Final 2017 Progress

Made progress on several more projects while out here in Phoenix.

Got the sections for my mini swap quilt for the Modern Quilt Guild.   Will press and trim them to their 2.5" size once i'm back home again.


















Put these 6" blocks together.   They were one of my many UFO's and as best as I and friends can date them, are from a swap back in 1998.  I've got 5 more blocks, 4 of which will be used for the corners of the first border.   Remaining border will be the same WOW that I used for the corners on the top and bottom rows.   And then a final border will be a green 30's print.

 And I finished off this small Cross-body purse that is my last Christmas gift for the year.   It will be mailed off with the other gifts for my friend and her family this coming week.

Gratitudes:

1. Wonderful weather while I was out here.

2. Hopefully an ok forecast for when I'm driving home (once back into Texas)

2018 Goals and To-Do's

I don't normally do yearly goals or resolutions, but do make myself lists of all that I would like to accomplish in the foreseeable future.   For me these normally break down into at least five different categories.

Non-Quilty

• Look into finding and getting Tableau training
• Email to Sharing Committee re: missions and status / to-do's
• Make word doc copy of missions application and send out to committee

Quilty

• Applique sweatshirt for D - pattern printed, needs fabric pulled
• Stretching Art Challenge Quilt - Due in February, layout has been sketched and material obtained
• Tablerunner for QuiltMaker - Finished piece due to QM by end of Feb.
• Tablerunner for QM, pattern pieces/sizes - due first week of Jan to QM
• MQG mini swap quilt - Due in February, PP'd sections made, need to be assembled
• Wedding quilt - Binding and Label
• Wedding Quilt - Make backing
• Send the Wedding quilt off to be quilted
• 2018 BOM - Make the blocks in a timely manner
• Start working on next block (for Vol.18) for submission to QuiltMaker
• Scrappy Wolf - in process of cutting 2.5" squares needed for quilt
• Scrappy Deer - pattern chosen
• Finish Hankie Butterfly quilt (quilting and binding) - Send out to be quilted
• Complete the Regatta QAL

Commissioned Sewing

• Appliqued T-Shirt for D (commission) - Materials have been pulled and templates printed.  
• Follow up on possible t-shirt quilt commissions (2 of them)

UFO's

• Complete 30's Baby Cakes blocks quilt top and donate for sunshine auction
• Put together top with 30's Granny's Choice 9" blocks (12 blocks)
• Put together top with Aqua & Brown Swap blocks, set 1, 11 blocks
• Quilt one of my 2015 mystery quilt top

Design

• Get needed information together for my pattern that QuiltMaker is publishing.  Due to them ASAP (will be sent off the first week of January)
• Publish the final bear pattern for the 2017 BOM
• Write up pattern for Calico Lion, Block 1 for 2018 BOM
• Write up pattern for Sherry Bear 
• Write up patterns for the military bears (5 individual patterns + 1 combined pattern) and publish on Craftsy
• Write up patterns for the quilting bears (3 individual patterns + 1 combined pattern) and publish on Craftsy
• Write up snail quilt pattern and publish on Craftsy

Gratitudes:

1. For safe travel to/from Tucson to visit friends

2. For The blessing of time with friends and family

Arizona Shop-Hopping, Part 3

Part three of my shop-hopping ...... all shops here in the Phoenix area.

First up was a stop by the west-side 35th Ave Sew & Vac.  Almost everything I bought was on sale.  The two fruit fabrics were the only ones not on sale.  Those will be used in "lemon meringue" pie and "key lime" pie potholders.  the upper left fabric is a beautiful plum with gold tracing on it.  The bottom is an ombre that goes from dark to light.

 Then there was a selection of wonderful tans and creams for my background fabric stash.





















Next up was a brief stop at Three Dudes Quilting.  More for the background stash.   Love the one that is in the upper left with the ladies silhouettes.

Then came one final stop at SAS.  Didn't find the batiks I was looking for, but did find more for the background fabric stash.  The piano and cardinal prints have plans already percolating for them in my head.

Meanwhile, notice a theme behind my purchases?   LOL

Gratitudes:

1. That the dog who I'm pup-sitting didn't get sick when she used my bra for chew toy (and chewed a chunk out of)......sigh.......

2. for this beautiful weather!

Arizona Shop-Hopping , Part 2

I tend to shop ahead for gifts, esp. since the BD's in my family start back up in February.   As a result I like wandering into stores like Tuesday Morning occasionally to see what kind of goodies I can find for gifts. 

Well, I wandered into one out here in Phoenix and what I found was goodies for me.    First up was a spice blend that I really like on my roasted veggies in the morning.   I had found one in TX at a Ross, and then found them out here....4 more are going home with me.  =)

But the best goodies - were these precuts from Benartex at a great price (all less than half of retail).   I could have chosen from about 6 different charm squares sets, several different jelly rolls, and the "honey bun" roll (1.5" strips). 

What I came home with were these two charm squares, both blue based that I've got ideas for.   And all three of the "honey bun" rolls that they had.   These are all Kona solids and 41 different colors that are reminiscent of the colors in 30's repro fabrics.   I'm thinking I'll use one of them in this Regatta quilt/sew along and the other two....well I've got ideas for them as well running around in my mind.  Now mind you, I won't get this started before about April, but that's beside the point - it's on my to-do list for next year.  =)

So what is the most unusual place that you've found fabric before?

Gratitudes:

1. Allergies have been controllable with just an occasional pill while out here.

2. The blessings of friends who have allowed me to stay with them for 10 days.

Arizona Shop-Hopping, Part 1

I admit it.....I like to visit the shops here in Arizona when I'm out here.   I miss having the variety available out here when I'm living else where.

First up was a trip to SAS.   SAS is a store that sells fabrics by the pound as well as by the yard.   And the types of fabrics runs the gamut from quilt shop quality cottons (nowadays) to upholstery and leather remnants.    Here I picked up a blue I couldn't resist, and 4 different prints for my scrappy backgrounds.   Also found a variegated cotton thread for a great price, a zipper for a belated gift and a pkg of extra wide bias binding.

Next up came a stop at the Bernina Store in Prescott Valley.    Nice fabrics but nothing really caught my eye.Did get a tan tonal FQ for background use, and a 1/2 of an owl print that I'm planning to make potholders out of for a gift.

Just across the highway and down a bit is Cloth Plus in Prescott Valley.   When I headed down the street to the store I really wondered about it because there are houses on one side of the street, and industrial type buildings on the other.   However, once in the store I found a really nice selection of fabrics.  I picked up 4 different ombre fabrics and 2 FQ's for backgrounds.

And I also found this gorgeous ombre and batik that I'm going to use to make the mini quilt I need to get made for a modern mini swap that i'm in.

Once I left Prescott Valley, it was onto Cottonwood AZ and the Quilt and Sew shop.   Lots of nice fabrics and a large selection of sale cuts.   As you can see I found quite a few that just had to come home with me.   The zebra print will find a home in one of the blocks for my 2018 BOM.  Also bought their 2017 row-by-row kit, and they gave me a free mug.

The final quilt stop on my tour of Northern AZ shops was the Quillter's Store in Sedona.  They had their usual great selection of fabric, but it was the sale bins of $1 FQ's that caught my eyes......and yes there were a big bunch that had to come home with me.....32 to be exact.   Lots of batiks as well as some others.

And finally from the day that I drove into Phoenix, I made a detour in Tucson to stop at The Quilt Basket.   Bought their row by row pattern, a panel that will find it's way into mug rugs, 3 half yds for backgrounds (notice a theme here?), and finally the color of Kona that I need to make the bias strips for the pie potholders that I've been making.

Gratitudes:

1. Time with family and friends here in the Phx area

2. Beautiful weather!

On The Downhill Slide.....

..........for putting the wedding quilt top together.   I managed to get 2 full rows put together today in spite of having to take apart 15  or so of the star point blocks and resew the solid half to the correct side of the points.   Had to get three more blue fabrics as well because it seems I couldn't count when I was cutting the star centers...........   I haven't counted the number of different fabrics in the quilt yet, but will do that.

I'm now 80% of the way complete and only have the final row & border to go.   These will all be done as blocks and I'm hoping to get them done this weekend.

Once this is together, I'm hoping to be able to send it off for quilting......but haven't had too much luck yet in finding a quilter to do it for me.

Gratitudes:

1. I'm not having to deal with the cold, rainy weather back at home.

2. Reconnecting with long time friends back here.

Vacation Sewing

Yes, I brought my sewing machine and several projects with me on vacation.   The blessing of staying with friends is that they know I sew and don't mind if I do it during the day time.  =)

First project to be worked on is the wedding quilt.   I know have 20% of it together (5 blocks + applicable border sections) and am working on block #6.   Thankfully they are going together fairly quickly, as a result I'm hoping to get this together before I change residences.  First two rows from the top are in progress.


Project #2 will be working on my art challenge quilt for this year.   It is basically a whole cloth quilt, and I've decided to baste in where I need to stitch......I think..........lol........I may pick up some tissue paper from the dollar store and draw it out on that instead then stitch through the paper.   I'm still debating on how to do the ladybugs to show depth - currently thinking of beading over stuffed little figures.  I do know I'll have to make some of the leaves 3D to give the right sense of 3D-ness to the quilt.   Final stop of 4 or 5 for this group exhibition will be a month long stay in an art gallery in PA where those that want to can put their quilts up for sale.  And I've said that I'll put mine up for sale.  =)  I'd like to get all of the plant stitched in while out here.   Beading I'll leave for home.   Here is the pic I'm working from (found on the web).


Project #3 will be making the blocks (and hopefully top) for a mini quilt I need to get completed for  an online swap.   Pattern has been decided on, just need to pickup fabric for it.

And should all projects make progress I have a set of swap blocks made with 30's repro fabrics
that just need to be put together.........lol.

Gratitudes:
1. Safe travels on the long days of driving this past weekend.

2. Good times with friends and family so far and more to come.

ScrapHappy December

I've been knee deep in getting the "parts" made for the scrappy wedding quilt I'm working on.   And finally have all of the sub-units made, or as I call them the "parts".     Have no clue how many different blues and cream tonals there are in these, but I am going to try to count them as I put it together.   there are about 80+ of the ones with the blue corners, and 120+ of teh ones with the cream corners.   Each one is unique.

I'm taking these with me on vacation because I'll be house-sitting for a friend so I'll at least be able to sew some those days.  By January 15th the top will be together so I can get it to a quilter.

Gratitudes:

1. Am on vacation!  Woohoo........

2.  Will see friends and family this coming weekend - can't wait!

Progress on the to-Do list

Made some progress on the to do list over the weekend.....of course I ended up adding stuff to the list that I'd forgotten to add before....doesn't look like early nights for me coming up this week if i'm to get it all done.

Non-Quilty

• Make reservations for hotel stay to Phx, and for the 23rd-25th (I really don't want to sleep in the car so this is a must....lol) - made but cancelled all reservations after a friend wrote me asking if I'd like to stay with them, my answer was a definite yes!
• Enter the clothing I'm donating into my spreadsheet, box up and put into the back end of the car
• Mail Christmas gifts to Indiana - Not gonna get done till after I get back because I'm still trying to finish up gifts that need to go in the package.
• Pack for trip
• Enter hold mail request online - Done yesterday
• Pick up prescription refill - Done yesterday
• Run a load of laundry
• Make sure all perishables are out of the fridge before leaving
• Gather audio books for the trip
• Make reservation for Friday night - either El Paso or Las Cruces
• Email to my friend Mark in Tucson to see if he'd like to meet for lunch on Saturday as I pass thru
• Email to Sharing Committee re: missions and status / to-do's
• Make word doc copy of missions application and send out to committee
• Continue contacting friends to set up times to get together - In Progress

Quilty

• Appliqued Sweatshirt for D (Christmas gift)
• Appliqued Sweatshirt for M (Christmas gift)
• Finish gingerbread mug rug
• Cross-body purse for P (Christmas gift) - In process, but had to find the link again for the pattern since I can't find where my printed copy went.  Hoping to finish tonite
• Appliqued T-Shirt for D (commission) - Materials have been pulled and templates printed.  Plan to work on before leaving and mailing from Phx
• Fruit Cobbler potholders - what I can get done for extra Christmas gifts - might get one more set made, but will be pulling totes and/or snack mats that are already finished to use as gifts as well.
• Fruit Cobbler potholders (commission) - two blueberry, two mixed berry - due mid January - Need to get more blueberries
• Stretching Art Challenge Quilt - Due in February, not started
• MQG mini swap quilt - Due in February, have patterns printed out
• Wedding quilt - Binding and Label
• Cut remainder of rectangles needed for the wedding quilt - Done!
• Make remaining sections for the wedding quilt, and press - In progress
• Make remaining 24/25 blocks for the wedding quilt, including pieced border
• Add sashing to the Calico Lion block - Need to take with me as a project so that I can start this BOM in January of 2018.  
• 2018 BOM - blocks 2 and 3
• Start working on next block for submission to QuiltMaker
• Scrappy Wolf - in process of cutting 2.5" squares needed for quilt
• Scrappy Deer
• Finish Hankie Butterfly quilt (quilting and binding) - Need to find a quilter that will reply to me...or else maybe take it to my local quilt shop where they do quilting.

Design

• Write up pattern for Calico Lion, Block 1 for 2018 BOM
• Write up pattern for Sherry Bear 
• Write up patterns for the military bears (5 individual patterns + 1 combined pattern)
• Write up patterns for the quilting bears (3 individual patterns + 1 combined pattern)
• Write up snail quilt pattern

Projects for the Trip

• Calico Lion Block - Sashing
• Wedding Quilt - put remaining blocks together
• Mini swap quilt - make blocks and put top together (may need to buy fabric for it there....horrors....lol)
• Stretching Art Challenge quilt - sandwich top and baste in the leaves and plant, figure out how I'm going to make the lady bugs (beading?  stuffed applique? a combination?)

Gratitudes:

1. For provision of lodging that will save me a bundle

2. For friends who let me run a load of laundry at their house while I don't have a dryer to use at home.

Finishes over the weekend

Almost finished this potholder, just need to add the binding for it after I find fabric that will work.



















Next up was this quilt top that is approximately 40" by 60" in size.  It was made in response to both a challenge on Sunshine in a quilt that would be sent to Quilts Beyond Borders as a part of what the Sunshine group normally does.   And it also fit the challenge that my friend Susan of DesertSky Quilting had challenged her readers to do for charity for advent.

I used a Long Quarter of a halloween monster print and pulled an orange checked print and a yellow TOT strip to make the rail fence blocks.  A lime green TOT strip for the inner border and solid orange for the final border

Final look has almost a 3D look too it because of the colors and the way they work with each other.

You can read more about the #adventblocksforcharity by clicking on the image to the side.

Next up was the stitching on this embellished sweatshirt for my mom.  This was one scene from a panel of cute kitties.   Still have lots to work with for future projects.  =)

And the final project over the weekend was making this little mug rug.  It finished out at 9.5" square the pattern and a couple of the fabrics (the house and the snow) came as part of the third free kit during the shop hop I participated in back in November.  This will most likely end up being a gift for someone this Christmas.

Gratitudes:
1. Thankful for the friends who have invited me to stay with them during my trip to Phx.

2. Thankful for being able to house-sit for friends in Phx and being able to sew while i'm there.

Goals and To-Do's

I would love it if life slowed down for a bit...........but that isn't going to happen anytime soon.....lol.   Well maybe once I'm on Vacation the end of the month, but I won't bet on that.

At any rate, for my sanity and to hopefully keep me focused I'm writing down my goals and to-do's for the next 6-8 wks or thereabouts so that I can make progress and hopefully not lose anything along the way.   Most of these are quilty in some way, but some aren't.  Here's hoping this helps keep me focused on what I need to do.

Non-Quilty

• Make reservations for hotel stay to Phx, and for the 23rd-25th (I really don't want to sleep in the car so this is a must....lol)
• Enter the clothing I'm donating into my spreadsheet, box up and put into the back end of the car
• Mail Christmas gifts to Indiana
• Pack for my vacation
• Enter hold mail request online

Quilty

• Appliqued Sweatshirt for D (Christmas gift)
• Appliqued Sweatshirt for M (Christmas gift)
• Cross-body purse for P (Christmas gift)
• Appliqued T-Shirt for D (commission)
• Fruit Cobbler potholders - what I can get done for extra Christmas gifts
• Fruit Cobbler potholders (commission) - two blueberry, two mixed berry - due mid January
• Stretching Art Challenge Quilt - Due in February, not started
• MQG mini swap quilt - Due in February, have patterns printed out
• Wedding quilt for C & A - In Process, needs to be to the quilter no later than end of January for quilting
• Add sashing to the Calico Lion block
• 2018 BOM - blocks 2 & 3
• Start working on next block for submission to QuiltMaker
• Scrappy Wolf - in process of cutting 2.5" squares needed for quilt
• Scrappy Deer
• Finish Hankie Butterfly quilt (quilting and binding)

Design

• Write up pattern for Calico Lion, Block 1 for 2018 BOM
• Write up pattern for Sherry Bear 
• Write up patterns for the military bears (5 individual patterns + 1 combined pattern)
• Write up patterns for the quilting bears (3 individual patterns + 1 combined pattern)
• Write up snail quilt pattern

Gratitudes:

1. Extra time off of work means I'll be able to spend more time with friends and family

2. for the days that I'll be house & pet-sitting and not having to pay for a room

Fruit Cobbler is on the menu.....

........fruit cobbler themed potholders that is for several gifts this Christmas.    I started with the tutorial for making round pie shaped ones here and tweaked the pattern to fit what I wanted.

And in memory of my maternal Grandmother who made the most yummy peach cobbler (and because I didn't want to make round ones!) I'm making square and/or rectangular "fruit cobbler" ones instead of "fruit pie". 


Here are the basics of what I did - I am using the quilted, heat reflective ironing board cover for the bottom of the potholders.  Reflective side is placed outwards.  (Note: do NOT try to iron the back side of it or you'll end up with a mess on your iron....guess how I know that!!!)

Next layer is one of thinsulate which has a metallic, reflective layer in it. and finally on top of that is the fruit fabric.  I then cut strips of premade single fold bias binding for the pie lattice and pinned it on after weaving the strips. 

I stitched down both sides of all strips with a straight stitch.  And then rounded the corners to make it easier to sew the binding onto it.

Next up was sewing the binding on.  To do this make sure you sew the narrower of the two sides onto the back first, then when you turn it to the front and stitch it down (by machine) the  seam will be covered.

And here is the finished potholder.   This pair are 7" wide by 9" tall because that was all the fabric I had of this blueberry print.

And here is one of the apple print ones that I've finished.   There are two of these and they are 9" square.

Back side of the potholder with the hanging loop showing.  Diagonal lines are where the backing I used was quilted already.  Next up are more potholders with fabric of raspberries, cherries, more blueberries, and mixed berries.   And I've got someone who wants to order some as well.   I may need to invest in a bias tape maker if I do lots of these because the biggest cost is in the bias tapes when buying it ready made.

Gratitudes:
1. I've been offered a place to stay for part of my time in Phx, will be house/pet-sitting for church friends back there.  Gotta love my church family there.  Now to find a place for the rest of the days.

2. Weight has started dropping again....woohoo!

Mug rug finished

One more of the kits that I picked up during the shop hop is finished.  All of the fabrics for the top were supplied by the store.   I provided the binding (a WOW), the backing, and the batting.

This 'tasty' little fellow measures out at 6" by 9".  Baby rick-rack was used for the 'icing' on his arms and legs, and tiny black buttons were used for his eyes and the buttons on his tummy. 

Gratitudes:

1. Found a gift I'd forgotten having made and stashed away which means I have one less to make!

2. Had good coupons to use over the weekend to buy the needed materials and notions for some of the gifts that I'm in process of making now.

2017 BOM - Nicholas Bear is busy preparing for Christmas

Meet Nicholas Bear who is busy working on his final Christmas projects so that he can finish them before flying out on Christmas Eve.

You can download Nicholas here -
Sewn To Own Creations

He wishes all of you an early Merry Christmas!

Note: There will be one more bear in the BOM coming in January.     And there are additional bears planned for release, but those have not been written yet.



Gratitudes:
1. New bridge is in and feels comfortable - no more gap in the teeth!!!

2. Headway was made on the final Christmas things to be accomplished