Monday, January 31, 2011

Hello There Yellow!

Judy Laquidara from Patchwork Times, is hosting a Monochromatic Challenge this year. For the month of January, she randomly chose "Yellow". I used a range of very yellow to golden, finishing at a size of 48 x 64.

For a tour of the "Yellow" Quilt Show, Judy at Patchwork Times will be hosting this afternoon.


Monday Design Wall -- RRCB Progress


This past weekend has been about quilting tops and binding. The Yellow Monochromatic Challenge is done and will post at 2:00 PM this afternoon. I can't wait to see the next color, especially now that my least favorite color is now out of the way. Although....I actually liked the finished quilt.
The above design wall is progressing with the RRCB Mystery Top, by Bonnie Hunter.... on the ironing board, the remaining blocks in various stages of completion. Hopefully by next Design Wall, this will be done.
For more Design Walls, visit our Monday Host, Judy at Patchwork Times.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Stash Report - Week #5

The January "Yellow" quilt is done for the Monochromatic Challenge , so I can count the fabric. I had enough of the backing (not so yellow) to make a matching pillow case. I will wait and show the finished project at Judy's Big Reveal Party, at Patchworktimes.

Stash Report
  • Used (finished) this week, (7.1) yards
  • Used Year to Date, (30.15) yards
  • Purchased this week, -0-
  • Purchased Year to Date, -0-

To see more stash reports for this 5th week, join Judy's party at Patchwork Times.

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday Finish - Red/Gold Version

Sarah, at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting her new linky "Whoop Whoop Friday". A party where we can gather to share our progress.


Here is mine -- all finished! A Red/Gold version of "Nicole's Journey". The pattern / tutorial is available, however there is a little difference. I added a 2" inner border and 6" outside border for fun. I have a HUGE collection of gold metallic fat quarters. Most of them came from our LQS, The Quilting Niche' when they have $1.50 fat quarter Saturdays.

Up close quilting -- wish I would have changed to red thread on the red fabric, but I will live with it.



And -- a closeup of the border. Finished size: 63 x 88.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Work in Progress - Quilting Yellow

Quilting this little yellow top is quick and fun! I am keeping the pattern very simple, a little outline of each hexagon, with a center star flower --- the real fun will come on the border --- it is screaming for a feathery treatment. I just MIGHT make Judy's Monochromatic Challenge for January over at Patchwork Times.


Ok Judy -- now that January is coming to a close, I have all these patterns floating around in my head for the next color -- and a lot more scraps to tame.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Monochromatic Progress and Stash Report




All basted and ready for quilting -- the Yellow Monochromatic Quilt Challenge hosted by Judy at Patchworktimes. Judy is also the host of the weekly stash reports link up -- mine is pretty good this week:

Purchased this week, -0-
Purchased Year to Date, -0-
Finished this week, (9.8 yards) Red/Gold Done
Finished (used) Year to Date, (23.05 yards)
Net Busted, (23.05 yards)!!!

Something New --- I am finished with my Red/Gold version of "Nicole's Journey" except for the binding. This Friday, I will be linking up at the new "Whoop-Whoop Friday" Show and Tell, hosted by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict. If you have a Show and Tell -- join the party.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Whoop, Whoop Friday


SPREAD THE WORD!

My blogging buddy Sarah, at Confessions of a Fabric Addict has created a new fun Friday to gather with other quilty friends to share our projects. I am linking up, so I will be part of this historic Friday.


My little project is a pillowcase, not just any pillowcase, something very special -- it is a companion project to my next Moda Bake Shop Project, set to premier on February 9th! The project is made from Barbara Brackman's new "A Morris Tapestry", a reproduction line of William Morris' 19th century prints. I am sooooo in love with this fabric.

Now, hopefully I will have the quilt below finished for next Whoop, Whoop Friday! Congrats Sarah -- see ya next Friday!


Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Mid Week Progress, RRCB and Quilting UFO

I am over half way through on the RRCB Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter -- can I say again -- I love this pattern. For all those working on this, we can agree the pictures do not show all the movement.
My UFO project is quilting the Red/Gold version of "Nicole's Journey", with an inner border of red, framed with 6" gold border. The backing is an oriental red fabric purchased several years ago.


Monday, January 17, 2011

Monday Design Wall - RRCB Progress

I have been hand sewing binding (2011 Finish #1) and quilting tops this week, however I have managed to finish a few blocks on the RRCB Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter. Now...when she gave us permission to throw in the Year 2000 fabric, I took her up on it. Of course, I still have more -- so I will try and use it in the backing. Then I still have about 10 other pieces -- OH WHAT WAS I THINKING!
For more Design Walls -- visit Judy's Patchwork Times, I will be linking up -- last week it took me 3 days to visit all the other sites. I sure hope I see just as much inspiration this week.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

String Card Trick Quilt -- Done!

My 1st quilt finished for 2011. The 85" x 85" String Card Trick returned from our local quilt shop, The Quilting Niche' ready for the binding. The binding is an off white with tiny print fabric from my older (really old) stash. Maura (Niche's Long-armer) used a tight meandering stitch to catch all those strings -- perfect choice. The good news, I still have a balance on my Christmas Gift Certificates.


A close-up of the border reflects the angle piecing using a Dresden Ruler and 5 1/2" strips of several background fabrics. The center blocks were 6 1/2" foundation strings using a very simple method. I love all the piecing -- especially when they are scrappy!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Monday Design Wall - Yellow Quilt Progress

This will be the last time you see the Yellow Monochromatic Quilt until it is done. All that is left is the inner border and then attaching the pieced outside border. The top will be small -- only 48 x 64. I am already looking forward to Judy's February color in her Monochromatic Quilt Challenge -- especially since my least favorite color was first.

I have most of the clues done for Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt, so I will soon be putting the blocks up as they are assembled. I found a few fellow bloggers who have aleady posted their version, so I am extra motivated to finish mine. I just LOVE scrappy!

For more Design Walls, visit Judy at Patchwork Times. I will be linking up with our host, and looking forward to see how others are doing.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Stash Report - Week #2





WHEW! I am finally done with the 600 HST's for Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt. I made one sample block, then put it aside. I need to finish Judy's Yellow Mono Challenge just enough to pull off the design wall to make room for Bonnie's BIG quilt. Since the Card Trick Quilt was delivered to the Quilting Niche' to be quilted on Debbie's Long Arm, I have counted it as done.



Stash Report
  • Purchased this week, -0-
  • Purchased Y-T-D, -0-
  • Finished (Used) this week, (13.25)
  • Net Busted YTD, (13.25)

For more stash reports -- visit Judy at Patchwork Times, where I will be linking up tonight.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Yellow Challenge Progress




Yellow -- not my favorite color -- don't hate it, just don't love it. However, I am having fun with the design wall. I went back to the 2 1/2" strip drawers and found several yellow to gold shades, so I cut several 1/2 hexagons. Then played around with the strip blocks, which will end up being the border. The size of the quilt will be 48" x 48", or 48" x 64 -- depends on how much I accomplish on the tops being quilted.
For those of you interested, Judy Laquidara, Patchwork Times is hosting a monochromatic challenge this year. I cannot wait until the RED month is picked!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Design Wall Monday - Yellow Mono Quilt

The first design wall of 2011! I sorta cheated this morning, because I keep a stash of strip blocks in various colors (made when the strip drawers start overflowing). I had 5 yellow blocks to start my January Monochromatic Challenge (hosted by Judy Laquidara at Patchwork Times). This helped since I am quilting tops. I have two designs in my head for this top, by next week I will decide and start adding more blocks for a baby size quilt.

My strip drawers are kept by color, so when one drawer becomes hard to close, I make a few blocks (mini tutorial for mess free paper foundations). Below is another sample of how a few blocks of reds, greens and blues ended up being an 85 x 85 quilt. I added blacks and the two toned blocks as the "Card Trick" design evolved. The top is done, along with the pieced backing. My family and co-workers gave me gift certificates to our local quilt shop (The Quilting Niche'), so I will let Debbie's Long Arm take care of this one.



For more Design Walls, Judy at Patchwork Times is hosting a weekly Link-up. I can't wait until tonight so I can browse everyone's work.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

2011 Goals and Stash Report - Week #1

My sewing room was very quiet this last week. With the exception of a small amount of fabric sent to a fellow blogger who collects keys for her FIL, my stash report is boring. I do have a few goals this year:

  • To reduce my stash by at least 150 yards (only counting when the project is finished). My 2010 Goal was 100 - I touched it for one week, then finished the year at busting 89.9 yards -- oh well.
  • To donate 25 pillowcases for the local Hospice.
  • To donate 5 lap quilts for the local Hospice.
  • To donate 2 large quilts for the local 2011 Relay for Life.
  • To donate 1 large quilt for a local Breast Awareness Group.
  • To continue making quilts for co-workers who retire (one will be looking for a "Saintly" Football Quilt).
  • To participate in three Quilt Challenges: Judy's Monochromatic Quilt Challenge, finish Bonnie's 2010 Mystery Quilt Challenge, and a local "Same Fabric" Challenge.
  • To continue making a quilt for Christmas Eve at work - a tradition started in 1998. Those who come to work on that day, we put their name in a cup and draw. So far, no one has won twice.
  • And most important, to make as many family quilts that I can.

Week #1, Stash Report

  • In, -0-
  • Out, 1/2 yard

For other Stash Reports, visit our weekly "Link up" host Judy Laquidara at Patchwork Times.