Design Wall

This week has been especially successful in the sewing studio. I cleaned up, re-organized, and don't have any pressing deadlines, so I have been able to finish up a few odds and ends.
I made three project bags. I ran out when I was going to retreat a few weeks ago and I was mad I didn't have any made up. I had intended to give these away... two years ago, but that didn't happen, so I can use them now.

I'm really trying to finish up the sweetpea pods I have cut out from when I made bendy bags last fall. I finished 5 more this week. I think the 7-10 I still have left can all be done with navy thread, so I need to get that on and finish those up. These will probably end up as gifts.

My friend Kim asked for a new coaster, so I made this purple one for her. We have the same love for purple. Super simple and quick, but well loved.

I made this giant starburst top from scraps. It's almost identical to the last one I made, but with different yellows. I made too many yellows this time, so I'll have to figure out a plan for them.

Today we have an accreditation visit for our full program we have that I assist with. I planned the lunch/reception and cleaned up the office. I also made my SDSU mouse pad from a leftover block. I had originally made it for a demo, except it was partially together (think 1 corner missing) and it got lost. I sewed up the corner and finished up the block, quilted and did the binding last night.

It looks super cute next to the table topper it was meant to be in. I made the one in the upper left-hand corner to replace the missing block. Oh well, no harm in having an extra block.

Last night I started on the Peek-a-Boo table runner I am doing for a class in January. I always struggle when starting quilt as you go, but once I get going, it's easy. I made all the pieces and this morning I was up early with my little early riser, so I worked on this for 1/2 hour. Got the center started and I'll be ready to work on it when I get home tonight.

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.

Friday Finishes

This week was incredibly productive! I feel almost giddy with how much I got done on my to do list. I also did a lot of prep work for quilting and that makes me excited. If I can get the 4 quilts quilted that I have in the que I will be very excited next week. Last night after messing with the Star Surround top for way too long I worked on this table topper. It had the center and 2 pieces on, so not very far along. I finished it up! I whipped it out in an evening, including putting the binding on, simply because I wanted to use the pink ribbon bag it was taking up space in. Not a great reason, but at least it is done.

I love this fabric, but it's done. I am completely over it and I only kept the big scraps of it. The 1 1/2" pieces went in the trash. I can only keep so much before I go crazy and I am not buying any more to finish up what I have!

I also made these 3 bags this week. I am simply in love with them and can't wait to share with others. The purple one is my new travel EPP bag and I love it. The size is perfect. These are all from scraps.

So with any luck I will have a quilting marathon on Sat. evening and get at least one or 2 tops quilted up. That's my plan and we'll see what my family has planned instead. We've gotten a couple inches of rain today already and the snow is very quickly melting away.

WIP Wednesday Week 25 6.20.12

This week has been so productive! I had lots of samples with deadlines to get done and I think I've met them all. Late last week a storm rolled through the area and I couldn't plug my machine in to sew, so I did some more cleaning and reorganizing. I cleaned out my ruler rack and got it down to under 30 rulers! Woohoo for me! This is a miracle since I had over 100+ on there and they are all in sale pile. I picked up some totes from Emilee and already have quite a few of them full. I got through a few more drawers and my pattern boxes. I took two full boxes down to a half of one box. I need to work on the books and shelf next. I'm hoping Paul will help me get in the crawl space this weekend and get more out. It's really starting to add up, but I feel great about what I have left.


I made this Classmate case by Atkinson Design. It had to be done by last weekend.
This is the inside of the case. It has a lot of vinyl, but even more pockets. It was really easy to put together, yet there was a lot of steps to it.
Then I quickly made this little Baguette from Atkinson Designs. It turned out super cute with mesh on the front and is made to hold a rotary cutter.


This is the Easy Hex Table Topper by GE Designs. It's out of a recent table topper book and I'll be teaching a class on it this summer. I love how it turned out and I think I'll make a smaller version of it with the leftover scraps. It's really a fun and easy one to make. I probably could have made it in an hour, minus the cutting, if I hadn't had any interruptions. I used mostly scraps with a purchase for backing and border. It uses the quilt as you go method and I finished up the hand work on the binding yesterday during lunch.

This is another of GE Designs quilt as you go patterns I'll be teaching. It's called Lickety Split baby quilt. The last one I made was personalized for Wyatt, but considering he just turned 3, it's been a while. I love how this one turned out and I can't wait to personalize it for a friends baby. It's one of the 5 I need to make this fall. I have the top of one done and this one just needs the binding done, so I'm well on my way.
 
This week I hope to get more packing of my sewing room done and maybe do a quilt or two on the frame. Quarter break is going by way too quickly!

Finished this week:
Classmate case
Baguette
Easy Hex Table Topper
Lickety Split baby quilt

Ongoing projects:  (and progress this week on them) 
Swoon - 2 Blocks done
Dilly Dally Baby Girl Quilt
Pink/Brown Friendship Quilts -Handwork on binding
Buggy Barn Pink/Brown Extra Blocks -Binding
Cre8tive Swap w/ Jen
Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Blush Quilt 
Pink/Green Jungle Animal Baby Quilt
Confetti Top
Friendship Block Swap Top
Twisted Heart
Merry Go Round
Sign Language Baby Quilt 2
No progress:
Mocha Meringue Wonder Blocks- Together, needs 3 borders

Ed's Crown Royal Quilt - Started sashing
This week's stats:
Completed projects -4
New projects -0
Currently in progress -3
Finished this year - 39 , 11 Samples

I'm linking up for WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced!

September Quilting Accomplishments

September was a very productive month for me! I made several samples for the store and even realized I'm missing a few pictures. I made this name tag holder for Groovy Girls.

This pillow is for Oct. for GG's.

Another Pillow for GG's

A QAYG baby quilt with prairie points sample for the store.

A Diaper Clutch for my cousin Molly.

Patti's block for the Friendship Block Swap

Bound a Mug Rug for Kim at work as I passed on the Atta girl award to her.

Bound a wall hanging my mom had done in a mystery quilt night at our quilt retreat last year.

Quilted Jenn's Hunky Dory quilt

Made Jacque's block for the Friendship Block Swap

Made two Diaper clutchs out of the sandbox fabric.

Made the blocks for the Crown Royal quilt.


I got 66 hours in and I feel like I accomplished a lot. I've already set goals for October.
I plan to make a baby blanket for our friend Jory's little boy Bridger.
I'm working on putting my Blush quilt together and would like to get it finished.
I'm finishing up a quilt for our daycare lady out of the Wanna Be a Cowboy fabric.
I'd also like to work on mom's Jim Shore quilt and my Mocha Meringue quilts. We'll see how well I do, since these are all big quilts.