Bits and Pieces of Stitching

Last week was busy.  Work took over a few mornings and evenings so I could meet a project deadline.  We spent the first part of the weekend carrying our old couch into and out of  a rental truck for transport to the Scientist in Training's new apartment. The couch is 20 plus years old and after all those years of being the prime location for TV watching and sleep overs, it's showing it's age.  But the SIT gets a reduction in rent if they provide their own furniture and as she pointed out, the price is right if it's free. After wrestling the couch into it's new home, we stayed for the weekend to hang out and help out with a few odds and ends that needed to be done.  So there's not much to show on the stitching front. 

The one monthly goal is to get the binding on Christmas Angels. 

   

The hand stitching has almost reached the end of the first side. This quilt is 80" square, so it's not going to be a quick finish. The greens are really much brighter and prettier then shows in the photo.  They look really gray under the light in my sewing room. 

There's not much up on the design wall to look at.  I'm working on the borders for Vintage Dresses and Storm at Sea.

These parts and pieces are pinned and ready for me to get back to stitching tonight.

I'm hoping this week is better on the stitching front. Work is still going to be nuts, it's midyear review time.  Maybe I'll pencil in a sew day for next weekend, I could definitely use a sanity break.

Odds and Ends Stitching

It was a nice quiet weekend. The Scientist in Training is settling into her new apartment back at school.  So in one way it was just way too quiet. These days it seems we just get used to having her around and then she's gone again.  I'm aware this will get worse going forward, so I'll enjoy having her just two hours away while it lasts.  

There's not much on the design walls at the moment.  I've made a good start on the square in a square blocks for the Storm at Sea pieced border.

I need 18 of these blocks, so I'm just over one third of the way there. 

There's another border in the works for Vintage Dresses. 

The quilt looks unfinished with out the last two borders, so I'm stitching the strips for the last colored border. 

The One Monthly Goal is to get Christmas Angels bound.  The binding is made, the quilt is trimmed up and I made a start on attaching the binding. 

Only one side is sewn to the front, so three more left to go.  

It certainly seems like slow going, but one project is close to a finish and three more are close to being finished flimsies. Really not bad progress for being not quite halfway through the year.  That would suggest at least four more finishes are possible for 2019.  Fingers crossed on that becoming a reality.  Linking up with the usual Monday show and tell linkies:  Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and Main Crush Monday.   

The June To Do List

Wow, already one week into June!  Since we were in Colorado the first few days, it's taken a bit to get back into the groove at home  The Scientist in Training headed back to school last night. So the house feels pretty empty.  I've been playing catch up with work stuff, so there hasn't been much computer or sewing time since we got back.  I hadn't given much thought to this month's quilty to do list or to what is June's One Monthly Goal.

Only two quilts have come off the quilt plan for the year.  Next on that list is Christmas Angels.

Christmas Angels
Pattern by Kate

It's back from quilting, so it just needs to be bound.  That's definitely my June One Monthly Goal. 

But there's some other things that should really be on the to do list.  Number 4 on the 2019 Quilt Plan is Vintage Dresses.  I stopped at 4 of the 6 borders that were planned, trying to decide if it needs the last two or if I should just stop.  It's getting pretty big with just the 4.  Sorry no photos on the progress for this one.  I'm hoping to make a decision on the borders and get the backing made so this project can go out for quilting before the end of the month. 

Two new projects have been started this year and to finish off my PHD, both should be finished by years end.  The first is Storm at Sea.  It's all sewn together and I've started working on the pieced border blocks. Here's the current plan.  

 Storm at Sea
Paper Piecing Class by Carrie Randell (Quilter's Hideaway)

I'm hoping to get the pieced border completed on this project before the end of June.  

The second new project is the Daisy Chain Mystery.

Daisy Chain Mystery
2019 Little Bunny Quilts Mystery
by Alison of Honey, Bunny & Doll Designs

The blocks need to be sewn together and I'm going to add a couple of borders.  I'm just hoping to get all the blocks sewn together this month.  Not sure I'll get any farther than that.  I'm considering adding a border. We'll see how that plays out. 

That's enough for one month.

2019 Finish Along: Second Quarter Ambitions

We are already at the end of the second week in April,  almost half way through the first month of the second quarter.  The linky party for the Second Quarter 2019 Finish Along is up and running.

So it's time to focus on what might become a finish before the end of the quarter.  Back in December of last year, I put together a list of quilts to finish up in 2019.  So far only one quilt has come off the list, but I'm close too finishes on the next two.  So those will definitely go on the list for second quarter.

1.  Christmas Mystery Quilt (Ho Ho Ho) - Just needs the binding sewn to the back.  

Ho Ho Ho (Christmas Mystery)
designed by Carrie Randall (Quilter's Hideaway)

2.  Christmas Angels - Ready to be sent out for quilting

Christmas Angels
Pattern by Kate

The last three quilts all need quite a bit of work.  I doubt all three will get finished this quarter, but they'll go on the list in hopes I'm really, really motivated the next couple of months. 

3.  Vintage Dresses - Needs borders, backing, prepping, quilting and binding. 

 Vintage Dresses by dress blocks by Charise Randell, setting by Kate

4.  Red, White and Blue Stars - Blocks done.  Needs sashing and broders, backing, prepping, quilting and binding.

White and Blue Stars

Setting by Kate

5.  Twinkle Stars - Needs assembly, backing, prepping, quilting and binding.

Twinkle Stars

Tutorial by Andrea Feldbush of Soscrappy

  

Being realistic, the first three quilts on the list should make it to completion this quarter.  I really hope to make really good progress on number 4, but doubt that number 5 progresses any this quarter. 

Linking up with the 2019 Second Quarter Quilt Along post.  Wishing you a fun, productive and quilty second quarter.  

2019 Finish Along: Along for the Ride Again

We are in the second week of January already.  If you can get past this week with your dieting and exercise goals for 2019 on track, you are doing better than most.  Usually the quilty goals are still on track at this point.  We'll see if that is still true at the end of the month.  Staying focused on one project seems to be my best strategy for getting quilts done, so hopefully participating the 2019 Finish Along will help me keep that focus. 

Since I'm also committed to the APQ UFO Challenge, I've already drafted a prioritized list of the UFOs to focus on this year.  But rather than following along with the number of the month, I'm going to work through my list in numerical order and work on each project till it's done rather than switching each month.  Fingers crossed that will mean more finishes this year.  So from that list what's likely to get done in the first quarter of the Finish Along? 

1.  Inverted Star

 Inverted Star by Jessica Boschem of Common Threads available from Blueprint 

It's a finished flimsy, the back is pieced, both need to be pressed and prepped for quilting, then packaged to go out for quilting.  That should happen this weekend.  So Inverted Star is a good candidate for a first quarter finish.

2.  The Christmas Mystery Quilt

Ho Ho Ho (Christmas Mystery)
designed by Carrie Randall (Quilter's Hideaway)

Also a finished flimsy, though I do need to embroider some eyes, nose and mustache onto the nut cracker.  It needs a backing pieced and then it can go out for quilting.  I'll start on it as soon as Inverted Star is ready to go.  So this is another likely first quarter finish. 

3.  Christmas Angels

 Christmas Angels
Pattern by Kate

The center of the quilt is pieced, but it needs borders and backing.  I think this one is also likely to get finished this quarter if I don't dilly dally over the first two.  

4.  Vintage Dresses

 Vintage Dresses by Charise Randell

Another quilt that needs the borders added and the backing pieced.  I'm not sure this one will make it to finished by the end of the quarter.  It needs to go out for quilting early in March to make that deadline.  

5.  Red, White and Blue Stars

Red, White and Blue Stars, Setting by Kate

The blocks need to be sashed and sewn together.  This one isn't likely to get done in first quarter, but I'll add it to the list as my stretch goal for the quarter.  It would be really nice to get four quilts finished in the first quarter  That's all I finished in all of 2018.  

2018 Finish Along - Fourth Quarter Projects

We are already into week two of the fourth quarter.  Time flies, especially this time of year. Hard to believe it's time to decide on what projects go on the list as potential finishes for the fourth quarter of the 2018 Finish Along. 

Out of all the projects on my 2018 Quilt Plan, only three have made it to completed status.  That leaves nine quilts left that could go on the list for this quarter. Out of those nine, there are three that have a good chance of making to to the finished list. 

1.  Halloween Mystery Quilt (new start)

 Halloween Mystery
designed by Carrie Randall (Quilter's Hideaway)

The rows have all been sewn together since this picture was taken and the first border strip has been attached.  The second border strip is pinned, ready to sew on.  So this one has a good chance of making it to the finished stage.  It's not on my UFO list, but finishing it will keep it off the list.  That counts right? 

2.  Inverted Star (From Third Quarter Quilt Along list)

 Inverted Star by Jessica Boschem of Common Threads
available from Craftsy as a free download

The center is all stitched together and the blocks for the pieced border are all done. Now to figure out where those stars go in the border and start stitching them together.  It will also need a backing pieced before it can go out for quilting. This is a graduation quilt for one of the Scientist in Training's friends.  The friend graduates in December so this one really needs to get done. 

3.  Christmas Angels (From the second quarter list)

 Christmas Angels  Pattern by Kate

Another project that just needs the borders and the backing finished so it can be sent out for quilting.  It would be nice to get this one done so it could be gifted as a Christmas present this year. 

The top two are definitely doable, not sure about number three.  Maybe.  But since there is no penalty associated with not getting everything on the list completed, I'll add one last project to the list.  

4.  Vintage Dresses (from the first quarter list).

 Vintage Dresses blocks by Charise Randell, Setting by Kate

This was supposed to be a high school graduation gift, but it didn't get done in time.  This quilt also just needs borders and backing so it can be sent out for quilting.  It would be nice to get this one finished too, but I'm not counting on it.  

That's my list for the fourth quarter quilt along.  If all four of them get finished, that will be seven total quilts completed for 2018.  That would tie my best year in terms of finishes. Fingers crossed that I can get that far.  

Linking up with the Fourth Quarter 2018 Finish Along.  

2018 Finish Along - Third Quarter Projects

Half way through the year and I'm not even close to having six finishes.  Getting the UFO list trimmed down to at least half was the plan for 2018.  So hopefully linking up with the 2018 finish along for the third time this year will be the charm and there will be a flurry of finishes before October. 

So what's on the list for third quarter, pretty much most of the list from first and second quarter, plus a couple of new additions.  Might as well be ambitious right?  

1.  En Provence (from the first quarter list)

 En Provence, A Bonnie Hunter Mystery (2016)

I was stitching on the binding for En Provence at the end of second quarter and just wasn't able to get it completely finished before June 30th.  So this quilt is a definite finish for third quarter. 

2. Magnolia Mystery (from the first quarter list)

Magnolia Mystery by Cheryl Brickey of
Meadow Mist Designs

This project is back from being quilted and needs to be trimmed and bound.  So this one is definitely going to be a finish this quarter. 

3.  Vintage Dresses (from the first quarter list)

 Vintage Dresses by Charise Randell

This was supposed to be a high school graduation present for a niece going into fashion design.  The plan now is to finish it in time for Christmas.  It needs borders and a backing before it can go out for quilting.  Adding borders and making a backing always takes longer than I think it will. So we'll see if it actually gets done 3rd quarter.   

4. Christmas Angels (from the second quarter list)

Christmas Angels Pattern by Kate

Another quilt that needs the borders, backing and prepping for quilting.  It's another Christmas present. I'm not sure this one will actually get done, though I'm hoping to at least have it out for quilting by the end of the quarter. 

5.  Inverted Star (new for third quarter)

 Inverted Star
by Jessica Boschem of Common Threads
available from Craftsy as a free download

This is a college graduation quilt for one of the Scientist in Training's friends.  She graduates in December, so I'm hoping to move it to finished. Being honest, this one will likely make it to the finished flimsy stage by the end of the quarter. I doubt it makes it to finished quilt.  But I'm adding it in so it stays on my priority list for the quarter. 

6. Twinkle Star (new for third quarter)

 Twinkle Stars Tutorial by Andrea Feldbush of Soscrappy

Another college graduation quilt for one of the SITs friends.  But she doesn't graduate till May. Still it would be nice to have this one finished well in advance for a change.  I'll be happy if it's ready to go out for quilting by the end of the quarter.  Again it's here so it stays on the priority list for the year.  

That's a pretty ambitious list isn't it?  The first two on the list are pretty easy finishes, so that really only leaves 4 quilts that are going to take some effort to move to finished.  If I can finish another 2, to make for a total of 4 for the quarter, I'll be pretty happy.  

Linking up with She Can Quilt for the 2018 Quilt Along Third Quarter Dreaming of Finishes List.  

2018 Ambitions - Checking in for Mid-Year

Hard to believe we've passed the mid-year point for 2018.  I just finished doing mid-year reviews at work. It's a chance to look at the goals from the first of the year, make sure they are still appropriate and that you are on track to complete them.  Back in April I  reviewed how things were going on my quilty ambitions (that post is here) for the same reasons.  Yvonne over at Quilting Jetgirl is hosting a mid year review linky party to encourage us to take a look at where we are mid year. 

So here's how I'm doing on my quilty ambitions as of the end of June.  

1.  Shorten the UFO list.  

I started 2018 with 17 quilts on the UFO list. As of the end of June there are 18 quilts on the UFO list.  I consider a quilt a UFO once it's been on the project list for a year.  There's only been one finish this year and it wasn't on the UFO list yet.  So I'm not doing so hot on this ambition. It's not from lack of trying. There has been good progress on the six projects I've worked on this year. It just hasn't been enough to get those quilts to the finish line.  

2. Participate in quilt alongs/mysteries.  Since the goal is to finish up the old stuff, I limited myself to just three this year.

     2018 Rainbow Scrap Challenge - Started
     Meadow Mist Designs Plus Sign Sampler Quilt Along
     Bonnie Hunter Mystery


I've decided not to do Cheryl's Plus Sign Sampler, but may start one of the quilts in her Modern Plus Sign Quilts book.  Or since my goal is to clear off the UFO list, I may skip out on that quilt along completely. 

3. Find 15 minutes to stitch each day. 

I'm doing well with this ambition.  The success rate for the year is 94.54%.  So I'm not sure why I'm not seeing any finishes.  

4.  Stash Management/Stash Organization
       Limit purchases to 5 yards per quarter: at 18.91 yards incoming
       Spend 30 minutes each week on organization:  hit and miss
       Any new projects must use stash fabrics only:  good here
       Pick a RSC project that uses precut strips:  Sampler uses strips

Well 3 out of 4 ambitions on this point is pretty good.  I'm over my goal for incoming fabric as of the mid-year point, but as long as I don't add more than one more yard the next 6 months, I'll be OK on that one for the year.  I'm not doing so hot on organizing the stash.  It's been hard to find time to sew this year, so spending time organizing has just not been as high a priority. 

5.  Blog once a week.  
I've managed at least 2 posts a week since the first of the year. So I'm doing OK on this front too.  

Other than getting quilts to the finish line, the year is going pretty well.  I'm linking up with Yvonne's mid-year review party where you can see how well other's are doing on meeting their quilty ambitions.  

Since finishes don't seem to be happening, I'm going to use the rest of this post to document the progress for the year.  I need the morale boost.  The picture on the left is where the project was as of 12/31/2017. The picture of the right shows the status as of the last time I worked on the project. 

January Project:  Chain Reaction (aka Geek Chic) Done 

 


February Project:  Magnolia Mystery Quilt (Needs binding)

March Project:  Vintage Dresses (Needs borders)

April Project:  En Provence (Sewing on binding)

 

May Project:  Christmas Angels (Needs borders)

 

June Project:  Red, White and Blue Stars (Finish making blocks)

So I'm close to finishes on two quilts.  But only one is on the UFO list.  Magnolia Mystery wasn't started till September last year, so it's still a WIP.  Well I got this far in the last 6 months and there is still 6 more to go.  Time enough to move a couple more off the list you think?  

Weekend Stitching: A Few Finished Blocks

As usual the weekend seem to fly by.  I'm definitely not ready for Monday morning, but I'm reminding myself that it's a short week. My Guy and I are taking a few days off before the 4th of July holiday to get a few things done around the house and just generally goof off.  There will definitely be some sewing time in there too. 

I did get in some significant time in the sewing room this weekend.  All the pieced borders for Christmas Angels are assembled and attached to the quilt. 

What looks black in the photo is actually dark green.  This quilt has 3 more borders to be added, but those will not be pieced.  I just need to decide if the final border is going to be red or green.  

This month's OMG is to complete the blocks for the Red, White and Blue Stars quilt.  I finished one of the five this weekend. 

Now that I've made one and remembered how to assemble these, I've picked up the pace on the rest.  The next two blocks are in progress over at the sewing machine. 

I'm still playing catch up with the sampler blocks that are this month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.  The third pink block is in progress, the first two are done.  

Squared Away Sampler
designed by Mari (The Academic Quilter) and Angela (Soscrappy)

The instructions for this month's teal blocks are printed off and I got as far as selecting the fabrics for June's blocks. 

If I can get these blocks done this week, I'll be all caught up and ready for July's color. 

Hard to believe that Saturday will mark the halfway point in 2018.  I'm not as far along on finishes as I would have liked, but there's been a lot of progress. It's all good.  

Linking up with:
Monday Making
Main Crush Monday
Monday Design Wall