Getting It Done--February/March

I am linking up with Judy L. at Patchwork Times for this month's Get It Done updates. At the end of each month, quilters from all over post lists of their goals for the coming month, plus a look back at how they did on the goals from the previous month.  I am finding that public declaration of my goals really helps keep me on track.  I am very pleased with the progress that I made this month.  Thanks to Judy for the great idea!


FEBRUARY GOALS:
1.  Dancing Stars--make 8-10 blocks in this month's color (purple) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.   DONE 2/23 (ELEVEN BLOCKS MADE)

2.  Scrappy Sampler BOM--make this month's set of blocks.  DONE 2/14
      Photo shows both January & February blocks.

3.  Red, white & blue Scrap Club Sampler--finish 4 pineapple blocks.
     DONE 2/3

4.  Hidden Nine-patch quilt--finish binding and add hanging sleeve.
     QUILT IS TOTALLY FINISHED AND HANGING ON THE WALL! 2/23

5.  Storm at Sea--hanging sleeve.  SLEEVE MADE BUT NOT SEWN ON

6.  Alter shirt I bought at Christmas.  DONE 2/15



MARCH GOALS:  My only chance of accomplishing my goals in March is to keep them rather modest.  We are going to be very busy at work for the next month or more, and I don't want to feel stressed out over meeting my quilting goals too.

1.  Dancing Stars--make 8-10 blocks in this month's color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

2.  Scrappy Sampler BOM--make this month's set of blocks.  

3.  Storm at Sea--finish hanging sleeve.

4.  Photograph Storm at Sea & Hidden 9-Patch; submit quilt show entry forms.

Julie

15 Minute Challenge

In this month's 15 Minute Challenge posts, Kate has been focusing on our quilting spaces.  Today she showed a couple of books about how to make the most of our sewing rooms.  Another great book on this topic is Lois Hallock's 

Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space: Sewing-Room Makeovers for Any Space and Any Budget.  Lois is a professional organizer and a quilter.  In her book, she shows before and after photos of quilting spaces of all types and sizes that she has helped redesign.

I haven't had much chance for quilting this week because I needed to spend most of my time working on a costume project.  That needs to be finished up in the next week or so.  It's also likely that I will need to work next Saturday, which means even less time available for quilting.

Here's a photo of part of my costume project.  It is going to be a pair of breeches.  The dark stripe consists of a piece of black brocade covered with a strip of  black and silver lace, and that is covered with two layers of black tulle.  Then it gets black piping down both edges.  Very slow work.  The waistband and kneebands also all have piping around them.  The fabrics are beautiful, but the work is going slowly.

Tues., 2/19--costume project

Wed., 2/20--costume project, Dancing Stars
Thur., 2/21--costume project
Fri., 2/22--costume project, Hidden 9-Patch hanging sleeve
Sat., 2/23--Dancing Stars, Hidden 9-Patch hanging sleeve
Sun., 2/24--costume project, Storm at Sea hanging sleeve
Mon., 2/25--costume project

Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time and space for creativity. 

Julie

Design Wall Monday 2/25/13

There are only small changes to my design wall this week. There are now 11 purple Dancing Stars blocks, joining up with the pink blocks from last month. The Scrappy Sampler blocks at the bottom are the same as a week ago.

It's not on my design wall, but I am very excited to show my completely finished Hidden 9-Patch quilt.  The binding and hanging sleeve are finally done! The pattern is "Atlanta Commons" from the book 101 Nine Patch Quilts by Marti Michell.  I pieced the top for a guild challenge around 2002, but didn't get it quilted until last year. I am so happy to have this piece finished and hanging on the wall.  

As usual, I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  Check out all the great inspiration there. 

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 2/24/13

It's hard to believe that it is almost the end of February already.  I keep hoping to make a bigger dent in my fabric stash, but have to be satisfied with small amounts.  The good news is that no new yardage has been added this month.

My yardage used has increased by a little bit again.  I used 1/4 yard for the hanging sleeve on my Hidden Nine-Patch quilt, plus 2 yards for the January & February Dancing Stars blocks that I am making for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

Used this week:   2.25 yards  
Used year to date:  9.5 yards    

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date: 2.5 yards

Net year to date:  7 yards used 

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

The Last Saturday for Purple

It's the last Saturday of February, the final week of scrappy purple blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I finished up three more Dancing Stars blocks, bringing my total number of purple blocks to 11.  That keeps me on target to have enough blocks at the end of the year for a throw quilt.

Check out all the fabulous projects featuring purple for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I can't wait to see what next month's color will be!


Julie

15 Minute Challenge

This is the first week in about a month when I had days with no time for quilting or other sewing projects.  I worked lots of extra hours over the weekend, and that left me too wiped out for any extra sewing on Monday evening.  I also have an extra costume project that will fill up most of my free time.  I need to get that finished in the next week or so.

Tues., 2/12--Scrappy Sampler, costume project

Wed., 2/13--costume project, Hidden 9-Patch binding
Thurs., 2/14--Scrappy Sampler, Hidden 9-Patch binding
Fri., 2/15--shirt alterations, Dancing Stars
Sat., 2/16--Dancing Stars
Sun., 2/17--none 
Mon., 2/18--none
Tues., 2/19--costume project

Check out Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time and space for creativity. There are some great links with info about sewing room organization, something I definitely need to work on!


Julie

Design Wall Monday 2/18/13

My design wall has the same projects on it as the last few weeks, but there are more blocks added to both projects.  The Dancing Stars at the top have four more purple stars than last week.  Below that are the Scrappy Sampler blocks with the addition of the blocks for February--4 Goose Tracks and 2 Churn Dash blocks.

As usual, I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  Check out all the great inspiration there. 

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 2/17/13

My yardage used this week is for the February blocks for the Scrappy Sampler BOM quilt.  I am subtracting the yardage used for this project each month as I make the blocks.  It will be too hard to figure out at the end of the year since there are so many different blocks.

Finishing these blocks also takes care of one of my goals for the February Get It Done challenge.

Used this week:   .75 yards  
Used year to date:  7.25 yards    

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date: 2.5 yards

Net year to date:  4.75 yards used 

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Dancing Stars in Pink & Purple

This project is my way of killing two birds with one stone.  I had been following the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for quite awhile last year, admiring the many beautiful blocks people made in each month's designated color.  I decided to join in on the challenge, but what to make?

Then I discovered the Dancing Stars quilt-along at Amy's Creative Side.  The pattern is a free download on her site, and she gives several different size options, everything from an 8-block doll quilt up to queen-sized.  

My collection of Dancing Stars blocks has grown by four additional purple stars this week.  My plan is to make 8-10 blocks each month in the chosen color.  If I can produce that many, I will have plenty for a throw quilt at the end of the year.  I look forward to adding more colors to this group.

Check out all the fabulous projects featuring purple for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.


Julie

Getting It Done--February update

February is just speeding by, but we have reached the midpoint of the month. That means it is time to check on my progress on Judy's Getting It Done challenge.  I listed 6 goals for the month, which might be overly ambitious for this short month, but I feel good about how much I have gotten done so far.

FEBRUARY GOALS:
1.  Dancing Stars--make 8-10 blocks in this month's color (purple) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  2/9--four blocks done

2.  Scrappy Sampler BOM--make this month's set of blocks.  DONE 2/14

3.  Red, white & blue Scrap Club Sampler--finish 4 pineapple blocks.
     DONE 2/3

4.  Hidden Nine-patch quilt--finish binding and add hanging sleeve.
     BINDING DONE 2/14

5.  Storm at Sea--hanging sleeve.

6.  Alter shirt I bought at Christmas.




Julie

15 Minute Challenge

Kate's post for this week's 15 Minute Challenge features photos of her sewing space, and she talks about how her space is set up.  I am very fortunate to have a beautiful large sewing room.  When my husband and I got married almost 6 years ago, we added on to his house.  If we ever sell the house, that addition will be the master suite, but while we live here, the main room that was added is my sewing space.  I am so lucky!

Unfortunately, my sewing room is  too much of a mess for me to be willing to show current photos of it.  Maybe this will motivate me to do some cleaning up!  It's doubtful I will get to it this week though.

Lots of quilting happening this past week.  That's why the sewing room is such a mess!

Tues., 2/5--Dancing Stars , Hidden 9-Patch binding 

Wed., 2/6--Hidden 9-Patch binding, Dancing Stars 

Thurs., 2/7--Dancing Stars , Hidden 9-patch binding

Friday, 2/8--Hidden 9-Patch binding 

Sat., 2/9--Dancing Stars, Scrappy Sampler
Sun., 2/10--Scrappy Sampler, Hidden 9-Patch binding 

Mon., 2/11--Scrappy Sampler, Dancing Stars

Yesterday I finished making my February blocks for the Scrappy Sampler BOM.  I hope I can continue to keep up with them all year.

Check out Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time and space for creativity.


Julie

Design Wall Monday 2/11/13

My design wall has a few more blocks added to the Scrappy Sampler BOM grouping. They are the top 3 blocks in the photo, 2 Goose Tracks and a Churn Dash.

This BOM group met on Saturday at Intown Quilters in Decatur. I had hoped to get all of this month's blocks made yesterday, but only finished half.  I still have the same number of Goose Tracks and Churn Dash blocks to put together, but I did manage to get all the pieces for them cut out.  As I cut out each block, I have also been cutting extra squares of every fabric to make more of the bowtie blocks for the border.


As usual, I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  Check out all the great inspiration there. 

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 2/10/13

My numbers haven't changed much, but I did use a yard of fabric this week in finishing the four pineapple blocks for my red,white & blue Scrap Club quilt.  I am taking baby steps toward my goal to use at least 100 yards of fabric this year.

Finishing these blocks also takes care of one of my goals for the February Get It Done challenge.

Used this week:   1 yards  
Used year to date:  6.5 yards    

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date: 2.5 yards

Net year to date:  4.0 yards used 

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Scrappy Purple Stars

I was excited at the choice of purple for February's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color.  I have plenty of purple in my stash.  Then I started pulling fabrics for "Dancing Stars", the blocks I am making in each month's color.  I am using solid black for the backgrounds, with a bright and a light of the color of the month for the stars.  The pattern is from a quilt-along at Amy's Creative Side. 

The problem I had with my fabrics was that my darker purples tend to blend in with the black background.  I have been trying to pull out the ones that show up better against black.  Many of my light purple fabrics are 30's repros.

Here are my first four purple blocks for this month.

Check out this week's projects featuring purple for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.


Julie

15 Minute Challenge

In this weeks' post for the 15 Minute Challenge, Kate talks about the value of having a dedicated space for your quilting.  I can certainly testify that it is a very valuable commodity.  When I was single, my quilting tended to take over large portions of my home.  In my last apartment, I turned the whole living and dining rooms into a quilting area. It definitely makes a big difference to leave my sewing machine set up and my current project(s) ready to be resumed.

This has been a very good week for finding time to quilt.  I managed to work on at least one project every day.  It works well for me having a hand-sewing project (the Hidden 9-Patch binding) that I can do while watching (or mostly listening to) TV with my husband in the evenings.

Tues., 1/29--Hidden 9-Patch binding

Wed., 1/30--RWB Pineapples

Thurs., 1/31--RWB Pineapples

Friday, 2/1--Hidden 9-Patch binding

Sat., 2/2--Dancing Stars, RWB Pineapples

Sun., 2/3--RWB Pineapples, Dancing Stars

Mon., 2/4--Dancing Stars, Hidden 9-Patch binding

Here are the pineapple blocks that I finished over the weekend.  Those chunks of time added up to four fabulous blocks.

Check out Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time and space for creativity.


Julie

Design Wall Monday--pineapples

Pineapple quilts have got to be one of my all-time favorite designs.  Too bad they are so labor intensive.  Yesterday I finished up these four blocks to add to my Scrap Club red/white/blue sampler that was started last year.  They look great together, but it sure took a long time to make them.  45 pieces per block!

On tap next for this quilt are some more string stars.  I think I need 3 more like these.

As usual, I will be linking up to Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.  Check out all the great inspiration there. I will also be linking up to Link a Finish Friday at Richard and Tanya Quilts.

Julie

Stash Report Sunday 2/3/13

I had hoped to finish up one of my projects this week and report some yardage used, but no such luck.  I managed to do some sewing every day in the past week, but didn't get anything finished. The good news was that I didn't buy any fabric either.

Used this week:   0 yards  
Used year to date:  5.5 yards    

Added this week:   0 yards

Added year to date: 2.5 yards

Net year to date:  3.0 yards used 

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie

Scrappy Purple Saturday

This seems to be my day for better late than never.  I kept hoping to have some time for quilting today, but there were just too many other things going on for most of the day.

I was happy to see that purple is our color this month because I have a good supply of that color.  However, I was a little concerned about having enough pale purple fabrics to work for my Dancing Stars blocks.  Then I remembered the box of 30's fabrics that is stashed in my sewing room closet.  There are several lavender and white fabrics in there that will be perfect!

Here are the pieces that were cut for my first few purple Dancing Stars blocks.  I hope to get several of these blocks stitched up this week.

Check out this week's purple projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.


Julie

Dancing Stars update

Amy at Amy's Creative Side is sponsoring the Dancing Stars quilt along, and this weekend she has asked people to post photos of their progress.

I love this block, but didn't know what colors to use for it.  Then I decided to combine this quilt along with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Every month Angela designates a color for us to use.  January's color was hot pink.  

My plan is to make 8-10 stars in each month's chosen color.  That should give me plenty for at least a throw quilt by the end of the year.  For February we will be featuring purple.

Check out Amy's blog here to see other quilters' Dancing Stars blocks.  To see more about the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, go here.  

Julie