Thursday, April 2, 2020

Progress on the 2020 PHD and Other Quilty Ambitions

The first quarter of 2020 is over.  It's definitely not been the year I was expecting in terms of work and general life.  The stuff going on the sewing room has been progressing almost normally. So I'm going to concentrate on what progress there's been there.  

My 2020 Quilting Ambitions were pretty simple.  


The big push this year is to finish a few quilts.  I signed up with Quilting Gail's 2020 PHD Program to help keep me motivated on that front.  And I can finally show some progress on that front. 


A finish finally!  The last stitch in the binding for Twinkle Stars happened about 10:15ish on 3/31.  

Twinkle Stars from a Tutorial by Angela Feldbush of Soscrappy

I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Twinkle Stars was my 2015 Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. So just a bit over 5 years from start to finish.  Part of the reason it took so long to finish was that I struggled with deciding on the setting and borders. That's my usual hurdle to finishing up one of my scrappy projects.  This quilt will go live with one of the Scientist in Training's writing group buddies. The SIT loves it, so much that she said it's hard to give it up to someone else. It's always nice when the family likes what you've made.  

That's the only finish so far this year. But there has been good progress on a few other projects. 

The Winter Quilt Along project was partially assembled at the beginning of the year. 

Quiltygirl Winter Quilt Along from Alycia Quilts

It's back from being quilted and needs to be trimmed up and bound.  That's going to be the One Monthly Goal for April.

I've continued to work on the 2019 Bonnie Hunter Mystery, Frolic. Last year's mystery quilt went on for a few weeks past the first of the year.  I still need to finish up a few of the blocks, but there's enough done to start the assembly process. 

Frolic, 2019 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt


I'm happy with how this one is coming together.  The blocks have quite a few pieces, so finishing the last five will probably take all month.  Then there are the pieced borders to finish. I'm hoping this one is a completed flimsy by the end of May.  

Mosaic Mystery is another mystery quilt still in progress from 2019.  But all it needs is one more border. 

Mosaic Mystery Quilt from Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs

The borders always take longer then I think they will. Even so, I'm hoping to have the last one on and a backing made for this project by the end of the month.  

I've added one more project to my current rotation and that's the embroidered medallion quilt.  


This is usually my take along travel project, but it now sits by my recliner. It's my "sit with the family and hang out project". Which I've done a lot of the last couple of weeks. I'm stitching on the butterfly in the upper right and have made a fair amount of progress on it. 


No plans to get this project finished this year, I'm just hoping to move it along a little more this year.

So how is 2020 going?  Three months into the year and only one finish wasn't the plan.  But a second quilt just needs binding and a third should be ready for quilting by the end of this month. And I've not started any new projects, yet.  I'm really tempted by Bonnie Hunter's Unity project. I've been auditing fabrics for it, but haven't decided if I'm going to start that one or not.  Not the best first quarter, but definitely not the worst!  

16 comments:

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I first participated in the RSC last year I didn't realize how many years it had been going on. I love the finish on Twinkle Stars. I have been tempted with Edyta Sitar's follow a long and by Bonnie but in the end I decided to save Edyta's and not Bonnie's I have too many quilts in the works and too many favorites already saved for more

The Joyful Quilter said...

That turned out SEW magnificently!! What a lucky friend to get such a special gift. Speaking of the SIT Kate, I guess you'll just have to plan on starting another Twinkle Star for her!!! :o))

Pamela Arbour said...

Congratulations on your finish and good luck with all of those other projects you have planned.

Barbara said...

Beautiful finish. I was thinking it’s like looking through lace curtains at a colorful world. The white stars stand out from the background colors. Very pretty and a wonderful gift. All of your projects are looking great. I especially love the colors you’ve chosen for Frolic.

chrisknits said...

You are getting things done, just keep swimming!

Louise said...

Twinkle Stars is magnificent!! It was definitely worth the time you took to make all the right decisions. Brava! :)

Quilting Gail said...

Hi Kate,
Twinkle Stars looks fantastic! It must feel really good to have it finished!!!.
Way to go on not starting any new projects!!!
You're making progress and that's what counts!
Happy Quilting! :-)

loulee said...

OMG!! Twinkle stars is beautiful I knew it would be. I love, love, love it. If I was the scientist in training I wouldn't want to give it up either! Will you make one for me please?? LOL
2020 started out really well for me, but sometime in March it all went to pieces. I'm still enjoying my sewing, so glad we have that and that we can all share our little bit of sanity in the new and mad world.
Stay home and stay well.

Susie H said...

I'll jump on the bandwagon too by saying that Twinkle is a wonderfully sparkly finish! So what you've only got one so far. Without PHD, you might not even have that, right? Looking forward to the next couple you've got in the queue. I too am auditioning fabrics for BH's Unity. Still not 100% committed! See you April 15th!

Emily said...

I love Twinkle Stars!!!! So pretty, and congrats on the finish! I think a lot of plans for 2020 have not gotten off the to the best start...

Jennifer said...

Twinkle Stars looks great! I think you did great in the first quarter! I finished two UFOs and have the third on the quilt frame now - if I could get 8 or 9 done this year, it would be amazing! I am taking a few days off next weekend, so hope to have some good quilting mojo in between making masks.

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

Another lovely finish Kate, your progress is wonderful as always, sometimes everything comes together at once. I’m going for UFOs too, between masks and charity quilts that is.

seabreezequilts said...

I don't think I've seen the big view of the butterflies, its very pretty from the distance when you can see all the colours work on the wings. I've joined a blackbird cross stitch project of the month, I have a heap of blackbird cross stitch patterns and have even made a few. I thought a small pattern each month will add a bit of variety to my stitching.

Patty said...

Happy binding! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and good luck with your project.

Cathy said...

Twinkle Stars is a beautiful finish. Doing a happy dance for you! Congratulations!!

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Kate! I came a-looking for Twinkle and it is gorgeous! What a great finish, and what a fabulous Christmas gift it has become. I'm so proud of you for getting it finished. ~smile~ Roseanne