Happy New Year!!!

A new year and a new start. Doesn't it feel good to have a fresh start? I love making lists and plans for the new year, it gives me hope that I may actually accomplish more than I did in the previous year. In 2008 I set monthly goals and did better with them than I have in the past; I meet all but 2 of my goals. I've got them on the list for 2009! And they will get done. My goal for January is to finish the purple fan wallhanging I started many, many years ago. It's a hand quilting project, and I need lots of quilting practice!! I'm using it as practice before I start quilting the signature quilt next month.

Jaime (aka the mad knitter) was in during Christmas and was on a sock kick. She finished one pair and started the second even tho her allergies flared up big time. It's her own fault for kissing the dog. But who could resist that face?

back to blogging

The past few months have flown by! I've not gotten a lot of quilting done but I have been sewing. I made 4 more sail rigger bags for friends of my daughter but I forgot to take pictures. I made a professional tote that Jaime needed for her job, I think it turned out nice with lots of pockets and room. The fabrics are black and white.

Annie, Mary, and I went on a mini shop hop hitting 5 of the 12 shops on this year's Heart of KY hop. Mary had never been to the Gathering Room and loved it. I did damage at the Quilt Box buying lots of civil war fabrics. And wool! I found some beautiful wool at the Corner Quilt shop. I've been working on my wool block of the month and have made it to block 4! I'm also making a table topper that I got in Nashville from the Primitive Gatherings booth. I spent a lot of time and money there! Wool is wonderful to work with. I've also done some machine embroidery for work making shirts for the book club. And I spent time reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and got everyone hooked on the books. So I guess I have been busy. I fell behind on some of my goals; I didn't get the pumpkin quilt or Christmas quilts quilted. Sooo many projects, life is good.

still around

Well, it's been a month since I posted! Time's flying by but I have been sewing. I finished my June goal on time. My snowmen are soooo cute! Now to find the perfect red to set them up. Let's see; I started them in 1999. Whoo hoo, I got them embroidered in under 10 years. Hope it doesn't take me that long to get them quilted!

I've also been working on the wool block of the month and almost have the first block done. The wool feels wonderful and the varigated pearl cotton is fantastic to work with. Perfect tv work.

And believe it or not I have July's goal met and it's only the 7th of the month!!!! The goal was to get the borders on the pumpkin quilt. Why didn't I finish this years ago? Like in 2001 when I started it? It only took 2 evenings to do the half square triangles and finish the borders. I'm gonna try to get it quilted this month but..... Jaime came in with 2 of her friends. And they want sail rigger bags. Now I have 6 to make. And I've been getting into a clothing mood. I picked up a couple of patterns when I was in Lexington and I have the perfect fabric to make them. And I could really use some new tops and pants. Oh, and I found a neat purse pattern that's quilted. Need to put that on the to do list too. There should be more hours in the day!

Mail!!!!

I got the kit for the first 3 blocks of the wool block of the month today, it's beautiful!!! I'm scared to cut into it, I'm afraid I'll mess it up. And I can't decide whether to use fusibles with it or not. Freezer paper was sent so I think I should use that to cut out the appliques but I don't want to use glue to position it because I won't be able to wash it out. Sure wish I could have gone to the class; I could use some hand holding. It's terrible living so far from a quilt shop!

I love the thread, I've never seen it before. It's varigated and will be fun to work with. Isn't it wonderful to have all the great fabrics, threads, and patterns that we have. So much to do and not enough time!

I fell off the wagon

Hello, my name is Cynthia and I have a pattern addiciton.
I've been working so hard to finish some ufo's this year and done pretty good at keeping up with my monthly goals. I've finished several things!!! And now I may have lost it. It all started when my friend Mary called to tell me about some new patterns she had. She works at a local gift shop and they had ordered some patterns, whoo hoo! The closest fabric or quilt shop is 2 hours away so learning that they were branching out into patterns was a thrill. And of course I need to support a local shop. The patterns were from http://www.crabapplehillstudio.com/

The first pattern is Twas the Night Before Christmas. Most of my Christmas decorations are in the theme of the Night Before Christmas so I just had to have this pattern. OK, another redwork pattern. Then I saw the patterns for Posy Pocket Handbags and the Wild Rose Sewing Wallet. I'm a sucker for purse patterns. Just 3 new patterns.

Well, I had almost forgotten that I had signed up for a wool block of the month from my favorite quilt shop. It started this month! With work I wasn't able to go to the first class so they are mailing me the kit. It's the Folk Art Album quilt from http://www.primitivegatherings.us/shop/ I love this quilt!! The kit should be here tomorrow and I can't wait to start it. Isn't it beautiful?!

While I was showing Primitive Gathering's website to a friend I saw their new book "Primitive Christmas" and had to order it; I received it yesterday. It has some wonderful projects. I also saw several other quilt patterns that I would like to get while I was surfing around but so far I've been able to resist, but I do feel myself weakening.

I did finish 2 Sail Rigger bags for Jaime this week, she picked out some great fabrics. And I'm on the September snowman, only 3 left. Thanks to everyone's comments I've decided to quilt it with crosshatching. I'll be going to Lexington next week so I will be able to get fabric to set them up with. And I'll try to keep blinders on when I visit the quilt shops!

redwork snowmen

I have 7 of my snowmen done! Only 5 more to finish by July!!! How do you quilt redwork? I hadn't thought of that before now and I've been wondering about it. I'm going to set the blocks together with one inch sashing, I have to find fabric so that means a road trip! I've been having quilt shop withdrawal; I feel the need to fondle fabric. I think I'll have to plan a trip for next week. Something to look forward too!!!

Guild and a finish!

Guild was this past week, it's always so much fun to get together with my quilting buddies. And Jaime got to see everyone! Show and tell was wonderful, Annie brought a pine tree block that she made for a retreat quilt she is doing with another group. Her block is 12 inches finished and will be the center of the quilt.

Betty brought her biblical quilt, I'm not sure of the pattern source, each block represents something from the Bible. She bought the fabric while we were in Nashville last year. I love it! The colors are awesome.

Mirta brought a lone star that she was given, a wonderful gift!

Sallie had finished the quilting on the babyquilt for her new grandson who could arrive anyday. It's her first attempt at hand quilting and she did a great job and discovered she loved quilting by hand.

I finished quilting the Christmas quilt for Jaime!!!! And I finished before my deadline! I'm so proud of myself for finishing some of my ufo's, it's such a good feeling. I found my redwork snowmen that are my project for June; they had been missing. I also found another wallhanging that I thought I had lost. I have so many projects that I want to finish and so many that I want to start. Isn't quilting wonderful!

catching up

I've started machine quilting Jaime's Christmas quilt, finished the first row on Santa's Coming, and pieced my two blocks for guild this week. A productive week!!!! Our guild is doing a block of the month; each person drew a month and must bring the pattern and instructions for a 6 inch and 12 inch block. That way we will learn piecing techniques, drafting different size blocks, and how the block should be made. I drew the first month! I picked a cakestand block and drew it in EQ. I like the smaller version best. I'm going to make both sizes so I will have two quilts when we are done, one in "my" colors and a smaller one in 30's.

I think Santa's Coming will be such a cute Christmas quilt; and it was so much fun doing the invisible machine applique. I love it because it's so fast and looks so good.

Jaime will be in tomorrow for the weekend so I'll lose my sewing room for a few days but it will be so wonderful to have her home. Happy Quilting!

another goal!

I met my April goal!!!! A week late but I finally made it. I did a lot of ripping on the quilt. It started with larger blocks but I decided to cut them down. So I ripped several blocks apart. Then I showed the blocks to Jaime and she thought it should be done with some of our old calico's. More ripping. Eventually with the help of Annie I got the border on, she is much more precise than I am. I really need to work on my machine piecing; even after watching Sally Collins's dvd I'm not a precision piecer. I want to hand quilt this for Jaime for Christmas, with traditional feathers in the border.

My goal for May is to finish a Christmas Turning Twenty for Jaime. I made one for my brother and gave it to him this past Christmas and I have a top pieced for me that I also want to finish by Christmas. They were made from fabrics my mother collected so the quilts will be special to us.

I will not be making any other Christmas gifts this year!

almost there!

I have all the signature blocks finished except for one that I still need to embroider the name on. I think it will need sashing, I hadn't planned on sashing it when I started but I think it will look better. Maybe white sashing and different colored cornerstones? And a white border. I started this ufo in the early 90's, my grandmother passed away in 92 and I had her block done. Let's see; that's only 16 years. I guess it's better late than never!

Sewing Again!

Life has been busy! My goal for April is to finish the signature quilt top for my daughter and I'm back to square one on it and it's the middle of the month. I decided to change fabrics on the few blocks I had done so today I got started redoing them. I think the quilt will be cute! And it's a good thing we're a small family; I'm still hoping to meet my goal.

I've been watching "Sally Collin's Teaches You Precision Piecing" and my piecing has improved so much! Mostly it teaches you to slow down and pay attention to what you are doing. Lots of good tips too. http://connectingthreads.com/Sally+Collins+Teaches+You+Precision+Piecing+DVD_BD90136.html

Even tho I'm behind on the signature quilt and my civil war blocks I've started pulling fabric for a new Christmas quilt. I picked up some Australian Patchwork and Quilting magazines when I was at Jaime's and saw this quilt. It speaks to me, well really it yells at me. So I am going to add it to my to do list.

I ordered a new iron! My old iron-Black and Decker's Classic Iron- just isn't doing it's job. I have a terrible time catching the edges fabric in the steam holes. So I ordered Rowenta's Iron for Pink steam iron. http://www.rowentausa.com/rowenta/frame.aspx It has small steam holes that shouldn't catch fabric and 100% of the proceeds go to help fight breast cancer.

Happy Birthday to me!

Today is my birthday and it's been a great day! I spent the weekend with my daughter just hanging out. Then when I got home today I had the most wonderful gift in the mail from my friend Julie. Pomegranate Hill! Now I have to find a special place to hang it. It is beautiful! My dh is taking me out for supper then we will spend the evening watching movies. All in all a great day!

more civil war blocks

I got 3 more blocks done this morning! Mail Delivery, Baptism, and Church. I'm getting more comfortable with paper piecing and drawing the blocks in EQ6. These little blocks can be addictive. This afternoon I'm working on the signature quilt. I'm so excited to get to stay home today and sew; every day should be a sewing day!

Trouble

I finally had a sewing day yesterday! Annie came over and we had a great time sewing and planning. Trouble always loves spending time with us when we're sewing, usually in the most inconvenient spot!

I haven't gotten much quilting done this week, just one civil war block and one block of the signature quilt done. I started the sig quilt when Jaime was little and I will have it finished to give to her for Christmas this year!

Three for three!

I did it! I finished my third ufo this year. This is a record for me. I'm happy with the way Slice of Summer turned out. I've had it pin basted for a couple of years and couldn't decide how to quilt it. I finally decided done was better than perfect.

oops!

Work and company have interfered with quilting this week. I love my job and Jaime; but I do miss quilting. I lost my sewing room this weekend to my daughter so she could get some sewing done. I worked on sewing on the binding on Slice of Summer. When I started to turn my second corner I found that I had sliced the binding when trimming the quilt. Big oops! I'll have to take some of the binding loose, add more and then restitch. I'm always careful when trimming but I must have been in too much of a hurry. Lesson learned.
It has been fun having Jaime here to talk quilting and sew with. She is more into knitting these days but has been finishing some of my old ufo's. I've found that's the easiest way to cut down on my ufo's, give them to someone else!

Pictures

I have all my quiltfest photos loaded on my flickr site finally! There are some awesome quilts. Hope this link works for everyone. http://www.flickr.com/gp/24328217@N06/L8WF84

Been busy

I've had a busy few days since I got home from Quiltfest! I made 2 more Civil War quilt blocks, Special Blessings and Southern Notes. I paper pieced them and had better results than on my first block. I found a wonderful pp tool at Quiltfest: add-enough by the people that make the add a quarter rulers. http://www.addaquarter.com/
It helps measure the size you need to cut. I wasted a lot of fabric on my first block.

Quiltfest was wonderful! The vendors were good and the quilts beautiful. I didn't do too much damage, I got a couple of quilt patterns and several fat quarters. I took lots of pictures but haven't figured out how to link them. I'll try to get that done soon.


Last night I took a basket class. I think my basket turned out ok, I still need to stain it.

And today I got the binding sewn on Slice of Summer, now I can whip the back down while watching tv. I almost have another finish!!

civil war block

I made my first civil war block!! Alarming conditions from the Civil War diaries. I've decided paper piecing wasn't the best choice for this block. I can't get the intersections to lie flat. I need more civil war fabric! I mostly have mediums and darks. Good thing I'm going to Quiltfest tomorrow. I'm soooooo excited! Two days of shopping! Annie and I are leaving at 7am. I'm packed and ready now. Hope I'm able to sleep tonight.

I have all the quilting done on Slice of Summer except for a few of the applique pieces. It's going really fast and I'm pleased with it. I'll post a picture when I get it finished.

sewing tote

Instead of quilting today, which I should have done, I made a sewing tote. I've had the pattern for the Sail Rigger's Bag for quite a while and decided it would be perfect for carrying around my sewing projects. It was pretty simple to make after I labeled all the pieces! It has 6 outside pockets and 7 inside pockets.

I'll be able to fill it with thread, scissors, pins, and hand projects to sew on the go.

I've also been taking an EQ6 class from Quilt University learning to draw blocks. Too much fun! I'm just afraid I'll spend more time making virtual quilts than real quilts now.
Tomorrow I will quilt.

Guild

I went to my quilt guild meeting last night. There weren't many of us there but it sure was wonderful to be with friends and talk quilting. Annie worked on her snowbound cottages but I forgot to get a picture. We try to get together every week to sew, so I will get one next week. Mary had two wonderful quilts that she is working on. The first was a dresden plate that she is hand quilting.

The top she just finished is from Kim Diehl's book "Simple Blessings". It is beautiful!

quilting

I've finished all the outline quilting and am stippling the background on Slice of Summer. I'll be able to hang it for summer!! Next week I'm going to Quiltfest in Pigeon Forge, TN. I go every year and love the show. My friend Annie and I will spend two days there this year. A couple of years ago I got to meet Harriet Hargrave and take a machine quilting class. Her quilts are awesome! I also met Marianne Fons there shopping one year. It's so exciting to meet quilting celebrities and the vendors are wonderful. I can hear my wallet groaning now!

I've been taking an EQ6 class from Quilt University this week learning how to draw blocks. I've had EQ a long time and never used it except for printing patterns. Maybe I'll be able to design a quilt to add to my wanna do list. I need to live to be 300!

road trip

I haven't gotten any sewing done in the last couple of days, I went to visit my daughter! We had a wonderful time, I went to one of my favorite quilt shops and she found a new knitting shop. I really planned on being good but bought 3 new patterns and signed up for a wool bom. It was beautiful! Kind of a Baltimore album quilt. I have a pattern addiction!






Jaime got lots of compliments on the purse she made me for Christmas, I love it and am impressed by her knitting abilities. I don't have enough coordination to knit. She also showed me the Raverly site for knitters, we really need a similar site for quilter. https://www.ravelry.com/

Rainy day

Don't you just love rainy days when you can stay home and sew all day? I made two pairs of flannel pajama pants this morning and spent the afternoon machine quilting Slice of Summer. I had started quilting with tan thread and didn't like the way it looked so I switched to invisible thread and it looks so much better. I'll spend the evening removing the quilting I had done with tan thread, something to do while listening to American Idol. We are hooked on Idol and I think this year will be more exciting than last year.

The weatherman's predicting snow tonight! Yea! I hope we finally get some measurable snow, just one good snow before spring. I have tulips and daffodils coming up so spring can't be too far off.

trying something new!

Well, I've thought about starting a blog for a while so I decided just to jump in and do it. Hopefully I'll learn as I go along and be able to post pictures. That will inspire me to get quilting! Everyone in my local quilt guild teases me about not finishing projects, hence my blog name. There are sooooo many quilts I want to make and not enough time. And I do love starting new projects! My New Year's resolution was to finish one ufo each month and so far I am doing well. January's project was to finish quilting my New York Beauty that I started a few years ago, it was in For The Love of Quilting and I used a fabric kit from Pat Sloan.

My project for Febuary was binding my sunflower basket wallhanging. Done!! It is from the book Crossroads by Ginger Cookie Company.

I've already started on March's project! It's quilting my Slice of Summer, a Pat Sloan design. I'm also working on a foundation pieced quilt called On Eagle's Wings by laundry Basket Quilts.