My Lucky Year

I am not one of those people who wins things all the time which makes this an amazing year. Here we are mid May and for the second time this year I won something.

In February I won an autographed copy of Scrap-Basket Sensations by Kim Brackett from a comment on Quilt Times blog. This time I won a ruler from Monique Dillard of Open Gate Quilts. You can visit her very interesting blog which is where she had a giveaway, and I got lucky!

Those readers who know me personally know that I am a shameless rulerholic. I LOVE rulers!

My new ruler is called Fit to be Quarter and it is very fancy indeed. It is a 9 1/2" x 9 1/2" square ruler made to trim quarter-square triangles, combination units and square quilt blocks.

I don't have it yet, it is on its way but it looks to have horizontal and vertical lines spaced 1/4" apart, a 45º line going one way and many more 45º lines spaced 1/4" apart on the other diagonal.

I am so looking forward to receiving and using this ruler. Thank you Monique!

Project progress report

1. French Reel, backing pieced, bias binding made, ready to quilt.
2. Blue and Yellow quilt, backing pieced, bias binding made, ready to quilt.

Goals: Finish the weird cat quilt, my desperate attempt to use up fabric Lori palmed off on me.

Y'all come back!

February Goals

Weekly goals are going to become monthly goals because for me, the weekly goals become stressful. It is just the way I am and I am too old and cranky to want to change my ways.

My last goal was to finish the boredom quilt, which has a new name, "Waste Not", to the first border stage. Here it is, currently 51" x 63", it will get bigger with two more borders. One tiny and fiddly the other bigger and blue. You will understand the name when you see it finished, I promise. Click the picture to make huge.

This project is completely out of my normal comfort range. It was kinda sorta fun after I got over the urge to go find my sunglasses every time I sat down to sew. My husband likes it, it is "cheerful".

February goals are

• to make another row, this time seven blocks plus two pieced setting triangles on my Double-X Effect quilt, this will mark the halfway point on the body piecing.
• Dig out a UFO, any UFO and finish it.
• Maybe play with a new stash-busting project, some fabric Lori gave me.
  

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Monday Goals

Better late than never!

Last weeks goals were to complete the next diagonal row on my Double-X effect quilt and to piece the backing for the French Reel throw.

I accomplished part one but not part two, so that becomes this week's goal.

The third row on Double-X requires 5 blocks plus two pieced setting blocks. I will make that a get it done by the end of the month goal.

Lori and I got a large shipment of patterns and quilters tools this week. I will be busy listing them and updating inventory spreadsheets.

I noticed my Double-X effect pattern is very similar to one shown here, published in fall 2002 by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. Called SFNK (Single Female No Kids) she says it is based on the traditional pattern Old Maids Ramble.

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Better Late Than Never

Busy, busy busy, our first batch of calves are arriving and sales are relatively brisk. What is relatively you wonder? I have had busier Holiday Seasons but compared to the rest of the year and last Christmas, I am not complaining. See all our quilt patterns here and apron patterns here.

Quiltie goals were set very low last week; to piece bias binding, for both the Yin Yang throw and the red and white quickie project. The fabric for the quickie binding shown at left, is probably the nicest used in the entire quilt. A backing is pieced and the whole project is packaged together in the "to be quilted" box. Done!

My extra backing and binding fabric for the Yin Yang throw arrived and completing that is my goal for this week. I WILL make some "me" time, right after I finish my morning chores.

Y'all come back!

Monday Goals

Last week's goals:

1. Add extra border to Yin Yang throw and backing, piece bias binding. I ordered fabric for this, as I simply don't have what I need in my stash, so, not done and will not get done until fabric arrives.
   
2. Buy boxes for stash Not done, next time we go shopping maybe at the end of the week.
3. Continue to set king sized Yin Yang quilt blocks ongoing
4. Play a little with a UFO if I get bored. DONE! :)
   

This is the backing, border and binding fabric I ordered, it will go on both sides of the chicken batik I showed here for the back, plus a narrow second border in front . It is a Timeless Treasures Tonga Batik, pattern is Confetti Flower and the color is Maple



Leftover from the week before:

1. Choose and piece backing for Moda strippy from stash, cut and piece bias binding. Half done. The ticking stripe binding is pieced. I don't like the backing fabric I chose.
   

Here is my goal for this week:

1. Bias binding, for the Yin Yang throw and the red and white quickie project I pieced this week, shown below.

Jay had a quilt like this at his last sew in and I liked it so much I made one for myself.
I think mine is smaller at 60" x 72", there are thirty 12" blocks. I used up some very nasty old stash for this and have a nice bright red from my stash by Clothworks for the binding.

I also used 2 yards of plain solid white from Connecting Threads. While I like most of their (inexpensive) fabrics and am very pleased with the quality of their batiks for the price, I can't recommend this stuff. It stretches, I had to make sure it was on top while stitching or the feed dogs completely distorted it. I guess while the 'hand' is nice the weave is loose. I shan't buy more.



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Monday Goals

Last week's goals:

1. Choose and piece backing for Moda strippy from stash, cut and piece bias binding. Half done. The ticking stripe binding is pieced, I am still pondering how to piece the backing.
2. Piece backing for Yin Yang throw, cut and piece bias binding. Re-targeted
3. Re-sort and organize my batiks, I need a new box for mediums orange through rust, Not done :(
   
4. and a separate box for my blues. Done :)
   

Here are my goals for this week:

1. Add extra border to Yin Yang throw (shown above) and backing, piece bias binding
2. Buy boxes for stash
3. Continue to set king sized Yin Yang quilt blocks
4. Play a little with a UFO if I get bored
   

Y'all come back!

Monday Goals

While I did not accomplish all my quilting goals last week I did manage to add to inventory, upload and list an entire shipment of quilt and purse patterns on Bonanza.

Last week's goals:

1. I want to lay out the king size quilt I am making for my son and new daughter in law. not done :(
2. Finish piecing a Moda strippy throw. done!
   
3. Pick fabric for then cut and piece bias binding and a backing for a completed scrappy twin sized four patch done!

This is the backing fabric for the little Yin Yang throw I made with rejected blocks from my son's quilt. It is French Roosters in harvest tan from Island Batiks.

Here are my goals for this week:

1. Choose and piece backing for Moda strippy from stash, cut and piece bias binding.
2. Piece backing for Yin Yang throw, cut and piece bias binding.
3. Re-sort and organize my batiks, I need a new box for mediums orange through rust,
4. and a separate box for my blues.

Y'all come back!

Monday Goals

Here are my goals for the week:

1. I want to lay out the king size quilt I am making for my son and new daughter in law. It will be a challenge absolutely impossible to find anywhere big enough to lay out 200 6" blocks so I am thinking to maybe just lay out the center rows first, it is set diagonally so that is the area of the quilt that will get most visibility on the bed (assuming it doesn't end up on the floor as a dog bed.) What do you think?
2. Finish piecing a Moda strippy throw
3. Pick fabric for then cut and piece bias binding and a backing for a completed scrappy twin sized four patch

This list could be a mile long but if a miracle happens and I accomplish the three measly targets I will celebrate and set new ones!

I alologise for the lack of pictures. My old camera died and I haven't a clue what I did with the box of the new one. I am missing the USB cord and the software. Software isn't a big problem, I can find it online and download it but the cord is proving difficult. Grrrr!

Y'all come back!