So Long...Farewell...

2013 that is!  It's hard to believe that another year has already come to an end.  It seems like just yesterday I was vowing 2013 would be better than 2012 and I was going to get so much done this year.  Well in many ways this was a much better year but there is always room for improvement and I'm looking forward to 2014 being better still.

I didn't finish up nearly as many projects in 2013 as I would have liked but here are a few snapshots of some of my favorites.

Best wishes to you and yours in 2014 and happy stitching.

WIP Wednesday (Still working on Homemade Holidays)

The progress in these parts has been a little slow this week.  A killer migraine due to the weather here had me down and out most of this past weekend.  I guess that's what happens when it goes from 80 degrees to 40 degrees in the span of a day.  We didn't get any of that beautiful snow some of you saw just a bunch of rain.  When I have been sewing it's been slow going.

I did manage to finish up these pincushions.  One is for my SIL and the other is for my mom.  She asked for a pincushion and since she already saw this on Instagram it isn't a surprise anymore.  The yellow one was for practice but I made it in yellow just in case it turned out alright so she could add it to her collection but my SIL is the one who like owls.  I followed this tutorial pretty loosely.

I also started working on quilting the table topper for my SIL.  I'm having a little bit of difficulties deciding what to do next.  I didn't want to use the darker red thread on the light parts on the top but since the back is all the solid red I don't want to use a light color thread on the back.  Anyone have any ideas?  Like I said before one of my biggest regrets with my mom's table topper was that I didn't think it was quilted enough.

Last but not least-this has nothing to do with quilting but I also made some apple pie infused bourbon for Christmas gifts this year.  It was super easy and I'm hoping it will be a hit with the husbands family.  I wanted them to have some ideas for drinks they could make with this so I found a few cocktail recipe-of course they needed to be prettied up.  I used picmonkey to make these little cards.  A friend let me test drive her pro account and I have to say I think the $33 dollar annual fee might be well worth it.  I've added it to my holiday wish list for sure.

So that's it for me.  Is everyone else as knee deep in holiday projects as I am?  Be sure to head over to Lee's to see what everyone else is up to.

WIP Wednesday (Homemade Holidays Part 2)

I can't believe it is already Wednesday.  At the start of this week I kept telling myself only 15 more working days and then I can relax and enjoy my whole week off.  But now it's already Wednesday and I'm starting to feel the crunch of just how little time is left between now and Christmas.

I've been plugging away at my list of homemade gifts and trying to move as many as I can from the to do list to the done list.  Monday night I was able to finish up the binding on this little ditty that I'm calling Authentic Piece of Cake.  Named of course for the fabric line and pattern.  This pattern is pretty easy and it was a part of the Craftsy class I took with Camille.

I'm keeping this one under wraps for the most part until after the Holidays since it's a gift but I'm excited to have it finished up.  What are you working on?  Lots of homemade holidays going on?  Be sure to head on over to Lee's to see what everyone else is up to.

Homemade Holidays Part 1

I might have over done it with the number of homemade items on my Christmas gift giving list.  I've made a lot of progress already but I have myself wondering if I might be a little crazy to have taken on so much.  So many of the things I can't show you just yet because of who they are for but I've been busy making quilts, pincushions, and other fun things.  You might remember the toy car roll up I shared previously was on the list as well.  I had been struggling with what I was going to give my sister in law for Christmas other than a pincushion that I had made up for her.  On Thanksgiving she commented on a table topper I had made for my mom a few years ago and how much she liked it.  Well I happened to have everything I needed to make another one and in burgundy and creams it even matches her home nicely.

The pattern is from Camille's first book and the fabric is French General Rouenneries.  Apart from the fact that these are stitch and flip blocks which I hate making the pattern is very user friendly and easy to follow.  It only took me a couple of hours to make the blocks and get the top put together between laundry and dishes yesterday.

Now comes the hardest part for me.  I need to quilt this little ditty.  One thing I always wish I had done differently on my mom's table topper was more quilting.  I was chicken back then so I just did some flowers in the solid and some straight lines in the boarder on hers.  It is pretty loosely quilted to put it mildly.  But now I have this one that needs to be quilted and I'm still chicken to do it.  Any suggestions?  

WIP Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!  I hope all of my friends here in the US are gearing up for a great turkey day tomorrow.  I know I sure am.  My mom does most of the cooking so I get to relax and take it easy-having cooked Thanksgiving once in my life I am super grateful for this and know how much work it is.

It has been a little slow for me in my sewing space and when you add in the number of projects I'm working on that I can't really show here yet it makes it even harder.  But I've only missed a handful of Work in Progress Wednesday post this year and I'm trying to keep my streak alive.  I find when I don't have much to blog about this is the one post a week I can count on to keep my little space here alive and kickin' during the week.

I did manage to sew up my second quad to Marmalade Stripes & Squares.  I even joined Quad 1 & 2 together so technically speaking this quilt is over 1/2 done.  I don't think I can sacrifice this one to being a back but I figured out it would make a pretty good quilt for my SIL.  So I think I am going to work in that direction.  She & my brother kept their Dueling Flurry Quilts out all year because they needed quilts on the couch so I think we need to give them so variety.

Well I guess that's it for me this week.  Be sure to head over to Lee's and see what everyone else is working on.  As for me it's a 4 day weekend and I'm getting a quilt back tomorrow that my mom picked up from the long arm for me so I see some binding in my future.

WIP Wednesday

How is it Wednesday again already?  I'm not sure where the weeks are going.  Please tell me I'm not the only one to look at a calendar lately and get completely freaked out about just how close Christmas really is.  Since things are still really tight here I'm making as many Christmas presents as I can.  Homemade holidays is in full swing at my house but there are still people I don't know what to make.  Before you go suggesting I make quilts-I only make one quilt a year for Christmas.  It's a self imposed rule to keep me from going crazy and freaking out.

For my nephew I made up this little car roll up.  I used this tutorial and changed it up just a little by adding piping down the sides.  I almost wish I wouldn't have done that now because it looks a little messy but I'm sure JR will still love it.

If I were going to make this again though I would do a few things differently.  The tutorial calls for sewing on the track after the layers are sewn together.  I think I would do this first next time just to make it a little more clean.  And even though it was my idea to add the piping I think I would skip that next time as well.  I did use the Velcro that the tutorial called for but if I was doing this again I think some elastic loops with big buttons would still be easy for little hands.  

Since I've started the mad dash to completing my holiday list I will probably have to take a short break from my current project.  But I did manage to sew up the first quad of what I'm currently calling Marmalade Squares & Stripes.  Allison suggests in her tutorial to sew up a larger quilt in quads.  Which actually makes a ton of sense to me.  After working that way on my Complications quilt I have to say it is a lot easier to maneuver than tons of seams that are twin size.

I'm looking forward to this quilt along (found on instagram #feathersquiltalong) after the holidays.  It will be a little reward to myself for not going completely crazy with everything I have going on this season.  Quilting is after all cheaper than therapy.

Be sure to head over to Lee's to see what everyone else is up to.

WIP Wednesday

So after spending the first 2 days of my 4 day weekend wishing I was sewing and begging inspiration to strike I finally settled on a free quilt pattern I found on Pintrest for the back of my Complications quilt.  I've never really made a quilt back that had a lot of detail to it.  Usually I find one print from the line that is on sale and use that with some left over pieces or blocks so I don't have to try and match the pattern repeat.  But I am trying to work with what I have on hand right now since I can't afford any new fabrics to play with.

I really love Allison's (of Cluck Cluck Sew) patterns so it was not surprise that this free pattern of hers would be the same way.  I set out using the pieces I had left over from my fat quarters of Marmalade and Vintage Modern.  There are even the last tiny pieces of Ruby from my Swoon quilt mixed in here too.

Overall the pattern is made up of 4 types of blocks.  Large squares cut from a single fabric, squares made up of tiny squares, squares made up of strips, and a square in square design.  Then you lay them out in random order.  I think I am going to cut a few less of the large squares and add in a few more of the 16 patch squares because I have a ton of 2 1/2 inch squares cut already and they are just so darn cute.

I haven't cut everything out-another disadvantage to my sewing space is the lack of a proper cutting area.  I currently cut on a TV Tray so after a while my back starts to hurt.  So I cut a little and then sew a little.  I did manage to make the first 16 blocks or so not counting the solid ones I have cut out.  I need a total of 88 so that's not too shabby for progress.

Truthfully-I'm loving this so much it will be hard to use it as the back of a quilt.  I'm thinking it might just end up as its own quilt before it is all said and done.  But then of course what do I make for the back of two quilt tops.

In other news I joined Instagram this weekend.  I'm having a hard time finding all of my friends over there but I'm working on it.  I was such a fan of Flickr but it seems like more and more people, quilt alongs, and destash sales are showing up on Instagram these days and I felt like I was missing out.  But being so new I'm still trying to learn all the rules of the @ and the #.  Do you #designer when you use their patterns or fabrics?  What helpful hints do you have for someone brand new over there?   I'd love to hear about it.

Be sure you also head over to Lee's and see what everyone else has been up to this week.

WIP Wednesday-Still Missing My Mojo

So... No sewing going on here...  I don't know why I can't seem to snap out of it but for some reason no matter how many projects I pull out of the closet I can't seem to get motivated to finish up any of them.  Let's see so far this week I have started and stopped:

• Backing for Spools of Love
• Backing for Complications
• Backing for Sunny Trails (this one is seriously just one seam)
• Starting a Yellow Brick Road Quilt
• Making binding for the 3 quilts at the long arm
• Pulling out Bee Blocks to make into a finished quilt

Nothing seems to make me want to sew which is really strange because usually just sewing something helps.  I have a four day weekend this weekend and I was really looking forward to using some of that time to sew but unless this fog lifts I don't guess I'll be doing much of that anytime soon.

Head over to Lee's to see what everyone else is working on.  If you have some inspiration or ideas on what I should be sewing leave me a comment.  

Missing Mojo

Well I'm back from a really long week of traveling for work and I feel like I haven't stopped running since my plane landed.  I finally have some time today to relax and sew but I think I might have left my sewing mojo in Canada or Utah because nothing seems appealing right now.  Who knows why that might be but I just have a total lack of inspiration which is odd since most of the time I have a list of projects longer than the time in the day.  I guess I really should get serious about my holiday plan and figure out what I'm doing there.

Thought I would pop in today with some photos from my trip.  Interestingly enough I didn't take any photos in Canada.  I didn't have much time there and most of it was spent inside a stuffy office building.  I got horribly sick while I was in Canada and ended up catching an earlier flight to Salt Lake so I could sleep the bug out of my system which left no time for exploring.

Sorry for the bad iphone photo

Once I got to Salt Lake I did manage to check out Material Girls before crashing.  It was such a super cute shop-I really wanted to take her samples down and take them home.  I got to see Wallflowers by Allison of Cluck Cluck Sew in person and that line is super cute.  My luggage was already over full so I had to behave and ended up coming home with just a charm pack of scrumptious.  But I could have easily blown my budget in that store.

After sleeping most of the day Saturday I ended up exploring the city on Sunday while waiting for my coworkers to arrive.  Turns out everything in Utah is closed on Sundays.  Who knew?  I did get to see the great salt lake which was extremely pretty even if it smells a little funny.

After that I headed over to Temple Square.  I was hoping I could hear the choir sing but no such luck.  It was still a very pretty place to walk around and wait for my coworkers to arrive.

So what are you working on?  Leave me a comment and let me know maybe you could inspire me to start something or even finish something from that really big list of mine.

WIP Wednesday

Not a lot of sewing going on around here this week.  Between a cold and getting ready to spend over a week traveling for work it has been a little crazy.  In fact while most of you are reading this I will be on a plane on my way to Winnipeg.  I did manage to get a angel gift made for the Sewing Room Swap and I did a much better job of taking pictures along the way on this project.

DS Fabrics and Kona

This partner wanted some storage for her sewing space or something she could use to take projects with her to sewing days.  I was thinking from the start that I would make a social tote-but before I ordered the pattern I found out she already had it.  Of course then I couldn't make it so I switched gears and tried to come up with something else.  I found this tutorial online and thought why not.

Then I got sick.  Turns out sewing piping for the very first time while a fever is cooking your brain isn't always the best idea.  And cutting circles that are bigger than anything you have to trace in your house-well that could have been a disaster.  Luckily the hubs was feeling nice and helped me out with a piece of wire and a pencil.

Adding the piping

If I were to make this sewing caddy again there are a lot of things I would do differently.  The extremely stiff interfacing on the sides of the caddy made it very hard to turn and with as many times as they tell you to flip it back and forth mine ended up coming lose and you have to have it secured for it to work out.  

Almost done-just needs the bottom

The instructions also don't call for you to use interfacing in the bottom of the basket but if I were making it again I would use something for sure.  Even if you don't want to go with the heavy weight even a medium weight like what is used in the handles would have been better than nothing.  Oh and those handles-I would make them a little larger as well.

Finished basket-lots of pockets

So that was my project for this week-its off on an international adventure now and I've got my fingers crossed this one will actually get where it is going.  Be sure to head over to Lee's to see what everyone else is up to this week.

WIP Wednesday

So after my big push last week to get the top of Sunny Trails sewn together I ended up not doing much more sewing.  I did cut pieces for my Swell quilt bases on a pattern in Camille's book but I didn't start sewing yet.

I'm kind of stuck on this one.  I really like the panel-it was inspired by this postage stamp quilt.  And I ordered my panel not long after specifically to use with this Swell fabric but it has just been sitting waiting.  And now I feel stuck.  I didn't realize the inside of this quilt was so small.  The pattern in the book calls for adding 3 boarders but I don't really like the thought of that with this panel.  To me it feels like it's just too much going on in such a small space.  Of course there is no way I will find more Swell fabric.  I'm thinking about just making it a baby quilt but I don't really need anymore baby quilts sitting around.  These would be number 3 in just the last few months.

What would you do?  Make it a baby quilt?  Add the boarders?  Any other creative solutions?

Also up this week I have had a cold, a dentist appoint-terrified by the way so it was a big deal, and a birthday.

Head on over to Lee's to see what everyone else is up to.

PS-My mom and dad got me a beautiful set of Nordika Fat Quarters for my birthday so I'm already plotting what I want to make.  I've seen some beautiful patterns made out of it and my brain is already on overload to find the perfect one.

Worthy Cause

If you have been following along for a while you know I work for a nonprofit that provides free surgeries to repair cleft lips.  I thought I would share with all of you a very cool app.  My charity has been lucky enough to partner with Johnson and Johnson for a while now and this app is just another piece in our partnership. But maybe helping with free surgeries isn't your thing-that's okay there are a lot of other great organizations that you can help as well.  Chances are you are sharing photos on instagram, facebook, and flickr anyway. Why not put those photos to work helping some great causes.  Here are a few of my favorites that have been donated this week.

The app is free and you can choose to share or just donate the photos through the app.  No mom you don't have to have facebook to participate in this one just download the app.  

WIP Wednesday

So we finally moved into our new digs at work.  I can't even begin to tell you how nice it is to be out of what was defiantly a sick building and into a nice new space that is clean.  Better yet it's not an old warehouse so there is this thing called sunshine that actually makes it into the building.

I made a lot of good progress this week in the way of sewing and actually managed to finish up the top to my Sunny Trails quilt.  I really like this pattern and I'm a little disappointed that it's only baby size.  I don't know how I missed that when I decided to make this way back in 2011 but I guess now I have another baby quilt that will be finished and waiting should someone I know decide to have a little girl.

A few things about this pattern that aren't deal breakers but good to know.  The blocks actually rotate direction every other one but this isn't spelled out in the directions.  So if you are using a directional print like the text prints in the Sunkissed line I used you could end up with words going every other way.  Lucky for me I'm not the most patient person so I tried laying out my first row once I had four blocks made and saw the error.  So I made 10 blocks one way and 10 blocks the other so that the top went together nicely. There are photos of both blocks in the pattern but if you don't catch it you could wind up in trouble.

This was right after it was hung so I still have a lot
more treasures to fill it in

In other news the hubs helped me hang up the shelf in my sewing room.  It's hard to tell that it is a beautiful shade of pale aqua in the photos but I love it.  It gives me a place to put my quilting books and some gifts from some of my sewing friends.  I want to hang up a photo or two but it really does add so much to the space.

I was having a little too much fun on PicMonkey this week trying out the new Halloween effects and since I won't be back from Canada until the day before Halloween I thought I would go ahead and share my Zombie photo.  Besides Walking Dead is coming back this Sunday and its a favorite show for both the hubs and me so it seemed like a appropriate.

No we aren't really gray and covered in blood.

Be sure to head over to Lee's and see what everyone else is up to.

Not So Sunny Trails

My birthday is in a little over a week and for some reason for the last few years I have freaked out about getting another year older.  Maybe it's because things are different then I expected them to be not bad just different.  Maybe it's because I start obsessing about all the things I still want to accomplish.  At any rate I tend to freak out.  Part of this years freak out has included this overwhelming need to finish outstanding projects.  I don't know why-maybe because I feel like I can't start new projects until some of the old ones are finished.

One of those projects that has been lingering around is my Sunny Trails quilt.  It's hard to believe I first started sewing these blocks back in 2011.  Sometimes I am amazed at just how long things have been sitting around unfinished.  I really thought this one was no more than a year old but in searching for the original post I found it in January 2011.  I started this quilt such a long time ago and unfortunately it has those stupid stitch and flip blocks in it and mine don't seem to be lining up.  I think that is one of the reasons I put this away to start with.  But now I have about half of the blocks made so I am sure I can finish this.

I think one of the hardest things is to pick up a project you worked on a long time ago.  As your skills improve you know these blocks aren't great.  But I love these fabrics and this pattern so I am just making it work.  Hopefully the quilting will make it a little less obvious and it won't be all bumpy lumpy.

Swaps!

I recently participated in several swaps.  Two of them were charm square swaps and I can't wait to make something amazing with my low volume charms and my Anna Marie Horner charms.  They are both going to be great projects at least in my mind but there are oh so many projects in front of those.

But I also had a chance to participate in two swaps where I made something special for someone else and in return got something made special just for me.  And let me tell you after not receiving a pillow in the swap I did with my local guild I had all but sworn off swaps.  These two packages more than made up for any bad experience I have ever had in a swap.  So I'm looking forward to participating in more swaps in 2014.

Look at this amazing sewing machine cover I got in the sewing room swap.  As soon as this one came up in the flickr pool I had added it to my favorites.  I mean whats not to love it has a patchwork sewing machine on one side and sew with a heart.  Plus it is made out of Bonnie and Camille fabrics.

Then in the Sew Sew Modern swap I got the best package of Christmas spirit you could ask for.  I've been in love with Camille's Christmas Stockings forever and have had them in my flickr favorites for a long time. So I was super excited when my swap partner actually made me a set of two for my little family.  She also sent a long a ton of great extra treats in the package.

WIP Wednesday & Catching Up

Whew where did the last month go?  It wasn't my intention to be gone for so long but things just got away from me.  The hubs ended up in the hospital-yes everything is okay now.  However, it just threw off my whole schedule.

I did finish up and mail out my two swaps packages.  The first is my Sew Sew Modern 3 package.  My partner asked for a market tote.  And I hope I didn't take one of the photos in her inspiration mosaic too much at face value but it was a fabric pull of yellow, gray, and teal.  I happen to think those colors look great together so I went for it in the market tote.  I also included several goodies for her.  I sent EOS lip balm in both of my most recent swaps.  Have you guys tried that stuff?  It looks a little funny because it is shaped like an egg and a lot of people will ask what you are doing.  But it gives you the softest lips.  They also make a really great shave cream just in case you wanted to know.

I totally forgot to snap a picture of my Sewing Room Swap package before I sent it out but I included a fabric hoop and wall hanging for my partner as well as lots of goodies.  That one had a long way to travel so I tried to keep it light weight but I hope my partner will still enjoy it.

Funny story-when I went to Target to get extra's for my packages they had these little magnetic boards in the dollar spot that were super cute.  So I picked one up for my partner when I got to the register they clerk scanned it and this big red box popped up on the screen and it wouldn't let her do anything else.  It said "DO NOT SELL PRODUCT!"  Talk about throwing you off.  I was like what does that mean-of course she had to wait for a manager who explained the item was to be pulled from the floor and so they weren't allowed to sell it.  Total bummer because they were super cute.  Impressive though because not only did she not let me buy mine she asked where I found it and immediately went and pulled them all from the shelf.

I also dropped three quilts off to the long arm.  One of them is a Christmas present so hopefully I will have it back in time.  The other two she told me I wouldn't get back until next year which is a little sad since one of them is my Swoon quilt.  But at least I know I will have some finished at the start of next year.

I found some Hello Betty in a shop on sale so I order enough to make up a backing for this little baby quilt. It's hard to believe I finished this quilt top in April of 2011.  I still don't have anyone in mind to receive it but I thought finding backing fabric from the same line after all this time was a good indication that I should rescue this one from the flimsy pile.

Now I can relax and start working on my next project.  Which my dad has told me has to be my mystery quilt.  My mom was finished with round 2 so we did open the envelopes for round 3 even though I wasn't to that point yet.  Overall I think it is going to be a pretty quilt when it's done.  I've seen lots of quilts in Chicopee around lately and I'm thinking I might need to make one too.  But I have so many quilts already planned and waiting or ones that need to be finished so I think maybe I should pull one of those out to work on.  Be sure to head over to Lee's to see what everyone else has going on.

WIP Wednesday

There hasn't been a whole lot of sewing going on in these parts.  I really need to buckle down and finish up my projects for the two swaps I currently working on.  I still need to make a market tote for one and another small item for the other.  The weather here has been crazy-it feels like fall outside so I was happy for the chance to work with some more muted fall colors.  I whipped up this little fabric hoop.  I wasn't sold on it so I posted this photo to flickr to get some feedback.

Turns out my partner liked it so I added some trim to the top and sewed a line through the patchwork to divide it into two pockets.  Still working out the back.  I'm not exactly sure the best way to finish it off but I'll figure it out.

Still haven't worked on that mystery quilt.  I know procrastination isn't exactly a stranger around here.  But I did sew up these blocks for a Piece of Cake quilt top.  I took Camille's class on craftsy so I figured I might as well make the rest of the patterns.  I had already made most of my Swoon blocks before signing up.

This one is going to be a Christmas present for family.  My husband's step brother and his wife.  They are one of the cutest couples I know and since they are living in Boston I really wanted to make them a quilt.  I've been debating what to make since they moved almost a year ago and finally landed on this.  Anyone have any great suggestions for backing?  All I had was a layer cake of authentic and after searching the web I haven't had any luck finding anyone who still has it.

That's it for me this week.  Be sure to head over to Lee's and see what everyone else is up to.

WIP Wednesday

Somehow the weeks just keep speeding by and I feel like I have nothing to show you guys.  I took a little break from sewing this week to start to spruce up my sewing space.  Well I painted a shelf anyway.  I'm hoping that once it is hung I will have a place for some of my go to quilting books, precuts, and a few special treasures I like to keep in my space.  I'm also planning to hang some art on the walls-I have all of the tags from the precuts I have used in the past and I'm thinking a little shadow box or mosaic of them would be kind of cool.

So the shelf is actually a light aqua color-it's a little hard to tell in this bad iphone photo.  The color is Tropical Surf by Glidden just in case you wanted to know.  I was inspired to paint it light aqua by Camille's hutch.  She actually used a different color but when I was at the store I was afraid that shade would be too light and gray against my pale off white walls.  So I went with a color that had less grey and was a few shades darker.

In sewing news I did finish my Complications Quilt top.  Well maybe, it is done with the exception of the boarders which I decided to leave off.  Right now it is roughly 62 by 73.  I am thinking about adding a little more to two of the sides just to make it a little bigger.  What do you think?  Big enough for a lap quilt or does it need a little more?

The last tidbit of fun news here is that after a long search I finally found a bag of these chips.

I had been wanting to try them since the first commercial I saw.  Not a big fan but at least now I can stop looking for them in every store I walk into.

That's it for me this week.  Head on over the Lee's to see what everyone else is up to.

WIP Wednesday

I haven't had a ton of time for sewing lately but thanks to an extremely loud upstairs neighbor who makes it difficult to sleep I have managed to fit in a little bit of sewing time.  And while I should be using that time to get caught up on my mystery quilt I am thisclose to finishing the  top of my Complications quilt and so that has been winning out the fight for my time.

Last night I managed to finish up the last section I needed for the quilt.  It has one really big glaring error in it so I am debating ripping it out.  What do you think?  With all of the little squares and the way this quilt was put together in pieces I don't think it will be overwhelmingly obvious once the whole thing is together.

Once that section was done I joined it to another smaller piece I had worked on earlier so now this quilt top is in 4 large chunks and they just need to be joined together.  I am still debating if I want to add the boarder or not.  In my mind it would be 2 1/2 inch squares and alternate between the prints and a solid.  I was thinking Bella Snow but my conflict is there is no other solid in the quilt and the blocks in this quilt run together on purpose.  So what do you think?  Add a border?  Skip a border?

That's it for me this week be sure to head on over to Lee's to see what everyone else is up to.  Happy Sewing!

PS-If you are looking for the giveaway post you can find it here.

Reality Check-A Really Big List Update

Back in February I made a really BIG list of all of my outstanding WIP's because I thought it would help me with my goal of finishing up some of my projects before starting new ones.  I guess a really big list really doesn't do any good if you never revisit it.  So I thought I would pull out the list again and see if I have managed to make any progress.

• Anna Marie Horner Chevrons-I made a few of these as part of this great quilt along.  However I decided I wasn't loving the project and stopped with just a few made.  I am thinking I might revisit these blocks and turn them into some throw pillows.  Sometimes my projects just change and then change again.  I joined the AMH Charm Square Swap because I have been wanting to make a very simple patchwork quilt with her fabrics for a long time.  I'm planning now on making the chevrons I made for this quilt into part of the back of my simple patchwork quilt.  I have a plan and everything!  
• Swell Quilt-After Mary sent me a jelly roll of Swell that she somehow managed to track down I swapped some amazing fabrics with a Canadian friend to get the last of the pieces I needed for this quilt.  I haven't settled on a pattern yet even though I based all of my fabric sizes off a quilt in Camille's book. I am still planning to make this quilt I just need to find the perfect pattern for this great fabric.
  
• Anchors Away-this is a really hard one for me because in theory I love this quilt.  I'm scared to death of it but I love it.  The fabrics are Neptune, which is out of print and extremely hard to find.  I have enough to make the quilt but I am so chicken to cut into it much less cut circles out of it.  And then of course there is the applique of the circles which is beyond scary to me as well.  Then again it will be a great learning experience. Yup, still scared to death to cut into this fabric.  I know it is going to be amazing so I really should take the plunge.
• Swoon-I got this kit from my parents a little over a year ago.  If you follow along regularly you know I have broken this one out of the closest and am working on putting the blocks together.  2 down and 7 to go.  I am thisclose to being able to cross this one off the list.  The piecing is finished I just need to drop it off at the long arm for a little quilting magic.
• Sunny Trails-I have all of the sub-blocks made for this one and just need to go about sewing 18 more blocks and then putting the top together.  I'm not very good at making blocks that require you to sew a square to something and then cut off a triangle and flip back the square.  If anyone has any good tips for making those blocks better I would love to hear them.  Honestly I put this one in the box again and all but forgot about it.  I need to dig this one out so I can finish it up.    
• Spools of Love-This quilt top was made for me by a lovely group of women.  It is the top that I received back as part of a year of traveling quilts.  The group is a spin off of the Old Red Barn QAL Group and though I sat out the second round I am considering jumping back in for round three because it was just so much fun.  This one just needs a backing and I have it started and it is about half pieced.  Hopefully it won't take me too long to finish it up.  I have two more sections that need to be sewn up for the back on this one.  It is just waiting for its turn for a little TLC.
  
• Summer Love-I started this quilt with the intention of entering it into a challenge that was being hosted by the Old Red Barn Group.  I only managed to get a few of the blocks done before life got in the way.  Of course because it is a dreamy combination of solids and Freshcuts I plan on finishing this one up.  I'm just not sure when.  Still just waiting for a little love.
• Dance Party-This is an original quilt for me.  Inspired by a simple quilt block on a repeat and the bright colors of the 80's.  I planned to make this a lap size quilt when I started but I am amending my plan there.  I'm hoping to finish it up into a baby quilt.  After all you never really know when you might need a fun and funky baby shower gift.  I'm in no hurry to move this one along and because of that it is still just 3 finished blocks.  I don't really want to give up on her because she is one of the first quilts I ever started without a pattern and just with an idea in my head.  
• Posh Enigma-This is one of the first quilt tops I made when I started quilting.  It isn't my taste at all but it only needs a backing made up for it and then it will be ready to be quilted so I might just do that.  I bought fabric for the back way back in 2009 when I first made up the top but it isn't wide enough.  I'm sure I can figure out something.  This one is finished so I guess I can cross it off the list as complete.
• Paintbox QAL-I gave up on this one after making just a few blocks.  Recently I gave my mom the jelly roll strip and the coordinating pieces we had picked out together.  She has adopted this WIP but I don't know that she knows what she is in for.   I turned this quilt over to my mom so I am taking it off my list of projects.
• Spider Webs-I have a set of pink and orange spider web blocks from a bee I participated in.  They just need to be sewn up into a quilt top.  Perhaps I will get around to that one of these days.  Still just waiting.  Maybe I will add this to the quilts to be finished for this years 100 Quilts for Kids.
• Scrappy Stars-This is also a a result of a bee.  I was actually the bee mama for Bee Stitched and these blocks were all the rage back in 2010 when that bee was started.  They are fun and I have one row sewn together for this quilt.  It needs some TLC but it's going to be awesome when it's done.  This is one of those quilts I still love but just haven't paid any attention to.  It really would be pretty easy to just finish up.  Maybe I should move this to the front of the class.
• Flower Power-These are log cabin blocks with fussy cut flowers in the middle that I received back as part of the fussy cut bee.  I guess I should make up and finish at least one of my 5 bee quilts.  I'm not really in love with these blocks any more.  It would be a pretty easy finish so I should just make it work.
• Pinwheel Sampler-This was made as part of a QAL hosted by Rachel.  It's a super cute quilt and it is just in need of a backing.  Of course since I have no idea what I am going to do with it when I am done with it I have let it sit in the closet unfinished for a while.  Still needs a back and some quilting love-Anyone want to adopt this UFO?  The top is completely done it just needs a back.  Leave me a comment if you are interested.
• Hexagons-This is my five year project but I am sure it will take longer than that to finish.  Hand stitching all of those little buggers is more than I bargained for.  Still making slow and steady progress.
• Mod Bento Box-I collected these blocks as part of two rounds of the mod bento box swap.  I sewed half of them into a baby quilt but it still needs to have the quilting finished (its about 1/2 done) and binding.  My mom adopted the other half to make into a baby quilt as well.  Taking this off the list as I have given away the blocks I had left.  It is my mom's WIP now.
• Modern Meadow Bricks-I have the pieces cut for this quilt so I really just need to break them out and start sewing.  This was originally going to be a quilt for the hubs but since I made him a UNC Quilt with the help of a few friends I'm not sure he will get to keep this one.  I will of course share :)  I actually took these with me when I went on vacation but since I didn't sew a stitch these are still untouched.  Maybe someday...
• Spring Weekends-I didn't participate in the QAL for this one but stumbled on it after it was over as a result of WIP Wednesday and had to make one.  This is actually all basted and ready to go.  It just needs to be quilted.  I have a new idea in mind for it so I just need to pick up some more yellow thread and get with it.  Just needs quilting.  Why oh why can't there be 36 hours in every day.
  
• Well Hello Betty-this adorable little quilt top is done and is just in need of backing.  Does anyone know what color teal matches the solid in the Hello Betty line?  Maybe a solid back would be the way to go on this one.  This pretty little quilt needs a back and some quilting but I haven't been in a hurry to finish her up.  I still love it a lot so maybe someday this one will be done.
• Mod Times QAL-I didn't keep up with this quilt along either.  I thought I was going to get creative and piece rainbow string blocks for the middles on this one.  I have about 1/2 of those done.  But I'm not giving up on this one.  It sits in the back of my brain because I know it will make an awesome gender neutral baby quilt.  Sometimes you just have to let things go.  I decided to take this one off the list because the truth of it is with all the new ideas and inspiration poring in I will probably never come back to this one.  And since I didn't buy any materials for this quilt I don't have to feel guilty about giving it a gentle push off the list.
• Farmer's Wife QAL-I am actually actively working on this one.  I have about 68 blocks done and now I am just trying to make some decisions about sashing and corner stones.  But if I don't have this one finished by the end of 2013 I will be surprised.  Just debating now if I am really done with this one.  I've seen more and more people picking these back up and making a push to finish the rest of the blocks and I just don't know if I want to join in.
• Summer Sampler-I don't know how to paper piece.  The rest of the blocks for this quilt required paper piecing.  So I think I have decided to make these into a small quilt to be donated.  A good friend gifted me the fabric to make this quilt at a time when I was really down an out so I think donating the quilt would be a great way to continue to share the love on this one.  Still just waiting for some more inspiration to hit me on this one.  I know it will be lovely when it's done I just don't know what I want to do with it yet.
• 100 Quilts for Kids-I made a MoMo Wonderland quilt top a little over 2 years ago for the 100 Quilts for Kids drive but didn't finish it in time.  I would really like to get a head start on that one so that I can donate it this year as part of the drive.  Better late than never.  This has moved to the top of my to do list because I really want to have at least one quilt finished this year for 100 Quilts for Kids and since the top is done on this one it would be a quick finish-in theory anyway.

New Since the Original BIG List

• Complications-I am really close to finishing this project.  I just have one more section to go and then adding the boarders to the top.  I am very much in love with this quilt so I know it won't be getting stuck at the bottom of the list any time soon.
• Color Therapy-this quilt was great in theory but after making one row of this it was obvious that it wasn't working out.  I'm okay with just letting this one go so it has long since been forgotten and crossed off the list.
• Mystery Quilt-This one is driving me CRAZY.  I'm currently on step 2 which is made up of a ton of HST's and those other blocks I can't stand to make.  I'm really trying to focus and get myself to just sit down and get this part over with so we can move on to the next step but it's so hard when you aren't feeling inspired.

I really thought that between making my really BIG list and now I would have a ton of new projects.  I guess even without doing a check in I have actually made some progress.  I am closer to my goals of finishing some things than I thought and having a list really makes it easy to see where you are and where you are going.  I promise not to post any more about this really BIG list until the end of the year but getting feedback from all of you really does help keep me motivated.

And because if you are still reading its pretty impressive that you are still here so how about a give away.  Leave a comment and let me know what you are working on, if there is a project I haven't crossed off that you think I should just give up on, or even what you think I should move to the top of the list.  I'll leave the contest open until Friday August 2nd and then I'll pull a winner from the comments who will get a little something special from me.  I'm not sure what the prize will be yet but I'm think a little something homemade and a few goodies.

WIP Wednesday-The Best Laid Plans

Well I'm back from vacation and I need another vacation to recover.  You know those weeks you have where anything that can go wrong will.  Well that about sums up my vacation experience.  Between taking my husband to the emergency dentist and getting a call from the alarm company that someone had broken into our apartment it was anything but relaxing.  I should mention I had no cell service where we were so the call about the apartment was over 24 hours later when I heard it.  Luckily they didn't actually get into the apartment and nothing was broken or missing.  But it did freak me out a bit and I knew I wouldn't relax again until I had checked on things myself even after a kind neighbor took a look around for us.

I thought this week I would have so many good things to share with all of you.  But in reality I didn't sew at all while I was gone.  Turns out I assumed there would be an iron and ironing board at the rental and I was wrong.  So no way to press seams means no sewing.  Honestly though with all of the other craziness going on I doubt I would have been able to relax enough to sew a stitch anyway.  I did manage to lay out my Complications quilt all together to figure out my last section.  I now have a plan for that also so hopefully I will be able to add this one to the completed list soon.  It is still a favorite of mine so far!

One highlight of our vacation and the only thing we did outside of being on the lake was a trip to Rosemont Winery.  It's an old family farm turned winery in Virginia right on the North Carolina boarder.  Really its in the middle of no where but it was a great little side trip.  There wines aren't bad, I tend to like the sweeter wines so those of course were my favorites.

Be sure to head over to Lee's today and see what everyone else is sewing.  I know I can't wait to check them all out and get some more inspiration.  With Complications coming to an end and my dread of the mystery quilt I am suppose to be working on (don't worry mom I'll try and catch up by the time you get home) I'm already getting a little antsy to find my next project.