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,
 
 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.

What, there are FINALLY pictures???!!!

Ok, I still don't have my camera USB cord replaced (or found) but I have Mr. Books' camera. . . so here are some pictures:

This first picture is a doll quilt that I did for a swap through Delphi Forums.  The theme selected by my partner was Winter.  I love how the green (from a fabric line called "Winter Wonderland" -- sorry, I don't remember the designer) just "pops".  It reminds me of how scarves are so colorful.

 This next series of pictures are of the quilt that I did for the 2nd "Wrapped In Hope" recipient.  This child listed "basketball, orange and green" as favorite things.  I had a fun time looking for basketball themed fabrics (as you can see from the detail pictures that follow).  This is the 2nd quilt that I have done on our Grace quilting frame.

 This is a another view of the quilt. . . . gives a little closer view of the fabrics.

 This is the central panel (also used for some of the smaller pieces). . . .definitely basketball.

 Here are some basketballs (and orange).

 And you need basketball shoes if you are going to play!

This is the adorable ornament that I received from Dale in Australia. . . .both sides are beaded (wish I could have figured out a way to show both sides in one shot)!  It is wonderful.

I'm working on several other projects at the moment so there should be some more pictures in the not too distant future!

In peace and pieces,

Yes, I have been MIA again. . . . . .

Thank you, Lynn, for the "nudge". . . . .I didn't realize that it was more than a month since I last posted!

I have been somewhat busy. . . and somewhat just laying "low". . . and that is the best excuse I can come up with.

In the middle of February I got the flu. . .and lost 3 days of work. I know that getting the flu shot is no guarantee against getting the flu -- but this is the 2nd time that I have gotten the flu after getting the shot. It makes me wonder whether I should continue to get the shot or not.

On the quilting side of things, I have been productive. Well, at least a little bit productive.

I participated in a Doll Quilt Exchange on a Delphi Forum. I couldn't find my camera (actually I still can't find it) so I had to wait for a friend of the recipient to post a photo. . . .here it is:



The theme of the swap was "applique" and those of you that know me are aware that the "A" word is not one of my favorite techniques so this was a challenge for me.

With all the snow and dreary weather that we have had I wanted to do something that was bright & happy and spring-y. And I think I did pretty well with the colors (if I do say so myself)!

The design was just something that I made up while I was working. . . because it came out way more contemporary than my usual working style. Mr. Books loved the quilt; that gave me the confidence to continue working on it.

Beyond that I have three Yellow Brick Road quilt tops that need to "grow up" into full fledged quilts rather quickly --- they are going to be quilted on the short arm with a pantograph that I have tried out on my sample piece.

I am also going to make 2 quilts for the "Wrapped In Love" program through Margaret's Hope Chest. These quilts are needed later this year so I have some time to figure out what I am going to do.

The only other thing that was somewhat "exciting" was that last weekend Mr. Books & I went to Lancaster, PA to the "mud sale" at Gordonville. We made a long weekend of it and had quite a nice time --- but it was very tiring with all the running around that we did.

Th-th-th-that's all I can think of to pass on folks! As soon as the blasted camera shows up I'll be able to upload pictures of the Yellow Brick Road quilts.




In peace and pieces,

Heading to a Warmer Climate

No, not me. . . . but my part of the Doll Quilt Swap #5. . . .where it is going is a warmer spot than here in NJ. . . here are a couple of pictures of the finished piece; I was trying to show the quilting & I wasn't sure that it showed on the picture of the front. . .so I put in a picture of the back.


So, now all my "big" swap obligations are completed. I just have the Birthday Block Swap to complete, which is a block a month for the next 8 months or so. . .and then all my obligations are completed.

After being involved in so many time sensitive swaps I think I will just "lay low" for a bit. . . I have alot of UFO's that need to be completed; not to mention all the fabric that I have in the house!! Judy Laquidara's Stashbusting efforts (http://www.patchworktimes.com/2008/10/28/stashbusting-in-2009/) seem to be more in line with where & what I am into at the moment.

Gee, guess my #1 priority is to get the wedding gift for my sister done. . . their EIGHT year anniversary is May 2009. . . and I only have 1 row of a king sized quilt completed.

It's time to get that finished, don't you think??

Until next time,

In peace and pieces,

Here's something that I CAN show you. . . .

My husband & I spent our 3rd anniversary visiting my sister & her family in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. We stayed at a time share in Gatlinburg. . . mileage wise not very far, but with driving time at least 1/2 hour (but usually more) away.

It was great to spend some time with my niece & 2 nephews. . . .since they moved I haven't had alot of contact with them. . . .not like my other sister's boy whom I get to see on a pretty regular basis.

We took the kids to an attraction called, if I remember correctly, Outback Adventure, and there were alot of exhibits of animals from Australia (unfortunately the kangaroos were sleeping out of the sun so we did not get to see them), Asia, Malaysia, etc.

Here are some pics:







One of the days we were in Tennessee we drove to Asheville, North Carolina to visit Biltmore House.

What a case of sticker shock!! They charge $55 per person to see just a portion of the rooms in this house.

A couple of years ago we went to Newport, Rhode Island & purchased tickets to see 5 different mansions and I don't think those tickets were much more than that. . . and we got to see the ENTIRE house, not just certain floors.

My DH had always wanted to see Biltmore, and we had spent 3 hours driving there, so we went. I can't say that I was disappointed, but I think the mansions in Newport were done up in a much grander style and the tour guides there were a bit more cordial to those that were going through on their own with audio tours.

When we came back home I got sick --- could you blame me? In Tennessee the temps were between 72 - 78 degrees, when we got back to New Jersey we had 40 degree weather -- that's a bit of a shock to the system!

Between battling a sinus infection & bronchitis (why just get one illness when you can get 2?) I have been a bit behind schedule in getting my projects completed. . . but my Twisted Mystery #4 project has been mailed & received by Lynn. . . so I should be able to post pictures here shortly of that project.

The other project that I am working on is for the Doll Quilt Swap #5 (http://dollquiltswap.wordpress.com/). . . .here is the top that I am now quilting:



My partner said that they like bright quilts. . . so I hope that they are happy with this. . .it is not something that is usually my style, but it is growing on me, and DH likes it, so I would say that it is working out well.

I had wanted to have this already in the mail & out the door, but being laid up for about 4 days put that plan right out the window. The quilts need to be at their final destinations by December 1st. . .I'm thinking that sending it priority mail on Friday should give it plenty of time to get to where it is going.

Well, enough babbling, I have to get ready for work & get the DH up so . . . .

Until next time,






In peace and pieces,