RSC14 -- Second Scrap Saturday

It's another Saturday and this week I'm happy to report that I made four scrappy blocks in blues.  I'm loving the RSC14 because I'll never be able to use all my scraps, but at least I'm using some of them!  I don't really know the name of this block, but I really like it.  Thanks to Sophie, I learned that the name of this block is called English Wedding Ring or Crown of Thorns.  I plan on making the scrap color of the month in this block.  When the year ends, I will put those blocks together and hopefully make a quilt.

I'm linking up for the Scrap Saturday at SoScrappy  blog.  Check out how everybody else is getting the "blues" for the RSC14 this week click here.

Giant Starburst QA at Canoe Ridge

Today is my second finish if the year.  I'm happy to link up with Richard and Tanya.  This is my Giant Starburst QA from Canoe Ridge Creations.  It finished at a very nice and square 60".

I quilted it with the pantograph, Tickle, that I got for Christmas.  Here's a shot of the middle section:

And here's the shot of the back.  I could have used nicer fabrics, I guess, but I'm just "using it up".
These are two different cheater fabrics:

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:

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/

 

 

I'm also linking up with Elizabeth at Such a Sew and Sew. for the January Finishes Linky Party.

http://emsewandsew.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-stitch-in-time-january-finishes-linky.html

 

19 Spools

For some reason I save my empty spools.  I don't know why...  I just throw them in the drawer.  I guess I thought that someday I would find something really cool on Pinterest that uses empty spools.  Well, today I found out that other people save their spools and count them for the year.  I saw it on Quiltmaker.com site.  Well, geeky as I am about quilting, here's my 19 spools for 2013:

Finish One, Start Two

 

This week I am finishing up the stitches on my Giant Starburst QA quilt.  You know what that means... Start TWO quiltalongs!

To improve my freehand longarm skills I will be making blocks with Leah Day in the Building Blocks quilt.  I am pretty sure they are doing a quilt-as-you-go quilt.  I will just be doing the 8" blocks and then trying to quilt them using similar freehand quilting on my longarm.  I love doing freehand, but sometimes I am lost for what to do on the next block.  Here's my first three blocks:

Here's the picture of the quilt plan from Leah's blog:

 

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I have had this quilt pinned for a little while and thought it would be a great use of orphan blocks.  I've only looked at pictures of it and didn't realize that it was an actual quilt pattern.  I still think that it would be a great use of orphan blocks.  Lord knows I have plenty of orphan blocks in different sizes that would probably work for this.  I'm gonna try!  But just know that Factotum of Arts blog is having a quilt along with this pattern!  YEAH!!!  Using up more of my stuff just sitting there on the shelf!!!  And look at all those strings and strips!!!  I've got 'em!!!  Come on, I know you have orphan blocks and strings too!


There's a flickr group too!  Check it out here.



I'm not sure if this really counts as starting two QA's... since I already have almost all of the orphan blocks done?  I'll really just be piecing them together.

WIP Wednesday 1.8.13

Well the holidays are done and gone and it's time to get back to the regular schedule.  My husband is finally back to work after working out of town for five weeks and then having a seven week bout with mono.  Little Mr. Sunshine is back to kindergarten.  Now I can get back to myself again.

Beth at Love Laugh Quilt blog is having a Christmas QA for 2014.  It looks like some improve blocks.  This QA comes out the first Monday of each month.  Come and join us.  Aren't these two trees cute?  As Sophie says, "Black and white goes with anything." 

 

 

Erin, at Sew at Home Mummy is hosting the Classic Meets Modern BOM that also started in January, 2014.  Surprise... I joined that one as well.  We are trying to put a modern spin on classic blocks.  This month we did the bear claw block.  Here's mine:

 

 

How could I pass up this QA when my Bestie, Julianne, sent me a surprise bundle of fabrics in the mail?  Look at the yummy fabrics she got me.  Thanks, Jules!!!  You are the best.
Solids (I just happen to lay them on this simple print and it totally worked for me).

 

And these yummy chevron  ahem... houndstooth prints are also from Julianne!

 

 

 

 

I finished the hand-pieced Irish Chain quilt for our LQG.



I worked on some of my Celtic Solstice blocks for the Bonnie Huntery Mystery quilt.



I finished my six chevron blocks for the January Block Lotto.



I made one blue block for the Picadilly Circle Quilt for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2014.



Goals were set for Q1 2014 Finish Along, 2014 NewFO Challenge, and 2014 Lovely Year of Finishes.



Fresh, yummy fabrics were selected for the baby name quilt that I hope to have done in February.


I gathered all my red/white orphan blocks and decided to make a tablecloth for February.

 

New Projects This Week

1.  Love Laugh Quilt Christmas Improv QA (January blocks done)

2.  Classic Meets Modern BOM (January block done)

 

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  Removed from the list -- I was too far behind and it's just not my style after seeing the big reveal.  These blocks will go to the orphan block project.
 3.  Rock Island Campfire Quilt
 4.  Picadilly Circle (actually made a block this week for the RSC2014 block)
 5. ...And Sew On BOM at Quiet Play (one block to go)
 6.  MSBHQAL (Molli Sparkles Broken Herringbone Quilt Along)
 7.  Bonnie Hunter's 2013 Celtic Solstice Mystery (Still working on chevrons; others done).
8.  Quilt Doodle Doodles Designs 2014 BOM (January done)

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) (Pulled out the blocks for this in December, 2013)
3.  Orange/Blue Fish Blocks (that I won) (Pulled out the blocks for this in December, 2013)
4.  Split Stars (blocks won from Block Lotto; October, 2012)
5.  African Violet baby quilt (Block Lotto inspired) (Pulled out the blocks for this in December, 2013)
6.  Tall Fly (blocks won from Block Lotto; January 2013)(Pulled out the blocks for this in December, 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)

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 2" scrappy squares

8.  Happy Quilting Star Surround QA

Quilted, needs binding
1.  Giant Starburst QA (on the frame)

Completed this week:

1.  Hand Pieced Irish Chain -- Charity quilt for LQG.

   This keeps my WIP count at 38.  My WIP goal for New Years Day 2015 is 19. 
   Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday!

On The Frame

On the frame today I have my Giant Starburst quilt.  Again I am practicing the pantograph "Tickle".  I'm getting better with practice.  It is a forgiving pattern that it doesn't have to be followed exactly, but it's nice to have smooth curves and swirls.

 

Here's a close-up of the quilting.

 

 

Celtic Solstice Big Reveal

Bonnie Hunter revealed the Celtic Solstice quilt on New Years at midnight.  Whohoo.  I can now see how my color choices work together.  I'm happy!

To finish the quilt we first assembled our four patches and our neutral triangle units to make Block A: 54-40 or Fight! 
For the SMALL quilt, Make 24 blocks.
For the LARGE quilt, Make 60 blocks.

Press  seams AWAY from the star points units and toward the 4 patch units.  Keep all of your oranges in the 4-patches going the same direction!

 

Then we need to make Block B:  Birthday Girl Block from 100 blocks Vol 2!

For the Small Quilt, Make 25 blocks

For the Large Quilt, Make 61 blocks

Press seams toward the chevron units and away from the split triangle corner units.

 

Here's my first nine blocks together.

 

Even though the clue was released early, I didn't get much done.  Busy, busy weekend!  I'm still linking up on Bonnie's blog.  See all the others' progress here.