Hooked on Quilting

I've been reading a bunch of blogs and they sometimes share their goals for the month and then update their progress at the end of the month. I'm going to TRY to stay focused and accomplish something. For real... 1. I MUST finish ripping out this Crayon quilt that's on my HQ16 so I can get another one loaded and move on from this nightmare.  Just a little to go. I can only do this for 15 minutes before my back begins to feel it, so it's #1 on the list because it's an easy thing to do when I have a few minutes, but one I'm always neglecting. I will then finish the two (or three, maybe) rows of quilting. The binding is not going to happen in August, but I can try. 2. This was a Craftsy kit and my first Kaffe fabrics and I am just not very thrilled with it, so I have had to force myself to put this together. Not sure if I'll ever quilt it...but it needs to come off my design wall.  Oh, did I mention that I actually bought Cheryl Ann's Design Wall...

This is "Hello Dahlia" by Nancy Mahoney. It was a kit that I purchased at my LQS. It's a bunch of rectangles sewn together and I loved the print so much and wanted it for my studio because I have decided to add red accents to the room after I bought my expensive red chair. LOL  I also worked on the Flower Garden quilt from Craftsy made with Kaffe prints. It's just not me, but I'm determined to finish it. Sewing the rows together now, but I need a bunch of breaks because my heart is just not in it. I'll get you a pic soon...or not. :( I'm still ripping out my Crayon Quilt as the third row somehow stitched wonky and up into the second row...quilter error - mine!!!  Sad face - again!!! I hope to soon get this thing off my HQ16 (the one I'm trying to sell to buy the Infinity with all the bells and whistles!) so I can quilt something new.  When I get the urge to hand sew, I've been faithfully hand appliqueing my Baltimore Autumn and I...

There are my fabrics for this year's mystery quilt hosted by Meadow Mist Designs  so I've added it to my sidebar. It's still not too late to join in.  I'm so hoping I'll have the time to stay with this quilt along. I've had these fabrics for awhile and I really would like to start using up my small stash.  I have done a bunch of sewing, but I have not been a very good blogger. Hope to change this. One of the Yahoo quilt groups has suggested JOT, "Just One Thing" and I'm going to try this as my next try at staying focused!  Once my husband retired, I was hoping to just quilt all day, but the more time you have the less that seems to get done. :( My latest project is Block 2 of Baltimore Autumn by Pearl P. Pereira . I'm seriously considering buying the Baltimore Spring quilt kit. I was working on her Baltimore Liberty, but once July 4th came and went, I thought I'd get going on her autumn quilt.  I'm also working Hell...

Well, I've gotten a bunch done on my projects and thought it was time to share. I've finished the next step in the mitts. I cut the patterns and sewed them and turned them so all I have to do is add the binding (which is cut and pressed!). Hopefully, they will be done very soon and I can check off that project! I worked some more on burying the threads in my Stop Sign wall hanging. Need to cut the binding and sew it on and a sleeve to hang it and that will be done! Yippee. Also, got the fabrics identified on my Baltimore Autumn applique quilt. I'm doing a BOM with an applique Yahoo group and we are on Block 2 - Horn of Plenty. Lovely batiks for the cornucopia and I purchased the kit/pattern from Amidon Quiltworks . It's a Pearl P. Pereira design. It's a beautiful project. I love Pearl's patterns and I'm also doing her Baltimore Christmas, Baltimore Halloween and Baltimore Liberty patterns. I made a bunch of Step 4 of Easy Street  - Bonnie Hunter...

I was able to get a bunch of projects moved forward today. I was able to sew quite a bit today (Saturday). My February goals are: 1. Pot Holders/Mitts - I cut the fabric for them (TODAY), just have to quilt it and then cut them. 2. Dino's - Cut valances for two windows (TODAY). Each are two fabrics and one appliqued Dino per window. I will go back to the quilt next. 3. Dear Jane - Almost finished two blocks, should finish tomorrow, will post pics then. 4. Baltimore Autumn - I didn't finish Block 1, so I'll probably tackle it again in February. 5. Baltimore Christmas - Didn't finish Block 1, might continue or move on to Block 2. I think Block 1 is the hardest of all of them. 6. Baltimore Halloween - Block 2 here I come!!! 7. Baltimore Liberty - None much was done in January. :( 8. Vintage Valentine - About halfway on this one - Block 1. 9. Country Cottages - Little embroidery left, then will move to Block 2. 10. Nursery stuff - Started a pillow awhile ago, p...

I'm really enjoying visiting all the blogs from the " Grow Your Blog " party and if you've stopped by to enter the giveaway, please click through to this  post .  Thought I would update my January 13 projects (way too ambitious, will need to adjust that soon. LOL Part of a quilt journal is posting regularly about the projects as motivation to complete, right?  1. Tooth Fairy Pillow - Finished.  2. Apron Ties - Finished. 3. Easy Street - Steps 1 & 2 have almost 40 of each, Step 3 has a bunch half sewn.  4. Dear Jane - two more blocks finished,  A-7 and C-6 this week. Take note, they aren't trimmed yet. LOL I've chosen two more for this week, so I should have eight total for the month.  5. Stop Sign - SID in the horizontal seams, just have to outline the letters...need to practice that some more. Ripped a bunch out already. LOL 6. Spot - Not even touched. Not my favorite job, ripping out stitches, ...

Got a late start today so not much sewing time and went out to dinner. :( I was able to do some crosshatching on some fabric that matched the aprons and then I cut the pot holder and mitt. I have enough fabric to do a set for each apron. She's only two years old, but I hope they will last awhile. I did not use heat resistant batting so they are only for "fun" cooking. I was also able to create the other half of my design wall. It really sticks out in the hallway and it's not very sturdy so unless or until company comes, it's not going anywhere. Both design walls need some more thought put into them to make they more sturdy and more mobile/portable. Maybe I'll frame them with a light-weight wood. Suggestions? I also worked on Baltimore Autumn, Baltimore Liberty, A Modern Twist and Dino's. More photos soon.

Well, I think this 15 minutes is working out, but might be a harder to maintain as time marches on. The desire to actually finish something in one day might win out. I finished appliqueing a bird on Vintage Valentine. I cut out the tooth fairy pillow pieces. Made some more four-patches for Easy Street. Found my Dear Jane software and installed on my new laptop so I can print out a block to keep this huge project moving along. Sewed one more tie onto an apron. Four ties on two more aprons to go. I labeled all the fabrics for Baltimore Liberty and Baltimore Autumn and copied the pattern. I decided that for Baltimore Halloween and Baltimore Christmas that I'd go back and finish up block 1 so I'm putting the center block on hold until all blocks are finished. I put together the rows on "A Modern Twist" quilt. Started appliqueing the awning on the house on the Country Houses BOM. Appliqued two threads on the Dino block above. Need to move my design wall or p...

I keep meaning to create a paper journal of my quilts, but it never seems to happen. Technology has made it so easy for recording memories, notes, photos, and information for us. I can snap a pic and upload it in seconds, seems silly not to take advantage of it. Calling my blog a journal, makes it okay to post often and just about itsy-bitsy progress that I might make or no progress at all. LOL Today, I tried my 15 minutes on each project and I made small strides with them all, but one. I hate frogging, so I let that one slide. I did switch out a project for a different one because "Stop Sign" would require me to switch thread color, so I want to finish up "A Modern Twist" first. The "Stop Sign" is actually at the quilting stage, so thread and machine settings need to be changed from piecing. To update: 1. Tooth Fairy Pillow - Refined the pattern. 2. Aprons - Was only able to add one tie, but prepped both ties. 3. Easy Street - Sewed a couple of...

Trying something new here as nothing I've tried has ever really worked. I'm going to choose 13 projects to work on for the month of January.  Naturally, I chose 13 because it's 2013 and it's a lucky number, right? So, if I were to work at least 15 minutes a day on each of these projects and there's 30 days left in January, that would mean I should have worked a total of 7 3/4 hours on each project. I spent some time getting it all ready for a quick transition from one project to the next. I would like to see all 13 of them move forward each day, but I'm hoping that I get hooked and keep moving on just one project. I'm going to use a timer and be sure each one gets its fair share and will rotate the projects so each gets to be #1 at least twice. I've got my spreadsheet all worked out for this micro-management system. I did it a couple of days during 2012 and I found that it works for me as it seems to prevent boredom and keeps "in the project....