June One Monthly Goal

Success with my One Monthly Goal hasn't been the best the last couple of months.  I didn't finish my April OMG and didn't have time to post one for May.  I'm hoping to get back on track with the June One Monthly Goal. 

The goal for this month is to get Unity sent out for quilting. 

Unity: The 2020 Bonnie Hunter Quilt in Place Quilt Along

The borders were finished in early May, but I've not had big blocks of time to press out the backing.

Then decide how to piece the back plus prep the backing and quilt top for quilting.  The yellow polka dot used for the background fabric frays really easily, so cleaning up the loose threads on the back of the quilt top will take some work.  

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the June One Monthly Goal. 

April One Monthly Goal: Finish Potions

I was pretty sure what the plan was for my April One Monthly Goal. 

But I needed to be sure that Trudy was going to be able to finish the quilting. Potions is making the return trip and should be here Friday. 

Potions: Pattern by Flying Parrot Quilts

We've been vacillating between two names for this quilt. The first is "Reactive Intermediates" and the second is "Starting Materials". Both are common synthetic organic chemistry lingo.  We have decided on quilt label design. 

 

The SIT needs to provide me with her message for the recipient, then I can print the label.  

So to finish Potions, we need to decide on the name, make the label, make the binding and attach the binding to the quilt.  That should be doable by the end of the month.  

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the April One Monthly Goal.  

March One Monthly Goal Accomplished

Hard to believe that there's just one more week left in March.  Normally, I'm scrambling to get my One Monthly Goal finished at this point. For a change I'm actually ready to link up with Elm Street Quilts for the March One Monthly Goal Finish Linky Party before the last day of the month.  

 

My goal for March was to get Potions sent out for quilting.  At the beginning of the month I had a finished quilt top, but still needed to piece the back. 

Backing fabric is Robert Kaufman, Science Fair 3 Beakers Bright

I love this backing fabric. The only drawback was that sewing two lengths together to get the width needed for the quilt meant matching the up the shelves at the seam.  That worked out better than I expected. Not perfect, but not too shabby.  

The next step required to move the project along is my least favorite. Removing the loose threads and giving the top a final press usually takes a solid afternoon of work. 

The blue background fabric frayed more than the other fabrics, but I've ended up with much larger piles of loose threads from other projects. Potions actually wasn't too bad, it helped that the Scientist in Training was around to keep me company during that step.  

The backing and quilt top were carefully folded up and packaged in zip lock bags. I found the right size batting in my stash. Then searched for the right size box. 

After packing, taping and labeling, the project was ready for the post office.  I was off work that week, so getting to the post office wasn't the scheduling problem it normally it is.  I heard from Trudy yesterday, she's almost finished with the quilting.  So I'm pretty sure I know what my April One Monthly Goal is going to be.  

March One Monthly Goal: Potions

March is moving along, so it's definitely time to decide on a One Monthly Goal for the month. 

My OMGs for January and February were to make progress on the Potions quilt.  Since it has to be finished before the first week in May it's been the priority project on my list.  

The quilt top is finished.

Potions, Pattern from Flying Parrot Quilts

Adding the dark blue border to the top and sides makes it look more like a shelving unit, at least I think it does.  

Next step is to work out how to piece the backing.

The horizontally pieced backing is probably easier since my backing fabric is actually a horizontal stripe. 

That way I don't have to worry about matching rows up.  I just need to confirm I have enough yardage for that lay out. I love the backing fabric for this project (it's from Robert Kaufman, Science Fair 3 Beakers Bright).  

So the goal for March is to finish the backing, prep both the back and the quilt top for quilting, then get it sent out for quilting.  I think that's doable. Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the March One Monthly Goal linky party.     

Brewed Potions

It's the last day of  February.  Time to report on my progress with my One Monthly Goal. I cut it close this month.    

The goal for this month was to finish all the Potion blocks, assemble the rows and add all the sashing.  I finished sewing both halves together yesterday afternoon. 

Potions: Quilt pattern from Flying Parrot Quilts 

I'm really happy with how this quilt top worked out.  It was fun to pick the fabrics for each container.  The Scientist in Training really likes it.  I did a quick mock up in EQ and we agreed that a narrow border of the dark blue added to the top and sides goes a long way to making the quilt look like a shelving unit.  So that's the next step. 

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the end of the month One Monthly Goal link up.  Also linking up with Monday Making,  Monday Design Wall and Patchwork and Quilts.    

February One Monthly Goal

We woke up to the sound of sleet on the bedroom windows this morning.  Work sent out an email yesterday afternoon that due to the forecasted inclement weather and low temperatures everyone was to work from home for today and tomorrow.  So rather than bundling up to brave the cold, I'll just fire up the work computer when it's time to go to work. 

As it's a new month, it's time to decide on a new One Monthly Goal and link up with Elm Street Quilts. 

There are two projects that have May deadlines.  Cabins and Fans and Potions.  Cabins and Fans just needs to be trimmed and bound, but Potions is still under construction. 

Potions: design by Flying Parrot Quilts

The test tubes, beakers and all the spacer blocks are up on the design wall.  The last block left to make is the flasks.  I've gotten all the white and background pieces cut out for those.

All that's left to cut is the fabrics for the "liquid" part of the block.  That should get done tonight, then I can start assembling the blocks.  

Potions needs to be ready to go out for quilting by the beginning of April at the latest for it to be ready by graduation in May. The goal for February is to make all the flask blocks and assemble the quilt top.  Then all that will be left for March is to add any borders, get the backing pieced, clean up the quilt back and ship it out for quilting. That should be doable.   

January One Monthly Goal Wrap Up

It's been a busy few days and there wasn't time to post this morning.  It's the last day of the month, so definitely right at the wire to post my January One Monthly Goal wrap up and link up with Elm Street Quilts.  

My plan for January was to make good progress on the Potions quilt by finishing all the test tubes and half the beakers. 

Potions: pattern by Flying Parrot Quilts

 All the test tubes are made and all the beakers are made.  Which puts me ahead of schedule on this project. I need this quilt finished by May, so I'll need to keep the pace up or it won't be ready by graduation.  

Linking up with the OMG January Wrap Up, Monday Making and Monday Design Wall. 

One Monthly Goal: January 2022

I haven't quite mastered getting the year right when writing out the date. That's probably going to take a few weeks rather than the few days of the new year that have passed so far.  I'm mostly wrapped up with last year's stuff and can concentrate on what's in the works for this year.  Participating in the One Monthly Goal over at Elm Street Quilts has always been a great motivator, so I'm going to play along again this year. 

I have two quilts that need to be finished in time for the Scientist in Training's college graduation in May.  The first of those is off being quilted, so that one should easily be finished. The second of those I've just started.  

Photo from Flying Parrot Quilts

The pattern is Potions from Flying Parrot Quilts. You can purchase a downloadable PDF here.  I need to have all the blocks pieced and the quilt assembled with a back made by the beginning of April for it to be finished by early May. I really hate working to a deadline, but I can if needed.  The pattern is broken down into four sections; test tubes, beakers, flasks and assembly.  My plan is to try to finish each  section within two weeks, that would put it ready for quilting in March.  I'm not likely to meet that aggressive of goal, but if I don't push, it won't get done.  

The blocks aren't difficult, but they are fiddly. You have to get the seam allowances just right or the block doesn't look quite right. I've only finished 3 test tube blocks so far. 

The third one went together a lot quicker than the first and second, so maybe I'm getting the hang of it.  Even so there a lot of blocks to finish in the near term. So my goal for January is to finish all the test tube blocks and have at least half the beaker blocks made. 

That's my plan for January.  Hopefully I can stay on track this month. If I do, my life will be much easier in February.  Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the January One Monthly Goal.  

December One Monthly Goal: Making Potions

As seems to be typical this year, my one monthly goal was met the last day of the month. I'll be linking up with Elm Street Quilts for December's One Monthly Goal Finish.  

The goal for December was to make a start on a gift quilt for next May.  I've had the pattern and fabric picked out for several months, but just hadn't found time to get started on it.  I hadn't even read the pattern yet, other then the fabric requirements on the back.  So I opened the pattern book and got started on step 1, cutting the fabric for a set of fabric test tubes. 

The "potions" contained in all the fabric glassware is coming from scraps.  There will be yellow, green, blue and purple potions.  My first potion is orange.

 

Potions, Pattern by Flying Parrot Quilts

I didn't quite get my seem allowances right in this first block, I'll need to rework it just a bit to get the bottom just right. There's always a learning curve with the first block.  

I've got a ways to go on getting this one all pieced and assembled.  I really need to have that all done by the end of March to allow time for quilting and binding in April, so it's ready in May. But for now at least it's been started.  

Have a very Happy New Year.  My plan is to end this year and start next year at the sewing machine.  

December One Monthly Goal

I didn't quite finish my November One Monthly Goal.  That goal was to prep and send out Cabins and Fans for quilting. The prep work got done, but during the packaging process I realized that the right sized batting wasn't in my stash. So I had to order some. That came on Tuesday, but I was at work so there wasn't time to get the project shipped out in time to meet the end of the month deadline.  That's OK that will happen tomorrow.  

So that leaves me to contemplate what's my December One Monthly Goal? 

The first half of December is going to be really busy. I have a business trip and a family trip that's going to take up all of next week.  But after that I just have one more week of work before I'm on vacation till the new year.  Christmas week is always busy with lots of odds and ends, but I should have lots of stitching time the last week of the month.  

Looking over what's on the to do list for next year, I have two graduation quilts to finish for the Scientist in Training's college mentors before May of 2022.  Cabins and Fans is going to the teacher that the SIT was the teaching assistant for. This teacher has been a great cheer leader for the SIT for most of her college time. That quilt will just need to be labeled and bound. That's definitely doable before May of next year.  

The second quilt is going to the SIT's undergraduate research advisor.  He took a chance on a first semester freshman and gave her the opportunity to find out if research suited her or not.  I have the pattern and the fabric pulled, but if I don't get started on it soon, it won't be finished by May. 

The pattern is Potions by Flying Parrot Quilts.  The blocks look a bit complicated, but I don't think they will be too bad. I do need to get started on those to make a May deadline  So that's my goal for December, to make a few Potion blocks before the end of the month.  

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the December One Monthly Goal.  

November One Monthly Goal

It's the 7th day of the month, which is the last day to post a Novemer One Monthly Goal and link up over at Elm Street Quilts. 

I'm not going to meet my ambition to finish 8 quilts this year.  If I can finish one more project in 2021, I'll at least hit my average number of finishes for a year.  I'd be happy if I can hit that benchmark considering just how insane work has been this year. 

The most likley project to get done is Cabins and Fans.  The quilt top is done and the backing pieced.   

The backing needs a really good pressing. Thankfully the black fabric used for the sashing and setting triangles doesn't seem to have frayed badly. Hopefully that means that there won't be much thread clean up necessary and the finished top will just need a good pressing before packaging it up and sending it out for quilting. 

So the goal for November is to finish all the pressing and detreading, then get the project sent out for quilting. 

October One Monthly Goal Met

Hard to believe that October ends in just a few hours. I just managed to squeeze in the completion of my October One Monthly Goal before the month ends.   

The plan for October was to finish adding the borders to Cabins and Fans. 

Cabins and Fans:  Self designed

That was finished pretty early on in the month.  I'm really happy with how this project worked out.  The harder part of the Octoer OMG was to finish piecing the backing. Vacation, a birthday party and a wedding made it a bit tough to get back into the sewing room to finish up the second half of this month's goal   A weekend at home meant there was time to get all the mearsurements, cutting and sewing all done. Even so, I only beat the deadline this month by just a few hours.  I'm good with that.  

The backing is stitched up, but it still needs a good pressing.  It's hard to tell from this photo, but the backing is actually a purple print from Connecting threads.  

Fingers crossed getting both the top and the backing finished means I'll have a new finish soon.  

Linking up with Elm Street Quilt's October One Monthly Goal, Monday Making and Design Wall Monday.

October One Monthly Goal

It's the first day of October.  Just 30 days to Halloween, 55 days to Thanksgiving, 85 days to Christmas and 92 days to finish all your 2021 goals!  I'm probably not going to reach my goal on quilt finishes for 2021, but maybe with the help of this month's One Monthly Goal, I'll be one step closer to doing better next year. 

Cabins and Fans just needs a few more border strips added to be a finished flimsy. 

Cabins and Fans:  Self designed

The last green border is pinned on, I just need to get back to the sewing room to stitch it down, measure the quilt again and cut the next two side borders from the black strips already assembled.  That should definitely be doable.  Hopefully I can also get the backing pieced. I've already pulled something from the stash for that purpose. 

This is an older Connecting Threads line that I ordered significant yardage of when it went on sale.  

So it should be an easy OMG right? Just finish the borders and make the backing.  Well, maybe not.  There's a family wedding this month and other stuff going on at work.  So we'll see.  

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the October One Monthly Goal.   

Slow Stitching to a Finish

We took a day off on Friday and enjoyed a three day weekend. My Guy was still pretty sore from his bicycle accident the weekend before, so the plan was to just take it easy and hang out at home.  He was feeling much better by the end of the weekend, though he still has some really colorful bruises. 

My goal was to get laundry done and then spend a lot time in the sewing room working on some finishes.  The easiest was to finish reworking some face masks.  

These were some of the first masks I made. The elastic had worn out, so I reconstructed them with a new fabric backing and T-shirt ear loops.  The face mask making is done, at least for a bit. I may make some new Halloween ones, I have some fun novelty fabrics that would make cool masks.  

Most of my sewing room time was spent binge watching British Bake Off while sewing down the binding for the Morewood Mystery.

It was late in the evening before the last stitch was made. 

So this is the only picture I have of the finished quilt, showing that all 4 corners are stitched down.  This was my September One Monthly Goal.  It feels good to meet it with a few days to spare.  

Also linking up with Monday Making and Design Wall Monday. 

September One Monthly Goal: Finish the Morewood Mystery

We're 6 days into September, so it was time to put some thought into what the One Monthly Goal is for September and link up with Elm Street Quilts. 

An email came from Trudy on Friday saying that the quilted Morewood Mystery was in the mail and on it's way back to Oklahoma.  Finishing off that mystery project is the most logical candidate for this month's OMG.  

I've finished and vetted the new quilt name and label with the Scientist in Training. 

The SIT has always thought the square in a square block with the teal HSTs looks like wrapped candies.  

Morewood Mystery by Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs

I can see that.  This quilt is destined for the bed of the SITs long term friend and new roommate.  It will be part of her Christmas gift this year.  

I'll need to print the label, trim the quilt, make the binding then sew it to the front and back. That should be doable this month. I'm looking forward to making this project finish number three for 2021.  

August One Monthly Goal

It's hard to wrap my head around the fact that August is almost over.  Just four months left in the year.  That's even harder to wrap my mind around. But it happens every year, you'd think I'd be used to it at this point.  As the month is just about over, it's time to talk about my August One Monthly Goal and link up with the end of the month linky party over at Elm Street Quilts.  

 

The plan this month was to get the Morewood Mystery Quilt prepped for quilting. 

The last step in the process was to press and clean up any loose threads on the back. With a white background, that's an important step to reduce threads that might show through after quilting.  

The loose threads weren't too bad on this project.

  

Then the final lint roll of the top, fold and bag. Now it's ready to box up. 

The batting, backing and quilt top were all boxed up and mailed out almost two weeks ago. In fact, Trudy's finished with the quilting and Morewood should soon be on it's way back next week.  Fingers crossed there will be another finish next month.  

So I checked all the boxes this month after bungling the same OMG for last month.  Linking up with the August One Monthly Goal Finish over at Elm Street Quilts.   

August One Monthly Goal

It's the end of the first week of August. Definitely time to pick a One Monthly Goal and link up over at Elm Street Quilts.

I've noted in earlier posts that the last half of July was pretty bad on the stitching front. For the first time in at least 18 months I didn't finish my OMG for the month.  So the plan for August is to pick up where I left off and finish prepping the Morewood Mystery for quilting, then package and ship it out for quilting.   

I'm about a third of the way finished with the pressing and clean up.  If I focus on this over the weekend, then I should be able to finish this up and go back to more fun stuff.  So an easily accomplished goal, but one that I've stalled on for the last couple of weeks.