Last week of February

This week is already flying by so quickly. We've had 2 late start mornings and I feel like we may have another one tomorrow. Monday was President's Day and I had big plans for a quilting day at my dad's house after the kid's dentist appointments. The weather was supposed to be bad (6" of snow and below 0 temps), so I changed the plan. I decided Friday that I would go out on Saturday afternoon, after morning haircuts. I worked on the side borders for this quilt until 10:30 Friday night (after my birthday supper at Fuji Steakhouse). I couldn't get them on right, so I went to bed. While Paul took the kids to haircuts, I finished the borders, mopped the floors, cleaned up the kitchen, and sorted laundry. 
Saturday after lunch the kids and I went to Dad's house to quilt. I quilted this little boy quilt for Jace, the son of our work-study student Megan. Then I quilted my pillow swap (which I'll show after it's received) and the HST Valentine L'Amour table runner. 

It was going so well and it was only 2:30, so I loaded my Hey June quilt which is 73"x97". It is a big one, but I knew I had time to quilt it. The machine would not work! I messed with it for 30 minutes before giving up! I set up mom's sewing machine and fixed my dad's shirts and a couple things for his wife. I put everything away and decided I'd come back another day. I moved the quilting machine and it worked! It literally was like God said, "fix your dad's mending". I would have otherwise put him off. 

Thursday I had a foot doctor appointment and had enough time to finish sewing this quadrant of my EPP quilt. 

So I quilted Hey June horizontally (as I had 1" of backing and batting on each side). It was meant to be quilted this way. It quilted up beautifully after the break! I couldn't find anything else that could or would have caused the issue. I don't know who this will go to, but it's quilted and that's what matters. I used wide back red and 124" wide white warm & white batting from the Sewing Center. After it was done, I quilted a 40" square of purple Homemade fabric to make some more by Annie bags/patterns. I didn't have a plan, but I just quilted up the fabric and will cut it out later when I decide what to make with it. 

Last night I sewed the binding on my pillow swap pillow, my valentine's table runner (but was short, darn it!) and then I had put these by my table to finish as needed. I ended up sewing the binding I had cut on these 2 table toppers. I just gave them to a student for an adoption fundraiser he is helping with this weekend. I didn't have any other thing planned for them and it just felt like they would help that cause. 

Monday night I finished the binding on Jace's quilt. I think it turned out pretty cute for a "scrap quilt". I was kind of kicking myself for spending $40 on backing and more background for a scrap quilt (which I think of as a free quilt), but I know it was the right decision to spring for the minkee backing. I did frankenbatt the batting together from scraps, so that was free too. 
 
Sunday night Mathew and I played his new Monopoly game. Friday was the 2 year anniversary of my cancer sister's DMX. I wore my Heidi shirt to work as I celebrated what being a survivor means for me. Harmony is the background quilt. 

Piecing Again this week

 

This week I have been piecing again. It just seemed to work for me. I pieced all the flying geese and blocks for the SDSU t-shirt quilt I am making and then laid it out. I haven't finished sewing it together yet.  

Last night I worked on the Hillside Charm Wildlife quilt 2 and then made these little 60* table toppers. I will quilt them, then trim them up. 

Mathew saw this fabric and wanted a mask, so I made one for him. 

I started piecing the yellow/blue strips for a scrappy bargello, but haven't gotten any further. 

I worked on embroidery pieces and started making labels. This one is on a border piece and I really like how it is turning out. 

My car turned over to 100000 miles. I put a lot of miles on it since it is the family vehicle. I bought it at 48000 almost 4 years ago.

Mikaela got a haircut and a 5 strand braid to go with it. 

 

March was a busy month, but I hope to finish up more quilts in April. 

Fabulous Sewing Week

This week has been awesome in the sewing studio. We had a few cold days that we stayed inside during break, so I finished up 4 rows of the Sewing Hexie table runner. I think I have only 5 more sections to make into rows and then I can start assembling them. This project has been ongoing for 3 years now, so it's time to get it moving a little faster. My goal for the month is to get 4 rows pieced and I've met that goal.

This week I've been crazy busy creating samples for a Triangle Frenzy Swirl table runner and the Hexagon Table Topper. I got them pieced earlier in the week and last night I burped and quilted the swirl runner. I didn't have the pattern for this one, so I winged it.

I used leftover fabric for the backing. I just did a bit of echo quilting and some hexie's in the center.

I had time to quilt the bigger hexie table topper so I did. This one is also quilted with echo, but I also added hexie's to the centers of the cream. This one I put binding on in black and am working on hand stitching it down. I am loving my new Samsung Galaxy S5 for the picture quality. It is AMAZING compared to my old Windows phone which I HATED!

A close up of the quilting on the topper.

Then because I am crazy and I just wanted to try, I made this miniature. It uses 2.25" triangles and 1/8" seams. It's not perfect, but is pretty cute. I used the leftovers of my strip. Finished size is 8"x 9.5"If I'd had more than 1/4" of the red I think it would have turned out better. Still it was fun to try. I used the #HexNMore Ruler by Jaybird Quilts to make all of these. It is the most universal ruler I have seen for a "specialty" ruler. Mind you, I do have at least 8 60* rulers, but I really like this one because of its versatility.


Linking up for Finish it Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts &

October Lovely Year of Finishes Goal Met and 26 Finishes!

A Lovely Year of Finishes Goal Met! + A Massive Amount of UFO's finished!


This month my goal in the Lovely Year of Finishes was this UFO top of my moms. It was just blocks, made in the wrong size and didn't work the way the pattern said. My goal was to make the top. I quickly made the top in a night or two, then another night to make the back and I was on a role. I put it with batting and one of the middle weekends this month I quilted it along with 5 other quilt tops. I finished the binding and now have a finished quilt for when someone needs it. It does not have a home yet, but instead of just getting the top done as was my original goal, I finished the entire quilt.


Other goals included:
Giveaway bag-3 done
Highchair sample-done
The Maze Sample-done
Rubic Star Center -done
Swoon Block- done
Star Surround Top - Quilt done

The Maze Sample top was made and turned in.

The high chair sample was made and it works great.

I made 3 bags, 1 for a giveaway and 2 for me. I love the smaller size and have started using them for my binding bag and hexie bag.


I pulled out this pink/brown table topper and made it in one night, checked off my UFO list for the month.

I also pulled out the scraps left from the Zoo Parade an made this baby quilt. It is also finished!

I picked up the Confetti baby quilt top and got it quilted and the binding applied. I lost the fabric I thought I had to make the binding, but had enough of the backing to make binding.
















I also picked up the Twirl quilt and got it quilted and the binding on. It feels great to have it done as it has been a UFO for way too long!

I took the opportunity to finish my last Swoon block at Club Sew

I pulled out and pieced this 9 patch/snowball quilt top from 2009. It was quilted and the binding is on.

I finished the Star Surround top and was able to get it quilted and the binding on.

I took this road grader panel and turned it into a little boys play mat.

I made this quilt in 1 evening for my nephew's 1st birthday.

I pulled out mom's 60* table topper and turned it into 2 reversible table toppers. A pastel one:

A 60* table runner, using up the last of the grader fabric.

I made a reversible placement, another one of mom's ufo's.

A treat bag kit made

The other reversible table topper

An EZ wallet kit

I made 3 UFO flannel baby blankets.

I took the tumblers and pieced them into a top and then quilted and bound it this week. This was my major finish for the week.

I also finished the adorning schlep UFO bag. It took me a couple hours, but has been cut out for a couple years.

I also pieced this mini merry go round quilt top. I have the batting and backing ready to quilt it, but too much going on this week to get it done. I would like to work on quilting feathers, so may use this for practice.


I also made the Rubic Star into a top. I am working on the next border, but have not spent much time on it. I've been too busy doing hand sewn binding. I also quilted some on the Wolf quilt, but need to do more on the Bernina, so I am waiting until I have time to play.

The blocks I made for a friendship quilt for one of our teachers.


This massive blizzard the first weekend made me stop and realize how no power really affects a family. I feel so blessed to have survived and be able to move forward. I feel very fortunate we did not lose anything, including all the milk I have frozen for the last year. It was stored at my dad's and they lost everything in their freezer. I had picked up the milk 2 weeks before the storm. If you've nursed/pumped you know how vital the milk is. As I am transitioning Mathew and quitting nursing, I am so thankful the 30+ bags of milk were saved.  The Ranchers Relief Fund is still accepting donations for all those who lost their livelihoods. My dad and his wife lost 36 horses and have 11 left. They think there may be one more missing, but can't find it. This storm was outrageous. I spent the 3 days with my kids and husband, playing and sleeping and relaxing. I could have hand sewn, but I didn't. We used the camping supplies to cook and warm the house when needed. Luckily it was in October, so it wasn't as cold as it would have been in January.

This was an amazing month for me! I had 18 UFO finishes, 26 total finishes, 4 new projects, a few blocks for a friendship quilt, and lots of relief in seeing the UFO's checked off the list.
Next month I plan to work on Christmas presents and a UFO or two. I don't think I'll have as much time for sewing since Paul will be deer hunting, but I'll try my best.