January Stashbusting & February OMG

Ok, even though I spent a lot of time in my studio during January, I just didn't have much in the way of finishes.  In fact, I almost forgot about over a yard of fabric used in making blocks for last month's FCQ EQuilter. It did help! Not the best start but definitely not bad either. 

2016	Fabric In Month	Fabric in Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
JAN	7.50	7.50	3.00	-4.50	-4.50

I finished January's OMG with about two days to spare.  And, honestly, I thought I had my nose to the grindstone to get it done.  I picked what I thought would be fairly easy to accomplish -- you know start with success! 

My goal for February is to finish this top.  It is mystery 12 from Mysteries for Relay.  I started it in 2010 (or so I think...) when we lived in Greentown, PA.  I think I put it away because I wasn't sure what to do with it.  It is 48" square or so.  I don't really need a square quilt.  At least not one that big as I have no wall to hang it on. 

Here's my plan for this quilt.  I  will take off the outside columns to force it into a rectangle. Then I think I will finish off the cream squares that look like they are on point.  I'll have to dig out the directions and get to making the units.  I have a limited amount of fabric left and all the larger half square triangles I will need. (Bonus!) 

Perhaps what I really should do is draw this in EQ and see what I can do to make it look finished.  I doubt if I have enough of any of the fabric to border it but I might. Any suggestions? I'm open to ideas from everyone.  

So, that's my one monthly goal for February.  Make this quilt a finished flimsie.  I considered having the whole quilt finished as my goal but I know I've got a lot of things scheduled this month, it's only 29 days and 2 days have already passed and don't want to not finish the goal. If I finished it I'd also have to find some backing for it and I doubt I have anything in my stash that would be reasonable. But if get rolling on this, I'll quilt it too.  Oooh.  Wouldn't that be terrific...another quilt off the UFO list! 

I'm linking up with Red Letter Quilts' One Monthly Goal Link Up and Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.

Happy Quilting All! 

An Almost Done UFO

My mental deadline for this quilt came and went. But I was diligent and it will be done by the end of today.  I want to share it because I doubt I'll get good pictures when I finish it this evening. This was Mystery 28 from Marge's Mysteries for Relay.  I started it in March or was it April in 2013?  I worked on it on and off for a while and finally finished the top at the Faithful Circle Quilter's Retreat in June.  By then I knew we were computerizing Ruthie so I waited to quilt it until after the upgrade.  

This quilt is being donated to Manakin Episcopal Church's Gala Dinner and Auction to be part of the silent auction next Saturday. The binding has already been sewn on one side by machine and I am doing the hand stitching in the evenings.  

I need to make a label for it but have come up short on naming it.  I love the names Bonnie Hunter gives her mysteries so I'm trying to come up with something descriptive and interesting.  But I've got nothing, nada, nope, not anything.  So help me out folks.  I need a name for this.  If you can come up with something that would be helpful. Although the blue with red flowers is a Christmas fabric it really doesn't scream Christmas to me.  You have to look at the flowers to realize the flowers are poinsettias and are generally thought of as Christmas.  Any thoughts? Ideas?  Add them in a comment -- soon.  I have to have it done to turn over tomorrow. I'll check back early afternoon and see what has been suggested.  

Here's what the quilting looks like on the back.  I pieced the back with mostly fabric from the front except I purchased a piece of red that went well with the front.  The binding is the red from the front.  I love how precise the computer stitches out the design.  I will definitely be quilting for others with Ruthie now.  I have several more quilts waiting to be quilted one of which I need to do a little more custom type work.  That will be interesting to see if I can place partial rows of quilting.  Keep tuned, I'll be showing more finished quilts in the next week or so. 

Needless to say I'm going to have a very good month when I do my final monthly accounting of my stash busting efforts.  We'll be traveling for several days next week so I probably will only get one more quilt done but every one helps especially since I've acquired nearly no yardage this month.  Well, except that one piece I picked up at guild as someone is downsizing her stash. It was only ONE piece -- it could have been yards and yard. But, friends and I are going Tuesday to an embroidery event, lunch and then visit the new location for Quilting Adventures.  

I'm off to have breakfast and some ice tea.  I'll be in the studio most of the day in hopes of getting several more things either finished or farther along toward finished. 

Happy Quilting All! 

Design Wall Monday 3- 31 - 2014

It suddenly dawned on me that the end of the month was almost upon us.  Oops!  That's the deadline to enter quilts in Faithful Circle Quilters' quilt show coming up in May.  I've been organizing and locating photos of the quilts I want to enter.  3 of the 5 I'll enter have been registered.  The last two will be done today after blogging and showering.  

Next epiphany was realizing that I was dropping them off with Sharon this coming weekend.  YIKES, every single one of them needed hanging sleeves.  Alert! Alert!  Quit all other sewing and get those sleeves on.  Yesterday was also Country Piecemakers' Sit N Stitch at our local library. You KNOW what I was doing.  Yep sewing on sleeves.  I'm happy to report that two are now sleeved.  (can I make sleeve a verb? Of course I can!)  Once the sleeve was made the hand stitching took about 2 hours or so.  One issue is the 5th quilt is Natalie's Owls which, of course, she has.  I've begged Jenny to sew a sleeve on but she may not be able to do it.  

So before my panic on Saturday, this is what was getting done in my studio. My Mystery for Relay quilt is sewn together -- at least the center is.  I have once again put it in hibernation so I can finish a few other things before I tackle the borders.  My thought is to use the print fabric that is the center of the dark Xs for the border.  I'll audition it with some additional colors as inner borders to see if I like it when I drag it out again.  This quilt is destined to be donated to my church for a silent auction.  Luckily the auction isn't until September so I have a bit of time to finish it.  

Here's what else has been getting attention.  I am just tickled with this quilt.  I have to figure out the borders as I will have to cut very carefully so I have enough fabric to have the designs going in the correct direction.  I was trying to have this done by Friday also.  As I was looking for pictures of quilts that I was entering in the show I realized I had several additional quilts I'd rather enter.  This will be done in time to be delivered to the Maryland guild when I am up there in May to work the show.  This one will go to Project Linus in Howard County.  This is a dots for tots challenge quilt.  Dots you ask?  Yep, the blue sails are blue on blue dots.  I'll use the second piece of multicolor dots on the back with the left over sailboat fabric.  My guess is Project Linus might like this for older boys but that is there decision, not mine.  I'm just enjoying making it. 

Lots of things need to be getting done in my studio but I've changed my focus to get what needs to be done by Friday done! I've done pretty well on last week's goals.  

Week of March 24, 2014

Quilt Jane’s baby quilts (2)√√

Bind my baby quilt√

Make sample lotto block for CP √

Sew Sailboat Quilt together√

Decide√ and make borders for Sailboat Quilt

Load QOV quilt

And now what am I getting done this week especially considering I am visiting the grands this weekend. 

Week of March 31, 2014

Embroider shirts for Ellie, Natalie and Sophia

Enjoy visit to Natalie and Sophia

Load QOV quilt

Add hanging sleeves on 3 quilts entered in quilt show

Give Sharon my quilts for show

Make embroidered towel at class

Cut fabric for next Christmas Favorites bom

So that's how this week should go.  We'll see if I actually do all that stuff when Design Wall Monday rolls around again.  Don't forget to go to Patchwork Times to use the links to posts across the country.

Happy Quilting All!