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.

January Quilting Accomplishments

January was a very productive month for me. I'm really impressed with how much I got done, in addition to being in school. I did about half samples and half stuff for me, so considering the samples are my second job I didn't really do all that much for me, but it's sewing and I'm counting it.
I made the Texas Two Step for a Groovy Girls Sample. It's a quick and easy pattern!

I made the Farmyard Friends quilt for a sample for my Happy Hour class I'm teaching.

The Owl Yellow Brick Road was a sample for Groovy Girls as well.

The Wrenly ribbon blanket was a gift for Emilee's baby shower for her daughter Rosaliee.

I made the Sweet Treats sample quilt for the shop.

I quilted up this cute girls quilt for my friend Cindy for a donation to an auction for a cancer patient.

I made Jen a Winding Ways Schelp bag to match her SBS binder. It was a bit belated as birthday gift for her. She loves it and I think was a bit surprised.

I made this baby quilt for my co-workers new baby. It's called Dippity Daisy.

I quilted up this growth chart for Mikaela.

I used my scraps from the leftovers of my Buggy Barn HST's to make a couple fun blocks.

I made three different friendship blocks I will embroider and quilt for friends as wall hangings.



I made 2 of these quick Valentine blocks and plan to make wall hangings or table toppers.

I made 4 Friendship quilts for my quilting buddies.

I made the Waffle Time Table runner for a Groovy Girls sample.

I am in the process of finishing the binding on the Wave Table Runner made as a sample for Groovy Girls.


So I sewed 102 hours in January, celebrated Mikaela's 1st Birthday, made 5 samples, made lots of blocks out of HST's, used my 1/4" foot (I know what a shock!), quilted a couple quilts, did my first donated quilting, and wrote 2  1500 word papers and 8 300 word discussion posts. Whewww it's been a busy month. Good thing there is that 31 on the month and 2 holiday days off! I also did all 5 weeks worth of WIP Wednesday posts. They may be duplication for some, but they really keep me on track with posting and making sure I take pictures and upload them. I finished all my goals except the quilting binding on the Jim Shore quilt. I sure hope to finish it soon. I also didn't get all the blocks of the Crown Royal quilt done, but I did work on the blocks, so I'm proud of that fact!
I've started two new quilt tops, Little Confetti and Merry Go Round, both using scraps... I know please gasp again, but I've been making a lot of samples and have lots of bits and pieces left, so I'm working on cleaning them up. I also have a stack to cut for 5" charms. If anyone wants my little leftover bits that don't fit 5" charms or 2 1/2" strips let me know and I'd be glad to send them your way. I've just got to reduce the clutter a bit. I'm also so close to making a Winding Ways quilt. To the point that I have pulled all my dark jewel colored batik fat quarters and I'm going to pick up some light colored batiks for the opposite and do a quilt with those colors. I was just going to do a two color one, but I figured that might be kind of boring and I've had about 20 fat quarters in dark purple/green/blue/marroon that I want to use up, so this is the key. I'd like to have them cut out to sew at retreat.
Retreat is coming together awesome!! I have 10 for sure and we may be able to have a few more, so still open to a couple more if anyone is interested. I'm super excited! I'm planning to make the  Winding Ways, the Crown Royal top, the BOM top, a construction baby blanket, a Loralie quilt of my moms, sign language baby quilt, Mocha Meringue top, and who knows what else I will make, but lots of tops out of blocks I already have made with a few Winding Ways blocks for something different.

Winding Ways Schlep Bag ~ Quilt Retreat Info

The Winding Ways schlep bag is completed and I can't believe it took me so long to do, seeings as I had it cut out and just had to sew it! It's been lingering since oh, maybe before Christmas some time. I have just a bit of the Jennifer Chiaverini Winding Ways fabric left for a special project, but I wanted to get this made before I made the other project. This literally took me less then 3 hours start to finish, not including cutting time. I didn't use a pattern, just went from memory, so the handles are minus batting, but they still seem to hold up well. I used scraps of 80/20 and I really like the puffiness, without the bulk of this batting.


The inside of the bag coordinates with the winding ways fabric on the outside.

Next up on the project list is a wavy table runner for our last Groovy Girls session. I just love this fabric and can't wait to get it made. I'll be adding a some scallops using the new ruler that is like the prairie points one. Wish me luck, it could get interesting.  This is a group that has met for the last two years, so since the program is ending, we're doing our own thing. It will be a Club Sew format and include lots of tips and techniques around a project idea, starting in March.

I also quilted up a growth chart for Mikaela, but it went together so fast I forgot to take pictures of it. This week has been rather busy, since I taught the Happy Hour class last night. I had 7 great ladies in the class and we had a really good time.
I know my blogging has been sporadic at best, but there just seems to be a lot going on and just not enough time to be on the computer at home. I'm really trying to do WIP Wednesday posts every week so at least I have a chance to catch everyone up on all that is going on in my world. I'm also going to be cutting out the weekly dump of photos of Mikaela. I'll try to do a monthly post of her cutest pictures. She's moving a lot now, so it's hard to get pictures of her.  Thanks to the 80 followers I have and thanks for following along with my crazy life! I hope you enjoy and find inspiration in my various projects, however random they may be. Thanks for all your comments. They inspire me to continue reading blogs and commenting as well. I always enjoy connecting with my readers. I read all my blogs in Google Reader, so if I'm not "following" you, doesn't mean I don't read your blog, it just means I have it in Google reader.

The BIG news right now in my life is a QUILT RETREAT!!! I'm planning a quilting/crafting retreat the first weekend in March at a beautiful hunting lodge near my hometown. I'm super excited and think it will be a great event. I was a little leary at first, hoping friends and readers would want to attend, but so far I have enough to meet the minimum and I'm super stoked! It's going to be an awesome weekend full of fun prizes and lots of different activities, in addition to Sewing On Your Own projects. If anyone is interested in joining a fun bunch of ladies for this awesome quilt retreat, let me know. It's super cheap - the cost is just for the rooms for 2 nights, so I'm hoping the reasonable cost will attract a few more people. I'd love to fill both cabins as well as the lodge rooms. I have an email with all the 411 if you're interested in learning more, let me know.

Okay, that's 2 posts in 1 week... watch out, this could become a habit!
Have an AWESOME day!

WIP Wednesday Week 4 1/25/12

This week was a busy one! I spent a lot of time on homework and not a lot of time on sewing, but still found some time to get to the studio on the weekend. We celebrated Mikaela's 1st Birthday on Sat. night with family and friends. We tried for a nice family picture, but it just wasn't meant to be. This was just before she stuck her foot in the cake and almost lit her foot on file with the candle.

Friday night after everyone went to bed, I loaded this quilt on the frame for my friend Cindy. She is making it for an auction in less than 2 weeks time, so I offered to quilt it for her. It quilted up so nicely! I just love to quilt when they turn out so pretty.

The blocks were quick and easy for her and she's going to put chenille around the borders.

I did a loop de loop all over on it.

She even pieced the backing.

Last night I had all a bit of time to do my own sewing, so I set out to put together this bag. I turned out really cute and I think it will be just the perfect size. I used the winding ways fabric and I was motivated enough to pull out my batik stash that I want to use for a Winding Ways quilt.

Monday I put a growth chart on the frame and quilted it and got the binding on last night, but my computer was being funny, so I hope it works tonight to upload pictures on it. So all in all a productive week!

Finished this week:
Cindy's Quilt
Mikaela's Growth Chart - Pictures next week
Winding Ways Shlep Bag
Charmed Dilly Dally Baby Quilt- Pictures next week
Ongoing projects:  (and progress this week on them)
Winding Ways Schlep Bag -DONE!
Jim Shore Quilt - Quilted and binding machine sewn on -  1 1/2 sides done - about a foot more done.
Pink/Brown Friendship Quilts - 1 top made, 2 more in progress - laid out
Buggy Barn Pink/Brown Extra Blocks- laid out and ready for sewing - enough for 3 blocks
Completed tops awaiting quilting:
Blush Quilt 
Charmed Dilly Dally Baby Quilt
No progress:
Pokey Little Puppy Book
Prayers Book
3 Mug Rugs
Ed's Crown Royal Quilt - 2/3 of the way done, on the last set of blocks
Mocha Meringue Wonder Blocks

This week's stats:
Completed projects -8
New projects -1
Currently in progress -13
Finished this year - 5 , 4 Samples

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