Pinwheel kit tackled

Since the sewing room is overwhelming at this point and I want very much to go in there every day, I decided to sit down and start somewhere.  Just Do It!  A quilt is made one block at a time and making progress is all that is really important  

The first thing I encountered was a box of blocks for a kit.  Each of the little zip lock bags held a main block and an alternate block.  

Pin wheel blocks and alternates

Looks simple right, seemed simple.  The block parts could be cut with my new essential tool from Bonnie Hunter, which cuts half square triangles and also quarter square triangle.  All the units are these pieces plus squares.

However, the problem arose when I realized on cutting the two blocks that the directions were lacking.  Some parts were left off and so as time drew near to go get a haircut, I really needed it, I figured out I would need to go by pictures and write out all directions before cutting.  Then the Plan is to sew both blocks at a time.  There are 12 block bags with two blocks in each.  I believe I ll have less problems if I cut all sets before beginning to sew.  So much for today.

Getting Ready for 2017

To get ready to focus on my quilting again, I looked back at my posts from last year.  These were few and far between.  I want to do better this year and accomplish more than I have this past year. This year I want to do more of my own choice in quilting and still accomplish what I promised to do.  

There have been a lot of bumps along the road this year and some we're still dealing with here at home.  But, it's all looking up now.

I have revised my UFO's for this year to include just what I have actually worked on, or started, instead to what I want to do or think I want to do.  I have had a few pitfalls like thinking I could participate in the 365 Challenge, which proved to be too daunting.  I had to abandon that for sure.  I also realizedI had about five leader and ender projects going, which is nuts.  Some had to be put as actual projects  with dedicated time spent on each one.  One was too complicated to be a leader/ ender and became its own project for sure.  Another pitfall I had that played in there was too much time spent playing games on my  I Pad.  That is a black hole in space and time. I'm still playing  but spent at least half the time I did.  And believe it or not, I got to doing too many different things, such as knitting, embroidery, wool embroidery, applique and English paper piecing.  You really can overdo on the hand work!

So, this next year I plan to dedicate more free time to handwork, instead of games.  I plan to make time every day in my sewing room working on projects I love.  I also plan to write more on my blog.

Since this is purely a written blog today, I want to add a picture.  I think every post should have a picture.  This is our precious Adeline that came to visit for Christmas on her quilt made for her.

Adeline's quilt finished Christmas Eve 

Adeline

Doing some Fnishing

Our challenge for this year was to finish a quilt totally from a block swap.  This was in the top pile, so I did this one.  It's a 25 patch block with red center and sets much like log cabin blocks.  I put the red border and blinded it in black which gave it a good touch.

25 Patch with red

 Adeline is growing and will soon be coming to visit us for Christmas.  I wanted to wait to give her this quilt then.  Plus the binding wasn'tt finished.  Should be so.

Cassie and Adeline

I love this picture of Adeline and no I didn't make it.  She's so preciouss.

I Will Make No Excuses

That's correct, no excuses for starting another Mystery with Bonnie Hunter.  Why not? Because I love to do them.  I may not finish them all, but hey , that's ok
The biggest news we have in the family is our new Beautiful granddaughter Adeline.  Her quilt top is done and I plan to get it to quilter the next week and be ready for when she comes for Christmas.  All the way from North Carolina!

Adeline Kaye Weaver

Ill show her quilt when it's done.  Currently I'm still wrapping fabric in the sewing room and cleaning out drawers.  What a job!  Most days Buddy, the dog or John the Husband interrupt and I get off task.

One serious thing I've found is that I have started way too many leader and ender projects.  Way too many!  I'm try to prioritize them, but realize I still want to do them all. So I'm thinking medallion style quilt to include them all.  Could happen...

Till next time

Apple Crisper's Project '16, Beginning SBOW

It's hard now a days to get into the sewing room to accomplish much.  What with caring for the husband and the excessively needy dog.  However, yesterday the husband cared for the dog a while and let me sew.  So, good news I worked on some things.

Apple Crisper's Project 16
It's hard to see the difference in color in the photo, one is green and the other a dark reddish brown.  Both speak of fall to me which are the parameters for color this project.  I do like to work in Fall colors.

SBOW
Primitive Gatherings quilt shop offered this in the Summer.  One block a week, but they came every month.  It's wool and flannel applique.  There will be 48 blocks in total with a great finishing with crazy stitches embroidery.  It took a while for me to get brave , and I do mean brave enough for this project.  I used fusible to set down the wool pieces onto the flannel.  I hadn't done that method and was apprehensive.  But after getting easy with the stitching, which I'm being to really enjoy, sewing on the other strips and squaring it up, I have one block finished.  There are many charming blocks to go.  So, today I'll link up with Slow Stitching Sunday and work on the next block.  See what everyone else is doing at Slow Stitching Sunday.

Sewing therapy

Sometimes, I need to just sit and sew with no particular end date or pressure.  I have several things going in that regard and I also have some that have due dates.  Here's an update on progress so far.  
    Johns still suffering from his fall and broken ankle, time is harder to find for sewing and mostly just stress relief.  

Apple Crisper's swap for this year

I like mystery quilts and this is a Designer Mystery from Fat Quarter Shop with no end date in mind.

These little gems are called waste triangles.  They finish 1.75 "  Not sure what I will do with these, but will try to work them in the quilt

An update on the Scary Cats from Common Threads quilt shop.  Another no end date in mind.  This is  13 done so far.  A good carry along during wound care for John.

 This is an old UFO and it is now quilted and bound  Nice to finish a oldie. 

Hand stitching update

My Halloween cats hand applique

So far, I done 10 with 78 more to do  I have prepped about 10 more  The perfect project for Slow Stitching Sunday.  See what others are up at  Slow Stitching Sunday

In Progress

I have been doing small things but I see that I'm making some progress on them all.  I'm delighted to be getting some of these to a finishing point.

Here is another attempt at a finish.  This is an oldie from a event night at the quilt shop.  I didn't pick out this material and needed a table runner to trade at Happy Scrappers Christmas party.  It will soon be a finish.  Also, working on Slow stitching Sunday, although I seldom get the picture up at the site.

A group of friends and I went on a shopping excursion and went by a yarn shop to find these.  It's a top this by Lion brand and I modified the pattern some to make it smaller for our new granddaughter that is arriving in November. I can't wait to see this on her.

This block is called Scrappy Trip by Bonnie Hunter.  I tried the pattern out and used 2.5 in. squares.  I learned  the values are too close and need more contrast, especially between he middle rows.  Since I have quite a stash of 2.5 strips, many more to come.

Happy Scrappers challenge to finish one of our projects to competition  This was a 25 block with red through the center.  I chose the Barn raising center.  Remaining things to do is make back and binding and stitching.I think it's neat how the red outlines the blocks in this setting.

Quilt for Hubby

I put in the last stitch on the binding this morning. A made to order quilt for John.  

Another Quilt for Leigh and Edward

It seems this quilt I made for Edward and gave him last summer is too short to sleep under.  So, when he came this summer I decided to finish up the  Disappearing nine patch for him to take home.  And it weems Leigh loved the color combination so much.  So, I sent her the Jelly roll race 3.0  

Quilt for Edward not quilted and bound yet

Leigh with her quilt

Jelly roll race 3.0 before quilting and binding

I really love that my kids want quilts by me and take them home and use them. That is what quilting is all about.

Sewing again, working on the pie of scraps

John fell and broke his ankle, then developed wounds. Things have been very busy. Sewing got put to back burner. Then kids and grandkids came for a week, which put sewing out of the question. But, things are getting easier with John. Kids went home. The house is back together and it's time for me.

After matching lights and darks I made pairs. 

This is a small container which held a lots of 1.5" small squares   I have a "bad" habit of saving the finest bit.

Chain piecing and pressing made the pile get smaller quicker. I also started chain ironing which I haven't done much of.

Happy Scrapper UFO

I'm amazed this looks this good. I have to make more negative blocks to use the positive blocks left. It should be a good lap size . So I'll pull out my two inch stripe box and 3.5 inch and make a few more to add to these swap blocks.

5 months of RSC 16

 I got behind in Jan.  with making blocks.  I couldn't make up my mind with what I want to do so ended up with two blocks.  So, I've played catch up every since. I bought Vicky Welsh's fabric and have used only that.   I did what to use scrapes but it didn't happen. So here are my blocks for months Jan. Through May.  Go on over to So Scrappy here tRSC!^  You;ll see lots of great blocks.

Slow stitching Saturday - and again on Sunday!

Binding is a slow activity for me, but I have a goal to finish by the end of the month.  Go see more stitchers here
https://kathysquilts.blogspot.ca/2016/05/slow-sunday-stitching-muscle-memory.html

One more top from retreat

I've had a problem uploading a picture of my last top from retreat with my DD ,to my blog.  Evidently, I have a heavy finger and keep making videos, unbeknown to me.  Very frustrating, anyway, I think I have finally got a picture.

 
This isn't a great picture of this quilt.  I'm thinking of adding a red inner border and the remainder of the pieces from leftover strips to make an outer border,

This quilt started from the left over pieces of a quilt my grand daughter made her friend while she was here visiting me one summer. I hated to throw these pieces away so I made a box.  As happens with left over boxes, you eventually have to deal with them.  So, I added the left over four patches  and on the road we went.

I do like this pattern and is simple to do.  It made up awfully quick with 4 patches already made.

My latest retreat

My latest retreat was with Happy Scrappers in Dry Creek, LA.  We went on Wed. and left Sunday.  I finished two quilt tops.  Amazing huh!  So that makes three tops this month.  I guess my dry spell is over.

John's Kaffe 

The Log cabin quilt I put together at retreat

The wonderful group of quilters at retreat

Progress on my Hexagon quilt

Sometimes I stitch Hexagons, sometimes it's embroidery, then sometimes it's applique.  Trouble is I love them all.  So, when I get to working on one I stay with it for a week or so, then poof I'm working on another.  This week it's been the Hexagon quilt.  I have enough parts constructed to complete another row.

I'll be linking up with others at Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's quilts to see who else is stitching slow today.

Lately in the sewing room

Lately in the sewing room, lots of folding of fabric and focusing on small and large projects.

Leader and ender framed four patches

 I actually have several Leader and Ender projects that I play with.  Last year Bonnie Hunter proposed this one in conjunction with Quilt maker magazine.  I figured out her size from one of her Quilt Cams and started using the little 1.5 in. squares to make 4 patches.  Also scoured my stash of 2.5 in. squares to start this.  Of course Bonnie, who sews constantly, has tons made and a quilt top made.  That's why I have so many little Leader Ender projects because I keep starting them.  Anyway this is fun and I'm on this one at this time.

Putting rows together of John's quilt

I've worked on putting two's, four's and 8's patches together.  Cutting seems to keep going on, so glad I have a die for my Go Cutter, but at some point I needed to start putting it together.  I am adding the border fabric to each side and will trim at the end.  I made a row and went and checked with John as to width.  He's 6.2 so it matters.  So now to get it long enough.  As I do the rows I work to make sure I don't have a blob of color that will draw the eye.  On a colorful quilt such as this, the eye will go to any blobs it can.  PS, if you're wondering about the blocks at the top of the design wall, there are 11 of them now.  I make one occasionally for a future quilt.

Folding fabrics

I ordered comic book inserts, 100 a pack to fold fabric on.  I got two packs and will need many more I'm sure.  I had read on a blog, no idea which one, anyway she commented how well they worked and were so much cheaper.  I wanted to try this and see.  My wire baskets hold these just fine.  What's really neat I get a good view of the fabric and can choose what I want  so much easier.

Bunkhouse retreat

 Hampton Square

 Went on a retreat recently in TX.  I brought my on going project Hampton Square block of the month I got in 2014.  I worked on all the blocks , 41 of them and got sashing put on two sides of each block at the other retreats .  Any how this time I started putting the rows together and added sashing where needed.  Took three days to do so.  This is it before any of the borders are put on.  I fixed a problem someone saw for me and now will keep working.  I think I want it custom quilted. 
  As far as the retreat center, we all liked it and booked for next year.   

January Small Quilt Challenge With Kathleen Tracy

Coin quilt  15 3/4 by 18 3/4

The Challenge this month was to use strips in any way you chose.  Kathleen showed a coin quilt and I went through my log cabin box and looked for 1800's. I always have a lot of the 1.5 by 2.5 size from little left overs.  Finally got to use them   I'm going to try quilting this one and I think a dark binding will add another touch.  

Countraband Quilters host Debbie Maddy

What a great class day.  This is the group shot at the end of the day.  A good group came,
She was a great teacher and I learned a lot.  One of the biggest things was how to press, yes press half square triangles.  It will really change my accuracy in the future.  

We used 8 fat quarters to make the quilt she's showing called a carpenter's star.  I am making the wall size.  The picture shows how you can place your fabric in the most pleasing way.  Works really good.
.
There were plenty of tips all day long and lots of demonstrations.  I really enjoyed the day, enough though I had just returned from a 4 day retreat and was tired.  My quilt is pinned into rows and only waits for me to finish putting it together.  Other things in the way now.  

Getting in the Sewing Room

So far this week I be able to get into the sewing room a fair amount.  Every day I tidy on my sewing table and a little on my cutting table, I cans some progress.  For instance, now I don't have to clear a space to sew or cut, got that much done.

My planner is helping so far.  I've been writing down two or three things a day and have followed through.  If I can't get to my list, I just move it to the next day.  

I got started on the 365 Challenge and have 7 blocks done.  I got a picture of the first 6 blocks.  It doesn't look like much yet.  

3" Blocks 1-6 365 Challenge

This picture is from my iPhone and is very long.  I'm having camera problems now.  

One of the things I decided to focus on was an UFO I started several years ago.  

Don't you love the portable design wall.  I keep this one behind my door for little long term stuff.  The little basket in the left corner for some reason is cut too small.  I'm keeping it for a label. These little applique baskets are fun.  I decided to start doing 2 a week.  The doesn't sound like a lot, but if I keep it up I should make a huge dent in finishing the quilt.  I been a while since I've done applique since I've been doing EEP and embroidery.  But it's so relaxing I want to keep it up.  I'll be working on this for Slow Stitching Sunday.

Daily Planning

My new planner

Been using this for daily planning in my sewing room.  It's helping to focus me.  Often the same thing gets out on the plans every day, one being cleaning my sewing table.  As Ive worked on it, Ive tried to reorganize every basket or container on the table.  I will do this this until I have a well organized table.  

Now Im ready to start the new year

I spent the last 2-3 weeks going to visit my children and grandchildren in Texas and North Carolina.  It was wonderful to be with them, however, there was no sewing during this time.  I did do some knitting and a little applique.  Mostly I spent time reading blogs about setting goals for the new year and making plans.  
Instead of resolutions, which generally get broken, the idea is to set goals which is more relaxed.  

I made a purchase of a quilting planner and it was home when I got back.  I want to utilize it and generally find if I write it down on paper I tend to 
internalize it more and really work on it. 

 I also joined a goal a month here  OMG one monthly goal and will plan to work on a project or even get it to quilting stage for my quilter.  

This first month John's quilt is front and center.  I want that ready to quilt by the end of the month if at all possible.  Here's where I am thus far.