The post-Olympic quilting challenge

As the Olympics ended in mid-August, I realized I'd had the same quilt on the frame for close to a month, and it was really a fairly small quilt, and I really wasn't ready to quilt it. It was time for a public challenge to make me get moving, so I challenged myself to quilt 4 quilts in 5 weeks. Here are the results of the challenge: 

Week 1 - didn't quilt a thing! 
Week 2 - The week of major progress
1. Cherish Nature - this was the one that started it all. I knew I didn't want to do an all-over but struggled with what to do. In the end, I decided to just start. I wound up ripping out my first set of stitches because I didn't like them, then settled in on something else. I wound up with etch-a-sketch in the outer border, stitch in the ditch around the inner border, and cucumber vine across the majority of the panel. I did not stitch over the eggs in hopes they'd pop a little, and then I thread sketched the nest. It felt so wierd but it was really fun! I would definitely do it again! I finished binding this early in September.

Etch-a-sketch and some wobbly stitch-in-the-ditch

Cucumber vine across most of the panel

Thread sketching in the nest and around the eggs

The back 

2. Charity Rail Fence - I already showed this one on an earlier post, and thought it would be a good one to do quickly since I still had the Bubbles panto set up and wanted to get a little more practice with it. It went quickly since it was a small quilt, so I was motivated to keep going. 

3. Halloween Table Runners - there were two, but I quilted them at the same time and used the same backing, so I am counting them as one. I used the same bobbin thread, but different top threads for each one. I have one fully bound, and it will be headed to Michigan this week. The other is in my binding bag and I hope to get it done this week. I had a great print from Lois' stash to use for the back of these. 

Weeks 3 & 4 - I made the back for quilt #4 which wasn't actually a quilt, and got it partially loaded. I was more focused on my french braid quilt during these weeks. 

Week 5 - Finishing it all up
4. Burlap bag - I totally forgot to take a picture of this one, but my mom's boss, Terri, asked me to quilt some burlap embroidered fabric she got to make a bag. I was a little concerned when I started because the weave of the fabric was so different than cotton, but it quilted up fine. Hopefully Terri will post on her blog when she makes the bag and then I will link to it. 

So, I did it! Just by the skin of my teeth (the bag came off the frame on Sunday night of week 5)! I am glad I challenged myself and it got me moving - I might still have Cherish Nature staring back at me if I hadn't done something! 

The really good news is that I now only have two quilts that are ready to be quilting (top+back+batting all ready), and I hope to load one of them tomorrow. I have no current plans for another challenge, but I am sure it won't be too long before I need one again! 

Stash Report Week 38 2012

I made a goal for myself this week to do at least 15 minutes of sewing each day so that I could make some progress on ongoing projects that I really wanted to make! I did it - even though I struggled getting started a few nights, I got my Oriental Braid top (almost) put together, got binding on a couple table runners, quilted a top for my cousin, and made a block for a beemate that is due tomorrow. All in all, it was a great week, and I have now had 9 days in a row where I did at least 30 minutes of sewing. 

First up on the list was putting together the Oriental french braid. I got the top pieced together pretty easily, then cut out border and the back. I knew when I was cutting the borders that the second one would be tight at best. The fabric is from a kit I bought two years ago while at a retreat in Shipshewana. As you can see, it wasn't enough. I am planning to call the shop this week to see if they still have any of the border fabric, but am also putting out a plea here. I really only need one 6 1/2 x WOF strip, so if any of you have this in your stash and are willing to sell or trade it with me (I have lots and lots of orientals), I would be very grateful!  

Houston, we have a border problem!

Border fabric I am looking for

 Next up was quilting on my cousin's quilt. This is one of the first quilts that she made and it is a queen size top - aren't the colors gorgeous? I did an easy large meander all over it, so didn't take a close up picture, but will see her in a few weeks and look forward to taking it back to her all quilted. Now she'll have the fun of trying to find the perfect binding for it! 

Mary's quilt

Last on the list was a block for my beemate Julie - and I got that done last night. It is paper piecing and I couldn't find my add-a-quarter ruler. I knew I must have moved it when I moved down to my basement sewing room and looked everywhere for it with no lcuk. After I got the block done, I was putting away my rotating cutting mat and guess what I found, 2 inches from where it should have been and where I looked at least three times? Ugh! Oh, well, the good news is that it isn't lost! 

Crazy block for Julie

Here's the official report: 
Fabric added this week: 2 3/4 yards (birthday fat quarters from my bee mates)
Fabric used this week: 5 3/4 yards

Fabric added year to date: 34 1/4 yards
Fabric used year to date: 72 1/2 yards

Net fabric used: 37 1/2 yards

Hope you had a great week with your stash! 

State Fair 2012

[Note: this post is a little overdue, event described below took place in early August] 

We always enjoy our annual trip to the Indiana State Fair. Even as we've added kids to the mix, we tend to visit the same places and follow the same traditions. This year, the four of us headed out early on a hot, sticky Saturday morning. We were treated to ice cream before 10am, and then visited the midway, where we got some of the best pictures. We love riding the ferris wheel and seeing sights across the city. 

More fun across the midway - hooray for $1 rides until noon! 

After a huge rainstorm, we headed towards the exit. We have taken several pictures of the kids in this wheel over the years, but it was wet and slippery this year, so they stood in front of it. 

 They are suckers for a "stick your face in the hole" picture!

Although it was a hot and rainy day, we are glad to have visited the fair and we'll be back next year!

August Review

August was a great month for my quilting hobby/habit/addiction. I made time to get in my studio/basement and make some good progress on projects. Here's what happened: 
- Finished my Wendy Butler-Berns workshop project

- Finished piecing my red and white snowball quilt top
- Made backs for donation quilt and service quilt and also binding for service quilt
- Cut out and started assembling my Oriental French Braid top
- Made shirt and got it almost done - just need to hem it
- Quilted and attached binding to Cherish Nature panel
- Loaded, quilted, and bound top for charity
- Quilted two halloween table runners 
- Spent a total of 28 1/4 hours piecing/quilting/binding

Sorry for the lack of pictures on everything. I will take more as I finish bindings. More progress to come this month and I wrap up my 5 weeks to quilt 4 tops (spoiler alert - I did it!). 

Stash Report - Weeks 36 & 37 2012

I have a quick stash report to cover this week and last week. I've been doing  a little sewing, but it is on projects already counted. We had a new Joann's open here over Labor Day weekend, so my mom and I went to check it out. I picked up some grommets for my next purse and some flannel to put on the back of a baby blanket. 

So, here's the current rundown: 

Fabric added last 2 weeks: 1 1/4 yards
Fabric used last 2 weeks: 0 yards

Fabric added year to date: 31 1/2 yards
Fabric used year to date: 66 3/4 yards

Net fabric used: 34 1/2 yards - at least I am still on the positive side! 

Stash Report - Week 35 2012

Just a quickie stash report tonight since I already showed my latest additions earlier in the weekend. I didn't use any new fabric this week, but continued to bind a UFO and piece my french braids, which are both counted as used already. 

Fabric added this week: 1 1/4 yards
Fabric used this week: 0 yards

Fabric added year to date: 30 1/4 yards
Fabric used year to date: 66 3/4 yards

Net fabric used: 35 3/4 yards
(I realized after posting last week that my numbers are off a little, but I haven't taken the time yet to figure out how or where...will correct the net number when I do!).

Hope you had a great week with your stash!