GD and Progress on Projects

      Over the weekend I was in the audience to watch the middle school show “Something Rotten Jr”. GD Lily did an awesome job as well as the rest of the cast so the show was very entertaining. It was a musical comedy.

Lily played the character Shylock.

    Before I left town to see my GD in her school show, I was able to sew 2 backings and got the 2 quilt tops sandwiched. I doubt they will be quilted before Christmas, but they are ready.

     I had some sewing time to finish piecing blocks that were in progress and pieced the “Fishy Friendship” top. I will probably add a small simple border.

Next I decided the setting for my Kira blocks. As I look at the photo, I see some blocks that I want to move around.

The pattern is from GE Designs and uses 10” squares (layer cake). I saw a video on YouTube and was intrigued by how the block was created. Two squares create 2 blocks containing the fabrics in opposite positions. I just had to make some. Check it out here.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week - Used: 8.5 yds Added: yds

So far this year - Used: 128.255 yds Added: 45.625 yds

        Net decrease 82.63 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Organizing Fabric and Projects

     I was thinking about Christmas decorations. I went to get some and got distracted by some boxes of fabric that needed organizing. Then I started me organizing fabric in a cabinet. It is packed but looks much better.  At least I know more about what is there.

     However, there is a lot more fabric to sort or find a new home for. In the process I found several unfinished projects. One was a giant stocking that came from a panel and was almost finished. I quickly finished it. I will probably give it away but at least it is finished so someone can enjoy it.

     Early in the week I added the border to the wild rainbow top for a great niece. I have not decided on a backing. 

I finished the binding on my GD's “Hufflepuff Stars” quilt.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week - Used: 1.75 yds Added: 1 yds

So far this year - Used: 119.755 yds Added: 45.625 yds

Net decrease 74.13 yds

I hope to spend more time this week organizing fabric and finding a new home for some.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Wonderful Week of Family and Projects

      I enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with family. The day before I supervised while GDs made pies. They each made their own pie crust from scratch. Mattie made an apple pie with a lovely lattice top.

Lily made a large and mini pumpkin pie. Of course, I had to try a piece of each and both were delicious.

    A couple of days GD Lily sandwiched her first quilt top with my help and started the quilting.

She used the walking foot to echo the horizontal seams. She did a great job. I trimmed it so it is ready for binding which I will sew on so it will be finished the next time I visit.

     About 8 years ago I pieced blocks and planned to make a quilt similar to Bonnie Hunter's “Wild Child” quilt. The blocks have been sitting until I decided to use some for a quilt for a great niece. I added sashing and cornerstones. I have one more row to add and a border. I have more of these blocks so you may see them in another quilt.

    My sister Irene is preparing to move and gave me a jar of buttons to share with someone. I got sucked down a rabbit hole.

After sorting them, I decided to use some to accent my Christmas tree wall-hanging. The buttons are attached with safety pins on the back so they can be easily removed.

I enjoyed a great visit with family last week and made progress on projects for the win.  However, there was no change for my stash report.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Quilting Progress Before Thanksgiving

       I'm looking forward to a busy week with family and still making some progress on quilt projects. I am continuing on a roll piecing and quilting comfort quilts. I pieced the center of our SQG group color palette Friendship Star project.

For most of the joining I was able to piece large units and then I used the partial seam technique in the middle. Joan has it now to add the borders.

    I finished the quilting on "Grandma's Flower Garden" comfort quilt.  The hand pieced hexi flowers were donated.  

*Update  -  The green binding is on for a total finish and a perfect frame.  Sorry there are some shadows. 

I FM quilted a leafy meander.  It is only the second time I have used that motif and I got more comfortable quilting as I worked. 

I finished 3 more Thanksgiving mug rugs which have already been shared.

I also finished 5 Christmas mug rugs.

I pulled another UFO project and cut sashing and cornerstones. Maybe I will have time to sew the blocks into a top.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week - Used: 2.25 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 118.005 yds Added: 44.625 yds

Net decrease 73.38 yds

My cacti have started blooming beautifully for the holiday. 

I have so much to be for which to be thankful. I hope you all enjoy a great week and time with friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving!

Busy Quilt Room

     Today we take time to celebrate Veterans Day and honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Thanks to all Veterans.

A special way quilters say thanks is by making Quilts of Valor. I have 2 QOV tops ready. Saturday I prepared the backing which hopefully will be sandwiched Wednesday and ready for quilting.

    My sewing room was busy the past week with quilting projects and I have a lot of progress to show. I have been on a mission to finish comfort quilts. I quilted this maroon and pink and Sally with bind.

Here is a close up of quilting.  I used Angela Walters' ferny feather in the border.

Next I quilted this leafy log cabin.

Here is a close up of quilting.  The border motif is from Laura Lee Fritz. 

Then I added the check border to make this donated top wider and it is ready to be sandwiched.

I appliqued the leaves on Grandma's Flowers top and pieced a backing so it is ready to be sandwiched. The flower units were hand pieced and donated to my church quilt group.

Over the weekend I pulled out Thanksgiving/fall fabric scraps and pieced 7 mug rugs, pieced batting scraps and cut backings. Sunday afternoon I was able to finish 4.

      A large amount of fabric from my stash was used this past week. Sadly, it did not make a visible difference. I will just have to keep working at using stash. I started looking back at quilts that have been started and/or finished so far this year and thinking about my list for the new year. I have made many more comfort quilts than I worked on my own UFOs. I will share the details closer to the end of the year.

        Stash Report for 2024

           this past week - Used: 13.905 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 129.66 yds Added: 44.625 yds

              Net decrease 85.035 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Little Progress

      I spent most of the past week out of town visiting family so I only had time to work on a few quilt projects. I cut out all the parts for a child's comfort quilt and pieced over half of the blocks. I made some progress on another comfort quilt cutting out fusible leaves.

     The only quilt project I have a photo to share started from someone's orphan blocks. I tried to use as many as I could. After I pieced the center I added borders for a small 46” by 52” quilt top. I'm not sure how it will be used. The border fabric could be considered holiday theme. If I find other fabrics to go with these, it may get additional borders to make it larger.

    Halloween afternoon I made a FAST fleece scarf for GD Lily's Gru costume (from Despicable Me). I used a strip technique to make the stripes on the scarf, just estimating how long it would be, and it worked out perfectly.

We also bought backing fabric for her Hogwarts quilt so that is added in my stash report.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week - Used: 4.5 yds Added: 4 yds

So far this year - Used: 115.755 yds Added: 44.625 yds

Net decrease 71.13 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Couple of Finishes

      Surprisingly I had more time for quilting last week and finished “Fat Quarter 4Patch” ( a free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop) and binding is ready for Joan to bind.

      Next I worked on the custom quilting on the Faux Feathered Star group quilt. It was difficult for me to decide what designs to use. However, I persevered and the quilting is finished. I was able to cut enough scrappy binding from the medium value shirt fabrics that are in the top. As I was working I noticed a stain. I figured it was probably oil from my machine because I couldn't think of anything else that could have gotten on it. So after the binding was on I used some stain remover on the spots and put it in the wash. Now it looks great and is ready to share.

The free Faux Feathered Star pattern from Fat Quarter Shop finishes at 40 1/2” square and has a light background. Our group wanted a larger scrappy lap quilt so I came up with the plan in EQ to add borders and finish at 52” by 64”.  It was a bit confusing with the reversed color values but I love how it worked out.

     Wednesday at church sew day I took time to sandwich a couple of tops so that they will be ready when I want one to quilt. I had pulled fabric for backings from my home stash so backings were ready and made a dent in my stash.

Stash Report for 2024

     this past week - Used: 6.25 Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 111.255 yds Added: 40.625 yds

      Net decrease 70.63 yds

I'm linking up with Cynthia"s Oh Scrap

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

# FauxFeatheredStar

Weekly Progress Report

      In the past week I finished quilting one, finished piecing a quilt top for myself ( check Friday's post for photos ) and added borders for one comfort quilt for church quilt group.

     I started quilting the faux feathered star (free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop), a group project by church quilt group. Most of the quilting so far has been stitch-in-the ditch to stabilize. I still have much more quilting to do on it.

     When I got tired of quilting, I pulled another comfort quilt top that needed borders. Plus I pulled out another of my UFOs. I have plenty to work on now.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week - Used: 0.6 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 105.605 yds Added: 40.625 yds

Net decrease 64.98 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A Finish and a Surprise

     Happy Friday ! I am pleased to share a finished quilt. “Rainbow Sherbet” was inspired by the “Birch Bark” pattern from Hunter's Design Studio and used jelly roll strips plus and accent fabric. My quilt was created by improvisation and measures about 63” by 69” after quilting. I simply FM quilted large swirls.  It is going to a great niece.

      I also finished a quilt top. The Double Nine Patch Chain was a UFO from MaryAnn.  I love the yellow and gray. I am thinking it would look better with a dark gray border added. I would have to go shopping for some dark gray fabric if I decide to add one. I think I have enough gray for a binding.

     Those are my finishes for the week. I started 2024 with 12 UFOs on my list to focus on. So far 6 have been finished. I have started 3 new projects for myself plus adopted 3 UFOs from MaryAnn. I have finished 3 of those. My UFO list is not shrinking very much and that count doesn't include comfort quilt tops. I hope I can finish a few more before the end of the year. Hope you are finishing your quilt projects.

      The South Carolina State Fair is going on. I entered 4 quilts and won 4 blue ribbon awards plus a wonderful surprise. My 2 wall-hangings received awards sponsored by the Quilters of SC. My appliqued “Fall Memories” received the Judge's Recognition award.

My modern improvisation pieced “Twisted Transistor” received the Sweepstakes for machine stitched.

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished or Not Friday. 

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Where did the week go?

      Last week flew by with some type of appointment 5 days in a row. I made a little time for some piecing and sewing. Last winter I was gifted several UFOs by Mary Ann. I pulled out one, finished all the blocks and pieced the top center. Now it is ready for a border.

     To move another project along I made 2 outfits for the doll I made. I'm not sure how many outfits a little girl would need for her or how many I want to make. Maybe I'll make one more.

This week's schedule is looking busy, but I want to find time to quilt the one I have sandwiched.

Stash Report for 2024

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

So far this year - Used: 105.005 yds Added: 40.625 yds

Net decrease 64.38 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

A UFO Finish

     October quilting time is off to a great start. I sandwiched two UFO tops and one of those is now quilted, labeled and bound. It is also washed and ready to be gifted to a great nephew. I decided to call it “Circle Stars” for lack of a better idea. I was first intrigued by the block when I saw it on Linda's blog in 2019. I had a pile of the triangle in a square blocks left from a Bonnie Hunter mystery so they were perfect for these blocks.

     I have been trying to clear out orphan blocks and I would rather use them for something so I have made more placemats. I finished 4 fall placemats for Meals on Wheels clients.

I also finished 4 star placemats that will be a house warming gift.

   This week I have a full lots calendar but still hope to get some quilting done.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week - Used: 6 yds      Added: 0.5 yds

   So far this year -Used: 105.005 yds Added: 40.625 yds

Net decrease 64.38 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

Last Finish for September

     On this last day of September I am happy to share a finish. “Tropical Logs” was adopted from a friend who gave up quilting. I made more blocks and pieced the top. I finished the quilting Saturday and the binding Sunday. It will be a gift to a great niece.

     Last week I also worked on a few small projects. My guild, Greater Columbia Quilters, is planning to play Quilt Guild BINGO. The game first came out in the Sept/Oct 2006 issue of “Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting Magazine.” You can still find the game rules and cards here. In order to participate members of my guild need to make 2 BINGO quilt blocks which will be used for charity quilts after our game day.

     When I was cleaning I found 4 kids pillowcase kits that I cut a couple of years ago. I sewed them up and they will go to our local Ronald McDonald House.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week - Used: 5.5 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year -Used: 99.005 yds Added: 40.125 yds

Net decrease 58.88 yds

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13