OMG January Finish - My Funky Pine Trees

"My Funky Pine Trees" table runner is done.  I am glad as it has been a UFO for quite some time.  This was both my One Monthly Goal and one of my UFOs for my APQResolution and my 2018FQLAQ1.    I have to confess, some of those fabrics have been favorites of mine for a long time.  I loved using them again, and for many of them, it is their last appearance.

I heard Beth Helfter at Rising Star Quilters Guild many moons ago.  I bought the pattern, I did a little and then I got stuck.  I don't think the style is really me; that was what made it hard.  I like it done a whole lot more than I liked it half way done.  Trying new things, learning new techniques, new approaches is something I like to do.   I have never put jewels on a quilt before, but I rather like it.  I did it the simple way with Swarovski flatback crystals, like these and an embellishing glue.  I used my tweezers to place them.  Worked rather well, if I may say so.

Here are its stats:

My Funky Christmas Trees

17" x 42"

Pattern:  Mod-ified Tress by Eva Page Quilting

Batting:  Quilter's Dream Request

Machine Applique Thread:  YLI Machine Quilting 50 wt, #12V Jewel

Pieced and quilted by:  Kathleen Scargle McCormick

Linking up with:  

Elm Street Quilts -  One Monthly Goal

Sew Fresh Quilts - Let's Bee Social

She Can Quilt - 2018FALQ1 

Squiggling along

This pile is being transformed on a weekly basis.  I am making a Squiggles quilt following along with Christa Watson.  Its not too late to get in on the fun, especially if you have the right precuts hanging around.   I won this grouping of fabrics a few months ago and it seemed to work quite well with this pattern.  So, week 1 goal was met. These fabrics are all cut.  I used my new Sizzix to cut the squares and half square triangles.  

Here's the pile of half trimmed and half not trimmed blocks.   I think I have about 132 blocks and will make a 10x13 quilt.  I was a little short of what the pattern calls for, but decided to go ahead.  I could add a little grey border if I wanted it a little bigger.  Honestly, I found the precut to be pretty helpful, but there are always still some inaccuracies.  As you can see the triangles have the dog ears trimmed, so I didn't have to draw the line.  I trimmed with my scissors. Week 2 -  make the blocks - is complete. 

Week 3 is assembling the quilt and by the end of today I hope to be making some progress on that. Last night I started laying it out and today I finished (vinyl tablecloths can be carefully folded and most pieces stay in place on the flannel back.  This afternoon I finish laying it all out on the bed - carefully marked the rows and put in little piles.  

I am taking some time matching things up.  It is almost all working out!  The first two rows I redid most of the join.  It was just off too much.  I.AM.PINNING.  It is much easier to keep it lined up.  Sometimes, I just use my fingers, but today it went better with pins.  Who is to second guess why some days it works and some it doesn't?

Holding my breath as I have 9 more rows to go.

I am quilting along with a few internet friends, check them out at:

Rose at Something Rose Made

Wendy at Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life

Jan at Cocoa Quilts.

Linking up with: Inquiring Quilters Wait Loss Wednesdays

#365DaysOfArtPBQChallenge Week 4, Exercises 22-28

Day 27:  Continue creating patterns.  Use warm colors.  

This was my favorite this week.  Warm colors are not my preference, so it was fun to color in therm.  I think I should have used flairs to get more color, but still I had fun.

Day 22 - what made you smile today?  A hawk made me smile.  My photo of this bird wasn't great either but this is a pretty sill sketch of a bird!   S/he was right outside my window and just captivated my attention for quite some time.  I am looking for a repeat visit but not yet....

Day 24:  Color in the stripes.  I just colored and had fun.  And yes, this is closer to my normal palette.

Day 23:  Fill the page with colored dots.  I did - easy and fun.

 Day26:  Add your own scene.  Well I went with a campground kind of feel, with forest across on the other side.  I loved drawing the trees.  Hated the campground - but I don't really like to camp so maybe it came through in the coloring!

Day 25:  Fill the squares with different marks.  This felt like quilt as desired so I had fun, but a few were not as successful - but you get the idea.

Day 28: Design some T-shirts.    Long ago and faraway I wanted to design clothes.  Good thing I didn't! They aren't bad, but they would not have made me a lot of money.

Linking up with: Sherry at Powered by Quilting

#365DaysOfArtPBQChallenge Week 3, Exercises 15-21

I decided to join in on Sherry's 365 Days of Art Challenge at Powered by Quilting.  You can read more about the challenge here.  I still am catching up but did get last weeks done.  I am no artist, but I am enjoying the challenge. I hope that it sparks some creativity - and some chuckles as we go along.

Some are easy, some just take a long time, but they are rather fulfilling in their own way.  I don't really have paints yet, and may continue just with colored pencils and flairs.  I feel a little better showing this as a collage rather than each one.  It makes it seem less intimidating.

Here's to some fun scribbling next week!

Linking up to: Sherry at Powered by Quilting and Beth at MainCrushMonday

Progress.... A busy week for me

I worked on my Modified Trees by EvaPaige Quilt Designs.    My husband was out of town and I hibernated in my study.  It is quilted.  And, it is REQUILTED on one side.  I had eyelashes on the back and thought about letting it go, but I knew it was a mistake.  It took less than 40 minutes to do the whole thing - rip and quilt. 

While not a great picture,  am thinking of embellishing with the silver string to mimic lights. Not sure I love it so tonight I bought some flatback crystals and will place those  on it and see if I like that better.   The binding was made and attached, as well as my label.  It could very well be done by Sunday if I make up my mind.

This was my other project.  It is a Moda Fabric collection, Midnight Garden, by One Canoe Two, and I love it!  I won it on a blog contest and am really thrilled with it (and there is some still available).  I am using it in the Squiggles QAL with Christa Watson and I think it will be quite fun.  I have a few less than the pattern calls for, but I will just adjust.  I have what I won and I am not looking for more (except maybe for the back).  I think this will go together nicely.

I feel like I worked late a lot, and enjoyed it.  Because I have a work project at the the end of February and this QAL and the Island Batik program starting I wanted to push myself a bit.  So I think I did well:

1. Washed, pressed cut Squiggles
2. Quilted Modified Trees
3. Made and attached binding for Modified Trees

TO DO for January month end:

1. Make Squiggles blocks
2. Assemble Squiggles blocks
3. Embellish Modified Trees

February Includes the follownig:

• Finish Loon
• Two Island Batik smallish projects
• and move an office of 20 people! 

So, wish me luck as I try to stay focused...  I think I can do it, but it will take some concentrating when I have time.  I am thinking about getting a little more control on my schedule and sticking to it!  Otherwise, there won't be time for just fun and I hate that.

First Quarter Goals - #2018FALQ1

This first quarter is a busy one for me!  Some of you know I moved from our house of 22 years to an apartment (still have a sewing studio).  Well, this little company that I do some consulting for is moving the end of February and I am in charge of helping coordinate some pieces of the move.  This week has felt like I lost a lot of time, but its the weekend and I am going to use it.

If you aren't familiar with this group, please jump over to Beth at She Can Quilt.  Everything you to need to know is right there! Basically, we list our goals in the beginning of the quarter and at the end of the quarter 'fess up to what we have/not accomplished.  I am going light as I think 3 may be it.

As I was thinking of this I felt like a little Gilbert and Sullivan....

I've got a little list

I've got a little list

Of society offenders undone quilting projects 

Who might well be underground forgotten

And never But would surely be missed

They never would surely be missed

1.  Wonky Christmas Tree Table Runner

Quilt

Embellish

Bind

2.  Loon - on my UFO list for 3 years:

Attach lily pads, grass, flower

Quilt

Bind

3. Fancy Forest

Quilt

Bind

Also, I will have one other project to do, and I am not sure of its deadline, so it will be fun to see what the 2018 Island Batik Ambassadors will do.  

That's it for now....

Linking up to 2018FALQ1!

OMG - January - Tablerunner

I thought I would commit to One Monthly Goal this month.  I have a UFO that I have done a little work on - a tablerunner.

It is pattern called Modified Trees by Eva Page Quilt Designs.  Beth Helfter spoke at our guild and I thought the pattern would be a fun one for a boutique or gift for a friend.  I made it and got stuck on wanting to do the border.  2 nights ago, I decided to forgo the entire border, but only add some ground for the trees.

This picture is only half the tablerunner.   There is also a star between the two trees, and I am thinking of a ribbon to do that or fancy stitching - but have to look and see what might work.  The colors I choose are a little bright, but I think I will like it.

This will be the back and binding.  It is a fabric that was in my stash but it quite fun with the trees.  I  have an idea for quilting - we'll see if its as brilliant as I think - or whether I can do it.  Wish me luck.


Linking up with:  One Monthly Goal 

An exciting annoucement!

Can you believe it???  I can't.

I saw the announcement come across my blog feed that applications were being accepted.  I thought, what the heck, I may as well apply!  I was so inspired by the work of a few quilters that I follow:

Laura Piland at Slice of Pi Quilts

and

Jennifer Fulton at The Inquiring Quilter.

I met these wonderful quilters during the 2017 New Quilt Bloggers event and started following.  I have quilted a long time, but my primary joy in quilting is trying new things, stretching my skills and sharing them with others. I hope that is what this opportunity holds for me.

Watch for announcements for the 2018 New Quilt Bloggers group if you are interested in expanding your horizons.  February 1 is when the new applications begin being accepted.  I have broaden my blog presence and met many new friends in the journey.

Island Batik fabrics are wonderful and I can't believe I'll be receiving a shipment soon with a mission to accomplish. For now, feel free to browse their site for fabrics coming in 2018!  Each month we are given an assignment and off we go - creating and blogging about our successes and sometimes our failures.

Wish me luck, its going to be an interesting year!

4th quarter complete

The 4th Quarter was a great one!  I accomplished a fair amount and am very pleased.

My goals were to finish the following:

1.  Free Falling Leaves - quilting, binding, labels, hanging sleeves - more here

Free Falling Leaves Top

Free Falling Leaves
Hanging at Rising Star Quilters Guild

2.  The alphabet quilt:  Hand binding, sleeve and label - more about this quilt here

Alphabet, Unfinished

Alphabet quilt, Finished

3.  2 Sew together bags - more about these here

Finished Sew Together Bags

Sew Together Bags, in project box

4.  And finally, finish organizing my space, more here

The Closet, unfinished

The closet - organized

More closet organized

This last project was not done, but I can't really complain.  Its a little harder in odd ways than it should be, so I only do an hour or two when I am working on it.

 The Loon did not get finished.  It was a little harder than I imagined and not so fast to do.  I expect it will be done in two weeks, if we get to Maine both of those weeks.  It lives there and so I only have access to it halftime.  I am making a list of what I need too, so I don't get stuck for that reason.

The Loon,unfinished 

Linking up with:  2017FAL 4th Quarter