My UFO list report

Here is the list of UFO's from 2017.

1. Underground Railroad Sampler

2. Civil War Tumblers

3. Spring Embroidery

4. Singing the Blues

5. Charm Pack Quilt

6. Jelly Roll Quilt

7. Barn Raising From the Heart

8. A Quilting Life BOM 2017

These are the quilts I will be working on through May 2018. Will post as each one is finished.

Now I want to tell you about each of these UFO's.

1.  Underground Railroad Sampler.  I blogged about this on June 23.  It was finished April 2020.

2.  Civil War Tumblers.  This one didn't get a blog entry or a picture.  It was finished and given away to a nephew fighting colon cancer.  It's probably been about 18 months ago.

3.  Spring Embroidery.  This one is finished.  The embroidery was probably started in 2008 or 2009.  I finished it February 2020.  It currently hangs on my dining room wall.  It was a Crab Apple Hill design, meant to be a pillow.  Only pillows don't do well in my house, so wall-hanging it is.

4.  Singing the Blues.   I blogged about that on June 24. I don't remember when it was finished.

5.  Charm Pack Quilt.  I've done a few charm pack quilts, so I will say that one is done.

6.  Jelly Roll Quilt.  This one is my favorite quilt.  I use it on top of my bed at night for an extra layer, and also for naps. 

7.  Barn Raising from the Heart.  Also finished.  What held me back?  The applique of course!
So, I ended up quilting the applique into place.  It was fun to quilt.  The quilt was started prior to 2010.  It was finished sometime in the last year and a half. 

8.  A Quilting Life Block of the Month 2017.  This one was finished June 2020.  I'll share that next time. 

I also need to make a new list!  No worries, though, I have plenty to choose from.

Keep on Sewing!

Catching Up! A longer post than usual.

I've really had time to focus on quilting for others this summer.  My work schedule changed, so I have more consecutive days to quilt...which is so heavenly!

This quilt made me a little nervous because of the 16 inch borders.  However, I traced the big flowers in the center, then traced the design on the borders, alternating flowers, and it worked up pretty well.  The owner was pleased, and giving it to a granddaughter.

The fabrics made me smile, and I enjoyed picking out familiar fabrics that I have owned, or seen at my work.


Then, in time for summer, a great watermelon quilt.  I quilted puffy feathers in the creams, using cream thread, and an echoed paisley in the red and green, using green variegated thread.

I was pleased at some of the compliments received.  I'm working to improve my quilting, and this one was fun to do.

Then, an interesting design, with nine patches, and a type of lattice.  I should have loaded it with the lattice going across the frame, but I didn't realize it or design the quilting in time.

I used blue thread, and did continuous circles in and around the nine patches.  Then, a straight line in the lattice sashing.

I always enjoy the design created on the back.  It's often a surprise to me, mostly a pleasant surprise.

The borders were single blocks, quilted with the same continuous circles.  Then, I filled in the white with squiggles, and did a quilted leaf in the setting triangles.

This next one used some fun fabric, the owner wanted the blocks treated like applique.  I didn't want the quilting to detract from the graphic design of the fabric.  So, wiggly lines around the block.

Big suns in the border felt right with the theme, plus all those angles fit in well.

Secondary design on the back, as the wiggly lines meet in the pinwheel cornerstone blocks.

Same design shown from the front.

Next, a princess quilt.  She wanted it similar to the pattern, which makes my job just a bit easier.  However, I did think of the inner border design.  She wanted an emphasis on  hearts in the quilt.

 More big borders, but this flower was freehand, instead of tracing.

Whew!  I am amazed as I look back on all of these quilts!  It really has been a more productive time this summer than for many months.

Then, last week, a visitor!  That means my own sewing happens.  We each made a Jelly Roll Quilt.  First, my visitor made this one.  

I made this one with Snowbird Batiks by Moda.  I also added an additional row on the top and on the bottom, to make it just a bit longer for my sweet husband.  I think that I will use a pantograph for quilting this one.  I am waiting for the right color of Minky to show up at the store.  Plus I have a few more quilts for others waiting for me.

Not enough time for everything I am wanting to create.  I guess that's normal for everyone.  Still, I am grateful for the time I've enjoyed quilting this summer.  It helps that I can practice quilting for others, and push myself a little bit each time.

I hope you are sewing, too!  I'll have more to show soon!

I've Become a Finisher Again

The last year was a little rough for me.  I wasn't able to post here much.  I was able to sew some.  I helped my mom during her last few months of life.  I helped my sisters clean out her home.  I trained a few people with their new Handi Quilter Longarm quilting machines.  I continued to work, serve in my church, and care for my family.

Mom's work to be done is dwindling down a bit.  She is still on my mind, and I miss her, but I don't have as much to do for her.

Life is getting back to a "normal roar".  So I have become a Finisher again.

Last week, I finished quilting 3 customer quilts in 3 days.  I put binding on 2 of them during the next 2 days.  I am working on a store sample, and I finished a small store sample last month.  So, I consider myself a Finisher again.

This summer, I quilted and finished this fun Jelly Roll Quilt.  I pieced it back in February.  It is supposed to have something fun on it (like ric rac or applique), but I don't speak embellishment.  I thought it was fine without the extra.  It's a nice lap quilt.

Then, this last month, I made this grocery bag dispenser, using charms.  I found the instructions on Moda Bakeshop.  I actually made two, with charms left over.  I will probably hang one at the store for a sample.

In May, we had a class in guild to make an art quilt - Poppies.  It uses raw-edge applique.  I've used the technique before, but sometimes I have to be reminded I know something.  The poppies stand out well for me, but I don't think I particularly like my background choice.  I've even thought of doing this in a miniature.  As I don't speak embellishment, my friend Pam sewed lots and lots of beads on this.  Hard to pick up in the picture, but it adds sparkle in real life.

I am also participating in a guild Mystery Quilt.  I started a month late with my cutting, and after I square these blocks up, I will have the first sewing step done.  There are supposed to be 88 of these blocks.  I'll count them as I square them up.

I'm using Civil War reproductions, which I haven't used too much before.  Mysteries can be a little scary, because you don't know what you'll end up with.  However, the Mystery Leader does good stuff, so I'm giving it a try.  2/3 of my fabric came from my friend and co-worker, Judy.  She was very generous to give me so many fat quarters!

I'll keep working and I think I'll be able to keep up on posting, too!  It's nice to be back at it again.

Keep on Sewing!