Hooked on Quilting

Yikes, this took way longer than it should have! Lots went wrong. I'd cut four colored blocks too small and they were the pretty ones. So I cut new ones, but from the not-so-pretty leftover charms. I'd sewn the rows together and didn't like the colors, so I just flipped the blocks around and tweaked the colors. Didn't look at the layout and it was so screwed up!!! So, took it all out and put it back together with great care to watch the pattern and to try to keep the colors pleasing. Check it out and look for mistakes and let me know, okay? Ugh!! It took twice as long as it should have. On to the borders. Whew!!!

I did it!! I held off doing my first Dear Jane quilt block to finish my one project a month/January Schnibbles!!! I'm really excited to actually finish something. I think this blogging thing is starting to make me accountable for my projects. Madeline is done! What do you think? Can't show you the quilting up close as I'm not really good yet. Too many crossovers and a few bird nests on the back creeped in. Done is definitely better than perfect, for now!! Not sure how many more quilts I need to do before I declare myself a better quilter and demand perfection. I have so many online projects I've signed up for an bought fabric for...crazy stupid, but I couldn't decide which ones not to do!!! Yahoo!!!

I've loaded Madeline on my Handi-Quilter and can't decide if I want to try freehand or use the Pro-Stitcher. I haven't done a quilt since November and I'm pretty rusty. Maybe some meandering? Stippling? I think I'll use it as practice. I'll let you know, if you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them! I need to finish this to use as my "Schnibbles" and "One Project a Month" challenges so I can't start my first block of my Dear Jane quilt yet. Darn!! The software is so similar to EQ6 so not much of a learning curve. I just installed it on my laptop for now. I did play with it a bit and these blocks are very, very, very small! This could take years and years. I was supposed to make 9 blocks the first month and I'm behind four months. I dare not look at months 2-4, if they are 9 blocks also, I'm 36 blocks behind already. Good thing I haven't looked! There's so many online BOMs that I've signed up for and have purchase...

Okay, in my effort to complete projects, I've joined OPAM 2010 (One Project a Month). I did it last year and fell off the wagon around June! I hope to do better this year.

In trying to get something accomplished/finished, I decided to make a water bottle carrier following the tutorial by Pink Chalk Studio. Thank you so much for the instructions! I didn't put a strap on mine because I wanted the insulation part to keep my water cold or, at least, cooler. I'll just put it in my tennis bag where drinks were designed to be stored. I need to find some tennis fabric and make another one more fun for the sport. The strap would get in the way for my purpose. It will be great to identify my own water bottle among everyone else's.

Better late than never, I always say. Here's my May project of the month. It's a pincushion that I'm going to use for my hatpins that I can slip on my wrist. I love it! What do you think?

Well, I didn't really get much accomplished this month, but I had great hopes!!! Lots of stuff started!! So, here's my pincushion that's a bit smallish, but it is cute!

I found this pinscushion today and want to make a couple to hang several places. I'll add that to my list of to-dos. I'm still working on the borders for the Quilt Along with Judy L. I think I'll use them for in between projects. I still have the Brown Bear, Brown Bear loaded...waiting for a decision on what quilting pattern to use. Still have to attach the binding on my Caterpillar quilt. I have the Kids Will Be Kids quilt that goes on the HQ16 next. I need to get going on the Calendar Quilt Challenge...need to finish February and start March...yikes, how did that happen? I've decided that my design wall needs a frame. It can still be a bit portable, but it keeps bending in the middle where the two foam boards meet so I thought a frame would help. Boy, do I wish I didn't have slanted ceilings in this huge studio. I just don't have the height in this room to place it against the wall...whine, whine, whine! I should take photos of the room... No pics yet. Sorry...

Not much quilting going on here, unfortunately. I did make a tooth fairy pillow for my granddaughter that just lost her first tooth. This is will be my Project for the Month completion. Now I have to work on Judy L's Quilt Along.

So, I need to get the Hungry Caterpillar quilt finished for a birthday by Monday or Tuesday so it can be shipped off. I might make a doll quilt to match if time permits. It's just a panel and a bunch of borders, but it's coming along. Can't work at all today on it, so tomorrow I'll stay focused. The Kids Will Be Kids quilt had stripes on the inner border and I followed the directions and made the stripes match as if there were no piecing of the longer borders. However, I did the next two borders with straight seams and they looked just awful, so I've been ripping out and mitering the seams--what a great way to build your stash--NOT!!!! What a waste. I do like it better and that's all that counts, right? Off to babysit today and will check in later tonight or tomorrow. I do want to do Pat Sloan's OP Challenge if I can fit it in, but it will probably be over before I can jump in with both feet. I also have to finish a project for the Project of the Month onli...

I signed up for the " One Project a Month Challenge " and I actually finished a project in January! Now, don't act too surprised, these thread baskets are easy and quick to complete! Try one! That's about all I did today along with tennis practice. I do plan to add some "days" to my calendar quilt challenge.