City Sampler January report

Linking up with Michelle over at Crayon Box Quilts to show my progress with the Tula Pink City Sampler. 

In the last 5 months I have been able to complete -- blocks (which you can see here, here and here). I wanted to get all 70 blocks completed before Stash Bash but as you all know that did not happen and now this break in my foot has limited me in sewing and I had barely touched this project for the last 2 months. My goal for this month if I am being realistic is probably having 50 blocks completed but I'd love to be able to finish all 70 so that I can start on layout and assembly next month. 

In October at the check in the book looked like this ... 

and now it looks like this.... 

See all those little blue tabs -- those are the blocks left to make to get to 70 blocks. You see, I'm also in the process of reevaluating my layout options and I may be choosing to make only 56 blocks (7 x 8 layout) or maybe 63 (7 x 9 layout) depending on how I like the blocks that I have made and how many more in the book that I actually want to make. 

So on to the blocks that I was able to complete.

#33: block 19

#34: block 16

#35: block 49

#36: block 61

#37: block 67

#38: block 88

#39: block 17

#40: block 34

#41: block 94

#42: block 76

#43: block 70

#44: block 65

#45: block 14

#46: block 41

#47: block 44

#48: block 53

Holy Cow that's a lot of blocks, but there are at least 8 more to be made and probably more like 22. I am still loving this project and I even resorted my fabrics this weekend to make sure that I am not leaving out fabrics that I really wanted to include because they got buried in the pile. 

I'm hoping that this winter weather threat that we have for this weekend means sewing time because I've got the itch to put these guys together, soon. 

I have resumed sewing in my sewing room rather than the living room make shift area so that makes me a happy gal and also pleases several of the kitties. 

Happy Quilting everyone -- can't wait to see your progress. 

Linking up with 

FEB fabriholics and Library Project revisited

February for the fabric fast went so much better than January for this quilter -- I am up to 10 finishes for the year and I have used at least 40 yards of stash to date. 

I did make one small purchase this month -- 2 yards of Konna Espresso for my scout class. A solid, which I have already put to use so I'm within my parameters and feel pretty good about things right now. 

I had a great deal more fabric come into my life -- Teri brought me some and then so did my quilt mama Brenda (the pic below are just from her). I Love them!!

I really, really gotta sort these out and make plans for them soon to help regain surface area in my craft room.
I have also been making progress on my Library project challenges -- where we try to actually make something from that pile of beautiful books and patterns that all us crafters collect.

Strip search -- finished

Lazy Sunday -- Finished

Scout Quilt -- after 3 classes -- top completed and the back is nearly finished.

Up next will be another project from the Jelly roll book -- fabric pulled and ready to start.

Gypsy Wife -- doing this as a QAL -- monthly goals have not been met at this time but I am hoping to knock these blocks out tomorrow or by the end of the week (for another link up). I do have all my fabric pulled together and ready to go .

My goals for March are 

• COMPLETE BOM blocks -- like for real this time, ideally I want to finish the quilt top 
• Quilt the 2 basted quilts and get these in the finished pile 
• Mom's apron needs embroidering and assembly 
• continue on with Gypsy Wife QAL 
• Project for Rebecca
• Star Along project -- deadline is the end of March
• work on Scout Quilt -- maybe finish
• Projects from Library Project goals 
• Start something from quilt wish list
• put away the donated fabrics and continue with the purge, using stash and non buying

Goals for the Month

I discovered that I was starting to get deadlines mixed up so I made myself a little calendar to keep track of all of the link ups and deadlines and appointments that I have this month. 

I decided that this was also a good place to list my goals for the month -- since I can keep in on the wall behind my machine and as a constant reminder of things I should be working on instead of starting new projects and continuing the cycle of always feeling behind. 

My goals for this month are (but not limited to)

• keep up with my 3 linky projects -- lazy Sunday QAL, Star light star bright QAL, Gypsy wife QAL
• complete the blocks for the 2013 Block of the month -- apparently I have lost momentum for this project and need to force myself to get this done. 
• finish binding 2013 Block of the Week -- it's attached but not turned 
• quilt at least 3 of the quilts I basted this past weekend -- these may wait till after I take the feathers class 
• Scout and free motion feather classes
• continue fabric fast -- no buying and purging out 
• apron project for MIL
• One very special project -- VSP

I am using this as a way to see how much time I quilt, so each day I write this is before I shut off the machine and so far I have over an hour in each day. Last night I got the top pieced on the Lazy Sunday and started making backing. I thought I may need to buy backing but the hubs looked in the drawer and found something I had overlooked. 

Stay tuned for the top reveal later this week. 

Happy Quilting everyone.

Library Project

Several posts back I mentioned the Library project - A challenge to identify patterns and books that we have on hand and actually make them. So I'm linking up with Chezzetcook Modern Quilts and identifying projects I've had in mind for a while and I'm incorporating this into my destash goal. 

Lots of great options and bookmarked projects -- here are a few that I pulled fabric for.

Up first is a pattern that I've made before but this time I wanted to use a jelly roll that I've had for a while and 2 extra strips so that I will have enough to make the pattern.

I love my scraps as I have mentioned many times before but before I started cutting them down into usable parts I was never a fan of the 2.5 inch strip (gasp I know). Well now I have an entire bin of them and a great book to go along with them so hopefully I will be able to whip up some of these great projects.

Another book that I have been admiring for a while is Vintage quilt revival -- this book is awesome and I pretty much want to do every project in there.

The first one may be this one but I'm kind of torn because I also have this great pattern that is similar but different.

Looks like I have lots of work ahead of me -- better get to sewing.

finish #3 and a new start (or 2)

Another carry over UFO from 2013 was completed this weekend and I have to say it may be my new favorite. 

A while back I bought a layer cake of Willow by Riley Blake because I thought it was so beautiful and soft. A short while later my friend Lee came out with her pattern Lazy Sunday and I knew that this would come together nicely once I added in a few other fabrics to make up for the small layer cake(28 fabrics instead of 42).

I love how the quilting turned out on this one and am almost more in love with the back of the quilt than the front. It's just so squishy looking -- and it hasn't even been washed yet.

Thus Lazy Willow was created.

Fabric used 9.5 yards

Since I am finishing up all these UFO's I decided it was time to start another project but this time I wanted to use up some of my pre-cut scraps, so as I was pulling out charms for my doll quilt partner I pulled out some lovelies for my next project as well.

I put them into a simple scrappy top that would be perfect for a baby girl. I may add a grey boarder to the top but haven't decided yet. I'm already looking forward to quilting it because I'm going to try out echo quilting of the star for a change of pace.  

I will also be starting another project on Sunday this week when my friend Teri will be teaching her first class as Sew Original for the lovely Scout Quilt. (the class has been delayed -- hopefully that means more people can join in when it does start.)

Happy Quilting everyone

linking up at freshly pieced

The Library Project

In conjunction with the Fabriholics Anonymous Challenge I have also decided to join in with the library challenge quilt along  hosted by Chezzetcook Modern Quilts  in which we put those lovely books and patterns to use in the upcoming year. 

Here are the basics 

• dig out some of those quilt books, patterns and magazines and pick out projects that you would like to finish in the upcoming year (the number is up to you)
• there will be a monthly link up party to talk about your progress -- the end of the year will be a big link up party
• the first link up is Jan 17th -- to discuss the projects and books you have in mind

For me this was a no brainier because I was planning to incorporate this in with the other challenge anyway, so hop on over to Chezzetcook Modern Quilts for more info and take the challenge for yourself. 

My list of books and projects includes these 2 beauties that I got for Christmas 

A project that the guild wants to do together 

and several from the other books -- just waiting on my bookcase. The top shelf has a pile of quilt mags on it, the 2nd shelf has patterns printed from online and tutorials and the 3rd shelf is all my current books and that owl box is full of patterns. 

So I think that in the next 2 weeks I will be pulling these out and taking a closer look at what I want to include in the link up -- I don't think I'll be short on options.