Bright Curve Finished!

I finished the table runner, literally just in time for the wedding.  Pictures were taken after it was washed about an hour before we left for the reception.  Talk about cutting it close!  Hopefully I will not be cutting it that close again, but I do need to work on getting caught up on all of the outstanding IOUs that I have out for quilts.  One project at a time.  Are you ready for some pictures?  I think it turned out beautifully! TaDa!

I feel like the picture below captures the vibrancy of the colors, and shows the individual block.  Yes, the points are not perfect, but it was my first time doing curves and piecing a top on the diagonal, and I think it turned out great.  The quilting helped to hide it a little, and I do not think it detracts from the overall table runner.

This was my first time washing a quilt before giving it away, and I love the feeling and look it created  that I want to do this every time I finish a quilt.  You can see the texture and the beautiful freehand border I did in this picture.

By finishing this lovely table runner I have completed my February OMG (early for the first time in a long time), and a finish from my 1st quarter Finish-a-Long Goals.  I am also linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict on Whoop Whoop Fridays, and Crazy Mom Quilts at her Finish it up Fridays.

Come back soon, as I have more exciting quilty items coming up!
-Christina

Making Progress!

I am making progress!  This is a big plus, especially since I need to get this table runner done and washed by Saturday evening for a wedding gift!  Each night I have set little goals for myself, and I am completing those goals plus going a little further, so I will not be putting the final touches on minutes before the reception!

This is a piece with many firsts, including curved piecing and putting together something on the diagonal.  Both of these items could use some work, especially the curved piecing, which I have learned a few tricks while doing this runner.  But, I have also learned that instead of using a rotary cutter when I need to cut patterned pieces, take the extra time to trace and hand cut out the pieces.  It WILL save a whole lot of frustration and unpicking of seams later.  Also, it will help with getting points and circles lined up just right.  If you do not look too closely you can not tell that all the points, and some of the circles are funky.  I hope with some quilting they will look even better.  I am proud of taking on the challenge and not backing out and getting something from their registry.

Now it is time to get the last of the borders on and prep the backing and batting for some basting!  Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social, and checking out what other people are doing.

-Christina

February OMG

January was a whirlwind.  Actually I found a new author and read all of her published works in between working full time, and family scheduled events.  I really enjoyed the author, of course I do love a good romance novel.  But now we are in February, and I have a lot to get done this month (when do I not?), but I have to complete a table runner by this weekend for a wedding, and I really want to get the other table runner for the couple that got married in December done, plus a baby shower gift for my husband's friend's 3rd kid (and first two kids as I never made them anything), and another baby gift for my cousin's new child.  Wow, I'm tired just thinking about it all.





Good thing I have made great progress on the first table runner tonight, which is also my one monthly goal.  It is a little nerve racking as it is my first curved piecing project, but they have not turned out too horribly, only a little, where if I sew it together right/and quilt it it will not look too bad (or so I hope, the end product does not lie).  This project will be done this weekend.




Then the second part of the month I would like to get the 2nd table runner done for the couple that got married in December.  I've had this as my goal for the last two months, and this month will be the month I finish it!  The fabric is starched, I just have to iron, cut and sew the pieces together.  Then layer it, quilt and put on the binding.  Not too hard, especially with a sew day coming up!

Off to link up to Elm Street Quilts for OMG.  Here is to a successful month for everyone!

-Christina

Jewelry and Scarves Finished!

The jewelry for my best friend's wedding that was on November 12, was completed right before the rehearsal and dinner on November 11.  Talk about cutting it close!  But they turned out lovely, and I'm happy with the end product.  I made 5 necklaces, and 6 bracelets (one for the bride + all of the bridesmaids).  The idea came from what we wanted/liked after pursuing Charming Charlie's however they did not have the style in gold to match the necklace the bride had already found.  As a result I came in to save the day and made the jewelry two weeks before the wedding.  In the end, they turned out just how she wanted them, and they looked great with everyone's dresses.








A second finish was for Christmas, I made two matching scarves from the Canon Layer Cakes they have out right now.  My grandparents are Ohio State alum and collage sweethearts, and they LOVE Ohio State.  As a result, when I saw the scarlet and gray layer cakes I knew what I was making them for Christmas.  Of course once they opened their presents together they immediately put them on which was heart warming to see.  I know they will be put to good use, especially when they return home in the next few months.  I loved how these turned out.

I'm linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it Up Friday, and Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Whoop Whoop Fridays.  I am now all caught up from all the sharing from the last few months of 2016.  Check out my Appalachian Museum post, to learn about our trip before the wedding referenced above.  Now it is time to make progress on my Q1 and 2017 goals for the year.

-Christina

Q1 2017 Finish-A-Long Goals

It is January of a new year, and that means it is time to set my quarterly goals for the 2017 Finish-A-Long.  I'm setting my goals high, there are a few that I have to get done this quarter and others I need to start working on.  If I make decent progress on some, maybe I will get more quilts finished this year.  Each quarter I am able to reassess my goals, and it makes me think of what needs to get done.  So, let us see what is on my list.

1. Table Runner for J&B's wedding (took place in Early December)

2. Table Runner for T&M's wedding (taking place in February)

3. Baby quilt for my Cousin's son who will be born any day now (mid-January is his due date)

4. Knitting a blue shawl - deadline long past, but will use in my office, especially when it gets cold/drafty

5. Knitting a purple shawl - same thing as above

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

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

8. 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)

9. 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)

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

11. 2nd Charity quilt top for Prayers and Squares at my Grandmother's church (I started these before I got married, which means they are about four years old.  I just found them in one of the last boxes I still have to unpack)

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

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

14. Mom's quilt (this one is even older than 10 and 11.  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.)

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

16. 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 need to try and remove the stain and redo the quilting on it, then bind)

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

18. 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)

19. 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.

Wow, long list, but if I can make progress on these things I will be very happy.  Time to fix the tension on my featherweight and make some great progress on these projects.  I can not wait to see what everyone else is planning to make progress on.  Linking up to Throw a Wrench in the Works for the 2017 Finish-A-Long.

-Christina

A Visit to The Appalachian Museum

The Appalachian Museum, in association with the Smithsonian Museum, presented a wonderful look into the life that was lead by various Appalachian people, that some probably still lead today.

When we first walked to the front there was a barn quilt square.  It made me very happy to see.

While we were in the Hall of Fame there were many quilts.  They all had history and were inspiring to read about.  Of course who can forget the detailed workmanship, which was gorgeous and very inspiring.  Now for your viewing pleasure, some eye candy.

These quilts behind the glass still had the newspapers that they used for English Paper Piecing with the fabric.  It was amazing to see, and fun to read what the newspaper said, especially the prices for items.

This is a sampler that in the Hall of Fame, and the details were inspiring and gorgeous.  Even though you can tell it is old, I believe that added to its charm.

Here is the cabin that Mark Twain's family use to live in.  He never lived in the cabin as they moved out of the region before he was born.  Their cabin was nice, it was one of the first bigger ones that we saw, but it was still smaller than our apartment, which just amazes me.

Inside one of the cabins there was a weaving loom and strips of fabric rolled into balls, and these gorgeous rugs.  They were using what they had, whether it be from old clothes or old quilts.  These rugs that they had turned out beautifully.

We also found an old rag rug, which is something I need to work on, as I have a few in the making.  It just made me smile when I saw it in one of the cabins.  (At this point, my husband is just shaking his head because I have a big smile on my face and pointing everything out to him fabric related and talking about it)

At the end of the tour (self guided) there was a saw mill, with fresh saw dust.  The saw mill had just been used the previous weekend we were there.  I found this really cool as it is keeping history alive.

Would we come back here, yes! we would come back.  There is so much history of the area and the life that was lived in the mountains.  It would be educational for our kids when they are in elementary/middle school.

Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts

-Christina

New Year, Same One Monthly Goal

It is a new year, which means I should be working on something new right?  Well, I'm not.  For January's OMG, my goal is to finalize strip selection, starch, cut and put together the top for a table runner for a couple that just got married.  The colors and beautiful and can not wait to gift it to them.  I think this goal is doable, especially once I get my husband's birthday party planning finished (almost there!).

Here is to a new year where I am working on setting small achievable goals that are more realistic for me to achieve.

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts.

-Christina

A New Year Slow Stitching

Happy New Year to everyone!  I have a feeling that this year is going to be great for everyone.  This evening I am settling in and working on a knitted shawl, while watching some TV with my dear husband.  This is definitely a work in progress.  I started it in November 2016, thinking I could get it done for a wedding in the same month.  Boy was I wrong!  I'm still not even halfway done with it, granted I did take a hiatus from knitting it due to some Christmas scarfs I did for gifts.  The pattern is called Knit Triangle Shawl from Carron, and the yarn I'm using is Moonshine from Juniper Moon Farm.  I love this yarn, it is all natural, and has a wonderful feel to it.  I'm also really enjoying knitting with it, as I haven't had it shred once.  There is still the occasional hay debris, but nothing to write and complain about.  I'm about 12 inches away from starting to decrease, but I'm going to sit and enjoy the process as there is no deadline for this.

What drew me to the pattern was the edging detail, even though it is simple I feel like it adds a nice edge to the piece.

In 2017, I'm going to try and expand my horizons on knitting.  I have a few harder patterns picked out plus the yarn, and I hope to try it out.  I would love to eventually work my way to hand knit my own socks, which would be nice especially in the winter.  Baby steps, especially learning all of the terms, and stitches to use that go into some of these patterns.  With this pattern I learned how to do a yarn over, yes simple, but I have only been knitting with the garter stitch since 2nd grade when I first learned how to knit.  In 2016, I learned how to pearl, simple, but different.

I'm linking up with Kathy's Quilts for Sunday's Slow Stitching.  She is encouraging us to sit down and take some slow stitches, there are plenty of health benefits, and with the crazy holiday season that is coming to a close, I think we all need it!

Here is to slowing down and enjoying the process this year!
-Christina

2017 Quilt Plan

Judy at Patchwork Times is starting to get back into quilting (Yay, I'm glad she can find joy in it again!), and has challenged us to look into our closets and find some UFO's to finish in the year of 2017.  She is going to draw a number for the month, and the quilt that corresponds to that number per your UFO list is the quilt you will work to finish that month.  I know that not all of these quilts will get done over the course of the year, but if I could make some headway on a lot of them that would be better than where they stand right now.  With that being said, here is my list:  (sorry no pretty pictures, check out my 2017 Quilt Plan tab and pictures will be updated as the year goes on)

1. Wedding Quilt - L&B
2. Wedding Quilt - D&D
3. Wedding Quilt - S&D
4. Wedding Quilt - C&T
5. Mom's Quilt
6. Table runner - T&M
7. Table runner - J&B
8. Wedding Quilt - N&B
9. Dr. Who Quilt
10. Table runner - N&B
11. Little House on the Prairie quilt
12. I-Spy quilt for Niece

Extra quilts:
2 Charity quilts - Ties for Love
Bargello baby
Texas star quilt
Quilt for Grandma
Quilt for Grandparents - Ohio State
Kit for bed - Sweet tooth by Jaybirds quilt will also be made
Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts - En Provence and Allietare and 2017's
QAL that I hope to stay on top of making when the clues come out

A long list.  Now to get my tension fixed on my featherweight so I can start sewing.

Happy New Year!
-Christina

Goals for 2017 - Quilting

Yvonne from Jetgirl Quilting has challenged us what will be our goals for the 2017 year. My goals are:

1. Work on and or finish Wedding presents - there are quilts for C&T, (quilt to finish), T&M (table runner to finish), L&B (quilt to start), S&D (quilt to work on), J&B (table runner to finish), D&D (quilt to work on/finish?), and N&B (quilt to gift at their wedding).

2. Complete Dr. Who quilt for my husband

3. Finish a quilt for Mom

4. Participate in a QAL, and keep up with the clues as they are given

5. Make tutorial for blog to help spread the quilting word

6. Start to organize stash/cut up scraps from previous quilts and keep up with new scraps

7. DO NOT buy fabric or kits unless it is needed to finish a project (it is a goal, but in reality it probably won't last too long).

8. Finish Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilts

9. Organize pattern library, or even start to

10. Get out more in the blogging community, which means I need to comment and post on other people's blog posts, offering words of encouragement and offering advice from what I have learned.

11. Post more about the process of making something on my blog, instead of just showing a finished project.

It is a long list, but if I stick to it I could make some really good progress. I want to have this year be a year of growing my blog, as it will be my second year blogging. There are a few things I need to work on personally, such as finding balance between home life, like up keeping our place and time for quilting and blogging. I was lacking balance last year with my blog, updating on what I'm working on vs what I have finished.

I'm looking forward to what other people's goals are for the new year.

Happy New Year!
-Christina

Finished Jester Costume

After we returned from the 2 weddings we attended, I had to jump in and make a jester costume for my husband for a Medieval dinner that was held at our church during the Holiday season.  I think it turned out very well, very mismatched, exactly what the director wants.  I bought the socks and shoes and the hat was given to us, and I took it from there.

This was my first time making a costume/clothing piece and there were not some pretty words coming out of my mouth at times.  The pattern was a medium, and my husband is an XL, so I enlarged the pattern by cutting a few extra inches here and there around the pattern.  I did not need to do that everywhere, and I had to do a few seams to take things in.  I also got to work with elastic for the first time, and let us just say there were more naughty words said during this part of the making. In the end, everything turned out very well, and EVERYONE loved the costume.  Who knows if there will be a next time that I make a costume, but at least I can say I tried it!

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts and Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Friday posts.  Now it is time to go and put the finishing touches on my 2017 quilty goals/quilt list to finish.

-Christina

December OMG

I failed my November OMG, the month flew by way too quickly, plus being out of town for two weeks did not help.  Is it just me or does the end of the year tend to speed up?  My December OMG is going to be different, as this is something I need to get done now.  A co-worker is getting married this month, and I am making a table runner for the happy couple.  I have the fabrics and the pattern is drawn out, plus my cutting instructions.  I just need to starch, cut, and put it all together.   Not too hard right?

This will be the first thing I do once I get this jester costume I'm currently working on done.  Pants are done, now to get the shirt and neck collar thing done.

If I have even more time (maybe new years weekend will give me a little more sewing time than normal), I need to get a baby quilt done for my cousin's baby, who is due to make his appearance in the beginning of January.  The fabrics and quilt pattern are all picked out.  I just have to starch and cut the fabrics and put it all together.

I love the backing print I found, so cute!  Both of my goals are also on my quarter 4 goal list.

Linking up with Elm Street Quilts.

-Christina

Oh Where, Oh Where Have I Been?

Well, that is a long story.  The first weekend of November was my sister-in-law's wedding, which took place in Tennessee.  We flew out there and was able to hang out with my in-laws and lots of family before the big day.  Then the happy couple got to leave to go on their honeymoon, and we helped my in-laws babysit our niece before we had to fly back to California.  Here we are as guests at the wedding, doesn't my man look good in his bow tie.

While in Tennessee, we had a blast!  I got to indulge in going to a few quilt and yarn stores.  My goal at the quilt stores was to buy fabric for Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt  entitled En Provence as she had just come out with the colors.  Boy did I find some great finds.  I of course was not a good blogger and can not produce footage of my visits to various quilt shops, however I can at least tell you where we went.  The quilt stores were Pappy's in Maryville, TN, Gina's Bernina Sewing Center in Knoxville, TN, Ready Set Sew in Chattanooga, TN and Hyderhangout: Quilt Fabric and More in Cleveland, TN.  I enjoyed each one of these stores for different reasons, and of course I did not leave without buying anything.  I do love supporting locale quilt shops.

While we were down in Chattanooga we went to the Ruby Falls, and had an awesome adventure, just my husband and I exploring.  Here is a picture of us in front of the falls.

If you do not know about Ruby Falls it is in an underground cave, and we were approx. 1100 feet below the top of Lookout Mountain.  The tour was fun, and we got to check out an amazing natural feature.  I also like the building they built from the limestone they pulled out while excavating what they were originally trying to find, which was the Lookout Mountain caves that had been sealed up by the railroad that had come through, and from the tour trail they built.  We also wanted to go to a Civil War battle ground in Georgia, but we are going to save that for the next time we are out.

We also visited the Appalachian Museum which is north of Knoxville in Norris.  It was awesome, especially all of the old quilts and buildings they have there.  I will be doing a separate post in the next week of all the pictures I took there.  I love history.

We then left Tennessee to return to California to have about a 12 hour turn-around to drive four hours north of San Diego to the hills of Santa Barbara for a camping wedding for my best friend for college.  There I finished jewelry for the wedding party the day before (talk about cutting it close), and had a great time.

By the end of these two weeks we had traveled across county, slept more nights on the ground then we remember doing as kids, celebrated two different marriages only six days apart and had a wonderful time.  But, as a result we were exhausted.  We returned, unpacked, organized and started to recover to only have it be Thanksgiving already.  Then I got sick and now we are here on December 3rd, deep in the holiday season.

I still owe three things between the happy couples.  Two wedding quilts and a cross stitch marriage record.  They know the items will eventually come, so I better get working.  But first, I need to get my husband's Jester costume for our church's medieval dinner done for the dress rehearsal and performance next weekend.  I'm cutting it a little close, big surprise, as I am always behind it seems.  Positive thoughts.

When we got home from the trips, I was able to put all of the fabrics I bought and my stash and created this color pallet for the mystery quilt.  I can not wait to start as I love the colors (Clue 1 and Clue 2 have been published), but I have other things that need to get done.

Time to work on that Jester costume.  Wish me luck, as it is my first time making clothes....

-Christina