January Block Lotto -- Chevrons

This month for the Block Lotto we are making chevron blocks.  The color scheme is grey, brown, and purple.  The big blocks measure 7.5" x 14.5".  I have TONS of browns.  Here's my six entries for this month.

 

I'm still undecided on these quilt alongs.  I don't want to bite off more than I can chew.  But here's two QA's you might be up your alley to join:

What's one more block a month now that I'm finishing quilts left and right?  Have you seen the Sew at Home Mummy Classic Meets Modern?  It's only one block a month!!!  I think I might have to bust some solid scraps on this one. Check it out here.



The January block is the bear paw.  I love that block!  I've got an idea...  You'll have to wait to see.

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And then I had to run into Beth's blog, Love, Laugh, Quilt and she is having a Christmas QA that is "only one block a month" too.  The trees in this QA are just sooooo cute!  Hmmmm.  Do I have room on my list?  I did have a Friday finish the first Friday of this year already.

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RSC2014 - Blues - Picadilly Circle

When I signed up for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, 2014, I had no idea what I was going to do except use up some scraps here and there and just use up scraps of the color of the month.  I'm not that big into rainbow quilts.  But then the light bulb came on and I realized that I was already working on a rainbow quilt.  The color for January is blue.  I needed a blue block for my Picadilly Circle Quilt.  (I only have one block done so far and it is orange and I started on a red block but didn't finish it.)  So here's my lovely scrappy blue block for today:

 

I love it!!!  My favorite scrap in the quilt is the weiner dog fabric at approx. 2 o'clock.

 

This pattern is in Quiltmaker Magazine, July/August, 2013.  You can see a picture of it here.

I'm linking up for the first Scrap Saturday of the year (and my first Scrap Saturday -- ever) at SoScrappy  blog.  Check out how everybody else is getting the "blues" for the RSC14 here.

 

Link-A-Finish Friday 1.3.13

Whohoo!  Just before dark I finished the binding on this quilt and was able to take some pictures.  This Irish Chain quilt is hand pieced.  I do not know the maker.  I have appointed myself the 2014 clean-up-the-UFOs person for our LQG.  Most of the projects need a border, back, to be quilted, and a binding.  (They are basically just quilt tops and unfinished quilt tops.)  I picked it out of the to-be-quilted box at our LQG.  I made the simple one-fabric back, longarmed it, and put on the binding.  It's one of the bigger quilts from our guild.  It measures 85" x 100".

I longarmed it with the pantograph "Tickle" that I got for Christmas.  I decided that this would be a great place to practice the panto.  The pattern is pretty forgiving.  You can see it in the pic below.

The back is just one fabric (not my usual pieced back).  The binding is a simple white with hashmarks.

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

 

A Lovely Year of Finishes 2014 -- January Goal

My January Goal for the 2014 A Lovely Year of Finishes is to complete my 2013 BOM Quilt Doodle Designs QA quilt.  I LOVE this quilt.  I will be part of the blog hop on 1/20/14 with Cindy at Quilt Doodle Doodles blog.  Although we only need a finished flimsy, I thought it would be really nice to show off my finished quilt.  It hasn't made it to my longarm frame just yet, but the back is made and so is the binding!  Here's a pic of the flimsy:



Link up with Shanna at Fiber of All Sorts blog or Melissa at Sew Bitter Sweet Designs blog with the others by the 10th of this month to be eligible for prizes!  (Other months you must link up by the 7th.)

2014 Finish Along Goals -- Q1 List And a New FO

In the previous post I posted the goals for the 2014 year.  This post specifically states what I aim to finish the first quarter (Q1) of 2014 (with photos).  Check out Katy at The Littlest Thistle blog for all the details.



Specific Goal:  By March, 31, 2014 I plan to have the following items completely finished:

1.  Hand Pieced Irish Chain (on the longarm frame).


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2.  Genevieve -- Baby name quilt.  I have the white large backing purchased to make the 50" square.

And here's the yummy fabrics I will be using for the letters: 

This name quilt is my NEW FO for the month for January.  I am linking it up with Barbara
at Cat Patches .  Check out new projects of others!  Be inspired!




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3. 2nd Split Decision Baby Quilt.  It's called "2nd" because I did one in October, 2013.

 

 

4.  Quilt Doodle Designs BOM -- This will be the next quilt on the frame (after item #1 on this list is finished).  I hope to have it finished by the blog hop with Quilt Doodle Designs on 1/20/14!

 

5.  Giant Starburst QA at Canoe Ridge.  I quilted this one with my Tickle pantograph that I got for Christmas.  I need a little more practice, but it came out really nice.

 

 

 

There... that's enough.  Five finishes in three months was the goal.  Happy 2014!  Ill be off to a great start.  Be sure to check out all the other great finishes.

2014 Goal Setting

I'm setting a goal to reduce my WIPS in 2014 from 38 to 19.  I realize that there are 36 items on this list.  That's to account for all the unknown things I will start in 2014.  I've put a tab at the top of my blog so that I can cross them off and feel like I accomplished something.  I might not do them in order.  Here's the plan...

January 1.  Name baby quilt for baby due in February. (Fabrics purchased 1.3.14.)
2.  LQG hand-pieced Irish Chain charity quilt.  Finished 1.3.14
3.  LQG Just 6" squares charity quilt.  Finished 12.29.13
4.  Quilt Doodle Designs BOM quilt.
5.  Starburst QA at Canoe Ridge. (Loaded on the longarm frame 1.2.14)

February
6.  Amanda Murphy Designs Ugly Fabric Quilt (which really isn't ugly at all).
7.  Finding Nemo scrappy trip quilt.
8. 2nd Split Decision baby quilt (for a customer!) 

9.  Red/White orphan block tablecloth.

March
10.  Digging up Bones Dinosaur quilt.
11.  Red/White Flower Basket quilt (tablecloth).

12. Celtic Solstice (Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2013).

13.  Star Light Star Bright (2014 Happy Quilting QA.)

April

 14.  Tall Fly (blocks won from Block Lotto; January 2013)

15.  Start/finish a Snowman teacher gift quilt (wall hanging).

16.  Split Stars (blocks won from Block Lotto; October, 2012)
17.  African Violet baby quilt (Block Lotto inspired)

May
18.  Butterfly Blocks (that I won)
19.  Orange/Blue Fish Blocks (that I won)

20.  LQG pastel squares charity quilt

June
 21.  Longarm purple charity quilt for LQG (it's a large one).
 22.  Picadilly Circle (hopefully this will be a county fair entry.)

July
23.  Rock Island Campfire Quilt
24.  Snowman wall hanging (hopefully this will be a county fair entry).
25.  Framed quilt block (hopefully this will be a county fair entry.)

August
26.  Block Swap Adventure Sampler (2011-2012)
27.   We Can Do It Skill Builder Sampler

September
28.  Dutchman's Puzzle
29.  Happy Quilting Star Surround QA
30.  Spring Mystery 2013 (still need to rip out those early longarming eyelashes)
 31.  LQG Ship charity quilt

October
32. ...And Sew On BOM at Quiet Play (one block to go)
33. MSBHQAL (Molli Sparkles Broken Herringbone Quilt Along)

November
34. Start the 2014 Bonnie Hunter Mystery

December
35.  Maroon Star Sampler Quilt

36. 2014 Quilt Doodle Designs BOM quilt

 

WIP Wednesday 1.1.14

Happy New Year!!!

Here's what happened this week:
I completed Clue 5 (split triangle units) of Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice.



I decided that I will be participating in the Quilt Doodle Designs 2014 Mystery BOM.  Cindy's patterns are so cute!  I loved the way 2013 turned out.  Make sure you stop by my blog on 1/20 for the blog hop party so that I can show it off to you.  In the meantime, check out this year's details for the QA that uses 2.5" scraps and strips!!!  There will be some applique -- I know you can do it -- Ahem... I'm speaking to you, Julianne!)

 

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:

 

 

 

I finished this charity quilt for my LQG.

 

 

I love how the quilting pattern shows on the back.  I have to show it off again...

 

 

This LQG charity quilt is still on my longarm.  I'm practicing panto "Tickle" on it for the first time.  I don't get much longarming done while my little guy is home for Christmas break.  I'll be back at it starting January 6th. 

 

 

I'm still working on those dang gone chevrons in CLUE 2 of Celtic Solstice...  Less than 100 to go.

 

 

I made a back for my Surround Stars QA Quilt at Happy Quilting.  It's one fabric for this quilt top:

 

 

I also made a pieced back for my Giant Starburst QA quilt.  So I'll add that to the longarm pile!

Here's what the top looks like.  I'll save the backs for a surprise for you.

 

 

I'm taking notes on the Oh Frannson cat QA.  Looks like a fun use of scraps!

 

 

Melissa Cory of Happy Quilting is having a fun QA called Star Light Star Bright.  I'm going to try to do a scrappy version.  I just need to pick out some colors.  Her QA's are always so much fun.  I'm not sure what's different, but they are just super fun!  Here's a peek from Melissa's  page:

 

 

 

I have my eye on a few QA's...

1.  Star Light Star Bright at Happy Quilting.

2.  Mosaic Tiles QA at Craft Buds (I got the digital book from the library...)

 

New Projects This Week

1.  Quilt Doodle Doodles Designs 2014 BOM -- I was definitely doing this one!

 

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) (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 hand-pieced Irish Chain charity quilt (still on the frame)

8.  LQG 2" scrappy squares

9.  Happy Quilting Star Surround QA

10.  Giant Starburst QA

Quilted, needs binding

Completed this week:

1.  Just Squares 6" charity quilt for LQG.

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