March OMG Done!

I finally finished my March OMG at 10:15 last night.  So, that makes me 3 for 3.  3 UFOs pulled out and finished this year.  I suspect I won't be as successful over the next few months.  I need to decide on an EASY project.

Here's the finished March project.  A bit more involved than I first thought it would be but I think the little appliqués add a cute touch. So here, with no further delay, my March OMG quilt. 

Mary Beth and Nancy both have Go Cutters so I asked them to bring dies I could borrow.  MB basically buys the  appliqué ones.  Well, what do you know, we all decided this needed a little jazzing up.  So I found some fabrics that would show up and go with the quilt and put fusible web on them.  Then I ran them through the Go with butterflies, bees and dragon flies.  I sprinkled in a few hearts too.  Most of the fabric works but the peachy one doesn't show the purple dots that makes it work with this quilt.   I did a quick zig zag stitch using Mettler Polysheen embroidery thread to match the design.  (Yep, a bit more work but I am a glutton for punishment!) 

I bought some new quilting designs just before this was finished and I really like how much texture this one gives to the quilt. It's called Melody by Sarah Ann Myers.  I used a Hobbs 80/20 batt and pink So Fine.  

Sometimes things just come together wonderfully.  I was doing a little cleaning in the shelving under my cutting table.  I keep a box of bindings that are either left over or made and not used.  You can't imagine how tickled I was when I found a long, unused binding in the same dark green as the dragonfly.  And, kismet! It was 6" longer than I needed.  

Here's a better look at the binding and the border fabrics. 

The best part is all the fabric came from my stash.  I've had that purple floral border for YEARS!  (unfortunately, I have a piece of it left so it may be seen in something else one of these days!) I pieced the back with bits of fabric on hand. I had nothing big enough for the whole back. (This ended up about 42 x 42".  Not all that big.) 

I've done a quick check of what is on the UFO list.  I had 52 items at the beginning of 2016.  I've completed 4 of them -- that means I should only have 48 projects left to do.  Except, I won two different BOMs at Faithful Circle in the last few months so I guess I'm not making as much progress as I thought I was.  The next project is easy peasy.  Put borders on a top and then quilt it.  I have plenty of fabric so should be able to find a border and a backing amongst the fabric I have saved for it. Here it is.  Unfortunately I took the photo at night in hopes of getting this blog finished today. 

I like the purple fabric with it.  I think the turquoise would be too "loud." I'll look at it again in the light and figure out what to do.  I do know I'll need to figure out something to quilt within the handles.  Hum, I wonder what design I have that I can use.  Outside the handles I see stippling or maybe just stitching in the ditch around the squares.  Time will tell.   

I'm linking up at Red Letter Quilts  and Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday to share my finish.  Friday I'll link to Can I get a Whoop Whoop? Take a look at what's happening around the Internet. 

Happy Quilting All!

Monday Meanderings 3 - 28 - 2016

I got things done last week but not much to show for my work!  Here's the boy challenge quilt ready to make decisions about it. 

Now do I put a border around it or maybe just use brown dimples for the binding.  I probably have enough of the dark brown to do a border.  I have a deeper blue from the fabric challenge to start a backing with.  It will need to be added to to have enough.  What do you think?  To border or not to border? This is a 2.5" strip of the brown dimples fabric. 

I like the way it looks but I know I'm going to need to make a bigger backing since before borders the top is 40" wide or so.  Sigh.  But I do like the dark edge.  Perhaps a dark brown binding would do the same thing.  

I did fairly well on my goals this week.  I could have done better but we were out of town Friday and Saturday. And then Easter.... we sang at only one service but I came home and flopped on a couch and read (and napped) for most of the afternoon.  

March 21, 2016

Cut appliques for OMG quilt and apply√ cut

Plan/make backing for OMG nope, not yet

Make more “boy” blocks √

Work on Slide Show quilt √

Bind antique quilt oops

border little 9 patch quilt oops again

And this week's goals. 

March 28, 2016

Finish Applique on OMG

Make backing for OMG

Quilt OMG

Sew top together Boy donation quilt

Work on Slide Show – put top together

It's not a long list as I'm going to be busy several days.  My big goal is to finish my OMG quilt completely. (And, before the end of March which doesn't give me much time!)  Anything else will be all gravy, so to speak.

I thought this was a cute picture of Ellie and Peka (Pat's name instead of grandpa.) We were all sitting out on the front deck of Kevin's house watching Ellie as her day care provider took last week off for her vacation. It was a great day to sit around out there.

I'm linking up with Main Crush Monday and Monday Making.  Stop by to see what others are doing today. 

Happy Quilting All! 

In-Home Retreat Post

Wednesday night 2 of my buddies came down for our 3rd annual In-Home Retreat.  Nancy and Sharon arrived around 10:30pm after both had a full day at work.  It's tough on them but then they have 3 1/2 days of quilting.  MaryBeth was able to come down on Thursday afternoon which made us happy.

Here they are -- happily sewing or checking cell phones!

MB was off by herself.  That might explain why she got a lot done.  The weather was beautiful most days and we even left the studio long enough to take a walk one day.

Needless to say I didn't get all that much done.  Here's my project.  I did get the rest of the blocks made and sewed into a top.  I'm going to be adding a bit of appliqué to it to perk it up. Not all of these will be cut into shapes but some will be.  MB brought her appliqué dies for the Go so I'm putting them to use.  This is my OMG project and I need to get hopping on it if I'm going to finish by the end of the month. 

Here are some of Sharon's efforts.  Every time I turned around she had finished something and moved on to another project.  She put together blocks to make two additional quilts that I am not showing. 

These are for an office mate of Sharon's who is having twin girls.  The stripe fabric sure zings in these. The contrast fabrics don't stick out like these pictures show.  A bit more subtle.  

Sharon made this block as a donation to the silent auction for the upcoming quilt show.  I think it was 20" square although I could be off by a lot. 

MaryBeth had finished this one before she arrived with the exception of putting on the yo-yos.  Last year Sharon made one for her granddaughter's twin bed. 

MB worked on two or three other projects and I failed to get pictures of them.  When she has time she will send me photos of them and I'll try to add them to a post. 

Nancy used Ruthie to quilt a stunning quilt.  She was tickled with the results.  And, I was proud of Ruthie for quilting like a champ! 

If you enlarge it you should be able to see more of the quilting.  She chose a strong circular edge 2 edge which looked great on it.  In between rows or late at night she also got these blocks to a top.  Most of the half square triangles were already done.  She played around with the placement and came up with this great border design.  (Hum, wonder where the bottom section is? She must have been sewing it together.) 

Sunday morning we were all sewing again.  But at lunchtime they headed north and back to reality.  I headed to the couch and a nap.  Since Sunday I have had some dedicated time in the studio.  No results to show yet but fairly soon I should have some finished tops to show you.  And then next week I need to quilt some of those tops! 

I'm linking up with Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? and Fabric Frenzy Friday. Take a few moments to see what others are doing in their studios this week. 

Happy Quilting All!