Finish-A-Long First Quarter Finishes

Back in early January, Rhonda from Quilter in the Gap began a Finish-A-Long that had my name written all over it! {see my post about it here} The simple goal was to list projects from 2011 that you would seriously like to get finished in the first quarter of 2012. I made a list that was short, and hopefully doable. And I confess this commitment niggled my brain many times as I veered off onto other projects. But in the end, I persevered and can claim a 100% finish rate - big whew!

This set of Color Block placemats were a Christmas gift for my coworker, and as of January 2, I had 2(!) of 8 done. (The pattern, by Elizabeth Hartman of Oh, Fransson!, can be found here.)

Within a week, I had my first finish of the year.

Next on the list were these scrappy depression blocks from Scrapbuster Swap Round 3.

As I showed off earlier in the week, the addition of scrappy sashing and border resulted in this twin-size quilt, which was donated yesterday in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Holden Village, an ecumenical retreat center in the mountains of Eastern Washington. {a whole quilt story blogged here}

Lastly, was my Hometown Wild Thing by Thimble Blossoms. I had one block done at the time.

I really enjoyed these pinwheel blocks, and chose solid borders and simple quilting to frame them up. {blogged here}

 

Three for three feels pretty good.

Linking up for the Finish-A-Long's First Quarter Linky Party!

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 . . .

Comfy Cozy Wild Thing

Wild Thing is done. For some reason, it was one that asked to be washed and crinkled up right away, so it is comfy cozy.

I quilted in-the-ditch around the pinwheels, with some straight-line in the borders.

The gray in the Hometown fabric was echoed for the borders and backing, and one of the word prints was my obvious choice to bind it up.

In the end, my wild thing has become quite domesticated, as was proven yesterday, as my little granddaughter grabbed it from my sewing table, wrapped herself in it, and proceeded to drag it around the house. Clearly docile, just the way I like it.

Update 1/29/12: The first quarter of Quilter in the Gap's Finish-A-Long is over! My original post about it is here, and the First Quarter Linky Party is here!

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 . . .

Home, Sweet, Home

Thanks for all of the good wishes on Thursday, as I headed off on my quilting retreat! We had a great time and have already picked out a date for next year, which is cool!

Meanwhile, before I doze off on the couch, I thought I better give you a progress report! And yes, duh, I took way more projects than I had time for. But, let's focus on accomplishments:

1. Finished For the Love of Solids2 large project!

 (More in tomorrow's post, though full reveal has to wait a big longer . . . )

2. Got Wild Thing quilted, and binding made and stitched on - now time for some hand-sewing to finish.

(totally planned on some fmq, but just wasn't ready on a project this large,

so did some in-the-ditch twice through each pinwheel)

3. Made the latest Solstice Star.

4. Made three Granny Square blocks for do.Good Stitches' February project. These were really fun to make. We'll be making three baby quilts, each on different backgrounds - one on aqua, one on snow, and one on peony. That's why my blocks have different solids - they are for two different quilts.

5. Finished one of my Scrapbuster Swap blocks - a long-time w.i.p. I'm using this block as inspiration

and adding to each of the Scrappy Depression blocks I got in the swap.

My first 'test' block turned out like this:

Well, that's what I got done! Not bad, considering there was relaxing to do, eating, visiting, fabric-buying - you get the drift. All in all, a lovely quilt-til-you-drop get-away weekend!

W.i.P. Wednesday

W.i.P. Wednesday's here again and I've had fun on a variety of projects.

Completed projects

For baby - You can see the baby goodies I made here, if you missed them.

Tangerine Tango - Whew! "Tangerisk" is done and entered in the challenge. See more pics and read about my process here.

Japanese x and + swap blocks - made one last block, and labeled 10 up and sent swapping. So I'm done for this round.

Ongoing projects
Hometown "Wild Thing" - All my blocks are done! Now I need to order some fabric for borders and backing. I think I'm going to go simple and solid. (pattern by Thimble Blossoms) 

Modern Halves scrap quilt for Scrap Attack - I've finished 18 blocks and that's going to be it for now. Unfortunately, I found it difficult to find enough scraps large enough to make blocks of each color, so I'll make a nice little quilt with what I have. (pattern by Elizabeth Dackson of Don't Call Me Betsy here)

Solstice Stars Series -Star 1 is done; Sparkle QAL - all cut out. Posted about them here.

Upcoming projects  
* Scrappy Depression Blocks - I have a plan!
* For the Love of Solids Swap - I am stalking my partners mosaic, am mulling over options, and may order a few more solids.

* do.Good Stitches January blocks - cancelled; taking a break in January . . .
* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt
* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin 
* Pattern for Mango 

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

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

W.i.P. Wednesday

W.i.P. Wednesday's here again - another week of working a little bit on alot.

Completed projects

Terrain zip pouch - Made for a friend's birthday and always a fun, quick finish.

Ongoing projects
Hometown "Wild Thing" - 15/42 blocks done. (pattern by Thimble Blossoms) 

Japanese x and + swap blocks - Of the 12 blocks I made last week, I already swapped 5 with a flickr buddy. I did make 3 more, so I have 10 in-house. I think I'll send them all off to swap and then start making more to keep.It'll take 80 or so for a quilt, so I've got a ways to go. (tutorial by badskirt found here)

Modern Halves scrap quilt for Scrap Attack - Still plugging away, I've finished 11 blocks, and have 3 more cut out. (pattern by Elizabeth Dackson of Don't Call Me Betsy here)

Tangerine Tango - Almost forgot to get this on the list! A snowy afternoon last weekend gave me a chance to get started on it. The top is now done, and backing and batt cut out. Just need to start quilting.

Upcoming projects  
* Solstice Stars Series quilt block tutorials - begins today! NEW
* Sparkle QAL - begins tomorrow NEW
* Put together Scrappy Depression Blocks 
* For the Love of Solids Swap - signed up and waiting to get my partner!

* do.Good Stitches January blocks - cancelled; taking a break in January . . .
* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt 
* "On a Whim" 
* Table runner for my cousin 
* Pattern for Mango 

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

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

W.i.P. Wednesday

Here it is, W.i.P. Wednesday again. It's been a week of working willy-nilly on several projects at once. But progress is progress!

Completed projects

Color Block Placemats -My first finish of the year! If you missed the post, here it is. 

Modern Blocks bee - Finished my block for this bee's first month here. Alisha is going to have one beautiful bliss-ful quatrefoil quilt!

Ongoing projects
Hometown "Wild Thing" - Only 6/42 blocks done, but the rest are all cut out! (pattern by Thimble Blossoms) 

Japanese x and + swap blocks -This flickr swap runs through February 18. Twelve blocks done so far . . these little guys are addicting! It's been fun rummaging through my scrap basket to put these together. (tutorial by badskirt found here)

Modern Halves scrap quilt for Scrap Attack - Working through my stack of colors, 5 blocks are done, with another orange, green, and purple one cut out. (pattern by Elizabeth Dackson of Don't Call Me Betsy here)

Upcoming projects  
* Put together Scrappy Depression Blocks NEW 
* For the Love of Solids Swap - signed up and waiting to get my partner!

* do.Good Stitches January blocks - cancelled; taking a break in January . . .
* A Christmas quilt to coordinate with my tree skirt NEW
* "On a Whim" NEW
* Table runner for my cousin NEW
* Pattern for Mango - hopefully in early 2012!

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

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

W.i.P. Wednesday

It's been fun seeing the blog community 'come alive' bit by bit since Christmas. I've been keeping up my w.i.p. Wednesday posts to stay motivated, but in doing so, I've got nothing completed to show today. After  nearly a week out of the sewing room, it feels good to ease back in!

Ongoing projects

Color Block Placemats - I gifted two placemats for Christmas, and the recipient was so pleased. I've since finished three more, and just quilted the last of the remaining three tonight. So now I'll be binding for a bit, but the end is in sight. (pattern by Oh, Fransson on Sew, Mama, Sew!)

Hometown "Wild Thing" - I'm excited to really get going on this quilt! Minimal cutting is needed, seven quick seams, and a block is done. 3/42 blocks complete. (pattern by Thimble Blossoms)

Japanese x and + swap blocks -This is for a flickr swap that officially starts on January 7, and runs through February 18. They are a fun little block to put together, and I plan on making mine from my scrap basket. (tutorial by badskirt found here)

Upcoming projects  
* Scrap quilt for Scrap Attack NEW

* For the Love of Solids Swap - signed up and turned in my questionnaire! NEW
* do.Good Stitches January blocks - cancelled; taking a break in January . . .
* Modern Blocks bee - got my fabric today for January and I'm very excited!
* Pattern for Mango - hopefully in early 2012!

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

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