Design Floor

This week on my design floor/bed, I have several things working.  I need to finish repairing this beautiful handmade rug to return to its owner next weekend.

I want to finish cutting out the mystery quilt by Cora's Quilts called Gathering.  I have about 25% of it cut out.

I would like to cut out and start to put together a table runner for a bridal shower in two weeks.  I have an idea for quilting already.  I just need to get cracking.  I procrastinate a lot...or I just get too busy with other stuff...?

Last on the list is working on my next two Sweet Tooth blocks.  The strips are starched, I just have to iron and start cutting them out to them put them together.

Lots to do this week, but with a positive attitude and the time I can give to each project, I know I can make progress, even if it is a little.

Linking up to Patchwork Times and Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making.

-Christina

Slow Stitching

Today Kathy reminds us to slow down and put some stitches in our long term projects.  The projects that I've been working on are not necessarily long term, but they are slow going and progress has been made.

I have been working on this cross stitch.  I officially started it on January 6, 2017 and I have only made it a little ways.  I hope to put more focus on it after I finish the next two projects.

I have made significant progress on this lovely knitted shawl.  I have turned a corner, and I am slowly decreasing.  I like to knit on this while watching TV on the weekends.  We are currently making our way through Fuller House season 2, but we just finished Victoria on Masterpiece PBS and it was beautifully done!  We can not wait until season 2 comes out (fall).  Of course we are also watching Amazing Race as it comes on each week.

Another knitted item I am working on is this beautiful and simple baby blanket for a co-worker.  I can not wait to watch it progress.  I have not tried knitting with this in front of the TV, but I am still memorizing the pattern.  After a few more repeats, I might be able to do it.  If not, it will be my project to take with me as I go places and/or take time to just sit down and relax!

I hope everyone is having a relaxing end to the weekend.  I am linking up with Kathy's Quilts for her Slow Stitching post.

-Christina

Sweet Tooth Progress

This past weekend I made some progress on my Sweet Tooth quilt by Jaybird quilts.  I have 2 of 3 blocks for Block 5 done.  My points are not perfect, but I think it turned out pretty well, and it lays flat!  The hardest part about each block, is not the sewing, but the cutting because it can take a long time for each block.  I tried to divide up the cutting time instead of doing it all at once this month, and I was able to focus better on it.

This week I am going to be working on this beautiful handmade rug!  I'm fixing it for the owner as her dog chewed not the side, but in the middle of all places.  I have to fix the braiding, darn the strips back together, and then sew it back up.  The rug is so big and bulky that it is hard to work with.  I see a good arm workout in the future.

One last photo to share with everyone.  This is the Carlsbad Flower Fields, with a beautiful backdrop of the ocean.  My Mom and I went last Friday and this was one of the pictures I took.  If you are in the area, I highly suggest it just for the pure beauty of it, and they have fun activities for kids, plus a tractor ride (I love it even as an adult)!

Have a great rest of your week!  Linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts and Bee Social.

-Christina

Q2 2017 Finish-A-Long Goals

It is a new quarter of the year, and not much was accomplished the first quarter of 2017.  Here is to a new quarter where accomplishing more will happen.  So without further ado, let us see what is on my list.

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

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

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

4. Knitting a purple shawl - same thing as above

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

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

7. 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)

8. 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)

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

10. 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)

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

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

13. 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.)

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

15. 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)

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

17. 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)

18. 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.

19. This quilt is from Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and I plan to make it for charity.  I hope to participate in the Hands 2 Help that she is hosting, but I do not know if I will get it done in time for the deadline this year.  I am making it with orange and browns, and I just picked out the fabrics today.

20.  This is another pattern from Confessions of a Fabric Addict, and I plan to also make it for charity. I hope to participate in the Hands 2 Help that she is hosting, but I do not know if I will get it done in time for the deadline this year.  I am making it with purples and greens as the latices, and I just picked out the fabrics today.  It is going to be gorgeous I think.

21.  The last quilt is a mystery quilt a long with Cora's Quilts called Gathering.  The fabrics are gorgeous and I can not wait to see what pattern is revealed.  Week 3 was just posted, and it will be finished middle of June.  As long as I stay on top of it, I might actually get it done!

22.  A table runner for N (see 14), who's bridal shower is in the early part of May.  This is also my One Monthly Goal (Elm Street Quilts) for April.  The fabrics are blue, green and browns and going to be gorgeous.  The pattern is by Cora's Quilts!  Fabrics are starched, time to get to sewing!

Wow, it is a really really long list, but if I can knock a few of these things off the list and/or even make progress on these things I will be very happy.  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

April 2017 OMG

I was unable to accomplish March's OMG, which was to make a table runner for a newly married couple.  I will eventually get this done (hopefully the next month or so), but I need to turn my attention to get a present for an upcoming bridal shower finished.

My April 2017 goal is to make this table runner in blues, greens and browns.  I have all of the fabric picked out and starched.  I just need to iron, and cut the fabric, sew it using the pattern, layer it, quilt it and then bind it.  Even the binding is already picked out!  I think it is doable, as long as I do not get distracted with other projects and/or books to read.

One additional thing I would like to try and work on accomplishing is to get caught up with my Sweet Tooth quilt blocks.  I am in a club called the Breakfast club at my local quilt shop, and we are working on Sweet Tooth from Jaybird Quilts.  Each month for six months, we are to make the next two blocks, however many you need for the quilt size you are making.  I am making a Queen, so I need about 3 of each block, I have either 0-2 done of each block so far, and I want to get caught up this month.  We meet on the third Saturday of every month, and we have to show our completed homework, and I want to be all caught up by next month.

Wish me luck!  Focus is the word.  I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts for April's OMG.

-Christina

Crusin' the Tropics Shop Hop

Two weeks ago my Mom and I were able to complete San Diego's Quilt Shop Hop in one day.  It was a ton of fun, and of course many fun quilty things came home with me.  Some have plans some do not, but I will find uses for them.  Each shop makes a block and pattern, and as a participant you get the pattern for free at each shop.  The theme for the blocks was Crusin' the Tropics, and each store had to stay within that theme.  For the first time ever, I bought the kits to make each block, and I even bought a finishing quilt for the style that I liked best to finish it.

My Mom and I had a great time, exploring each shop and being able to do a mother daughter day.  Below is my completed passport right before I turned it in at Quilt in a Day.

I cannot wait to see what the theme for next year.  The organizers come up with such cute themes each year.

I'm linking up with Sew Fresh Quilts and her Let's Bee Social linkup.  Now it is time to put away all of my purchases.

-Christina

March OMG

A new month brings a new goal, especially since I finished my last goal!  This month I am going to put together a table runner with two sides for a newly married couple (December still counts for newly right?).  The fabrics are picked out, starched, and ironed.  I just need to cut, sew, layer, quilt and bind.  I can not wait to get this done and give it to them right after they get back from their belated honeymoon at the end of the month.  I better get started!

Linking up to Elm Street Quilts and her One Monthly Goal linkup.

One last thing before I sign off for the month.  I won February's giveaway for the Fat Quarter's Shop gift certificate.  A huge THANK YOU to Fat Quarter's Shop.  I am still deciding on what I'm going to get, but I will share when it arrives.

See you there!

-Christina

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