Monday, December 31, 2012

December (lack of) accomplishments, January goals

Oh, the goals for December didn't go so well.  (Ok, ok, I didn't manage to finish anything!)  Christmas time is busy!
1. Quilt a quilt for Christmas.  This didn't happen because I didn't get the back.  It'll probably be for a birthday now.

2. Make at least one heart block
.  This also didn't happen.  I was thinking about at least cutting out some pieces, but didn't.
3. Make some potholders for Christmas
.  This was code for finish the duvet cover (#4) and I was hoping to finish it for Christmas.  I got really close, but didn't finish.
And some other things that I hope to work on:

4.Work on duvet cover.  The main reason I didn't finish this is because I kept making mistakes while sewing the long rows together and had to unpick them.  It took a while.  I had really been hoping to finish it but didn't quite make it before Christmas time got busy. :(



This is what it looks like right now...the top is upside down and the bottom was gently tossed on top.  I'm not always very neat, but I figure when it is being used it'll be tossed around too.  Might as well start early.


5. make a pattern for the heart block. 
I think I'm going to take this off the list.  I'm not sure that I have enough exposure to make selling patterns worth the time I put into them.  I'll still keep the templates around should I ever change my mind.

6. work on the I-spy quilt.
  No progress 
7. make the wall hanging for office.
No progress

8. pretend to work on scrap quilt.
Pretending accomplished.
9. finish green coasters. 
No progress 
10. Aunt's throw.
No progress
11. Pillow for family room.
No progress
12. Finish Adding Up Nicely baby quilt. 
Progress!  The binding is about half way finished!



I got the clips for Christmas!


13. Quilt blog hop giveaway winner quilt. 
Well, I emailed the second person asking that she finish it by the end of January.  I had intended for the quilting to happen rather soon after the giveaway (which is why I said that they would be finished by Dec 10) and feel like five months should be enough time.  I haven't heard back.  I'm going to take this one off too.  I can always put it back on.
14. Quilt map quilt. 
Progress!  I'm actually pretty far along.  I worked on this one instead of the Christmas quilt.  But then I took it off the quilter.



There are swirls, back and forths, triangles, pebbles, and buildings.  It's been a lot of fun putting in different textures.


15. Another wall hanging for upstairs.
No progress

16. Quilt Sarah's quilt.
Started!  I'm excited to see this one come together.



There are pebbles in the quarter circles and wavy lines in the apple cores.


So for January I'm taking a few of the items off but I'm also adding a few designs that I want to make.  I've been excited about them for a while, so decided to put them on the list.  I ended up with 17 items.  That doesn't sound so bad.  (How many do you think I'll bring into 2014?)
The January top 3...
1. Finish duvet
2. Finish Adding Up Nicely
3. Quilt Sarah's quilt (I need to do about two blocks a day to finish on time.  So far that hasn't been a problem.)
 
And some other things that I hope to work on:

4. Interlocking hearts quilt (finish by end of April)
5. work on the I-spy quilt  (finish by mid April)
6. make the wall hanging for office
7. pretend to work on scrap quilt
8. finish green coasters
9. Aunt's throw
10. Pillow for family room
11. Quilt map quilt.
12. Another wall hanging for upstairs.
13. Quilt red quilt for mother-in-law (finish by end of October)
14. Random triangles (finish by end of April)
15. Fractured quilt
16. Jeweled floors
17. Picture quilt (finish by Christmas)
Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day and Just three

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Map quilting progress

I'm continuing quilting on the map quilt.  It has a ton of different types of spaces, so I've been trying several different quilting patterns.

This is the back with pebbles and city scape.   I like looking at the bottom and seeing the light come through the little holes.

And this is a portion of the top.  Again, the pebbles and city scape, but you can also see some  triangles, swirls, and back and forth.  So far I think the back and forth has been my favorite, but there was a nice grid to work with so that could be part of the reason.  (And again, I'm still working on getting good pictures of the quilting.  When these are large it's a lot easier to see...)

I'm planning on taking this off at the end of the weekend even though it won't be finished.  It's been fun though, so it'll get back on the frame soon!

Oh, and I finally joined a bee!  It was pretty close to what I was looking for, so I thought I'd give it a try.  If you're interested, you can see more info here: Simply Solids Bee

Monday, December 10, 2012

Quilting frame

I had been planning on taking the quilt that is currently on my quilting frame off when I was about halfway done with it.  But some deadlines have changed, so I decided that I wanted to keep it on the frame.  The problem?  I hadn't practiced the last two designs much.

So I thought I'd try putting my scrap piece of fabric on the end and practicing a little bit.  I wasn't sure how it would work, but it went rather well!  I just pinned the fabric to the leaders...although on the bottom rail it isn't pinned to the end of the leader like normal.  I also loosened the main quilt so I could get the tension on the scrap piece correct.

I was practicing pebbles and cityscape.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Design floor take 2

Thanks to everyone that commented on the last post!  I was actually rather surprised, but there was 100% agreement to use the top layout.  I would have chosen the bottom layout, but people mentioned that they didn't like the two white stripes next to each other.  Ah...that makes sense.  The white is a little brighter than I realized.

So I laid out another layout and I think I'm going to go with this one.  I took out one of the white strips and separated the remaining two.   So I'll either need to make another strip or add some plain green to make the size correct.  I thought I'd put it together and then measure. :)  I figured it all out on paper, but sometimes things seem to come together a little differently that I expect.


But first I need to finish the Christmas potholders.  Christmas things first.

Joining up with Plum and June.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Design floor

I thought I'd lay out the duvet tonight and see how it looked.  It's been one of those projects where the individual strips don't look great by themselves, so I needed some reassurance.

It does look a lot better all laid out.  I was also able to find my missing brown piece...at least I didn't do the math incorrectly.


I wonder if it would look better in a different layout.  The strips are currently in a repeating pattern from the left.  I can't change the up and down stripes anymore, but the vertical stripes might look better if they radiate from the center.


Hmm, I 'm not sure.  The left and right sides don't match each other, but I figure they'll be hanging off the side of the bed anyway.  It's hand to keep that in mind when analyzing the pictures.  I guess I'll send off the pictures to the intended recipient and see what they like the best.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

November accomplishments, December goals

This month I got my top three goals done.  I made a little progress on some of the other things, but not much.  I'm still calling it a successful month!  I'm not sure about December though...I might not be able to meet those goals.  But I'll try!

First, November...
1. Finish quilting the kaleidoscope quilt for the blog hop winner.  Done!

2. Finish Grandma's wall hanging  Done!

3. Work on duvet cover - at least start to get all the pieces put together.  Accomplished...the pieces are mostly in long strips.

And some other things that I hope to work on:

4. work on the heart quilt
No progress
5. make a pattern for the heart block No progress
6. work on the I-spy quilt No progress
7. make the wall hanging with fabric I won Started...finally

8. pretend to work on scrap quilt Pretending accomplished
9. finish green coasters No progress
10. Aunt's throw No progress
11. Pillow for family room No progress
12. Finish Adding Up Nicely baby quilt Progress!  It is quilted and now just needs a binding

13. Quilt blog hop giveaway winner quilts. No progress
14. Quilt quilt for mother-in-law/map quilt. Progress!  Swirls (or ocean currents) are done.

Addition #1. Another wall hanging. Got the fabric from Jennifer
Addition #2. Quilt for Sarah.  I got the quilt and need to figure out a design.


And for December...
1. Quilt a quilt for Christmas
2. Make at least one heart block
3. Make some potholders for Christmas

 
And some other things that I hope to work on:
4.Work on duvet cover
5. make a pattern for the heart block
6. work on the I-spy quilt 
7. make the wall hanging for office
8. pretend to work on scrap quilt
9. finish green coasters
10. Aunt's throw
11. Pillow for family room
12. Finish Adding Up Nicely baby quilt
13. Quilt blog hop giveaway winner quilts.
14. Quilt map quilt.
15. Another wall hanging for upstairs.
16. Quilt Sarah's quilt

Joining up with Fresh Sewing Day and Just Three