Design Wall Monday- December 27, 2010

Not much quilting going on here right now.  My daughter is still visiting from NYC until Wednesday and she is finding lots of things to do that involve me.  I do have a quilt to machine quilt that is a birthday gift for 12/31/10.  So, that's my project for this week.  I am anxiously awaiting Judy L's first number she draws for the UFO challenge.  Since none of my UFOs are very far along each month will be lots of work to get it accomplished.  Trying to not start anything new until then.  Don't worry, I have another baby quilt to machine quilt and binding to do on a queen size quilt so, I won't be bored until Jan. 1. 

However, I did get this made, quilted and on my door before Christmas!

Design Wall Monday- December 20, 2010

Several friends have asked why I haven't posted my quilting activities on my blog lately.  Truth is I am finishing up the projects I am giving as Christmas gifts.   The first picture is a queen size cafe au lait quilt that I hand quilted.  I pieced the quilt in February and it has been my hand project while I watch TV in the evening.  In October I realized I was only about half done- mostly because during the summer months it was too warm to put on my lap!  So, I had to start putting in some serious hand quilting time and last night I took my last stitch.  Binding this week and it goes under the tree!

This next quilt is one of two I am making for friends.  I machine quilted these on my home machine.  The other one is blue and white.  Binding is done on this one.  Other one will get done this week also.  I pieced these during the summer too and thought I was doing good.  I need to learn to complete the project.  Yeah, right, when signing up for Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge I found at least 12 UFOs!  Instead, maybe I should not be so ambitious in giving quilts as gifts.  We all know it certainly costs more that buying a gift.  But so fun to see how they are appreciated!

Happy Holidays!

2011 UFO Challenge

UFOs All Boxed Up & Ready to GO- 12 of them!



I am going to participate in Judy L's 2011 UFO Challenge.  One UFO a month will be completed in the order Judy designates.  Some of these months will be tough! Most months I hope to piece the top.  After I piece the top, I send it to the longarmer and when I get it back, I put the binding on.  I love sewing binding while I watch TV.  I'm not going to set my goal to complete the entire quilt in a month because the time retraint I have is how backed up the longarmer is at the time.   I'll post pictures with each month's UFO. Click on the button on the right side of this blog to follow the challenge.  Here's to a productive year of quilting- 2011!

2011 UFO CHALLENGE

• 1 Cajun Crossing- quilt & bind
• 2 Halloween lap-piece top
• 3 Mardi Gras- piece top
• 4 Mardi Gras lap- piece top
• 5 Ocean View- piece top
• 6 Avignon lap- piece top
• 7 A Day At The Beach- piece top
• 8 Red & White- piece top
• 9 Saints- piece top
• 10 New York Beauty- piece top
• 11 Bali Pop Star- piece top
• 12 Patriotic Star- piece top

Design Wall Monday- November 8,2010

Back from Houston for the IQA Festival.  What a wonderful show!  So inspirational.  I am amazed at the creativity of quilters- such artists.  The highlight of the show for me was taking a class with Kaffe Fassett on making his "Bounce" quilt.  Here is my version.  We spent the whole day cutting and placing for color with his help.  I just love Kaffe Fassett's fabrics so it was an experience of a lifetime to take this class with him and Liza.

Design Wall Monday- October 25, 2010

On my design wall today is blocks for a  Mardi Gras quilt called Mask-A-Raid.  It is made with all batiks.  The pattern is 4 blocks with masks facing each other, repeated with borders. 

Stash Report- October 24, 2010

My LQS- Mes Amis Quilt Shop- got in the new Mardi Gras line and it is gorgeous!  Since I live on the parade route I just had to have some for a lap quilt.  Last Mardi Gras it was so cold we were seated on the porch wrapped in blankets!  It's later this year.  Got some sewing in this week, so despite this purchase I did OK.

Used this Week: 20 yards
Used year to Date: 246 yards
Added this Week: 6.75 yards
Added Year to Date: 258.75 yards
Net Used for 2010: +12.75 yards

Stash Report- October 17, 2010

Here it is- finished!  My Halloween bed quilt.  The longarmer did a wonderful job with a pattern that includes pumpkins, a spider web and other Halloween objects. 
Obviously, I'm still in the stash-building mode for specific quilts I will be making in the next 6 months.  And I'm OK with that since I didn't have a big stash to begin with.  I was in NYC last weekend so I'm reporting 2 weeks worth of hunting and gathering fabric.
Had a great GSQA (Gulf States Quilting Association) meeting yesterday.  I am so looking forward to the Quilt Festival in Houston- my first time.
Quilting- machine quilting some baby quilts now- so not much effect on stash.

Used this Week: 1 yard
Used year to Date: 226 yards
Added this Week: 19.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 252 yards
Net Used for 2010: +26 yards

Handmade Gifts

I like to give things I make as gifts. I feel that at this time in life if someone wants something particular, they will go into the store and buy it. And I for one don't want my home filled with things people give me just to give me a gift and it's something I don't like. I have 1 friend who comes over and asks where is something she gave you if she doesn't see it out! So, we have tried to eliminate gift giving. However, I do give gifts on non-specific occasions- a new house, etc. This is something I might give- A New York Beauty table runner.

Design Wall Monday- October 4, 2010

This is what I worked on this weekend.  Not my original design.  I saw a quilt at the GSQA quilt show this summer that someone had made very similar to this.  One of my best friends has 4 granddaughters.  I thought- how perfect for her!  I had to wait until August when her 4th granddaughter was born to see what her name was.  Her 4 precious granddaughters are Grace, Juliet, Leea and Lillian. 

Stash Report- October 3, 2010

Have you ever made a quilt and have no idea where it will end up?  I made this one from scraps and a few fat quarters with musical instruments that  I picked up from a quilt show.  Since it had scrap fleur de lis I called it New Orleans Night Music.  I picked it up from the longarmer yesterday.  The quilting is guitars and musical notes.  My daughter called last night and was on her way to a birthday party in NYC of a girl she went to college with.  She said she didn't have time to get her a gift- if only she could find a gift in NYC that resembled New Orleans and music- her two favorite things.  Now, 2 weeks ago she called and asked me to make this girl a quilt for her birthday.  I said- 2 weeks!  No way!  I forgot this one was at the longarmer.  Hence, when I go to NYC this week to visit, this quilt has a new home- my daughter's friend.

Did quite a bit of fabric shopping this week.  Building my stash for a couple of quilts I hope to make in the spring and some wide backing.  No longer in the black, but not worried about it because once I'm back from NYC and start quilting this too will change.   

Used this Week: 17.5 yards
Used year to Date: 225 yards
Added this Week: 33 yards
Added Year to Date: 232.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: +7.5 yards

Design Wall Monday- September 27, 2010

I took a class on Saturday by Paula Toups called Cajun Crossing, her original pattern.  These are the blocks.  They are set on point in the pattern.    I just love black and white 4 patches in a quilt.  They have a pop effect.  The focus fabric is a blue with a black, blue and grey border fabric.  Hope to have this one finished this week.

Stash Report- September 26, 2010

 Nothing like watching the New Orleans Saints play on Sunday while I snuggle under my new Saints lap quilt!  Just got it back from the longarmer and put the binding on. 

Cindy of CeCe Quilts did the longarm quilting.  She uses a custom pattern with "New Orleans Saints", fleur de lis, "NFL", a map of Louisiana and the ever controversial "Who Dat?"  Although the color is distorted in the pictures, she used a gold thread for the quilting which really stands out.

 I just love the backing.  It is a black and gold 108" wide batik.  I make a paper pieced heart as my signature label and sign & date  it with an extra fine black Sharpee.

And with the leftover fabric......I made a wall hanging for my front door.

This week's stash report had some additions.  Once I brought my Saints quilt to work for my co-workers to see several of them want one!  I told them it would be months before I could get to it and it would be expensive, but I rushed right out to my local quilt shop, Mes Amis, and bought the Saints, Fleur de lis and other black and gold fabric.

Used this Week: 12 yards
Used year to Date: 205.5 yards
Added this Week: 22 yards
Added Year to Date: 199.5 yards
Net Used for 2010:  6 yards

Design Wall Monday- September 20, 2010

I'm finished the blocks for my Breath of Avignon quilt, but, I probably won't get it together this week.  My daughter is visiting from NYC this week and I want to spend as much time with her as possible.  She leaves on Thursday and I have to machine quilt a baby blanket for a baby shower next weekend.  And I have a class with one of my guilds next Saturday- Cajun Crossing by Paula Toups.  So, this will probably still be on the design wall next Monday.  C'est la vie!

Stash Report- September 19, 2010

My Christmas quilt is finished- binding and all!  It's only 4 different fabrics.  The pattern is that of a mystery quilt one of my guilds did.  I noticed that when you set the blocks a certain way, they resembled a pointsetta.  The longarm quilting is gold thread quilted in the shape of poinsettas.  Here's how it looks on my bed.

I ran out of fabric for 2 quilts I am working on and had to take a trip to my LQS- hence the additions.  I am also  collecting fabrics for another quilt that will go on my to be made list- probably for 2011. 

Used this Week: 14.5 yards
Used year to Date: 193.5 yards
Added this Week: 12.25 yards
Added Year to Date: 177.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: 16 yards

Design Wall Monday- September 13, 2010

Bought these Moda Avignon fabrics earlier this year.  Just love them.  They remind me of the fabrics of Provence, France that I bought at an outdoor market there.  Designed the quilt for these fabrics in EQ.  I'm new to EQ, so it may be hard to figure out which of these fabrics go where according to this image.  The fabric that looks like polka dots is actually small fleur de lis.  Those are the fabrics for the blocks.  The center fabric is the outer border, the white is the inner border and cornerstones and the red leaves on the end is the sashing.  This is one of my can't wait to make it quilts- so off to sew!

Moda Avignon

Stash Report- September 12, 2010

This is the quilt I made for my daughter who lives in NYC.  It features focus fabrics that are all about NYC.  Purchased them at The City Quilter in NYC.  Several of these fabrics are exclusively theirs.  The pattern is Just Can't Cut It! which is a great one for focus fabrics.

Used this Week: 8 yards
Used year to Date: 179 yards
Added this Week: 3 yards
Added Year to Date: 165.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: 13.75yards

Design Wall Monday

Making pinwheels- 64 of them for 3 baby quilts for grandbabies of friends.  I just love using pastel polka dot pinwheels around a large piece of pastel focus fabric.  Making the pinwheels can be time consuming, but well worth it when you see the finished product. 

Stash Report- September 5, 2010

At the rate I am buying fabric, you'd wonder if I am trying to cover my car with it as this person did!  I added fabric for quilt backs, Kona black and white on sale (couldn't pass that up at $2.49/yd!) and polka dot fabrics for baby quilts.  I don't tend to be a big buy fabric because it's pretty or on sale person.  I generally buy fabric when I know what I'm going to do with it.  My stash is less than 1 small shelf in my closet.  But I do have fabric set aside for about 10 quilts to be made.  That's my stash!

Used this Week: 26 yards
Used year to Date: 171 yards
Added this Week: 32 yards
Added Year to Date: 162.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: 8.75yards

Long Weekend Sewing Plans

Have 3 baby quilts to make- so I thought I'd knock those out this weekend (minus the machine quilting).  The fabric is as above.  I sew a few hours each day and rarely miss a day.  This morning I had an hour of sewing before work.  Got a service reminder on my machine.  When I looked it up in the manual it said I had 2 million stitches since the last service!  That was a year ago!  Thankfully I have a back-up machine, but I still feel like I have lost my left arm. 

Design Wall Monday- August 30, 2010

I had a significant amount of fabric left over from the Christmas quilt I made for  my bed.  That's what you get when you buy fabric not knowing what you are going to do with it.  So, since I was short 1 fabric and had to order more (thankfully I was able to find it at 2 shops on clearance), I ordered enough of complimentary fabrics to make a Christmas lap quilt.  These are the blocks.  The pattern is Baby, It's You! by Fancy Girl Designs- Debbie Frank of The Quilting Niche. 

Stash Report- August 29, 2010

Finished these 2 wall hangings for my front door.  Fortunately my front door is protected from the elements!  The Saints one on the right I had no pattern- the inspiration came from the fabric leftover from my Saints quilt; the Halloween one on the right is the pattern in the current Fons & Porter magazine.  Still need to sew on a few cute pumpkin and spider buttons I found at a local craft store.
Not a good week for stash-busting.  Collecting pastel fabrics for a Summer at Mom's quilt.  I love this summer's collection of pastels fabrics in Kaffe Fassett's collection.  Also purchased a bit more fabric for a Christmas lap quilt to be made from the leftover fabric I had from my Christmas quilt.  Still in the black for the year though!

Used this Week: 7.5 yards
Used year to Date: 145 yards
Added this Week: 15.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 130.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: 14.75yards

Design Wall Monday

The Christmas quilt I am making makes a good argument for not just buying fabric to add to your stash in hopes that one day you will find a pattern for it.  Last year after Christmas I bought fabric on sale vowing that by next Christmas I would have a Christmas quilt on my bed.  I did not have a specific pattern, but I bought 4 of the fabrics in this collection.  I found a pattern that looks like poinsettas- perfect.  What is not pictured is the sashing.  I thought I had enough, but as I began putting the blocks together, I miscounted how many pieces I needed for the sashing.  I didn't have enough fabric.  Thankfully, I was able to find 2 yds. on clearance at quiltshops.com.  Without it, I would have had 3/4 of a quilt.  My stash is going to dwindle because this has taught me to buy fabric when I know what I am going to do with it.  No more buying fabric to sit for years in hopes that one day.......

Stash Report- August 22, 2010

It's been a good quilting week. Finished up a quilt which went to the longarmer and pillowcases for charity.  Now is time to machine quilt charity quilts which were made by the community sew group at the GSQA Quilt Show in June.  Got my new Fons & Porter magazine on Friday.  In there was a Halloween wall hanging that I can use for my front door.  So, off to the fabric store to pick up just a bit of halloween fabric for the border. The rest will come from my stash. 

Used this Week: 27.5 yards
Used year to Date: 137.5 yards
Added this Week: 0.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 114.75 yards
Net Used for 2010: 22.75yards

Design Wall Monday

I promised myself last year that I would have a Christmas quilt on my bed this year for the holidays.  Last year one of my quilting guilds did a mystery quilt called Around The Bend.  The bloks came out to look like pointsettas if you set them a certain way.  I bought this fabric last year after Christmas- so, it's time to get started. 

Stash Report- August 15, 2010

Needless to say, I shopped the Shop Hop.  Bought fabric I had been eyeing at my local quilt shop, Mes Amies Quilt Shop, for a red and white quilt.  I just love the combination of red and white.  Also, collecting Kaffe Fassett pastel fabrics for a quilt to be made next spring called Summer at Mom's.  Also bought fabric for 3 baby quilts which will be gifts.  Luckily I used yardage for quilt backs this week balancing my stash, somewhat. 

Used this Week: 24 yards

Used year to Date: 110 yards

Added this Week: 38.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 114.25 yards
Net Used for 2010: +4.25 yards

Stash Report- August 1, 2010

Another good week for quilting. I completed the top for my Halloween quilt and finished the binding on my Kaffe Fassett red quilt as in the picture above.  Guess I'd better start working on the 3 quilts I am giving as Christmas presents.  Bought fabric this week for quilt backing. 


Used this Week: 15 yards
Used year to Date: 86 yards
Added this Week: 9.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 74.75 yards
Net Used for 2010: 11.25 yards

Design Wall Monday

Here's what's on my design wall-  I am working on a Halloween quilt and table runner.  Simple pattern.  The fabrics are so cute- let them be the focus.  Hope to finish it this week and off to the longarmer!

Stash Report- July 25, 2010

It has been a good week for quilting.  I completed the top for my Saints quilt.  Off to the longarmer it goes!  I am working on a Halloween quilt which will be shown tomorrow on Design Wall Monday.  Also, adding the binding to my red Kaffe Fassett quilt.  Will post a picture of it when done.

Used this Week: 20.5 yards
Used year to Date: 71 yards
Added this Week: 15.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 65.25 yards
Net Used for 2010:  5.75 yards

Stash Report- July 18,2010

OK, I was bad.  I just spent over 2 weeks in New York city visiting my daughter and in Martha's Vineyard.  There is a cute quilting store on Martha's Vineyard, The Heath Hen.  I browsed, but didn't see anything I couldn't live without or get locally.  Then when I was back in NYC, I visited my favorite quilting store there, The City Quilter.  They have NYC fabric and my daughter said she'd like to have a NYC quilt.  So..... 

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 50.5 yards
Added this Week: 8.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 49.75 yards
Net Used for 2010: 0.75 yards
 
This is almost funny!  I have used 3/4 of a yard net this year!  It will get better, I promise.  Maybe.

Quilting Mid Year in Review

The year is officially half over as of today.  I leave for vacation tomorrow morning and half of my quilting year is gone.  What did I accomplish in the first half of 2010?  I made 17 quilts (9 of those were smaller baby quilts and several of those were charity quilts) and 5 other projects (tote bag, casserole carrier, placemats, table runners).  My New Years Quilting Resolution was to make more quilts for myself since I tend to make quilts for others first.  Well, the second half of 2010 quilting projects will be mine.  I have a list of 10 quilts to be made and all of them are for me!  Now to figure out where I will store 10 quilts.  When I get back from vacation I'll re-arrange my quilting closet......

Stash Report- June 27, 2010

Yeah!  Got some sewing in this week.  My quilts are home  from the quilt show and I decided to make pillowcases to store the quilts.  Thus my use of fabric this week.  Making pillowcases is so easy!  Finishing up some machine quilting this weekend, then I hope to get started on my other quilting projects!  The first project I hope to tackle is finishing up a New York Beauty quilt from a Judy Holly class.  But not for long.  Friday I'm off to NYC and Martha's Vinyard for 10 days. 

Used this Week: 6.5 yards
Used year to Date:  50.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date:  41.25 yards
Net Used for 2010:  9.25 yards

Design Wall Monday- June 21,2010

Nothing on the design wall.  No quilting in progress as I was working this week/end at the Gulf States Quilting Association quilt show.  However, I am thrilled.  I entered 3 quilts into the show and won an Honorable Mention for my quilt titled "Lauren's School Days at Sacred Heart".  You can view this quilt here:  Lauren's School Days at Sacred Heart 

Stash Report- June 20,2010

This week consisted of Jury Duty and the GSQA Quilt Show, so no quilting done this week.  However, I did shop the vendors at the quilt show and did some damage to my stash!

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date:  44.5 yards
Added this Week: 8.75 yards
Added Year to Date:  41.25 yards
Net Used for 2010:  3.25 yards

Next week will be better!  I have time for quilting this week.  Happy Quilting!

Design Wall Monday- June 14, 2010

I am making a quilt for a friend for a baby boy.  I liked the Puppy Tales line at my local quilt store.  Should be able to finish this one this week.  I like this pattern with the large center focus fabric because it comes together quickly.  And if you have a real cute focus fabric, it works!

Stash Report- June 13, 2010

Busy this week working for our upcoming quilt show- receiving quilts and judging begins today.  However, I did find time to go to Mes Amis Quilt shop and buy fabric for a baby quilt a friend asked me to make.  I tried, but couldn't find anything in my stash that would work.  Fortunately, I used the fabric this week- so, in and out the same week! Net use for the year remains the same.  Jury duty this week.  Hope to get released early in the day so I can go home and get some quilting done! 

Used this Week: 9 yards

Used year to Date: 44.5 yards
Added this Week: 9 yards
Added Year to Date: 32.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: 12 yards

Design Wall Monday- June 7, 2010

I am finishing up 4 baby girl quilts- mostly from stash.  2 are going to charity.

Stash Report- June 6, 2010

Good week this week.  4 baby girl quilts- 2 of which will be donated to charity. 
Used this Week: 24 yards
Used year to Date: 35.5 yards
Added this Week: 3.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 23.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: 12 yards

Stash Report May 30, 2010

Finishing up a Peaches and Cream quilt for an auction.  That helped use some stash this week but I also bought fabric for borders and backing for it.  But, I shopped and bought purple, green and gold fabric to go with the Mardi Gras colored fabric I bought in NYC last week.  Also, used fabric from stash for a quilt back for my red Kaffe Fassett quilt. 

Used this Week: 11.5 yards

Used year to Date: 11.5 yards
Added this Week: 15 yards
Added Year to Date: 20 yards
Net Used for 2010: +8.5 yards

This week I'll use stash for 2 baby girl quilts.  That is if I have time between jury duty! 

Since I am off of work during the summer, I've set some pretty aggressive goals for my quilt projects.  But, my 2010 New Years resolution was to quilt more for myself instead of for others!   After these, the remainder of my summer quilting projects are for me.

Stash Report

I'm just starting my stash report now.  And I'll guess I'll start with this week.  I am not home, so I am not quilting.  I am visiting my daughter who lives in New York City.  I visited my favorite quilt store here this week- The City Quilter. 

Used this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 0 yards (I have used quite a bit, but haven't kept track).
Added this Week: 5 yards
Added Year to Date: 5 yards (Of course I've added much more, but haven't kept track).

Net Used for 2010: 0 yards  (not accurate, but from this week forward!)
 
I'm new to this stash reporting.  Follow Judy Laquidara's blog at http://www.patchworktimes.com/