November OMG & Stashbusting Efforts

It's time to decide on my November One Monthly Goal.  While I was trying to decide what to work on this month it dawned on me that I really had to have all Christmas presents bought and wrapped by the second weekend of December because I had all sorts of other plans for the rest of the month.  So, knowing that, I decided to make my goal present-oriented.  Natalie has her new American Girl doll so I will be making doll clothes for it.  My goal is to make 2 complete outfits (sans shoes...) during November. 

I bought this great book a couple of months ago at Quilter's Corner in Midlothian, VA.  It has quite a few different style outfits including 2 dresses, several pants, the coat and pjs.  And, notice the little dog.  Hum, do I want to try to make the dog?  

Here's the dress and jacket I've already cut out.  Both the bodice and the jacket are lined.  Unfortunately the shoe pattern isn't included.   I'll be starting on it soon.  So two doll outfits is my goal for the month.  

Next up is my stash busting statistics.  I just realized I didn't post the September results.  So here are the stats for both months.

2017	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
Sept.	18.5	85.5	15.625	92.0	6.50
Oct.	7.25	92.75	10	102	9.25

I bought a lot of fabric in September because I was shopping in Lancaster County.  But I added to the stash in October too.  Luckily, I had a couple of  finishes that counter-balanced the additions to the stash. In October I made lots of pillowcases to donate to hurricane relief and to Ryan's Case for Smiles. In October I finished my Christmas Trip Around the World.  That used up a nice amount of fabric.  What tickled me about it is I was able to use up several smaller bits of fabric that I'd had for a long time.  

I suspect I won't have much fabric used during November.  But I will be getting some doll clothes finished! 

Link ups for today include Elm Street Quilts' One Monthly Goal November Goal Setting and Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation. I'm heading over to these two sites to see what sewists are up to today.  Hope you take a look too. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 11 - 28 - 2016

It seems like I really didn't get much sewing done over the last week.  On the other hand I did make 4 apple crumb pies -- with nary a picture to show for it.  What was I thinking?  Two pies were sold at a bake sale supporting the local singing group.  One was for dessert Thanksgiving day and one is residing in the freezer to be pulled out in the future.  Lots of work but I still have a whole pie left! 

So, I did get 2 Christmas shirts done for Sophie and Natalie. OOPS, no pictures. I did notice they were both wearing them the next day when their mom posted on Facebook.  But, you really can't see the designs.  Sigh.  I've made Theo a Christmas onesie but I can't even find it now.  Yikes.  So, I'll throw in a picture of some more of the onesies I gave him in October.  Jawsome is from Embroidery Boutique. 

And Boy at Work is from Designs by JuJu.  Who knows where I put his Christmas one.  Heck, where is the shirt for Ellie's Christmas embroidery?  I am getting a little too scattered. Must mean I need to spend way more time in the studio.  I have hardly been in there over the last week or two. 

Here's my newest knitting project.  Don't expect to see anymore of it for several weeks.  Just saying'.

I finished my OMG pretty early this month.  I wanted to sew the blocks together and get the borders on.  And yep, both borders are done.  

You can visit other OMG blogs by going to Elm Street Quilts to see if others have finished their November goals.  (If you have time, take a look at other posts on Patty's blog.  She has a lot of information on making bags/purses.  I need some time to page through all the wonderful posts.) I'll post my goal for December early in the month. 

Now, it's on to the weekly goals.  I didn't give myself too many goals as I knew I was going to be busy with non-quilty things last week.  Heck, it'll be the same this week actually.  So, overall, I did well. 

November 21, 2016

Keep knitting √

Get 2 more shirts embroidered before Thanksgiving√

Load customer quilt on Ruthie (Started the backing will finish on today)

Cook Thanksgiving dinner√

Make pies, cookies and muffins for community bake sale√ I don’t want to make another apple pie for a while…I made 4 of them!

And this coming week.... again, a little less quilting involved.

November 28, 2016

Load and quilt customer quilt

Make backing for Christmas Favorites

Knit

Have lunch with Dorothy and attend Pat’s concert

Sing with Spottsylvanians

Find Christmas cards and start getting them ready to send…

Embroider Ellie's Christmas shirt

We'll see if I buckle down and get the two quilty things done.  I'm very motivated on the knitting so I know I'll keep working on the various projects I have going.  

Take some time to relax with a cup of tea (unless you are a coffee fan) and check out these Monday Linky Parties: Main Crush Monday and Monday Makings.

That's it for me now.  I am going to load a quilt this afternoon and knit some more.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

October OMG!

I NAILED IT! My OMG for October was to finish the last three blocks of Christmas Favorites. And, yes 2 were ready to machine blanket stitch around the pieces before the month even started.  I did take all three blocks to retreat -- the two I had ready to go were finished.  I finished the piecing on the last block and got it appliquéd down.  When these three were "done" I went back to the pattern to see what else had to be done.  Hum, I missed 3 holly leaves on 2 different blocks.  I have several pieces that will be 3-D and can't be attached until after the quilt is quilted.  And, oops! there's some embroidery to be done.   

Despite those few things that need to be finished I'm calling my October OMG done√√√√. Here's what the three blocks look like: 

Hum, the poinsettia looks weird -- but it has 5 3-D leaves that need to be put on after the quilting is done.  Lots of the blocks have buttons that will be added then too. The HoHoHo block and the Mistletoe blocks have hand embroidery that needs to be done before the blocks can be put together.  Plus I have 3 holly leaves I forgot that need to be added to two blocks.  

This brings me to my November OMG.  Yep, you got it... I want to finish the blocks as detailed above and sew them together.  If I really stay focused I may be able get the two borders added too.  But my main goal is to get the blocks done and sewn together. 

Today we celebrated Ellie's birthday by joining everybody at an indoor play area.  The girls were happy to be bouncing in several big bounce houses.  Some of the grown ups (me included) had a great time with some air guns that shot soft rubber balls.  Sophie and I had a major battle for a while.  The girls were lucky to ride some bumper cars.  (Only Sophie was really old enough.)  Natalie and Sophie really seemed to understand the directions on driving the bumper cars.  Ellie didn't quite "get" how to drive but she moved her car around and actually bumped into the other girls on occasion. It was fun for all of us.  Theo didn't necessarily agree because he slept through most of it. 

After the time at the play space Kevin and Aimee took us out to lunch at a local pizzeria.  The pizza was good and was followed by cake.  Yum!  Thanks Kevin and Aimee for the fun time.  And, they were happy to give me the leftover cake. (It's something I seldom have at home but I do like it!) Here's Ellie enjoying her cake.  She thought it was yummy too. 

I'm linking up with Red Letter Quilts' October link up post.  Take some time to see how folks are have done this month on succeeding on their goals.  I sure hope Heidi plans to continue this program next year.  It has been very helpful for me. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

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OMG Success

YeeHaw!  I was able to finish the two blocks I had planned for the OMG.  And, surprisingly, I finished them really early -- maybe in the first week.  I don't remember.  I actually looked at doing more blocks but as usual I was overcome with indecisiveness.  It takes me longer to pick the fabric for each block then to make the blocks.  Sigh.

This block was already cut out, ready to iron down.  Because it is small it didn't take much time to finish, even sewing down the ribbons.  (If that dark blue looks familiar it can be seen as the background on this piece. I noticed I also was mentioning my upcoming goal and there was a picture of this block before I started on it in August.)

Much of this block was already done -- letters were cut out and some of the backgrounds were already chosen.  The majority of the time was spent stitching down the letters and making the tree.  Excellent.  Now if I could just get going on some more blocks.  

Which comes to my September goal:  I'm going to get two more blocks done from the Christmas Favorites book. Yes, really.  I'll pick the colors and get two more done. I may work on pieced blocks instead of appliqué but it's picking the fabrics that always gets to me.  I was thinking of using a block kit I bought in Alaska in the mid '90s but I'm not that in love with it and its mate.  (What was I thinking when I bought an Alaskan version of Sun Bonnet Sue?) I have it on the goals for this week so maybe I will spend time sewing it down but we'll see.   

I'm linking up with Red Letter Quilts and Let's Be Social.  Take some time to see what others are up to in their studios.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

OMG May Goal

For some reason I didn't realize that there was a linky party over at Red Letter Quilts every month for the One Monthly Goal announcement.  I've been announcing next month's goal in the same blog post for the ending of the month. I figured it out this week. So, here's another little post about my next OMG.  Hum, maybe I wasn't eligible for the previous months.  That's ok as I really like getting the UFO I pick done each month. 

I'm working on a batik rail fence variation.  I've been busily sewing together all of the "rails" I got at a retreat swap.  They are now sewn in pairs.  Tomorrow or Friday I hope to get them into "4s" so I can then figure out how much sashing I'm going to need.  Here's what I do know -- I want a bigger quilt.  I figured out I was going to end up with 14 12" blocks of rails.  Hum, a 2 x 7 set? Or 3 x 4 with a few left over?   I don't think so!  

Today I made enough rails to be able to make 3 more blocks.  Except, really 17?  That is definitely not going to work.  Tomorrow I will count all the blocks I have and decide whether I really need more or not.  I will probably want to make 3 more blocks. (I may not have remembered the right number so it could be more or less!)   Twenty blocks would be great as a 4 x 5 set.  Then just add sashing and border/s and I'll have a nice size quilt.  

 

I'm linking up with Red Letter Quilts, Let's Bee Social, and Needle and Thread Thursday.   Take some time to see what folks are doing in their studio.  Mine needs a good straightening as I've been grabbing all sorts of batiks to try to finish my blocks.  I refolded the batiks I wasn't going to use and put them back on the shelf.  I still have a pile of reds out from several weeks ago.  

I'm curious how you store your bits and drabs of scraps.  I do try to keep cutting strips and squares.  But I frequently have bigger pieces that I just don't know what to do with.  Think of the excess fabric backing from trimmed quilts.  I'm considering starting a plastic box for each major color. (The boxes can be stored under my stacks of fabric on the bookshelves and I actually have the boxes. stored They are half full or less with bigger odd pieces.  What's your plan for odd ball size fabrics?  I could sure use some help! 

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!