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.  

Week 14 of 2019: De-stashing and Stitching

This has been one of those weeks where the days have just flown by. Finding time for even just 15 minutes of stitching has been a challenge. 

It was close a couple of nights this week, but I did manage to fit in a bit of stitching each day.

15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
15 minute days/March = 30/31 days
15 minute days/April = 6/6 days
15 minute days/2019 = 92/96 days
Success rate = 95.83%

How did your efforts finding time to stitch go this week?

1. Julie in GA 2. Chrisknits 3. Meloney F 4. Marti

5. Shasta 6. Mary-Kay 7. DawnyK 8. Deana

9. Amanda 10. Christina's Handicrafts

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

April To Do's

Six days into the a new month and it's already been a bit of a madhouse.  Unfortunately, it's not going to get a lot better anytime soon.  A week long business trip, Easter and a family wedding are going to keep me pretty busy this month.  So the April One Monthly Goal needs to be a pretty light one. 

There's lots to choose from, but not a lot of it is doable based on the time I'll have in the sewing room.  Based my time constraints this month, finishing off the Christmas Mystery quilt is probably  doable. 

The binding has been sewn to the front of the quilt.  As of last night, I had turned one corner with the stitching the binding to the back.  It's a small quilt, so I should be able to finish it up even with a packed calendar.  

Daisy Chain Mystery: Focus on the Focal Fabric

Yesterday Alison released clue #3 for the Daisy Chain Mystery quilt along. 

Now we get to play with the focus fabric.  

I love this dark paisley print, it works very nicely in this week's ribbon blocks.  These blocks take a bit more effort (and trimming) then the 4 patches in clue 1 and 2.  I only managed about half the count needed for the throw size quilt.  But the other half should come together pretty quickly when I find a solid hour to stitch later this week.  There's still time to grab the other other two clues and stitch along. Clues are posted every 2 weeks over at Alison's blog, Little Bunny Quilts.  

Weekend Stitching: How's it Going?

Weekend's are definitely too short.  March was too short. April marks the start of the second quarter of 2019.  One fourth of the year is already over.  There's still three quarters of the year left. Seems like a good time to check on how well I'm doing with those lofty quilty goals outlined in this post for the 2019 Planning Party.  

First goal was UFO reduction.  The strategy for 2019 was to pick and prioritize 12 quilts.  I'd start with #1 on the list and work on it till it was done and then move on to #2.  So how's that working?  

Inverted Star was a finished flimsy at the beginning of the year, it needed a backing made and prepping for quilting.  

The binding was finished in March.  

Inverted Star (Second Star to the Right)
 Inverted Star block by Jessica Boschem of Common Threads available from Blueprint 

Setting by Kate, Started January 1, 2014, Finished March 11, 2019

The Christmas Mystery Quilt (HO HO HO) was the second quilt on the list.  It also needed a backing made and prepping for quilting.  My Guy also insisted that the nutcracker was too creepy, it needed a face stitched in.  

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

Those things got done.  The quilting is done, the binding and labels made.  The label's been pinned in place, I hope to start stitching on the binding tonight. This one should be finished by the end of April

Number three on my list was another Christmas quilt.  

This project needed borders added before it was ready for backing and prepping. 

 Christmas Angels
Pattern by Kate

The borders are done, the backing made and prepping for quilting happened was finished last night.  It's ready to go out for quilting.  

So projects are moving along, slowly, but they are moving.  All three of these projects were on my list for the 2019 Finish Along.  

My last two ambitions were on finding time to stitch and to sew from the stash.  I've managed to find stitching time 86 out of the 90 days so far this year.  That's not shabby at all.  Both new projects started this year, the Daisy Chain Mystery.

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

and the Storm at Sea quilt

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

were made with stash fabrics.  I've added a bit of new fabric, but first quarter ended with more out of the stash then into the stash. 

So first quarter's been pretty good.  I'd probably do better at finishing projects if I'd quit starting new projects, but what's the fun in that?  

Hope your year has been productive. Linking up with the normal Monday linky parties and the 2019 First Quarter Finish Along when it's posted.  


Design Wall Monday
2019 First Quarter Finish Along