Sew Along update

One of my sew alongs for 2016 is done! I signed up for way too many this year. I'll have to keep that in mind for 2017. But the Bloom sew along at Bee in My Bonnet is done. Just have to quilt it now.
I did mine in Kim Deihl fabrics which is quite different from the sew along fabrics. I love it.

This was such a fun quilt to do. I loved Lori's applique technique which you can read about HERE . She will be doing another quilt along using a new set of Sew Simple shapes in August. Its so cute. You can read all about it HERE. 

I have been keeping up (amazingly) with the Splendid Sampler blocks. Here is what I have with the current 33 blocks + a few bonus blocks they threw in.

I am also caught up on Pat Sloan's Secret Garden. These blocks are nice and easy-big pieces, mainly half square triangles. They usually only take an hour or so to whip up.  If you haven't done one of Pat's mystery quilts I would highly recommend them. This is my third one.

I am also caught up on the Crossroads quilt sew along from Fat Quarter Shop. No current pics of this one:(

I am taking a class at my local quilt shop Ivy Thimble. It's called Tulips and Pinwheels. Lots of fun and very cute. We have the center done and just have some hourglass blocks to make at the next class for a final border.

Here is a throw I made for my daughters high school graduation. I based in on a tutorial from Shwinn and Shwinn. I added another border to make it larger. My daughter has always loved maps and I thought it was cute. Here is the original and the link to the tutorial:


                                          

Here is my version:

I have a couple new things in progress. Pics to come of those soon!

Happy Stitching!

Quilt-alongs update

I am doing several quilt-alongs this year and having so much fun with them.
The first one is the Splendid Sampler hosted by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. What an awesome undertaking this is with over 80 designers contributing blocks over a year, 2 per week. We are on block 21 and this is what I have done so far (first 20):

You can find all the block patterns HERE and it's never too late to join in! Look under the blocks and bonuses tab for all the blocks.

The next quilt along I am doing is Lori Holt's Bloom sew along. You can find the details on that HERE at Bee in My Bonnet. It's also a free pattern but you just need to get the templates. We are on block 15 out of 20, so almost done! I love this one. I think the last block is my favorite. I may have to do another project with just that one. Maybe a runner or a long pillow.

The third project is Pat Sloan's Secret Garden sew along. She is giving us these great 16 inch blocks, once a month. Here is what I have so far for that one.

Finally, I am doing the Crossroads quilt. This one is a charity quilt designed by Joanna Figeroa for Fat Quarter Shop. They are asking for a $5 donation to the March of Dimes for each block that comes out monthly. There are only 4 or 5 blocks, and we make several of each. You can find out more about this one HERE. This is a great cause.  I have done the first two blocks and need to catch up on the third one. Here is what I have so far:

Whew! I'm tired just writing about it! I think I will try to not do so many next year! But they are all fun:)

Happy Stitching!

UFO Recap-- #5 through #7!

It's been a long time since I have cataloged my finishes but I have gotten a lot done!

First of all, I spent a lovely week away at retreat and finished THREE quilt tops!

Two of them were quilts that had all the blocks done, just needed sashing and borders and putting the blocks together.

My green scrap pineapple quilt using Creative Grids pineapple ruler (love it!):

UFO #5

The next was a block of the month I did several (yikes!) years ago through Quilting Gallery with Michele Foster. 

UFO#6

The last UFO at retreat was my civil war sampler that I did through my local quilt shop in 2014, so not TOO old. This was from Barbara Brackmans' Civil War Sampler book. I had to finish about 12 of the blocks and then set them together with the nine patches and sashing strips. I love how this came out!

UFO #7

I have been continuing with several quilt alongs also that I will post about next! 

Happy sewing!

The Splendid Sampler has begun!

Today is the first block posted to the Splendid Sampler being hosted by Pat Sloan and Quilt Jane. It will be 2 blocks a week for a year. What an undertaking! Check out the whole project here at The Splendid Sampler. Click on the Blocks and Bonus tab for details on the whole year.

The first block is by Pat Sloan and is called Hearts AFlutter. Great for Valentine's day. Here's mine:

I am using stash for this, although I did pick up a yard of the background with the little pluses on it so that I would have more variety.

Here's my Bloom block for this week. Loving these!

Do you ever struggle with your sewing machine pedal creeping away as your sewing? I have tried a few different products to prevent this and none of them have worked too well. I found a tutorial on Pinterest for this one and thought I would give it a try. It only took about a half hour to make. So far it's working well!

Really easy to make. Here's where I found the tutorial: Machine Foot Pedal Pad

I have been busy packing for my annual quilting retreat that is coming up on Thursday (YAY! only 4 more sleeps!). I have FIVE UFO's packed! That's pretty ambitious but some of them should go pretty fast. Three of them are blocks that I did in various quilt-alongs and challenges over the past few years that just need sashing and borders. 

While packing I have had the opportunity to clean up my sewing space so I feel pretty good about that. I'll be all organized when I get back!

See you again soon with lots of pics of my progress hopefully!!

Happy sewing!

A Hexie UFO project

I forgot to post this pic of a UFO I finished right before Christmas. It was a monthly hexie block published by Karen from Faeries and Fibres. If you go to her blog and click on her Quilt alongs tab you can find this. It was called Value Proposition. Karen has some great info if you are interested in doing a hexie project. This was my first one and I definitely want to do more. She has just published some booklets on making pieced hexies on her Craftsy store that look really cool! Check out her page for links.
Anyway, here is my Value Proposition quilt finished and on my guest bed.

I am keeping up with Lori Holt's Bloom quilt along also, from Bee in my Bonnet. We are week 3. They are so darn cute!

Pat Sloan's secret garden block 2 just came out this week also. They are big blocks-16"-so it will be a beautiful quilt.

In less than 2 weeks I am off to my annual quilt retreat! I am very excited and planning to take a couple of UFO's to complete.

Happy Superbowl Sunday!

UFO #4, Bloom sew-along continued...

My UFO finish #4 is a nice size table cover or it could be a wallhanging too.  My friend Sarah did a Harvest Sew-along on her blog Sew Joy Creations.

And I'm keeping up with the Bloom sew-along. Of course it's only week 2! Here is this weeks block:

OK, on to the next UFO. Not sure which one it's going to be yet! So many to chose from. LOL!

Happy Stitching!

Bloom sew along block one and UFO 3.

Since there were once again multiple football games on this weekend I was able to spend a little more time in the sewing room. 

I worked on a UFO From about a year ago that needed borders. This was made with left over strips from other projects and is called Quilt to Give from Nancy Zeimans website. 

It came out pretty large! Double size at least. I will probably hold on to this one until you need a donation quilt next. 

Monday was the first installment of Bee in My Bonnets Bloom sew along. I am doing mine in Kim Deihl fabrics. 

I really like Lori Holts appliqué technique using sew-in interfacing. You can find links that this pattern as well as all of her tutorials and techniques on her Monday post here:

http://beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/

There will be a new block every Monday so we will see how long I can keep up!

Have a great rest of the week!

UFO #2 and a little sidetrack...

I finished UFO #2 -a fabric bin that was all cut out and ready to go. This is an Atkinson Designs pattern that I made a whole bunch of a couple years ago. I use them for scrap and thread catchers, and made a bunch for gift baskets too.

But of course along the way this week I got a little distracted with a new project. I wanted to try out Lori Holts method for applique using interfacing before her Sew-Along starts on Monday.  I saw this project in Quiltmaker Magazine using the same Sew Simple Shapes so I made this little wall hanging. I love it!
I also love her method. You can find that on her blog Bee in my Bonnet.

Here is the magazine project, Cabin Posies, from the Jan/Feb Quiltmaker issue.

Her Bloom sew-along starts on Monday.

And if that's not enough check out this sew-along starting in February hosted by Pat Sloan and Quilt Jane. The Splendid Sampler is a year long project on 100 blocks by 100 different designers! 2 per week! How cool is that? I can't wait to see what they come up with.

OK, off to hang my new wall hanging in my hallway and dig out the next UFO.

Happy Stitching!

UFO's and Sew- alongs

I recently started compiling a list of UFO projects that I want to finish at my local quilt shop's annual retreat that is coming up in a few weeks. I realized that I have way too many UFO's! I am determined to reduce the list and hopefully documenting them will help. I am not saying "no" new projects. I just can't do that! And I do have some sew-alongs I am planning on.

So here is my first UFO finish. I was searching for a pattern,which I still didn't find, and came across the 2013 issue of Quilt Almanac magazine and completely cut out pieces for a tote bag. So I stopped my search and spent the afternoon making this nice little bag.

I also found all the pieces for a fabric bucket that I will tackle tomorrow.

The sew-alongs I am planning to do this year are Pat Sloan's My Secret Garden. That's on
Pat's blog HERE. She has been doing a free sew-along on FreeQuiltPatterns.com for a few years and this is the 3rd one I have done. They are nice simple blocks.
This is my first block.
Its called DC Botanical Garden.

I am also planning to do Lori Holt's Bloom sew along that will be starting January 18th. You can read about that one at Bee in My Bonnet.

So I am looking forward to a fun year of new projects and finishes! Wish me luck.