Snow day sewing

It's a snow day and I have made good use of this little gift of time by sewing.  Note: I could work from home and sometimes do - but chose not to do so today.  And this has been a wonderful "mental health" day. 

Here is my 2010 Saturday Sampler top all done and ready for quilting.  I am very pleased with the results.

I've also sandwiched another UFO to prepare for hand quilting.  More on that another time.

Saturday Sampler top is a WIP

The 2010 Saturday Sampler "show 'n tell" was this past Saturday morning. I did not have my quilt top finished to show, but I got to see a lot of inspiring projects.  Every year it amazes me how the quilts all turn out unique even though the blocks are the same. 

Today's project was to begin putting my top together since the blocks were done.  I have sewn together all 4 horizontal rows with 3 blocks and 4 sashings each.  Here are 2 of those rows on my design wall.

I have the bottom sashing row sewn together, and have all of the long pieces ready.  But I still have to make the rest of the 9 patch cornerstone blocks.   I have 15 of them left to do.   Maybe I'll have the top done by the end of this week if I get to do some sewing during the evenings after work.

UFO #2 is done

I finished the binding on my Day & Night quilt.  That makes 2 UFO's complete, which feels good even though these were easy things to finish up.

Carli (at the Pin Cushion) quilted this one for me too.  She used a yummy orange/gold variegated thread that is just perfect on this crazy yellow, orange, red quilt.  This one was definitely outside of my comfort zone.  I'm not a fan of yellow normally and would have NEVER picked that gorgeous batik fabric to go with the red. I was looking at boring whites and creams.  But I'm so glad that Cindy (at the Pin Cushion) guided me to that bolder choice.  It was very satisfying to try something new and I'm extremely happy with the end result.  I used the same batik for the binding.

Saturday Sampler block 11

On my UFO list I mentioned that I only had the December block left to make for my Saturday Sampler quilt before putting the top together. Turns out I was wrong.  I also had my November block (#11) to as well.

So this was one of my Sunday afternoon tasks. I made the Pyramids block and then got the last one ready to make.  Since the Sampler Sampler "show 'n tell" is this Saturday morning I know I won't have a completed top to show. But that's OK because at least I know I'm close.

UFO #1 is complete

I have UFO #1 done - it's the Hip Holiday wall hanging that needed binding.  I finished that binding on Jan. 1, and moved on to another UFO project on Jan. 2.

The Hip Holiday wall hanging was a kit that I purchased a couple of years ago while visiting a cousin in Minneapolis.  I bought it because the fabrics really caught my eye. The background fabric features navy blue cats on ice skates and funky trees.  The border print is all ornaments and trees. I found a great backing fabric this summer that is lime green but has dark green, red, and white snowflakes. It was a good match and kind of fun.

I had finished the top earlier this year and finally decided in November that it needed to be quilted by someone other than me if it was going to get done in a timely manner. So I dropped it off at the Pin Cushion along with 4 other quilts with instructions to "quilt as desired". 

Carli did a lovely job quilting this project.  It has a large swirled pattern that really lets the fabric be the star.  I'm very pleased with the results. 

Anyone want this pattern?  I'm willing to mail it to the first person who declares an interest in a comment here.  I'm trying to pare down my pattern collection slightly by giving away the ones that I have finished with so that someone else can enjoy them as much as I have.  So . . . if you would like this pattern, just let me know.

Felted Wool was a quick project

I generally like to do hand applique, so I've been intrigued by some of the felted wool applique projects I've seen in the past couple of years.  I bought a kit for a small candle mat early in December with the idea that I could work on it while recuperating from my surgery.  Well . . . I got it finished a few days ago, and it was definitely a fun quick project.  It's only about 9 inches across.  The pattern is a Little Stitchies by Bareroots.

I am willing to GIVE the pattern to anyone who could make use of it.  Leave a comment if you are interested and I'll drop the pattern and my leftover wool into the mail for you.  First come . . . first serve.

UFO goals for 2011

I'm not a person who usually makes New Years resolutions.  But I've been working on a list of quilty UFO's that need finishing and decided that MAYBE if I put them in writing, then I might actually remember to finish them.

So here is a partial list - in no particular order . . .

1. 2010 Saturday Sampler quilt (pink & brown blocks).  I have my December block left to make, then decide on a layout.
2. bindings on the 5 quilts that I had quilted at the Pin Cushion.  I've picked up 4 of the 5 so just need to get the bindings on.  (Hip Holiday wall hanging, yellow & red Day & Night lap quilt, Frolic quilt, pink/black/green Hearts 'n Stars quilt, Christmas friendship block exchange quilt)
3. hand quilting/binding needed on Jerilyn's wedding signature quilt
4. Summer friendship block exchange quilt (still need to decide on a layout for this one too)
5. Blue & white star block quilt.  I have 2 different layouts that I'm considering. I may show both and ask for some feedback before making that decision.  I won these 15 blocks at the November Saturday Sampler session.
6. selvage basket blocks need to "become" something.  The big question is . . . how many should I make? Do I turn it into a wall hanging or a quilt?
7. snowman table runner
8. fruit table runner
9. reversible apron
10. bag using the Laurel Burch cat fabric that Sylvia gave me. The pattern is pinned on - just need to actually work on it.
11. Schnibbles project using a charm pack I'd been saving for spring (last year)
12. Dr Suess quilt - this was started as a baby gift for a baby who has already arrived.  It needs to be finished and gifted soon!
13. Package quilt (purple/black/aqua) - this one needs to be taken apart and the dark purple sections replaced with the new black fabric I bought.  I shouldn't have let myself be talked into that purple! UGLY!  But it has some potential.
14. French braid quilt (the hard part has been done over a year now - just need to put the braids together with sashing, quilt and bind)

OUCH - this list is longer than I thought it would be and I'm not even done yet.  I'm starting small - working on binding one of the 4 quilts at the top of the list.