Finish-A-Long Second Quarter Finishes

The Finish-A-Long sponsored by Rhonda from Quilter in the Gap has once again been a great motivator. First quarter, I had an awesome 3/3 finish rate. Not quite so high this quarter, but I did finish projects that I really was anxious to finish, so I'm feeling pretty good.

So I had 4 projects on my list this round. First up was Hopscotch. I had half the blocks made, and an appointment with my long-arm quilter. 

I was able to complete the blocks, get this to my quilter and back, and finish this fun quilt up just in time for the Bloggers' Quilt Festival. The pattern is by Camille Roskelley, and I confess I'm as pleased as can be by this new-to-me palette and my first triangle quilt.

Next up was a pile of left-over hst from my Swoon and Sparkle quilts, which I wanted to use to make something for the Festival of Half Square Triangles. 

I was thinking of something with lots of negative space, but once I took the hst to my design wall, I swirled off in an unexpected direction, and came up with Spiraled.

I'm probably as proud of this project as any of late, pleased that I was able to come up with my own interesting design, loving the contrasting palest of gray borders (Pearl by Northcott Colorworks), and succeeding (not without frustration!) some angled matched binding. This mini was downright fun.

Also on my FAL list was pulling my Solstice Star blocks out and finishing them into a quilt.

I really had no plan for them, but in the end went out on a limb, adding lots of solids, and created The Stars of Summer. (Click on the title to see more photo-shoot pictures; go here for a tutorial on the matched binding.)

Last on my list, and I knew it would be a stretch . . . was taking my 4x5 blocks and making a quilt out of them. At the time, I had 12 blocks, and was in the process of receiving blocks from the third round of the 4x5 modern Quilt Bee.

So I got my last 6 . . .

and made 2 more to bring my number of blocks to 20 . . .

I am making great progress on this project, but it's definitely not a quilt yet. Remember this debate? Well, I've made a decision and am currently framing all of these colorful, modern blocks.

So my finish stats are 3/4 for round 2. Not bad, but I need to keep sewing!

I'll be linking my finished projects up to the Finish-A-Long Second Quarter Linky Party!

The Stars of Summer

The story of this quilt actually began last winter, when Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts held her Solstice Stars Series. I told you last week how I recently dug those stars out of my stash, switched them up a bit, and began to actually make a quilt out of them.

Using one of Faith's suggested layouts, I hooked them up with two coordinating solids: Marcus Fabrics Royal and KONA Zucchini. Though a little nervous about my choices at first, it was soon evident, to me anyway, that they were just right for the look I was after.

So piecing was quite easy, and before I knew it, I was quilting. I'm usually a one-direction-straight-liner, but with so much solid fabric, I decided to stretch a bit. (Plus I'm so impressed when I see different kinds of quilting in a quilt, so this is my beginning stab at that.) So it's horizontal in the blue and vertical in the yellow-green. Then in the white I did one big zig-zag down the blocks, and then echoed from there, the stitching throughout at 1" apart.

Then on to binding of course. And I gave you a little hint of where I was heading, but I'm not sure anyone caught on. Carla and Kelli came close.

But it's not quite scrappy. I call it pieced, though of course any binding usually is. Coordinated binding? Whatever, I thought the quilt called for it, and I like it. Just the right finishing touch.

Measuring at 48" x 60", naming this one was a bit of a struggle. It doesn't seem fair to call it a Solstice Stars quilt, since I only used four of the series stars, subbing in a Quattro Stagioni Star for one of them. But today IS the summer Solstice, after all, as Toni so kindly reminded me. So I'm thinking The Stars of Summer is a good compromise.

Thanks to my mom for sharing her lovely garden, and assisting with my photo shoot . . .

 

Linking up to show off friday, sew & tell Friday, {sew} Modern Monday, and Fabric Tuesday. 


This project was on my original post for 2nd quarter, so I am linking up with Quilter in The Gap's 2nd Quarter Finish-A-Long linky party!

W.i.P. Wednesday

A quick thanks to all of you who stopped by my post on the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop and checked out my Logo Card Holder tutorial! I really enjoyed sharing it with you!

This W.i.P. Wednesday, I have a couple of small finishes, each of which have had their own post already.

Completed projects
Zakka Style Sew-Along project #11: Orchard Path Tweed Pouch

Zakka Style Sew-Along project #12: Hand Warmers

And on to those w.i.p.s . . .

Ongoing projects
Read Book Bag - I'm doing a little pattern testing for Michelle of City House Studio. You may remember her darling book bag from a while back. So far I have my book panel done!

Solstice Stars - I'm almost done binding and hope to be able to show off this finish before week's end.

Upcoming projects
* more Zakka - potholders next!
* Quilt using my 4x5 blocks from rounds 1, 2, and  3 - remember this little discussion?
* QWERTY variation
* a quilt to coordinate with my Christmas tree skirt - Christmas in July??
* scrappy Metrolink
* Plus quilt for my sister-in-law - waiting to see her palette
* Tutorial for pieced binding 

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday where Sukie is hosting today, while Lee is on summer break.
Also linking with {sew} Modern Monday.

Binding

My happy place.

W.i.P. Wednesday

W.i.P. Wednesday is such a sneak! It consistently seems to appear without warning. Agreed? 

Just a head's up that I'm participating in the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop. This Thursday is my day to post, so please come back and visit, as I'll be sharing a tutorial for my own Logo Card Holder. It was an interesting little journey getting an idea in my head out and made up into fabric, and I'm anxious to share it with you.

Completed projects
Always Bee Learning June Tokoyo subway blocks and June Modern Blocks Bee block - They got their own post here.

Zakka Style Sew-Along project #10: Zip Organizer - There's a complete post with more pictures right here. This darling little zip was a bit of a challenge, but I'm pretty pleased with it overall, and looove the main fabric.

Ongoing projects
Solstice Stars - There's a bit of a history about these blocks here. The quilt top is pieced and now basted, with a DS Meadow Lark backing. I've got some ideas about quilting and am excited to get going on it . . .

Zakka Style Sew-Along project #11: Orchard Path Tweed Pouch - After some finagling getting the pouch pattern printed to the correct scale, I've at least got it cut out, along with the linen corners and a variety of hexies. I cut more than I need so I can decide later which ones to use. Still need to choose some lining.

Upcoming projects
* more Zakka
* Quilt using my 4x5 blocks from rounds 1, 2, & 3
* Tutorial for pieced binding
* QWERTY variation
* a quilt to coordinate with my Christmas tree skirt - On a Whim ??
* scrappy Metrolink
* Plus quilt for my sister-in-law - waiting to see her palette

Sure hope to see you again on Thursday! 

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday. 

A Preview

Those Solstice Stars

One of the first projects I worked on this year was the Solstice Stars Series by Faith of Fresh Lemons Quilts. It was great fun and I ended up with 5 blocks I really liked.

Unfortunately, the blocks hung on the wall of my sewing room just so ever since. Until this week.

I loved the myriad of ideas Faith had suggested for using our star blocks, and decided to use the layout on the far left.

Solstice Star Series Quilt Top Layout Ideas

But I hadn't made my 5 blocks in a really cohesive palette, and decided to change them up a bit. First I remade the "Another Star" block.

And though the "Star of Mystery" block is a stunner (mine is the all gold block above), I just didn't have it in me to do paper piecing right now. So I hunted outside the fold and decided to include a "Quattro Stagioni Star" by thought & found.

Soooo, now I have 5 star blocks that play better together color-wise, especially when joined with the solids I've chosen to use.

So stay tuned while I pull together a quilt that was on hold for much too long!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday.

To the Finish Part Deux

It's time to make a 2nd quarter list for Rhonda's Finish-A-Long over at Quilter in the Gap. It's all about projects that are lounging around waiting to be finished. I have a few. So I'm re-upping in the Finish-A-Long and will be working at completing the following projects:

Hopscotch - I have 38 of 77 blocks made, and an appointment with my long-arm quilter. 

Terrain hst - These are left over from my Swoon quilt {here! swoon . . .} and I'd like to use them to make something to enter in the Festival of Half Square Triangles. Maybe something with lots of negative space. I've got some ideas.

Solstice Stars - You may remember these from the Solstice Star Series early in the year. I'd like to make them into a quilt - either by making and adding more stars, or maybe not.

And lastly, I'm going to go out on a limb here and put a fourth project on my list - using the blocks I've collected in the 4x5 modern Quilt Bee. (See the blocks I've already gotten here and here. I should have all the blocks from the current round before long.)

*Revised 4/8/12 to show pics of the actual blocks, per the FAL rules here . . .

   

Soooo, there are four good goals to finish in the next few months . . .

W.i.P. Wednesday

There are lots of odds and ends to report on for this W.i.P. Wednesday.

Completed projects

Hometown "Wild Thing" - This comfy cozy took longer than it should have, but finally it's done!

Solstice Stars Series - My five blocks are done and they were each so fun to do. I loved Faith's post about quilt top layouts, and am now debating what direction to go next. 

Little Quilt - Sew, Vote, Swap project - Loooved working on this little one that is now winging its way to its new home. 

Ongoing projects
Sparkle QAL - Hand-stitching of binding IN progress!

Scrappy Depression Blocks - Three down, 13 to go.

Modern Mini Challenge quilt - let's just say I've started.

4x5 modern Quilt Bee blocks NEW - I've chosen a block, now to get sewing!

Upcoming projects  
* For the Love of Solids small project 
* scrappy Metrolink 
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too 
* Modern Crosses mini quilt

* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt
* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin - starting with this bundle.

* Pattern for Mango 

* A light box
* Quilts for siblings #2 and #3

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .

W.i.P. Wednesday

I'm afraid my W.i.P. Wednesday report today is a bit of a repeat from my quilting retreat post, so I tried to share some different shots of my projects.

Completed projects

do.Good Stitches February blocks - These little blocks are pretty popular these days, so it was fun to give them a try. Using Blue Elephant Stitches' Granny Square Quilt Block Tutorial, I made blocks for two of the three baby quilts the Faith circle will be making this month.

For the Love of Solids Swap - My large project is now done. It's been a very gratifying process!

Ongoing projects
Hometown "Wild Thing" - Had hoped to have this done by today, but still working on hand-stitching the binding.

Solstice Stars Series - Star #4 is done. I'm sad that the series is soon over!

Sparkle QAL - No progress. Again.

Scrappy Depression Blocks - Adding to the blocks I received in the Scrapbuster Swap last summer. One down, 15 to go.

Upcoming projects  
* For the Love of Solids small project NEW
* Modern Mini Challenge quilt - yikes, the deadline's not that far off! NEW
* scrappy Metrolink 
* a zip pouch w/o zipper tabs - want to know this way too 
* Modern Crosses mini quilt

* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt
* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin - I at least have the fabric now!
* Pattern for Mango 

* A light box
* Quilts for siblings #2 and #3

Linking up with W.i.P. Wednesday . . .