Dreaming Big

If you have not already done so, now is the time to get your second quarter goals listed and linked up with the 2016 FAL!  Since I am one of the many hosts, I am not eligible for prizes at the end of the quarter.  Still, I find great motivation playing along with all of you.

What do I hope to finish?  

1. Medallion quilt.  

The top and back are finished.  They will be sent out to be quilted.  I will just need to bind it when it returns.  

2. Zippy Pouch Number 1

This will need to be finished and shipped to my Big Stitch 2 partner in a few weeks.  I have the hexies pieced, but need to appliqué them onto the front and back of a bag and then finish the bag off.   I am only now realizing I have not blogged about this project, so I will have to sort that out this week.

3. Zippy Pouch Number 2

Back in February I made a wonderful travel set for my featherweight.  However, the little cover for the extension table did not fit properly.  I would like to install a zipper to make it into something usable.

4. Hello Friend Baby Quilt

This top is finished.  It needs to be quilted and bound for the shop.  I would like to practice using my quilting frame with this project. 

5. Urban Zoology Baby Quilt

This top is also finished.  (What is wrong with me!?!)  Here I need to rip off the navy border that is not working and add on another border that is better suited.  Again, I would like to use this as an opportunity to practice on my quilting frame before it is bound and heads into the shop.

6. Swoon HST Cushion Cover.

The top is finished, but it needs to be quilted and then have a back attached.  I am a bit concerned that I will not find an insert to fit it (20x20 inches) but if the cover is finished, I will call this project done.  

7. String Stars baby quilt. 

I need a better name for this project.  Regardless, the top remains to be pieced, the whole thing needs to be quilted and bound and it needs to be delivered before the end of the quarter.  No pressure.  I will not be able to show you a finished photo of this quilt until it is received.  I hope you will just believe me if I tell you it is finished.

8 and 9.  Christmas Tree Skirts 1 and 2.

Now this is just embarrassing.  For Christmas (2015) I started making a tree skirt for my parents and one for my brother and sister in law.  Neither were finished in time, so I promised to ship them as a surprise this past winter/spring.  They have not been touched since December (*hangs head in shame*).  I still have some appliqué to do before I piece the sections together.  They need to be quilted and bound before being shipped off.  As they were super top secret Christmas projects I never blogged about them.  You may see them this week if I get myself together and take a few photos!

There we go.  A list of 9 projects I would like to finish in the next 12 weeks.  That's do-able, right?  It is good to have a bit of focus and a deadline to get myself stitching.  Now, get your lists finished and linked up before the 16th of April to join in the fun.  We can cheer each other on!

We Will Try This Again

Did you happen to notice that I posted my second quarter FAL hopes and dreams list, but did not post my second quarter finishes?  That's because there were none.  No. Finishes. Last. Quarter.

Incredible.

Let's give this one more try, then:

1. Swoon (from the Swoon Along 2013 *ahem*)

The Swoon top is finished.  It was sent to the long arm quilter at the end of April and there it sat.  It's only now that we're swapping sketches of how it may be quilted.  If there's not a stitch in this quilt by the end of this month I'm taking it back.  Seriously.  

2. Twinkle Twinkle

When you last saw this quilt it was layered in a hotel lobby.  I decided to hand quilt it, echo quilting inside each star.  The stars are now finished and I am working on the square/diamond pattern between each star block.  I have been struggling trying to decide what color to use in the square/diamond quilting so that was a bit of a delay.  I am sorted out  now and back to stitching happily.

3. Medallion

I have been testing out blocks for my last medallion quilt border.  I have created a LONG list of border blocks I do not like. 

 Most importantly, though, I have found one that I do!  I just need to get to stitching and I can finish off the final 6.5 inch border of cross stitch blocks, followed by two quick and easy thin borders to finish this top off.

Not a great photo - it's inside on the design wall.  You get the idea....

I am not convinced that this will be finished this quarter - I am thinking of hand quilting it, which would mean it will be finished by the 3rd quarter of 2015.  

4. Big Stitch Swap Mini

I can not show you much of this super top secret sewing project, but it involves this:

and some of these:

Fingers crossed that I finished something (anything!) on the list this quarter.  Oh, how I'd love a finish sometime soon.

Swoon Top: Finished!

It was nearly a year ago that I started Swooning.  My how time flies.  It took me a long while to start stitching the blocks after I choose my fabrics, but once I started in I LOVED making them.  They are massive, so finishing one block is incredibly satisfying.  However, this (massive) pile of blocks moved right out of my sewing room and lived on the spare bed for months.  I had a sashing mental block.  I don't know why.

Thanks to Miss Katy and the Q1/Q2 FAL I finally dedicated time to finishing my Swoon top.   It. Is. Massive.  My clothes line in not high enough to hang it without dragging on the grass!  The original Swoon pattern finishes at 80 x 80 inches (the cream center portion of my quilt) but I framed it further in two DS fabrics bringing the final top to 96 x 96 inches.  This fits our spare bed perfectly.

  

I have a plan to piece the back with my fabrics already pulled.  I am just waiting to hear a final word from the long arm quilter as to what size she'd like the back to be.  That's right!  There is NO way I am quilting this on my little domestic machine.  It will head to Cork next week for a bit of tender loving stitching.

I have my binding fabric here in my sewing room, so I just may whip up my binding so I am ready to go for its return.  That would be a lovely project some evening next week.

Since it was such a beautiful day, I had not one but TWO photographic assistants.  They explored, played together, smelled the new spring grass and (Molly) chewed sticks while Clarkson hid in the hedge.  Perfect.

That's the news here in Galway.  Fingers crossed I finish the Swoon back this weekend and send the lot off to the quilter next week!  So close to a FAL Q2 finish....so close....

Finish Along Quarter 2: The Hopeful List

And the list making has begun!  It's time that we link up with Miss Katy and state out our goals for the next quarter.  I have been working from a relatively small project list lately, which has suited me incredibly well.  I love that I can see progress in each project, that I know what I should be doing the next time I can sit and sew AND that I have an actual hope of finishing these quilts before the quarter is out.  Stars all around.

1. Swoon

To not bore you with the same Swoon photo of my 9 finished blocks
on the line, I mixed it up a bit.  I just don't have a photo of my finished Swoon top.
It's so HUGE!

My swoon top is finished including sashing between the blocks and two additional borders to bring it up to size for our guest bed.  I have chosen the main backing fabric, but need to piece the back together.  This is going to be long armed (no way I'm quilting a 96x96 inch quilt in my machine!) in Cork and returned to me for binding.  That's the plan, anyway.

2. Twinkle Twinkle

This quilt is (lobby) layered and I am currently hand quilting in each of the stars.  Through the quarter I will need to finish hand quilting it, bind and wash.  Here's hoping my quilting will hold it together!

3. Medallion

I don't have a name for this quilt yet.  I guess that's on the Q2 to-do list as well!  My medallion needs this border to be finished (have 2 sides done, 2 to go with 4 corner stones) a small, thin "bonus" border to correct a few size issues (clearly a theme, there) and then one final 6.5 inch border to be added.  I have the backing sorted, so it needs to be layered, hand quilted and bound.  I know its quite a lofty list for myself, but I am so in love with this quilt I just may pull it off.

4. Spoolin' Around

Now here I have a quilt name (from Miss Anna) but not a quilt top.  I have piles and piles of spool blocks that have arrived from my bee buddies, so the top needs to be assembled, quilted and bound.  This is VERY lofty, but I can't be in the run for Katy's winnings if I don't list it here!

Katy, once again you're brilliant for having organized us.  I am hopeful this quarter, so let's get stitching!

FAL: First Quarter Wrap Up {2014}

Way back in early January I wrote up an optimistic list of projects I wanted to finish in the first quarter of the year.  Here's a re-cap of what REALLY happened:

1. Swoon 2013
This is definitely NOT a finish. This past weekend I did get my sashing and one of the three borders added, so I hope to have a finished top to show you in the near future.  This will slide onto my Q2 list happily.

2. Home Sweet Bone

A finish!  This little cross stitch is now complete and hanging at my desk at work.  I absolutely love it.

3.  Modern Irish Bee Quilt: Twinkle Twinkle

It's a personal triumph that I pulled this out and started working on it again.  That said, it is 100% not finished.  I have the center blocks pieced and a plan sketched for the exterior 8 blocks.  This too will slide into my Q2 to-do list.

4. Mini Spools Quilt:

No progress what so ever.  Moving on....

5. Donation Quilt for Mexico City

A finish!  It's not my most favorite finish of all time, but I'm delighted that it's done and on its way to its new home.

Two out of five isn't brilliant, but it isn't a total failure.  Two of those that I haven't finished yet have a bit of motivation behind them now and that's what counts.  Linking up with Miss Katy and my FAL friends.  Katy, thanks a mil for organizing us!

Twinkle Twinkle Top In Progress

I am a bit embarrassed to tell you how long this quilt top has been in the making.  The idea to use this block as my bee block started rumbling around in August or September of 2012.  I think that makes it my longest standing WIP/UFO.  My bee buddies were super at sending the blocks in, so it must have been me holding up the show.

You see, the trouble was that these blocks came to me in a huge range of sizes.  Although it was to be a 12 1/2 inch block, I had some as small is 11 1/4 inches!  I pulled apart six of them to re-stitch and enlarge them, but it just drove me mental.  I put them whole pile of them away and they collected dust. 

However, when the FAL for 2014 kicked off, it was a great excuse to force myself to dive in again.  I am not going to finish this quilt off by the end of the month, but I am quite pleased to have even started it again!  You will surely see it again on my second quarter FAL list.  

I have been messing with the layout, finding one that would be accommodating of several different sized blocks.  I had 12-13 blocks that were 12 1/2 inches square, so I set them on point as the center of the top, as you see above.  I have another 8 blocks that will be positioned around the top as a border, four at the mid point of each side and at the four corners.  That's the plan anyway! 

Only the 8 blocks in the border to go, then.  I am really looking forward to layering this quilt.  It is going to be the first full quilt that I had quilt and I can not wait to get started!  I'll need your advice when I hit that point, so start having a think of a quilting pattern and perle colors.  Decisions decisions!

If you are into making a block like this yourself, I wrote a tute for it back in Oct 2012 for Rhonda's Finish Along.

Home Sweet Bone

A finish!  A finish!  I have been diligently stitching each evening trying to finish off this little project.  In full honesty I can say I have enjoyed each and every stitch.  Want to see?

I used a silver-grey-blue fabric as the background to be sure the cream bone would stand out.  I think you can see it well enough.  

And the variety in lettering font and color kept me interested and mentally engaged.  Some I liked more than others, but I am glad I tried such a wide variety.  I would absolutely try for the same "funked up" alphabet in my next project.

And the little kawaii bone makes my heart smile.  

This will be hung next to my last I Love Science cross stitch above my desk at work.  There's a space saved for a third cross stitch that has already been mentally designed, but I have to contact Crystal at the Nerdy Little Stitcher to get a pattern created.  Again, I can't say enough about her customer service, so do give her little shop a peek if you are in the mood for a fun little hand-stitched project.

This is my first finish of the 2014 Finish Along.  Yippee!  I hope it's not my last!

FAL 2014: First Quarter Goals

I am thrilled that the opening 2014 FAL linky is up and running over at The Littlest Thistle.  I could use a little help focusing and pressure inspiration to get myself back into the sewing room and creating again.  So, here are my (overly aspirational?) goals for the next 3 months:

1. Swoon 2013
I signed up for Sarah's QAL and was nearly on time getting my blocks finished...but then I lost steam finishing the sashing and getting the borders on.  So, I need to finish the top, quilt and bind this project.  I am excited to dig back in again!

2. Home Sweet Bone Cross Stitch
I have been diligently stitching each and every night.  Recently this is my primary project and I am loving it through and through.  I'd like to finish stitching, tie off the back and have it hanging over my desk before this quarter is finished.

3. Modern Irish Bee Quilt
This quilt was started over a year ago as part of the inaugural Modern Irish Bee.  My bee buddies were wonderful and I did receive each and every one of my blocks.  However, when I tried to make a few additional blocks to enlarge the quilt, I could not (for the life of me) get them to the appropriate final size.  Several I totally unpicked 3-4 times!  Anyway, I lost my love for the process and I put the blocks away.  I would love to pull them out, finish the top (add a border?), hand quilt (ahem!) and bind it.

4. Spools Mini Quilt

I made one of these minis to give away, but I'd love to have one myself to hang in my sewing room.  I have the pieces all cut and laid out, but not stitched together.  I need to piece, quilt and bind this cutie.

5. Donation Quilt

I would like to make a quilt to be sent to Mexico City.  I have a pattern in mind, but instead of using a fresh new charm pack I would like to dive into my stash for this project.  I have so many charms from the gazillion swaps I joined recently.  I have the top nearly done, so I need to quilt and bind this before we'll call it done.

That's my list and I will try my best to stick to it!  Thanks so much, Katy, for keeping us on the straight and narrow!  (HA!  Who would have thought it was you who would herd us in?)

Modern Stitching Bee: Quilted

It is with great excitement that I show you my new gorgeously quilted Modern Stitching Bee quilt!  It was recently quilted by Emily on her wonderful frame and I am absolutely thrilled with the results!  Look!  Look!

Photo by Emily

As Emily's frame is new to her, she is offering a basting service to anyone who doesn't fancy loosing their dignity and crawling all over the floor to baste a quilt.  Although she is not taking quilts from the general public for quilting quite yet, she's happy to take quilts from folks who are willing to let her learn/grow in her quilting skills.  Now I know Emily is phenomenal, so I was more than happy to give her my quilty baby.

Photo by Emily

The Modern Stitching Bee was incredibly important to me as I had such great bloggy friends included in the hive.  I loved each and every month we had together for the laughs and the quilty inspiration.  I was Miss November and chose a Depression  Block for the ladies to make.  I was a bit slow contributing my own blocks...still making them in January after the hive blocks arrived!  I needed to add a few extra to bring it up to size.  Since winter, it's been a finished top hanging over the shop door waiting to be layered and quilted.

Photo by Emily

But when making my Q2 and Q3 FAL goal lists, including the goal to finish this quilt (!!!), I realized both Emily and I would be the Fat Quarterly retreat in London.  I thought it would be a great opportunity for us to do a quilty hand off.  I happily gave her the finished top, batting and back (with signature blocks) and we chatted with Leanne to decide how it should be quilted.  We eventually decided on an infinity loop.  I wanted something bubbly to counterbalance the edges of the HSTs, but I didn't want it to be over quilted so that it would remain soft.  The infinity loop is perfect.  Before handing it off to Emily, we took a hive photo at the retreat.  How fun to get nearly half of the hive together!  The folks below are from the UK, Canada, Ireland and the US.  Amazing.

Photo by Leanne and Laura Jane
Susan, me, Leanne, Emily, Nicky and Di

Anyway, Emily has just finished it off and sent it over to Galway in the post.  Today it arrived and I am bubbling with excitement at the real deal in front of me.  I just need to get a binding on this old friend and we'll call it finished.  I am so excited to put it to use watching movies this winter.  Emily, it's gorgeous.  Thank you!!!

 I have just realized I need a name for this quilt.  Any suggestions?  

FAL Q3 Goals

This list of goals will be very short and simple in the hope of keeping myself focused this quarter.  These three quilts MUST be finished.  There is no reason why they are still sitting around my sewing space instead of being all soft, quilted and in use.  Well, beyond the crazy warm (by Irish standards) weather we have had this week.  I do not want a quilt anywhere near me right now!

Here we go, then.  This quarter I will finish:

1. Liberty Love

This simple top has been waiting draped over the shop door for months.  I need to make the back, layer, quilt and bind it.  I even know how I want to quilt it, so I just need to get a move on.   Its really the design of the back that's holding me up.

2. Modern Stitching Bee

I am super duper in love with this quilt top.  Yes, the top is finished.  The back is 85% finished.  It just needs to be layered, quilted and bound.  I am thinking of sending it out to be professionally quilted I am so in love with it.  I just need to figure out how I would like it quilted and then take it from there. 

3. Electronica

Now this is just shameful.  The top is finished and I do really dig it...even though it coordinates with nothing that is in the house.  Details, details.  I have no thoughts RE the design of the back at all, so I need to start there.  It too needs to be layered, quilted and bound this quarter.

Fingers crossed I can get these three off my list to move onto a few new projects.  It will be so nice to finally have them as a functioning part of my home.

To join in the FAL fun, hop over here.  Once again, Leanne, thank you for organizing us.