Checking off another finish

It's done - YAY!!! This ancient Thimbleberry project is this week's UFO finish.  In the baggie with the binding were 4 piping strips all ready to add to that binding.

I really love this one and even though it technically isn't a Christmas project, I think it will look great on my dining room table during the holidays.

I'm linking up to Crazy Mom's Finish It Up Friday.

Quilting with my credit card

This is a little glimpse of a really, really, really old UFO that is now ready to bind.

I always got a kick out of Eleanor Burns comments about "quilting with her credit card", and I've taken that to heart this month. Earlier in the month I took a large quilt and a small quilt to The Pin Cushion to be quilted.  Happily, those 2 quilts are now completely finished. Yay!

And last week I took in 3 small projects that are wall hanging or table sized.  And yesterday I got a call that they were ready to pick up. And all 3 are just beautifully quilted. Thank you to the talented ladies at The Pin Cushion!  Hopefully I can attach the binding for this one tonight after work. And that binding was also made years ago, rolled up in a zip lock bag, hanging with this project in my closet.

Two of these smaller projects (including this one) are things I made many years ago in a Thimbleberries Club.  I sewed several really pretty projects that just never got quilted - until now.

My estimate is that this one is maybe 15 years old. Shameful isn't it?  What really amazes me is that I finished the tops and made the bindings - but still never got around to getting them quilted.  That must be the nature of UFOs: so close to the finish line but never quite reaching it.

Another UFO finish - Wheels

This child's quilt is called the Quick Strippee and the pattern is free on Mary's blog.   Mary has several free patterns, but this one is really fast and easy.  She also leads the Heartstrings project, which is where I've sent my string quilt tops for donations.  This one - called Wheels because of the fabric I used - is a UFO that I finished this week. The ladies at The Pin Cushion quilted it with a fun star and stipple design.  It has a red minkee backing that really shows off the quilting.

You can find the links to both Heartstrings and to Mary's quilt patterns on the right side menus on her blog.  Check it out - lots of great ideas!

Secret projects

I spent the morning working on a project that I can't show, except for just this little peek.

Clue 3 for Saturday Sampler

Our mystery quilt project for Saturday Sampler is a bit different than usual. Instead of making individual blocks, we're actually building the quilt as we go. Here is Clue #3 steps all completed.  I have 4 of these units made.  And we have so far only used 4 of the 6 fabrics we chose.

I'm starting to imagine different ways that these unit could go together, but of course it is only guessing for now.  Clue #4 will be revealed in December.

Finally - a big UFO finished

My focus the past month or so has really been on lots of small things getting finished, but it sure feels good to finish something big too.  Here is Wishin' For Spring - all done.

 

This was a 2013 Saturday Sampler quilt so it isn't an ancient UFO, but it was so close to done.  All it needed was binding and I got that done this week.  The quilting was done by the ladies at The Pin Cushion and is so pretty with the bright variegated thread with a flowery shape.  I love it.    

Aprons make great gifts

This coffee themed apron is a gift I'm making for a friend of my daughter.  This girlfriend was so good to my daughter when she was on bed rest with the twins and then after they were born too.  So this little gift is a thank you.