Slow stitching. . . . a baby afghan

I have been trying to do some "no machine involved" handwork on Sunday so that I can be upstairs with Mr. Books instead of the basement sewing studio.


There is a manager in the department next to mine that is having a baby and I am making her an afghan:

It is a corner to corner (or C2C) afghan using a variegated yarn from Hobby Lobby (I Love This Yarn, 5 oz. skeins, Color Name: Parcel & Bow).


I have not done a C2C in quite a number of years but I am pretty pleased with how the colors are getting mixed up.


This is not my "normal" baby afghan for gifts. . . .but I got bored with doing the same thing every time so when I saw the YouTube video by Jayda in Stitches (which dates back to 2017) I thought it looked like fun.


Now I just need to pick up the pace so I can gift this before she leaves for maternity leave!


In peace and pieces,




Sherry






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.

YAHOO!!! (January OMG and 2019 FAL)

I did it!  I finished the quilt top AND quilting on a charity quilt.  Yay Me!


This project was my OMG for January and on my list for the 2019 FAL and it is my first charity quilt of the year.



Here is a photo when I still had the quilt on the frame:

I am happy to say that I finished the last of the quilting last night while "watching" Married at First Sight and the after show.

But I was definitely sweating out that last row of blocks. . . . somehow my measurements must have been off because I ended up with just about 3" extra backing on the bottom of the quilt.  Usually I have a much larger "insurance" policy of backing on the bottom.  I have no idea how that happened. . . . but I am so pleased that I did not have to do an emergency add on sewing session to make the backing long enough for the quilt top!

Tonight I will trim the excess backing & batting and prepare the binding.  With luck I will have this quilt winging its way to California on Saturday.

EDITED 2/6/2019 TO ADD THIS PICTURE OF THE FINISHED QUILT

Go here to see what others have accomplished this month.

Linking up to Elm Street Quilts . . .


In peace and pieces,


Sherry


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.

1 Xmas Item a Month project

I have posted about my first Christmas gift made this year over on another blog. . .My post on 1 Xmas Item a Month blog.


You may want to take a wander over there and see what other Christmas gifts have been worked on in January.


There are a group of us that are pretty determined to be ready for Christmas 2019!


In peace and pieces,


Sherry






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.

350 Blocks Project. . . . do you want to join in the fun?

Shelly, who blogs at Prairie Moon Quilts, has been hosting the 350 Blocks Project for a number of years.







You may have even read prior posts here where I talked about the challenge.


Well, now is your chance to join the rest of us in working toward goals one block at a time.  Check out Shelly's post and sign up.


In the past I have not been very successful at reaching 350 blocks in a year. . . .but I am hoping that this year will be better.


In fact, I know it will be better because I have already gotten 14 blocks done so far this year!  Wooo Hooo!  LOL


Shelly is a very good record keeper & just reading the tally of the blocks that have been done by all the participants is mind blowing.  Go on, check it out, you will be amazed.  I know that I am every year.


In peace and pieces,


Sherry


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.

Another push for me to get things done. . . .

I just found this:





Sarah is the host.  The blog post can be found here: https://www.sarahgoerquilts.com/2019/01/09/2019-finish-a-long-quarter-1-link-up/


If you wish to take part.


Now, I know that I am also posting through One Monthly Goal (OMG) but Sarah's FAL is quarterly. . . so I can plan out a little further.


For the first quarter of 2019 I hope to complete the following:


1.  Charity quilt for California fire survivor:

I am almost to the point of sewing the blocks. . .all the prep work is almost complete.  My deadline is for before the end of January.


2.  This is my Four Patch Stacked Posy quilt project:

I have all the rows done.  Just need to sew the sashing rows and then I can start assembling the quilt top. 

3.  My birdhouse quilt:

I believe that I have all the birdhouse blocks completed, except for the holes (which I am thinking of making from yo-yo's).


I do not remember if there is sashing between the blocks or not. . . . but once I get my first 2 projects done I can check the pattern out again.


4.  These blocks remind me of beaded curtains:

I have wood grain fabric for the borders, just need to get to cutting and some more sewing in order to get this done and usable.


5.  While this is a picture of a completed quilt I do have another quilt top using 1930's fabrics that I would like to get done.

If memory serves me the backing and batting is already cut. . . I just need to get it on the quilting machine to move it along.


Five projects to be done in 3 months. . . hmmmm, might be a bit of a tall order, but if only one or two of these get finished I will be ahead of the game.


In peace and pieces,


Sherry


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.

January OMG (One Monthly Goal)

Last year I did fairly well with getting OMG's done. . . .but I hope to do better this year.


My first goal for 2019 is to complete a quilt for a young girl whose family has lost everything in the Paradise, CA wild fires.

I am using a free pattern from Moda Bake Shop called Country Summer (but it was called something else when I originally printed the directions.


I am using a variety of teals and blues for the blocks and a white on yellow for the background.


The goal for January is to get the top completed.  Now, if I am able to get the complete quilt done (I already have fabric that I will be using for the backing) that would be a bonus.


If you would like to see what other people have set as their goals go here.


This year I am also going to try to get in at least 15 minutes of sewing/quilting/craft time in a day.  So far I was able to do it on January 1 and 2. . . . and have plans for working on this quilt tonight to make it three in a row.


Usually I am able to get well over 15 minutes a day. . . .but even if I only get 15 minutes there should be forward movement on my projects.


Have a lovely day.


In peace and pieces,


Sherry




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.

Word of the Year 2019

I have not been very good at keeping up with my Word of the Year.  But I will, once again, try this year to keep my word foremost in my thoughts.  We will see how that goes.

My word for the year is:

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deliberate

To deliberate means to carefully think or talk something through — it also means slow and measured, the pace of this kind of careful decision making. If you chose deliberately, you make a very conscious, well-thought-through choice.

The verb deliberate ends with an "ate" sound — at the end of a trial, after the evidence is presented, the twelve members of a jury retreat to a room to deliberate, i.e., talk through the trial and come to a verdict. The adjective deliberate ends with an "it" sound. If you walk with a deliberate pace, you're slow and steady.

copied from https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/deliberate




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I chose this word because for too long I have had a habit of running "willy nilly" around, starting projects, then starting new projects, and getting involved in every QAL that came down the 'pike, joining swaps, etc., etc., etc.




The only projects that got done were ones with a deadline and/or obligation attached to them.




And, to be honest, I had lost a lot of the joy of creating.  My sewing area is in the basement and I avoided it as much as possible.




Then I felt guilty because the basement holds over 20 years worth of accumulated craft/quilt/crochet projects and supplies.




So, this year I plan to be very deliberate in my actions.




I do plan on trying to actually "do" the RSC19 instead of just looking to see what everyone else has been doing.




I am participating in the Stash Bee again this year.  I find this good to get me out of my comfort zone with either colors or blocks.




And, with the exception of an "in between" quilt I plan on working on only ONE project at a time.




My current project is a quilt for a girl from a family that lost everything in Paradise, CA due to the horrible wild fire.  I am working with shades of teal and blue with yellow and am being methodical . . . . working from the directions step by step instead of trying to race through everything to get on to the "next thing".




While I am stitching I am taking the time to think about this young girl and send prayers to God for help for her and her family.


There is not much to show yet. . . just HST's and cut strips. . . . but there should be something to see shortly.






























In peace and pieces,




Sherry






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.