Getting It Done--October/November 2013

Once again, Judy has posted the link-up for this month's Get It Done challenge. I did pretty well on my goals for October, with two completed and two others nearly done, plus two extra finishes that weren't even on the list. 

OCTOBER GOALS

1. Dancing Stars--make a set of blocks in this month's colors (black and grey) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.   11 blocks done

2.  Scrappy Sampler BOM--make this month's set of blocks. 
     Almost done but not quite

3.  Scrap Hexies--continue my hexie hand stitching project.
     2 snowflakes done, one star halfway

4.  Begin at least one Christmas gift.
     2 gifts started


Other projects this month:
Testing Honey Honey paper piecing pattern
Finish 2 paisley placemats

November goals:
1.  Dancing Stars--make a set of blocks in this month's color (brown) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

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

3.  Scrap Hexies--continue my hexie hand stitching project.

4.  Finish at least one Christmas gift.

5.  Finish Easy Street top.


See how well other quilters did at reaching their goals this month and what they hope to accomplish in the month ahead at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 10/29/13

I had a good week for quilting and managed to find at least 15 minutes for it every day. I even had most of the day on Saturday to spend in the sewing room while hubby was working all afternoon and evening. That was the day that I finally managed to put away some of the fabrics that had piled up all over my cutting table. Why do I let that happen--it makes it so much harder to get anything done when I am constantly having to clear off a space to work!

10/22 - 10/28
Tuesday--Honey Honey
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies
Thursday--Scrap Hexies, border stripe placemats
Friday--Scrap Hexies, border stripe placemats
Saturday--cleaning sewing room, border stripe placemats
Sunday--Scrap Hexies
Monday--border stripe placemats, Scrap Hexies


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. 


Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 10/28/13

One of my goals for the month of October was to begin making at least one Christmas gift, and I have managed to do just that. I pieced the tops for a set of four placemats using Jinny Beyer's technique and one of her border stripe fabrics. You can find her pattern and a video on how to do it here. I love the way this pattern turns out--it is always a surprise! The fabric at the bottom is a possibility for the backs.

I have also started cutting a second set from another Jinny Beyer stripe. I hope to get those together soon.



I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for great ideas and inspiration.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 10/27/13

My stash report took a hit this week, and I am holding my husband responsible. We went for a drive to the north Georgia mountains on Monday, and of course had to stop at the quilt shops. He even insisted on paying for the fabrics as an early birthday gift--what a great guy!!

We visited two different quilt shops in Dahlonega, GA--Magical Threads and The Common Thread. They are very different stores, and I am crazy about them both. Magical Threads is in a big old house, with fabrics in the rooms on the main floor, and the owner lives upstairs. She also carries a good selection of yarns. This is a shop where I love running across some older fabrics that I have purchased and/or used before. It is like running into old friends again! The two border stripe fabrics that I got there are going to become placemats as Christmas gifts, and the black stripe will become a border or backing for my Easy Street quilt.

The next group of fabrics all came from The Common Thread. As you can see, I love the print with the rings of lighter dots. I already had that print in a couple other colors, and was very happy to add these. No specific plans for any of these fabrics. I guess I hadn't been in this store for awhile--it was a very nice surprise to discover that they had expanded their space. The store has plenty of room and great lighting. Tons of beautiful fabrics await!

Used this week:           0   yards
Used year to date:    73.5 yards

Added this week:           11  yards  

Added year to date:   57.5 yards

Net year to date:         16 yards used


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Black Stars and Hexies

Another month nearly gone, and what do I have to show for it quilt-wise? Our colors for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this month were black and grey, and I did complete 11 Dancing Stars blocks to add to the blocks from previous months. I had my doubts about including these colors, but I think they will look great will all the brights.

I have also been making hexagons all month. I kept thinking it was time to start joining them together into stars and snowflakes, but then I would find some more fabrics that I wanted to include. I have finally put a stop to adding any more fabrics and started sewing hexies together. I finished the snowflake Friday night and have the pieces laid out for one large star. I don't know what will happen with all those extras--they will probably have to wait for their chance next year!

I am linking up to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--check it out every Saturday to see many great projects and ideas. I am also linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday over at Kathy's Quilts and to Scrap Basket Sunday at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure. It's one big scrap-happy weekend!

Julie in GA

Honey, Honey pattern testing

I recently finished testing a new paper-pieced pattern. The pattern is called "Honey, Honey," and it was designed by Esther. Here is the pillow she made and showed on her blog.

For my version, I decided to go with different black prints for the background, and two shades of pink/fuchsia for the honeycombs.  I like to pre-cut my fabric pieces for foundation piecing, especially any large pieces that end up around the outside edges. I printed up a couple extra copies of the foundations and cut them up into the various parts. These pieces have extra wide seam allowances added, and they include arrows to indicate grainlines. Then I used those as my patterns for cutting my fabrics.

Here are all of my pre-cut fabric pieces, ready to begin piecing.

I don't have any photos of the process while I was piecing the blocks. I like to use the "Add-A-Quarter" tool for trimming away excess fabric. It makes getting the next piece lined up correctly much easier. I'm sure there are YouTube videos or other tutorials on using this tool.

Piecing the segments went quite smoothly. Esther's pattern was clear and easy to follow. I had a little trouble when it was time to join the segments together because my foundations had printed up at slightly different sizes, which made it difficult to get my seams to match precisely. However, I think I managed to persuade it all to behave, and I am very happy with the result. 

My finished piece has 4 blocks and measures 20" x 20". I may make it into a pillow, or add a border for a wallhanging. Esther's pattern includes variations for more blocks, including one with a great corner effect. That will be my next version if I decide to make this pattern again. 

Congratulations to Esther on this fabulous pattern. I am so glad I got to be one of the first people to try it out! For more of her amazing designs, check out her blog or go to her Craftsy store.

I am linking up to the Paper Piecing Party at Quiet Play and to Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.. I look forward to seeing this week's inspiring group of projects.


Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 10/22/13

It was another good week for finding time to quilt. I had at least 15 minutes of sewing time every day except one. Yesterday I was off from work, and it turned into a mini shop hop. Hubby and I drove up to Dahlonega, a lovely town in the north Georgia mountains. I was able to visit two quilt shops there, plus another one outside of Blairsville. Now that was a good day!

10/15 - 10/21
Tuesday--Dancing Stars, Honey Honey
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies
Thursday--Honey Honey
Friday--Dancing Stars, Scrap Hexies, Honey Honey
Saturday--Dancing Stars, Honey Honey
Sunday--Paisley Placemats
Monday--nothing (unless you count fabric shopping!)


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. 


Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 10/21/13

My design wall still holds the black and grey Dancing Stars blocks that were finished last week. Yesterday I also finished two paisley placemats to go with the six that we already have. We were having some friends and family over for dinner last night, a total of eight people, and we needed more placemats to be able to eat at the dining room table. I still have a few more of these started--I really should get them done instead of waiting until the last minute again!

Also up on the  design wall is my test sample for Esther's new pattern Honey,Honey. Isn't it a fabulous design! You can read more about it here. I will have a longer post with more photos about my process making this pattern later in the week.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for great ideas and inspiration.

Julie in GA

Scrap Hexie Sunday 10/20/13

I don't know if I will have much time for hand stitching hexies today because we are having a little family gathering this evening. Getting ready for that may mean no time for hexies, but I have completed quite a few this past week. I thought I was done basting, but realized that I had some black and white music prints set aside in a bin. Someday they will become part of a quilt for my musician husband, but for now they are joining the hexie collection.

I am linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday over at Kathy's Quilts. Here's to taking it slow on Sunday! I am also linking up to Scrap Basket Sunday at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 10/20/13

The past week was a better one as far as stash usage is concerned. I used 1 yard on the 11 black and grey Dancing Stars blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Dancing Stars blocks

I also used 1.5 yards in testing Esther's paper-piecing pattern Honey, Honey. I hope to get the papers pulled off the back and include it in my design wall post tomorrow.

Used this week:           2.5 yards
Used year to date:    73.5 yards

Added this week:            0  yards

Added year to date:   46.5 yards

Net year to date:         27 yards used


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Black and Grey Scrappiness 10/19/13

I finished another batch of black and grey Dancing Stars blocks. This brings me to 11 in this set--not bad for a color combo I wasn't even sure I wanted to include in my blocks. They will provide a wonderful contrast to all my bright colored blocks.

I am linking up to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--check it out every Saturday to see many great projects and ideas!

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 10/15/13

Last weekend included some good chunks of time for me to quilt, and I spent most of it prepping/cutting for my ongoing scrappy projects, plus made a start on the new pattern that I am testing, Honey Honey. I need to keep pushing ahead on that because we have a deadline of Oct. 24th. I am currently halfway done.

It was another good week, with 7 out of 7 days where I found at least 15 minutes for quilting. Most days include more than one project because I hand stitch hexies on the train to work,  and then I sew a different project on my machine in the evening or on the weekend.

10/8 - 10/14
Tuesday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars
Thursday--Dancing Stars
Friday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars, Honey Honey
Saturday--Honey Honey, Dancing Stars
Sunday--Honey Honey, Dancing Stars, Scrap Hexies
Monday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. 


Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 10/14/13

My current project has been working on testing a new paper piecing pattern. The pattern is called "Honey, Honey," and it was designed by Esther. Here is one of the color variations she showed on her blog.

For my version, I have used different black prints for the background, and two shades of pink/fuchsia for the honeycombs.  These are the segments for two blocks, and I have two more to make this week.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for great ideas and inspiration.

Julie in GA

Slow and Scrappy Sunday 10/13/13

I set aside my Color Palette hexies this week in order to begin making black and grey hexies for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. So far I have about 35 hexies basted, and another 30 or 40 cut out and ready for basting. I should be able to get several stars and snowflakes from all of those.

I am linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday over at Kathy's Quilts. Here's to taking it slow on Sunday! I am also linking up to Scrap Basket Sunday at Kim's Big Quilting Adventure.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 10/13/13

My only fabric usage this week was 1/2 yard to make 22 more bowties for the border of my Scrappy Sampler BOM quilt. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo of them before they were added to the bag of blocks. I have 115 bowties made, and I think we need 182 of them for the quilt. That means I still need almost 70 more before the end of the year.

Our Scrappy Sampler group met at the quilt store yesterday. I was very tempted to buy some fabric, and even carried two bolts around with me for awhile, but they ended up going back on the shelf without any being purchased. My will power showed up this time around--who knows when it might disappear at the sight of a good sale!

Used this week:          .5 yards
Used year to date:    71 yards

Added this week:           0  yards

Added year to date:   46.5 yards

Net year to date:    24.5 yards used


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Saturday in Black and White

I wasn't sure that this month's colors of black and grey for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge would fit in with my earlier Dancing Stars blocks, especially since I have been using black for the background on my blocks. After pulling out a collection of scraps and auditioning them on the black background, I decided that all would be well as long as there was enough white mixed in with the black. Here is what I have completed so far. I am still planning to make some grey stars too.

I have also been busy making hexagons with my black and grey scraps. I still have quite a few more to baste before I begin joining them together into stars and snowflakes.

I am linking up to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--check it out every Saturday to see many great projects and ideas!

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 10/8/13

Lately my time for quilting has been in little chunks of time rather than being able to spend most of a day in my sewing room. I would love to be able to do that, but there have just been too many other things going on lately like overnight guests and evenings out at various events. The past couple of days I have been concentrating on cutting and prepping for projects so that when the time becomes available, I am ready to sit down and sew, either by machine or by hand. Here is what I was doing yesterday.

I have been cutting black and grey fabrics for both my Scrap Hexies (lower left) and for more Dancing Stars blocks (across the top.) At the lower right are 24 bowtie blocks for my Scrappy Sampler quilt.

10/1 - 10/7
Tuesday--Color Palette Hexies
Wednesday--Color Palette Hexies
Thursday--Color Palette Hexies
Friday--Color Palette Hexies
Saturday--Baby Blue Boxes
Sunday--clean up, Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars, Honey Honey
Monday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler, Dancing Stars


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. 


Julie in GA

Happy Anniversary!

My sister and her husband are celebrating their 30th anniversary tomorrow. Wow, 30 years is amazing to me. Congratulations! (I know she reads my blog.)

A few months ago I found fabric with bacon all over it, and that is one of his favorite foods. It seemed like it was meant for him, but what to make? Then I also found other fabrics with pancakes, coffee cups, and coffee beans. It turned into a breakfast themed collection. I made them a set of placemats to showcase the fun fabrics. Just thinking about them is making me hungry! Here is a photo of the fabrics.

I was in such a hurry to finish the placemats and get them sent away that I forgot to take any photos, but Karen sent me this one showing the placemats on the table. 

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for great ideas and inspiration.

Julie in GA

Slow Stitching Sunday 10/6/13

There has been a little progress on my Color Palette hexies in the past week, and I hope to get more done on it today. Maybe I can finish making all the side sections while watching the baseball game tonight (GO BRAVES!)

I have also pulled out some black and grey scraps and plan to start making more hexies with them for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I am linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday over at Kathy's Quilts. Here's to taking it slow on Sunday! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 10/6/13

There wasn't much time for quilting this week, yet I managed to finish up two projects. I used 1.5 yards for a gift (which I thought was delivered on Friday, but I haven't heard from the recipients yet) and 1/2 yard for the binding on my Uneven 9-Patch quilt.

Used this week:         2  yards
Used year to date:   70.5 yards

Added this week:           0  yards

Added year to date:   46.5 yards

Net year to date:    24 yards used


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Scrappy Saturday 10/5/13

This month's colors for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge are black and grey. Before I started pulling out my scraps of those colors, I needed to clear away the remaining blue scraps from last month. I still have a good sized stack of strips and squares sitting around. I ended up making some blocks in an attempt to use up at least a few of those scraps.

The blocks at the top of this photo were all made early in September. I had originally thought I might make a small quilt using the block at the upper left, which is a pattern called Peaches & Dreams by Judy Laquidara. I decided to adapt that pattern, which led to the group of blocks at the bottom. Those are what I made today. I like the way they look together, and might make enough additional blocks for a baby quilt.

I still haven't put away the rest of my light blue scraps, but I might start pulling out the black and grey anyway. I am linking up to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--check it out every Saturday to see many great projects and ideas!

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA

Hexie Friday 10/4/13

This has been such a busy week that I haven't had much time for either quilting or blogging. However, one time that I do manage to do a little bit of stitching most days is on my ride to work in the morning (and sometimes coming home in the evening too.)  I have continued working on my color palette challenge hexagons, and I will now link up to Hexie Friday, which is being hosted by Billie Bee's Blog for the next couple of weeks.

Check out the other posts at Hexie Friday to see more great hexie projects.

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 10/1/13

How in the world did it get to be October! It is really feeling like fall, although we haven't seen many leaves that have changed around here yet. It's time for me to get serious about any Christmas gifts I want to make this year.

There weren't any big chunks of time for quilting in the last week, but I did manage to sew for at least a little while every day. After I finished my Scrap Hexies star, I pulled out another hexie project that I had started last year. I also spent some time on a gift (more on that later!) and I finished the binding on a baby quilt.

9/24 - 9/30
Tuesday--Scrappy Sampler, Scrap Hexies
Wednesday--gift
Thursday--gift, Color Palette hexies
Friday--Color Palette hexies
Saturday--Color Palette hexies
Sunday--Color Palette hexies, gift
Monday--Color Palette hexies, Uneven 9-Patch binding


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. 


Julie in GA