Project Update and Weekly Goals

     This time of year I am happy to make requested Halloween costumes for GDs although that may be coming to an end as they age. I enjoy making and giving handmade items for Christmas and other occasions so that is how I spent most of my week.

This is how I did on last week's goals:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”. Done .

I quilted for 2 hours Monday, There is lots more to be done.

2. Sew Christmas gifts. Done

I made 2 pillowcases, 2 Christmas soft books from panels 

 
  

   

and 2 microwave bowl cozies.

3. Sew charity quilt project. Done.

I pieced the center of a 3 yd “It's a Snap” quilt.

A friend from church pieced “Stepping Up” blocks and I pieced them into a top.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 2 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 87.01 yds Added: 40 yds

Net decrease 48.01 yds

     I have only been counting cotton quilting fabric in my yardage used; however, I want to note that I am also working to reduce other fabric yardage. GD Lily is in a school musical and there was a recent call for items to use in the show. I found scraps and yardage of suggested fabrics, ribbon and lace they can use.

    GD Lily tried on her Dorothy costume and it fit well after a minor adjustment.  * (update) She got her basket and red shoes.  Halloween was also Book Character Day so she wore her outfit to school.

 I also made her dog a lion mane for his costume. They were so cute together.

Goals for this week:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”.

2. Finish charity top

3. Work on more small gifts

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Weekly Goals and Small Gifts

      It is Monday already and the start of a new week. Last week I stayed busy and feel good about what I accomplished even though I didn't meet all my goals. Friday I shared 2 small quilt finishes.   

This is how I did on last week's goals:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”. Not Done.

I just didn't have the energy to tackle the large quilt so chose to work on small projects.

2. Finish quilting the “Dancing Garland” wall-hanging. Done

The top was finished last year and was waiting for quilting. You can see more about the finish on Friday's post.

3. Quilt the snowman mini quilts. Done.

Both are finished and I'm keeping the one with the light blue border with mittens.

      In addition to quilt projects I made a Dorothy dress for GD Lily's Halloween costume. Hope it will fit.

      Sunday afternoon I did some organizing of projects and found a kit for a microwave bowl cozy. I needed a new one so quickly made it and one more. Then I cut out kits for 2 more pairs which will become gifts.

     Next I found 3 panels for Christmas soft books. One was already cut out so I cut fusible fleece and it is ready to sew. I also cut fleece for the other 2. These will be quick projects and will become gifts. Best of all, they will be out of my house and useful for some young children.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 3.5 yd Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 85.01 yds Added: 40 yds

Net decrease 46.01 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”.

2. Sew Christmas gifts.

3. Sew charity quilt project.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Friday Finishes

      This has been a great week for finishing small quilt projects. Early in the week I put the finishing touches on mini tabletop quilts. I couldn't decide on which fabrics to use so made 2. I will keep one and give the other away. I hope I will be able to choose one. The pattern is “All Bundled Up” from The Wooden Bear.  I love what the 3D yarn adds to the little quilts. Next time I use the pattern, I hope I remember to quilt the snowmen before adding the 3D yarn on the hat and scarf. The pattern tells you to quilt first but I got carried away with applique stitching and didn't pay attention.

     Next I finally quilted and finished the second Dancing Garland wall-hanging. This one is for me. You can still get the free pattern here.  

     I FM quilted a continuous design on the tree and then FM quilted  Leah Day's “Echo Shortcut” motif in the background. I did not put up a Christmas tree last year and this wall-hanging will be my tree this year.  I'm considering sewing on buttons from which to hang mini ornaments. 

    It feels great to finish projects. I hope I can finish a few more before the end of the year. I have too many quilt tops waiting for quilting.

Check out some inspiration at Alycia's Finished (or Not) Friday.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Goals and Progress

      I had great intentions to make a lot of progress quilting on the Celtic Fantasy quilt; however, health took a hit.

This is how I did on last week's goal:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”. Done.

Early in the week I finished echo quilting the Celtic motifs in the outside purple areas. Then I got a cold virus and didn't feel like wrestling a big quilt so it stalled. Here is what the top looks like. I have not yet echoed the dragons.

I decided to pull a small UFO to quilt and worked on quilting the “Dancing Garland” wall-hanging. I only need to quilt the white background.

      I was still not feeling up to a big project so found a cute snowman mini quilt pattern. I pulled from my stash and made 2 versions since I couldn't decide which group of fabrics I liked best. The snowman is all fusible except for the background and borders. I did machine blanket stitching around the pieces. I still need to hand embroider a mouth on each. Then they will be ready to sandwich and quilt a little.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week- Used: 1 yd Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 81.51 yds Added: 40 yds

Net decrease 42.51 yds

I am hoping to feel much better this week and get a lot more quilting done.

Goals for this week

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”.

2. Finish quilting the “Dancing Garland” wall-hanging.

3. Quilt the snowman mini quilts.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Comfort Quilt Finish

    It is Monday and the start of a new week so I'm looking back at last week's projects and planning for the new.  I like to keep one charity project and one of my own projects going. I still have plenty of quilting work to do on my son's Celtic Fantasy quilt. I finished the wildlife charity quilt so I'm thinking on what charity project to work on. 

This is how I did for the past week:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”. Done but just a little.

It is tedious work with a lot of stops and starts that I mostly avoided for something more fun. I wish I could get more excited to work on it because I know it will be special when finished.

2. Finish quilting charity/ comfort quilt. Done.

Last week I shared progress on this quilt and it wasn't laying very flat. With more quilting it lays better. I used leftover binding pieces for a scrappy binding of browns and blacks.

I used several FM motifs in the borders. 

 They show up better on the back.

3. Finish all fall theme mug rugs for homebound. Done.

I made more than needed for the homebound so a few with be small birthday gifts.

I decided as an afterthought that a few needed something so added silk leaves and stitched veins to attach them. Here is the before and after on one. 

    

Most of my time was spent on quilting.  Sewing used only scraps so my stash report did not change.

Goals for this week:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”.

2. Work on a new charity project.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Progress and Goals

      I love this time of year when the mornings are cooler so it is a wonderful time spend in the yard doing fall maintenance. I still have some flower beds and vegetable garden chores to be done. Then I can rest and work on quilt projects in the afternoons. That is what I plan to do as much as I can this week.

Here is how I did on last week's goals.

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”. Done.

I quilted on it a couple of afternoons. There is still a lot to do.

2. Make progress on a UFO. Done.

I pulled a comfort/ charity quilt top that was ready for quilting. I did a simple meander on the center panel and stitch-in-the-ditch for borders. Right now it doesn't lay very flat but hope it will lay better after more quilting.

 

3. Work on fall theme mug rugs for homebound. Done.

I have 14 in various stages of almost done with 3 totally finished. On mug rugs I prefer to finish them with the pillowcase technique so no binding.

Stash Report for 2023

this past week-    Used:     1.3 yds    Added: 0 yds

So far this year- Used: 80.51 yds   Added: 40 yds

             Net decrease 41.51 yds

Goals for this week:

1. Quilt more on “Celtic Fantasy”.

2. Finish quilting charity/ comfort quilt.

3. Finish all fall theme mug rugs for homebound.

      On a regular basis I am tempted by lovely fall quilting patterns.  Recently I have resisted starting a new project.  I hope I can continue and make much more progress on finishing UFOs and using my stash of fabrics. 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.