Focus on the Finish!

Folks who read my blog blather on a regular basis know I have been trying to stay focused on finishing projects that have been in the WIP and UFO stage for too long.  I got started on this Finish Focus when the commotion made by all the stalled projects overwhelmed me every time I entered my sewing room.  

I've made good progress over the last few months, but when I sat down this week to make a list of projects to focus on for 2019, I found the list was still heavy with UFOs.  At the same time, the list of projects I want to attempt doesn't get any shorter, either.  All I can say is, "So many quilts, so little time!"

One recent project was to finish binding this large (88" x 88") quilt.  I'm happy to report the binding is finished, as is the label.  I haven't had an opportunity to do some really good photos of this quilt; maybe before year's end that will happen.

Autumn decorating season reminded me this candle mat was still unfinished, so I got busy and completed the embroidered details.  Once that was done, I stitched on the backing and pronounced it Finished!  This was a wool project started at a workshop at my LQS, Quilted Owl.  Pattern by Primitive Gatherings.

Another UFO was this knit shawl I started at least 4 years ago - probably longer, but the exact date is lost in the mists of time.  About three-quarters of the way through, I realized I needed more yarn to finish the project.  Although it was easy to obtain more yarn and the colorway matched fine, the texture of the second skein was a little different and the second side of the shawl came out a bit looser than the original.  Or maybe that's because my knitting became looser over all the years it took to complete the shawl?!

Pattern:  Nae Shawl by Anat Rodan.  Yarn:  Fino by Manos del Uruguay.  I finished the final stitches on this last night and popped it over my shoulders as Dear Son and I were binge-watching "The Last Kingdom" on Netflix.  It was the perfect amount of warmth for one of our cool, but not cold, fall evenings!

Another Finish Focus is to complete the binding for several quilts.  This Nine-Patch variation quilt started out as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project in 2016.  The backing fabric has been in my stash for years and I thought it would make a fun back for this particular quilt.  Having a printed backing seemed to dictate using a solid for the binding, although I like to use bright prints for the bindings on these RSC quilts.  Fortunately, I found the perfect light purple cross-weave fabric in my stash - I love it when that happens!

Diane Knott of Butterfly Threads Quilting did the long-arm quilting for me.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but it's the perfect amount of swirly softness to complement all those squares.  Diane did a fabulous job and I can't wait to take some glamour shots to show off her work!

Still more Finishing:  Fun with Barb's Nine Patch swap blocks (2014).  I had seen this setting years ago in a quilt magazine (remember when we got our inspiration from quilt magazines?), clipped the picture and added it to my quilting bucket list.  Barb's Nine Patch swap was the perfect opportunity to use this setting.  Some sources call it Tonganoxie Nine Patch, but if you Google that, you'll get all kinds of variations.  Yes, the background fabric is supposed to look kinda washed-out and splotchy - it's from a Betsy Chutchian line called Rachel Remembered.  

I'm still debating whether the quilt needs a border/borders.  While I was rummaging shopping in my stash for potential border fabrics, I came across this chunk of Mark Twain-themed fabric that will be perfect for the backing.

One of my focus quilts for 2019 will be Burgoyne Surrounded - another Rainbow Scrap Challenge project that has gotten stalled.  I need 25 BS blocks for the quilt (current count: 15) and 30 nine-patch (3 inch) blocks for the setting.  I pulled scraps from my 1.5 inch strip bin and cut lots of nine-patch parts to use as leader-enders over the next couple of weeks.  Here are a few that got finished as I stitched up the Tonganoxie/Fun with Barb Nine-Patches.

My big focus for the rest of this year is going to be working on the blocks for the Gathered Harvest appliqué quilt.  This was a BOM from the Quilted Owl.  My goal was to perfect my machine appliqué skills on this project.  All the pieces are ready to be stitched for this block, so I just need some un-interrupted machine stitching time.

Sorry for the long re-cap!  It looks like I've accomplished a lot over the past few weeks, but honestly, most of these projects just needed a few hours of attention to get them Finished.  It makes me happy to see the progress, and the noise from UFOs has abated somewhat.  I think it's almost time to reward myself with a new project!

Sneaux Day Quilting

You may have heard that parts of the Deep South experienced a little snowfall yesterday.  

At our house, all we had was cold rain and sleet, although a few places around town reported seeing fat, wet flakes falling from the sky.  Just north of the city there was enough snow to accumulate, which caused snowman building and snowball fights, not to mention vehicles slipping and sliding all over the roads.  Apparently Mike the Tiger, LSU's mascot, enjoyed his sneaux day, too!

You'd think the inclement weather would be a perfect excuse to stay home and quilt, but it didn't really work out that way.  Dear Hubby and I had planned on taking vacation days in honor of his birthday, so neither of us had to work.  Since the weather wasn't great for driving, our plans to go to the camp and/or do some antiquing got scrapped, and we wound up baking (bread and cookies) and doing Christmas decorating.   I tried to sneak in a little quilt-related activity, but didn't get far.

I started to trim the excess backing and batting from my Carpenter's Wheel quilt, but only finished one side.  I made the binding (all 300+ inches of it) last weekend, so once the quilt is trimmed and squared up, I will stitch the binding in place.  This quilt was a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project in 2014; it's been hanging around, waiting for binding for over a year, so I'd really like to put in the finishing stitches before the end of 2017!

I made this mini 9-patch several years ago, using up scraps from Bento Box quilts I had made for my nieces.  

Bento Box quilt under construction, circa 2009.  Pattern by Tracey Brookshier.

The mini 9-patch sat around for a long time, waiting to be quilted.  Last week I decided this quilt needed to be DONE and set to work layering and pinning.  I found the just the right shade of orange thread in my stash and started by quilting in the ditch, because that was the easiest thing to do.  Next I did some quilting a quarter inch from the seams in the setting triangles.  I decided I liked the quarter inch quilting much better than quilting in the ditch and vowed never to use ditch quilting again unless absolutely necessary!  I finished up with more quarter inch quilting around the center of each 9-patch.  

I've almost finished hand-stitching the binding to the back of the quilt.  I love this orange bandana print backing!  

One more Finish 'Er Up project has been on the front burner over the past few weeks.  This quilt was inspired by a month of blue scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I've been working on it in fits and starts since the end of 2013, so I think it's time for this one to be DONE, too!

The quilt measures about 80 inches square right now, but I want it to fit on a queen-sized bed, so it needs to be at least 10 inches larger all around.  I want a blue and white fabric for an outer border, but haven't found The Right Thing at my local quilt shops.  I think I found a couple of candidates online, so I'm waiting for samples to arrive before I order yardage.  

Those are the projects I hope to wrap up for the end of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year.  I still have plenty of RSC UFOs, but they will have to wait a bit longer to get finished.  In the meantime, I will be checking out how other RSC quilters are wrapping up their projects for the year!

Enjoying My Calorie-Free Chocolates

Today's entry for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge involves the monthly challenge color - brown - and the "finish it up" aspect of the challenge.

This quilt started life as a challenge/swap to create 9-patch blocks with brown and another color inspired by chocolate candy.  The swap took place between some chocoholics who were members of the Treadle On mail list - a group devoted to sewing with vintage and antique, non-electric sewing machines.  

The swap took place in 2007, but I didn't start playing with my blocks until 2012!  I made a few more chocolate 9-patch blocks and added snowball blocks made with chocolate candy fabrics.

Once the quilt top was finished, I handed it off to my local longarm quilter, Cindy Braiwick.  She had already done some fun, food-related quilting on my Ice Cream quilt, so I knew she'd come up with great ideas for this quilt, too.

She incorporated "I 💜 Chocolate" into the quilting around the borders.  

The 9-patch blocks are quilted with different types of candy, while the snowball blocks feature decorative hearts.

I didn't notice this quilting design until I was snapping pictures.  I guess those are supposed to be chocolate martinis!

This quilt has been languishing in the "needs binding" pile for a couple of years.  I finished the binding this week, washed and dried it and now have a the perfect guilt-free chocolate treat!

There will be more quilty treats at this week's RSC link-up - guaranteed to be good for you!

Summer Star Scrappy SAL: Neutral Nines & Split Nines

I'm doing my best to keep up with Diane's Sew Along, but stitching time was limited last week.  I spent a good chunk of yesterday stitching all my neutral 9-patch blocks together, and more time last night prepping for the split 9-patch blocks.

A few hours ago, I arranged everything for a photograph.  

All the neutral 9-Patch blocks are finished.  I had prepped some blue squares and blue and white HSTs for the Split 9-Patch blocks.  All I needed was some more blue squares and some white and cream squares.  I thought this might be my stopping point for today, but I managed to power on and cut the remaining required parts.

I decided to make one Split 9-Patch block just to see how they went together.  Before long I had four blocks assembled!  I have all the parts and pieces laid out on my sewing table, so it will be easy to pop in and stitch up a block this week when I have a few spare minutes.  I love it when prep work makes sewing simple during the work week!

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2015

It's the first Saturday of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, so I wanted to start off on a good foot with a post about my first scrappy efforts this year.  The challenge color for January is blue - which is not a problem for me as I have an abundance of blue scraps.

Since my overall quilting plan for the year is to finish projects, I started out by adding some 9 patch blocks to a batch I started during last year's RSC. 

 

These were made from strips and squares already in my 2 1/2" scrap bin.  The blocks finish at 6" and will be joined together to make 12" blocks.  I think I'll aim for at least 100 of the smaller blocks, so that means I need to make 8 blocks per month.  It's good to have a plan!

That's all the blue scrappiness I have to offer today.  It's been kind of a quilt retreat day, but I've been focused on finishing another quilt top and doing prep work for some other projects I plan to complete this year.  I've been taking a break and checking out this Saturday's RSC Link-Up over at Angela's Soscrappy blog, but now I think I'll try to get some more work done before I get too sleepy!

Contemplating the Humble Nine Patch

I have not taken the time to show off the nine patch blocks I received from Barb's Nine Patch Swap.  My design wall is taken up with another project, and I didn't have a good way to display them all.

 

Instead, I've served up a little sample of all that reproduction nine patch loveliness.  I just love all the different fabrics - and it appears there are no repeats!

I don't know when I will actually start assembling these into a quilt, but I'm having fun contemplating the possibilities.  I started a new Pinterest album just to aid my daydreaming.  Many thanks to Barb for all the inspiration!

 

I've always liked this setting.  This is from the Quilt Index, where it is called Tanganoxie Nine Patch.  It would be striking in red - or cheddar - or indigo.  Hmmm, how to decide?! 

Scrap Happy Saturday: Fall Has Fell

Autumn has finally arrived in South Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast!  We awoke this morning to temps in the mid-50s, a brisk breeze and clear blue skies.  Perfect weather for a road trip to the Pine Belt Quilters Show in Hattiesburg.

The show was fun, although I didn't take many pictures.  I did enjoy studying several of my favorite quilts up close and personal, and even had my own quilt glove so I could touch the quilts.  I was pleased to see a decent amount of hand applique and hand quilting.  There were also plenty of vendors, but I resisted the temptation to add to the stash.

After the show, Dear Husband and I stopped at a huge antique mall on the outskirts of Hattiesburg.  I thought we were going to leave empty-handed, but I spotted a treasure just before we were about to head for the door.

 

I love transferware of all types, but blue and white are what usually catch my eye.  I spied this turkey platter lying on a table full of dishes and even though not blue and white, I couldn't resist the quirky mix of traditional turkey and 1950's atomic age border design!

 

Best of all, the platter was apparently a premium from a local Hattiesburg furniture store.  

No quilting or sewing occurred on my end today, but I did dabble in some Rainbow Scrap Challenge block construction earlier this week.  Our challenge this month is to use brown and other dark scraps, so I dug into my pre-sliced scrappy strips for inspiration.

 

I started with the 2" squares and strips, assembling 16 patch blocks for Scrap Jar Stars.  These browns are all pretty dark, and many of them are reproduction fabrics.  I may save this block for another project, as I'm not sure it will work with my other Scrap Jar Stars.

 

These are somewhat lighter shades of brown and I think they will work in the Scrap Jar Stars.

 

I also found a lot of brownish-gold shades in the scrap bin, so I was able to make one more 16 patch.

 

I was also able to repeat the dark, medium and gold sequence for my 9 patches.  These will go in the pile for a future project. 

There are lots more dark-hued scraps waiting to be used up, so it will be fun to see what other inspiration strikes this week!  Angela's Soscrappy blog will surely have plenty of inspiration, so I'll be linking up there, as usual.

 

 

 

Scrap Happy Saturday: Let the Orange Frolics Begin!

I had some time to dive into my orange scraps this week - what fun!  All that orange fabric makes me want to start another orange-themed quilt.  I'm trying to be good and stay focused on projects at hand!

 

One "Kick" block was added to the Rainbow Sampler stack.  This one was a fun way to use the Tri-Rec rulers!

 

Another Rainbow Sampler block - "Plus".  Quick and easy, plus I love the orange star fabric!

 

Last week, Sally T (Objects of Design) featured orange cat blocks.  Her blocks reminded me of an orange cat who once owned me, so of course I needed to make an orange cat.

 

As you can see, Butch was my sewing assistant!

 

For my ongoing scrappy project, I added 2 orange 9 patches.

 

And one Maverick Star.

There are still large piles of orange scraps calling my name.  I hope this coming week has plenty of time for orangey stitching!

To see more orange scrappy inspiration, do stop by Angela's Soscrappy blog to see what other Rainbow Scrappers have been up to!

 

 

 

 

Friday Scrap Bag

A  compendium of recent quilt-related activities...

 

I signed up for Barb's 9-patch swap back in July.  She shared a terrific nine-patch technique on her blog and incited a swarm of nine-patch construction!  I've been lollygagging a little, mostly making the blocks as leader-enders.  Now the deadline is looming and I'm only half-way through.  I will be sewing nine-patches like mad for the next few days!

 

I lucked into one of these beauties a few weeks ago.  Sorry for the funky color, I didn't want to have half the design washed out by using the camera's flash.  

 

The tin was issued in 1997 and originally held miniature Milky Way candy bars.  The bottom of the tin is labeled "Baltimore Album Quilt" and explains the history of Baltimore Album quilts. 

 

Oh look!  The nine-patch blocks fit perfectly!

 

Another block in the Austen Family Album series, this one representing Anne Brydges LeFroy, a good friend of Jane Austen's - hence the block name "Friendship".

 

Old Maid's Puzzle is for Anne LeFroy's nephew, Tom LeFroy, with whom Jane had a brief romance.  Indeed, that romance was the basis of the movie Becoming Jane, but as always, screenwriters take liberties with the story!

I also finished hand-stitching the binding on another Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt, but I need to take outdoor pictures of it - and it's raining right now.  Maybe tomorrow...

 

 

 

Scrap Happy Not-Sew-Saturday

For the first time in a long time, I didn't touch a scrap of fabric or a sewing machine on Saturday!  There was a beautiful breeze blowing at our camp and Dear Husband, Dear Son and I spent a huge chunk of the morning just chilling on the porch, drinking coffee and watching the birds.  Various other activities followed, including an ALS IceBucket Challenge.  After being doused by a bucket of ice water, it was too easy to jump in the river and spend some quality time swimming with the dogs!

Jozy, our youngest son's yellow Lab mix and Bailey, our black Lab mix.

I've about run out of appropriate light green and bright green scraps, so I may hold off on any new Rainbow Sampler blocks this month.  I'll keep the unused ones in mind in case I need extra blocks or colors when I'm assembling the final quilt.

 

I did make a light green and dark green 9 patch block to go with my bright green 9 patch block from earlier this year.  These blocks will continue to be an on-going RSC project.

 

After cutting a huge stack of green strips last weekend, I was able to stitch together a good number of Trip Around the World blocks this past week.  This is just a representative sample.  I need to make a few more blocks for the quilt top, and some half blocks for the border.  It could be a completed quilt top by the end of the month!

Despite my late entry, I'm still linking up with the other Rainbow Scrap Challenge bloggers over at Angela's SoScrappy blog.  It's always fun to check in and be inspired by everyone's colorful ideas!

Scrap Happy Saturday: Red Scraps in the Sunset

It was a very long work week (I drove over 600 miles!) and I was delighted to have a rainy Saturday of fabric therapy.  First and foremost was playing with red scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

 

I stitched up two red Maverick Stars to go in the stack of RSC stars.  The RSC sampler block for this week was also a Maverick Star, so I made a third star and kept the fabrics dark.

 

Once the stars were completed, I cut all the HST units for my red Carpenter's Wheel block.  I use 2.5" strips and the Easy Angle ruler to cut the the units.   Sticky notes and binder clips help me keep the cut fabrics organized until I can stitch them together. 

 

I've got a new leader-ender project going alongside all the red scrappy activities.  These 9 patch blocks are for a swap organized by Barb of Fun with Barb.  She shared a very handy technique for making 9 patches and fired up an enthusiastic group of quilters to participate in two different block swaps.  The swaps are full/closed, but if you want to look at all the blocks being created, check out the group's Facebook page.

I haven't checked out today's Rainbow Scrap link-up, so I think I'll make a cup of tea and go enjoy some scrappy red inspiration!