Rediscovery

It has been awhile! I have crafted here and there over the last few years-- sewing the occasional costume, clothing, gifts... but making has definitely been on the periphery and blogging off the radar all together. I was a dedicated mom and volunteered and that consumed the bulk of my free time. 

The tides have turned in the last year, and I am finding myself back in a place where I have creative energy, and the time and desire to make... and to document!

Last night I was attempting to dig through the chaos that my quilt cave had become and I stumbled across an old UFO (Un-Finished Object):

It is an embroidered work-in-progress of a Crabapple Hill design. I can't actually remember when I got it or why I stopped working on it. But I've decided I'm going to start on it again, and I want to mark the occasion for posterity (i.e., my failing memory).

So-- this is where I'm starting from:

 

I have done a little bit at the end, "...les & ca" just to see if I can replicate the stitching... it took a couple letters, but I think I've got it now.

 

On to stitching!!!

Digging out the next UFO

I finished up the top and backing for my triangle quilt and it is ready for basting. I've also got a plan for quilting it up. So I'm feeling ready to tackle something "new."

A few(!) years ago, I joined an online 9-patch swap. As a result, I have this pile of 60 9-patches. I've been thinking about how to go about using them for awhile now and have narrowed it down to two options.

Option 1:

My first thought was to do something pretty straightforward and simple. Classic! I'm definitely thinking navy/dark blue sashing and borders. It would be about 60" square. I might even have enough in my stash to make this one happen.

Option 2:

This, however, is the option I'm leaning toward: an on-point square of sashed 9-patches with setting triangles. It is more interesting to me visually, and would give me some fun quilting space, and be a little bigger, finishing about 80" square. The downside is that I would definitely have to buy some fabric.

Either way, I need a few more 9-patches to make it work, so I dug through my little 2.5" scrap box.

If nothing else, I think I'll be putting together a few of those this week as I ponder the options.

August accomplishments

It has been a busy month full of fun family adventure (vacations, outings, and activities galore), but not a whole lot of crafting (and even less blogging). However, I did manage to complete my August goals for Carrie P.'s Nothing but UFOs Challenge. It took me until the last day of the month, but I did it. Woo hoo!

1. Baby Bot quilt:
   
   
   
   
   Done!
   
   
2. Mod Mosaic quilt:
   
   
   
   
   Quilting is complete and the binding is now in progress (2 sides to go!). I'm really pleased with this one. Crossing my fingers that it will join the finished pile very soon!
   
   
3. Vogue 1224:
   
   
   
   
   I completed it this morning! Woo! But then I spent the day doing yard work and was too gross to put it on for a picture, so the slightly blurry hanger shot will have to do for now.

Yay for progress! And, as always, many thanks to the fabulous and inspiring Carrie P. for hosting the challenge (and helping me get my bum in gear!).

I plan to do separate write-ups so I can share more details about each of these projects (and more pictures!) very soon. Hmmm... maybe I should try making some blogging-oriented goals for September? I've got some catch-up to do!

UFO Challenge Win!

As if I wasn't a winner enough just for successfully doing the challenge, I also won Carrie P.'s "Nothing But UFOs" July drawing! Yesterday afternoon, I received my prize...

It was wrapped so prettily!

And inside was a wonderful array of treats-- some handmade, some vintage, and lots of happy.

Even the little pouch was full of goodies! (Look at those trims! And that lovely handkerchief!)

And the block is gorgeous... it needs a picture all its own:

I'm kind of thinking it would make a lovely quilted pillow cover. I've not made one before. But Carrie P. has made quite a few-- so it just kind of feels right, you know?

Meanwhile, I am plugging along with my August challenge. I'm binding up the baby quilt, and I've started quilting my Mod Mosaic.

Progress!

Many thanks to Carrie P. and her monthly motivational challenge. It feels good to work on these UFOs and even better to be finishing them!

UFO Challenge - August

Woo!!! I can hardly believe it-- I was the winner in July's Nothing but UFOs Challenge hosted by Carrie P. at A Passion for Applique! What a treat!

Since I seem to be on a bit of a roll still, joining the challenge for August will be a good motivator for me and help keep me on track. (One can always hope!) So here are my three goals for August:

1. Baby Bot quilt:
   
   
   
   
   Baby is due any day now, so I want to get this one DONE! Still to do: binding and label.
   
   
2. Mod Mosaic quilt:
   
   
   
   
   This one is basted. I'd really like to get it quilted. Even better would be finished-- but that might be stretching it a bit considering how much time I have available in August... it is a busy month!
   
   
3. Vogue 1224:
   
   
   
   
   It has been cut out for three months now. I would really like to get this sewn so I can actually wear it at least one time before summer is over.
   
   

Meanwhile, I am still feeling the itch to work on other things... new things... I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to stay UFO-focused. But I'm gonna give it a go!

A not-quite-successful challenge...

It is true. I did not manage to finish a single one of my three challenge projects. Heck, I didn't even manage to do any blogging! But you know what? I'm still feeling like a winner, because I made progress on each of the three projects I chose.

1. Fall Mystery Quilt:

It is now quilted (with some feathers, even!), I'm about 2/3 through the binding, and the label is made. Not done, but very close!

2. Bot Camp Disappearing 9-Patch:

All quilted up and ready for binding (I'm going to use that happy Kona Peacock pictured above). I've also designed the label, but am waiting for our friend's baby to be born so I can personalize it (he's due this week!).

3. Mod Mosaic Quilt:

Once I get the binding on the baby quilt, this one is next in the queue for quilting. But I consider this definite progress. Basting is half the battle, right?

Nothing finished, but a good amount of progress. And if it weren't for the challenge, there is no way I would have gotten this much accomplished. As far as I'm concerned, this challenge has definitely been a success. Thanks, Carrie P.!

Here's hopin' I have some finished quilts to share soon!

Setting goals: July

Back in January, the fabulous Carrie P. of A Passion for Applique issued a challenge: Nothing But UFOs in 2013! Now I'm definitely not that hard core, but I have been spending time this year working on my UFO situation some. So this month, I'm taking the big step and am actually participating in the challenge. Woo!

The idea is to pick three UFOs and show and tell what you need to do to get them finished (quilted, bound and done). At the end of the month, we all share our successes and if you finish at least one of your chosen UFOs, then you are entered into a drawing for fun prizes.

Here are my focus UFOs for the month:

1. Fall Mystery Quilt:
   
   
   
   
   This one has been basted and ready for quilting since April. It is time to get it done!
2. Bot Camp Disappearing 9-Patch:
   
   
   
   
   The top and back are ready and the next step is basting. This is a smaller quilt, so hopefully it will quilt up pretty quickly.
3. Mod Mosaic Quilt:
   
   
   
   
   Again, I have the top and back all set, so the next step is basting. This is a bigger one, but I have a plan in mind for quilting, so I'm hopeful I can get something accomplished with this one as well.

Here's hoping that setting the goals will get me on the path to some finishes!

Attacking UFOs!

Consumed by UFO guilt, I have spent the last week focusing on those unfinished projects. And I've been productive!

I got the borders on my Spring Mystery Quilt:

The backing has also been made and now it is ready for basting.

Still in the UFO spirit, I pulled out my guild block exchange from 2011. For that I had requested everyone make "Mod Mosaic" blocks following Elizabeth Hartman's tutorial. I ended up with 11 bright and happy blocks.

I started by framing each block with a white border. Then my husband helped me tape a footprint on the wall of the intended size of the quilt.

I placed my blocks in the footprint and then started filling in the background (forgive the blurry cell phone picture). Many thanks to Elizabeth Hartman for the tutorial on making a floating blocks quilt!

Woo! Another finished top! I also completed the backing for this, so it too is ready for basting.

Finally, I went ahead and cut 5" squares from the fabric remaining from that project.

I made 9-patches and then did some slicing and dicing.

And now I have a completed disappearing 9-patch baby quilt top! I've also finished the backing for this one, so it is also ready for basting.

Phew!

What to tackle next? More UFOs? Or maybe I should baste 'em up and quilt some of these? Or is my guilt assuaged enough that I can finally start something new? Hmmm....

Dreaming and deciding...

Having successfully completed a couple of projects recently, and also feeling wildly inspired by the diversity and creativity currently on display in Blogger's Quilt Festival, I'm feeling the itch to start something new. And the itch is strong. So yesterday I spent more than a little time in my crafty den perusing fabrics and patterns.

These are the patterns that kind of jumped out at me initially... I guess I'm leaning toward something scrappy and stash-busting? Hmmm...

But then I saw this pattern and thought of all those green fabrics I have from my Jane Stickle quilt. Oh, look... I managed to even put together a nice fabric grouping there too! How cool would this be in greens? You don't need to answer. I KNOW it would be awesome.

But then I remember the projects in process...

...like the the final clue of the Spring Mystery Quilt (pictured above) that I haven't yet completed; the Fall Mystery Quilt that I've finally got basted that needs to be quilted; the final two Harrington & Hannah blocks I have yet to prep; the Jane Stickle that awaits more hand quilting; the fabric I cut for a new dress; the next baby quilt in the queue to be planned; the boxes of projects; the pile of flimsies... you get the idea.

My husband saw me pulling out fabrics and such last night and asked what I was up to. I told him I was thinking about starting something new. He raised his eyebrows at me and suggested that I might be better off working on one of my existing projects.

UFO guilt. It is strong. It is mighty. It is... practical? reasonable? And I really ought to just finish what I started, right?

Sigh...

So I dream of quilts-to-be. As to what I will decide... we'll see.

Challenge quilt reveal!

I'm not sure if it's allergies, or a cold. Regardless, I've been kind of out of it the last few days. And now I feel as if I'm falling behind. Eep!

On Thursday, I went to the monthly guild meeting where we had the big challenge quilt reveal. It was fun seeing what people got and how they finished them, particularly the UFO I turned in!

Before:

After:

The woman who completed my UFO used the pattern I included as her guide for finishing it. She completed all the applique in the center, and then added the outer blue border. She used her own backing fabric and then turned it to the front to create the bound edge, which was kind of cool to see (I've not seen very many quilts finished this way). I also liked the quilting. She stippled most of the background and then did some fun free-motion flowers in the baskets, and a vine in the border. I talked to her after the meeting, and found out she was actually very new to machine quilting, so this quilt was really challenging for her. I'm just so happy that my old, forgotten UFO has a new, happy, and finished life!

I also met the woman whose UFO I completed. In fact, I was actually standing right in front of her, commenting to my friend, "I just don't know what she was thinking with those chenille bits..." When the woman sitting in front of us interrupted and said, "Well, it was my project, so let me tell you!"

Apparently, she signed up for a class on making the popular Yellow Brick Road quilt. When she went to the first class, the instructor gave everyone a bag of these chenille pieces and told them to use them with coordinating cottons to make their quilts. She was about as thrilled with the chenille as I was, and she didn't even bother going back for the second class. And so, those chenille bits ended up as her UFO. It was a pretty funny story the way she told it.

There was voting on the quilts in three categories, including Ugly Duckling (best transformation), Best Adaptation (taking what was completed and then doing something different), and also Best Overall. Of course, we don't get to find out the winners until the next meeting. Should be exciting!

On UFOs and Challenges

As my crafty attention has been nearly completely consumed by my Star Quilt Along quilt, I haven't managed to do anything else (like Dear Jane... behind yet again). But, since I'm feeling so close to completion (just a little more quilting and a label!), I'm not ready to post any pictures of it.

Instead, let's talk a little about UFOs—also known as "UnFinished Objects." There are a number of crafters out there who are really good about finishing everything they start. Unfortunately, I'm not one of them. I work on multiple projects at a time, and so have all sorts of UFOs there (though maybe it isn't a UFO if you're actually working on it?). I have a number of completed tops that need quilting (definitely UFO status). And there have been a couple of projects that have just gone completely by the wayside. One such project is the peony quilt:


Hmmm... Can you tell it has been sitting crushed up in the back of a drawer for a few years? I started this quilt in a class in January 2000. I took the class not because of the quilt (which, even then, I thought was kind of bleh), but for the techniques I would learn—ruched flowers and applique. I completed all the piecing, learned the techniques, and then never managed to actually finish any flowers or applique. As the quilt is just so not me, I've never even been remotely interested in completing it. So it has sat in the drawer for 8 years. In fact, I literally forgot about it until...

Last month, my quilt guild declared its next challenge quilt theme: "Terror in a Brown Paper Bag!" Each participant selects one of their UFOs and places it in a brown paper bag, including the pattern (if available) and as much project fabric as possible. Tonight, we are to drop off our bag and then receive someone else's bag. The challenge: to finish the UFO you receive. The twist: there is no requirement to finish the UFO as originally intended.

Eureka! My little peony UFO has a chance to find a happy new life with someone else! I'm so in. I've gathered my fabrics (or what's left of them at this point) and my little top, and have stuck them in a bag. It's all ready to go. I can't wait to see what some creative person decides to do with it.

Just as exciting is the prospect of getting someone else's UFO and then getting to use some creative juices to do something with it. The only scary part is that there is a deadline. I will have to be done by the February meeting. But right now, I'm feeling confident and excited. It should be a lot of fun!