Quilting "Forest Canopy" - Phase 1

I've finally decided on a name for the "Prairie Pinwheels" quilt I've been working on: "Forest Canopy." Not only that-- but I've also finally started quilting it! Yay!

A few years ago, I took a machine quilting class from Sue Nickels. She suggested quilting any long, straight lines first, so as to help stabilize the quilt and make detail work go more smoothly. Because of the size of this quilt, that seemed like an especially good idea to me! So here is my quilting plan, updated to show the straight lines I am quilting (in green):


It is pretty slow going, not only because the quilt is huge and difficult to maneuver, but also because quilting in the ditch is hard. I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job though, and it is a big confidence booster. In the picture below, you can see some of my ditch-quilting.


It's not wildly exciting (heck, when I do it right, you can't even see it!), but I think doing this is going to make the next phase (when I start freemotioning) easier. So it is definitely worth it.

More pillowcases!

Before Christmas I had a pillowcase cutting spree. I finally managed to get them all sewn this week.


I put together 15 pillowcases: 13 for ConKerr Cancer, and 2 for me, using a total of 14.75 yards of fabric.

ConKerr Cancer requests that all pillowcases be washed, pressed and individually packaged in a ziploc bag. Here are mine, all packed up and ready to go:


Woo hoo!

Style Stitches Monthly Bag Challenge 2011-January's Bag

So I stumbled across a new sew-a-long group via a post on the Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber.


It is being hosted by Jemellia of JemJam. Inspired by Amy Butler's new book, Style Stitches, Jemellia decided that she is going to challenge herself to make one bag a month from the book. Since I just received the book as a Christmas gift, joining the challenge seems like a fun way to push myself to start making stuff from it. I find that having people to stitch with (like a quilt along or a BOM group) really helps motivate and inspire me (and keep me on task!). I don't know that I'll manage to make a bag every month-- but I'm hoping to at least try a few of the designs out.

First up in the challenge queue is the Cosmo Bag. It is big and spacious and looks like it will be perfect for an all-day diaper bag (as opposed to my current bag, in which I only carry a single change). I found some fabrics in my stash that I think will make for a fun bag:


I didn't actually have the yardage requirements for the exterior or the "solid" coordinate, but having made some Amy Butler bags previously, I felt pretty confident that I could go with less fabric than called for in the pattern. In this case, the design calls for 1 3/8 yard of the exterior, and 1 1/4 yard for the coordinating solid-- I managed to get what I needed out of just 1 yard pieces. Yay!

Tonight I cut all the pieces. Now I'm ready to start sewing!

New year, new goals

I can hardly believe 2010 is behind us already. So quick!!! It was a pretty productive year here in Crafty Musings land. Here are a few statistics:

• 7 quilts
• 5 flannel blankets
• 28 pillowcases
• 2 Halloween costumes
• 6 aprons
• 1 crayon wallet
• 1 pair of pants
• 1 set of curtains
• 1 stocking
• 1 mug rug
• 1 fabric basket
• 1 diaper bag
• 1 diaper clutch
• 63 Jane Stickle blocks (and now all 225 complete!)
• A whole bunch of miscellaneous blocks for BOMs, quilt alongs, and bees

and...


• 1 baby boy!!! (There he is at 6 months old with his big brother!)

In terms of goals, I set four for myself in 2010. How'd I do?

1. Use more fabric than I buy.-- Hmmm... close! But not quite. Final tally:
   Fabric Stats 2010:
   Fabric In: 136.955 yds
   Fabric Used: 116.292 yds


2. Make and donate some quilts for charity.-- I was able to make and donate 2 quilts this year.


3. Finish some UFOS.-- Technically, I would call this one a no. Though at least I finished something!


4. Take better care of me.-- In terms of getting more sleep and exercising, this one is definitely a fail. But, I also have a new baby. So I'm not feeling too bad about this one.

And now for some goals for 2011:

1. Use more fabric than I buy.-- I was so close in 2010. This year, I can do it! For reals!


2. Finish at least one UFO-- My guild is having a UFO challenge this year that will hopefully help me in making this happen.


3. Put together my Jane Stickle top.


4. Have fun with being creative and making stuff!-- Just because I need to remind myself to do that sometimes.

Here's to a happy and productive 2011!

Jane Stickle Quilt: TR-7, RS-5, & TR-11

Block number/name: TR-7 “Norway’s Fjord”

Date completed: December 30, 2010

Number of pieces: 22

Notes on block: It has been quite awhile since I worked on this project. The last block I worked on was finished on November 9. But I think the break must have been good for me, because it feels so awesome to have completed a block! And this was a fun one to work on too. I really love this fabric and the block design.

Only two triangles to go!

One of my goals in the New Year is going to be getting this quilt top together.

---

Block number/name: RS-5 “Geisha Girl”

Date completed: December 31, 2010

Number of pieces: 27

Notes on block: As I worked on this block, all I could think about was that this is the second-to-last block. And then the blocks will be done. DONE. And it feels a little weird. Exciting! But weird.

---

Block number/name: TR-11 “Phoenix”

Date completed: December 31, 2010

Number of pieces: 23

Notes on block: The last block!!! I was so excited after finishing RS-5, I had to go on and complete this one too. And even though I finished it at 2 A.M., I’m counting it done in 2010!

All the blocks are Done. I can hardly believe it. Now comes the task of putting them all together. Exciting!!! And what a cool way to start the New Year.

Gift to self

As a gift to myself, I have decided to join another block-of-the-month club. This one is through a local quilt shop, Gathering Fabric. They are going to be working on a gorgeous applique quilt from Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts called "Hop to It."


The cool thing about this group is that there is no requirement to purchase any fabrics-- the shop is very supportive of those who want to use their stash. But, for those who want it, they created some beautiful kits. And the kit was too pretty for me to pass up. But no doubt I'll be supplementing with stash fabrics as well.

What I really love about this program is that I get to go once a month and meet with other people working on the same project. I found that to be so inspiring and motivating for me as I worked on my "Greenpiece" quilt last year. I'm looking forward to our first meeting in mid-January!

Christmas joy

Christmas was a ton of fun this year. Big Bear hit the mother lode when Santa brought him a train table and some new engines.


In addition to the "official" Thomas engines, he also received a couple of special cars:


The tar wagons are featured in a few of the Thomas stories, and BB includes them in his play a lot. However, there is no actual tar wagon toy in the Thomas collection, so he has been using legos and blocks to stand in for them. My husband found some plain wooden trains and then painted them to create this pair of custom tar wagons. Didn't they turn out awesome? And Big Bear LOVES them!

It was such a joy watching him take it all in and then seeing his excitement once he started to play (and he didn't stop... all trains, all day!).


Little Bear was not left out of the fun either. He got some wonderful new toys for his first Christmas, including a big wooden activity cube from Santa and some electronic goodies from the grandparents. It is currently very noisy at our house (why don't those toys have volume controls???), but the boys are having a lot of fun.

I received some wonderful new "toys" as well!


My in-laws gave me some wonderful new crafty books, including Amy Butler's Style Stitches, Pretty Little Potholders by Lark Books, and Jelly Roll Quilts & More by Kimberly Einmo. And then my mom gave me a beautiful fat quarter pack the new Sanctuary collection by Patty Young in the chocolate berry colorway. So lovely!


And look at this wonderful piece of handmade loveliness from the super-talented Evelyn! And it had a cool little seam ripper gadget inside too!


In addition to a fabulous gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop, my husband signed me up for a new block of the month at Shabby Fabrics: The Pincushion Club! It is the coolest thing! Each month I will receive a new pincushion kit. Some of the kits will even have enough to create multiple pincushions. And every month features a different designer. The first kit is supposed to arrive at the end of January. I can't wait!!!

I hope all of you have been having a wonderful holiday season as well!