February NewFO

The last day of February, already?  I know it's a short month, but still it seems like the first was just yesterday.  The end of February it is, so it's time to link up with Cat Patches and show off this month's NewFO.



I only started one new project in February.  I have deadlines on many of the projects I'm working on, so could only really fit in one new project.  It is a project that was on my 2013 NewFO list, the OSU quilt. I only manged to get three of the blocks done, but at least that's a start.   

Pattern is A Day at the Spa
Designed by Carolyn S. Vagts
found in the February 2013 issue of Quilter's World

My Guy and I met at Oklahoma State while we were both in school there.  It's the "other" college with a football team in the state of Oklahoma.  Drama Teen spent her early years in TX which has it's own orange and red rivalry.  We didn't think anything about that till one day she came home from school not long after we moved back to Oklahoma and asked, "What color are we?"  She was in first grade at the time and we were a bit puzzled about what she was really asking.  Then she clarified, "Are we orange or are we red?"  Then we got it.  When she was little DT wanted to be a vet, and OSU has the vet school, so her plan was to attend school there.  She wanted an OSU quilt for her room, so I started collecting fabrics.  She has long since picked another career path which would be best pursued at one of the smaller regional colleges  but since I still have all the fabric, it was time to pull it all out and do something with it.  

Orange isn't really one of my favorite colors, so I've not sewn with it much.  This is going to be a really orange quilt, something way outside of my comfort zone.  But that's good for me right?    Since DT has switched up her career plans, this quilt is going to be a thank you gift for a family friend who is a big time OSU fan.  

So just the one new project this month.  I have a couple more that I'd really like to start, but with a busy schedule and deadlines on most of the in progress projects, starting a bunch of new stuff was just not in the cards this month.  Hopefully, March will be more accommodating   Check out all the other new quilting ventures over at Cat Patches.  

15 Minute Challenge - February Wrap Up

It's already the last Tuesday in February, March arrives on Thursday.  I'm definitely ready for warmer weather.  We had snow last night, but not the blizzard that was forecast.  Still the winds are pretty strong and the lights are flickering, I'm hoping I can get this post in before the power goes out.  

The fostering creativity theme for February was "have a dedicated work space".  Most everyone seems to have a either a sewing room or a corner set up somewhere in the house for their sewing.  It seems we are all challenged by storage issues, no matter how big the space is we sew in.  If you checked out the links in last week's post, you saw some gorgeous sewing spaces and some unique storage solutions.  I'm still experimenting with the "filing" of fat quarters idea.  So far, I'm liking how it's working out, but I haven't filed very many fat quarters yet.  

If you looking for some additional storage ideas.  "Organizing Solutions for Every Quilter" by Carolyn Woods has a number of suggestions.

She covers the basics of getting organized then offers specific chapters on how to store fabric, thread, notions, UFOs, etc.  Another reference is Dream Sewing Spaces by Lynette Ranney Black.

This book was originally published in 1996, but was revised and updated in 2010.  Lynette is an interior designer and that is reflected in her book.  She really covers the basic of sewing room design, including how to incorporate ergonomics into your set ups. If you are lucky enough to get to design a sewing space from scratch, you could get a lot of good ideas from this resource.  There is also a chapter that covers creating dedicated sewing spaces in closets and in other nooks and crannies that might be available.  

The fostering creativity theme has really been motivating for me.  Looking back at the last 7 days, I managed to find time to sew some during each one of them. 

That makes the third week in a row that I've managed 7 days!  That has to be a record for me. 

So how did you do this week on finding time to get in a few stitches?  Did you find an organization tip that you want to try or did try?  Link up below and share your thoughts on the time and space continuum surrounding your quilting life (Sorry,  I'm married to a physicist,  the lingo rubs off on you after a while).   

1. Julie in GA 2. Amanda

3. Susanne 4. Marti

5. Thea

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Design Wall Monday - Feb 25th

It was a nice, relaxing weekend.  Drama Teen was much improved on Sunday, she's had a cold since Friday.  She still has a nasty sounding cough, but she was a lot more lively yesterday.  She's hoping that this is the last thing she can catch for a while.  

Most of Sunday was spent in the sewing room.  One of the goals this weekend was to get the binding made and sewn onto Evening Star.

I did get that far.  Trudy Lindemann did the quilting and it's gorgeous. More on that when the binding is done.  

Borders 1 and most of 2 were added to The Sofa Quilt. 

The Sofa Quilt

Pattern is Nicole's Sofa Quilt by Judy Laquidara

(available here)

The farther along this one gets, the more I like it.  So just 4.25 borders more before it's a finished flimsy.

Mon Ami has been a leaders and enders project for most of February.  A couple more blocks have been finished.    

Quilt of Valor
Modified from Mon Ami
by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company

Whoops, I didn't notice that I had that first blue block in the third row turned wrong.  I'll have to watch that when I start sewing these together.  That may be a while, I've got deadlines on several other quilts, so this one isn't taking priority at that moment.  

So that's what is up on my design wall this week.  See what else is in progress over at Judy's Patchwork Times.  

Stash Report - Week 8

This is weekend 2 of "no running".  It's been really nice to not have to race out the door and head someplace.  The only down side to the weekend is that Drama Teen is sick again.  School called Friday afternoon, she was running a slight fever, had a nasty cough and a perpetual runny nose. She'd caught a cold apparently.  Poor kid was miserable Friday and most of Saturday. She appeared to be somewhat better last night.  I'm hoping she'll be greatly improved today.  It's no fun to spend your weekend being miserable.  

Being home has made it easy to spend time in the sewing room.  I've been doing quite a bit of stitching.  I've been working steadily on 5 projects the last week or so.  No finishes, but I've made the binding and trimmed up the Evening Star quilt so it's ready to have it sewn on.  I hope to get to that today.  So I should have my first finish of the year in the next couple of weeks.  Overall it's been a good week for stash busting.

Used last week:  1.33 yards
Added last week: 2 yards

Used for 2013: 12.09 yards
Added for 2013: 3.75 yards

Net busted for 2013: 8.34 yards

The 2 yards added are for a specific project.  I had pulled fabric to participate in Patchwork Time's "Back to Square One" quilt along.  But when I started prepping the fabric for cutting, realized I had misread the fabric amounts and didn't have enough of any dark purple in my stash to substitute for what I had pulled originally.

So I ordered two yards of this purple:

I think it's going to work just as well as the original purple I had planned to use.  I'm almost 2 months behind on the quilt along, but hopefully I'll have a chance to catch up next month.  

Next week won't be as nice because I pushed a few buttons this week.  But if I can get all the borders on The Sofa Quilt, I may just have another back pieced so that I can at least stay in the black.  

For more stash stories, check out Patchwork Times.  

Favorite Things Friday

It's been a long week, so I'm so glad to see Friday arrive.  Work has been busy, but things at home have been a bit calmer.  That's my favorite thing this week, having some down time.

No volleyball tournaments for 3 weekends in a row.  Which means I can sleep in a bit because we don't have to be out the door before dawn.  Drama Teen doesn't have anything else going during the week, other than volleyball practice. Which means I can actually wrangle more than 15 minutes in the sewing room each evening.  Laundry is under control, I can see the top of the dining room table, the bills are all paid and mailed.  All advantages of having a weekend at home last weekend.  

Early March is going to be really hectic.  So I'm planning on enjoying the next 2 weekends and making the most of the down time by being in my sewing room as much as possible.  That's definitely a favorite thing.  

Cruise over to Quilting in My Pyjamas for more fun favorites.