Quarter 2 Finish-A-Long Goals

My list for the second quarter of 2018 is long, but I think I can make progress on a lot of these items, maybe even finish some of them.  By focusing on each project I will make a lot of progress, but time will tell. Now onto my list.

1. Stitch and flip wreaths. Make 3-4 stitch and flip wreaths for belated Christmas gifts for 3-4 people last year. They are not hard to do, it is just finding the time.  (I gave them IOUs for these beautiful wreaths).

2. Baby quilt for my Cousin's son who was born in the middle of January 2017.

3. Knitting a purple shawl - deadline long past, but I will use it in my office, especially when it gets cold and drafty.  If is a great knitting project to do in front of the tv.

4. Cross stitch Marriage record for C&T (late present).

5. Wedding quilt for C&T (late present, at least they know it is coming).

6. Handiwork (something I have been trying to catch up on for the last year, I just need to use one of my off fridays and sit down and do the minor repairs on most of the items).  The pile is getting larger each quarter.

7. Make rugs, this includes ripping what I've done out and restarting as I found a different pattern I want to use (belated Christmas gift...we won't say how many years late).

8. Charity Quilt top for Prayers and Squares at my Grandmother's church.

9. 2nd Charity quilt top for Prayers and Squares at my Grandmother's church (I started these before I got married, which means they are almost five years old.  I just found them in one of the last boxes I still have to unpack).

10. Wedding quilt for D&D (late present, at least they know it is coming).

11. Quilt for one of my Grandmother's (shhh, it is a surprise for her).

12. Mom's quilt (this one is even older.  I got the kit in college and got frustrated with it because my 1/4 inch seam was off and I was doing a horrible job at cutting).

13. Wedding quilt for N&B (this wedding was last year, 2017, shhh, it is also a surprise).

14. Christmas Table Runner  (this was going to be a present, but Christmas Eve my cat decided to play with my soda on the table and spilled some on it, so I could not gift it due to running.  I tried to remove the stain, which did not work so it is all taken apart to replace what was stained, and now it is time to put it back together).

15. Second Christmas Table Runner (still to be finished for a Christmas present).

16. Bonnie Hunter's En Providence Mystery Quilt (I've printed all of the clues and my fabrics picked out, I just have to actually start on it.  I do love the reveal, and I'm considering making it just a tad larger to fit on a queen size bed).

17. Knit scarf for my husband.  He saw the scarves I made for my grandparents for Christmas, and wants a few scarves.  As a result I am going to get this one done, and have the other two made for next winter.  It is made with a simple pattern.  Knit stitch about 30 stitches across and then 70" long.

18. This quilt is for charity.  I hope to have it done for 2018's Hands to Help hosted by Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  I am making it with orange and browns, and I have all the fabrics ready to go, I just need to start.  Photo is from Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

19.  This quilt will be for charity.  I hope to have it done for 2019's Hands to Help hosted by Confessions of a Fabric Addict. I am making it with purples and greens as the latices, and I just need to start.  It is going to be gorgeous I think.  Photo credit goes to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

20.  There was a mystery quilt a long with Cora's Quilts called Gathering.  The fabrics are gorgeous and I have finished all of the cutting, I just have to put each step together.  It will be a throw size.

21. Supplement my blog post for the 12 Days of Christmas over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict by making a pillow. It will be a 12 by 12 pillow with a single snowflake on it, appliqued and quilted down. I have no picture, everything is cut out, I just need to execute it. I was not able to complete it, so I'm going to work on it and get it done so I can present it as a tutorial this year.

22. Supplement my blog post for the 12 Days of Christmas over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict by making a pillow. It will be a 14 by 28 pillow with three snowflakes on it. The snowflakes will be appliqued and quilted down. I have no picture, everything is cut out, I just need to execute it. I was not able to complete it for the 2017 blog hop, so I'm going to get it done and present it as a gift idea for this year's blog hop.

23.  Finish Sweet Tooth Queen size quilt.  Started as a Breakfast Club project, I want to finish all of the blocks and put it together.  It will be the first quilt I have made for our bed.

24.  Finish Sweet Tooth baby quilt.  I had left overs from the two kits I bought to make the queen size, so I decided to make just one of each of the twelve blocks and combine it into a baby quilt.  I think it is going to look awesome when it is done.

25. Chenille this panel of Mickey for a birthday gift. It has been layered, I just need to sew rows and finish it off.

26. Chenille this panel of Disney Princess for a birthday gift. It has been layered, I just need to sew rows and finish it off.

27. Chenille this panel of Dory for a birthday gift. I just need to sew the rows on it and finish it off.

28. Chenille this panel of Belle for a belated Christmas gift. I just need to sew the rows on it and finish it off from there.

29. Chenille this panel of Belle for a belated Christmas gift. It matches the one before, the only difference is the minky on the back, and I'm sure the binding will be different. I just need to sew the rows on it and finish it off from there.

30. Chenille this panel of Little Mermaid for myself. This will be the last panel to be chenilled as I come last.

31. Finish snowflake pillow (shared at 12 Days of Christmas hosted by Confessions of a Fabric Addict), and make a second one for a Christmas gift and creating a tutorial. I received several requests during my blog hop stop for a tutorial for this one. I like it enough that I won't mind re-creating it.

32. Dr. Who quilt, finish as I have started cutting it out. This was an intended gift for my husband on Valentine's Day almost two years ago.

33. New baby quilt, pattern and fabric has been picked out. I just need to put it together.

34. Seth's toddler quilt. The pattern and fabric has been picked out, it just needs to be put together.

35. Natalie's wall hanging. The fabric has been picked out and the idea is in my head. I just need to put it on paper and figure out how to do the blocks as I do not have a pattern for it.

36. Storm at Sea quilt I started at the San Diego Quilt Show last year.  I have it all drawn out as to what I want to do, making it about 60" by 60".  This is the small quilt because I plan to make a scrappy teal/blue/green one that will be even bigger.  My Mom bought the templates, so I just need to borrow them from her to get cracking.

37. Proud Mary is from Splash of Color by Jackie Kunkel.  She was to come to the San Diego Quilt Show, however her class was cancelled.  All of my fabrics are picked out, I just need to finish ironing them and then start the cutting process.  

38.  Royal Gardens was started with Breakfast Club semester #2 for 2017.  I have the blocks put together, I just need to do the setting triangles and then put it together.

39.  L&B's Wedding Quilt is for when they got married in July 2015.  The fabric is starched, I just need to iron the fabric and then cut and make the quilt.

40. S&D's Wedding Quilt is for my sister-in-law and her husband, who got married in November 2016.  The pieces are waiting to be put together by English Paper Piecing (EPP), and the sashing squares are all cut, and starched, I just need to iron and put them together.

41.  On Ringo Lake the 2017-2018 Bonnie Hunter mystery that is absolutely gorgeous!  I have all of my fabric picked out and starched, I just have to get working on it.

42.  Meadow Mist mystery quilt was revealed in December.  I have the fabric picked out, and I have since the start of it, I just have not had time to start on it.

43.  Scrappy Bargello was started within the last week when I got to take a class with Bonnie Hunter. It was a fantastic class!  I have it all planned out, and everything is cut, I just have to sew!

44.  OSU Quilt #1 for Grandma is to make semi-matching quilts for my Grandparents to each use on the couch while they are watching games for their alma mater.

45.  OSU Quilt #2 for Grandpa is to make semi-matching quilts for my Grandparents to each use on the couch while they are watching games for their alma mater.

46.  Bel Canto is a mystery that was held at my local quilt shop for Strip club.  It is designed by Daniella Stout, and the reveal happened in December 2017.

47. Ashley's table runner for a bridal gift.

48. A & T's wedding lap quilt.  This needs to be done by the middle of May as I want to give it to them then, and not later.

49.  Baby blanket that is knitted.  I have casted it on, it is just buried in the my pile of projects right now.

50.  JoAnn's mystery knit, which is no longer a mystery, but I would love to get it done as it should be a decently fast knit.

51.  Moonlight Path's quilt along with Cora's Quilts.  Mystery started in March and will continue to through the first half of June.

52.  Pocket bags - set of 4 for personal use.  I have my fabric picked out, and it is on its way to me right now.

53.  Brown bag mystery quilt from Cupcake Quilts in Spring, Texas.  I am getting the clues mailed to me.

54.  Jelly Roll rug.  I am taking a class this quarter, and I want to finish it.

I am looking forward to encouraging everyone on making progress on their lists.  I am linking up to Throw a Wrench in the Works for the 2018 Finish-A-Long.

-Christina

Design Wall Tuesday

This past week, I was trying to procrastinate on my actual goals and pulled out a long time UFO.  It is from 2008, and it was to be a gift for my Mom that Christmas.  I had trouble with something (I can not remember for some reason what), and did not want to touch it as I thought it was "ruined."  I pulled it out and boy was I wrong!  I figured out where I left off, and I'm ready for the next step now.  Below are the blocks that are ready to be ironed.

Now for my goals for the week:

The first goal is to cut out Hands 2 Help quilt #1, and start to sew it together to create progress.  I need to get it done about the middle of May to donate to H2H this year, so I better get cracking.  (The photo is from Confessions of a Fabric Addict as they are her patterns)

My second goal is to finish the binding on Royal Gardens, I only have another half hour's worth of hand sewing to do, and then I have to go over the quilt and bury all of the threads from quilting.

My third goal is to finish cutting the channels on the chenille blanket.

My fourth goal is to prep for my Jelly Roll class and attend it.  I'm excited for it.  Let us just hope my jelly roll gets here in time for class!

My fifth goal is to iron the fabric that is now starched, so next week I can start to cut into the fabric and help achieve my one monthly goal.

My sixth and final goal is to start sewing together Ring of Stars.  I would love to get the triangles all done, but realistically my goal is to get one side sewn on.

It is going to be an emotional week for me, as we are sending my Grandparents back to their home state as they have been snow-birding every winter out in California for the last 20 years.  Their health has deteriorated that they will be unable to make the trek out here anymore, and it makes me sad.  I am very happy with the time I have been able to spend with them, but it is still hard.  After they leave I'm cleaning their apartment and packing up the things they are leaving out here for us to keep or donate, which will be a task within itself. Quilting will help make it a little easier this week.

Linking up with:
Main Crush Monday
Design Wall
Monday Making

-Christina

15 Minutes of Stitching - Week 15

Let us see how this week went on the 15 minutes of stitching front.

Days spent stitching this week: 5 out of 7

Days spent stitching in April: 13 out of 15

Days spent stitching for 2018: 82 out of 105

Rate of Success: 78.1 %
My week runs Monday through Sunday.

This week was not the best, I lagged on the weekend due to everything that is going on the home front right now.  This week, my 15 minutes will be convented as it will be the only stitching time I will get.  We all have weeks like this, and I am going to bounce back from it, and get my rate of success up to a B next week.  I am still loving seeing small steps on various projects get accomplished, it feels fantastic!

Linking up to:
Life in Pieces

-Christina

Design Wall Monday

First off let us celebrate!  I'm posting this on a Monday instead of a Tuesday like normal.  Which is a feat unto itself and it makes me very happy!  I was able to get a big thing done last week, which is great!  I needed to get a table runner completed by Saturday for a Bridal Shower.  I made it, the runner came out of the dryer about an hour and fifteen minutes before the shower.  I think it turned out pretty good.  Here is a teaser shot.

If you return on Friday, you can see the whole thing.

Now for my goals for the week:
The first goal is to finish sewing the chenille blanket with the purple backing.  I am a little over 1/2 way done, and I hope to finish it and then bind it next week.

My second goal is to cut out my stitch and flip wreath.  I would also like to start sewing it together, but my main goal is to cut it out.

My third goal is to start sewing together Ring of Stars.  I would love to get the triangles all done, but realistically my goal is to get one side sewn on.

My fourth goal is to cut out Hands 2 Help quilts 1 and 2, and start to sew them together to create progress.  I need to get them done about the middle of May to donate to H2H this year.  (Both photos are from Confessions of a Fabric Addict as they are her patterns)

My fifth goal is to iron the fabric that has been starched for a lap wedding quilt.  Next week's goal is to cut it out to help achieve my OMG.

My sixth and final goal is to make progress on the binding for Royal Gardens.  I am about two thirds of the way done with it.  I would love to turn the 3rd corner and get half way done with the last full side, but quiet stitching time will be limited this week as I will be cleaning a lot.  Any progress on the binding will be nice.

Linking up with:
Main Crush Monday
Design Wall
Monday Making

I hope everyone is successful this week!
-Christina

15 Minutes of Stitch - Week 14 2018

Let us see how this week went on the 15 minutes of stitching front.

Days spent stitching this week: 7 out of 7

Days spent stitching in April: 8 out of 8

Days spent stitching for 2018: 77 out of 98

Rate of Success: 78.6 %
My week runs Monday through Sunday.

This week was a week of a first.  I was able to get 15 minutes of stitching done at work during my lunch time.  I had a table runner to get the binding on.  I was able to get more than 15 minutes in each night as I was pushing the deadline of said table runner.  Thanks to the dedication of 15 minutes I was able to get it done before the shower.  I'm really trying not to be cutting it that close ever again (famous last words).  Once that was finished, I made some good progress on another project I am working on.  I hope to see that one is done in the next two weeks.  Now it is time to get to my 15 minutes of stitching tonight.  Progress is happening on a lot of things because of this wonderful goal and I could not be happier with what I have been able to accomplish just this year already.

Linking up to:
Life in Pieces

-Christina

April 2018 One Monthly Goal

My goal for the month of April is to try and get ahead on a wedding lap quilt that will be given in May.  My goal this month (thinking realistic and what I will be able to accomplish), is to starch the fabric, iron, and cut out the quilt.  I would love to get the piecing started, as I have four borders to put on, but if I do not get to it this month it is not the end of the world for me.  I do not have any "official" sew days this month, but I'm hoping to block out some time on my Regular Days Off (RDO) and a few Saturdays that we currently have free.  My personal challenge of doing 15 minutes a day of sewing/ironing/cutting on a project will also help me accomplish my goal and hopefully then some.

Sharing at:
Elm Street Quilts

I hope everyone has a successful month!
-Christina

Quilt Shops in Spring, Texas

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to go visit some very close friends and their kids in Texas.  While visiting, you know what I had to hit up.  Quilt shops within Spring, Texas!  There are three within a very close proximity to each other in the downtown historic part of Spring, Texas.  Of course I made a few acquisitions.  Who would not?

The first shop we visited was Cupcake Quilts.  I have been receiving their advertising updates, and they had recently advertised a mystery quilt that you could buy a kit at the store.  I bought it because I was intrigued.  The fabrics in the kit are gorgeous, and now I'm awaiting my clues, as they need to email them to me now that I am back home.

I can not wait to see how this pans out because I can not get over these fabrics.

The second show we visited was GRS Creations and Fabrics.  I was not expecting to find another great quilt shop while we were there, as we did not know it existed.  Boy was I glad we stopped and checked it out real quick.

I found some fabrics for my rainbow bargello that I am slowly collecting fabrics for, and some fabrics for my Grandma's flower garden quilt that I want to do.

I enjoyed both stores, and GRS amazed me as there was room after room of fabric.

Sharing at:
Sew Fresh Quilts

-Christina

Design Wall Tuesday

I was able to get a few things done last week, which is great!  Progress is being made in many things, all thanks to the goal of 15 minutes of stitching that I have everyday.

I finished the Snowflake Table Runner.  See the finished blog post here.

In addition to finishing that project and getting it off my WIP list, I was able to finish cutting out Ring of Stars.  Below are all the pieces neatly organized, ready to be sewn, in it's own project box.

I have a few goals this week.  The biggest thing I want to do is to see progress on these items.  My first goal is to finish a bridal shower gift, for the shower that is quickly approaching.  Everything is cut out and tonight I hope to get both sides halfway sewn together, it would be even better if I could get the whole thing sewn together tonight, but I do not want to push myself too much.

My second goal is to get Royal Gardens fully completed.  I need to finish sewing half the binding down, along with the label.  I can not wait together get it fully done, so we can finally use it for our bed.

My third goal is to keep working on chanielling these panels.  I have found thread for both of them, and I am about halfway done with one.  These are Christmas gifts for my best friends and we are FINALLY getting together to celebrate soon so I need to get them done....opps, very late on these.

My fourth goal is to start on one of three stitch and flip wreaths.  I would like to cut out all of the pieces for one of them, and iron on the fusible to be able to sit down and sew it together next week.

Now it is time to make some progress on these goals.

Linking up with:
Monday Making

-Christina

15 Minutes of Stitching - Week 13

Let us see how this week went on the 15 minutes of stitching front.

Days spent stitching this week: 7 out of 7

Days spent stitching in March: 28 out of 31
Days spent stitching in April: 1 out of 1

Days spent stitching for 2018: 70 out of 91

Rate of Success: 76.9 %
My week runs Monday through Sunday.

This week went very well, I made a lot of progress on the cutting front, and even started on some quilting.  The time might have only been 15-20 minutes each day, but it is amazing to look back and see the progress that was made with just the consistence of doing a small amount of time each day.  I can not wait to see what the next month brings in the way of progress on many things.  It amazes me, but also makes me feel good because I'm making more progress than I have in past years already!

Linking up to:
Life in Pieces

-Christina

Big Bed Quilt A-Long - March Check-in

Rachel at Stitched In Color has challenged us to set our own goals for a Big Bed Quilt A-Long, you could make it to finish a quilt, or two or three, or get started on one for you.  My goals for the month of March was to get Royals Gardens to the binding stage, which did happen.  The binding is about half flipped on the back.  I am excited to get it done and on our bed, as our first bed quilt for us!

My second part to my March goal was to finish cutting out another bed quilt that I want to start.  I was also able to accomplish this.  It is so pretty organized in it's project box, and ready to be put together.

My goals for the month of April is to finish Royal Gardens by getting the binding fully sewn down, and start sewing together the quilt top.  I would like to get the 4-patches made for the quilt, and start sewing together the triangles and the corners, but the second part is a stretch goal.

Here is to another successful month!
Linking up to:
Stitched In Color

-Christina