100 Day Hustle finale

Time for a 100 Day Hustle recap!

1. Lizzy teacher gift, 2. Ashley teacher gift, 3. Vintage Holiday front, 4. IMG_1673, 5. Olivia's Quilt front, 6. The Grinch, 7. Totally Groovy, 8. Groovy back, 9. mosaicc622aaa0d425fe2aca04436e06c45899b21bb454, 10. Hurricane Blocks, 11. Leaf table runner, 12. sashiko coasters, 13. 3 x 6 solids mosaic, 14. preschool pillowcases, 15. sept star of africa, 16. Batik stripe in focus

Here is my list:

• 12  Bee blocks for the 3 x 6 Bee DONE 
• 3 blocks for the Star of Africa bee - 1 1/2 DONE - The Grinch needs a little more work, and I now have 2 more to do to get me through January.
• At least 1 block for the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop - DONE
• Pillowcases for my daughter's preschool - DONE
• Finish Totally Groovy - DONE
• Quilt the Batik Stripe quilt - DONE
• small gifties for a few of my bee mates 
• Another small gift for my daughters' teachers (2) - DONE
• The Sashiko coasters - DONE 
• finish the Vintage Holiday QAL top- DONE
• Finish Olivia's applique quilt - DONE

Added:

• Hurricane Sandy Blocks - DONE
• Christmas decorations - DONE

So, not too shabby, right?  I really wish I had gotten some little gifties out for my bee mates, not to mention finished up the blocks that are due.  I suppose that not getting them done gives me the opportunity to send little surprises to them randomly in the New Year.

I really enjoyed doing the "Hustle" this year.  Just making a list and trying to figure out what was realistically going to get done, really helped me focus.  And of course, having others sharing their lists and triumphs motivated me to do the same.  I will definitely be participating again next year.

How did you do with your 2012 finale?

Jen

Vintage Holiday finish - WIP Wednesday

My attempt at a holiday setting for this pic

After months of staring at this one all pin basted and waiting for inspiration, I finally just sat down and started it.  I had too many ideas in my head and they just didn't go with one another.  I really wanted to quilt some snowflake looking things in that sashing.  I also wanted to do various gridlines in the white sections, but then I couldn't figure out what to do with the ornaments or the border.

In the end, I did paisley in the white background, stitched in the ditch around the sashing and with the lines of the ornaments, and added just some medium sized stippling in the border.  I think the quilt ended up pretty balanced in the end - the white background is the most dense area, but the ornaments with their minimal quilting and the naked sashing provided some really soft areas, and the border is somewhere in between.

I went "easy" on the backing.  Initially I was going to use a few charm packs to make a patchwork square back, but I got lazy, I mean efficient.  After all, I had a whole bunch of yardage of those Christmas lights - what was I going to do with that if not back something!

Now for the tricky part!  Whom to give it to???  My short list is at least 6 people long.  The problem, of course, is that I only have one quilt.  :(  Note to self for next year: make more stuff!

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - finished!

On-going Projects:

AKA - "stuff I plan to touch this week or next".

• How Far Will You Go? QAL - Time to piece my top together
• Miscellaneous sewn gifties - started, but at this point, they may be New Year's gifties.
• Star of Africa Bee - 2 blocks to start, one to finish up
• Handstitched Medallion Quilt - quilting in progress.  It will be a long process.
• I've joined a Winter Mug Rug Swap at the Crafty Gemini - an idea is sprouting.
• Teacher's Gifts - almost finished.  The kids finally finished up their part of the project last night.  Now I need to sandwich and quilt a little to complete them.  

Back Burner:

These will likely be touched in a couple of weeks.

• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together. It is ridiculous that I haven't just slapped this one together
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started.   
• My Blue & White One Block Wonder - geez, this one just needs to be backed and quilted and it would make a great charity quilt.  I plan on just stippling it anyhow, why can't I get it done in the New Year?

The Back, Back Burner:

Lightning would have to strike twice.

• Handstitched goodies - several small projects in limbo.  
• Star Circles aka New York Beauty blocks - time is coming to get back to these

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 1
New projects - 1
Currently in Progress - 5 - ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!

I am also noticing that things are starting to get a little crazy around here in preparation for the holidays - well, crazier than usual.  The kids will be out of school for the next two weeks, so my blogging (and sadly sewing) will likely be sporadic.  Don't think that I haven't forgotten about you.  I plan on spending some of my time planning for fun stuff for the New Year.  I hope you will join me in thinking of any quilty-resolutions you might have for the New Year.

Jen



Linking up with
 

Late, but not forgotten - WIP Wednesday

Whew!  The Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop sure was fun!  So many beautiful and inspirational blocks!  I wish I could try them all out.

Even though I should have been working on my paper piecing blocks for the 3 x 6 bee, I selfishly spent some time putting together my top for the Vintage Holiday QAL.  You will have to pardon my photo.  I was only home for about 15 minutes today, and the sun was already setting.  Tomorrow calls for rain, so it was my only chance!  Speaking of, what is it about holiday fabrics that look so busy?  Ah well, I am sure once it is quilted, I will love it more.

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• 6 more blocks for the Leafs Me Happy Blog Hop - you can see the post here.

On-going Projects:

AKA - stuff I plan to touch this week.

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - top done.  Now to sandwich and quilt.
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - piecing in progress, actually made some progress too! I would guess the top is about 1/3 done.
• 6 more Bee Blocks - paper piecing in progress.
• Sashiko coasters - I now have 6 tops done, but one still might need to be redone.  I just need to sew on the backs and they are done!  Wait, what? something might get done?
• Leaf Table runner - I have to do something with those blocks!

Back Burner:

These projects are part of my 100 Day Hustle List also, but will likely be touched in a couple of weeks.

• Batik Stripe Quilt - still sandwiched and ready to be quilted!  I moved this one up because it is part of  my 100 Day Hustle list.
• Star of Africa Bee - September's block, and now October's block
• Preschool Pillowcases
• How Far Will You Go? QAL - Putting this one aside until my blocks for the bees are done.  But I would like to at least catch up with the blocks here and there as not to get too far behind.  This one is scheduled to be completed after the 100 Day Hustle, but I'll never finish it then if I don't keep up somewhat.

The Back, Back Burner:

Lightning would have to strike twice.

• Handstitched goodies - several projects in limbo.  
• Beginner Quilt Along at Quilting Gallery - top needs to be put together 
• Red, White, Blue New York Beauty - piecing in progress, but put well out of the way.  I need to be in a paper-piecing mood to resume.
• EPP project - in progress.
• Charity quilt for the guild - not started

This week's stats:
Completed projects - just blocks, blocks and more blocks
New projects - 1
Currently in Progress - 5-ish

Don't forget to link up any blocks you have been working on to yesterday's post!  The linky stays open for a whole week, so feel free to add them as you complete or wait for next Tuesday (or both)!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's and .

the List - UFO Sunday

If you feel overwhelmed by reading other people's to do lists, avert your eyes, this one is a doozie!  Like when you open a closet door at a friends house expecting to hang up your coat, but the darn thing is so stuffed with junk it falls out all over you -- that kind of doozie!

A few weeks ago, Leah Day over at Free Motion Quilting Project, started a new weekly link up called UFO Sunday.  One of the things I like best about Leah's blog is that it is deeply introspective.  She really probes into the emotions and thoughts behind why we do what we do with our projects and our lives.  She makes me think (heaven forbid)!  This new link up was sparked by a bunch of feelings - the need to practice on real quilts, the desire to feel less oppressed by the pile of UFOs lying around and the hope that getting some things done might make one feel, well, happy.

Now, I know I have been participating somewhat sporadically in Patchwork Times UFO Challenge.  But unlike that challenge that assumes you will finish a UFO each month, Leah's premise was rather simple.  Just work on a languishing UFO for one day, even if it was only for 15 minutes.  Progress is progress.

She also explored some thoughts on why some UFOs end up languishing in the first place.  I can totally relate to some of the reasons.  Like the quilts for my mom that took forever because I didn't really enjoy the fabrics.  At the moment, I feel like I have too many other pressing projects that need my time and attention more.  Leah suggests making a list and really determining which projects deserve your time and which should be trashed.  Yes, trashed.  "Time is a precious resource", it shouldn't be wasted!

So, here is my list of languishing UFO's:

The Handstitched projects:

• the stitched headband - actually I wanted to make a band for a hat I have.  Still want to do this.
• Sashiko coasters - the bases are actually made.  I need to transfer a few more designs and get stitching.  I still want to do this.
• the Hexagon tote bag - I have my hexies all basted.  I have the linen to make the bag.  I have someone I would like to give it to.  But I am hesitant.  This one needs to go into a different category, a wait until you are jazzed about getting stuff done and then finish this one category.
• The star blossom wall art - I have everything I need for this one, but I am having trouble choosing fabrics.  I am just having a hard time imagining those little pieces working together.  Plus, EPP just seems to take forever!  I need another trip to Hawaii to get it started and done.
• The flower applique pillow - this is adorable, but I don't know that I really need a pillow right now, nor do the kids.  I mean shouldn't we actually have quilts for our beds first?  Maybe not, but at the moment, I am leaning toward trash.  Thankfully, I didn't get very far on this project before setting it down, so only 4 scraps of fabric would be trashed.
• The Medallion quilt top - I love this quilt, but the last step put a bit of a funk on it.  I need to rip out all the seams for the last border and redo them.  Seam ripping is not much fun even when it is only a few inches.  I probably have about 250 inches to rip out.  Not fun.  I need to just do it one day, then back and sandwich it.  The hand quilting will take a while, no doubt.  Perhaps this will be my holiday project while the kids are home and I can't sneak off to my sewing "studio".

Other projects:

• Hawaiian applique pillow - from the class I took 2 years ago!  The darn applique is nearly finished.  I think I have 2 more small circles to go.  But, I don't need a green and yellow pillow.  Although, now that I know how to make these things into wall art, that could be an option.  Undecided which category this goes in.
• The fusible rose project - this one is partially "pieced".  I need to add it to the background fabric and then thread paint it.  The thread painting aspect is why I took a class last January.  I'm not sure I know enough to make it look nice enough.  It WOULD be an excellent practice piece though!  Leaning toward Trash, but perhaps it makes more sense for it to languish a little more.
• The thread painting wall art - this was what we worked on in class.  I only have a few more steps until it is done.  I had hoped to finish it up and give it to my grandmother for a gift.  But, my excitement level for this project is null.  Trash.
• The Batik Tile quilt - fabric is cut, some blocks put together, basically "piecing in progress".  The problem is that I am just not in love with these fabrics anymore.  I really appreciated the picture of the pattern and thought it was beautiful, but once I got into making one myself, my interest dwindled.  It is quite possible, I am just not a Batik person.  A shame really, considering I have a whole box of them. I am leaning toward Trash.
• Blue and White One Block Wonder top - I actually like this one.  I think it would make a great charity quilt.  I was hoping to send one more this year to the woman collecting for Happy Chemo.  She said in a post that she is always looking for more "manly" quilts for the patients.  This would be a good one for that.  If I allowed myself to just quilt it with a simple all-over design, it could even be done relatively quickly.
• Brown and Blue Land of Lincoln Quilt - I like this one too.  It is a little too dark for our home here, but I think it would be a perfect addition to our family's vacation home up in the mountains.  It needs the final border added and then quilted.  The drawback - it is BIG.  Yes, I have a new machine that should make this easier with its large throat space, but it is BIG.  I think I am balking at finishing it just because of the size.  Solution: send it out.  I don't know why I am so hesitant to do that.  I really want to finish my own projects!  But it really boils down to this one sitting in a box for another 6-9 months or getting done by someone else.
• Star Circles (a New York Beauty quilt) - piecing in progress.  I love the look of this quilt and when I am in the mood to paper piece, I try to do a few more blocks here and there.  I think this one will get done, eventually.
• Olivia's applique quilt (the copy of my niece's quilt from last Christmas) - The darn blocks are all done, applique and all.  I literally just need to put the top together and quilt it!  Olivia is just getting to the age too, where she might want a special blankie of her own.  This Christmas?
• The Batik Stripe Quilt - it is one of my FAVORITES, why can't I get this done???  It is sandwiched and ready.  Why don't I just start it?  Fear.  I am at the point where the quilting happens, and I want it to stand out and be seen, but I am terrified that I will mess it up.  And, I am having difficulty choosing a thread, but that is really just a secondary excuse.  This one needs to be done, like yesterday!
• Paper-pieced block pillows - I have several paper-pieced blocks with no homes.  I can't really see them going into a quilt, but they would make pretty pillows.  Did I mention, I don't really need any pillows.  These may need to just be trashed or given away to unsuspecting bee mates.

My New-FO's (these really haven't been languishing, YET):

• The Beginner Quilt Along Top - I don't have a lot of emotions invested in this one and plan to give it to my guild to either auction off or give to their charity causes.
• The Vintage Holiday Quilt Along top - I love this one and want to keep it for myself.  Excitement level is still high on this one, an excellent time to keep going and get it done.
• The How Far Will You Go Quilt Along - the top is not yet completed and the quilt along is still going. I have had to put this one aside for a while to finish up some other items, like bee blocks, which puts it in the danger zone of being forgotten.  The design is lovely, and the quilt along has been a great experience, but I have no plans yet for the quilt itself.
• The Totally Groovy Quilt Along top - I would really like to give this one as a gift to someone special.  I need to get it done.

Seems like I don't have many for the Trash category.  I guess I need to get to work then!

I am not actually linking up this post at Leah's blog today, because I haven't actually worked on any of these projects.  I just feel writing them down was the first step and publishing it might help me be more accountable.  Baby steps, people, baby steps.  I'm leaving town tomorrow and will have a whole week to decide which of these projects to spend some time on first.  Also, I plan on trimming down this list to fit with Kelsey Sews 100 Day Hustle, which I will post in a few days.

What do you have languishing around that spending 15 minutes on might make you feel better?

Jen

Ornaments abound - Building Blocks Tuesday

I have made a few more Vintage Holiday block since last Tuesday, and here they are!

I just love these little ornaments!  Now to piece the top together.

What have you been working on this week?  Link up your fabulous blocks.  You put a lot of hard work into them - show them off!  And, don't forget, you have all week to add them if you like.

Rules, smoolz:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful project, not just the blog homepage
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please consider grabbing my button and posting it in your blog post
4) Visit other linky participants!

Until next week,

Jen

Fresh Sewing Day -August Recap

I can't believe it is already September!  Summer, and especially the month of August just flew by!

So here is the recap for August:

1. August Free Motion Challenge
2. Ashley's Teacher Thank you quilt
3. My "Utah" block of Arches National Park for the Star of Africa Bee
4. Urban Nine Patch Table Runner was finally quilted
5. lots of blocks for the How Far Will You Go? QAL
6. 8 blocks to date for the Vintage Holiday QAL
7. a few more blocks for the Beginner QAL at Quilting Gallery
8. another block from the BQAL
9. one more shot of my August Free Motion Challenge, just to round out the mosaic

I'm a little proud of myself.  I actually finished a few projects this month in addition to doing a bunch of blocks!  Here's to hoping the trend continues!  Especially since a few of these quilt alongs will be wrapping up this month (Beginner QAL and Vintage Holiday), and those quilts will need to be quilted.

I still have a few projects languishing in the corner, but they will probably need to wait a little longer as there are two new quilt tops I am starting to work on this coming week (one for my Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop stop, and the other is the Totally Groovy QAL).  So, lots of work ahead.  I hope you come back next month to see what gets done!

What else will next month bring?  Until next month's Fresh Sewing Day....keep quilting.

Jen


Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts

Out from under the rock - Building Blocks Tuesday

I am officially out from under the rock today.  Whatever it was that I had was a doozy.  Thank goodness DH was able to be home this week to help with the kids because I don't think I was awake for more than 6 hours total between Wednesday and Saturday morning.  I am happy to be among the living and awake today, and I am feeling much, much, much better.

The only blocks I have to show this week were actually some Vintage Holiday QAL's that I completed after my post last Tuesday.

 I haven't worked on anything since, but I am hope that will change tomorrow.  Ashley goes back to school, and while my first priority will be to clean up this disaster of a house (she has a friend over today helping her make messes), I also hope to do some sewing.

Don't forget to link up your marvelous blocks that you have been working on!  This week you get to add a picture to the link!  Yeah!


Don't forget:

1) Please link up only to the page in your blog showing your wonderful project, not just the blog homepage
2) Make sure to put your blog name as the description so people know where they are going or the name of your block!
3) Please consider grabbing my button and posting it in your blog post
4) Visit other linky participants!

Life catches up with me - WIP Wednesday

When you are extremely busy for a long period of time, things are bound to catch up with you.  These last few weeks of summer have flown by at breakneck speed, and we have really jammed packed a lot of activities into our time.  But, they caught up to me around 11 pm last night when I spiked a fever, had the aches and pains to go with it, and an extremely sore throat.  Needless to say, I spent the entire day in bed today.  It is now 5 pm, and the first time I've gotten up.  Luckily this post was mostly written yesterday when I felt better.

I finally started quilting this tree wall hanging for Ashley's kindergarten teacher.  It is starting to come together nicely.  I still need to add the kids' names on the leaves and bind it, but then it will be finished!  Hooray!

This Wednesday......

Completed Projects:

• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - Block 1
• Urban Nine Patch Tablerunner - finished this one on Friday.  You can read my post here.

On-going Projects:

• Handstitched goodies - I am STILL in limbo on several of the projects, including some coasters, an applique pillow, and of course, the backing for my medallion quilt.  It is just too HOT to think about holding some of these things in my lap while I sew.
• Design something for the Let's Get Acquainted Blog Hop - I have my idea, I have my fabric, I STILL need to put it in motion
• Vintage Holiday Quilt Along - Still behind, but catching up is pure fun!  Heidi was right, there is something about putting the gray tops and white borders on that just transforms these blocks into cuteness.
• Totally Groovy Quilt Along - I need to start cutting like yesterday.
• Star of Africa Bee -I need to do the July block in PINK - block is now 75 percent complete.  Just a couple hand touches needed.  I hope to post on Tuesday - you won't want to miss it!
• "Tree" themed quilt for the guild - the guild is having a quilt show in October and each member is asked to make a small quilt with a "tree" theme.  I am going to make something similar to Ashley's teacher's Thank you quilt below.
• Grammie's placemats - with a trip scheduled for September, I better get these started so I can hand deliver them!
• August Free Motion Challenge - I've been busy drawing on paper, and this month's motif is more difficult than it looks!
• Thank you quilt for Ashley's teacher - now mostly quilted!!  I just need to add the kids' names and bind it.  So sad, that I will likely be giving this to her on the first week of the NEW school year!  What better way to remind her what great kids she had last year, right?  LOL!

Back Burner:

I am determined not to forget these projects!  Keeping them in this category reminds me of them on a weekly basis.

• Batik Stripe Quilt - still sandwiched and ready to be quilted!  Tookie is no longer holding this project up.

• Red, White, Blue New York Beauty - piecing in progress

• June UFO - "A Christmas Something for myself" - English paper piecing in progress.  It will be a table runner of hexagons.  This is the hand project I keep in the car, so I will do a little at a time, but progress is slow.
• Charity quilt for the guild - I'm going to miss the next meeting, but need to bring it to September's.  I hate to say it, but I am totally unmotivated to do this one.  The fabric is..., well, blah.  I know I need to bite the bullet and just run it through the machine and be done with it.

This week's stats:
Completed projects - 2, blocks that is.
New projects - 0
Currently in Progress - 9-ish

I hope you will return on Tuesday for Building Blocks Tuesday linky party.  I have figured out how to add the photos for your links, and can't wait to see what you are creating!



Linking up with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday's .