2013 Quilts in Review

2013 was the year of the UFO at the Sewing Center and with the incentive to complete as many projects as I could, I took off. I accomplished a lot and finished some UFO's I never thought would see the light of day. The ones that are left - they are all the big ones I can't finish with my frame in the small size. So I didn't work on them. I have about 10 or so of my own left and 10 or so of mom's left. All of them are fairly big, so I hope to complete at least 1 from either list each month next year. I also have some challenging quilts I want to start next year, just to take my quilting to a new level.
I finished this Briar Rose quilt made of scrap batiks. I plan to make another one from my regular fabric scraps, so I have been cutting up scraps and sewing sets of squares as a leaders and enders project this year.

I used up some of my Let it Snow batik to make a throw for the couch. I love the fabric and still have plenty to make something this year. I also made a table topper and pillow to match.

I used up some scraps to make this Teacups baby quilt for a class I taught. It's a baby size quilt.

I made this Peaks quilt out of 12 fat quarters for a sample for the store.

This quilt is a a Chevron quilt I made as a sample for a class I taught.

This one was a new quilt I made. It's an English Paper Pieced star I pieced in 1 month . It's a wall hanging.

I finished this Unity wall hanging. I thought the pattern was for a bigger quilt, but with only 1 1/2" strips, it finished very small.

Scrappy Hugs and Kisses was a fun quilt to make with leftover batik strips. I have enough leftovers to make a scrappy batik Trip Around the World next year.

I pieced some leftover batiks into this diamond. It's very small with 1/2" hexie's, but was a new project for me this year.

The Thangles BOM started as a fun project in 2009, but with lots of problems I just didn't enjoy the colors or the finished project, so I put it off for a long time. This year at retreat I finished the top, so I was able to get it finished this year.

Frolic Star Surround was made from a Quilt a Long. I love the blocks and did it after it was over, but still enjoyed making it. I used scraps from Frolic.

My oldest UFO was completed, thanks to a Year of Lovely Finishes. I made this appliqued wold for Paul. I started it in 2008.

This quilt was Mikaela's quilt for Christmas. I wanted to make a large Carpenter Star, so I used a piece of minkee and matched the colors to it. I used all Stash fabric to make it.

These are just a few quilts I made this year. I completed 55 UFO's, 60 NEW projects, 14 Samples, and 14 of Mom's UFO's. All in all I feel very good about how much I got done. I have projects lined up and waiting for next year. I have 1 sample I need to make before the end of the year and then it will be one to new projects.

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.

A Weekend of Finishes

Some friends have commented that I have gotten a lot done this month, which is very true. I've had an amazing month and there is still a few days left. Prepare yourself... if you thought this month was amazing, look out for what got finished this weekend.
Friday night I made this toddler quilt for my nephew Cooper's 1st birthday party, which I thought was Sunday. I pieced the top and put it on the frame Friday night, added the binding to the top later that night. Saturday morning I was getting the kids ready when I looked at the invitation and the party was on Saturday afternoon... I hit high gear and machine sewed the binding on the quilt before we headed to Sturgis for the party. I did get a quick stop in at Fabric Junction in Sturgis and a few fat quarters made it home with me.

I quilted his name in it. It's not the best, but for a first time I think it turned out pretty cool. I did really big loops because I wanted it to be a light quilt.

We got home around supper time on Sat. night and I made a full meal, meatloaf, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and corn. While the kids played with daddy and grandma, I finished making this pastel table topper. It is reversible and burped since I didn't have a binding to match.

This is the other side of it.

I used the very last of the grader fabric and made a table topper. It is also burped and quilted.

I put two placemats together and burped and quilted. No backing fabric or binding, but it's done and will be useful to someone. This was another of mom's UFO's that is now done!

I pulled out a couple kits I had bought at Quilts and Vines and made this little Treats bag. The front is see through. The pattern is easy and I can see making more, without the vinyl. I'm not sure why I waited 2 years to make something that took 20 -30 min.

I also quilted this little Laurel Burch table topper. It is also reversible and another of mom's UFO's. So glad to have it done and the excess fabric in the scrap bin.

Then I made a little wallet from another Heirloom Creations kit. It too less than 20 min, yet I've had the pattern/kit since 2009.

The inside. I can see making more of these since they are so simple. I think it would make a great giftcard holder too.

All of the above were finished on Saturday - 7 finishes!!
Sunday I made myself work on the Essence Tumbler quilt. It has been cut out since 2010 or so and I've had all the fabric, including the border, binding, and backing. I finally made it into a top on Sunday. I had wanted to quilt it, but I didn't finish until after the kids went to bed, so I made the backing and picked out the thread and hope to quilt it this week some time.

So I spent the later part of Sunday night making baby receiving blankets. I had bought up the leftover flannel from this line and I think I had 3 yards of each, so I made 3 little girl blankets. I burped and then stitched around the edges. I think they turned out cute and will make great gifts for when I need something quick. Three more finishes yesterday put me at 10 for the weekend! That puts me at 23 finishes for October. I'm shooting for 25, so we'll see how this week goes.




Since I thought the party was on Sunday I hadn't planned to have so much sewing time, but I had gotten my homework done early in the week so I wouldn't have to worry about it. It was so nice to be able to spend the day sewing and not have to worry about homework. Since I had cooked on Saturday, Paul cooked Chili Sunday. After a quick trip to the store for a few essentials (cornbread to go with the chili), we were home again and tried on Halloween costumes. I had planned to take them to mass and trunk or treat, but they fell asleep before we made it there. Some of my best laid plans just do not work out.
This weekend was my 2nd goal in my weight loss journey that started on August 2. I hoped to lose 10 lbs by the end of the year. I lost 10lbs in the first 5 weeks, so I set another goal to lose 10 more by my nephew's birthday. I didn't quite make it, but did lose 6 more, so I feel good about where I am at so far. I'd like to lose about 6 more by the end next month, but I'm easing off of nursing, so not sure if it will happen. The encouragement from my co-workers and friends has been amazing and I couldn't ask for better friends. Thanks to everyone who has helped me with this major goal.

Finish It Up Friday

This month has been amazing in the quilting department, partly because we've been home every weekend, but mainly because I set some goals and I pulled out my UFO sheet to see what I can accomplish before the end of the year.
I was able to quilt two quilts on Sunday night, Star Surround and 9 Patch Snowball. The Star Surround was a new quilt using up scraps of Frolic, so I feel like I was using up the leftover fabric. The rest of it is going in the scrap container. I love how this turned out for a scrap quilt. I would have been better if the oranges were opposite, but oh well. It will make a nice quilt for someone. I finished up the hand work on the binding on Wednesday.

Wednesday night I taught a class and with some time to hand sew I finished up the 9 Patch Snowball hand work. It's pretty small, but it was made as an I Spy quilt. I'm not sure who this will go to.

Last night when I got home I quickly quilted up this little play mat. It could be a baby quilt, but I'm thinking it will be better as a little play mat for my nephew. Mathew already has one just like it. I finished the binding today at lunch, although I think I am going to go back over it with a machine stitch to secure it since his dad says "Boys are rough and they play with stuff till it falls apart".

Here's a close up of the binding. I used a little blue fabric that has orange cones on it. I am on the last of this fabric. I have made five quilts and a table topper with it and just have enough for 1 or 2 60* table toppers left. They will have to be burped with something different on the back as I am so close to done with this fabric. Another UFO off my list!


While I was looking at my list in mid-October, I started a Nov. goal list... I've finished 3 of the 6 things already! I think I need to look again. I have all of my October goals either accomplished or superseded! I am not working on a couple new quilts and a couple quick finishes for the end of the month. I think Nov. will be spent making quilts for my kids for X-mas. While I "only" finished 3 quilts this week compared to the four last week, I was able to also make a burped table topper, which only needs a wee bit of quilting. I also cut out and pinned 3 baby receiving blankets which will be quick finishes, pinned another 60* table topper that needs a piece of batting, and cut out 2 toddler quilts, 1 for my nephew's 1st birthday and 1 for my son for X-mas. I need to make/quilt/bind my nephew's before Sunday, so I'm on a time crunch, but I think I can do it.

I'm Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Up Friday!

Five Quilts Given New Homes

Last week I was in gift giving mode. I had made several quilts for gifts and it just so happened that the time had arrived to gift them.
My co-worker Amy gave me a bunch of clothes and a toddler bed for Mikaela and I wanted to give her something in return. Amy loves orange, so I used a fat quarter bundle of Central Park paired with the bright orange from the line on the clearance rack to make her a Happy Hour quilt. I didn't want to leave her daughter Remy out, so I made her the Star Struck quilt top using the left over Central Park and another piece from the line. I love how both these quilts turned out and she loved them as well. Remy said it's her good dreams quilt and she hasn't had any bad dreams since she started sleeping under it. What a way to make me feel good!



This quilt was made for my mom for her 50th birthday. She didn't really care for it, she didn't want to be reminded she was getting older. It hung on the quilt rack Paul built for her. My co-worker friend Kim turned 50 this past week, so I gifted her the quilt. She loved it. She's excited to turn 50 and loves the color purple.

This weekend we went to my cousin Bryan's wedding to Cora. I wasn't sure what to make for them, since I don't really know their taste, but I know they both hunt and her family has land in northern MN, so I made this quilt and gifted it to them for their wedding. They both really liked it.

This quilt was one of mom's UFO's and she left it with 5 seams left to finish. She picked up the pattern in MN when we went shop hopping with her cousin Sue. I love the bright colors, but I have too many quilts, so I decided to give this one to Sue for her birthday this past week. She loved the quilt and it will be a reminder of my mom. Sue was my mom's closest cousin and good friend to my mom.


It feels great to give these quilts some new homes and it's time to find homes for some other quilts as well. I've got too many and want to make more for our home. I'll continue to gift quilts as I see the need/someone interested in one of my quilts. I've also decided to sell some to make room for more.