2013: The Year of the Finished Project

 

 

Lynne over at Never Too Hot to Stitch! is hosting a monthly linky party on the first Thursday of every month.  The purpose is to outline what you want to focus on that month, and share what you completed the previous month, in the hopes that 2013 will reduce the number of UFOs floating around the house.  Considering that my UFOs and WIPs are growing exponentially, I feel the need to join in!

 

This month, I am only choosing 5 projects to focus on. 

 

1. Complete Easy Street quilt top

 

 

I have all the parts made for the Bonnie-size version, but my daughter likes it so I am upsizing it to King Size, with a slight modification to the colour order.  Where you see her lime green, I am going to be using a medium purple.  The other colour orders are changed as well, and there won't be any aqua after all, but she is thrilled with the sample block I made. 

 

So far, I have done all the calculations to increase the quilt to king-size.  I'm waiting for tomorrow or Saturday for Hamel's Super Stitcher Weekend (first weekend of every month) so I can get the medium purples at a 20% discount.  It should be finished by the end of the month.

 

Due to the size, this one will get sent out to be long-arm quilted.  Hopefully, I'll be able to do that in March.

 

2. Finish my Pure Happy Quilting Quilt-a-long Quilt

 

 

 

This was the first quilt-a-long I participated in (and Melissa's first one that she hosted!).  This is a lap quilt just for me. 

 

It is partly quilted with a chocolate minkee backing.  I put it aside to concentrate on Christmas presents.  I should be able to finish this in just a weekend, including binding.

 

3. Sarah's Dragonfly Table Runner



 

All that needs to be done on this one is finish the binding.  I was short about 12" so after a quick trip I was able to find the right batik on the third bolt I pulled!  That was a month ago, so today I finished off the strip, attached the binding and it is ready for handsewing.  This will be done by tomorrow night and taken to my daughter's.  We bought the fabric together almost a year and a half ago as a project to teach her how to quilt.  Needless to say, the baby kept her too busy and I did most of the work.  We`ll find another project to do this spring.

 

4. Gramma quilt

 

 

I bought this kit about 3 years ago, and I have no idea why I put it aside.  I finally cut it out this summer, but now it is time to finish it as I am changing the beds in the grandkids` room and need a twin size quilt.  I want the top finished this month, and will quilt it in February.

 

5. Just Takes Two Pillow Cover

 

 

When I started doing my Just Takes Two quilt blocks, I thought I might use aqua and white instead of red.  I found it very bland and assembled the first six blocks to make a pillow cover. I have done the basic stitch-in-the-ditch quilting, but want to fill in the white space with some FMQ, which I want to practice this year. It will coordinate with my lap quilt really nice, which will also match my sofa!

 

So that is the plan for January!  I really want to take control of my projects, and this may be a great way to do it.  In addition to outlining my plan on the first Thursday of each month, I`m also going to participate in Leah Day`s UFO Sundays and dedicate Sunday afternoons to catching up!

 

Thanks, Lynne for coming up with The Year of the Finished Project.

 

 

Catching up

Since taking an office position, I've been neglecting my blog (but not my sewing room) - sorry about that, folks!

I've been busy working on this:

Triangles to complete Melissa from Happy Quilting's Quilt-a-long.  I've had to order the sashing fabric and just got word that I can pick it up at my US mail box, so I'll make a quick trip across the line once my grandson goes home.

Mug rugs from scraps

A few more wonky blocks

I also cut 2" squares from an old cotton shirt for my leaders and enders project (ala Bonnie Hunter).

And while this little bundle of joy slept in the sewing room, and his brother and 2 cousins played, I taught his mom and her sister (my twin nieces) how to make these:

Mei-tei Baby Carriers by Mae - They were surprising easy to make and we all loved the interchangeable panels! 

And of course, I had a sneak peak at this little Work-In-Progress!  My baby granddaughter is due June 1st, and I've started some sewing for her!

PS:  Only one more follower is needed before I draw for my giveaway!  Tell your friends about me, please!



What's on my design wall!

A sweet bunny quilt for a sweet baby granddaughter, due to arrive about June 1st!  This quilt has moved from the UFO pile to the WIP pile.

(My apologies for the crappy picture - I do live on the "Wet" coast after all, and winter weather means rain and clouds.)

The pattern is called Cherished Memories from Rabbit's Haven by A. Neely,  a (somewhat) local designer from Vancouver Island.  I purchased it as a kit from my favourite quilt shop, Hamels, when I started back at quilting (for the third or fourth time) about 5 years ago. 

When I pulled it out about 2 weeks ago, I had only stitched 2 1/2 blocks before putting it away.  Since then, I have completed a total of 9 blocks, with only 3 to go.  I think I might finish this on time ;o)

Some Valentines for you!

These are part of a UFO I've had in the pile for 3 or more years.

6 of 13 blocks fused.

Buttonhole stitching started.

And not much else.

Except these pretty blocks to admire!

I'm moving this to the Works-In-Progess pile as soon as I find the pattern again!

It's called Vintage Valentine and I purchased this as a kit from my favourite quilt shop, Hamels Fabrics.  It is a very generous kit, and included over 25 fabrics (mostly fat quarters) for the Valentines.  They are now offering it again and when I was there this morning, they had all the fabrics pulled to make up the kits - and even though they are slightly different, they are just as beautiful as they were 4 years ago!

I added a few more that I had in my stash (to the right) just for a wee bit more variety!

The kit also included everything I needed to finish it, but alas, that is missing too!  I know it is in this house somewhere, now just to find it.