April One Monthly Goal

Finishing my Fiesta Log Cabin quilt top was my One Monthly Goal for the month of April. It is also one of my projects for the 2017 UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times. I am very happy to say that my goal has been reached!

I started the Fiesta Log Cabin quilt in 1998, piecing 36 Log Cabin blocks, joining them together, and adding borders. Unfortunately, I was never happy with the finished look of this quilt top. It was an awkward size (55" square) and I didn't like how the borders turned out.

Fiesta Log Cabin, 1998 version

I decided to remove the borders, stitch more blocks to make the quilt rectangular, and maybe change the border design. Here is my first attempt with an extra row of blocks added to the top and bottom, plus a new possibility for the borders. At this point, the center of the quilt measured about 42" x 56", and adding borders would take it up to 54-56" x 68-70".

I still wasn't wild about the borders, so I decided to eliminate them entirely and add another row of blocks all the way around the quilt, taking the pieced area up to 56" x 70". That meant making 32 more blocks to add to the 48 that were already done. 

Fiesta Log Cabin, 56" x 70"

I considered going with an asymmetrical setting, but decided to stick with the centered Barn Raising set. The blocks have all been joined together into a quilt top, and that was my goal for April. I'm happy with the way this top turned out, and look forward to getting it quilted sometime soon. I think I have enough of the lighter print for a back. Speaking of the fabric, here is a closer shot featuring both prints.

I am linking up with the One Monthly Goal--April Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts and with the 2017 UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Multicolor Progress

My multicolor/watercolor quilt blocks have reached the point where it is impossible for me to get a photo of all of them together on the design wall. Taking photos of my design wall involves standing in the bathroom and shooting through the doorway and across the hall. Not ideal, but it's better than nothing.

This week's additions are the twelve dark blocks that run down the right side and across the bottom in the photo. I need to make twelve more of those blocks, then figure out how to make the setting triangles. There is an end in sight!

The next quilt isn't scrappy, but it sure is multi-colored. It's log cabin blocks made with just two fabrics in a barn raising setting. I started this quilt in 1998, took some of it apart this month, and finally finished the top a couple days ago. You can read more about it in THIS POST.

Fiesta Log Cabin
80 blocks, 56" x 70"

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday Sunday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful scrappy projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 4/16/17

This was a good week for stash usage with more than four yards being used and none added. My usage included 3/8 yard for the binding on a kid's quilt, 2.75 yards for the watercolor blocks I showed in yesterday's Rainbow Scrap Challenge post, and 1 yard for more Fiesta Log Cabin blocks.

Here's a sneak peek at the finished kid's quilt. You can read more about this quilt in my Hands2Help post.

Stack & Whack Spinners for Hands2Help 2017
43" x 51"

And here are the log cabin blocks. It's been quite awhile since I made any log cabins, and I had forgotten how much I enjoy them. I also love the way the piecing seams disappear with the two wild prints used in these blocks. I still have 16 more blocks to make, then they will all get stitched to the quilt top I showed in last week's stash report post.

Fiesta Log Cabin
16 blocks, each block 7" finished

2017 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:           4.125 yards

Used year to date:      36.625 yards

Added last week:           0.00 yards
Added year to date:       2.00 yards

Net used year to date:  34.625 yards

I am continuing to join Kate at Life in Pieces in tracking how many days each week I manage to get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I have been able to find time to stitch every single day over the past week, keeping up my nearly perfect record.

15 Minute Challenge:  
4/9 - 4/15                 7 of 7 days

2017 Total          104 of 105 days

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 4/9/17

One of my April projects for Judy L's UFO Challenge is my Fiesta Log Cabin quilt. This quilt top dates back to 1998, but I never liked the square shape or the borders on it. I removed all of the borders last week and made 12 more log cabin blocks, which have been added to the rest. Here are the before and after photos.

Fiesta Log Cabin before

Fiesta Log Cabin after
12 blocks added

The next step on this quilt will be to decide on the borders. It currently measures 42" x 56". Making the new blocks used .75 yard. I also used another 1/4 yard on my EPP hexagon blocks. No new fabric added to the stash.

2017 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:             1.00 yards

Used year to date:         32.5 yards

Added last week:           0.00 yards
Added year to date:       2.00 yards

Net used year to date:  30.5 yards

I am continuing to join Kate at Life in Pieces in tracking how many days each week I manage to get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I have been able to find time to stitch every single day over the past week, keeping up my nearly perfect record.

15 Minute Challenge:  
4/2 - 4/8                 7 of 7 days

2017 Total             97 of 98 days

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

April 2017 Goals and March Report

March was a busy month with lots going on, but I managed to make good progress on several of my quilting projects. I met my One Monthly Goal, and although I didn't complete my two tasks for Judy's UFO Challenge, I did move both of those quilts closer to completion. Here's my list from March.

1. One Monthly Goal--Finish up the third Star Cluster baby quilt.  DONE

2. Add borders plus piece a back for Maple Stars top.  BORDERS DONE, no backing

3. Quilt and bind Stack & Whack Spinners quilt top. Most of the quilting is DONE

4.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make a set of red Scrappy Trips blocks. DONE

Also figure out another pattern to make using the pile of 3" red strips  MORE SCRAPPY TRIPS

5.  Meadow Mystery--join all blocks together into finished quilt top.  DONE

APRIL GOALS:

1. One Monthly Goal and UFO Challenge #1--Fiesta Log Cabin remove borders and make more blocks to make this quilt rectangular

2.  UFO Challenge--quilt and bind one of my Christmas panels.

3.  Wonky Log Cabins--join blocks, add borders, quilt and bind.

4.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--Make 4 Scrappy Trips blocks with multicolor fabrics.

5.  Finish the quilting and binding on the Stack & Whack Spinners quilt shown above as #3 for March.

That's the plan for the month ahead. I will report back at the beginning of May with a progress report and a new set of goals for the next month. I am joining the One Monthly Goal link-up for April at Elm Street Quilts and Judy's 2017 UFO Challenge at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA