Lovely Month of Finishes - June

So for the month of June my plan is to get this Badger Quilt for Sam into a flimsy.

We are on vacation this month and won't have as much time to sew so I am going to try and keep this realistic.  

The pile on the right is 9 rows ready and then the other pile I still have 13 strip sets to sew and cut up and put into rows.  I did try to make the pieces bigger this time in hopes to make this quilt up a little more quickly than my previous 2.5 inch squares.  They are bigger but doesn't seem to be faster.  This is going to fit a full size bed very comfortablely. I usually make it to just fit and then forget about the shrinkage in quilting and washing!  

I am really liking this one and Sam knows its a Badger quilt but not the pattern and he can't figure it out even though I am sewing it right in front of him.  Love that!  I also found some fun novelty fabric (not Badger) for the back as he is into photography at the moment and he loves that it would be something he is liking right now.  So I may need to go pick that up in July!

I am linking up for a Lovely Year of Finishes.

WIP - Wednesday

I have been doing some sewing on my new Juki and taking her out for a test drive.  For the record I love this machine. It sews beautifully and is pretty easy to operate.  I will be working on that post on another day.

I did travel with the Juki up to the cottage and pulled it out to get a few things done.  I put it on the dining room table but it was nice out and we ate outside so no need to back it up.  There really isn't a lot of time to sew when we are there so not sure that I will do this very often but it was nice to be able to get something done.  Yep that is the hubby making dinner while I sewed!  I did make dinner the night before.

The quilt under the needle is a charity quilt that I did finish FMQ and now I just need to get the binding done and a few pictures of it.  The Juki FMQ is fantastic!  I still have some practice to do but I can tell the difference.

Definite progress on the X and + quilt.  This has been my goal for the last two months and I am going to finishit.  I had this pinned and started straight stitching on it but it was not working out well.  My issue was how the quilt was basted.  So I actually ripped out 3 and half rows of stitching and unpinned it.  I have never done that before!  But it took me less than 45 minutes to unpin and rip.  I am much happier now that I did that.  Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and learn from our mistakes.  I was not happy with it and then read Crazy Mom Quilts blog post on basting.  I kinda did it like her but not really. When I taped it to the floor I would start in the corners and I did not tape as much or in that same order.  I don't know if it was just this quilt that seemed so bad or what but I decided I wasn't that far into it and I would redo it.

So now I am almost done!  I have less than 1/4 of it to stitch.  I am still trying to figure out if the walking foot is really that loud or if there is something wrong.  I am testing a few more things to see.  It sews fine just sounds bad sometimes!  Just can't figure out the why it sounds like that.  I am really happy that I unstitched.  I am sure I will have a tuck or pucker but it was way better the first few lines I sewed previously.

Mostly this weekend I spring cleaned the cottage and did all of the gardens.  There are a few of them.  But the quilts airing out were pretty!  I made all of them but the small blue and yellow one.  My mom made me that one.  This picture was taken prior to that garden getting cleaned up!

On the agenda for this week is finish up the quilting and get the two bindings done!  I am determined to not go into the weekend with them lingering.  It is suppose to be another beautiful weekend here so our hope is to spend a lot of time outside and on the water!

Linking up to WIP Wednesday, Let's Bee Social and NTT.

Fabric Post and my WIP # 5

So far so good!  I can tell you this fabric fast has not been easy.  I have been tempted but have not bought any extra fabric.  Here is what I did buy and since I am working on the quilt and needed it to finish it - it was part of my exceptions.  My goal is to finish my WIP especially the ones from last year.

Moda Friendship Quilt

The blocks were all from stash and I made them last year.  I ran out of the grey Kona color so I needed more to finish up the set in triangles.  I have gotten the rows sewn together just need to sew up the extra blocks. This one is probably going to be close to 90 x 90.  So I knew I was going to need a back.  I had a 40% off for my LQS so I bought this for the backing. I will probably need to do some piecing on it as well since I didn't plan for how really big this one is going to be.  

My exceptions for purchasing were for backs and background if needed.  That means I have to be working on them to buy them not just for something that I think I will need a back for.  That can be a very slippery slop!

I have been sewing from stash and making some progress.  All 80 blocks are done for the Badger Graduation quilt.  All the fabric came from stash.  I plan on raiding anything with black, red or grey for the back.  I have started on the rows.  I am really hoping to finish this one up in February yet!

I took this stack a fabric from a box I had been saving for about 12-13 years.  The stack to the left.

I made this quilt and working on finishing up the quilting.  I used almost all the fabric in the box too!  Simple sewing and I had this together in a night.  It is nice to know not everything has to take months to finish!

This quilt was not even on a to do list. I just decided I needed to sew a kids quilt for charity and get it finished so here is hoping for a Friday Finish.

I can tell you having to go to the quilt shop each month for Moda Club has been harder than I thought it would be.  Each month is a featured fabric with a fun project how to and then 20% off all Moda all the time.  Once she gets some of the new lines in - not sure that I can hold out and not buy.  I really like the line Color me Happy!  Yep - she is getting that one!

I am just happy I have not bought any extras while I have been in there at least 4 or 5 times!  Almost through February and based on what I have going I should not need any backings or backgrounds.  I have lots to sew through yet.  I can tell you my stash does not feel any light yet either.  I am keeping track of total yards I am using so next month I might have to report on that.

Good luck and linking up with Fabriciholics Anonymous at Making Rebecca Lynne, Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday.

WIP #4

Looks like I have missed a few weeks of posting for WIP.  I have had some good sewing progress and am itching to start something new too!  So here is the run down.

Been Working On:

1.  Riley Blake Challenge Quilt.  Finished quilting it and just hand sewing down the binding.  I will post this finish later this week. I really like the yellow binding!

2.  Badger Graduation Quilt- 50 blocks are done out of the 80.  I have the last 30 partially done.  I like working on this one when I just don't feel like thinking too much!

3.  Moda Friendship Quilt- Lots of progress on this one.  It is on the floor just waiting for the set in triangles and then to sew it up into a top.  Pretty sure this one is going to the longarmer!  It is big I think it is going to be about 90 x 90.  Not sure that I want to wrestle that one through my sewing machine and it would be nice to have it done sooner too.

Going to start Very Soon - 2 kids charity quilts

That first stack of fabric I have had for at least 10-15 years.  The stack was a kit and they are a 120 6.5 squares.  I was going to make a HST quilt back then for my youngest who is now 17!  Now I am just going to make a charm square quilt to get it done quickly.

The other stack was a quilt kit I won at a retreat a very long time again.  The pattern it came with is too many pieces and not wanting to do that.  I am not sure what I will do with this yet but I have a couple of easy ideas that I have been thinking about.  There are a lot of 1/4 yard cuts in that stack too.  

These will be great kids charity quilts and I am pretty there is even enough for the backs.

I am linking up to Let's Bee Social and WIP Wednesday.  Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for stopping.

WIP #1 Wednesday

This is my first WIP Wednesday in awhile!  Last week I was still focusing on 2013 but now time for new projects and to keeping better track of what I am working on and making progress.

So this past week I have been working on my Riley Blake challenge.  I made flying geese and then figured out how I wanted to lay them out and needed to sew it together.  Math and quilting go together however that has never been my strong suit.  So I am much more let's see how it goes and figure it out.

My first attempt left the final square too small so with that information I unsewed the pieces and tried again and it was a success.  I actually wrote down what I cut so I can repeat the process on the other half.  When I did get it to work I was really happy and loving how it is turning out.

With the fly geese came HST large enough for me to want to do something with them.  I shared this the other day and now I just need to figure out the back and quilt it.

I wanted to share this little ornament I found while on a quilting weekend with friends and gave to my husband to put in my stocking.  I had forgotten about it and actually thought - "wow how did he find this?"

That is my motto this year!  I have so many things I want to sew with plenty of fabric to sew through.  So hopefully this will be my reminder as I am not buying anything new for awhile.

In my hope to stay on task and a little more organized this year I had bought a small white board and each week I am writing down small goals that I would like to get done.  I think it is working.  I do have a few of the items checked off already for the week.  My plan is to update weekly but we will see. This hangs right above my cutting table.

#2 and #5 are done.  I think #1 and #3 can be done tonight.  It is gearing up to pull fabric for the City Sampler that I am not getting around to.  

This weekend should be fun since I am going with a few friends to the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts.  There is a truck show lecture on Saturday all day that I am going to and it should be fun! Lee will be there! Plus there is a Modern Quilt Exhibit and one of my quilts will be hanging in there with several others from the MMQG.  

Happy Sewing!  I am linking up to Lee at WIP Wednesday.

WIP - Check In

Needed to check in and see how I am doing for the month.  Doing some sewing but not as much progress as I would like I think there are too many projects going at once.  This weekend since I have 2 days off of work is time to get a few things done!


From my list for the FAL List here is what I have been working on:

The scrap quilt from Quiltville's Free Patterns, the Dancing 9.  I had gotten 58 of the blocks over half done just by doing them as leader and enders.  Then I had a short amount of time and needed to do some mindless sewing.  Yup all 68 blocks ready for sashing. Now to to pick the sashing. I am not sure anything really goes with all this crazy but thinking I am picking a darker blue from stash. This will most likely a donation quilt and I do always like them better when they are done.

Moda Friendship Blocks - I finished all of them. I did buy the grey to use for sashing.  It is a new Kona color and bought the rest of the bolt on Sunday.  Now to figure out how I am going to lay this one out.

Of course I have a list a mile long and what did I do.  I picked up a pile of scraps that were already sewn into strips that I won at my Moda Quilt Club meeting and made this mini.  Not sure what it will be for but they were lying in a pile on the floor. Yes, I keep things on the floor.  They needed to be put away but didn't have a good spot for them so I made them up!  Now I want to quilt this little one up and have a finish this week.  I am sure someone might like this as a gift at the holidays.

No progress on the goal I set for my October finish or on my list of Christmas gifts. Hoping to finish a few things over the very nice long weekend I am going to enjoy and get ready for my sewing weekend in November.


I am linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Happy Sewing!

September WIP List

Since my list for last month served me well.  I am going to go ahead and do it for this month to keep myself on track. Here is what I have been working on this week.  More Tula Blocks.

I did Section 3 blocks 36-46 but somehow missed no 43.  I think I need to put these aside for now and start working on my challenge quilt.

So here are the rest of my goals for September:


1.  MMQG challenge quilt

• Pick fabric and pattern
  
• Cut and Piece
• Quilt and Bind

2.  2 Moda Club Applique Blocks

3.  3 September Blocks for Moda Club 

4.  Finish the X and + Quilt (This one is Q3 Goal)

• 10 blocks to piece
• Piece top
• Quilt and Bind

5. Tula Pink City Sampler

• Section 3 Triangles 36-55
• Section 4 Stripes    56-71
• Section 5 Squares   72-86
• Section 6 Haiku      87-100

This is a long list but I have several sew days lined up so I have very high hopes this month!  

I am linking up to WIP Wednesday and Thursday Threads and Needle and Thread Thursday.  Now I will have to see what everyone else has been up to.

Knocking things off my List

Well August is almost gone, so hard to believe and my kids will be back in school day after Labor Day.  Hopefully, I will get a little more sewing time in on the weekends again.

My to do list for August has served me well with keeping me on task for getting some things checked off and done.  (that's the best part of making a list).

I finished my Heart Wedding Quilt.  Check out the full post if you would like more details.  It has been wrapped and delivered.  I love it!

I have made all 12 of the Fussy Cut Square Blocks.  These are too cute and really fun to make.  I will be sending them off at the end of this week.

I was also able to get the 6 blocks for section 2 in the Tula Pink City Sampler.  This definitely has not been easy for me to stay up to date with but hoping that I can get at least to the half way mark in September.

Here are the blocks 1-35.  This is a lot of color and a little blurry!

Here is my list to finish up this week and I will be making a new list for September as well.
My August to do List

1.  Quilt and Bind - the Heart Wedding Quilt
2.  Finish Section 1 of City Sampler Tula Blocks
3.  Cut and Piece section 2 of City Sampler Tula Blocks-5 to go
4.  MMQG Block for Barb- Improv-hopefully tonight
5.  MMQG Block for Peggy
6. 3 August Moda Blocks
7.  2 Missing Moda Blocks
8.  Fussy Cut Square - Flickr Swap

I am linking up to WIP over at Freshly Pieced, Thursdays Threads, and Needle and Thread Thursday.

Happy Sewing!

Some sewing time

I was actually really happy that the weather was rainy on Sunday.  I didn't feel the least bit guilty as I headed to my sewing room in the basement. I had a few hours where I could get a few things done.

I had two quilty meetings this week.  Monday night I had my Moda Club meeting at the LQS and I had not made any of my blocks for the month.  I managed to get two out of the three completed.

I received three more Monday so that makes 6 blocks to make this month.  I really want to get caught up.  We'll see how that goes and what gets done or what draws me in first

I also had the MMQG meeting Tuesday night and I had volunteered to quilt our charity quilt about 2 months ago and I just needed to get it done so I quilted it and then sewed on the binding, threw it the wash. Ready!  I took one photo to put it out on our Flickr site.  I just did loops in each row.

On my to do list this week is to finish my Wedding Heart Quilt.

 I worked on the back last week and it is now ready to be basted.

So my plan is to baste the quilt tonight and take the day off of work to start the quilting.  Hoping my plan works!  I would love a finish for Friday!

To Do list:
1.  Plan and make 15 Tula Pink Blocks
2.  Cut out 10 blocks for the x and + quilt
3.  Just joined an Fussy Square Cut Block over on Flickr.  They are so cute!  I think there is one spot left go check it out!

Hope you all have a great week of sewing.

Thanks for stopping Linking up at Plum and June. and Freshly Pieced - WIP Wednesday

WIP - An update

I really wanted to get something updated on where I stood on the projects I am working on.  I can easily forget or get side tracked along the way.

Here are my Moda Blocks that I have been making.  I am two blocks behind but really want to get those done by the next meeting in Mid July.  Seems doable- 5 blocks in one month.

Here are all my Tula Pink Blocks I have done so far.  I really like them and they are a cute size at 6.5".  We'll see if I am still saying that another 20 blocks in.

I 

I then caught up on our Guilds Bee Blocks

 I have a few things to get done and I will be traveling for work next week so the goals for the finish along not looking so good.  I think I should be able to get the binding on the Easy Street quilt tomorrow night or Sunday night.  I picked it up from the LQS and it looks great.  That quilt is really heavy too!

I am linking up at Lee's for WIP - did you see her great new pattern she released!  Very cool!

WIP Wednesday

I have been busy the last two night with the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway day!  I have a giveaway here so if you would like to enter head there.  If you are a new follower welcome.  It has been fun to check out new blogs and the fun comments back to see what people are doing for the summer.

I have been sewing not as much as I like since work really gets in the way sometimes.

Here is where I am at on my WIP's:

I have been working on my Moda Club block which I am doing from stash with different grays as the background.  Liking these so far.  I have 4 more to make to stay caught up. That is on the schedule for this weekend.  

I was able to get the heart together on my guild sew day last week.  Here is the quilt from Don't Call me Betsy.  I have changed the size and they are 4.5 instead of her pattern at 3.5.  Now I just need to get the negative space on there.  It is the black yarn dyed Essex.  I like this fabric.  It should be fun quilting it as well.

.

My bee blocks have been coming in and I love this block and this quilt.  The corners are black on white prints with each block scrappy rainbow.  I have two more that I have not gotten and will need to make a couple and will need to finalize a layout.

Finally, I put the borders on my Easy Street Quilt.  That seemed to take forever and I am liking it much better now that the borders are on it and I have had some space from it.  I have decided that I am going to have my longarmer do the quilting since it finished about 98" square.  I am not wanting to wrestle that one through the machine.  I still need to find a back for this one.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a great week and find time to sew!  I am linking up with Freshly Pieced.

April's Goal and a WIP

So first up is what I plan on finishing this month.  I know my sewing time will be a little more limited since the weather is getting warmer and there is lots of outside work and gardens to get done.  My plan is to finish my red, white and blue, Shine Quilt.  I will donate this one to QOV.

I had laid it out and cut the first set of borders over the weekend but a movie with my son somehow seemed fun so I haven't had a chance to sew them on yet but should be able to do that this week.

I have the back picked out but still contemplating the quilting.  I did sign up for a quilting class on Craftsy taught by Angela Walters.  So I think I need to watch that a bit and then try something new on it.  I know I want something in the backgrounds and then something different in the red part.  So we'll what I come up with.

I haven't worked on anything else since I finished the Scrap Vomit.  So time to get to work on a few other projects!

Linking up to Wednesday WIP and ALYOF!

Progress

The past weekend did not provide as much opportunity for sewing as I would have liked and the free time I had was instead used to plant my butt firmly on the couch and watch the first season of....



I know behind the eight ball on this series but since we had Netflex I watched.  Now I am hooked!  and have to figure out where I am going to watch Season 2 and 3!
Officially on Bloglovin.  Not sure on this techy stuff but claimed my blog.

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Here is where I am at on my current projects


1.  Scrap Vomit-Have just the 5 scrap blocks to do and one more with the black in it since I miss counted.

I had to rip one out since it looked like this. I was wondering why I didn't have enough matches.  Just wish I would have not miss counted.

So now only 6 blocks to go and I can assembly it, hopefully over the weekend.


2.  Moda Club Monthly blocks - done but forgot to take a picture.  Fun colors and fabrics with grey.  Liking them so far.

Status on other projects:

4.  Easy Street - picked out borders and need to put them on and then quilt.

5.  Shine-QOV quilt - bought borders so need to get them on and quilt.

6.  I am also planning on making a quilt like this one from Don't Call me Betsy for a wedding gift.  I have bought some fabric sketched out my plan since I want to make it bigger a lap size.  I am excited to start it.

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced and Let's Get Acquainted.

WIP - 2-20

Well as I was reading blog posts today it seems everyone is leaving for Quilt Con today!  How fun is that.  I love going places and places that involve sewing are even better.  A group of ladies from the MMQG are going and one had to drop out and stay home.  How I wish I had an endless supply of money for my hobby. Ok, I know this is all of our wish.  Oh well, I have some fun things coming up that I can look forward to.


Finished Projects-Summerville Quilt

If you haven't seen the post, it is here. Love it!

I made some progress on my hexie MF that I started last year!  I have all 77 centers done and lots of petals but I finished  7 full flowers!  I am loving them.  Now I just need to keep on them.

I have made progress quilting on my Moda Civil War Quilt.  I have the border to do which I just got the thread for and then the circle feathers. That is really my hang up.  I tried those once and was not happy with how they looked so I have been reading up and need a practice, then it has to get done.  I have set a deadline for March 5-complete.  I want to take it for show and tell and the quilt retreat I am attending.  So I can't let it sit.

I also put the last of the rows together on Easy Street.  I finished it last night at like 9 - still not loving it or seeing the design that everyone but mine has.  So it was really hard to get a photo and it was dark but I am seeing it today and really hope I can see it when I step away from it.  This quilt was on my FAL for Q! but I am pretty sure if I get the borders on it, it is not going to get completely done.  My husband doesn't understand if I don't like it why would I spend any more money or time on it.  Well, lots of times it comes together in that final stage.  So I think Easy Street and I need some time apart and we will revisit later!

Up coming projects

I was convinced to join the bee for MMQG and I volunteered to go early since I didn't want the stress of picking out something to be over my head for months.  Crazy I know but making a decision like that is too hard since there are too many choices.  I picked my block and confirmed my colors now I just need to organize that one up.  Can't wait!  I just hope it turns out as great in my head as in person.  The block is the Depression Block and here are the fabrics.  I just bought the white on blacks since I have now left in the stash and last year I did two rainbow swaps.  I just bought Kona white with a coupon.

I am also going to do the retreat quilt.  My plan is red, white and blue and make a donation quilt for QOV.  I want to donate several this year but have not even started one yet. So all the fabric from my stash, a weekend to work on it and I should be set.

Wow, that really was a productive week.  I have lots to get prepped for my sewing retreat and there is a small quilt show in town here so that is what I will be working on.

Happy Sewing.  Linking up WIP.