehenge fabrics, along with extra strips.  Below is the first test block to check for size and measurements.  Well, actually, it is 1/4 of the full block.




   So what the pattern?     Sir Old Man saw the buzz saw quilt on Wanda's blog--Exuberant Color--- one morning and really liked the pattern.  I'm not sure if it was the name or the pattern that appealed to him, but that is what he wanted.   So I agreed....anything to convince him I need that free motion machine soon.

 


 
 The technique is not hard and just takes a little planning.  It is  the Scrappy Mountains method  that Bonnie Hunter does.     Plus an additional strip added to one side to make a square block.    You get great looking points with no match sewing, and  I love that.
    So, I officially started a NewFO this month.   And I will be at it for a while as this one is to be large.  I will have to find a couple of small projects to throw in this month, just to keep things interesting.   But I did get a bonus....a nice pile of strings to add to my collection, and plenty of extra fabric for a Pineapple Blossom throw that I want.

   Insight:   The more  quilts and projects you make, the more scraps and strings you create.    I'm sure this is obvious to most of us, but the reality hit me after today's cutting session.   Now to create something with them.
   All this complaining about Spring being late....today I think summer arrived as it is 83 degrees outside!   Sounds like a good reason to stay inside and sew.  Happy stitching.  

March New FOs????

Uh-oh.....trouble here.  My  NewFOs turned into finishes this month.   I wonder if the enabler  Barbara at Cat Patches  will let me play this month.   (A newFO is a new project to help you build your UFO stash.)   I think she may  put me in the corner as an overly compulsive, too organized, no fun in that quilter!     Maybe  Smitty will plead my case, if I send him an extra pound or two of catnip!
Actually, finishes are allowed  :).

 So what did I start this month?

  The two projects for Project Quilting.....started and finished......the  tulip  mini table topper and a table runner, When Clematis Bloom.   Both of these projects had dead line requirements.  That's my excuse / real reason  for finishing up these two.

Another  NewFO that got finished was the baby quilt  that I just showed.  I really have a good excuse why this one got finished..... the baby is due next week.  So can I please play this month?   If  so, I'll be purring like a kitten.










   I did start  planning a quilt and selected the fabric.....does that count?    I promise to begin slicing into this fabric in April.  Pattern...nope, not telling yet!


    I do promise to start more projects---at least one for sure--- next month.  And to buy more fabric, and notions, and patterns...etc.  That's enough whining...... be sure to check out the Linky party for the NewFOs.   Off to start something new.....happy stitching.  

About time I say

  I have been hiding away in the sewing room for the last week.  It's my therapy, and place to de-stress, and regain my focus.  Nothing like making a mess, and threads flying to put things into perspective, is there?

  February's NewFO  is now a February Finish!    I started the travel duffle bag and then got sidetracked for a couple of weeks.  This week I got back to it and decided to finish it up.
Zipper in, pull tabs attached, and the end pockets added.....lot of bulk, but I managed to get it done.




   This bag is big....I have it stuffed with 3 large lap quilts, and a travel pillow in this photo.   The bag finishes up at 21" by 12" by 12"---that's a good size bag.
   I love the  bag color, and all the feathers floating on this.  Now, I just need some travel stickers of my own.  Of course, I could just use it for fabric purchases when traveling.....!!

From Mrs. Claus-- my alter ego:
    Two small doll quilts from the fabrics that Doreen picked up for me completed.  One is a pre-printed panel and the other has appliques from a partial border piece of the same panel.  I have 2 more to put together for March.

Easy street mystery progress.....it is quilted and ready for binding.  I met --and passed---my goal for February, which was to get the borders on it.  I also got the label made.  Because of the yellow (overwhelming) fabrics,  I am calling this one....Walking in Sunshine.   Nope, no photo yet until it is bound.  That is on March's list.

   So, I needed  a real NewFO for February.    And I also, feel a need to work with some floral fabrics.  I pulled out an older book, and found this.  It's easy---actually mindless sewing--- and will use up a lot of those extra floral strips that I have stacked up.
   Rectangle blocks, some vertical strips and others horizontal strips,  that are 10" by 6" are put together by value.  My strips are already cut at 2", but a mixture of strip widths could be used.
Right now, I am working on the horizontal strip blocks---about 7 or 8 done.  I have no idea how big it will be.....but I need to make a dent in my stash of floral fabrics.



Voting is going on for  Project Quilting.   This is week 4 entries.  
If it seems a bit quiet around here....you can find me in the sewing room.   Happy stitching.