Last Finish of 2011

The boy had a friend over yesterday afternoon. They played so nicely together that I was able to finish quilting the Arrowheads block quilt and get the binding sewn to the front. This morning I finished the last bit of hand sewing the binding to the back. So it's done!

No fancy quilting on this one. I just quilted in the ditch between each block then around each "arrow" part in the blocks. It was good practice for me to stitch in the ditch with Hattie. It isn't easy to stay in the ditch when you aren't using a walking foot. I did pretty good, if I do say so myself.

Finished Size: 51.5" by 43"
All fabric used was from stash and even the batting was leftover from a previous project. The little bit of cat fabric I had left from the top has been cut up and added to my stash of 4" by 6" rectangles to be used in a charity quilt. Ahhhh!

UFO Bust Report

The Arrowhead quilt top is done and it is basted.

I've quilted in the ditch around each block but now can't decide how to quilt the rest. I don't want to spend too much time quilting it, but I want it to look nice and hold the layers together well. I'll probably end up doing a bit more ditch quilting within each block and maybe something decorative in the center four patches.

Check out this cute backing fabric I found in my stash.

This was a donation from my mom to my charity backing stash. It's perfect for this quilt!

Hop over to Susan's to see what the other Little Green Quilters have been up to lately.

I thought it would be appropriate to include in this post my UFO list for 2012. I found it very helpful to keep track this year so I plan to continue.

1. Arrowhead block quilt
2. Noodle Surprise quilt
3. Robbie Joy Ecklow class quilt
4. Bird Panel
5. Yellow brick road quilt
6. Flannel squares charity quilt
7. Modern Monday Sampler quilt
8. Oh My Stars! quilt
9. Utensil Fabric inspired art quilt

Some of these fall more under the category of "works in progress" or "quilts I'm planning to make," but I think having just one list will work better for me than having three lists.

Happy New Year to all! I will definitely post again on Monday for Modern Monday but maybe not over the weekend. It depends on how much progress I make on quilting the Arrowheads quilt. The husband has gone skiing for the weekend so there is no way to predict how much sewing time I will get.

Arrowhead Blocks Completed

I'm trying to reduce my 2012 UFO List by finishing things before 2012. I started this one in July in a guild class. I enjoyed the class and learning the technique, but making 30 of these blocks almost got the better of me.

All the blocks are finally completed! I doubt that it will be quilted and bound before 2012, but I hope it will be my first finish for 2012. If you are curious for details about this block and the book it is from, I blogged about it in July. Here is the direct link to that post.

Mystery Block Quilt of Valor

I finished the second Quilt of Valor using the mystery blocks from my guild's October retreat.

I had planned to quilt the center with all over feathers. I did a few practice ones and found something that worked well, but it was very time consuming. As I was basting this together I decided that I really couldn't afford to spend that kind of time on this project. So I just meandered all over the center instead. This meant that I was able to quilt it in about 2.5 hours.

Finished size: 58" by 70"
Blocks were made by San Luis Valley Quilt Guild October 2011 Retreat Attendees
Center quilted with Signature thread in Sand Dollar color; border quilted with Cherry

On to the next project!

Modern Monday Quilt Along

I just love this block!

The inspiration is Santa's belt.

Go over to visit Caroll and see if she had time to make her block last week. Then pop over to Jenifer's to see what we will be making this week.

A Finish

The first Quilt of Valor I showed you on Tuesday is finished.

I refrained myself from quilting it to death.

The details:

Finished Size: 60" by 70.5"
Fabrics: Two Valor Sampler sets of 2 1/2" strips from Connecting Threads, yardage of one of the red prints from the Valor Sampler for the outer border and backing, and Navy Kona solid for the inner border and binding.
Thread: Signature cotton in Sapphire color for the quilting.
Block pattern: Idea from this Missouri Quilt Company video

My plan for today is to get the second Quilt of Valor from Tuesday's post basted and the quilting started. I'm going to try to quilt all over free form feathers on it. I need to practice first to see if I can figure out how to do these. If so, that will be the quilting pattern I use. If not, I'll have to figure out what plan B is.

Happy Holidays everyone! I'll be back on Monday with my Modern Monday block. Click on the link to see the block for this week. I've already made mine and I love it!

Work in Progress

The first Quilt of Valor I showed you yesterday is now quilted. Here's a sneak peak.

Now I'm off to make binding and sew it on!

Quilts of Valor

Over the weekend I was able to finish the tops of both of the Quilts of Valor I'm working on. This first one just needed borders.

The next one was just a pile of blocks when I started. These are the mystery blocks from my guild retreat in October.

I used the same red fabric for the outer borders on each of these. I will also use this red fabric for the backs of both quilts. I may even have enough of the red to bind both quilts! I bought 9 yards from Connecting Threads. It was one of the fabrics used in the top quilt which was made with two 2 1/2" strip bundles from Connecting Threads.

The top quilt is already basted. I hope to start quilting it today.

Modern Monday Quilt Along

Last weeks block was a nine patch.

Go over to visit Caroll and see her nine patch. Then pop over to Jenifer's to see what we will be making this week.

Frost

Yesterday morning was one of those fogging, frosty winter mornings where everything is covered in frost. It looks magical! I took a few pictures but it was also really cold (like negative numbers cold) so I didn't stay out very long.

No time to chat this morning! I've got to get sewing!

Grades Turned In!

I turned in final grades for my classes yesterday. And today my husband and boy are spending the night at a friend's house and going skiing tomorrow. I'm going to sew, sew, sew! Yay! Hopefully I'll have lots to show you next week. I've already been sewing some this afternoon and finished up a top. It just needed borders.

Today was my December guild meeting. Check out this awesome Halloween quilt one of our members brought for show and tell.

She did the embroidery by hand.

We also did our gift exchange. I got some chocolate, a water bottle and a book.

I actually almost purchased the book on two separate occasions because I love to make bags. So I was really excited to finally get it!

Finals Week Sewing

Not much sewing going on this week because it is Finals Week at ASC. I did take a break from grading this afternoon to try out an idea. As I was making pillowcases a few weeks ago I got to thinking that the pillowcase pattern I was using could be altered to make a nice gift bag.

It worked out pretty well.

Next time I will make cut the top accent strip wider. I cut these at 6.5" and it was a little difficult to roll up the main fabric for the second seam joining them. I think 8.5" or 9" would work better.

Goldie did a funny thing today.

It has been cold here lately. She has not wanted to go outside. She has been a bit stir crazy lately (read bad). It was sunny today and got up to 35 degrees this afternoon, so I put her out. About 30 minutes after I put her out the doorbell rang. It was one of my son's friends on her way home from the bus stop. Goldie saw her walking by, got her attention, then ran crying to our front door. The little girl felt sorry for her and rang our doorbell so I would let Goldie in. How pathetic is that? (Or pretty smart) Goldie was good and scarce for the rest of the afternoon though. She hid in the boy's room so that I couldn't find her and put her back out.

Modern Monday Quilt Along

I did find time to get caught up last week.

The bowtie block (top one) didn't take long at all. As for the bottom one ... it wasn't hard but was a time investment. However, I'm really glad I didn't take the easy route that Jenifer offered. This block took some time but I think it was time well spent. Here are all 12 of my blocks.

I like this quilt more every week!

Hop over to Caroll's to see which version of week 12 she made. And then pop over to Jenifer's to see what we are making this week. Jenifer has changed her blog address so you should change that in your reader or blog list if you are following her.

Last Weekend of Performances

This is the last weekend the play my son is in will run.

They took archival photos last Tuesday after the performance. Above is the one for his scene, Boy Scrooge with his sister Fan.

So you know what I'm doing this weekend. I have managed to work on a few ornaments. I have hand stitching left to do on two of them. I hope to get them done this weekend so I can finish them up and mail them off next week.

Another Quilt Along

I really don't have time for this right now, but I'm joining another quilt along.

Click here for the details. I'm going to use my Terrain half yard cuts with solid white for background. I may throw in a few solids too.

I'm currently swamped with grading so I don't know when I will actually get to start working on this project. I'm hoping that it will be more likely to happen if I publicly declare that I'm playing along.

Fish Quilt Swims Home

I made this quilt top in 2008.

The photo was taken February 23, 2008 to be precise. This was before I started blogging and documenting my work in photos. I don't even have a picture of the finished quilt and mailed it off to it's new home before I realized this. Oh well!

I made this quilt intending to give it to charity. My mom cut out all the fish pieces for me and gave them to me as a kit. Isn't she nice! It's pretty big, about 67" square. For various reasons, it didn't seem appropriate to give it to any of the local charities, so I just kept it, trusting that I would find it a home.

A few days ago I started noticing this button in various places online. It lead me to Gene Black and his search for angels. This quilt is now on it's way to Gene for his project.

More Gifts and Boy Scrooge

Last week before my parents arrived I made up some flannel pillow cases to give as gifts.

This flannel is soooo soft. I enjoyed working with it.

And another Boy Scrooge photo because he is so darn cute in his costume!

And a family photo which will probably be this year's Christmas photo.

Modern Monday Quilt Along

I'm sorry to disappoint anyone coming to see my Modern Monday Quilt Along block for last week. I was a stage mom all last week and all weekend. Here is my little actor in costume by the stage door.

He is Boy Scrooge in the Adams State College production of A Christmas Carol. I was at the theater every night last week and most of the weekend too. I've gotten no sewing done other than a little hand work, a very little.

Maybe Caroll has her block done. Even if she doesn't, she is always up to something interesting so it's worth a visit. To see the block for this week go over to Jenifer's blog.

I hope to have more sewing time this week, but I'm not holding my breath. The boy has two performances during the week and then another four next weekend before all this is done. I don't regret a moment of it as he is having so much fun! This week is also the last week of the semester which means next week is Finals week. Translation: I will have a lot of teaching/grading work to do for the next two weeks.

Winter Solstice Quilt

I finished my second Jelly Roll 1600 quilt recently.

The details:

Quilt name: Winter Solstice
Finished Size: 50" by 61.5"
Fabric: Wilderness by Connecting Threads
This is two sets, 24 2.5" strips per set. Six of the extra eight were used for the binding.
Quilted with Essential Pro 70 wt. polyester thread (by Connecting Threads). The color is Kiwi.

For backing I used a cute tree fabric I found on sale somewhere.

My parents are in town for the next few days so my posts will be less frequent for the next week. 

Watercolor Bird

At my last guild meeting one of our members taught some of us how she uses watercolors on fabric. We each made a watercolor bird.

My background bled a little into the bird but I learned a lot. She had lots of samples for us to look at to get ideas for various ways to quilt our birds. Mine won't get quilted until after I get all of my gifts made.

The teacher provided everyone with a pattern as part of our class fee. The bird is traced onto the fabric before painting. So no drawing skills were required for this project! It was a fun class.

Modern Monday Quilt Along

It's been a lazy long holiday weekend. I'm not ready to return to the normal routine! I did get my block done for last week. Here are all 10 of my blocks.

The lone block in the bottom row is last weeks block. I didn't get a good picture of it by itself.

Now go over to Caroll's to see her snowball block.

To see the block for this week go over to Jenifer's blog, Forty-Two Quilts. To see blocks made by others playing along go to the Modern Monday Flickr group.

Warrior Cats

The boy has discovered a new book series, Warrior Cats. The books are rated a little above is AR level but his teacher let him check the first one out anyway with one caveat, he had to pass the AR test in order to be allowed to check out any more. He did pass the test and is now on his third Warrior Cats book. These are his first "real" books (not graphic novels, no pictures, lots of words per page, and lots of pages in the book) that he has read entirely by himself. He's been capable of this for a while now, but just didn't want to.

The books have sparked his imagination. Here is his Thunder Clan sign on the playroom door.

And here is the flag we made one evening.

He did everything except the sewing around the applique and the T and C stitched in red. (Sorry for the dark photo. I'm too lazy to take another picture.)

Charming Baby Quilt

No UFO progress this week but I do have a finish that will not become a UFO. I made the top at retreat.

The pattern is Charm Squares Baby Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Fransson!

I quilted it rather simply.

And was brave enough to put a solid on the back.

Quilt details:

Fabric: Charm pack of Origins by Basic Grey for Moda and Kona Stone (I think. It was from stash)

Finished size: 32.25" by 39.5"

Quilted with Omni Thread by Superior Threads, TEX 30 size, polyester, color is Maple (it was a free sample that came with Hattie)

I don't know what I will do with it now that it is finished. I just liked the pattern and wanted to try it. The pattern is great, by the way. She gives instructions for using a charm pack, like I did, and for cutting your 5" squares from yardage. It is clear, correct and easy to follow. I am considering making another one using my stash of 6" squares and adjusting the sashing measurements as necessary.

Hop over to Susan's to see what the other Little Green Quilters have accomplished this week.

Baking and Binding

So far today I've made Cranberry Orange Relish and Challah bread for tomorrow's dinner.

Up next is Pumpkin Pie.

In between baking I'm also hand sewing binding to the back of a quilt. Or at least I was until Goldie decided to take a nap on my project!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here in the US and I'll be taking the day off from blogging. I'll be back on Friday with a finish.

In Memory of Faith

One of our guild members lost her granddaughter in Iraq last year. Being quilters, we made her a quilt in honor of her granddaughter, Faith. It was presented at our meeting on Saturday.

We were told to make a 9" finished block. Anything we wanted. I made a heart. Fifth row down from the top, second block from the left.

Modern Monday Quilt Along

Another fun block this week. A string block.

The quilt is shaping up nicely.

Now go over to Caroll's to see her string block.

To see the block for this week go over to Jenifer's blog, Forty-Two Quilts. To see blocks made by others playing along go to the Modern Monday Flickr group.

UFO Bust Report

I have only one UFO left on my list and at this point it doesn't look promising that I will be able to work on it before the end of this year. No matter! I've done really well already. I am surprised and pleased with how many projects I was able to finish. I have created a few new UFOs this year but I'm not going to worry about that.

Go over to Susan's to see what the other Little Green Quilters have been doing this week.

Just because I haven't made any UFO progress this week does not mean I haven't been busy. Unfortunately it's the kind of busy for which you don't have a lot to show. Things like grading, laundry, shopping, and LOTS of computer work.

However, I can show you these dish towels that I embroidered for a gift.

They turned out pretty well. I embroidered the letter on solid fabric then appliqued it to the towel. I opted for this method for two reasons. (1) I was afraid the embroidery wouldn't show up well on the plaid towels. (2) I wanted to hide and protect the back of the stitching. I have a stack of dish towels and I plan to make a few more of these.

I also quilted one of the tops I completed at my recent retreat. I'm still working on the binding and I'll show it to you when it's finished.

Zipper Pouches

I've been in gift making mode recently. I won't be showing every gift I make but I think it's safe to show you these.

A zipper rainbow. I'm getting pretty good at putting in a zipper.

I had fun photographing them.

There are 18. I made multiples of the ones along the top row. I was trying to use the zippers I had on hand. However, I did have to buy a few more to have enough.