WIP Wednesday 4/18/2012

I will be linking up with Freshly Pieced for today's WIP Wednesday. 

I'm trying desperately to get back on track with my blogging. 

Today I will be cutting all of my Sow A Long blocks...I am Sow far behind right now...but we are going to fix that today!

I did manage to FINISH the Fun & Done!  

Updates on my other WIPs:


Morgan's Sampler (No Progress)

Kristi's T shirt Quilt (Progress!)  I have all of the shirts stabilized and cut into oddly sized squares.  Now to start shopping for fabric to put it all together. 

Kerrington's Quilt (Progress!)  The 4square blocks are pieced and trimmed.  The alternating 5" squares are cut.  And the first 5 rows are stitched. 

Craftsy BOM (minimal progress) I have the paper hexies cut out and about half of them basted.  They are in a small travel box that goes everywhere with me.  I also need a trip to the quilt shop for more background fabric.  *Happy! Happy!*  Love shopping for my Kansas Troubles stash!

Cinnamon & Nutmeg (No Progress)

Bags (3) (No Progress) Still trying to get the final finishing stitches in.

Table Runner-a hand quilting project (No Progress)  But I have been thinking about it a lot!
( I was going to put up a picture, but it appears that my computer has the protective pseudo-card stuck.  The last time this happened it took me a while to get it un-stuck.  Hopefully I can get it removed by tomorrow...)

Jelly Roll Jive-a hand quilting quilt-sized project (No Progress)

Pinwheels in my Garden (No Progress)

Guild Placemats (Not started)

Connecting Threads Perfect Points Class (did the first lesson...but then nothing)

FPPFTT (Progress!)  Finished the first lesson.  Printed the templates for the second lesson.

Scrappy Plates (No Progress) I do have all of my supplies, though.


I've got to get busy if I'm going to make any kind of progress on those Sow A Long blocks!


Have a good one!

                            ~K

BOMs Away Monday 2.20.12

I've decided to link up with LynCC from What a Hoot!  to show off some BOMs.

Right now, I am participating in the Craftsy Block of the Month (there is a button on the right side bar).  We are doing 2 blocks a month for a total of 20 blocks.  I have made all of my blocks with some Kansas Troubles scraps that have.  So, without further ado...

Here they are:

January's Asterisk Block (slash & stitch)

January's Wonky Pound Sign (slash & stitch)

February's Balkan Puzzle (HSTs)

February's Chunky Chevron (HSTs)

This one isn't a "true" BOM, but it is a periodic project from Pam & Nicky Lintott's Jelly Roll Sampler Quilts and some leftover Urban Indigo strips:

Tulip (Block 1)

Sorry about the quality of the last pic...my camera never wants to do what I tell it...it kept flashing when I didn't need a flash *sigh*.

I found a Farmer's Wife sew a long!  The button is on the right side bar.  Gotta get started on that...I'm already late...

OH YEAH...

NO STINK BUGS LAST NIGHT OR THIS MORNING!!

WIP 2-15-2012

This is my first blog linking to WIP Wednesdays with Freshly Pieced (there is a button on the left sidebar).  I hope it works...

I am currently working on 4 active projects with a plethora of fabric collections waiting for inspiration to strike.  Here they are in order of "Why isn't this finished yet?" to "Will I ever get this done?"

 This bag needs the lining stitched closed and it will be finished.

This is the "Fun & Done" that I started in November 2011.

The "Fun & Done" has been modified at least 3 times now.  During the class, I decided to make it full size instead of the throw that it was designed for.  When I got it back out to work on last month, I decided that I would make 2 throw sizes for the twins.  I spent most of a day removing the 10th block from each of the five rows, which was not easy because of the way it was pieced together.  I figured that I needed two more rows to finish the first quilt and was happy at the thought of having one quilt completed.  Then Darren came home and he said he liked it too well to give it to the twins.  So, I am back to making it a "large" twin (it covers a full size bed)...but I refuse to try and add those five blocks back on!  So, it is about half way done.

This is my 2nd Jelly Roll Jive...I need to post pics of the first one...This one is basted and waiting for me to start the hand quilting.  I have not hand quilted anything so this is a pretty intimidating project for me.  It's ready...I'm not.

This is not a great picture, but I finished piecing this top in 2009.  It is a Kansas Troubles pattern called "Pinwheels in my Garden".  I used a KT jelly roll and yardage to make this one.  It is queen size and has some borders that are not visible in this picture.  I love this one and have backing fabric and everything...I just can't make up my mind on the quilting process.  I'd like to hand quilt it, but it would probably never get finished (...like I'm making progress on it now, as it sits in the bag...).  I'm afraid of the sticker shock if I ask for custom quilting, and I really don't want a standard stipple for it.

On Monday, I cut the center fabrics for my Cinnamon & Nutmeg quilt.  Yesterday, I stopped at the quilt shop and picked out the sashing and cornerstone fabrics.  I am excited to get going on this one since it has been sitting around the house for about 3 years.  I just love the colors!


Lots to do today...maybe I can squeeze a little quilting in before going to the grocery store...

Highlights of the Week

Well, a week has gone by and I don't feel like I accomplished much. I guess finishing 4 quilts in three weeks makes you expect a little more from yourself.

So, here is what I did accomplish...

 I finally got a Keurig! And I LOVE it!

We celebrated with Mere on her recognition by the Board of Education for an essay that she had written on the Holocaust.

Gram & Pap took the twins to Stonewall Resort for a mini-vacay and Darren and I went with the older kids after school on Thursday.

Thursday was also our first workshop for my quilt guild.  It was great to see everyone after a long holiday break.  I finished the top of a charity quilt and cut the backing.  I will assemble it next month.

I found another bag of 1/2 square triangles.  This time they were already stitched together and all I needed to do was press them.  They will be ready to go later today.  But I don't know what to do with them.  Any suggestions? 

I don't think I can blend the two sets...
      
...one is Kansas Troubles fabric and the other is Prairie Paisley by Minnick & Simpson.  Both are light & dark 1/2 squares.   But maybe later today, after everything is pressed and I get the table cleared from breakfast, I can spread them all out and see how well they get along.

 

Hidden Treasures

While organizing my storage closet, I found this box of Kansas Troubles scraps.  I was so excited because I was trying to figure out how to do the Craftsy Block of the Month without spending any money.  

That was one of my New Years promises to Darren...I wouldn't spend any money on NEW projects until I finish the UFOs that are hiding around the house.

I found a baggie of light & dark triangles.

I chained them.  I pressed them.  I organized them by color.

Now I have a bunch of small (maybe 2") half-square triangles.

So, with that done, I started my January blocks.

...The Asterisk Block...

...The Wonky Pound Sign Block...

I'm not a big fan of the slash and stitch method...I'm just a little too "Type A" and it makes me crazy when I can't get everything to line up.

I also make a few mini design boards.  These are so easy and I found them at A Bee In My Bonnet.  I made 6 10" boards and 2 15" boards.  I will finish them later this week, I hope. It's been a busy day around here...and it's a good thing Darren & the kids brought me Krispy Kreme donuts!  

I just love those guys!

Finishing Stitches

I spent today finishing the 9 Patch Variation lap quilt.  Darren is happy to have it done.  He says it has always been one of his favorites.

 

Since I have been packing and moving this one around for about 3-4 years, you can probably guess that it has been a bit of a bugger for me.  It was a project that I attempted when I didn't really know much about quilting.  With my Type A personality, I have fought with this project for a long time.  I was not able to match points and the smaller read squares kept taunting me every time I looked at it. 

A year or two ago, I managed to keep it out long enough to get the backing pieced.

 

Today, it got a quick quilting (just through the red squares) and I wrapped the back around to the front for the binding.  I don't usually do a machine stitched binding, but guess what...today, I did.  I will probably go back and knot the blue squares since this one will be living at the Fire Department after this weekend.

Once this one was finished, I decided to go ahead and look at my other UFOs.

My goal is to get these projects organized and finished before I buy more fabric for new projects.  AND, since they made it here, I can keep track of what I have managed to accomplish.

 

1.  "Monster" Rag Quilts (for the Twins)

2. Find a pattern for the left over Urban Indigo jelly roll & fabrics used in my red Jelly Roll Jive quilt (there are tons of pieces that I messed up by sewing the triangle to the wrong side of the fabric strip).

3. Cinnamon & Nutmeg Quilt

I found this pattern in an American Patchwork & Quilting magazine

February 2009

 

I've been collecting civil war reds, browns & tans for quite some time now.  I keep finding more to add to this collection.

4. Kansas Winter Jelly Rolls from Kansas Troubles

I think I'm going to do a "Friendship Braid" from Pam & Nicky Lintott's book Jelly Roll Quilts.

5.  Fun & Done "Zip Strip"
 

I started this one in a class at my local quilt shop in early November 2011.  I decided to increase the size from lap to twin (otherwise, I would be done) and then had to put it away to get ready for Christmas.  The pattern is from Prairie Sky Quilting and I highly recommend the Batting Buddy template. 

So, tomorrow I start to whittle away at my list of quilt projects that need to be completed.  By the way, these are ONLY the quilts...I have plenty of small craft bags that need to be finished, beachy fabric that was purchased for making aprons for everyone and my new desire to knit a pair of socks...

UFOs

I am trying to get a handle on all of my UFO's.  Here are just a few of my bag projects and abandoned quilts:

So far, I have one small handbag that just needs whipped closed in order to be finished...

...two small handbags that are completely cut and waiting to be assembled...

...fabric collected for another half dozen or so handbags and/or expandable bags...

I also have the fabric and pattern for a new bag: "Satchel for Two" that I hope to get started on soon.

As far as quilts go, I need to finish my "Fun & Done" quilt that was started prior to Thanksgiving...

I need to quilt the lap size Red, White & Blue quilt that has been laying around for several years & finish the twin's "Monster Rag Quilt".  

Oh, yeah, I also have the Jelly Roll Jive that needs a border & sent to Kelly for quilting...

...and I really need to decide if I am going to hand quilt the queen sized "Pinwheels in my Garden" or send it to the quilter's as well.

There are also several projects that I have been collecting fabric for and have a pattern in mind; I have committed myself to making a T-shirt quilt for Darren's cousin and I have a wonderful collection of fabric that I bought at Myrtle Beach 3 years ago for making aprons (and maybe a new purse for me).

...And these are just the sewing projects.  I am also organizing my knitting, crochet & weaving projects.  

I wonder how long it will take before the newly organized UFOs become forgotten UFOs again...