February's One Monthly Goal

I finally made a decision on what my One Monthly Goal (OMG) would be for the month of February.  It will be a miracle if I get it accomplished as February is the month of my quilt guild's annual quilt show and I'm the Intake Coordinator for it which is taking up a considerable amount of my time.  So, what is my OMG?  I plan to get a top made for my first Quilt of Valor in 2017.  It's my goal for the year to get three tops made and donated. 

I've been checking out quilt blocks on Pinterest, and playing with blocks in my EQ7 program and seeing what I have in my stash that I can best use.  I have a small tub busting with blue fabrics and another one about three-fourths full of reds.  I had gotten two yards of an off-white/cream fabric from our QoV leader which I'll incorporate in the quilt.

Here are a few of my block choices that I've gotten off of Pinterest:

Courage Block by Persimmon Quilts

Ribbon Block found HERE

 

Party Hats from McCalls

 

I have the opportunity to get a panel from our QoV leader, but not sure I want to use another panel right now.  Time will tell and I best get busy on deciding which block I'll be using.  I emailed the two owners of the Courage Block and the Ribbon Block to see if I can use them and both have graciously okayed the use of their blocks.  Tomorrow I'll be do a test block for each one to decide which one I will use in my February One Monthly Goal quilt top for Quilts of Valor.  I will then use the second one for another top, probably in April.  Remember I want to create three tops this year for Quilts of Valor.  Since we will be working as campground mangers on the Oregon Coast from May 15th to November 1st, I need to plan out my year with this in mind. 

 

I'm, of course, linking up with Patty over at Elm Street Quilts for her One Monthly Goal.

 

Happy stitching! 

 

 



One Monthly Goal and Quilting Jetgirl Alison Glass Challenge

Its time for a reveal of my secret stitching.  Are you ready?

Last year I was always going to link up with One Monthly Goal, now with Patty at Elm Street Quilts, and never quite made it, but 2017 is a new year and I finally joined in all the fun.  My goal was two-fold as I was also joining in on the Quilting Jetgirl Alison Glass Challenge. 

To begin with, I ordered an Alison Glass fat eighth bundle of Sun Prints and loved each and every one of them.  Last year I had bought myself EQ7 and have been having fun learning all about it.  I originally designed a foundation paper piecing block that I was calling pick up sticks, but it didn't work out as I had planned.  My next choice was using a Monkey Wrench block in a diagonal placement.  It was so hard to choose which prints I would use for the Alison Glass Challenge, but finally decided on some rainbow colors.

Pattern and Choosing Fabrics

 

Next was cutting and stitching those blocks together. 

 

Cutting

And Stitching

 





It is such a fun process seeing those blocks coming together.  The hold up during the process was my working as Intake Coordinator for my local quilt guild's quilt show coming up in February.  I spent a week of January entering all those show entries into a spreadsheet, emailing cover labels to the entrants, and creating placards that will go on the entries for the show.  And two meetings that lasted three hours each.  I started getting anxious that I wouldn't get the quilt finished before the end of January.  But I got it all pieced together, pressed and clipped about a zillion threads, and finally pin basted.

 

Pressing and Clipping Threads

Pin Basting

 

The hardest thing for me is deciding on how to quilt a project.  I really, really, want to get into some "wild quilting", but didn't have the time on this project.  I decided to do some straight, and not so straight, line quilting and going on the diagonal opposite of the block diagonal.  I used thread that matched each of the block fabrics.

 

Quilting,

Quilting,



and More Quilting

 

Of course, next was binding which I did yesterday.  Talk about last minute.

 

Binding Fun

 

And then the finale, a finished project.

 

Lola Giving it the Final Okay

Ta-Da

 

 

I had a lot of fun creating this project and joining in the fun with Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl and her Alison Glass Challenge.  I'll be linking up HERE for it.  Many thanks Yvonne.

 

I'm also linking up with Patty at Elm Street Quilts for the One Monthly Goal.  Thank you Patty.

 

Happy stitching

 



 

 



Happy New Year and One Monthly Goal

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  May your year be full of joy, good health and lots of quilty fun.

This new year brings lots of new quilting opportunities for me.  One thing I hope to stick with is One Monthly Goal which is hosted by Patty over at Elm Street Quilts.  Check out the information HERE and see all the GREAT sponsors and prizes.  I had hoped to do this last year, but it just didn't happen.

My One Monthly Goal for January is to finish up the project I've been working on for the Alison Glass Challenge Linky Party hosted by Yvonne at quilting JETgirl.  Yvonne announced the challenge the first week in December.  I didn't have any AG fabrics so I went online shopping and ended up purchasing a fat 1/8 bundle of AG Sun Prints and they are gorgeous.  I created a paper piecing plan in EQ7 and worked on it with some test fabric and I ended up dumping that plan and created a new one.    Here are a couple sneak peeks of what I'm working on.

My EQ7 Design and Some of the Fabric

Working Away on Marion, a/k/a Bernina

 

Fabric Left Over Fat 1/8 Piece

As for 2017, I have my Quilter's Planner all filled in with birthdays, anniversaries, and appointments and ready for the fun to begin.  I used this planner last year and loved it and this year's planner has lots of terrific upgrades.

Happy stitching,

2017 Planning Party

Can you believe its that time of year already?  I sure can't.  The time is flying by at the speed of light, and speaking of spead, I'll be linking up with Yvonne over at Quilting Jetgirl for her 2017 Planning Party.  I participated last year and did okay with my 2016 plans.  Several items on my goal list were completed, some are still works in progress, and a few got dropped by the wayside. 

I looked over last years list and have moved a few things to my 2017 list and added a few more.  So, without anymore delay (drumroll please), here is my list of 2017 quilty goals:

• Meadow Mystery Quilt - this is ongoing and will finish up in April 2017.  I plan getting it quilted before we leave the summer.  We'll be campground managers for another year at Cape Perpetua on the Oregon coast.
• 2017 Stash Bee - I'm in Hive 5 and so excited to be a part of this group.  I plan on making the requested block each moth and getting it mail off on time. 
• Mighty Lucky Quilting Club - I've joined this club for 2017 and also very excited to be participating.  I plan on staying on top of this each month.  
• Make 3 Quilts of Valor quilts during the year. 
• Make 1 baby quilt to donate.
• Make 1 English paper pieced La Passacaglia rosette each month.
• Make 1 redwork block each month.
• Design and make a quilt to enter into a quilt show.  This is a scary one.
• Complete my project for the Alison Glass Challenge Linky Party which will end January 31, 2017.
• Pins and Needles Quilt and Needle Art Show - Be successful as our local quilt guild's quilt show intake coordinator.  This is my first year in this position and it is going to keep me very busy during the months of January and through the show which is from February 17th through February 19th. 

That's it.  Do you think I've taken on too much for 2017?  I probably have, but I like a challenge and to think BIG.

Christmas Stockings and Meadow Mystery Quilt

Once again it has been several weeks since my last post.  Not because I haven't been busy, just that there hasn't been much to report.   The majority of that time was spent cross-stitching on the Christmas stocking for my granddaughter-in-law, Callie.  The first picture is her stocking and the second picture is from my last post.  For those of you who have never done any cross-stitching, the green glove on the left took almost four hours to stitch.  It is a long and slow process, especially when you have a lot of color changes. 

 

 

Here is a picture of the stocking for my granddaughter, Dakotah.  I had finished the cross-stitching on it before our summer travels, but just made it into a stocking this week.

 



They both went into the mail yesterday and are scheduled to arrive at my daughter's on Monday. 

Yesterday the December instructions were posted for the Meadow Mystery quilt and I got those all stitched up.  I can't believe how on top of this I've been the last couple of months.  It is never too late to get in on the fun for this mystery quilt.  Just pop over to Cheryl's blog, Meadow Mist Designs, HERE for all the instructions.

Living in an RV full-time doesn't give you many places to take pictures when it is cold and very, very windy outside, so I must apologize for the lousy picture taken in the bathroom.

On the personal side of life, my husband left for Alaska on November 12th and will be returning on December 15th.  He is up there to help his daughter out with her three teenagers as she is going through a divorce.  I think he was ready to come back home after the first week there. 

During November, I participated in a 30 day minimalist challenge.  On November 1st, I got rid of one item, November 2nd, I got rid of two items on so on.  You get the picture I'm sure.  All-in-all I cleared out 465 items from our tiny RV home.  It was a great challenge and it felt good to get rid of all the things I haven't used in years, including a lot of smaller clothes that I'd never fit into again.  It would be a good challenge for January for those of you who tend to hold on to stuff.

Next up, I'm going to look at my goals for 2016 and see what I can actually accomplish before the end of this year.  Stay tuned and happy stitching.

Linking up with Finish it up Friday.

Cross-Stitch, Quilt Binding, and Mystery Quilt

I guess I've been pretty busy the last week and a half.  I won't bore you with all that I was up too.

We went down to Las Vegas to spend an extra long weekend with the family, but before going I had made the binding for four Quilts of Valor quilts and got all of the binding sewn on all of them.  Three of those got the binding finished up by hand stitching the binding on the back.  The last one I took with me and finished it while in Vegas.  I didn't take picture of them as three of them were of quilts others had made and the one I had made I had posted the picture on an early blog post.  Those were all done in three days.  I didn't want to look at another binding job for awhile, that's for sure.

One of the reasons we were in Vegas for so long was because I went to the Las Vegas Modern Quilt guild monthly meeting which is on the last Wednesday of the month.  I love that group.

I did get more done on the snowman Christmas stocking.  The first picture is where I was the last time I posted and the second is of where I am now. 
 

Then

Now

 

It looks like I've done a lot, but there is SO much more to do to have it finished.

I worked on a few half inch hexies while in Vegas and here is a picture of them.  Not too many, but every bit helps.

I had some happy mail this week too, The Quilter's Planner.  I purchased this last year and loved it.  It's bigger than my usual planner, but it is GREAT!  If you are interested it is by Stephanie Palmer of Latenight Quilter fame.  Click HERE for more information.

Yesterday the November clue was posted for the Meadow Mystery Quilt and I actually got it all completed with only one oops.

Looks a bit like Halloween

Oops

I have signed up for the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club.  It sounds like it will push me a little further out of my box which seems to be a theme going on in my quilting life.  Here is a blurb from their website:  "The Mighty Lucky Quilting Club is the first monthly subscription club of its kind that focuses on challenging you with design concepts in the quilt making process. It's like a gym membership for quilters! From playing with improvisation and negative space to finding inspiration and creating your own compositions …and everything in between...you’ll be challenged each month with a new skill to try, with pages of instructions, examples, and inspiration from one of your favorite quilters."  It does come with a small fee of $5 per month or $50 for the year.  Click HERE if you want to learn more about the club.

And, I also signed up for Stash Bee HERE.  It sounds like it will be fun and another challenge. 

What I've let go by the wayside:  I haven't worked on the Splendid Sampler blocks since leaving for our summer travels and may not complete them.  What will I do with the blocks I've made?  I may make them into some awesome mug rugs and give them to family members for Christmas. 

I'm taking part in a minimalist 30 day challenge during November.  Each day I get rid of something that I don't use anymore by either throwing it in the dumpster, giving it away to someone that will be able to use it or donate it.  For November 1st I got rid of one thing.  On the 2nd, I got rid of two things, etc.  Today I'm giving four new dry erase markers to my daughter-in-law who uses them for their business.  My hubby thought they were permanent markers when he bought them a couple years ago.  Yep, they've been taking up space that long so this challenge is helping me let go of a lot of things, mostly clothes I think I'll fit into someday, but never will, and scrapbooking items since I no longer scrapbook.

Oh, and to top things off, I had a root canal on tooth 30 and a crown put on it. 

I guess it's time to say goodbye until next time.  I'm linking up with Finish it up Friday.

Happy stitching,
Jennifer

A Basket, a Leaf, and a Snowman

Can you believe that this is the second post in a week.  I know I can't since I had a real dry posting season recently.

Yesterday, I made a one hour fabric basket which took me a bit more than an hour to make, but then I took a break to meet up with our Quilts of Valor coordinator to give her the quilt I had made the binding for and sewn on and got three more quilts needing binding from her.  Oh, and I also took a lunch break while making the basket.  I'll take my basket to the Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild (LVMQG) meeting on Wednesday night for this month's swap.  I've seen a lot of pictures on their Facebook page of the many baskets being made and I want them all.  The tutorial for the basket is free on Craftsy which you can find it HERE.

The lottery block for this month at LVMQG is a Maple Leaf and it is so fun to create.  The guild provided us with a quick and easy tutorial by Stacey at SLO Studio and you can snag it HERE.  Trust me, you will want to make a lot of these blocks which can be arranged many ways to create a quilt, wall hanging, table runner, or mug rug.  The possibilities are endless. 

I've also made some progress on the Christmas stocking for my new granddaughter-in-law.  If you check out my post from Friday HERE, you'll see that I've gotten the broom finished, except for the backstitching.  I hope to get the mouse on top of the broom stitched today.

What's on my agenda for the next couple of days?  I hope to make a few more Maple Leaf blocks for Wednesday's block lottery, bind three of the Quilts of Valor quilts, and, of course, more cross-stitching. 

We'll be headed for Las Vegas Wednesday and won't come back home until Sunday.  Saturday I hope to attend the Sew Yeah Quilting Club at Sew Yeah Quilting, a new quilt shop which is amazing.  If you are ever in Las Vegas be sure to check them, you will not regret it.

I'm linking up today with Slow Sunday Stitching and Let's Bee Social. 

Happy stitching,