Ending January with Progress

     Last week was a very productive week in my sewing room although I don't have lots of photos to share. Check out how I did on my goals.

1. make progress on Celtic Fantasy Done. I finished the blanket stitching on 4 more units so that makes 9 of 21 appliqued. Sorry no photo.

2. finish quilting charity/comfort quilt Done. I finished quilting the split 9 patch and passed it Wednesday to another church quilter to add binding. I shared photos of that quilt in Friday's post. Then I quilted another comfort quilt and finished it; even adding the binding. This was pieced with simple large squares on-point using a striped fabric for the alternate squares.

      It felt so good to finish 2 comfort quilts. We have a stack of tops at church waiting to be quilting. Wednesday we sandwiched the kaleidoscope top so it is next in line for quilting.

      Last week I finished piecing GD Mattie's top and shared a photo on Friday. After I posted it, I saw a block turned the wrong way so it got unsewn and fixed.

       

  Then I saw my GD's new bed frame and it is very low to the floor which got me worried because I had planned for more drop. So last night a column was taken off the side and a row will probably come off the length so the quilt will not hang on the floor.

  Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 1.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 12.33 yds Added: 21 yd 

Net decrease -8.67 yds

    I expect some of this week to be GD/family time so don't know how much sewing time I will have.

Weekly Goals for Jan. 29th:

1. make progress on GD Mattie's quilt

2. Work on comfort quilts

Have a great week with some time for quilting.  

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

A Finish Plus a Top

      This week I took more time for quilting and so have my first finish for 2023.  The split nine patch quilt is now handed off to another church group member for binding. 

 I enjoy quilting free-form feathers and was able to let them show off in the light areas of the quilt.

     I finished piecing GD Mattie's new quilt top. I was pleased when she requested a new quilt; however, she had an inspiration photo of colors with a basic square design so I tried to keep the design simple. The colors are really prettier than in this photo.  Now that I look at the top I see an error I will have to correct.

I think the design is calling for modern quilting if I can figure out what that will be.

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday. Hope you check out the inspiration.

Have a great weekend with fun, happiness and good health along with some sewing and quilting.

“When Life gives you scraps, make quilts. “

Rainy Day Quilting

       Rainy days are great for staying inside and sewing so I have made good progress. The triple machine blanket stitch for Celtic Fantasy units is very time consuming and tedious. After working on a couple of units, I needed a break. I took time to piece all the simple brick blocks for GD Mattie's new quilt. My design wall is not large enough for all the blocks so I used my dining table to lay out and pin several rows at a time. Here are the first 4 rows.

How I did on last week's goals :

1. make progress on Celtic Fantasy - Done. Machine triple blanket stitch is complete on 5 of 21 units. It takes more time than I imagined.

2. start quilting charity/comfort quilt- Done. At least ¾ is quilted. Following is a special FM motif quilted in a focus light area.

3. control and use scrap fabric- not done.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week-     Used: 0 yds     Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 10.83 yds   Added: 21 yds
Net decrease -10.17 yds

Weekly Goals for Jan. 23rd:

1. make progress on Celtic Fantasy

2. finish quilting charity/comfort quilt

Have a great week with some time for quilting.

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember

that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built

the Titanic.” —Humor columnist Dave Barry

Fabric Sale Temptation

      GD Mattie is getting her bedroom redecorated and I was pleased that she asked me to make her a new quilt. She shared a photo of color inspiration so I shopped my stash for the needed fabric. I found 2 suitable pieces in my stash and decided to shop the store for the others. When I checked Hobby Lobby's sale fabric I found more than I needed and could not resist the price of $3 a yard. I came home with 5 fabrics for a total of 21 yards so I am in the red on my goal of decreasing my fabric stash.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week-  Used: 9 yds      Added: 21 yds
So far this year- Used:10.83 yds    Added: 21 yds
Net decrease -10.17 yds

Goals for last week:

1. Make progress on a comfort quilt - Done   One was sandwiched and found a back for another.

2. Start applique stitching on Celtic Fantasy - Done   Ricky Tims suggests use of the triple blanket stitch which is very time consuming. I have completed the triple blanket stitch on 3 of 21 sections which took about 8 hours.

   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Tidy up a shelf of fabric odds and ends - Done I chose two small sections of my fabric shelves. They are more organized plus I found several things to donate.

                Before                                          After

             

Goals for the week of Jan. 15^th :

1. make progress on Celtic Fantasy

2. start quilting charity/comfort quilt

3. control and use scrap fabric

Hope you have a great week with some time for quilting.

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember

that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built

the Titanic.” —Humor columnist Dave Barry

First Week of the New Year

     My focus the past week was to visit with GDs when I could. After school one day GD Lily helped me put together my new sewing chair.

I really enjoyed her help and am enjoying the new chair.

On the days they had school, I spent time piecing or cutting fabric for a few projects. One is definitely a UFO and the other 2 are comfort quilt projects started in 2022. These projects haven't made it to the design wall yet so no photos. Hopefully that should happen this week.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 1.83 yd Added: 0 yds
So far this year- Used: 1.83 yds Added: 0 yd
Net decrease 1.83 yds

    This week I hope to make great progress on projects. Wednesday church quilt group meets and I plan to get blocks on the design wall for at least one top. There are numerous tops waiting for sandwiching.

I plan to test more thread colors for the Celtic Fantasy and get started on the actual applique stitching.

Weekly Goals

1. Make progress on comfort quilt
2. Start applique stitching on Celtic Fantasy
3. Tidy up a shelf of fabric odds and ends

Hope your new year is off to a great start with fun, happiness and good health along with  sewing and quilting.

Looking Back and Goals for 2023

     Before the new year started I continued to work Saturday on 2022 UFOs and was excited to bring “Hometown Charms” to a finished top. I was also pleased to use stash fabric for the borders and binding.  

It was a rainy day with more inside time so I cut alternate blocks for the Dogtooth Star project. 

 Now this is the final-Final Stash Report for 2022:

this past week- Used: 4 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year- 149 yds Added: 53.75 yd

Net decrease 95.25 yds

     Now as 2023 begins I looked back at what I accomplished on quilting projects last year . Looking at other blogs I loved seeing a collage of their finishes for the year so decided to work on one. This shows my major finishes in a variety of sizes.

It does not including many placemats, mug rugs, most charity/comfort quilts or quilt tops.

The new year is also my time to set new goals. I'm keeping most of same as 2022.

Yearly Goals for 2023:

1. finish UFOs
2. decrease stash fabric
3. control and use scrap fabric

     I updated my list of UFOs and projects for 2023. “Celtic Fantasy” is top priority and will take a lot of time; however, I plan to work on other projects along with it. I listed 17 UFOs and 6 church quilt tops that need quilting. Pat Sloan is leading a “Sewing Space Organization Extravaganza” or Tidy Up Challenge for January. I plan to participate and expect to uncover more UFOs as I get more organized.

Hope your new year is full of fun, happiness and good health long with some sewing and quilting.

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember

that amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built

the Titanic.” —Humor columnist Dave Barry