Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2014 BOM Quilt Doodle Designs -- January

 
Although I planned to do a NYE Mystery QA (either Heather Spence or Yahoo Groups), I totally made up my mind which one I would do when Cindy released the January assignment for the BOM 2014 Quilt Doodle Designs QA.  I just fell in love with those snowmen!  I'm not sure how to take a good picture of this, but here's mine:
 
 
Come on!  Join in on the fun!!!  With a start like this it's gonna be adorable!
 
 

Monday, December 30, 2013

Celtic Solstice Clue 5 -- Split Triangle Units

I'm linking up today with Clue 5 of Celtic Solstice (2013 Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt).  I made great progress this weekend on the split triangle units.  The little pile of HST near the sewing machine is all I have to complete for this clue and I can go back to working on those chevrons...


I LOVE the way my colors are playing together in these little blocks.  (I keep my scraps sorted in bags by color and do not use Bonnie's scrap saver's method.)  This allows more options for different shapes.  I keep strings (anything .75" or wider) and I keep small scraps (anything bigger than 2" square.)  When I get out my GO! dies I also get out my iron and go to town cutting what I need.



Split Triangle Unit!


Sunday, December 29, 2013

Oh, Fransson! -- The Cat Quilt Along

Image of THE CAT QUILT pdf quilt pattern

I copied these instructions from Oh Franson! blog.  I think this cat quilt is a very cute use of scraps to use in my 2014 Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

To make the 30" x 35" quilt, you will need:
   

Solid Fabric for Cat Faces25 charm squares 5” x 5” each, or assorted solid fabric scraps, or 1/2 yard of a single solid fabric
Print Fabric for Cat Faces
Assorted scraps 1½” wide and larger to coordinate with the solid fabrics.
Background Solid Fabric1 yard of a neutral solid quilting cotton, chambray, or linen blend, at least 42” wide. I used Essex yarn-dyed cotton/linen in Indigo.
Low-Loft Batting
33” x 38” (A piece this size can be cut from 1 yard of batting from a roll or a Craft Size package of Warm and White or Warm and Natural.)
Quilt Back
1 yard piece of fabric cut to 36” x 41” or a pieced back measuring 36” x 41”
Binding Fabric
3/8 yard, cut into 4 strips 2½” x width of fabric for straight-grain double-fold binding 


Cutting Instructions for Background Solid Fabric
Cut 4 strips 3½” x width of fabric and subcut into:
  • 2 vertical border strips 3½” x 29½” each
  • 2 horizontal border strips 3½” x 30½” each 
Cut 2 strips 4½” x width of fabric and subcut into:
  • 25 ear unit pieces 2” x 4½” each
Cut 6 strips 1½” x width of fabric and subcut into:
  • 4 horizontal sashing pieces 1½” x 24½” each
  • 20 vertical sashing pieces 1½” x 5½” each
From the remaining fabric, cut:
  • 50 chin pieces 1½” x 1½” each

Saturday, December 28, 2013

2014 Quilt Doodle Designs BOM

 

The 2014 BOM at Quilt Doodle Designs will start soon.  I just loved the way the 2013 BOM quilt looked.  It was a fun mystery.  This year Cindy will have us working with 2.5" squares and some strips.  Whohoo!  Right up my Accuquilt alley!  Of course I'm in.  Grab a button and join the fun.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Last Link-A-Finish Friday for 2013

Here's my last Link-A-Finish Friday for 2013.

When I first brought this quilt home from our LQG I didn't think it would be very special.  Now that it is done, it's going to make a nice charity quilt for someone.  It's very soft and fluffy.  I love the way my longarm quilting turned out on it.

It measures about 70" x 85" or so.  I did something new with this binding.  I made my binding with 2" strips and folded them in half after sewing them together in one long piece.  This time I sewed the binding to the back of the quilt first.  When I turned the binding I turned the whole thing and machine sewed it down.  You can't see the binding from the back of the quilt.  Worked out great for a binding that I felt was good for the front but really didn't match the back.  I will use this method again.  The thick binding makes a little frame around the quilt and because it is kinda chunky, it adds to the puffy, soft look.  I do not know who made this quilt top and donated it to our LQG, but I know somebody will be happy with this quilt.


Here's the back.  I really like the way the quilting showed up on the back!  Click on the pic and you can see more detail.  I also really like the red thread.



I'm happy to link up with Richard and Tanya Quilts for the Link-A-Finish FRIDAY.
 
I'm also linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts:

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Old Quilt on the Frame -- LQG Charity Quilt

I picked up a few quilts from our LQG to longarm last week.  When I picked up this one I didn't realize that it was hand pieced.  That means easy on the tension.  I don't want to pop those seams.  I set up my "Tickle" pantograph.  One of my goals for 2014 is to learn how to follow a pantograph.  I can see I'll need a lot of practice.  Luckily this one is very forgiving. 

 
Will today be the day I work on those Chevrons for Celtic Solstice?  Tomorrow is clue 5 day.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

WIP Wednesday -- Merry Christmas too!

Merry Christmas everybody!!!

I got a lot done this week!  Whohoo!

I made a simple quilt back for this LQG charity quilt.



I also got a simple quilt back made for LQG hand-piece Irish chain quilt (sorry, no photo)

I finished my Scrappy Christmas QA quilt from last year.  I quilted it with red thread in Circle Lord swirls.  It reminds me of peppermint candies on this quilt.



I'm soooo happy with the back of this quilt!



My Frosty & Friends snowman quilt found a happy home at my son's kindergarten teacher's house.



For the FNSI project I made a quilt back for my Quilt Doodle Designs 2013 BOM quilt.



Here's my pieced back:



I finished my December Block Lotto "Stripes" blocks.

 
We are also having a special drawing for orphan blocks of past Block Lotto drawings.  Either we had blocks left over or blocks that weren't just perfect, we can enter them in this special drawing.  Here's my six blocks that I am throwing into the hat.
 
 
I finished Clue 4 for Celtic Solstice.  (I'm still not done with those chevrons...)



New Projects 

Giant Sunburst QA quilt (Started & finished a quilt top this week).  Look... no snow for this day.  It got up to the mid 50's for a couple of days.  The ground is back to being snow covered again for Christmas.



I'll also be joining the Mosaic Tiles QA as soon as I get the eBook from the library.


Pieces Still Need to be Cut & Sewn
1.  Herringbone OSU quilt
2.  Digging up Bones (Owen's dinosaur quilt) -- Received blocks this week 12.2.13
3.  Downton Abbey Mystery QA
4.  Rock Island Campfire Quilt
5.  Picadilly Circle
6. ...And Sew On BOM at Quiet Play (one block to go)
7.  MSBHQAL (Molli Sparkles Broken Herringbone Quilt Along)
8.  Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Celtic Solstice Mystery (Clues 1, 3 & 4 done; working on 2).

Blocks Still Need to be Made
1.  NY Beauty
2.  Orca Bay
3.  We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler
4.  Red/White Flower Basket Quilt (From 2011, I actually worked on this one this week!)
5.  Maroon Star Sampler Quilt
6.  Color coordinated hexagon quilt
7.  Gourmet Quilter Sampler
8.  Bluepatch Mystery Quilt
9.  Amanda Murphy Designs (ugly fabric quilt)
10.  Drunkard's Path Variation baby quilt
11.  Finding Nemo Scrappy Trip quilt

Blocks are made but need to be sewn together (and/or some sashing)
1.  Block Swap Adventure Sampler (2011-2012)
2.  Butterfly Blocks (that I won)
3.  Orange/Blue Fish Blocks (that I won)
4.  Split Stars (blocks won from Block Lotto; October, 2012)
5.  African Violet baby quilt (Block Lotto inspired)
6.  Tall Fly (blocks won from Block Lotto; January 2013)

Quilts back needs to be made (tops are done)
1.  Grandma's WIP -- Cameo Rose (this one is a long-term project)
2.  Grandma's WIP #2 (This is also a long-term project)
3.  Giant Starburst QA
4.  Happy Quilting Star Surround QA
5.  LQG 2" scrappy squares

Ready to longarm
1.  Dutchman's Puzzle
2.  2nd Split Decision baby quilt
3.  Spring Mystery 2013 (still need to rip out those early longarming eyelashes)
4.  LQG Ship charity quilt
5.  Quilt Doodle Designs 2013 BOM Quilt
6.  LQG pastel squares charity quilt
7.  LQG hand-pieced Irish Chain charity quilt (on the frame)

Quilted, needs binding
 1.  LQG Just 6" Squares (binding made...)

Completed this week:
1. Scrappy Christmas QA Quilt (started in 2012).
  This keeps my WIP count from 35 to 38 (oops... this count is supposed to go down in 2014!)

  Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Giant Sarburst QA Quilt Top Complete

So I decided that I needed to start and finish one more quick quilt top before Christmas this week...  I've been thinking about the Giant Sunburst QA at Canoe Ridge Creations.  What's one more block?  To me it's a giant starburst block with lost of space to do some fancy longarm stitches.  Here's what I whipped up:

 
This quilt measures about 60" square.  I think it looks "fresh".


Monday, December 23, 2013

Mosaic Tiles Quiltalong

Thanks, Julianne!!!  Looks like I'll add another thing to my WIP list.  Did you see the Mosaic Tiles Quilt Along?  I know I said I wanted to get my WIP list down for 2014, but I also said that I was going to bust some scraps too.  I LOVE the look of this quilt.  Can't wait for it to get started.

Mosaic Tiles Quilt Along

Check out the QA at Craft Blog

Block Lotto - Stripe - December 2013

I finished all nine blocks for entries in the December, 2013 Block Lotto.  This block measures 6.5" x 9.5" and is called Stripes.  Check out the beautiful Christmas quilt Sophie made with red and green "Stripe" blocks.  It's on my "to do" list for a gift next year.

 
We are also having a special drawing for orphan blocks of past Block Lotto drawings.  Either we had blocks left over or blocks that weren't just perfect, we can enter them in this special drawing.  Here's my six blocks that I am throwing into the hat.
 

I also threw in six cuts of fabric.  It's supposed to be 4" wide, but I think I did 6" wide just to be on the safe side.  It's always fun to receive others fabric!  (Not shown in picture).
 
Join me on the Block Lotto Blog

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Celtic Solstice Clue 4 Complete

Four patch fun!  I spent this weekend working on Clue 4 of Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt -- Celtic Solstice.  I'm happy to say that I am done with Clue 4!!!  Now I can get back to casually working on those chevrons from Clue 2.  I just don't know why I can't get those chevrons done...
 
I am using grey in place of Bonnie's orange and brown in place of Bonnie's green.  I think sometimes the clues take me a little longer than they should because I am using the smallest of scraps that I can.  Then when I make the block it seems like every time I turn over the block after pressing that I have to sit and admire it because I just can't believe how great the colors go together.  Then I think...I should make a quilt with fabrics like this...  and on and on.
 
Here's what I have done so far.
 
I'm not sure if I'm liking the bright pinks, but we shall see.
 
I only have 35 chevrons done. 

I linked this post up with the Quiltville linky party for Clue 4.  Check out what everybody is doing.

mysterymonday1

Saturday, December 21, 2013

FNSI Results - December, 2013

I'm happy to say that my FNSI results show a Pieced Back for Quilt Doodle Designs BOM Complete!!


Handmade by Heidi
 
Whohoo!!!  Check out what everybody else was working on at Sugarlane Quilts.


I finished piecing the quilt back for the Quilt Doodle Designs BOM quilt.  The squares were all put together by my mom in the 70's.  All the fabrics on the back except for the burnt orange stripe are hers.  I know her intent was to just make a quilt of the squares and knot it.  I have a lot of squares left over that are not sewn together.  Those will come in handy for another project.

Now that the back is done I can clean up all my browns and add them to my Celtic Solstice scraps.  This also empties another bin.  Should I start another quilt?  LOL.  Time to get this quilt loaded on the frame.  I got a couple of new Circle Lord template boards for Christmas (of course I bought them for myself).  I got a great deal on them on the APQS forum.

Now it's back to working on those Celtice Solstice for-patches.  I really want to get this clue done this weekend!

Friday, December 20, 2013

Scrappy Christmas QA Finish

I'm happy to have another Friday finish during this busy time of year. 

I started this quilt last year and finished the quilt top on time.  I just couldn't decide how to finish it.  I finally decided to quilt it with my go-to Circle Lord Swirls.  I was confident enough to use red thread in the quilting and it turned out great.  Happy happy happy!  No fabrics were purchased on purpose for this quilt.  I got the backing fabric at a garage sale for $5.  I did have to buy a special Accuquilt die.  It was the 2" square die that cuts six 2" squares at a time.  I didn't really think that I would use that die much, but now I use it all the time! 

It was funny that I didn't know what to use for the binding.  I had a poinsettia fabric pulled for another project and not used and it ended up laying on top of the quilt by accident.  Turns out it was a great choice of binding for it.

You can find the quilt instructions at Sunshower Quilts.  Katrina blogs here.

Here's the pieced back.  I like the scrappy churn dashes.  I might just have to make a quilt like that someday.




I'm happy to link up with Richard and Tanya Quilts for the Link-A-Finish FRIDAY.
 
I'm also linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts:

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Thursday -- Odds and Ends

Sick kid home from school.  My husband has been home from work with mono for six weeks.  I'm still thankful that it is just mono.  It could have been much, much worse.  He is starting to get a little better!  Since the little guy is home from school today I won't be doing Christmas activities as planned.  I'll just be working on odds and ends.

Here's a charity quilt for our local quilt guild (LQG) that needs a quilt back.

 Since I'm cooped in the house today and probably this weekend, here's my list...

1. Make a quilt back for this LQG quilt.
2.  Make blocks for the December Block Lotto (and post them).
3.  Make a quilt back for LQG quilt #2.
4.  Work on the rest of the chevrons for Celtic Solstice (clue 2).
5.  Round up my "misfit" Block Lotto blocks for the special December entries (and post them).
6.  Take pics of Scrappy Christmas QA (I finished the binding late last night) for Friday Finish post.
7.  Find red flower basket blocks that I made in 2011.  (I found a cute table cloth to make with them.)

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Christmas Giveaway at Quilting Lines!

************************Giveaway**************************

Check out the giveaway at Quilting Lines.  If you've made a Christmas tree skirt, link it up for more chances to win.  I've had a tree skirt on my bucket list for two years and still haven't found the time to make one.  Soon!

FNSI Plans 12.20.13

Handmade by Heidi

For the December Friday Night Sew In (FNSI) at Sugarlane Quilts I plan to make a back for my Quilt Doodle Designs 2013 BOM quilt.  There will be a quilt parade at Quilt Doodle Doodles blog in January.  I'd like to have a finished quilt by then, but we'll see.  I'm not sure what the link-up date in January will be.  Details TBA.  At least I hope to show a finished top and a finished back!

Here's the quilt.




WIP Wednesday 12.18.13

A lot got done this week!  Whohoo, I'm on a roll.

I finished my Quilt Doodle Designs quilt top.  This was a 2013 BOM quilt.  I'm so happy with it.






I finished my Frosty & Friends Snowman Quilt (#1) (I'm making 3 more).  You can find the pattern free here.



I gave my friend in the quilt guild her mystery blocks that were worked on my other guild members:



I loaded another charity quilt for our local quilt guild on the frame and experimented with a new quilting pattern.



I finished quilting my Scrappy Christmas QA quilt.  It is trimmed and now I need to decide on and make a binding for it.



As for Celtic Soltice large quit,
Clue 1 is complete
Clue 2 is half finished
Clue 3 is complete.  Here's a sampling of my pinwheels.  I am using maroon for Bonnie's yellow.  I am using grey for Bonnie's orange.


Quiltville

Our elf, Chippy, is up to some mischief again.




New Projects
None, but I am still considering whipping out a Giant Sunburst QA quilt anytime soon.


Pieces Still Need to be Cut & Sewn
1.  Herringbone OSU quilt
2.  Digging up Bones (Owen's dinosaur quilt) -- Received blocks this week 12.2.13
3.  Downton Abbey Mystery QA
4.  Rock Island Campfire Quilt
5.  Picadilly Circle
6. ...And Sew On BOM at Quiet Play (one block to go)
7.  MSBHQAL (Molli Sparkles Broken Herringbone Quilt Along)
8.  Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Celtic Solstice Mystery

Blocks Still Need to be Made
1.  NY Beauty
2.  Orca Bay
3.  We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler
4.  Red/White Flower Basket Quilt
5.  Maroon Star Sampler Quilt
6.  Color coordinated hexagon quilt
7.  Gourmet Quilter Sampler
8.  Bluepatch Mystery Quilt
9.  Amanda Murphy Designs (ugly fabric quilt)
10.  Drunkard's Path Variation baby quilt
11.  Finding Nemo Scrappy Trip quilt

Blocks are made but need to be sewn together (and/or some sashing)
1.  Block Swap Adventure Sampler (2011-2012)
2.  Butterfly Blocks (that I won)
3.  Orange/Blue Fish Blocks (that I won)
4.  Split Stars (blocks won from Block Lotto; October, 2012)
5.  African Violet baby quilt (Block Lotto inspired)
6.  Tall Fly (blocks won from Block Lotto; January 2013)

Quilts back needs to be made (tops are done)
1.  Grandma's WIP -- Cameo Rose (this one is a long-term project)
2.  Grandma's WIP #2 (This is also a long-term project)
3.  Quilt Doodle Designs

Ready to longarm
1.  Dutchman's Puzzle
2.  2nd Split Decision baby quilt (for a customer!)
3.  Spring Mystery 2013 (still need to rip out those early longarming eyelashes)
4.  LQG Ship charity quilt
5.  LQG Just 6" Squares (on the frame)
 
Quilted, needs binding
 1.  Scrappy Christmas QA

Completed this week:
1.  Frosty & Friends Snowman Quilt #1

 This keeps my WIP count from 37 to 35!

  Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Celtic Solstice Clue 3 -- Accuquilt Info

Some of our half-square triangles in this step will be made into pinwheels, and some will be left single as shown.

 


To see Bonnie's directions (available for a limited time) go to:  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-part-3.html