First Finish of the New Year and #12 on my APQ Challenge.

COLD weather equals lots of sewing time. It was below zero all day New Year's Eve day and New Year's Day. We don't "party" anymore...actually we never did much. I did open a bottle of wine and I made a new oven dish. Chicken, wild rice with cranberry/soy sauce over the top. It was yummy.

I sewed both days. I had a pattern with some fabrics that I had set aside. I decided to "get it done". 

It's called Braid Runner by G.E. Designs. I had some of this green and purple poinsettia fabric that I really like. I had used it several years ago to make a table runner for my son and daughter-in-law. I selected some other fabrics. Several were tried, discarded and then this was decided upon. 

The design is a quilt as you go, technique. Some progress. 

Then came the binding decision. I really liked the gold filigree fabric that was the inner border.. 

Originally I had picked a dark purple with gold stars, but changed my mind. 

 Problem.......I would have to skimp to have enough. The instructions called for strips cut at 2.75 inches. I usually cut binding at 2.5. But I follow directions so, began to cut.  Yikes, it's gonna be close. I decided to sew them together end to end with straight seams instead of diagonally. 

I measured after seaming the strips..I was short by 2 inches. So I decided to use a chunk of the wide border fabric. And I decided to add that one with a diagonal seam. My regular method of ending binding is with a diagonal seam. 

Finished!  I really am pleased with it. 

Can you see where I added the 2 inches(or less) of floral border fabric?  It is pretty subtle. 

I am linking this  with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday. I also will add the finished photo to the APQ 2018 UFO Challenge. January's challenge was #12 on my list! They released the number early, so I got busy. I wanted to show you my list, but Blogger won't let me add the photo.  I will have to research why.

edit: I tried several hours later and now it works. Go figure!

I'll try to post it later

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Judy

One Monthly Goal January Goal

This is my first time joining  the One Monthly Goal event sponsored by Patty at Elm Street Quilts.   If you might want to join, click this link and check it out!

I hope I can complete my goal, every single month.  I have selected a different goal from some of my other challenges. January's goal is to complete at least 8 blocks for Covered in Love charity block drive sponsored by Kat at Kat and Cat Quilts. Here is how I started:

I cut  8 squares from an old sheet to conform to the guidelines on Kat's blog.  Then I selected 8 strips of fabric for the center strip. Not all the same color, or even the same width.

Then I dumped out my small box of 1 1/2 inch strip and grabbed several handfuls of scraps from a tub gifted to me by my friend Maggie. I think that will be a good start. Today I sewed with a wonderful group of friends. Of course everyone spends some time walking from table to table, checking on what everyone else is working on. Many were interested in my string block.  Hooray, maybe they will make some too. 

I am excited to work on this OMG and join all the other talented quilters. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Happy New Year First Book of 2018!

I have participated in this event for the last couple of years. So I wanted to be a part of it again. This book is one that was chosen by my book club, Page Turners. We will discuss it on the 3rd Tuesday of January. I am not sure, just yet, how I feel about it. Stories about this time in history always depress me. Even though I did enjoy "All The Light We Cannot See", "The Book Thief", "Sarah's Key", "Fall of Giants", and "The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" I find them hard to read. I have to take breaks pretty often. 

I am only on page 81, but I like the character development.  The quick synopsis from Goodreads, says, " Inspired by the life of a real World War II heroine, this debut novel reveals a story of love, redemption, and secrets that were hidden for decades." I am hoping for some feel good parts. 

I just looked at Sheila's post and there are lost of good book suggestions. I'll be making a list and trying to read some of them this year. My Goodreads goal is 30 books, that should be doable even with my added sewing/quilting challenges. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy
Judy

Finished or Not Friday last of the year

Christmas is over and so I have started to think about my projects for 2018

 One of the quilts I have planned is a five yard quilt using this focus fabric for the center of the larger block.

It is a print called "go! with dick and jane" by Nicole de Leon for The Alexander Henry Fabric Collection. It is dated 1999. 
  It's been in my stash since I made my first quilt in 2000. I loved it then and I still like it a lot. I had 2 complementary fabrics 

on the left: "Designs: by Jennifer Samipou for Robert Kauffman the gold is from my stash and there is no selvage. 

already and last fall, I began in earnest to purchase 2 more 

Aqua is Micheal Miller's Hash Dot and the brown is Fusions Confetti by Robert Kauffman

to make the 5 yard total needed. Then they sat all together in a plastic shoe box waiting.  I decided to pull out the fabric and at least get the pieces cut. 

When I began to cut into the gold fabric which would be the frames around the blocks and the narrow 1st border, I discovered  this blue mark in various places on the piece of fabric. 
It has been in my stash for ages and I have used part of it previously. I was able to cut the narrow frame pieces around the marked fabric. I didn't think I would have enough to make the border, if I couldn't get the marks removed. So I cut a narrow strip of the mark and washed it with Spray and Wash  and  a couple of other items in my regular wash.  Not a happy ending.  The mark did NOT come out. I think I will put the quilt together, try a different one of the four fabric remaining for the small border. If that doesn't look right, I think I can find another gold of a similar hue.

If it was just one mark, I might be able to fudge the cutting, but there are several more!

I have also started a braid table runner, sadly no pictures as I had to take it apart and baste the batting to the backing as per the instructions. Note to self:  read the directions twice before beginning!!  I'll take pictures and share next week. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Linking up with Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts and
Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts (because getting the cutting done is a finish of sorts, right?)

Finish It Up Friday, something for Me!

I love to read.  And I love to sew!  I also love to make gifts for others. Most of my sewing, quilting, crocheting, etc has gone to people I love and care for. 

I made this bag and gave it to our local library for their annual fund raiser. I haven't received official notice, but I think it brought a nice bid.  When I cut it out, I cut two of everything, with the intention of making myself a bag. 

This week I finished up the embroidered titles on the book spines. There are two blank, the fabric was too busy to embroider. I have a plan to applique two book titles from 2018 that I read and love. This one stays with me. 

The cutting table in my sewing room has become a gift wrapping table. I am nearly finished, just a small addition to 2 gifts for my Grandson-in-law and my other granddaughter's  boyfriend. I sent gift cards to my 3rd granddaughter and her family in Phoenix. I made felt containers. I just realized I did not take a picture. I was pretty focused in getting them done and in the mail. Here is a link to a  site I found 

on Pinterest.  I made 2 snowmen and 2 Elves. Thanks Jessica at Cutesy Crafts.  https://cutesycrafts.com/2015/12/felt-christmas-gift-card-holders.html


I am working on a Tumbler leaders and enders project. I need to cut more variety. I thought I was very careful, but when I put the rows together, some like fabric was near the same fabric.  More scraps are being cut! 

See the black with white dots fabric?  I guess in looking at it far away, it isn't very noticeable.  I am noticing some intersections don't match! "sigh"....it is what it is. Will probably be a quilt for in the car or maybe a picnic quilt. 


So, a finish to show, a finish to read about (giggle) and a continuing project. I am linking up to Finish It Up Friday and Finished or Not Friday.


Stay Busy and Stay Happy 

A Finish and a Family Additon

         I have been thinking about making a baby quilt since I found out my nephew and his wife were pregnant. It was such good news for this young couple. Earlier in the year, my nephew's wife lost her mother to pancreatic cancer. 

I waited until the parents-to-be found out the sex of their new little addition. As soon as they announced it was a boy, my brain thought " bluish" quilt. Then, when I checked with the new mom-to-be regarding nursery colors, I was smitten. She said blue, gray and mustard. She sent me this picture.

The new dad-to-be is a research biologist at a major university. So when I found the pattern Arithmetic by Jeni Baker, I knew I had a winner.  I first showed it on this post!

I cut the squares in preparation to take to retreat. I was able to lay out part of the plus signs on a small design wall at that retreat. 

It looks kind of rough here, but I got it all webbed and ready to finish. 

I looked for a different backing than I had purchased. A minky or a flannel or something cuddly. However, we live in a small town with limited choices. I decided ,after all, to stay with this fabric. It's the Savannah collection from Moda. It says Zest for Your Nest..which fits for a baby quilt. I think it looks like algebraic x's. Good for the back of an Arithmetic quilt, I think. 

And then my local long arm quilter and friend had back surgery. I wasn't worried, baby was expected January 4th. Next year.  Mid November,  I gave her the quilt top and the backing. We decided on a quilting design. I cut , pieced and pressed the binding. No hurry, we've got until the first of the year. Lynn and her husband traveled to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving with their daughter and family. I still said, " Don't worry, we've got time!"

She returned it to me on December 7th. I had just had word from my brother that baby was born on the 5th, 4 weeks early. Mom and baby doing well, but still a preemie.  My brother and his wife were there, house sitting for a cousin, so they could be close for Christmas, the new dad's birthday on the 29th and the babies arrival in January. Well, surprise! Surprise!!               

So I got busy. 

 Stitched the binding down while watching the last 2 episodes of Longmire. 

 Took a few pictures!

Here is up close of the quilting. I do not know the name of this pattern. I will have to check with my friend. I washed  and dried it too. It is all crinkly and cuddly now. 

And sent it off to the family on Monday. They should have received it by Thursday the USPS said. 

I will not share pictures of the little guy, that is up to his parents and grandparents. But he is tiny,  5 lbs 15 oz. He is home now and doing well. Finally out from under the bilirubin light and being able to be cuddled more. We are blessed to have this new addition to our family. 

So that is my finish for this week. I am linking up with 

Crazy Mom Quilts, Finish It Up Friday and 

Busy Hands Quilts, Finished or Not Friday. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Parties and a Merry and Bright PIllow

I've had a party kind of week since last Friday. One quilting group I belong to had their Christmas party and gift exchange on Sunday. Because we have a large group, a meeting place is a problem. So we make our regular sewing place work, even for a party. We meet in the assembly room of a local retirement center. It is big enough for most of us to bring machines and there are always residents popping in to "see what you're doing". 

This year the committee had a great party planned. The tables were set when we got there. We "carry-in",  so the food was great and in abundance. 

Each place setting had 2 coordinating plates and napkins. The plasticware holders were "in the hoop" embroidered snowmen. Complete with scarf and black sparkly top hat. A Snowman Hot Chocolate kit was at each place too Also a calendar for the year and a Hallmark Date Book, donated by our local Hallmark store.  We have an on-going challenge to spend " at least 10 minutes" per day in our sewing room. Those of us who are retired have no problem with that, but many of our members are still 'working girls'. 

The tree was decorated by the facility and we placed all our exchange gifts around it. As you can see the food tables were heavy laden and "yummy" by the way. 

There was tons of visiting before the festivities began. 

Wednesday, another group I sew with had there regular sew-along and we shared food galore again, at this same facility. Primrose Retirement Community is really good to us quilters. I didn't get pictures of that celebration, but a few members were generous with gifts for each of us. 

This cute little square of folded scrapbook paper was made by my friend Diana. 

The folded square opens up to become the star seen above. There were also a set of holiday coasters with a handmade balsa wood feather and a bag of holiday chocolates!


In between all the partying, I managed to start and finish this cute little cushion cover. The pattern was offered on Amy Sinibaldi's blog - nanaCompany.  It's called the Merry and Bright Cushion cover and the downloadable pattern is free on her site. Just scroll way down on the left to find her tutorials. Or click the link above. 

Amy did hers in softer colors with a crocheted trimming. I used what I had in my stash and added red rick rack. I love it. The back is an envelope closure with light gold fabric with Christmas phrases on it. One of my favorite pieces in my stash. 

Can you read them?    Better Not Cry,   For Goodness Sake,  Santa's Coming and some others. 

So that is my finish for this week. The decorating of our house is as good as it gets. No real tree, but lots of quilts, wall hangings, table toppers and such. 

I'm linking up with Finish It Up Friday and Finished Or Not Friday. 

Hope everyone is having a great week and getting in the Christmas spirit!

And for friends in other countries or of other faiths, Happy Holidays to you. 

Stay Busy and Stay Happy