FINALLY quilting again!

I haven't touched my long arm in months! It is a shame really. I had plans a month ago to start up again but then fell in my house and wrenched my back. It has taken a long time to heal properly. It still hurts but not as bad, Quilting a row at a time and then resting. Only way I can do it. I am headed out to a family party now but will work on it tonight when I get back and I'll post a picture.

Design Wall March 14, 2011

OY! I am so late but better late than never I always say!

I am making this quilt for my nephew for his graduation present. I have 5 panels out of 7 done, this is the center 3 of them put together. I need to make two more and then I can assemble the whole thing.



This is a picture of just the center three strips:
When I just had the center three strips done I was NOT HAPPY. I know the colors all mesh together well but I thought they meshed a bit too much and there wasn't enough contrast. Now that I have more of the design together, I am much happier with it. WHEW! What a relief!

Design wall Monday is sponsored by Judy Laquidara

2011 Stash Report Week 11

I have been sewing and about half way done with the top for my nephew's graduation gift. I am determined NOT to be rushing and sewing down the binding two hours before the party! Procrastination is a stress inducer.

I am working on it.

Since I count my fabric as busted when I cut it out.....
Numbers are the same.
Fabric IN this week: 0 yards

Fabric used this week: 0 yards

Total IN this year: 2 yards

Total out this year: 19.5 yards

Total Busted 17.5 yards

2011 Stash Report Week 9

First of all, I really haven't been out sick all this time. I just get away from blogging sometimes but I'm back. I also hadn't been sewing or quilting either but again, I'm BACK!

This little quilt I made for the monochromatic challenge of Judy L's for Feb. This is the completed top. Do you see that jagged edge on the border? That would be a binding NIGHTMARE so I will be lopping that row off midway and adding a skinny border in the same color. I am calling this done for Feb. I will quilt it later. It is a baby quilt with no baby in mind for it. Who knows, I may quilt it up as a small lap quilt and give it to my daughter who is in love with purple. IF SHE LIKES IT...might be a little too girlie for her and I GET that!

As far as the stash busting goes, I haven't been blogging but I have been keeping up with my totals so here is the first 9 weeks in one shot and I hope to continue from here on out (but who knows)

Since all my fabric was cut already as of last week I don't have anything to add to the totals for this week. I'm just sewing. But here are the numbers for the record.

Fabric IN this week: 0 yards

Fabric used this week: 0 yards

Total IN this year: 2 yards

Total out this year: 19.5 yards

Total Busted 17.5 yards

1-1-11 - not off to a good start.

First day of the new year and I am sick!

Tune in later in the week!

UFO Challenge 2011-Piecing projects

I already posted all my Quilting UFO's for 2011 but since I tend to work on a lot of piecing I wanted to include a post for that. I am not saying I'll finish all these projects, but I can at least work toward that goal...Right?

My piecing UFO's for this year include:

#1 QOV pattern of Judy Laquidara's. I did all this in a couple days then got stopped. I really want to complete this and send it to QOV supporter Alicia.
#2 is the Christmas string quilt I started last year. I designed the layout of this quilt and I would like to finish it to be on our bed this 2011 Christmas! We will see!

#3 is a hand pieced DWR quilt I started years ago for my mom. These were the colors TO A TEE of her bedroom. I lost steam on it when she told me in no uncertain terms that she "hates quilts" I told her not to worry I wouldn't make her a quilt. And I won't. I had so much time into this that I wasn't going to scrap it completely, but it kind of took the pleasure out of this project, as you might imagine. I will finish it someday....sigh.
#4 is a cool 4 patch posie that a friend cut all the pieces for and gave them to me. I put all the little 4 patches together, but it still needs sashings and to be assembled.
#5 Another 4 patch posie cut from a favorite old fabric of mine (you may recognize it) I made a quilt for my dad out of this fabric years ago and I loved it so much I bought a whole bolt of it....which I still have on the bolt...what was I thinking? Anyway, these blocks are a bit too matchy-matchy for my taste but I will attempt to sash and assemble them. Good for a dog quilt if nothing more....
#6 A cute baby quilt that I had mostly pieced but had to take a row or two apart because they were crooked. I would like to finish it.
#7 A springtime YBR quilt. The blocks are all pieced (this picture is just when they were strips) but it needs to be laid out and assembled and finished.
#8 This is a rainbow quilt (or it will be) My little sewing group and I traded fabrics in all the colors a couple years ago. I got as far as sewing all the HST and that is it. Still a lot of work to get this to be a rainbow quilt.
#9 This is a Castle blocks quilt I have all cut out and partially pieced. I made one of these already but when I cut the strips for this, I cut WAAYY too many so decided I would make two of these. This is the second in the box. The first is a well loved quilt we use in our frontroom.
#10, 11 and 12- A quilt I started for my daughter. This is a tuxedo cat quilt. It is the front cover quilt from a Pam Bono pattern from this book that I started quite a few years ago. It is a ton of piecing. (quick rotary cut piecing my FOOT!)
I am giving myself lots of time for this one....

UFO Challenge 2011-Finished tops

This is my UFO list

I have a lot of tops ready or almost ready to be quilted. I have decided this is where I want to concentrate my UFO efforts on...FINISHING!

#1 is the very first quilt I ever pieced by myself. Keep in mind I am a completely self taught piecer. I bought a "sampler pattern" book complete with plastic templates. I chose the black floral as my main fabric then chose "matching peach, mint green and tan fabrics to go with"...UGH. This is so matchy-matchy and not at all my colors or my style, but I want to finish it. I set it with all plain tan blocks every other one. It still needs a border, quilting, binding and label.

#2 is a completely hand pieced Tumbling blocks quilt I pieced for my husband Mark. I pieced most of this is 1999. The beige and blue fabric you see is for the backing and it is a "Millennium" fabric...telling, I know. This still needs the outer pieces hand cut and pieced around the outer blocks. That is the dark blue fabric. Quilting, binding and label to complete.

#3 is a Carpenter's star quilt I pieced as a surprise for my husband. I actually pieced this a couple years ago and never got any farther than this-which only took a couple hours. All the borders are cut and even pillow cases made to match. Needs borders, quilting, binding and label.

#4 I made as a gift for one of Jess's friends for a grad gift. Of course I never completed it and she never got it. The top is complete. I have struggled on quilting design for this one. Needs quilting, binding and label. You never know, She may get it for her wedding! (if she has one before someone else claims this one)
#5 IWBLR quilt is a special to me quilt. My Friend Ronda Beyer sent me everything to make this quilt. Fabric, pattern and even quilting ideas. I pieced it up to this point right away and it got stopped at that point. This is an original design and I plan to make this my first show quilt. This quilt needs borders, quilting, binding, sleeve and label. IWBLR=I wanna be like Ronda.
#6 was a Mystery quilt that Linda Lawson of Longarm Chat designed. I don't remember what year this was but it was a few years ago. The top is complete. I want to do something special on this one. I really love it. It needs quilting, binding, sleeve and label.
#7 is a quilt I started for my daughter 8 years ago. BAD MOMMY! She has patiently waited to receive this quilt while watching me start and finish LOTS of others. GUILT!
This top is complete. It needs quilting, binding and label.
#8 A Tisket, A Tasket (a green and yellow basket) No basket though. This quilt I started New Year's day 2009. This is as far as I got. It is for a dear friend who loves green and loves my quilts. I gave her one already but she keeps hinting for another (rather loudly). This needs borders, binding and label. This is the second one I pieced with this pattern.
#9 will look familiar to lots of you. It is Judy Laquidara's pattern Bear's in the Farmhouse
It still needs the last 3 borders (I hate that many borders usually, but I made an exception here), quilting, binding and label.
#10 is a quilt I pieced for my sister to give her husband. I pieced it last year and never got it quilted...MORE GUILT! The top is complete. It needs quilting, binding and label.
#11 is another crossroads quilt. This will be the third of these I have pieced and quilted. I just love this pattern from this Georgia Bonesteel book! (it is the quilt on the cover, but in more vivid colors)This is for my bed. It needs borders, quilting, binding and label. As you can tell, I get "Stopped at the borders"...A LOT! (quilt #3 of this pattern)
#12 is also for my bed. It is a Christmas Yellow Brick Road quilt. I pieced this a few years ago and never got any farther than the center. It needs a border, quilting, binding and a label.