Another UFO finish

Table runner from 2008
Fons and Porter pattern for Pineapple log cabin

It occurred to me that this year is coming to a close and I have 3 projects that just need binding.  This runner of course is the easiest of the bunch  Although it did take a U tube  video on how to apply inside miters to help me apply this binding.  Then I got to work binding, but was seriously interrupted by the new Magic Loop method of knitting a sock.  U tube again came to the rescue.  LOL 

It feels good to have at one one UFO done.  Now to apply the binding on another quilt to get to working on another UFO.

Binding is done on another UFO

Scrappy Crackers

On my UFO list are a number of tops that need quilting and binding  This is one that I started as a block exchange.  I didn't have much participation and keep on making blocks. I is a perfect fit for my lap.  I really like looking at this one.  

In the sewing room

I really enjoyed the beach retreat.  I got a lot done, the group was wonderful, food very good and the bed even slept well.  Already looking forward to next year.  I could kick myself for not getting any pictures of the group.

I worked on my Heritage Ridge quilt blocks and will be taking them to the next retreat in Palestine next week.  I put borders on the Jelly Roll 3.0 quilt.  I made some asterisk blocks for the coming swap.

Here at home I did finish up the block swap asterisk blocks and also made a block for the Beaumont guild challenge.  Have to straighten up the sewing room since I messed it up getting ready for the retreat.


Pictures of my progress:

Asterisk blocks ready for the exchange this month

Winged square, Kansas City block for the guild challenge

Jelly roll race 3.0

Sewing room update and upcoming retreat

My cutting area is now much more useable and I can reach the majority of my stash better.  I like it in this corner, I can get good lighting here and It's so much less cluttered. 

I'm redoing the shelves to make them tidy and more pleasant to look at.  The pizza boxes are cut pieces for log cabin blocks and the boxes are UFO'S or possible quilts.

This view of the cutting table wall where I want to hang small quilts.  a work in progress

The upcoming retreat will be in Ala. at the beach house we went to last year.  I'm bringing a UFO, John's quilt, Kaffe pyramids, and some exchange blocks I need to do.  I'm thinking I'll bring my Featherweight for backup.  Handwork of course, both hexie's and embroidery

I have to bring plenty in case a miracle happens and I finish something! LOL I'm looking forward to this trip.  Lots of fun and quilt shop hopping too.

September already!

Last month ended with a compete washout physically.  I been recuperating from stomach and energy problems.  This has passed and I've been feeling well for the last two days.  

So while Ashleigh was here, she helped me rearrange my sewing room.  In order to do that everything was moved off the floor, which seems to be a major storing place for me, to the hallway to do the rearranging.  Here's what it looked like after we finished.

I'd call this a total mess


So needless to say I have my work cut out for me.  I'm using the adage  "the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time"

Disappearing 4 patch Swap

I did finish this top that was an Apple Crisper's project.  I have backing to get the back done.  And will make The blue binding.

While I'm away from home

Visiting my DD in Lewisville, TX, waiting for the house hold to wake up.  Drinking coffee and catching up on mail.  There I see all kinds of inspiring posts about quilting and I can't go to my sewing room.  I did however, bring my trusty hand sewing project and since it's Sunday, I can do some Slow Sunday Stitching today on my EPP long term project.  The last picture I took of my project showed the two rows I've put on so far.  I have another two rows about ready to go on.  

Ready to attach more to the mother ship

I also am making some adjustments to the blue filler row which requires some unsewing.  Plenty of time to tweak this as I still have a while while to go.

Present projects in front of my wants

I have so much stuff out I don't know where to start. A list is in order.

1.  Black and white with blue sashing is half finished and on the design wall. I need to finish up, make back and binding, so I don't have to go back to it. 

2.  Log cabin blocks almost finished for Gelinda. Need to decide on setting, put together make back and binding. 

3.  John's Kaffe quilt needs more cutting and sewing.  Must have top priority. 

4. Pile of fabric on ironing station needs pressing, cutting and putting away. 

Looks as if I can do the first two projects then move on to John. I have a plan

Two finishes, some kind of wonderful

Oh yes, two done, I'm smiling here!

Edward's quilt is all finished and I even washed it for him.  The quilting really shows off the waves in the quilt.  I'm so glad I remade it and got this pattern set up.  And remarkable it is that I got it made and finished all in one year's time.

I wish I could remember when I made this.  I saw Becky making this at a retreat and knew I had to do it.  Always looking for scrap patterns to fit my stash.  It sat on the shelf for a long while waiting on me to quilt it.  Finally, that day came and here it is.

Getting closer to some finishing

I made this a year or two or more ago.  I kept thinking about it and one day took it down set it up and proceeded to quilt it.  I used the walking foot and just sewed in the ditch on either side of the red strip in each block.  I extended the quilting into the borders. Binding is attached waiting for me to get to it.

Mostly an update on the ongoing EPP project.  I'm ready to attach the second row.  

Edwards quilt has been entirely  remade, quilted by my friend Joan, binding put on and I'm working on that.  The more I sew, the more I like it.

I have been busy doing lots of other things in the sewing room.  Mostly mundane things.  Some block swaps prepared, cutting strips and looking for things.  I had a good weekend getting a lot done.

Edward's quilt revised

I haven't written in a while because I encountered something I haven't before..  I took a good look at Edward quilt and did not like it.  So, I took it totally apart and remade the quilt.  It was not fun a bit.  But I finally got it done and was pleased.  I got the quilt back yesterday from my friend Joan who quilted it.  I have a few stitches to take out and one place to repair before I can bind it.  Then I;ll update with a picture of the finished quilt.  

Edward's quilt top is done

Well all done with Edward's quilt top.  I tried putting the blocks together using a method called webbing I found on Bonnie Hunter's website. It did work.  A little hard to handle by the end with all the rows held together by strings, but slow and sure won the race.  Had to take a lot of breaks, still a little soreness from the wreck occasionally. Even took a short nap today.  Needed that though.

Now what to do, the one thing on the agenda is the UFO for this month.I still need to make some blocks too for 3 swaps. Got two quilted quilts back that need binding and 2 more backs to make.  I would love to quilt a small quilt I've been looking at for a while.

As I look a t this picture I think I need to check the picture.  Seems is should have a another row of triangles at the beginning.  Going to check my pattern now.

Yesterday sewing along

Edward's quilt in progress

Not a great picture, the lighting in my room is off somehow.  Probably need better bulbs in my fixture.  Anyway, I have been going back and going back to work on Edward's quilt.  I got so much done yesterday I could see getting the top together.  It's going to have a lot more red in it because as I worked along, I keep thinking more red.  I'm hoping the end result will turn out alright.  I really dislike not feeling I'm going in the right direction.  Edward hasn't wanted a quilt for a very long time. I want him to like it.  Although, i think what he will like the most is wrapping up in it.  Being a mama here.

Getting small things done

As you can see I made a new picture for the blog.  It took weeks to find how and where I made the old one.  I decided I wanted a header of things I had finished up or made great progress on this year not last.  I am trying to work myself out of this funk from being injured and not quite well yet.  I went to the depression, bored out of my skull stage and remembered how I got out of that before.  I would do some small task and make one change.  I started with my closet and cleaned off an shelf and put my knits from this year there, so they have a home.

Then in the sewing room, I've tried so hard to have some enthusiasm but keep falling short.  So yesterday I worked on Edward's quilt noting some progress.  Then the thing that really gave me a boost was starting on the pile of fabric that's been on my cutting table for a month or more.  Than felt good.

Today I was reading the Stash buster group blog and there's a new slogan, "JOT", which means just one thing.  Perfect for what helped me yesterday and will today.  I can feel my energy coming back already.

Finally got the desire

I was telling my friends that I had a quilt binding half way done and I couldn't get the desire up to finish it.  We all laughed. my friend Joan said I didn't have the "en vie", to do it.  Don't know how to spell that but it means, not having the desire.  So Monday and Tuesday I worked on it and finished it up.

Scrappy Bowtie

Feels nice to have a finish..

Small tasks adding up

Yep, I have been doing small bits at a time and it is adding up to something.

Another set of Hampton Ridge blocks   These are very time consuming, but  worth all the effort of cutting correctly, sewing and pressing correctly and ripping when needed. Since these finish 9 inches they make really nice blocks.  This is only month 4 of a 12 month program  Lots more blocks to go.  

After making these blocks for Edward's quilt, I did some pulling of more fabrics.  I realize I needed black for more contrast and more red as accent.  I have some really neat gray fabrics with lots of interesting patterns, but they read solids in a distance.  So value got very important.  I pulled a lot, straightened the shelf these fabrics were on and cut mor strips.  Instead of cutting triangles with My go, I elected to use my Easy Angle ruler instead.  Now to get some more blocks put together and triangles too, to start getting this quilt together.  

A few blocks made from 6 in scraps in the stash to add to my Birds in the Air Swap.

These are the blocks I had done at the retreat and before this post.  The amount of blocks needed for the exchange was changed to 60 blocks, or 10 sets of 6, and we'll be doing them for a few years.  Since that has changed I'm just making sets of 6, even if they are all different.  I'm  going to keep the ones I want for my own quilt.  Just getting a picture helps me see how pretty this quilt can be.  I have close to half of the blocks now.  I need to work on my Asterick swap too.

What's on the wall

I split my posts up today since it would be such a long post.  This is all I've managed to do since my accident.  

Asterisk block exchange

Update on Hexie quilt

Actually I worked a lot on Birds in Air block exchange but did not get a picture.  Will try later.

The Asterisk block exchange blocks are only the ones I made at the Dry Creek retreat. I had made a few before I went.  Should get a picture of them together. I so enjoyed that, but did suffer a lot of pain and did a lot of resting.  I sure felt good getting around so many friends and talking quilting and other things.

I put up the Hexie quilt so far to encourage myself to keep going.  When I put the parts up I was a little surprised to see such progress.  The second row is not attached yet and I'm not satisfied with the arrangement yet.  I have to finish out the last flower if it's the one I will use.  I'm still wondering how I will finish out the top and bottom and wheater to add some rounds as border.  Still much to think about.

March UFO report and new numbers

New UFO numbers are 39 and 1.  Number 1 is the black and white from Apple Crisper's.  I redid the list and I hit that one again, so I will go ahead and work on that.  Maybe even get the top done.  Last month I had two flimsy to get quilted and they are still at the quilter.  I did make one binding and still need to do the other.  Number 39 is another flimsy.  I'll choose that later today.

This is what I got done last time.  I definitely need to work on this

All it takes is a second

All it takes is a second and the direction you were going is changed.  That day I had the wreck changed the direction I was going and I'm not on track yet.  New car, body healing still I can't  seem to get back to focusing on my sewing.  I have done a few things , but it doesn't feel like much.

Bound and done

Birds in the air before retreat

House block of Autumn Joy

These are pictures before I went on the retreat at Dry Creek.  I got more blocks done and need to take some pictures.  

I haven't been posting on the blog here.  Maybe if I start doing this, I will get my MoJo back.  

Ufo's numbers for March and report on Feb. numbers

This month's UFO numbers are 48 and 41,  For me 41, finish the binding on Blue Ridge Beauty is done.  I picked that up one day and did that. Since I'm still working on Autumn Joy and applique is so slow, I'll work on that , #29 from Jan.
Number 48 is a flimsy from the sewing room. So I'll get another quilt to take to the quilter including the binding ready.
 The month of Feb. I' decided not to start the Scrappy Bargello quilt free pattern from Bonnie Hunter, but now I do still want to.  If I make a block ever, I'll commit to the quilt.  That was number 29 and made a back and binding for a quilt and have it sacked up to take to PJ, my quilter.  The binding will have to be done when it comes home.  

Kathy Brown class 

I chose a backing with red and greens in the quilt and made the binding from the border fabric.  Got the pressed and ready to put on.  Now I'm going to go visit my sewing room and continue to cut strips for the Eustace swap..

Dabbling in my sewing room

Applique by machine Farm Fresh

This block is finished.  I have also been working on cutting strips to put up the fabric from the laundry basket I had sitting in my way in the sewing room.  I still have not finished that, some days I can't make decisions.  I need 2" strips for the swap in Eustace in civil war reproductions.  I get to questioning myself too much.  These are being put in a box and of course I'm cutting way too many.  I've done the 4 patches for Apple Crisper's.  I made a backing and cut binding for the Kathy brown quilt.  It's ready to go to quilter, but I still need to press the binding.  I put the binding on the Kim Dielh quilt and also put the circles on it I needed.  When I found the fabric I had left over Hour glass blocks.  I left them out to finish up instead of putting them away.  
I'm binding that quilt now, working on the Autumn Joy block from last month, and of course the hexes.  I'm testing out the pattern for the Birds in the air exchange which definitely needs pressing done correctly.  In other words  I'm dabbling in my sewing room.

A finished scrappy flimsy

Scrappy red and cheddar top is done!  I really like how it turned out.  When I started putting it together I slowed done because I thought I had overdone the red and cheddar.  I kept going, although slowly and when it was finished I was very pleased.  This was a block from Bonnie Hunter's Addicted to scraps series in Quiltmaker magazine.  Then in her second Leader and Ender book she showed how she had put it together.  I did make it exactly like hers except with the colors.

I got a fairly good photo of the quilt, sometimes I get a yellow tint in my pictures.  This one clearly shows the color of the cheddar.  It is a fairly large quilt, but still not big enough to hang over the sides of my own bed.  So, I think I'll get it quilted and enjoy looking at it instead of using it.

A finish today!

I had put down this quilt and binding, when I left on my two trips.  I had almost forgotten about it, but in cleaning on my sewing room I saw it and knew I needed to go on and finish it up.  I have it on my bed now. 

Blue Ridge Beauty on my bed

I told the ladies at SPAR today that I felt like I was back to myself since I was able to sew this weekend.  It makes such a difference.  I hand sewed today mostly, but I did go and clean the top of sewing table.  Plus cleaned out a drawer in the table.  A bottom draw which had become a big catch all.  Now I know what's in there and it's stuff I need.

Tomorrow is sew day with my friends and hand sewing.  Hopefully will get the top I've been working on done by the end of the week.

February UFO numbers and report on January's progress

Home again and intend to stay here for at least a month. 

One of my favorite pictures from the Butterfly Museum in Key West, FL  The butterflies were so abundant and pretty.  They flew more than they stopped and drank.  Fascinating !

  On to our UFO challenge the two new numbers for this month are 29 and 45.  I did some editing on my list because all my projects that have to be done this year were on the list.  That really won't work, plus it would keep me from making progress on UFOs.  I have a lot of flimsy to finish so I added  that at the end of list to get more of that done.  So I need to take pictures of the ones I will be doing and pull them out.

#29 is the Scrappy bargello pattern of BH and I have pulled 2.5 " strips for that already. 

All ready to go, scrappy bargello.  I took time putting strips together, but will need to add more I'm sure.

 # 45 will be choosing a flimsy from the sewing room, not one listed already.  So I'll decide on that and pick a top to make backing and binding done and give it to PJ to quilt.  Binding will be on must do list for this year.  I don't want to carry any over that I can finish.

The backing is chosen, will construct that and make binding.  Then hand off to quilter.

I didn't do much with Jan. UFOs, in fact I intend to stay with the applique until I finish the block.  I did do two big blocks on the Black and white UFO.

The teal sashing is strong enough to really make this quilt spark

January UFO Challenge Numbers 2 and 32

January is the beginning month of the challenge and I drew out the numbers while in NC to see Edward and family.  
#2 is the Apple Crisper's exchange for 2014.  

The Back and white disappearing four patch from the site Missouri Star quilt Co. I do love her U tube videos and simple projects.  I want to add this beautiful teal as sashing.  Sandy in our group had put 4 blocks together to make an alternate design and I want to try that out.

Our challenge is to work on the UFO and finish as much as we can or at least make some progress on the project.  Since I have my new cutter up and running now, I want to get strips cut and start working on it.

#32 is Autumn Joy designed by Sue Garmin.  I had made a good deal of progress on it and then got stopped.  Have no idea why now.  I do want to get this much closer to completion.  The top section is ready.  Parts of the other two sections are done.  I worked on setting up the block with the house.  Some of that I could do on the machine.  I can finish it up with hand appliqué.  I'm determined to put a pieced border on this, unlike the Christmas Joy with a plain border.  I also want to make it a little larger.  This picture really doesn't do this justice, the colors are ver pretty. 

Yesterday and hand sewing.

I worked off an on all day on my EPP. Finished all the basting on loose piecies and also worked on putting some more sashing, for a better name, blue sets together.

English paper piecing

     In North Carolina with overcast skies and two big labs working on my hexagons. Adults are still asleep, kids are playing upstairs and I have the lounge chair. Perfect for stitching for a while.  I'm working on my second row and blue "sashing". By the way, my box worked really good on the airplane. Love making progress on my handwork.

     Joan and I will be doing a UFO challenge for the next two years. The grandkids gave us numbers between 1 and 48. Joan said she had that many, but wanted to space it over 2 years. I thought that was a good idea. The numbers this month are 2, 32.  For me that will be the black and white blocks from Apple crispers, and Summer joy, a block of the month I haven't started.  I'm going to take that off and work on one I have started. I just changed it to Autumn joy since it's about. Half done. I just switched numbers. My choice, my challenge.

  Since I'm not at home I can only plan what I'll be doing. I do have some lovely teal for sashing for the black and white blocks.   I will be working on my current projects along the way.