2013 Finish-A-Long: Q1 Finishes

There's always a hopeful sort of feeling when one posts a new Finish-A-Long list, as I did just three short months ago. And I'm more than pleased to be able to report that I finished my list!

Mod Crosses - The blocks for this quilt were all done when the quarter started, but I was short on time to get the rows together before an appointment with the long-arm quilter. Thankfully I made it and was super pleased with the finished quilt, and hubby and I took it out for a fun photo-shoot.

Quiet Book - This project was intended as a Christmas gift for grandgirl, but the details took longer than I anticipated. At least she enjoyed it when I finally finished it.

Merry Stocking - Another belated Christmas item, but at least it's ready for Christmas 2013.

Scrappy Trip - On a whim I joined this sew-along on Instagram, and maybe even due to its impromptu nature, I thoroughly enjoyed putting these blocks together straight from the scrap bin.

Mod Angles Cushion - This was one of those finishes that really made no sense to have dawdled on so long. The blocks were already made, and once I sat down to stitch them together, it was a quick finish. And the quilting on this one was immensely satisfying. {tutorial here}

So that's it for this quarter - time to start pulling together a new list!

Linking up with Q1 post quarter link up at shecanquilt.

Shhhh . . .

When daughter dear was a child years ago, I loved making play-things for her. Teddies, doll blankets, even home-made play dough and matching cards. One of the things I made, and the one thing she asked if I would recreate for her own daughter, was her Quiet Book.

If you were to look inside this book, you would find the pages well-loved, and a few even needing repair. It was a sweet trip down memory lane, making grandgirl her own . . .

Believe it or not, I still had the pattern book: How to sew A Quiet Book, published by Craft Course Publishers in 1977. I used corduroy for the cover again, and added a little hedgehog applique I found at Wee Folk Art.

Page 1 ~ button-on felt flowers.

 Pages 2 & 3 ~ left and right "mittens" to put small hands in.

 Pages 4 & 5 ~ a train with button wheels to count, with one car left open for "cargo."

 Pages 6 & 7 ~ snap-on "match the color" balloons, and

a mama ladybug with three little babies inside her zipper.

  Pages 8 & 9 ~ a shoe to lace and a clock with movable hands.

 Pages 10 & 11 ~ beads to count.

 Pages 12 & 13 ~ a clown with velcro face features and a kitty with a bow to tie.

 Page 14 ~ snap-on "match the shapes."

This kind of sewing, with all the buttons, snaps, felt and all, isn't what I'm most comfortable with these days, but boy was it worth it once I put it in grandgirl's little hands.

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday. This project is also my first finish on my 2013 Q1 Finish-A-Long list!

W.i.P. Wednesday

Considering we were out of town most of the last week, there has been very little sewing done. But I do have several projects nearly finished!

Completed projects
Quiet Book - This project, started as a Christmas gift, was almost done when we left on our little trip, so it didn't take much to finish it up! It'll get it's own post soon.

Ongoing projects
Woodland cross-stitch sampler - I managed to get January's frame and text done on the flight last weekend. Unfortunately, I made a little goof. Pretty sure I'll leave it and move on, hoping it won't be too noticeable in the big scheme of things.

Modern Crosses - This quilt arrived back from the quilter in record time {see progress here}, so I hope to get the binding started this week.

Scrappy Trip Along - No progress. snif. I'm really anxious to get to stitching these blocks together!

Triple-Zip Pouch - I've started but haven't gotten half as far as many of you!

Upcoming projects
* Hubby's Christmas stocking - no progress yet
* Binding for Mod Cross quilt
* plan for FAITH Circle's February quilt
* Emerald mini
* Mod Angles cushion
* flannel pillow for grandgirl
* table topper for mom
* scrappy Metrolink
* x and + blocks {#xplusalong}
* Polaroid block projects
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

W.i.P. Wednesday

The last week has been a teeter-totter, the 'up' an unexpectedly delightful revisit to paper piecing, and the 'down' being some cross-stitch confusion. The constant pleasure has been my #scrappytripalong! The more blocks I've done, the more I love it, and I am so excited to move on to the #xand+along in February.

Completed projects
Lucky Stars BOM - I was able to complete both the practice block + January's block. These were great fun and I can't wait for the next one! Plus I'm really happy to have gone the 6 1/2" route and with the fabrics I've chosen.

Ongoing projects
Woodland cross-stitch sampler - Whew! After much encouragement, I have finally begun stitching!

Modern Crosses - This quilt's at the long-armer's. I might even have pics to share soon, and better yet, should have this back by week's end!

Quiet Book - I have made real progress on this project! Can't say it's the most fun I've ever had, but I'm on the downhill stretch. Just have had a few 'issues' along the way, and there's lots of fiddly pieces to deal with.

Scrappy Trip Along - This one may be the most fun I've ever had! The 30 blocks are done! There's not enough room on the design wall to show them all off, but I can live with that. There will be another row along both the side and the bottom (5 blocks x 6 blocks). I don't expect to be overly thoughtful about block placement for the final layout, so hopefully the top will go together fairly quickly.

Triple-Zip Pouch - The 3ZAL officially starts Monday, January 28. Meanwhile, fabric and zip choices have begun to pop up in the flickr group. Here's mine:

Upcoming projects
* Hubby's Christmas stocking - no progress yet
* Binding for Mod Cross quilt
* plan for FAITH Circle's February quilt
* Emerald mini
* Mod Angles cushion
* flannel pillow for grandgirl
* table topper for mom
* scrappy Metrolink
* x and + blocks {#xplusalong}
* Polaroid block projects
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

W.i.P. Wednesday

It's been an enjoyable week working on the Triple-Zip Along, which is shaping up to be a really good time. That and working my way down my list, and still finding time for the unexpected.

Completed projects
Bee blocks - It's a relief to have these done and mailed off, but definitely fun while they lasted!

Kindle cover - You're right if you're thinking, "I didn't notice this on her list before!" But it has been on my mind. It totally deserved its own post, but since I can't stop looking at it for the record, I'll share it here again.

Ongoing projects
Modern Crosses quilt - This one, as big as she is, earned a ride on a long-arm . . . hope to see her again before long.

Quiet Book - Not quite done, but I've been working on it. Here's a peek at one page I finished this week.

Scrappy Trip Along - Like many others, this is really all I can think about. 12/30 blocks done, 8 more are strip-pieced, the remaining strips cut and sorted. And it just keeps getting better.

Hubby's Christmas stocking - no progress. No offense hubby! ;-)

Upcoming projects
* Binding for Mod Cross quilt
* Lucky Stars BOM - practice block + January block
* Woodland cross-stitch sampler - supplies arrived!
* plan for FAITH Circle's February quilt - it's in my head
* Emerald mini
* Mod Angles cushion
* flannel pillow for grandgirl
* table topper for mom
* scrappy Metrolink
* x and + blocks {#xplusalong}
* Polaroid block projects
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.

2013 Finish-A-Long: Q1 List

It's time to link up with Leanne/shecanquilt and the new year's Finish-A-Long! If you've stopped by A Quilter's Table anytime recently, you've seen most of these projects, but they are nonetheless at the top of my first quarter to-do list.

Modern Crosses - The 60 blocks for this quilt are done! Now to piece rows together. Hopefully it will be handed off to my longarmer this week. I plan to make the scrappy binding while it's away.

Quiet Book - Since this was officially a Christmas present for grandgirl, I want to finish it pronto and get it back in her sweet little hands.

Christmas Stocking - Hubby said, "You've got a whole year to get it done." And I replied, "No, it's going on the 'to-do-asap' list, so it's ready for Christmas 2013!

Scrappy Trip Along - A month ago, this quilt was not even a twinkle in my eye, but today, it's all I want to do, and as soon as I deal with the above projects, it's all holds back on this one. Two blocks done, and I'm working on cutting strips . . .

Mod Angles Cushion - When I made the original Mod Angles Cushion, I first made some practice blocks. They are too pretty not to use.

So there's my list - hopefully manageable, as you never know what else will come up to tempt and motivate!

Linking up with the 2013 Finish-A-Long, Quarter 1!

W.i.P. Wednesday

In lieu of a W.i.P. Wednesday post last week, I shared about several small finishes. Since Christmas, the little time I've had in the sewing room has mostly been spent on a few wips that I really want to finish before moving ahead.

Ongoing projects

Quiet Book - This was my Christmas gift to grandgirl, though it was only half done. So I'm working on finishing the remaining pages. It's very like one I made for her mommy years ago.

Binary - I've pulled together the blocks from my month with the Modern Blocks Bee. I'd had no big plan for these blocks, so basically just want to get them sewn into a small quilt. Hope to be able to call this a finish by week's end.

A stocking for hubby - It was crazy to start this so late in the game, but I do want to finish it so it's ready for next year.

Modern Crosses quilt - I'm embarrassed this isn't already done, and shame on me for setting it aside. But Christmas is over, and it's high on my list!

Scrappy Trip Along - I didn't mean to do it. I mean really, I have the above wips I really want to finish! Call it peer pressure . . . curiosity . . . nostalgia. Block one is done and we'll just see where this goes.

Upcoming projects
* FAITH Circle January "Sparkle" block
* That Stash Bee's January "Birds in the Air" blocks
* Lucky Stars BOM - practice block + January block
* scrappy Metrolink
* Woodland cross-stitch sampler
* plan for FAITH Circle's February quilt
* Polaroid block projects
* placemats

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday.