To Do List – 2013 December

Yes, I am a listmaker. Soon you will see that I will get overwhelmed by the lists I am posting and I will abandon some of them.

As I mentioned last month, this list was a way to get me back in the saddle after, what felt like, a non-sewing October. This is separate from the 26 Projects list, and I decided that I would post it again as showing progress is always a morale booster. I might still add it as a separate category to the 26 Projects list, but it might also be good to continue it as a separate post.

To Do List:

  1. Finish binding on T-Shirt quilt
  2. Secret Santa gift for BAMQG
  3. Kathleen’s Round Robin
  4. Kelly’s Brown Round Robin
  5. Make sleeve for Original Bullseye
  6. Sew on sleeve for Original Bullseye
  7. Pillow from cake tea towel
  8. Finish sewing triangles for Scrapitude
  9. Try plain square for center of Russian Rubix blocks
  10. Take apart Ribbon Star and resew
  11. Sew green and red striped 8 pointed star
  12. Sew white on black wavy line 8 pointed star
  13. Layer, baste Christmas table runner
  14. Quilt Christmas table runner
  15. Quilt/stitch fish postcard
  16. Wash fabric (I am guessing this will never be off the list) 😉
  17. Make stiff bucket or box for TP in main bath
  18. Make stiff bucket or box for TP in second bath
  19. Dragon Box (gift)
  20. Anna Maria Horner Multi-tasker tote (gift-due Holiday 2013)
  21. Make 3 notepad covers (gifts)
  22. Color Group donation quilt
  23. Binding for Color Group donation quilt
  24. Make shopping bag for BAMQG
  25. Hand sew bottom opening in Shopping bag for BAMQG

Did I say that this list is in no particular order? This list is in no particular order. 😉

Fabric of the Year -Early December 2013

FOTY 2013 - December
FOTY 2013 – December

It has been awhile since I posted an update on this project. Nonnie asked about it during the Black Friday Sew-in and I thought it would be a good time to do an update.

I am shocked that the last time I posted about this project was in September. I am also shocked that it is December and I am about to need to start sewing this baby together.

One thing that has happened is that I have washed very little fabric this Fall. I don’t want a huge pile hanging around the workroom waiting to be pressed, so I haven’t been washing fabric unless I need it. A lot of what you see in the photo (left) comes from the various projects I have worked on recently, most specifically the Scrapitude project. I’ll need to wash some fabric soon as I’d like to make sure some of it gets in this project.

I am really shocked that in a month and a half I’ll be sewing this project together. That is the plan anyway. I can’t go to the CQFA Retreat (super sad face), so I am going to have to mark out specific time to sew it together.

Finished: T-Shirt Quilt

T-Shirt Quilt Front
T-Shirt Quilt Front

I finally was able to get some people to hold up the T-Shirt Quilt so I could photograph it. I finished it at the beginning of November, I think.

The boys would have held it up for me, but I did want it to be a bit of a surprise for the Young Man. He knew I was making it, but I don’t think he knew it was finished.

My BIL and nephew are both over 6’2″, so it was pretty easy for them to hold it up. They are inexperienced quilt holders, though, so I had to keep reminding them to get out of the photo, hold the quilt straight and taut, etc.  It was kind of funny.

T-Shirt Quilt Back
T-Shirt Quilt Back

I was very glad to have waited to give it to the Young Man at his family party. His face registered “ho hum another quilt” but the adults oohed and aahed and really looked at it closely, which was gratifying.

The only design choice the Young Man suggested was that I don’t put the Blue’s Clues t-shirt on the front. I could work with that, thus it is on the back.

One friend can’t get over my backs. 😉 This one is fairly tame, but she has seen other quilts, which have much more piecing. She loves them and that makes some of the drama of piecing the backs worthwhile. Some day I’ll make her a quilt.

Black Friday Sew-in Winners

The winners of the Black Friday Sew-in giveaway are:

Black Friday Sew-in #1:  – Janet, Kati R
Black Friday Sew-in #2:  – June in AZ, Peggy Burrell
Black Friday Sew-in #3:  – Kelly O!, Julia P.
Black Friday Sew-in #4:  – April, Torina in Stitches
Black Friday Sew-in #5:  – Jackie of Sew Excited Quilts, EngrSandi
Black Friday Sew-in #6:  – Diane Rincon, Leslie Noon

Bonus Prizes: Pam C and Jen

Fabric: Polly Rouse

DVD: Daisy W

Winners will be contacted soon and your names & contact info will be passed on to Lark Crafts.

Thank you so much for participating and for your great comments. I hope you will continue to comment and participate. I so appreciate your opinions.

Black Friday Sew-in Work

Original Bullseye sleeve
Original Bullseye sleeve

I finally got myself together to make the sleeve for the Original Bullseye. I haven’t sewed it on yet, but that will be good for some evenings in front of the TV.

I don’t know why it took me so long to get to making the sleeve. Except for piecing the fabric large enough to make the sleep, putting the sleeve together doesn’t take very long.

Needle Cases
Needle Cases

I also finished the needle cases I wanted to work on. I will give those as gifts, but I was pleased to be able to work out a few more of the kinks.

I tried using the flannel for the inside and that worked really well. It was still a little thick on the edges, but I could have trimmed the flannel a little smaller and that might have made the thickness at the edges a little thinner.

Instead of following the directions for the needle part of the needle case, I used a scrap of batting. I attached it with a piece of Perl cotton. I wanted to use felt, but didn’t have any. I’ll get a sheet of wool felt if I make any more of the needle cases.

Again, instead of putting binding on the needle cases, I turned them inside out then top stiched around the outside very close to the edge.

I have to be honest that I didn’t really get as much done as I had hoped, but I got enough done.

26 Projects List – November 2013 Update

I am just squeaking this update in under the wire. I almost forgot to post an update this month. Perhaps remembering is a sign I am getting back on track?

I am thinking about changing the name of this post in the new year. Freshen it up a bit to reflect the progress I have made on the old projects. We’ll see how things shake out. 12 quilts finished is nothing to sneeze at, but I am hoping to finish at least one more project this year.

Again I need to keep in mind that I need to be thinking about whether or not to focus my efforts on not filling up the list again. I don’t mind having a few projects going at once, but I continue to feel that I don’t want stalled projects hanging around for years. I really don’t. That is the key: I have to work on them. If I work on projects in which I am interested, I don’t think I will let them languish for years.

Finished 2013 Projects:

  1. Corner Store: Finished on 1/1/2013 YAY!
  2. The Garden. Finished on 1/5/2013 YAY!
  3. Stepping Stones: Finished on 2/14/2013 YAY!
  4. Fabric of the Year 2011: Finished on 2/27/2013 YAY
  5. Calm: Finished on 3/14/2013 YAY!
  6. A-B-C Challenge: Finished on 3/31/2013 YAY!
  7. Super Secret Project #1: Finished on June 13, 2013
  8. Super Secret Project #2: Finished on June 23, 2013
  9. Sparkle Pink: Finished on August 20, 2013
  10. Swoon: Finished on August 27, 2013
  11. Original Bullseye: Finished on October 20, 2013
  12. T-Shirt quilt: Finished

Other non-quilt Projects finished

Still WIPs

  1. Aqua-Red Sampler – Frances and I are stalled. She has a lot going on, but I hope we will get back to it. I should be able to do the next tutorial regardless.
  2. The Tarts Come to Tea: I still haven’t worked on this since April 2011, though, periodically, I think about working on it.
  3. Pointillist Palette #4: Fourth is a series of 6 quilts; needs tiny square patches sewn together. I still haven’t worked on this, though, every once in a while I think about using some of the squares as leaders and enders.
  4. See: needs satin stitching. Small, also a possibility for finishing before the end of the year, though with all the cutting I have done recently, perhaps not so much.
  5. Self Portrait: started in 2006 at a class at Quilting Adventures in Richmond, Virginia. I like the piece, but don’t know where to go from where I am. Mouth? Hair? The attitude I need to have is that I can’t ruin it; there is always more fabric. Possibility for abandonment.
  6. Under the Sea: class project; like the design, but not the colors much. Possibility for abandonment. I have to face reality.
  7. Flower Sugar Hexagon: This piece is up on the design wall and I have sewed a few more hexagons together, but haven’t made significant progress despite looking at it all the time. I am beginning to think I should have added fabrics from different lines to this piece.

Ready for Quilting

Again, I don’t have anything ready to take to my quilter. The machine being in the shop has put a cramp in my style this month. Sigh.

  1. New:* Wonky 9 Patch: needs quilting and binding. I am still thinking about quilting this myself and I am thinking about it more and more. I am wondering how far apart I can quilt it so that it has some drape. (Not on original list)
  2. Infinity blocks: blocks sewn together into a quilt top, borders on. Back and binding made; at the quilter.
  3. Spiderweb: Top is together, binding is made. This is at the quilter.
  4. New:* FOTY 2012: top, finished. Back and binding are complete; at the quilter.
  5. New:*Star Sampler: Top finished, back and binding finished; at the quilter. (not on original list)
  6. New:*Fresh Fruit: Top finished, back and binding finished; at the quilter. (not on original list)

Please note that even if you combine the two lists above, I do not have 26 projects on this list even though I keep starting new things. I am so thrilled I have made progress!!!

In the Finishing Process

In Process
I decided that I had better put in an ‘In Process’ category. The difference, at least in my mind, between ‘In Process’ and ‘UFO’ is that I am actively working on something In Process.

Hunting and Gathering

      • Spin Wheel: really not started, but supplies gathered. I probably have enough fabrics and just need to decide to start.
      • Windmill quilt: Still hunting and gathering. Need to find a background, because if we use the cut fabrics, the pattern will be lost. The pieces are too oddly shaped to lose the pattern in a mass of scraps.
      • Stepping Stones #2 using Bonnie & Camille fabrics Bliss, Ruby, Vintage Modern: made two test blocks, but still in the thinking stage while I decide on the background colors. I want the contrast to be good.
      • Super Secret Project #3: working on color choices.

Abandoned

Nothing so far for 2013

Last update for the 26 Projects List. Read it. There’s some interesting stuff there.

I thought you might want to take a look at the first list I made, the one with the 26 Projects. I started the list in October 2011. I have made progress. I plan to stop this post when I have no more projects from the original list to write about. I wonder when that will be?

*New – Project started after I started working on the 26 Projects list

Black Friday Sew-in #6

The question for this giveaway is:

If you had to teach someone how to do one quiltmaking technique, what would that be?

If you are a beginner, what would you want someone to teach you?

More Chances to Win:

Mean Mom Stuff:

  1. Substantive comments only. “Sign me up” comments will not be entered.
  2. Comments on questions close tomorrow 11/30/2013 at 6pm PDT. I may not actually get to choose the winner until December 1, but no whining if you can’t leave a comment at 6:01pm on 11/30.
  3. The books will be sent from Lark. I will send them the names and addresses and they will send you the book.
  4. Everything else is coming from me and will be shipped the week of December 2.
  5. International entries are welcome!
  6. I will select winners using the Random number generator.
  7. Make sure your email address works. If I can’t contact you, I can’t send you your prize
  8. No whining, acting out, frowning or complaining. Whiners and complainers will be disqualified.

If you are looking for the Creative Prompt, look here: https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2013/11/creative-prompt-235-meal/

Black Friday Sew-in #5

Update: Comments are closed and the winners for all of the BFSI giveaways have been chosen.

The question for this giveaway is:

Do you watch or listen while you sew? If so, what do you like to watch? To what do you like to listen?

For those of you who listen to the silence, tell me what you ‘hear’ in that silence.

The prizes for this giveaway are:

Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop
Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop

More Chances to Win:

Mean Mom Stuff:

  1. Substantive comments only. “Sign me up” comments will not be entered.
  2. Comments on questions close tomorrow 11/30/2013 at 6pm PDT. I may not actually get to choose the winner until December 1, but no whining if you can’t leave a comment at 6:01pm on 11/30.
  3. The books will be sent from Lark. I will send them the names and addresses and they will send you the book.
  4. Everything else is coming from me and will be shipped the week of December 2.
  5. International entries are welcome!
  6. I will select winners using the Random number generator.
  7. Make sure your email address works. If I can’t contact you, I can’t send you your prize
  8. No whining, acting out, frowning or complaining. Whiners and complainers will be disqualified.
  9. I may compile the responses and write a blog post, crediting you appropriately, of course.

If you are looking for the Creative Prompt, look here: https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2013/11/creative-prompt-235-meal/

Black Friday Sew-in #4

Update: the comments are closed and the BFSI winners have been chosen. Check my other posts and come back next year for more prizes.

The question for this giveaway is:

With whom do you like to sew? Your guild? Your bee? Your small group? What do you like about sewing with that person or those people?

If you like sewing alone, tell me why.

If you like both, I’d love to hear when you sew alone and when you want to sew with people.

Your prize for this giveaway is:

Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits
Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits

More Chances to Win:

Mean Mom Stuff:

  1. Substantive comments only. “Sign me up” comments will not be entered.
  2. Comments on questions close tomorrow 11/30/2013 at 6pm PDT. I may not actually get to choose the winner until December 1, but no whining if you can’t leave a comment at 6:01pm on 11/30.
  3. The books will be sent from Lark. I will send them the names and addresses and they will send you the book.
  4. Everything else is coming from me and will be shipped the week of December 2.
  5. International entries are welcome!
  6. I will select winners using the Random number generator.
  7. Make sure your email address works. If I can’t contact you, I can’t send you your prize
  8. No whining, acting out, frowning or complaining. Whiners and complainers will be disqualified.
  9. I may compile the information from this post and write a blog post later, crediting you appropriately, of course.

If you are looking for the Creative Prompt, look here: https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2013/11/creative-prompt-235-meal/

Black Friday Sew-in #3

The question for this giveaway is:
Tell me about the guild or guilds to which you belong. Why do you belong? What do you like? What would you change?

If you do not belong to a guild or quilt group, why not?

Another Chance to Win:

Your prize for this giveaway is:

500 Art Quilts
500 Art Quilts

Mean Mom Stuff:

  1. Substantive comments only. “Sign me up” comments will not be entered.
  2. Comments on questions close tomorrow 11/30/2013 at 6pm PDT. I may not actually get to choose the winner until December 1, but no whining if you can’t leave a comment at 6:01pm on 11/30.
  3. The books will be sent from Lark. I will send them the names and addresses and they will send you the book.
  4. Everything else is coming from me and will be shipped the week of December 2.
  5. International entries are welcome!
  6. I will select winners using the Random number generator.
  7. Make sure your email address works. If I can’t contact you, I can’t send you your prize
  8. No whining, acting out, frowning or complaining. Whiners and complainers will be disqualified.
  9. I may compile the information from your answers and write a blog post. Of course, I will credit you appropriately.

If you are looking for the Creative Prompt, look here: https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2013/11/creative-prompt-235-meal/

Black Friday Sew-in Giveaway #2

The question for this giveaway is:

Lark Crafts is always interested in your thoughts about quilt and craft books. To that end, answer the following question in as much detail as possible:

  • What type of quilting book would you like to see on the market that’s not already out there?
  • If you could publish your “dream” book on quilting, what would it cover? How would it be set up, etc? In other words, what would be most helpful to them?

If you do another kind of craft, you can answer the same question, just substitute your craft (knit, crochet, stuffies, etc) for quilt.

Prize (2 copies available):

Stitched Blooms
Stitched Blooms

Mean Mom Stuff:

  1. Substantive comments only. “Sign me up” comments will not be entered.
  2. Comments on questions close tomorrow 11/30/2013 at 6pm PDT. I may not actually get to choose the winner until December 1, but no whining if you can’t leave a comment at 6:01pm on 11/30.
  3. The books will be sent from Lark. I will send them the names and addresses and they will send you the book.
  4. Everything else is coming from me and will be shipped the week of December 2.
  5. International entries are welcome!
  6. I will select winners using the Random number generator.
  7. Make sure your email address works. If I can’t contact you, I can’t send you your prize!
  8. No whining, frowning or complaining. Whiners and complainers will be disqualified.
  9. Winners first name and last initial will be posted on this page
  10. Answers may be compiled for a future blog post. Last names will not be used.

If you are looking for the Creative Prompt, look here: https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2013/11/creative-prompt-235-meal/

Black Friday Sew-in Giveaway #1

The question for this giveaway is:

Tell me about your top 5 UFOs. What do they look like, what is stopping you from finishing? Do you still like the colors?

If you don’t have 5 UFOs, tell me about the UFOs you have or your current project.

If you are looking for the Creative Prompt, look here: https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2013/11/creative-prompt-235-meal/

Prize:

Pretty Little Patchwork
Pretty Little Patchwork

Mean Mom Stuff

  1. Substantive comments only. “Sign me up” comments will not be entered.
  2. Comments on questions close tomorrow 11/30/2013 at 6pm PDT. I may not actually get to choose the winner until December 1, but no whining if you can’t leave a comment at 6:01pm on 11/30.
  3. The books will be sent from Lark. I will send them the names and addresses and they will send you the book.
  4. Everything else is coming from me and will be shipped the week of December 2.
  5. International entries are welcome!
  6. I will select winners using the Random number generator.
  7. Make sure your email address works. If I can’t contact you, I can’t send you your prize
  8. No whining, frowning or complaining. Whiners and complainers will be disqualified.
  9. Winners first name and last initial will be posted on this page.

Black Friday Sew-in Giveaways

If you are looking for the Creative Prompt, look here: https://artquiltmaker.com/blog/2013/11/creative-prompt-235-meal/

#BFSI, Dudettes & Dudes. Get ready.

Start thinking about your UFOs, because we have some giveaways and I want to know about your UFOs.

Below is the Master List of Giveaway Prizes
One each of the following:

FQ Pack
FQ Pack

I received this fabric from a giveaway, but it isn’t something that I will use and it is a brand spanking new, full FQ pack of almost an entire line. There are 16 pieces (retail value $29) from the line Christmas Peace. This Christmas fabric and would make great gift bags.

BFSI Giveaway
BFSI Giveaway

The DVD is brand new. It is called The Best of Fons & Porter Love of Quilting TV Series.

2 each of the following:

Stitched Blooms
Stitched Blooms

Remember I reviewed Stitched Blooms? This is a book that I LOVED! I think you will love it, too.

Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits
Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits

I also reviewed Art Quilt Portfolio: People & Portraits and enjoyed this book.

500 Art Quilts
500 Art Quilts

500 Art Quilts is one of my favorites. I reviewed it  in 2010, but I still think it is pure eye candy.

Pretty in Patchwork Holidays
Pretty in Patchwork Holidays

I am tempted to keep Pretty in Patchwork Holidays myself as I have not gotten a sneak peek at this one. I get a lot of books from Lark, so I will pass this along and make goo goo eyes at Shannon in order get my own copy to review. 😉

Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop
Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop

I gave a copy of Fat Quarterly Shape Workshop away last year as well and the recipient was thrilled, though I don’t think she has had time to even look at it, but I am expecting great things from her.

Pretty Little Patchwork
Pretty Little Patchwork

I am not sure I have seen Pretty Little Patchwork either, but I might have. I am sure it is great and I promise not to keep copies. I’ll give them both away.

Bonus Prizes:

Stuffed Animals
Stuffed Animals
Flip Dolls
Flip Dolls

I haven’t seen either of these, but they look fun.

I’ll be interested to know what you think. There is potential in them for making grownup dolls and toys — not just toys for kids.

Now: get ready for the questions.

Thanks for Lark Crafts for their generosity. Check out their blog at www.larkcrafts.com

Still not happy? (Sheesh you are so hard to please!)

Check out the gorgeousness that Daisy is giving away: http://ldq.outlandishthreads.com/?p=633

 

Creative Prompt #235: Meal

Yes, I do realize today is not Friday, but we are shaking things up a bit here at Artquiltmaker blog, because tomorrow is the Black Friday Sew-in and there is too much happening to do the Creative Prompt as well.

In a bit of celebration of U.S. Thanksgiving, the word this week fits in with that holiday. Enjoy!

Definition: any of the regular occasions in a day when a reasonably large amount of food is eaten, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Post the direct URL (link) where your drawing, doodle, artwork is posted (e.g. your blog, Flickr) in the comments area of this post. I would really like to keep all the artwork together and provide a way for others to see your work and/or your blog.

We are also talking about this on Twitter. Use the hashtag #CPP

The Creative Prompt Project, also, has a Flickr group, which you can join to  post your responses. I created this spot so those of you without blogs and websites would have a place to post your responses.

Meals on Wheels

meal plan

Join me for a meal

meal ticket

Happy Meal

meal train

square meal

Meal Deal

Last meal (condemned prisoner)

 

 

What to Work on…

When I know I will have a block of time to sew, I like to be prepared. I have a block of time on Friday and am not really prepared.

I am always a little prepared, because I keep stuff around to sew to get me in the mood, get me out of a slump, get me going. With a block of time, however, I want to maximize the time available and get the most done.

Many people will be starting the latest Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt, Celtic Solstice. I am not planning on doing that one as I still have plans to make Easy Street from last year. I also have a lot of other things to do and think one mystery quilt is enough for now.

The To Do List has helped me to stay focused and know what to work on next. The 26 Projects List has helped keep me on track for getting old UFOs off my shelves. It is kind of a macro view of my quilt life while the To Do list focuses on the smaller projects and achievable goals.

I hope to have some time later today to figure out where I am with Scrapitude and make myself a list of what comes next. I know I have some more triangle units (different ones) to sew, but I have to figure out if I have cut the pieces I need to use to sew them together.

I can work on the Russian Rubix. I also still need to find some more cool colors, I think, for the Jaye-Roll. I haven’t thought about either project for a month or so.

I also want to make a sleeve for the Original Bullseye and a bag to wrap the T-shirt quilt in. Those may be first on my list as they should be quick finishes.

I guess I do have a kind of plan and only need a bit of