Design Wall Monday 12/31/12 and 2013 Goals

This is the last Design Wall Monday post for 2012.  I started my blog at the beginning of this year, mostly because I wanted to join in the fun of Design Wall Monday.  I love seeing all the different projects people are working on.  There is so much talent out there--you all inspire me!

There's nothing up on my design wall at the moment, but I do have a box of finished units for Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street mystery.  There is another clue posting today, and I hope we will start joining all these units together.  Bonnie certainly has me stumped.  I haven't a clue what these will become, but I have enjoyed following along.  It is so much fun to see all the blog posts with everyone's progress.

This morning Bonnie posted the next clue which has us joining parts to make big triangles. Looks like we will have blocks set on the diagonal.  I don't have time to sew before work today, but I couldn't resist laying out my pieces to see how they look.

As the new year approaches, I have been trying to set some goals for my quilting in the coming year:

My quilting goals for 2013:
1. Make at least 4 charity/QOV quilts 
2. Finish at least 4 UFOs
3. Finish more projects than I begin
4. Stashbusting--use 100 yards, buy less than I use 

A few specific UFO possibilities:
1. Hidden 9-Patch--binding

2. Make 6 more paisley placemats to go with the ones made last May

3. Red/white/blue Scrap Club blocks--make more blocks, finish quilt top 

4. French Braid--make into Roman shade for door

5. Boston Fiesta--more blocks, get top together

I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and HAPPY QUILTING!

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 12/30/12

It's time for the final stash report of 2012.  This was my first year of tracking the amount of fabric going in and out of my stash.  It really makes me stop and think when I am considering buying more fabric.  I know that I already have enough fabric for many, many quilts, but sometimes new fabric is irresistible, especially when it is on sale!

I can finally report the yardage used for the shirt I made my husband for Christmas.  It isn't a quilt, but it still came out of my stash.  That used 3 yards.  It turned out great, he loves it, and his family couldn't believe that I made it.


Used this week: 3  yards   
Used year to date: 69.75 yards    

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date:  126.5 yards

Final total for 2012: 56.75 yards added   

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Stash Report Sunday 12/23/12

I was feeling okay about my stash additions and usage for the year, and I had been able to resist all the sales going on lately--until I saw the sale prices at Connecting Threads.  They had clearance fabrics as low as $2.48 a yard!  My willpower disappeared, and suddenly one morning when I should have been getting ready for work, I was placing an order for over 20 yards of fabric.  My justification is that it is all meant to become backgrounds and backing for Quilts of Valor in the new year.  Stash enhancement for a good cause!

No finishes and very little sewing got done this past week.  I have kept up with Easy Street, but haven't calculated the amount of fabric used.


Used this week:  0 yards
Used year to date: 66.75 yards

Added this week:   21.5 yards

Added year to date:  126.5 yards

Net year to date: 59.75 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 12/17/12

There wasn't much free time for quilting this week, but I did manage to stay caught up on the Easy Street mystery.  I am only making about half the number of parts that Bonnie's instructions list, with the plan that mine will be a lap quilt.  If I end up loving the design, I have plenty of fabric to make it bigger.  I have stacks of different units all pinned together in groups of 10.  There are still some flying geese to join together to complete Part 4.

I couldn't resist playing with some design possibilities!

I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday and also the Easy Street link-up to see other people's progress on the mystery.  

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 12/16/12

This week I finished up a tote bag that is going to be a Christmas gift.  That used up over 2 yards of fabric.  I must have made around 20 of these bags over the past 8-10 years, most as gifts for family & friends.

I have been keeping up on Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street mystery, but haven't figured out how much fabric I have used yet.  Maybe next week (since I would like to subtract that fabric from this year's total.)

It's hard to believe that the year is nearly over and there are only two more stash reports to go for 2012.  This has been my first year of blogging and of keeping track of my stash.  I haven't used up as much fabric as I had hoped, but it is interesting to watch the numbers change.  It's also fun to read other people's reports--I am so impressed by the ones who use up hundreds of yards of fabric in one year.


Used this week:  2.25 yards
Used year to date: 66.75 yards

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date:  105 yards

Net year to date: 38.25 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 12/10/12

It seemed like I would have tons of time to sew over the weekend, but things just didn't work out that way.  We had our scrap quilt group gathering on Saturday morning, the last meeting of the year.  I showed the red, white and blue scrappy blocks that I have been making throughout the year.  They are now hanging on the design wall while I try to decide how big to make this quilt.

My favorites  are the pineapple blocks.  I love the diagonal movement of them.  Here is a possible layout with more blocks.  The original plan was that this would be a Quilt of Valor, but I'm not sure I will be able to give it up.

My time to work on Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street mystery quilt has been limited, but I did manage to make 16 of the Shaded 4-patch units for Part 3.  Even though I haven't finished all the units from the previous steps, I am following Bonnie's advice to move on with each new clue so that I get some of each part made.  I am loving how my colors look together!

I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday and also the Easy Street link-up to see other people's progress.  

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 12/9/12

Who can resist free fabric?  Not me, that's for sure.  We had some fabric donated at work last week, most of which is not useful there.  I was excited to find these two pieces that look perfect for a future Quilt of Valor backing.  There are two yards of each.

I also got about 7 yards of this wild print.  The colors remind me of the southwest.  It has been designated as another quilt back.

I have a couple of Christmas projects in the works, but no finishes yet.  I haven't figured out how much yardage has been used up so far on the Easy Street mystery.


Used this week:  0 yards
Used year to date: 64.5 yards

Added this week:   11 yards

Added year to date:  105 yards

Net year to date: 40.5 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Easy Street on Design Wall Monday 12/3/12

There were two main reasons I was resisting doing Bonnie Hunter's new mystery, Easy Street.  The first was lack of time.  This is not the best time of year to begin a new project (but that has rarely stopped me before!)  Besides, Bonnie promised that this year's quilt is less intense than the last couple.  I'm thinking maybe I can manage to make half of the units and end up with a lap quilt or wall hanging.

The other thing that slowed me down was trying to decide on my color palette.  Bonnie's colors are great, but I wanted to come up with my own combination.  It wasn't until I came across this piece in my stash that I decided what direction to take.  

Some of my colors are going to be the same as Bonnie's.  There is a grey print as a constant, and I am also using turquoise and purple in the same places she did.  Where she has lime green, I am going to use fuchsia, and instead of black-on-white prints for background, I am going with dark grey and black prints.  Here is most of the collection I am working from.  (I can see from the photo that there is a paisley print in the black prints that shows up much lighter than the rest.  I knew that one might be a problem!)

So far I have made about 100 four-patch blocks, and I am making good progress with my flying geese.  Can't wait to see what comes next!

I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday and also the Easy Street link-up to see other people's progress.  

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 12/2/12

I have been doing a good bit of sewing this week, but have nothing to report right now.  I started Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street mystery quilt, but that yardage isn't ready to be subtracted yet. Hopefully there will be some completed Christmas gifts soon that I can count as yardage used.  I would love to get closer to even by the end of the year.


Used this week:  0 yards
Used year to date: 64.5 yards

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date:  94 yards

Net year to date: 29.5 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 11/26/12

I was inspired to make Scrappy Trips Around the World blocks for the block drive that was being sponsored by Alycia.  Not only were they gathering blocks to be assembled into Quilts of Valor, but she was raffling off 5 yards of red,white & blue fabrics--one entry for every 5 blocks you sent in. That was enough to get me sewing!  

My initial goal was to make 10 blocks before the deadline.  I had those 10 finished and ready to send away two weeks ago.  However, once I had pulled out my red, white & blue strips, I just kept making more and more blocks.  To have enough for a Quilt of Valor needed only 30 blocks.  I arranged them in an off-center barn raising type layout.

The blue and white diagonal check on the back is a fabric I got from Hancock's of Paducah in their Labor Day sale for about $3 a yard.  I wish I had bought lots more, but wasn't sure I would like the quality of it.

All that's left is to finish making the binding and label, then get everything sent off.  For anyone who is interested, Alycia is still accepting more of the Scrappy Trips blocks to be made into more Quilts of Valor.  She has posted photos of the blocks she received so far here and here.


Check out all the beautiful projects on Design Wall Monday at  Patchwork Times.  

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 11/25/12

I finally finished a project, used up a bunch of fabric, and didn't buy any more.  This has been a good week!

I finished making the last 8 blocks for the Scrappy Trips Around the World quilt.  My favorite thing about making scrap quilts is getting to see so many favorite fabrics, both old and new.  This quilt used around 160 different fabrics--most of the whites are used in 2 blocks each, but the reds and blues appear in only one block, with just one or two exceptions.  The photo below shows leftover strips from most of my red and blue fabrics.

I got all the blocks joined together, and also pieced together the backing and made a pillowcase for presentation.  All that's left is to make the binding and a label.  The quilt will go to Quilts of Valor after it gets quilted.  Here is a picture of a portion of the top--more photos tomorrow.

Used this week:  7.25 yards
Used year to date: 64.5 yards

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date:  94 yards

Net year to date: 29.5 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 11/19/12

When I started this project, I was making the Scrappy Trips Around the World blocks to send to Alycia for her block drive.  Last Monday I had 10 blocks made and planned to send them off the next day.  I now have 22 blocks finished and only need to make 8 more to have enough for a Quilt of Valor.  These blocks go together very quickly, and it is so much fun to see them come together that I decided to keep going and make enough for a whole quilt.

Check out all the beautiful projects on Design Wall Monday at  Patchwork Times.  

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 11/18/12

For most of this week I was feeling good about making a dent in my stash.  I have continued making more Scrappy Trips Around the World blocks.   They go quickly, and I am using up lots of red, white & blue strips on them.  I currently have 20 blocks done and will show a photo of the whole group tomorrow.  That project has used another 2 yards.

Yesterday we had some errands/shopping to take care of, mostly preparations for Thanksgiving.  The shopping center we went to has a JoAnn fabrics, and it was my husband who wanted to go in!  He collects all sorts of Santas and wanted to see what they had gotten in this year.  Of course, I ended up buying fabric.  We found two Florida State team fabrics, and I bought both.  Someday one of them will probably become a pair of pajama pants for him.

Used this week: 2
Used year to date: 57.25 yards

Added this week:   5 yards

Added year to date:  94 yards

Net year to date: 36.75 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 11/12/12

Happy Veteran's Day to all, and a huge thank you to those who have served our country.  It seems appropriate that all the blocks on my design wall right now are red,white & blue.  

There is a Scrappy Trip Around the World block drive going on at Alycia's.  The blocks go together very quickly, and they will be put together into Quilts of Valor.  I have 10 blocks ready to send to her.  I have been playing with ideas for a whole quilt or two from this block pattern, but this group will be mailed off tomorrow.

My other patriotic looking project is the blocks-of-the-week by Barbara Brackman called Grandmother's Choice.  I'm not wild about some of these blocks, but I am determined to keep up with making each week's block (sometimes with minor changes.)  They will definitely look better together with some sashing.  These may become a Quilt of Valor too.

Check out all the beautiful projects on Design Wall Monday at  Patchwork Times.  

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 11/11/12

I keep thinking I am going to make a significant dent in my stash one of these weeks, but the numbers never seem to go down by much.  In fact this week, they have gone up again.

In the used column--1-1/2 yards to make 9 scrappy Trip Around the World blocks.  These are for a QOV block drive sponsored by Alycia.  

Also used--1/4 yard to make blocks #9 - 11 for the Grandmother's Choice block of the week.  So far, I have been able to keep up with these.

On the other side of the numbers, the scrap bin at Intown Quilters had just been replenished, and there were nice big chunks of lots of beautiful batiks.  These are all about 12 - 13" across and 12 - 18" long, some even more than that.  I managed to get all that plus several pieces of cotton prints stuffed into 2 ziploc bags.  I figured it to be about 4-1/2 yards total for $10.

Used this week: 1.75
Used year to date: 55.25 yards

Added this week:   4.5 yards

Added year to date:  89 yards

Net year to date: 33.75 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 11/5/12

MY QUILT MADE THE FINALS!!

This afternoon I got an email with the exciting news that my Storm at Sea quilt had been nominated as one of the favorite quilts in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I am so thrilled to be included in the final voting, especially since this is my first time taking part in the event.  

Those of you who have been reading my blog over the past several months have followed along with the progress of this quilt.  I have appreciated all the comments and support along the way.  

If you haven't already voted for your favorites, you can do so HERE.  My Storm at Sea is in the bed quilt category.  Voting ends this Thurs., Nov. 8th.

The only addition to my design wall for the week is the two most recent Grandmother's Choice blocks.  That makes a total of 10 blocks plus 2 duplicates.  As the blocks get finished, I am liking the way they look together more and more.  Only 39 more to go!

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times.  Also be sure to vote for your favorite quilts in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 11/4/12

I was very excited to finish up my Storm at Sea quilt last weekend, but as soon as I put it on the bed, I knew that it needed matching pillowcases.  That used 2-1/4 yards of fabric.  I also made the binding for my next quilt to be finished, using another 1/2 yard.

I have entered the Storm at Sea quilt in the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  There are hundreds of amazing quilts on display there.  If you haven't already nominated quilts for the voting round, I would appreciate it if you would consider mine.  It is entry #499, and the categories it could be nominated in are bed quilt, scrap quilt, and professionally quilted.  The deadline for nominations is today, Nov. 4th.  You can find the nomination form here.  Thanks!




Used this week: 2.75
Used year to date: 54 yards

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date:  84.5 yards

Net year to date: 30.5 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Blogger's Quilt Festival--Storm at Sea

This is my first time posting to the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  I have been having such a great time checking out everyone else's posts.  Thanks to Amy for putting it all together.  Go to Amy's Creative Side to see all the other entries.  (I couldn't figure out how to get the button into my blog.)

It was easy to pick which quilt to show for the festival.  There haven't been many finishes this year, but I just completed the Storm at Sea quilt that I started in 2001!  I had been collecting fabrics in shades of blue, teal, green, aqua, and purple for quite a while, but couldn't settle on what I wanted to make.  Then I found the background fabric with sea anemones on it--that had to be a sign that it was time to make a Storm at Sea.   

I worked on this quilt on and off for a couple of years.  I wasn't sure how I wanted to finish it, which was the reason it kept being set aside.  Then in late 2003, I took a job that had me travelling full-time, which lasted until 2 years ago.  I was able to do some quilting on the road, but never got back to this project.

I was going through my extensive collection of UFOs at the beginning of 2012, with the goal of getting some of them finished before the end of the year.  For some reason, the Storm at Sea was the quilt that wanted to be worked on first.  

Instead of the usual large square at the center of the unit, I decided to complicate the pattern even more and make that part as a nine-patch instead.  To tell the truth, it was just a way to get more fabrics into the quilt, especially some of the lighter colored ones.   It was such a trip down memory lane to play with these fabrics again after letting them "age" for over 10 years.   At some point I figured out that there were around 3700 pieces in this quilt.  Below you can see the different units that I was making for the quilt.

The main decision still remaining on this project was the design of the pieced border.  I had originally planned on the following design, which gives a scalloped look around the outside.   

Instead, I decided to go with a row of spiky stars surrounding the center.  I like the additional background spaces, and this design brought the quilt to a better finished size for my bed.

Center section with quilt  blocks sewn together.

Quilt top finished--late May 2012

Quilted and bound, October 2012--it's finished!  

After seeing it on the bed, I decided I need to make matching pillowcases.

Blogger’s Quilt Festival Stats:

Finished quilt measures : 87" x 96″

Quilted by : Jan Walsh, Cat's Meow Quilting

Best Category : Bed Quilt, Professionally Quilted, Scrap Quilt

Thanks for taking a look at my quilt. Enjoy all the other fabulous inspiration at the Bloggers Quilt Festival

Julie

Design Wall Monday 10/29/2012

There isn't anything new to show on my design wall this week, but I do have a new quilt on my bed.  I finished the binding on my Storm at Sea quilt yesterday!

It was too windy outside yesterday to hang the quilt up for photos.  You can see a full shot of the unquilted top here.  I am thrilled to have it finished and on the bed.  My first thought once I laid it out on the bed (after "I can't believe that's finally done!") was "Now I need some matching pillowcases."  That answers the question of what to work on next.

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times. 

Julie

Design Wall Monday 10/22/12

The only change to my design wall this week is the addition of the newest Grandmother's Choice block.  I ended up with two versions of this block because I made a strip set and then used the template to cut the points.

My sister and her husband are coming to visit this weekend, and I would love to finish the binding on my Storm at Sea quilt and get it on their bed.  Less than one side to finish stitching, but lots of other things to take care of around the house before then too.

The following Storm at Sea quilt was on display at the Georgia Quilt Show this past weekend.  I had also seen it at Paducah last April.  It was made by Sheri Schoenebeck of Wichita, KS, and she won the prize for best machine quilting.  Isn't it fantastic!

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times. 

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 10/21/12

It has been a quiet week as far as quilting.  I have been looking at a couple of patterns for possible Christmas gifts, but haven't gotten any further than planning.  I did make this week's Grandmother's Choice block, and I have also counted the yardage for the last few of those.  Since they are all different, I find it easier to calculate the amount of fabric used as I finish each block rather than waiting until they are all done.

I went to the Georgia Quilt Show in Duluth yesterday.  It wasn't the biggest quilt show ever, but there were some amazing quilts there.  Here are photos of a couple of my personal favorites.  I have been wanting to make an uneven pineapple quilt for quite some time.  I love the movement in this pattern.  This is called "My Color Wheel Exploded" by Dorinda Evans of Madison, MS.

This leafy quilt also has great movement to it.  The way the blocks twist and turn gives the feeling of the leaves falling through the air.  Love the beautiful colors too!  This one is "Tumbling Leaves" by Connie Lord of Sparta, GA.

You can see photos of all the quilts entered in the show here.


Used this week: .75
Used year to date: 51.25 yards

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date:  84.5 yards

Net year to date: 33.25 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Design Wall Monday 10/15/12

There's not much that is new on my design wall this week.  I remade two  of the Grandmother's Choice blocks to give them better contrast.  I need to finish up this weeks block too.  I also made two more pinwheel blocks for my red, white & blue scrappy quilt.

Now that it is starting to feel more like fall, I pulled out one of my favorite quilt tops.  The pattern is "Turning Leaves", and it was originally published in Quiltmaker magazine in 2002.  I just checked, and the pattern is still available here.  

I am continuing to hand stitch the binding on my Storm at Sea quilt.  That has become my project while watching TV at night, since it is too big to carry with me anywhere else.  I can't wait to finish and get it on my bed!

Check out what others have been working on at  Patchwork Times. 

Julie