Guild UFO

One of my guilds does a UFO challenge each year.  Members select one project they WANT to finish.  You register at the January meeting taking an oath that you will finish by November.  If not, you walk the "Walk of Shame".


Vintage Moments.  Started in class at Thimble Towne, 2011.

For my 2014 project I want to quilt my Vintage Moments top.  I have so many to select from, but I wanted a project I really want to finish . . .  and think I can with the incentive of the guild challenge.  This made me think about the many projects I have in progress.  Soooo . . . off on the right you will see I've listed several quilts I want to work on this year.  Hopefully I'll finish most of them.  I'm trying to be realistic!

I don't usually make a quilt specifically for the Best of the Valley show (April), but I have at least one in progress I'd like to finish before the February 14 deadline for entry.  Send your kind thoughts this way so I will sit down and actually work on it.

Thanks for checking in.

Room organization - for someone else!

I just returned from three days helping my sister organize her home office.  A friend did this with me several years ago in the studio.  It really helps doing it with someone - other than a spouse.  It was fun spending time with my sister and the result was amazing.

We started by removing EVERYTHING  from the room.  Not furniture, but all boxes, bags, everything off all shelves, and everything out of the closet.  We forgot to take a before picture (??!) but I have a pic of everything out in her living room and photos of the finished project.  I had to return home, but she still has a few items to deal with.  I left her by saying "They cannot go back in the office."  What to do with all the papers that accumulate?





These are views of all the "stuff" from the
room removed and set in the living room.
Everything had to be sorted and placed
in its new "home".

Yes, she has some quilts!  She IS my sister after all.

This is a view of the "new" office.
We found the floor!

We even got things hung on the wall.

The closet now has everything contained
in a tub or box.  And labeled!

View of the living room when I left.  Not 100% complete, but close.

All of these containers are empty!!
Several cartons were delivered to our
Cancer Discovery Shop and lots of  recycling.
Her husband was happy to make the delivery.

I have a quilting deadline approaching . . . back to the machine.

Friday Night Sew

Once a month a group meets at our local shop to have a Friday Night Sew.  We sew from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m.  I wasn't able to attend in person this month, so I hosted my own version at home.  A friend and I were able to keep in touch with the main group via text and phone.  It wasn't the same as being there in person, but I did get some work done.  What you don't know is that my "home" shop is 2 1/2 hours away!  I only make it in person when I can schedule mutliple events for the trip.

I worked on my fall quilt sampler that four of us are doing as a block of the month.  We're doing two blocks per month so we can have it finished in time for Fall 2014.  Yeah, right!?

Tonight I cut pieces for eleven blocks and put them together into "kits".  I already had block 1 complete.  I made it up to check my fabric choices.  After this all I have to do is lay out the pieces and sew.  It took quite a while tonight, but will save me time in the future.  Hopefully I can keep up with the group.

All pieces are cut and ready to "kit".

 

A friend made several of us a board to use to lay out blocks.
Here is block 2 ready to begin sewing.  The board really helps.
I can keep it right next to the sewing machine and the pieces don't fall off.

Fall Quilt.  Blocks 1 and 2 completed.


I'm still working on organizing my studio.  This week my contractor installed shelves above the window and desk.  All I've done so far is get my baskets moved.  Eventually I will be able to store "stuff" up there.


Thank you for checking in.

Celtic Solstice Update

Since this is my first mystery with Bonnie Hunter, I'm not sure if there is a link up following the "big reveal".  Just in case . . . . I'm ready.  I have my inside done and the pieced border ready to attach.  I'm excited how mine turned out.  Although I will probably leave it the size it is, I haven't attached borders because I'm considering alternatives in size.  I encourage anyone to try this next year.  It was FUN!!
http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2014/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6.html


Interesting note:  I noticed recently my focus fabric is titled "Summer Solstice".
I guess that's what I'll title my quilt!  I chose to do the small size.

Thanks for checking in.

Happy New Year!

I had a great December 31 and January 1 quilting with a friend.  We had two marathon sessions.  Mine continued even after she left to go home.



Vintage Rouge: I made what I thought were the
hardest blocks first.  Dresden Plate.  Plates and
all circles are machine appliqued.

I worked on two quilts.
Vintage Rouge.  A purchased kit another friend and I are both completing.  She started earlier so I'm trying to catch up.  (This is one of two BOM quilts I'm doing with friends.)




2nd BOM with friends.  Autumn theme.  First block made
to check fabric selections.  Focus fabric is also shown.

Celtic Solstice.  Bonnie Hunter's 2013 mystery.  Bonnie released the "Big Reveal" January 1.  I had all my pieces ready so I got started putting them together.  It's going to be great!  Since I had already started working on Vintage Rouge the previous afternoon I continued working on them to get the Dresden plates completed before I started piecing the blocks for Celtic Solstice.

Celtic Solstice blocks started.

Of course all this quilting means I still have to put away Christmas china and take down the outside lights.  I also read 8 books between Christmas and New Year's.  I've almost finished the 4th book on CD I got from the library to help me sit and quilt.  It really worked.  I'll have to go in and see what else they have available.  I've downloaded some to my tablet, but I can't get the volume high enough to listen easily.

My friend makes a list of quilts she wants to work on at the beginning of each year.  I may copy her and try doing the same.  While I was looking for fabrics to use with Celtic Solstice I found several tops and/or fabric collections I would like to finish.  It might keep me sewing instead of eating!

Thanks for checking in.