DESIGN WALL MONDAY (OR TUESDAY)

I'm still stitching away at my storm at sea project.  I have completed all 81 fussy cut blocks.

Now I'm working on the 100 corner squares - same design but half the size, and no fussy cutting! 

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My next project is a labour of love - a king size quilt for my younger son and his wife.  They recently moved up to a king bed, and I knew that they'd need a new quilt.  When I asked, my daughter-in-law for her input, she said that she wanted something "oceany".  I made a couple of suggestions, but then sent her to search the internet for quilts that she liked.  After a long search, she found a "storm at sea" quilt that seemed perfect.  Then when visiting a local fabric store, she found some interesting fabric.

After playing with my EQ7 software, I designed a storm at sea quilt,  that is the perfect size to include these focal squares in the centre of each block!

 These are the fabrics I chose, in dark, medium and light.  The stack on the left will be used for borders, and are also some that I picked up for the project, but will probably not use.  I only picked up 2 lights, as the focal squares take the place of the light pieces in the main blocks.
Saturday I fussy cut 81 focal squares, and then the dark and medium triangles needed for the blocks.

By Sunday afternoon, I had stitched the dark triangles to all 81 blocks, and completed 9 blocks.

Only 72 to go, then I have to work on the pieced cornerstones and sashings.  One of the extra fabrics looks like footprints on sand, and will be used, along with the remaining focal squares, in one of the borders.   This quilt should start my stash report off with a bang in the new year, although I'm not sure how long it will take to complete.....  I want to enjoy the process!!!!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  2.25 yards

Fabric used year to date  168.875 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  98.875 yards

Net used 2015  68 yards

My quilting group wanted to try a small bargello project this season.  I chose Christmas fabrics, as I'm trying to use as much as I possibly can.  I swear they multiply when I'm out of my sewing room!

Here's my finished runner, just  in time for Christmas.

We're planning a low-key Christmas this year - just us and a friend for dinner.  I am cooking a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, turnip casserole and green beans, and with any luck, there will be homemade rolls as well!  What good is cooking Christmas dinner if there aren't any leftovers to enjoy!

Join everyone at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, to share stash progress!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My quilt group is working on a bargello runner.  I am making mine with Christmas fabric, trying to use more of my stash.  I've been on a "no buying Christmas fabric" plan for a couple of years now!

I'm finally stitching mine, as I was using it as a teaching sample.  This is quilted as you go, through all layers, and just needs binding when completed.

 My "Hearts Galore" quilt is finished, and I managed to get some pictures taken this morning.  Block 1 has curls stitched in the blue border, and loop-de-loops in the heart fabric.

Block 2 has a heart stitched in the small heart square, then a continuous swirl design in the background green and gold squares.

I plan on getting a better picture of the whole quilt, as well as the back later, as DH, also known as my quilt holder is at a band practice this morning.  His group has several performances scheduled for the next couple of weeks, at local nursing homes, the rehab center, as well as a pot luck Christmas Eve dinner in our community's clubhouse!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  22.75 yards

Fabric used year to date  159.625 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  97.875 yards

Net used 2015  65.75 yard

 

Great numbers this week - I completed my Braid and 9-Patch scrappy quilt.  I even used a scrappy binding!  This accounted for 12.75 yards of stash.

I stitched curls in the 2 plain borders.

The braids were stitched with a sort of peacock feather design.

 The 9-patch blocks had continuous flowers and leaves.

I also completed the quilt I called Hearts Galore, but no pictures yet.  DH is busy preparing for the Christmas sing-a-long, held annually in our community, so wasn't available to be my quilt holder!

It feels great to finally finish something!  Now to complete my Christmas bargello runner, and I can get started at the king size quilt for DS2 and DDIL - can't wait.

Check out all the reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I finally had a finish - just a small one!  I had fun quilting this small panel.  I outlined most of the items with monofilament (invisible) thread, then used some shades of variegated green thread to over-stitch the grass, bushes and leaves.  I managed to find enough red strips to make the binding too. I completed hand stitching the binding before bedtime.

Next I began stitching all the straight lines on my braid and 9-patch quilt.  Lots of SITD to help stabilize everything before the fun quilting begins.

I've stitched a flower in the centre 9-patch, and a curly leaf on either side.  I was able to stitch continuously from one end of the panel to the other, which speeds up the work.  I managed to complete 2 of the 3 panels of 9-patch before my back told me to take a break!  I still have to decide what I'm going to stitch in the braid panels and border.....  At least it feels like progress.   Usually I am working on one project, and complete it before starting another.  I hope I can find my way back to my old habits soon.

Check out what others are working on this week at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times and at Love, Laugh Quilt

 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week 0 yards

Fabric added year to date  97.875 yards

Net used 2015  37.125 yards

 

Nothing new to report as well!  Hopefully, I'll be able to complete at least one project this week!

Our "step-dog" is staying with us this week - his human parents are off on a cruise.  The good thing is that I'll get more exercise taking her for walks, in between sessions of free motion quilting!

 

Check the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

A LITTLE PROGRESS

DH and I managed to find time this week, to do some pin basting!  Tuesday afternoon we headed to the clubhouse to use the large tables there, and managed to baste both quilts that I had completed since arriving south, along with a small panel for a growth chart for our grandson.
We had our cousins come for a visit from Wednesday to Friday, and we had some friends join in for a ham and scalloped potatoes dinner on Thursday night.
Friday afternoon and Saturday have been spent catching up on my guild's block of the month project.  I had 2 blocks to complete, and then I'll email the pictures to the coordinator, so she knows I'm keeping up!   (This has become a joke between us, and last month she printed the pictures and hung them with the rest of the blocks at "show and tell".

 Now that I am caught up, I'll get my machine set up for machine quilting, and make sure I have lots of bobbins wound.  I'll "warm up" by quilting the panel first, then my scrappy quilt, then the bright coloured hearts quilt.  That should keep me busy this week!  Then I want to get started on my son and daughter-in-law's new "oceany" quilt - king size!!!!