The End of the 15 Minute Challenge 12/31/13

A couple weeks ago, Kate wrote about "quilter's guilt." I can relate to all the areas she mentioned--feeling guilty about the money I spend on fabric and supplies, the time I spend quilting instead of with family, time spent quilting rather than doing housework, the number of UFOs I have. However, my quilting brings me such joy and satisfaction that I can't imagine not doing it. Fortunately, my husband is very understanding and encourages me to spend time quilting.

Finding time to quilt over the holidays has been difficult, but I have made an effort to squeeze in at least a little time every day. I made sure to pre-cut lots of hexies before I flew to Wisconsin to spend Christmas Eve with family. 

12/17 - 12/23
Tuesday--Color Palette Hexies, PJ pants (gift)
Wednesday--Color Palette Hexies, PJ pants (gift)
Thursday--Color Palette Hexies, PJ pants (gift)
Friday--Scrap Hexies, PJ pants (gift)
Saturday--Scrap Hexies
Sunday--Color Palette Hexies                                 
Monday--Color Palette Hexies 

12/24 - 12/31
Tuesday--Scrap Hexies
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars
Thursday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars
Friday--Scrap Hexies
Saturday--Rainbow LeMoyne
Sunday--Rainbow LeMoyne
Monday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler
Tuesday--Scrappy Sampler, Scrap Hexies


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. Kate is not going to continue the 15 Minute Challenge link-ups next year, but she has inspired me to make time for quilting every day. 


Julie in GA

2013 Quilting in Review and 2014 goals

I have been going through posts from the past year, reviewing my quilting output. My goals for 2013 were to finish more projects than I started, and also to finish at least 4 UFOs. I was successful on the UFOs, and came very close on the starts vs. finishes goal. 

I started 14 new projects this year. Of those, 9 were finished and one became a quilt top. Most that got finished were smallish projects--5 sets of placemats, 2 paper-piecing pattern samples, and 2 baby/children's quilts. The unfinished new projects are mostly throw-sized or larger quilts.

I also finished 4 UFOs and joined one old set of blocks into a top. All of these UFOs were started between late 1990s and 2003. Most were quilt tops that needed quilting and binding.


2013 FINISHES

12/15/13--4 sets of placemats as Christmas gifts (new project)

Beige/light green border stripe for cousin

Southwest border stripe for niece

Blue border stripe for SIL

Mermaids for cousin's wife

9/30/13 Uneven 9-Patch (started 2000?)

10/19  Honey, Honey pattern sample (new project)

9/7/13  Dazzle pattern sample (new project)

9/29/13 Placemats for anniversary gift (new project)

7/20/13 Turning Leaves (top made 2003)

5/30/13 Flag quilt (started 2002)

5/26/13 Zigzag quilt for Hands2Help Challenge (new project)

5/6/13 Woven baby quilt with Karen (new project)

2/23/13  Hidden Ninepatch (top made 2002)

2013 QUILT TOPS

6/29 Blue & yellow Nine-Patch (new project)

6/4 Stack & Whack Aliens (blocks made late 1990s?)

2013 WIPs (New projects)
8/6   Scrap Hexies for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge

6/29  Dresden Stars class w/ Edyta Sitar

1/12   Scrappy Sampler BOM

1/10   Dancing Stars/Rainbow Scrap Challenge

My quilting goals for 2014:
1. Make at least 4 QOV/donation projects
2. Finish at least 3 UFOs/WIPs
3. Finish more projects than I begin  
4. Stashbusting--use 100 yards, use more than I buy

Happy New Year to all and Happy Quilting!


Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 12/30/13

My main design wall is totally covered with the blocks for my Dancing Stars quilt. I have started joining them into sections. You can see that the lower right area is all together. I have joined partial rows  on the lower left side and will do one of the upper areas next. My plan is to quilt the four sections separately, then join them all together. I had hoped to have this quilt top together before the end of 2013, but quilting before I finish joining all the parts will slow me down.

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 12/29/13

I had two goals for 2013 regarding my quilt fabric stash--use at least 100 yards by the end of the year, and to use up more fabric than is added to the stash. I was able to meet the first goal (just barely!) and came very close to meeting the second goal. I consider that a successful year! I hope to achieve the same goals in 2014.

Thanks so much to Judy for hosting Stash Report Sunday. Keeping track of my fabric purchases and usage has really made me more restrained when I am tempted by the on-line fabric sales.


Used this week:             1  yard
Used year to date:     101 yards

Added this week:           0 yards  

Added year to date:    104.25 yards

Net year to date:         3.25 yards stashed



Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2013 + Ideas for 2014

It's time to be figuring out my plans for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2014. I have had such a great time participating in the challenge through 2013 and look forward to another year of scrappiness. Angela is the leader of the challenge, and she has even set up a Pinterest page with plenty of rainbow quilt inspiration.

My main RSC project for 2013 has been making Dancing Stars blocks. I had hoped to get them all joined together before the end of the year, but it doesn't seem like that will happen. I've got my blocks up on the wall and have started joining them together, but decided to hold off until I have a better plan for quilting them. I might try quilting in sections, then join the sections together. I need to do some samples before I continue putting blocks together.

My other RSC project from 2013 was my Hexie Stars and Snowflakes. This project was started in August to give me some hand stitching to do on my morning train commutes. I have completed 4 months and will continue making these in 2014.

I have been looking at lots of ideas for next year's project, but am having a hard time making up my mind. One possibility is to make more of these stars, which have been sitting around for more years than I care to remember. They were made after I got the book LeMoyne Stars Made Easy by Sharyn Squier Craig. They look like the perfect rainbow project!

Another option is to combine the Rainbow Scrap Challenge with a new Scrappy Challenge by Judy Laquidara at Patchwork Times. Judy is going to assign a block each month with the idea that participants make whatever number of blocks they wish in that month. More details are available here. 

Check out the Rainbow Scrap Challenge posts every Saturday to see how others are using up their scraps. So many beautiful projects! 


Julie in GA

Merry Christmas 2013!

Design Wall Monday 12/23/13

Instead of a design wall, I have a design bed. Too busy for machine piecing this week, but I have been able to do some hand stitching on an old hexie project.

I have the center done plus five of the six outer sections. Just a few more hexies to be attached, then the sections can get joined together.

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

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 12/22/13

I finished sewing my last Christmas gift a few days ago, and it felt great to have them all done. We exchanged gifts with my husband's family last night, and the four sets of placemats were all very popular. Unfortunately, no photos of the recipients with their gifts.

This week I added 3 yards for the last Christmas gift, which promptly went right back out again. I also used .5 yards for my brown hexie stars and snowflakes. That brings my total usage up to an even 100 yards, reaching my goal for the year! My other usage goal was to use more than added for the year, and right now I am behind by 4.25 yards. Only one more week to end up in the black!


Used this week:           3.5  yards
Used year to date:     100 yards

Added this week:           3 yards  

Added year to date:    104.25 yards

Net year to date:         4.25 yards stashed



Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 12/17/13

This time of year, it is hard to find time for my monthly quilt projects because I am busy making quilted Christmas gifts. I finished the last set of placemats on Sunday, hurray!! I sure hope everyone like them. (This is the same photo I showed yesterday--sorry for the repeat.)

I have one more project to make before Christmas, and unfortunately it hasn't been started yet! I had a late flash of inspiration, which led to ordering some special fabric. I thought it would arrive yesterday, but no such luck. It's going to be a push to get that gift finished in time.

12/10 - 12/16
Tuesday--Scrap Hexies, Placemats (2 more sets finished!)
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies
Thursday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars
Friday--Scrap Hexies
Saturday--Christmas gifts, Placemats, Scrap Hexies
Sunday--Placemats
Monday--Scrap Hexies, Color Palette 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

Hexie Snowflake

I finally finished the last brown hexie snowflake today. Brown was the assigned color for November in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. It's a good thing we weren't assigned a color for December--there's just too much going on to make much progress on any of my projects.

Not a great picture, but not too bad considering it was taken with my phone.

Now I need to figure out a different hexie project to have ready to go. Either I choose my own color and carry it over to next year's challenge, or I could pull out this project that has been hanging around for awhile.

I am linking up to the "In Hand EPP Party" at splish splash stash. You can check out some great English paper pieced projects there. I will also link up to Help for Hexie-aholics at Sarah Did It! 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 12/16/13

The last two sets of placemats are finished! That makes a total of four sets made as Christmas gifts. I also finished one other gift for someone who may read my blog, so I won't show that yet. Only one more gift left to sew (and I am still waiting for the fabric for that one to arrive.)

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for great ideas and inspiration. I am also linking up to A Stitch in Time for the 2013 Finishes Linky Party.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 12/15/13

My goals regarding my stash for the year were to use at least 100 yards, and to use more than I added to my stash. I am very close to reaching the first goal, and am still hopeful that I will achieve it. However, for the very first time all year, my yardage used has fallen behind yardage added. Those oh-so-tempting Cyber Monday sales worked their magic on me, and I added 15 yards this week.

I got lots of neutrals, increasing my supply of background fabrics. Also got several red, white & blue pieces. Time to whip out a Quilt of Valor or two.

The fabric used was all for Christmas gifts. It feels great to get those finished! Only one more gift still to get done.

Used this week:           8.25  yards
Used year to date:     96.5 yards

Added this week:         15.0 yards  

Added year to date:    101.25 yards

Net year to date:         4.75 yards stashed



Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 12/10/13

It was a week ago today that I realized I needed to put a hold on my attempt to join Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice mystery. I had a great time working on last year's mystery, Easy Street, but I have too many other things going on right now to devote any time to a new project. Maybe I will come back to that in January.

Sometime in the next few days I should finish up my last Scrap Hexie snowflake from November. Then I will need to figure out another handwork project to keep me entertained on the train each morning.

12/3 - 12/9
Tuesday--Scrap Hexies, Southwest Solstice
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies, Placemats
Thursday--Scrap Hexies, Placemats 
Friday--Scrap Hexies, Placemats 
Saturday--Scrap Hexies
Sunday--Scrap Hexies, Placemats
Monday--Scrap Hexies, Placemats 


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 12/9/13

Another set of placemats were nearly finished over the weekend. The one with the darker border at top left is completely done; the other three just need a little quilting. These are a Christmas gift for a family member who is crazy for mermaids, so she will go nuts for these!

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 12/8/13

I seem to be on a fabric-buying binge lately. It has been harder than usual to resist the on-line sales, and there should be a package from Connecting Threads arriving next week. I think that was my reward for enduring a colonoscopy prep last weekend. Such an unpleasant experience!

Today I stopped at Joann Fabrics to return an ironing board cover that I had picked up a few weeks ago, and ended up buying still more fabric. I got 3 yards of Kona white, probably to be used for next year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. The two very bright prints are planned to become part of a baby quilt for a co-worker. I love the color palette of the top fabric and couldn't resist buying a little of that too.

On the used side, I finished another set of placemats, made from this beautiful Laurel Burch mermaid stripe and coordinates. You can see the finished placemats tomorrow. 2.75 yards total used. 

Used this week:           2.75  yards
Used year to date:     88.25 yards

Added this week:         6.75  yards  

Added year to date:    86.25 yards

Net year to date:         2 yards used

My numbers are still teetering on the side of more fabric used than added. That will change when my order arrives next week--time to get sewing and maintain the balance.


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Scrappy Hexies 12/7/13

I have finally finished up my hexie star in brown, the color for November at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Just one more little brown snowflake, then I will be all caught up on the hexies. It's a good thing Angela didn't assign a color for December. I will be able to finish off these hexies, and I hope to get my Dancing Stars blocks joined together by the end of the month.

I am linking up to Angela's blog for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and to Hexie Friday at A Quilting Reader's Garden 
Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 12/3/13

While I didn't get as much quilting done over the long weekend as hoped, I still managed to sew for at least 15 minutes every day. I also finished one Christmas present (a set of placemats) and joined the blocks of my Scrappy Sampler BOM. That quilt has been such fun to work on, and I can't wait to get it done!

11/26 - 12/3
Tuesday--Scrap Hexies, Border-stripe placemats
Wednesday--Placemats, new design wall
Thursday--Placemats
Friday--Placemats, Scrap Hexies
Saturday--Placemats, Scrappy Sampler
Sunday--Placemats, Scrappy Sampler, Scrap Hexies
Monday--Scrap Hexies, Southwest Solstice


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 12/2/13

As frequently happens, I had very ambitious plans for quilting over Thanksgiving weekend but didn't get nearly as much done as I had hoped. Is it just me, or does that happen to you too?

I did manage to finish the first set of placemats for Christmas. These are made using a Jinny Beyer pattern which is available free on her website here. Two more sets like these still to finish, plus one set that is not a border stripe.

I also finished joining the 10" blocks together for my Scrappy Sampler quilt. They are now all attached to the center of the quilt. All that is left to do is the inner border, then two rows of bowties as the outer border. The end is in sight!

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

Julie in GA

Getting It Done--November/December 2013

It is time to post my last set of goals for the Get It Done Challenge that Judy has been hosting. Even if she decides not to continue the challenge next year, I may keep posting my own quilting goals for each month. Posting these lists has made a big difference in keeping me focused on my current projects, rather than starting a million new ones and never completing any.

November goals:
1.  Dancing Stars--make a set of blocks in this month's color (brown) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  12 blocks made

2.  Scrappy Sampler BOM--make this month's set of blocks. Blocks made for both November & December! 

3.  Scrap Hexies--continue my hexie hand stitching project. One brown hexie snowflake done, hexie star and 2nd snowflake in progress

4.  Finish at least one Christmas gift. One set of placemats finished, plus the tops for 2 more sets made.

5.  Finish Easy Street top. Didn't even pull it out!


December goals:
1.  Dancing Stars--join blocks into quilt top.

2.  Scrappy Sampler BOM--join all the 10" blocks to the center of the quilt; continue making bowties for the borders. 

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

4.  Finish 3 sets of placemats for Christmas gifts.

5?  Maybe start Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice mystery--I still haven't decided if I am going to do this one or not.

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

Stash Report Sunday 12/1/13

December already?!! How in the world did that happen? The race to get ready for Christmas is now in full gear. Stand back, it could be a bumpy ride!

Last week I decided to try adding a second design wall space in my sewing room. My current design wall is very large, but it is in a hallway, and I have to stand in the bathroom to see it or take photos. There is another wall in the sewing room where I usually have a quilt on display, but I am going to give it a try as a design wall. I had hoped to get either grey or taupe solid flannel to put up there, but couldn't find either of those. I ended up with this taupe with white dots--maybe I can use the dots like grid lines to keep my pieces straight. I bought 6 yards, and used all but .5 yard for the new design wall.

The other fabric used for the week was for my first finished Christmas gift for the year. I am making placemats for several family members, and finished the first set yesterday. That used up 2.25 yards. I better get back to work on the other placemats and get those gifts done!

Used this week:          7.75  yards
Used year to date:     85.5 yards

Added this week:          6.0  yards  

Added year to date:    79.5 yards

Net year to date:         6 yards used


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Scrappy Saturday 11/30/13

I have been making Dancing Stars blocks all year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I just checked Angela's blog post for this week and discovered that there will not be a new color assigned for December. It is our chance to catch up on any colors that fell behind or to start putting our blocks together. That is just the news I was hoping for--I don't think I could wait much longer to join these blocks into a quilt! Here are all the colors together, sparkling against the black background.

At last count, I had a total of 135 star blocks made for this quilt, averaging about a dozen of each color. The pattern calls for 98 blocks to make a throw quilt, which finishes at 60" x 68". I might opt to add an extra row of blocks in each direction to make it into a larger quilt, or else the extra blocks could become a kid's quilt or wallhanging. For anyone interested, the Dancing Stars pattern is a free download from Amy's Creative Side.

My carryover project will be to finish up my brown hexie star and snowflakes. One snowflake is finished, and all the hexies for the star have been sewn into rows that need to be joined together.

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

Julie in GA

Hexie Friday 11/29/13

I thought I would get lots of hand stitching done on my hexie project this weekend, but it hasn't happened so far. My hexie star still looks the same as it did a couple days ago. There is still lots of weekend left, and I have no interest in joining the craziness of Black Friday shopping, so maybe I will make some progress today. Linking up to Hexie Friday at A Quilting Reader's Garden.

Julie in GA

WIP Wednesday--Bonus Day Off! 11/27/13

Today was originally scheduled to be a work day, but my wonderful boss announced yesterday afternoon that she was giving us an extra day off for the Thanksgiving weekend. What a wonderful treat!

We were surprised to discover a sprinkling of snow on the back deck and around the yard when we got up this morning. I realize it is nothing compared to many areas of the country. Such things aren't unusual where I grew up in Wisconsin, but snow is big news in the Atlanta area, especially before Thanksgiving. I hope the thousands of travelers at the nearby Atlanta airport all make it to their Thanksgiving destinations safely.

I hope to have plenty of quilting time throughout the weekend. I have been sewing together my brown hexies into a star for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. So far I have two rows made and several to go, then the rows get joined together.

I am linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. There is so much to see there! Last time I checked, there were over 100 blogs linked up.

Happy Thanksgiving to friends and family everywhere!

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 11/26/13

I have continued to juggle multiple projects most days. There were a few days where I stitched hexies on the morning train, cut pieces for border-stripe placemats during lunch, then pieced blocks for the Scrappy Sampler quilt in the evening. Altogether, another 7 for 7 week. I hope to have lots of extra time for quilting over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

11/19 - 11/25
Tuesday--Scrappy Sampler, Scrap Hexies, placemats
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler, placemats
Thursday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler, placemats
Friday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler
Saturday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler
Sunday--Scrappy Sampler
Monday--placemats


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 11/25/13

Over the weekend I finished making the last of the 10" blocks for my Scrappy Sampler quilt, and then I started joining those blocks together. I got three sides done; one more to go, then they can get sewn to the center of the quilt. By the end of Thanksgiving weekend, I hope to have a finished quilt top, and I can hardly wait!

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

Julie in GA