November quilting goals & October results

Most of the time, my monthly goal setting really helps keep me on track with my quilting projects, but that was not the case in October. I just couldn't seem to work up much enthusiasm for a couple of these projects, leaving them totally untouched. Maybe November will be better!

OCTOBER GOALS
1. My October goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to finish the binding on another quilt. This time it is my Dancing Stars quilt, which was my 2013 project for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Nothing done.

     
2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in October's color.  Made nine 6" stars and two 12" stars in blacks, greys and browns.

3.  Scrap Hexies--make hexie star & snowflakes. I have been adding background hexies to the stars and snowflakes that were made last year.

4.  Make 10-20 Autumn Leaves blocks to make this UFO bigger. Nothing done.

5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project  Made 67 blocks
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. Done 30 out of 31 days (every day except my birthday!)

NOVEMBER GOALS
1. My November goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to quilt and bind the "Surrounded  by Love" baby quilt. We will be seeing our niece and her husband (the parents-to-be) at Thanksgiving, and I would love to give them the quilt in person. Baby girl is due in January.

     
2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in November's color.  
3.  Scrap Hexies--continue adding background to hexie stars & snowflakes.
4.  Tell It to the Stars--make November's blocks for the pieced border
5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.

There you have it, my quilting plans and goals for November and my results from October. Watch for the next update at the end of November.

Julie in GA

Friday Finish!

My September goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes was to bind my Scrappy Sampler quilt, and it is complete! The binding was attached by machine to the top of the quilt, then finished off by hand on the back while "watching" baseball on TV.

This quilt was a block-of-the-month project at Intown Quilters in Decatur, GA through all of 2013. I joined all the blocks together in January of this year, including 180 bowtie blocks for the outer border. I got it back from having it quilted a couple months ago, and it is so exciting to have it finished and on the bed! Perfect timing as we get ready for the cooler weather of fall.

I am linking up to the finishes party for A Lovely Year of Finishes. It feels great to have reached my goal this month! I am also linking up to Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Julie in GA

September quilting goals & August results

It is looking like September is going to be a busy, quilt-filled month. All the local quilt shops are getting back to full schedules of classes, and it would be a great time to learn something new. There are also two major quilt shows nearby, but unfortunately they are both on the same weekend. AQS Quiltweek in Chattanooga, TN runs Sept. 10 -13. 

The event I am more likely to be able to attend is Quilting Live! at the Cobb Galleria Center in Atlanta, Sept. 11 - 13. Here is some info about that show:

Quilting LIVE! will have quilt exhibits, stage presentations, classes, make-it take-it events and more,  presented by Quilters Newsletter,  McCalls Quilting, Quiltmaker, Quilting Arts, Keepsake Quilting, Modern Patchwork, Quilty, Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting and QNNtv! Be sure to check out the Quilting LIVE! website today to find out more and learn about all the quilting experiences you could have by attending.


AUGUST GOALS

1.  Finish quilting and bind Musical Stars baby quilt. This was also my August goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes.  FINISHED 8/9/14 and presented to the parents to be!

Musical Stars baby quilt
36" square

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in August's color, light/bright green.  Since I had already made green LeMoyne stars in May, I made 12 Crossroads blocks in light/bright greens. They have been joined together, borders added, backing pieced, and this is ready to be quilted.

3.  Scrap Hexies--make hexie star & snowflakes. Already had green blocks from May, so have been adding background hexies to my green star.

4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make August blocks. DONE 8/23/14

5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project  DONE 8/27
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.  DONE 8/31

SEPTEMBER GOALS
1. My September goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to finish the binding on the Scrappy Sampler quilt that I pieced last year. Now that we are getting close to fall, it's time to get this quilt completed!

     

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in orange.
3.  Scrap Hexies--make hexie star & snowflakes.
4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make September blocks.
5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.

There you have it, my quilting plans and goals for September and my results from August. Watch for the next update at the end of September.

Julie in GA

June/July 2014 goals

Here we are at the mid point of the year. I seem to spend lots of time quilting, but don't feel like I have much finished to show for it. So many of my projects are ongoing block of the months, and those take a long time to see progress. The good thing about BOM projects is that I enjoy having a variety of different quilts to switch between depending on what I feel like doing--cutting, machine sewing, hand stitching.

I will continue posting my monthly goals and keep working away on my assortment of projects. By the end of the year or early 2015, I should have a good collection of finishes to show.

 JULY GOALS:
1.  QOV Bowties--I finished making the blocks for this quilt and got them all joined together in June. My goal for July is to get borders on the quilt top, plus make the back, binding, and pillowcase, then turn it in for longarm quilting. This is also my goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes

 

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in July's color, red.
3.  Scrap Hexies--make hexie star & snowflakes.
4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make July blocks.
5.  Make one Mariner's Compass block.
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. 


JUNE GOALS AND RESULTS:
1.  My June goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes was to finish the center block of the Mariner's Compass quilt, plus piece one more block. Well, that center block is nearly done, but I didn't start any other blocks. I did buy a few more fabrics to use in this quilt.

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in June's color, yellow.
     Made 8 small stars (6") and two large stars (12")

3.  Scrap Hexies--make hexie star & snowflakes in yellow  Done! (Completed after this photo was taken)

4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make June blocks.  Done!

5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. 

That covers my quilting plans and goals for July and my results from June. Watch for the next update at the end of July.

Julie in GA

May/June 2014 goals

I don't know what it is about this time of year that makes it harder for me to get much quilting done. I think it is the fact that my days are much less structured. Every year around this time I have a long stretch (10 - 12 weeks) when I am not working at my regular job--similar to a teacher's schedule, but our break is usually mid April until sometime in July. I always have lots of big ideas of quilt projects to get done during that time, but it rarely happens. Right now I am attempting to get my sewing room cleaned up and better organized, in the hope that I can then be more efficient when I do get in there to quilt.

Here is my list of goals from last month with an update on how I did on them, plus a new list for June.

MAY GOALS:
1. My May goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes was to finalize the design for a Mariner's Compass quilt, choose the background fabric, and make at least one block. I did buy the background, but have only a small portion of the first block assembled. The parts here remind me of Bird of Paradise flowers.

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in green DONE 5/10 (plus finished the last 2 purple stars from April)

3.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflake (and finish April's star)
5/25 Finished 2 stars and 1 snowflake

4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make May blocks.  DONE 5/19

5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.  28 days out of 31


JUNE GOALS:
1.  Mariner's Compass--finish the center block and piece at least one more block.  I am planning to approach this quilt as my own personal block of the month project.  This is also my June goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes.

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in June's color, yellow.
3.  Scrap Hexies--make hexie star & snowflake in yellow
4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make June blocks.
5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. 

That covers my quilting plans and goals for June and my results from May. Watch for the next update at the end of June.

Julie in GA

Quilting Goals--April/May

April was not my most successful month for meeting my quilting goals. There were just too many other things going on that took time away from my sewing room.  Hopefully May will be better.

APRIL GOALS
1.  Finish quilting and bind Chinese Coins quilt.  This was also my April project for A Lovely Year of Finishes.  NOT DONE

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in purple. 6 BLOCKS DONE (the block at the bottom has been taken apart)

3.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflakes.  SNOWFLAKE DONE, STAR PARTLY TOGETHER

4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make April blocks.  DONE 4/3/14

5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.   AT LEAST 15 MINUTES 25 DAYS OUT OF 30

MAY GOALS:
1.  I have been playing with ideas/designs for a Mariner's Compass quilt. My May goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to finalize my design, choose the background fabric, and make at least one block. Here is the design plan so far. I'm thinking the border design is too overwhelming and needs to be scaled down a bit.

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in May's color (green?)
3.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflake (and finish April's star)
4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make May blocks.
5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. 

That covers my quilting plans and goals for May and my results from April. Watch for the next update at the end of May.

Julie in GA

April Quilting Goals and March Results

March was a good month for meeting my quilting goals. The biggest one was finishing the top for my Red, White & Blue Sampler. That was also my goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes.

Red, White & Blue Sampler:  TOP DONE 3/23/14
For more info about this quilt, click here.

60" x 72"

Here are the rest of my March goals:

Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in teal/aqua/turquoise. DONE 3/8/14  I made eight 6" blocks and one 12" block

3.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflakes.  Done 3/29

4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make March blocks.  Done 3/31 (better late than never!)

5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. Computer time looking at quilt blogs doesn't count (that adds up to way more than 15 minutes some days!)  Done 3/31--worked on two projects many days, sometimes even three!

Not on the list, but got done in March--finished assembling Dancing Stars top and pieced back.

APRIL GOALS
1.  Finish quilting and bind Chinese Coins quilt.  This is also my April project for A Lovely Year of Finishes.

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in purple.
3.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflakes.
4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make April blocks.
5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. 

That covers my quilting plans and goals for April and my results from March. Watch for the next update at the beginning of May.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 3/24/14--A Finished Top!

I am so excited to have a finished quilt top to show today. This quilt began way back in 2001 after I got the book LeMoyne Stars Made Easy by Sharyn Squier Craig. I had planned to make a red, white & blue sampler using all the different star variations from the book. Like so many projects, I made a few blocks, then set them aside for something new and more exciting.

In 2012 I joined a scrap quilts group at a local quilt shop. We were playing with different techniques and patterns for using scraps. At the beginning of the year I decided to stick with a consistent RW&B color palette, with the hope that I could turn my blocks into a quilt at the end of the year. It has taken over a year since that group quit meeting, but I finally got this top put together yesterday.

RWB Sampler
Finished Size 60 x 72"

My favorite part of this quilt is the pineapple blocks. They really keep your eyes moving around the whole quilt.

This quilt ended up at the perfect size to be a Quilt of Valor, but I don't think I can give it up! We have the perfect spot to hang it for July 4th, and I hope to have it quilted and bound by then.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for tons of amazing ideas and inspiration. I am also linking up to Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and to Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. This quilt was my March project for A Lovely Year of Finishes, and I will link up to their end-of-the-month party.

Julie in GA

Quilting Goals for March

I am going to continue to post monthly quilting goals, at least for now. I find it very helpful to keep me focused on these goals rather than bouncing around between too many projects. That doesn't mean I won't ever get the impulse to try out a new pattern, but this public proclamation of my goals definitely helps me stay on track!

March 2014 goals:
1.  Red, White & Blue Sampler--finish making blocks and join together. This is also my March goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes.

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in next month's color.
3.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflakes.
4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make March blocks.
5.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc. Computer time looking at quilt blogs doesn't count (that adds up to way more than 15 minutes some days!)


February 2014 goals:
February was a successful month for my quilting goals. I ended up 4 for 4, including one completely finished quilt.

1.  Bowtie Baby Quilt--finish quilt (finish making blocks, assemble quilt top, and get it quilted/bound) DONE 2/22

2.  Scrap Hexies--make RSC hexie star & snowflake in pink   DONE 2/21

3.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in pink DONE 2/23

4.  Tell It to the Stars (Judy L. mystery)--make February blocks  DONE 2/25

That covers my quilting plans and goals for March and my results from February. I hope to reach the goals that I have set for the next month. Watch for the next update at the beginning of April.

Julie in GA