Christmas Presents & New Years Resolutions

Look at what Santa brought me. It's Frivol #1 and #2. I can't wait to open these up. However....

half-way thru December I made a New Year's Resolution that I can not start a new project until (2) UFO's, PhD's or PIG's are completed, and I mean COMPLETED. There are way to-o-o-o-o many unfinished projects laying around that I'm scared to count. There are (4) that just need binding and labels, should probably start there. Then I've got Bertie's Winter and Spring BOM's started. (Bertie's Winter didn't get finished before December but I'm determined that Bertie's Spring will get finished before April.) There are several stacks of different type blocks (Christmas swap, disappearing stars, churn dash blocks and some applique) which need to be sorted and assembled. The list could go on for a while, and I haven't mentioned all the containers in the upstairs closet, much less all those in the sewing room armoire.

New Years Resolutions:
1. Must finish at least (2) projects before a new one can be started.
2. Can not purchase any new fabric except for backing.
3. Can not purchase any "sewing" thread until all the existing spools fit on the spool rack which holds (96). I should also not purchase any embroidery thread. Make do with the hundred or so I have.
4. Enter at least (1) quilt in the local fair and (1) in the state fair.
5. Round up all the machine sewing needles, and hand sewing needles in one place.

Doable? I think so. Wish me luck.

My 1, 2, 3 Quilt

Here is my 1, 2, 3 quilt. What makes it one, two, three you ask? To piece this top, it takes one jelly roll, two yards of background fabric and three weekends to complete. Not much time, however, I do have a few tricks.
Most of the commercial patterns for similar designs call for drawing a line across a square, sewing on the line and then cutting, thus wasting a portion of fabric. I have devised a way which does not waste any fabric and I do not use any paper guides. (Time spent ripping off paper is also not productive.)

Fabric has gotten so expensive and sewing time is often fleeting. The next time you start a new project, take a look at the pattern and the directions. See if you can find a way to save both.
Happy sewing.

4 Blue Ribbons, 1 NQR

This year at the local fair, I entered 4 items and won 4 blue ribbons. Yea!

In the "Large Quilt Category," my designer BOM (from an on-line quilt shop,) received 1st place,
(ok family and friends, this one needs a home)

In the "Holiday House-Other Category," (all Christmas items are placed in "Holiday House,") my Santa Quilt placed 1st, (I'm keeping this one, don't even ask)

1st place in the "Quilted Kitchen Item Category," was my poppy table runner,

and the NQR item which won a blue ribbon in the "Crochet-Work-Fine Category," was a cream colored doily.

If you've never entered your work in a competition, consider entering your local or state fair. Who knows, you might win!

On the design wall.....

Long before this guy was spotted in my back yard,

one of my favorite quilt blocks was bear paws. Another favorite of mine when it comes to quilts is the color electric green, or as I call it,  "slime". Throw in one of my favorite designs of fabric, "dots" and you would have the trifecta of my favorite things to be in a quilt.

You can imagine my delight when I found a kit that incorporate all of these three things. My color choice was gold/brown or blue/green. You know which one I chose. Now this is on my design wall

 

along with this

 

 If thinking about making this kit, "Eldorado Canyon" by Chris Hoover/Whirligig Designs, let me offer a few suggestions.

First, cut the HST's just a skoosh bigger than called for. That way after the sections are sewn together, the pieces can be trimmed to exactly the correct size. As hard as I try, my HST's come out a little crooked and trimming them fixes that problem.

Second, pay careful attention to fabric placement in the bar block. There is a right direction and a wrong direction. After the block is sewn together, trust me, it will slap you in the face. Time to do a little un-sewing.

And third, pay close attention to the pressing direction. Another one of those things that will jump up and bite you.

 

I made how many HST's?

Happy Birthday Mom

As February approaches, I am always in a quandary as what to give my mother for a birthday present and this year was no exception. She's one of those people who is very hard to buy for. I called my sister and asked what she was doing. Wouldn't you know it, she has already been shopping.

Several years back, I made a pillow from a family photo and I decided to do the same thing again, only this time I used the photo of an adorable two year old who is now "forty-something." (That's right sis, you've only got a few more years where you can truthfully use that "forty-something" line.) I hope mom likes it.

Remember: Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.