Blogiversary treats.

I am thankful for all the feedback I have received in this past year. I have been inspired by the many quilts, projects and ideas out there. I am motivated by all you busy productive people. And I am rewarded to find people just like me.. a bit quirky, a bit messy or should I say creative, and human with ups and downs meeting life's challenges the best we can with each other's help.

Thank you.

And to Ashley  goes these rewards.

God bless.

New Year's goals

A new year coming : 2018.Time to set those goals. 

Quilting.  I was able to accomplish many completions last year. And at the same time created some new UFOs to finish.

 Monthly projects

1)  Stash Bee: It is modern blocks this year, so it will be a gift for one of my kids.

2)  Rainbow Scrap Challenge:  I have not decided what exactly;  I am between batik half square triangles  ( I saw a pattern at Quilt Expo that I purchased. ) or 9 patches.

3) Start and piece a couple blocks per month on Gooseberry Sampler.  It is a Kansas Trouble pattern that will look great in gold, green and reds which I have of her fabrics. I hope to use up some of that accumulated stash. I really have wanted to have a Christmas quilt. I love the design and already think that by breaking it down into sections, I could get much of the piecework done by summer and then assemble it then.



4)  Do a couple blocks a month for Covered in Stitches, donation quilt project.

5) Bimonthly row by row for my guild. Last month I made a beautiful scene by the water.  Current one due by Feb. is ornaments. All I have to do create a couple 12 inch blocks; the  owner already made the "chains" from which each row is hanging.

UFOs    

This is great for 2 reasons.  I get things done that are just waiting and calling my name. My Hoochie Mom quilting group is doing this as a monthly challenge. Killing 2 birds with 1 stone.  A win-win.

1)  Finish Log Cabin Quilt along
This was started a year ago and sat since March.  I have been working on it for 3 months. I challenged myself to do the applique by hand. It is really beautiful in person. It is a  Kim Diehl design; I love her rich colors and the combination of patchwork and applique.




2) I have GOT to finish my grandson's Transportation quilt.
He has had his own big boy bed for a year.  I started this in May.  And I am making my own patterns from internet ideas. I love the bright colors.



3)  I just have to do the last clue to assemble the Meadow Mist Mystery.
I am giving this to my daughter  She approved the background which is the grunge blue with large dots. I so over ordered it and will have backing for it as well. She loves bright colors.



4) Spring Tulips.  My plan is to have half square triangles around the outside edges with a basket of tulips in the center framed by these blocks which I received for Stash Bee.



5)  The Dresden Spin just needs binding:
That shouldn't be too hard.  Maybe I can even get to it the rest of this holiday.


And so on.   I still have some older ones on my side bar and want to finish some of them up as well. The heart log cabins are for my mom. All I need to do is string piece long borders between the hearts on point.


Planned projects:  Yes, I don't want to just  finish old projects. Just like you and our creative friends, I have fabric and patterns I fell in love with and want to attempt.

Table runner: Christmas for my daughter in law.  I purchased it this Christmas.  ( Maybe I can even get it done now for next year.) This looks great when it is done and has no patchwork or applique. Plus it matches  my daughter in law's kitchen.



Christmas quilt for boys>  Podunk Pretties showed this panel to cut up, add more borders, a few extra blocks and there you have it. I also purchased this and some bright fabrics to add to it.



Woolies flannel kit  I bought for myself  a couple years ago. It is so pretty and would be nice for my living room.



And of course,  I will spontaneously come up with more.

I like making donation quilts. I have a bag of red/ white/ and blue strips to make a Quilt of Valor.
I have a top pieced ready to be quilted also for another donation quilt.

There are a couple of bags of scraps left over from baby quilts to make NIC unit ones. 36 x 36 in.
Also a huge bag and drawer of  homespuns to create with. It would be easy to replicate the one I did last year 

I can always find things to sew.   So I know I can get sidetracked and inspired.

End of 2017

Sum total:  As I look back on all of 2017, I have assembled the projects that have occupied my time the most and the finishes.  Yeah for those.


Finished quilts/quilted projects

   




One more:  I made a paper pieced wall hanging for my sister and a table runner and mat for my brother and his wife. I do not have  a finished picture of it.


Donation quilts

    

Lap quilt for Veteran 
   

    2 baby quilts for NIC unit           


Quilt for Lakota Indian tribe

UFO's

 
Go 4 Spring      (Quilt along from American Patchwork and Quilting 2014 or 2015)                                 


  
     Dresden Spin (quilted not bound) 10 year old project from Edita Sitar's template
My own design for the setting



Fall Hexie


Internet/blog quilt-along
Finished:


Last year's Bonnie Hunter mystery: En Provence



Started and to be assembled

Blockheads       Some of the 35ish blocks finished so far                                             

 Rainbow Scrap Challenge: 97 blocks completed
    This only shows 5 of the 10 colors.





Stash Bee Tulip Blocks                             


         Meadow Mist Mystery









Great progress made on :

Log cabin quilt along                                       


The left and right borders are completed and the patchwork in one piece.

Now all that is left is to finish the  applique on the top and bottom. 4 leaves left, red buds and flowers.
It is so closed to getting done.  I have spent the last several nights with a needle in my hand... to the point ( har, har)  that I have pushed the end of the needle in my finger multiple times on the same spot on my middle finger.



  Over the river and through the woods.
           Crabapple Hill





I have one panel completed.  And the 2nd one which is much more dense is at least halfway completed. That leaves the rest of that one and the panel with only words, which should go quickly in comparison.

Row by row 1st exchange

For my guild, I became a part of of small round robin type exchange except it is a row by row.

This is the row included as the inspiration for the rest of us. 

So after searching Pinterest and other landscape quilts, I found this great water scene and added depth and by making the hills into layers of colors and adding waves. Further I gave rocks and craggy edges to the cliff.  then I searched my fabrics to find cool balloons and pieced the large one and the light house. ( which tilts.) Lovely!

Here are some close ups.

Yeah!  DONE! Now to pass it on to the next person. 

I trimmed threads at school; my students approved.

Oh Christmas Tree

No, I have not put up our Christmas tree...yet.

But I did spend the day making ornaments for this felt tree for my grandsons. It will be theirs and theirs alone, to decorate and redecorate at will and hopefully leave the real tree alone. 

I had fun  with felt, puffy paints and ribbons. Here are some close ups of some ornaments and presents.

 

I also started some decorated glass jars for lights and a row for the row by row challenge for my guild. It is due Wednesday.  

This is the wonderful starter. It came from a quilt shop somewhere up north in Wisconsin.  

Stay tuned for my addition. It is using a variety of techniques. 

Don't forget to comment for my blogiversary.  I will close the give away on Thursday.

Blogiversary: 1 year!

It has been one year!  Yay!!!!! ( I can just hear Kermit while his arms are waving.)


Wow!  I love my quilting and this has been a way of celebrating the inching forward of projects.
It has also been a recognition of those completions.  And the best part has been the connections with you, the readers who have been so gracious to comment.

I have gotten involved in many more online projects this year: I finished Bonnie Hunter's mystery of last year, completed the patchwork for a log cabin quilt along, made 38 blocks per week as a Blockhead ( so far) , completed Helping Hands donation, and Covered in Love donation blocks,  am participating in Meadow Mist mystery and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

This is all because of the creative and interesting things available online. The plethora of fabric choices,  tutorials and ideas which  are so inspiring. And the accountability to show progress.

  At the same time, I have found that I am in a group of like minded people who have too many fun things we want to do, busy lives preventing us from getting as much done as we would like, but having so many warm compassionate supportive people.  Reading how others are in slumps, or struggle with projects  has made me realize I am normal.  I always had felt badly as my mom would be a one project person.

Thank you!

I have a surprise giveaway for a lucky responder.

Blockheads update

One more block for last week: number 39

It is hard to believe that the 1st block came out in March.    And I am doing o.k keeping up.  Just one block to tweak.  But overall it is looking very good.  If you haven't seen these before, they are 6 inch blocks and mine are made from Kansas Trouble fabrics. Starching is truly the key to precise piecing.

And here are all the blocks so far.

Hmm my light backgrounds really stick out.

  It has truly been an adventure on piecing. And it has not used up much fabric.  

1st weekend of December

Christmas is coming. The goose is getting fat...And so the song goes.

But in real life the last month of the year; the countdown truly begins...to Christmas.

It started with leaving work early for an eye appointment. But I already knew I needed glasses to read and of course, sew. Have you seen one lying around? There are several missing. 

 Anyway, what a headache from all the light in my eyes. So now, I need eye drops, just saline.  

And then I had time to sew yesterday. I finished 2 blocks  for  Covered in Love.

Covered in Love is a call for blocks and she then assembles and has then has them quilted and donates them. 

      

And the assembled and quilted 4 mug rugs/pot holders.

 

This is one colorway.  I have a 2nd color with a green print and red ribbons.

And little by little I am getting my applique done:

Here is one end of the 60 inch borders. so far the stems are done. and leaves on one border. 

This is the decor for a great little restaurant in downtown Waukesha.  My spouse and I went to last night. The ambiance was wonderful with the lights and ornaments hanging everywhere.    The long thing above the bar is an assemblage of characters like Dick Tracy and  all collectibles.manner of old collectibles.  This is the 2nd bar mantel as the restaurant burned down once.  Great time!

Hope you and yours are doing well.