Got it Done!

Got my goal for August completed.  The idea was I was going to finish a pillow, well I did a different one. I found some material that was perfect for a pillow case for my husband.  See it below, American material, of little flags, with a star stash at the end.  It covers our pillow on our front entrance bench, I like it.  It doesn't match anything but that's OK.  It goes on the bed at the end of the day, lol.

The next goal I had was to complete the binding for all of the mats I was making for my book club group.  Most you'll see are the same, but the one below is a pattern by  .  I really must make a full quilt of these ones, it would look great.  

Look at the quilting of these ones, I practiced with my rules.  I took a close up on one of the mats with the quilting.

Finally, I had a row by row already completed.  I just needed to put binding on it.  I don't really like this one, it's a pattern from    for the row by row 2015.  But then I remembered someone who would like it, so off it's going.  Funny thing is I was through with the row by rows for a while but at least I saw the end of them, but now a couple of days ago I found a container with at least 30 of them.  I really need to take a break from them,......

And that's it, my goals for August completed.  Now just to finish my July goal, it's almost completed, next blog entry.  

Take care.
 

June's UFO is completed... On to the next.

 This month I wanted to finish my row by row quilt.  I needed to do two more rows (one to make it wider) and so I edited one of the rows, added the whale for the California row, and finally it's completed.  Its a quilt of a vacation that my husband and I took.  Each row was from one of the towns I was at.  The top  part has some license plate sections showing the towns.  Lets see if I can remember them.  Top one California.  Next one I forgot, the next one was from the Oregon area from route 66.  The next with the trees is from Flagstaff.  And the final one was from Washington.  I used quilt-as-you-go.  The last one I'm unsure of but it's also from the coastal area of Washington, off of Seattle.

I love the whale one.  It was so easy to do.  And because I had extra time that day, I found a blouse that was cut out so I finished it.

It was made from a reused table cloth of cotton that I had found at a second hand store.  Loved the material so I made the blouse.  The next which is loose has a ribbon in it to pull it tight.  The sleeves have elastics at the end.  Love the ease of it.

The final thing I did was to clean up my sewing/painting room a bit more.  Now that I'm retired I can get a bit more done, which means that I can start of sew a bit more and get some of it under control.  I counted how many projects I have and it's over 30 so that scares me a bit.  I mean, I'm retired, but I'm not chained to the sewing machine.  So I'm trying to get a few that are really old (Like the 2015 row by row) down, and then work on more resent.  

I made a promise to myself, do two UFOs a month and I'm allowed to start a new quilt.  I have one that is blue, with all these different blocks, a bird, a fence, and big enough for a queen which is the idea.

So the 2nd quilt for the month will be the embroidery quilt that has a woman in a large dress, holding some flowers.  I made some of the blocks from the Riley Blake web site (this is their link) web site (this is their link) and I'm putting them around the embroidery section.  I'm surrounding each block with red and also adding some light red/white flower pattern material around it all to extend the quilt to a queen.  This quilt will be very light for the summer.  I'm excited to complete this one as this quilt is 11 years old, and I don't know how old the embroidery section is.  It was made as a duvet cover, so I took off the back and I am adding the squares to spruce it up a bit.  Can't wait to see if it makes it better.

That's the plan, wish me luck.

Been busy again

 As part of cleaning my storage and my office I realized that I had to make room for the kits in storage to my home.  But my goodness I already have so much.  So I’m finishing off some of some easy UFOs.  Here they are:

Table runner

Cat matt

Another row for the row by row quilt.

These are looking great.

Cleaning and sewing progressing

 Another day and it’s slowly progressing.  Like they say “slow and steady wins the race”.  I discovered some more row by rows, some from 2015 water theme and some from 2016 while was a home them.  Did two this week already for home theme.  They seem to be bigger or rather longer.  But I still have so many water ones.  I started with 52, made two quilts, one a queen.  This next one will be a lap again.  The other will be table runners.

Like that tractor one. So many…  haven’t done the row by row since.  By the way, they’re sitting on a ladybug quilted tabletop.  Gave it to my mom, and in the last move, she gave it back.

Room is still messy but it’s getting there.

I just gave away the pie plate antique table.  Haven’t used it in two years.  It even has a label but now a days people don’t want antiques anymore and I love them. My sewing machine is under the “sew” quilt cover to the left.  On my chair is the three already done.  By the chair is a fabric box of binders with patterns in it.  Those smaller boxes are kits I made with everything on it.  I have my walking metals on the door and my camera on the knob.  Behind the pie crust table is a three tier rolling shelves that have my paints (water and acrylic) and pencil/drawing sets.  Can you find the canvases?  I feel like Where’s Waldo.

These are my scrapbook kits with kits in them that are started or ready to go.  Yes I know you’re saying are you ever bad Nicole.

So now you know where I’m at.  And I have four projects going on right now:

1.  Pillow cases 3 sets

2.  Campfire quilt - queen size large square

3.  Row by rows 5 of them

4.  A quilted pull over jacket that I just started with a quilt along from Riley Blake’s Come join us.  The template/pattern is free and it looks gorgeous.  All sizes to a couple of extra large for me!  Lol

Promised myself I wouldn’t join anymore but that didn’t work.  This one is great.  Want one!  It’s for 3 months so it’s short.  I’ll try.

Oh, and the fifth is cleaning that room which means getting some of those quilt project down.  

And that’s it, you’re caught up.  Wish me luck 😃😀

Retirement and the results…

Well that said it all.  At one point my job consumed me and I wasn’t doing many quilts as I was before.  My creativity got diversified with watercolor and pencil crayon art but I never gave up quilting, I just got overwhelmed.

So last week because my room was so crowded I couldn’t work in it, my husband and I did something about it.  We moved my bookcase with many of the books in it to the living room and now I’m sorting what’s left.  And boy is there a lot left!  About 12 scrapbook containers with projects in it, many not started, tons of bags with projects started in them, and about 5 large containers with scraps in it.  Boy I got lots to do. 

But I’ve started at least.  These are projects I did this week:

Added the flowers and leaves.  Wanted to fix this one up.  I didn’t like it before this.  But I loved my quilting.  So added the flowers 

The one below I completed last month, it’s about 8 years old.  Got the left overs at LaConnor Art Museum.  Don’t know the name of fabric but I did make up this simplistic pattern.  It’s the quilting practice that’s highlighted in this quilt.  I used different rulers on each square.  Enjoyed the learning.

I had time to do this one because I retired last week and now I have the time.  But still I couldn’t do too much because of the disarray in my room.  Thus the changes with the help of hubby.

To continue on the cleaning binge I’ve started to cut up some of the scraps in 2 1/2 strips and squares, 5” squares and 10” squares.

 Also I’ve done two small projects in bags.  One is folded quilting by Geesjwe Baron and Esther Vermeer, 

and a row by row from Oregon.  Sorry don’t know the designer, it’s quite old.  From 2016.

And that’s todays work.  Tomorrow I keep on cleaning my sewing/craft room.  Wish me luck….

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What's next on the hit parade????

 Well it's time to make October's goal, and I'm happy to say that I've completed the All People's Quilt challenge selection already.  So maybe this month's goal is to catch up on another one that keeps on trudging along but I don't get it done.  So here it is, my row by row....

I have 18 row by rows completed.  All are quilted.  I am using Quilt as you Go to attach them all in two rows.  I now need to make the center row because three rows of row by rows will look stupid. See what they look like so far.  Below are two more sections of 3 to add together then to the 3 more for the right side of the quilt.

Need to quilt these.

For the middle I have purchased a pattern from SewFresh for a seagull, a crab, and the posts that are in the water (I don't know what they're called).  I also already have from her a pelican pattern (I made this one before and gave it away to someone in Florida).  Plus I have a little surprise for the top (a paper piece design).  This is what I hope to finish this month.  

It should be queen size, quilted massively, and it will be one more for our bed.  The hard part is done, 18 row by rows, each one taking at least a month to complete (remember I work also).  So wish me luck.  Hooking up to Elm Street Quilts for Octobers finish.

PS this is also's June or July's finish off of All People's Quilt Challenge.  So once more, two stones with one throw  :) 

Back to School Quilting

 With work resuming the time spent on quilts and quilting is small, but I'm still trying to get in some creativity time.  Now my quilting has changed from creativity to a stress releaser.  Two cases reported in our school and we continue to work.  School is two blocks a day with lectures of 2 1/2 hours a session.  I prep 4 classes in total (2 different classes in each of my blocks) and prepping for all.  Marking is piling up, but exhaustion is bigger.  I don't know if I can keep up this pace but quilting does help to release the stress.

But I did get my September's goal for OMG completed.    Hanging with pride.  Here's my initial blog entry saying I was going to try to get it done....

The pattern is by Elizabeth Hartman.  It's called Dwight the Deer.  I'm calling it Oh Deer!!  since it was done during the Corvid era of going back to school with this.  The pattern is easy, but label all your parts because there are a lot of pieces.  But it makes a good size block.  This one is 56 by 56 in the end.  It's already earmarked for someone for Christmas.  But I am considering another one for a pillow for Christmas.  They're cute.  All her patterns are adorable.  Check them out here.  I have the clock, the sasquatch, and a couple of others.  When I'll get this done I don't know....

I'm going to hook up to Elm Street Quilts to enter for the OMG One Monthly Goal completion .  Pleased with it.

This is also the August quilt for the All People's Quilt Challenge so it was a two for one!!!

And I'm still plugging along with my Row by Row queen size quilt.  I have 18 completed and I'm making one large block for the middle to bring it all together because three rows of row by rows is too hard on the eyes.  I should be done that in October (My October goal of the month) but I had this one, and I got it at Prescott AZ in a small quilt shop there.  It was a souvenir of a 2015 trip to the Grand Canyon, so on the way we got this one.  The French wedding.  (I can say that because I'm french by birth, and people have called me a french frog every once in a while.).  Anyways, both my husband and I wanted this as a table topper for our buffet, so that's where it is.  You have to take a closer look at this one.

All the members of the wedding party.

The parents of the groom

The bride's side of the family.  A little different. Dad is hung over

And the bride and groom.  Veil included.

I had fun with that one but I had even more fun with this one.  I took a 2nd class of Quilting with Rulers by Silly Moon Quilting Co.  This is my second class and this one is with half circles.  It's amazing what you can do with 4 of these rulers which make 8 different sizes.  And the patterns you can do, check it out below.  At the end of the course, you're almost completed the table runner.  Took about 2 more hours to finish the end thing.  And I love it considering it my first time using these rulers.  Take a look....  I highly recommend it.  The class is online.  You buy the rulers online, they send it and then they send you the pattern to make the top first, and the session on Zoom for 4 hours quilts that quilt top.

Can see where I backtracked but not on all of them.

My favorite above

The edge work - there are four edges she teaches you.  This is one that I wanted done.  Had fun with this.

So for a month, this is not bad, partly finished another one, then all of this.  Is it my usual amount of quilting?  No but as I said I'm back at school and I have some finishes.  So I'm happy.  

How's your quilting going?  Getting anything done besides masks?  (I've done 14 more.....  )

Second Quarterly 2018 Finish A Long

I was so happy with last quarter's list and getting so much quilting done in the last two weeks that I only have to finish up a couple and they're done.  I had put four items on the list that I almost completed but having two completed, and two baby quilts completed made me satisfied.  (See here for the blog entry).

So what next?  Once more there is a list to complete, and I'm hoping to to get at least five done this time.  One of them is urgent (a quilt for my Aunt who is going into the hospital April 12th.   So it needs to be completed right away.  Also I have two that were on the list last quarter that are almost done, so it will be easy to complete them right away.  OK, here's the list:

(1)  The Midnight Garden.  It's all completed and I have to quilt it now.  All the wool is completed.  The two and a half inch squares are sewn all around the wool.  It's really very beautiful.  Here's what it looks like now:

(2)  The pixelated eye - which is a Craftsy free course online with Caro Sheridan.  I have the kit and I would like to complete it so I can exchange the pixelated quilt that is hanging right now (a pixelated sunflower I made after this course) can be changed.

(3)  Want to make the 2nd door for the quilted barn door that I have started for my entrance way to my sewing room.  Here is one done.  I need to make the next panel.  I already quilted one with leaf pattern on the leaves, and a spiral pattern all around the leaves.  Doesn't it look great?  The pattern is from Jennny Pedigo and Helen Robinson for Sew Kind of Wonderful.  It's from a book called One Wonderful Curve. It's a fantastic book with beautiful patterns, all quilts have curves.  I have trouble with making Duncan curves.  But using the ruler  from Sew Kind of Wonderful makes making curves simple and easy, with a simple curve that doesn't need pinning.  Check out the ruler and some free patterns at Sew Kind of Wonderful.

So number three is to make a second quilt like the picture shown for the 2nd barn door to cover the entrance way in the picture. 

(4)  I want to complete some Row-by-rows that I've been collecting for the last two years.  At one point I had 110 of them.  I've slowly but surely been going through some (I've done over 20) and I want to set a goal of four of them in this quarter of time.  I am hoping that in December I will have enough to make a queen/king size quilt for my bed.  I am also working at Quilting-as-you-go style for these rows.  What four do I want to do?  Any that catch my eye.  I do have over 90 to choose from.  :)

(5)  Another goal for this quarter is to do another quilt kit that I purchased.  It has old style quilting material that is made of diamonds.  You use 2 1/2 inch strips.  Perfect to make a fast quilt.

(6)  Flamingo Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman - I have been gathering up the pink material to complete the quilt.  The pattern is wonderful.  Here's someone else's quilt already done up.  I am starting from scratch - nothing is cut.

(6)  Deer Course on Craftsy - Under the same idea - Patch work Piecing:  Woodland Animals is a Craftsy course by Elizabeth Hartman.  I just love the deer that she makes for this one.  I want to make a pillow of it, or a smaller quilt.  See her example online.  If not the deer then the bear for a child's quilt.

(7)  Then there is another one that is partly complete.  It's the 100 blocks that Pat Sloan was working on last year with a number of her friends.  I have about 40 completed, and I want to set a goal of doing another 10 blocks, and starting to put them together in shadow boxes.  I want to Quilt as you go rows by rows so I can do some great quiltings.

(8)  I have set a goal to keep up with the Sewology BOM that I am part of.  It's a wonderful quilt pattern by Pen and Paper Patterns on Craftsy.  See below for a picture of the entire quilt.  I am at the part of the needle and the cutter block and then the ruler block.  So two behind.  But all others are completed, and they are all sewing together.  I do have the iron completed, but not with the others.  By the end of the block I expect the scissors and the stitch block as well to be completed.  I'm excited about this quilt.  It's for me alone, and it will be big enough for a full size bed. 

(9)  You and Me Quilt by Tres Chic.  It is taking forever to complete this quilt.  It's for my Aunt in California.  She is getting her operation April 12th, and I would like to send it to her before that day.  The entire quilt is being done in squares about an inch in diameter.  That is taking so much time.  I'm trying to do at least 4 blocks a month but I'm behind and now I really have to step it up.  As you can see the quilt is king size, and all in blacks and white.  So far I can honestly say I am about half way through it, so I am very excited to complete the entire thing.

Thinking this is enough?  Noooooooo.  There's more, and some urgent.

(10)  A table cloth for a friend of mine made by Northcott Fabric, their artisian line.  See a picture of the centre panel.  All I need is to quilt it now.

(11)  A panel of a heron, that's from Artisian Fabric  Absolutely gorgeous.  Just doing it as a panel for a table top.

12) Finish the Craftsy Quilting Class Quilt.  Two blocks done only.  But take a look at the quilting....

WOW

13)  Finish my applique and put it into a Redwood Quilt (quilt that is completely made up of red material.  Got a lot to finish here.

 14)  I joined a class for making a quilt called "In Full Bloom".  It's making a flower out of coloured fabric.

15)  I have material for a pink top and the pattern.  Short sleeve, cotton top.  Want to complete it before July.

16)  I also have pink material for a jumper dress that is perfect for this silk/polyester material that has a lot of embroidery.  

17)  The final sewing project I have is with a small knit top and shorts set for the summer.

OK, that's enough.  I'm sure there are a number of quilts here that I will enjoy starting.  Plenty of work and I'm sure I'll be able to complete at least 5 out of this list.

JUST WATCH ME  :)