I Can See Friday from Here

Oh hurry up Friday, I am done with this week and ready for the weekend. Here is the second of my two-part July UFO that I really finished in August.

The pattern is "Civil War Scrappy" from my one of my favorite books Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott.

This is my second completely finished quilt from the book.  I have two tops done, one started, and four in project-in-bag status. I really love this book.

Here's a detail.  The fabric is "Heritage Collection for a Cause" by Moda.



Tomorrow is Friday.  Yeah!!!

July UFO Challenge in August

Bet you thought I had forgotten given up fallen behind again on Judy's UFO Challenge.  That's OK, I thought the same myself.  July's challenge was #2 on the UFO list so I did work on bindings (in the middle of the hottest blasted summer ever and then the A/C went out which kind of delayed having quilts anywhere around). Even though it is August, here is one quilt, binding all done, and being held up by Quilt Holder S.

and here is another photo with Stella trying to see what is holding her the quilt up. 




The pattern is called Friendship Crossing by my friend Pat of Silver Thimble Quilt Co.  I think I bought this kit way back in 2004 and finished the top a couple years later and then had it quilted and then it sat and now finally it's finished.  Hooray!  Just like fine wine--it needed some resting time.

The quilt now has a purpose too.  A friend and former Starbucks co-worker of mine is moving to Germany with her husband and young son for 2 years while her husband works on his dissertation.  In honor of her super sweet, wonderful personality and the fun and friendship of working together.  I'm going to give this quilt to her.  The colors remind me of Starbucks too.  The endless green and white cups with red thrown in during Holiday.  Hope they enjoy this quilt and it helps keep them warm in the upcoming winter.

I'll post the 2nd July UFO tomorrow. 

UFO Challenge April

Sound the trumpets and stop the presses!!  Yes, I actually finished my UFO challenge for April!!!

It may be because Judy delayed posting until May and I had a few extra days (but don't tell Judy OK?)

If this photo was taken with a heat-sensitive camera, you may see that it was hot off the ironing board (but don't tell Judy OK?)

So I am finally on the score board :  UFOs:  3    Me: 1
Woo Hoo!

Fabric is a Neptune honeybun designed by Tula Pink for Moda.  Pattern is Camille Roskelley (aka Thimble Blossoms).

You Know You Are a Dedicated Quilter When...

The electricity goes out and since you don't have a treadle sewing machine...

 You cut out two quilts by candlelight.

Quilt #1:  The UFO challenge for April.

The score is currently UFOs 3     Me Nil
Wonder if I'll get on the scoreboard this month???

Quilt #2:  Schnibble using the most fabulous Central Park fabric by Kate Spain.


I'm seriously considering a treadle machine now....


NOTE:  I obeyed all safety practices and did not leave candles, fabric, rotary cutter, pins, matches, etc. unattended.  Be safe, quilt safe, cats stay safe.

Another Busy Week = Time for a Diversion

Another busy week at work with not much time or energy for sewing in the evenings.  I am trying to catch up on some blog reading and found a fun diversion.  The March Modern Fabric Madness over at Fat Quarterly.  Now not being into basketball, I usually skip the whole March madness thing. But fabric madness I do know.
(plus I'm one of those people who love filling out forms.  Is anyone else like this? please say yes....) 
Anyway, I printed out my brackets and am playing along just for fun.  

Spring is springing here in Atlanta.  Daffodils are all out and trees are flowering and leaf buds are growing.  It's supposed to rain all weekend so I guess I get out of doing yardwork (oh darn) and will be sewing.

Oh I almost forgot to report on my UFO Challenge. 

Score is
UFOs:  2
Me:  Nil

I've got lots of catching up to do.

Cold Rainy Friday = Time for a Latte

After a long week; a very dreary, cold, gray, rainy day; and a Friday full of meetings, it was time to hit Starbucks for a cup full o' pick-me-up!


 Yes that is FOUR shots of espresso in that grande cup.



Told you I needed a pick me up....  

I came home and was ready to sew sew sew!!!!!!

I whipped out that last three blocks from the 2010 Jelly Roll Sampler by the Quilt Room. 

Zoooooooom! 

And started working on sewing the rows together.  I hope to get this top finished tomorrow and get the backing and binding pieced.

In other news:  After only looking through two bins, I also found my  February UFO challenge project.  As nicely packaged today as it was when I bought it...



.... in 2004!!!!!

I hope to either get working on this or finish up January's project this weekend.

I may need another latte...

UFO Containment Plan: January Report

Well I have to confess that I did not finish my UFO project this month for Judy's UFO Challenge. And I'm even late with my confession because I had to work late last night.  Oh my this is not starting well.  I did work on it though and will continue to get it finished (during this shortest of months...).

The project for February is #10 on the list.  Oh no!  I am so doomed.  I don't even know (exactly) where this project is!!!  Somewhere in the depths of my project bins. Oh my!

SCORE:  UFOs 1    Me 0

January Blahs

Oh I haven't posted in awhile.  Last week was just one of those annoying hectic weeks at work filled with a million aggravating things and this weekend I seemed to have a case of the January blahs.  I don't know about you, but I always get blah in the winter, even in the South where there is more sunlight. After all the excitement with Snowmaggedon, it seemed last week that it had been January forever...at least 2 Januarys long.

So while January blahs do not make for good company (gray, cold, wet, wool blankets come to mind), I was productive over the weekend, keeping to myself and my sewing machine.

 I finished up block 3 for the Civil War Quilts Block of the Week.  My needleturn applique skills were a little rusty so the stars are kind of wonky.  This block is called Seven Sisters.

Let's just say it has a Folk Art element instead of crisp pointy points shall we?

 This is block 4 called Texas Tears. I am having so much fun with this block of the week project.  Every Saturday I grab my big box of Civil War reproduction fabrics and dig through, cutting little bits of this and little bits of that.


I bet I have eleventy-million weeks worth of Civil War fabrics in there if I keep using bits and pieces.

I also realized I better get cracking on my January UFO project for Judy's challenge or else!  I definitely don't want to fail on the challenge the first month so I put aside my Roll Roll Cotton Boll quilt and worked on blocks for my Clara Barton quilt. 

One of my favorites is this block with the purple and cream fabric.

1-1-11

Happy New Year everyone!!  It is raining here in the ATL but that is fine because I'm staying in my pjs and sewing all day.  I hope you all are doing the same. 

Yesterday, I dragged took S. with me to Sweet Home Quilt Co. for the last day of Melisa's end of the year sale.  We walked in the front door and saw lots of friends with big bags of goodies and stacks of fabric waiting in line.  How fun!  Becky, Kristie, and Brenda were there as well as Jane, Sharon H., Sharon B-A. Needless to say, we stayed longer than the "real quick" time I had given S. LOL!  I signed up for a block of the month and bought a few yards of this n that.

Last night was quiet and I fell asleep before midnight for the first time in decades.  Oh no! I guess being wrapped in quilts, watching movies, and Prosecco will do that. I think it was around 11 or 11:30 oh well.

Today I am all excited because Judy at Patchwork Times posted the number for the 2011 UFO challenge (#6) which is my Clara Barton quilt.  I had to search my own blog to find out the last time I worked on this LOL! It was in  June. Here is the photo from June of some of the blocks.  Time to dig this project out.

Another exciting (well for quilters anyway--the term exciting is relative ya know) happening today is the announcement that Barbara Brackman is posting a block of the week commemorating the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War on her new blog.  She is posting history, historical photos, and a block each week.  I hope some of you will join me in making this quilt!  Or at least follow along to enjoy the stories and photos.  I'm a big fan of hers because of her dedication to researching quilt and social history.  Besides sesquicentennial is just fun to say.

And thirdly, I am excited because Bonnie Hunter posted Step 7 yesterday of her RRCB mystery and I LOVE this quilt!  It is worth all the gazillion of little pieces.  I started putting some blocks together (even thought I haven't completed all the previous steps) and will post some photos soon.   

OK I'm excited, at least for today right now 1-1-11 (that's fun to type), and I'm headed to the sewing machine.

UFO Containment Plan

Before my house continues to ends up looking like scene from Mars Attacks!, I'm joining Judy at Patchwork Times' UFO challenge for 2011.  I definitely need a containment plan for my UFO's as they are taking over Roswell, New Mexico the house.  Click on the link in my sidebar if you want to join in!

So 2011 will bring, at least, these 12 projects to completion:

1.  Scrappy Nines--bits and pieces of this are all over the place; I really need to get this together.
2.  Binding on two (!) quilts that have been quilted for over a year. WTH??
3.  2 table runners that are already cut out and aging in bags (poor dears!)

Here are some of the list (hope one of these are picked first or I'll have to go sewing space diving)

4.  Start and finish a quilt from this honey bun of Neptune fabric (it is already trying to escape from the roll so I hope this number gets picked soon)

5.  Finish top for "Stars of Provence" --languishing since February 2007 
6.  Finish top called "Damask Rose" using Clara Barton  fabric from the book Layer Cakes, Jellyrolls, & Charm Packs
7.  Finish top for "Firecracker" quilt--I think this just needs borders and the backing pieced
8.  Finish top for Kaffe Fassett quilt from Jelly Roll Quilts--top is halfway done and need to piece backing
9.  Finish top for Stitch n' Quilt shop BOM from 2007
10.  Start and finish one of my oldest UFOs "Wild Rice" kit purchased in August 2004 (OY!)
11.  Start and finish one of my newest UFOs (I don't think it's really a UFO yet but it has the possibility to be so I better add it to the list just in case) Whittier Crossing kit for "Bali Sea Star" from the book Scrap Basket Surprises--purchased November 2010.
12.  Finish two I-forgot-I-even-had-these projects (seriously these need to be finished before I forget them again.

Here is Kristie's in progress last year

.

Baker's dozen # 13 project to fit in:  "Kristie made me do this project" Bunny Hill Scotty Dogs

Whew!  This was scary and exhausting.

I think I need to eat a cookie and drink a cup of coffee to recover.