Monday, January 22, 2018

#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

Friday, January 19, 2018

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.







Friday, January 12, 2018

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!


Saturday, January 6, 2018

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 


Wednesday, January 3, 2018

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!



Tuesday, January 2, 2018

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 



Monday, January 1, 2018

UFO's - #APQResolution - 2017 & 2018


All in all it was a good year.  I completed 9 of 13 projects.  A few were carry overs from last year and a few will be carried into next year.  There were a couple of projects that got done that weren't on the list, and a little later in the month I'll do a reprise of 2017 finishes.  It was a year in which we decided to put our house on the market - it had been in the back of our minds  - but it became real.  Honestly, I didn't sew much for 3 months.  Things are in a better place, so 2018 should be good!

I am pleased to keep doing this as it really helps keep me focused. I do move around projects as the year goes on so they finish when I like.  A few would not have been done, had they not been on the list.  I am making headway on the projects I have and would like to speed up to 2 a month, but much depends on a secret commitment - if it happens I don't think I will be doing 2 a month.   

I am excited to begin this year and think that I will start where I left off, finishing the Petal Play Loon...

Best wishes for a terrific 2018!