Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc.: January 2015

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Accomplishment achieved!! My first ALYoF is DONE!!

Last night I got the last of the borders on my Amish inspired Shoo Fly quilt top:

This is a sample for a one-day quilt retreat that I will be working in February. This quilt is definitely NOT a one-day project (well, at least not for the length of the day of the retreat).

This is the project that I had listed as my ALYoF goal for this month. . . . and I am so pleased to have it finished to top stage.

The blocks are 12" finished and the entire top measures about 51" x 68". The colored portions of the blocks came from my stash. . . .they are probably the only solids that I had in my stash. . . . and they are mostly gone now. The bits that were left over have mostly been cut up into usable pieces and put into the correct bin.

FYI, Mr. Books is holding the quilt. . . . you can just barely see his blue shirt about the top of the top. I had to click the pic quick since he was having a hard time with his arm (rotator cuff surgery was done in October and he is still in the thick of physical therapy).

Now I have a bit less than a month to consider how I want to quilt this.

In peace and pieces,

This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Friday Night Sew In

Just wanted to make sure I passed on the word. . . . .

Grab the Friday Night Sew In (FNSI) button

Wendy B. has listed the next Friday Night Sew-In as January 23rd. I haven't seen sign-ups yet. . . but I will be watching for it.

Since I have a lot of projects for A Lovely Year of Finishes and the Quilt Along I know that there will be plenty of sewing for me to do.

In peace and pieces,

Sunday, January 11, 2015

State of the Stash Report -- January 11, 2015

Well, the State of the Stash is going in the wrong direction!!

Of course, it is not a total disaster as the fabrics that were purchased were for UFO's ...... so eventually most of it will go away.

Used this Week: 0 yards
Used year to Date: 0 yards
Added this Week: 5 yards
Added Year to Date: 5 yards
Yards to Goal: 205 yards
Net for 2015: 5 yards ADDED

Since I don't plan on counting the fabric as "gone" from the stash until the quilts are totally done the work that I accomplished this weekend on the Shoo Fly quilt is not reflected.

My report is being linked up to Judy L's post. . . .as well as others of us that are watching out for each other.

In peace and pieces,

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Friday Night with Friends 1/9/2015

I did get some sewing time last night for Friday Night with Friends. . . . yeah!!

Of course, when I show you what I got finished I am sure that it will not look like much. . . and I would have liked to have gotten farther; but any forward momentum is a plus.

I worked on the Shoo Fly quilt that I am using as a sample for a retreat I am helping at in February.

The biggest part of the evening was spent trimming the edges of the center of the quilt. And that re-acquainted me with the reason that I stay away from on point setting!

Of course, not having a large enough area to be able to lay the quilt out completely is a major issue. . but the house is not going to get bigger so I will have to make due with what I have.

After straightening the edge I cut the fabric for the inner border. I was able to get the inner border on both of the long sides of the quilt. Now I just have to get the two shorter sides done.

The next step will be to cut and attach the out borders. . .so that is my challenge for the rest of the weekend.

I had wanted to get this in the mail today, Saturday, but it will get there on Monday and there will be enough time for it to be shown before the retreat.

In peace and pieces,

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Finish Along 2015-- the project round-up

Well, the sign-ups for the 2015 Finish Along have opened!

If you want to get involved please check out On The Windy Side to see the rules and to add your name.

Originally I was only going to pick three items. . . . thinking that those would be enough of a challenge for me. But, after seeing all the great lists that everyone has been coming up with I decided to re-think my own abilities.

Here is what I have come up with as goals for the first quarter of the Finish Along:

This is my Amish inspired Shoo Fly quilt. I need to get fabric for the borders. This is a sample for a one day quilt retreat in February. I am thinking that I might be able to get this quilted and bound by March. I just don't want it to languish as a top for too long.

This is a little pumpkin wall hanging that I started at some point --- I have no idea. It still needs a stem and trimming to complete the top. The quilting and binding on this should be a breeze to get through by March.

This is a small table runner that I purchased as a kit. The top is done. Just need to layer, quilt and bind it. This may end up in the "Christmas 2015" gift box. Imagine that, I might actually be ready for Christmas this year!! LOL

I have wanted to make prayer shawls for a church group that I know of but have never quite made it. The pattern came from one of the Prayer Shawl pattern books, can't remember the pattern name at the moment. The yarn is from my stash.

I may use this as a project to work on while watching TV with Mr. Books. . . . .

This was the cowl that I started for the 1st semester of Loopy Academy. It seems like the yarn just never ends!! I flunked out of the Academy (did not finish any of the assignments) but I hope to get this done soon. With as cold as it has been, and will be, it would have been nice to have this done already!

The pattern is from Ravelry. I believe it is called "My Neck is Cold". The yarn is from The Loopy Ewe and is fingering weight.

This quilt top was made by Mr. Books. It needs to have a backing made, quilting and then be bound. He plans on giving it to his daughter. . . . it will take him forever to get to it so I have taken on the task of finishing it for him.

I can't show you what I am making for the Doll Quilt Swap as it is a secret. But I think it is a fun quilt and I hope that my partner likes it.

The theme this month is "A Good Book" and since both my partner and I are avid readers we are doing quilts in the theme.

This is another secret project that I can't show you. But I have my project figured out. . . I'm just stalking my partners blog a little more to try to figure out colors.

So, that makes EIGHT projects I hope to have done in the first quarter of the year.

Of course, since the Doll Quilt Swap is monthly. . . .there will be really 10 finishes if I complete everything.

Ok, enough yakking. . . . . I've got to get going if I want to get this stuff done!!

Happy Stitching!

In peace and pieces,

Monday, January 5, 2015

Does anyone know what is going on with Quilterblogs.com?

I've noticed recently. . . . well, at least for a couple of weeks, that www.quilterblogs.com is either off-line or has outdated blog postings on its site.

Does anyone know if the site is being maintained or if the site is planning on shutting down?

I enjoyed having my blog posts show up on the site . . . . and it gave me the opportunity to see other blogs that I may not have found by just bouncing around in "blog land".

Just me being nosy. . . . . . .

I hope you are getting some stitches in today,

In peace and pieces,

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Finish Along: Quarter 1, Goal 1

Jennifer from from On the Windy Side is doing the Finish Along 2015 and I am hoping that participating will help me stay on track on getting things done this year (or at least this quarter)!

My first project to complete is a small table runner:

I have the backing and binding already done. . . .I just need to get it quilted.

I am thinking that I will put the completed runner away as a Christmas gift for next year.

Jennifer says that everyone is invited. . . so if you need some "push" to keep moving on your projects this might be something you would like to be involved in.

In peace and pieces,

Saturday, January 3, 2015

A Lovely Year of Finishes --- my 1st posting

Melissa and Shanna are running the "A Lovely Year of Finishes" again this year.

And, in an effort to keep a couple of my goals for 2015 going I've decided to jump on board.

For January my goal is to complete a quilt top that I will be teaching at a retreat later this year. I started the blocks in 2014 with the hopes of having the top done shortly after Christmas. . . but that did not happen.

Here is a little "jumble" of the Shoo Fly blocks that I have gotten done:

I have the setting blocks, triangles and corners to cut & then sew them together. . . .then there are the borders to add.

This is my first time participating the ALYoF and I hope that I can show a lot of finishes this year.

In peace and pieces,