Thursday, January 6, 2011

Missed posting at mid week as I'd like, but one day late isn't too bad.  I have been very busy "at the job that pays my bills" :(.  I've had no time to get home before dark and even exercise.  So honestly I'm not slacking, just too busy and then too tired to do much more.  But, this work week has concluded as tomorrow is my bi-weekly day off...YIPPEE!

I have been hand sewing and watching a couple of movies with DH.  Viewed and thoroughly enjoyed Knight and Day on Monday and Sorcerers Apprentice on Wednesday.  Tonight after cleaning up from dinner I'm catching up on my blog.  The hand sewing has Kollette finished except label and is now hanging in my hallway.  Nice spring like looking design.  Kollette is one of my UFO Pattern projects from 2010.  I've also been hand sewing and should finish tonight Katerpillar which is one of my UFO Projects from 2010.

Kollette

Katerpillar

Roll Roll, Cotton Boll (my Kottonwood Kurl) has been boiling since Sunday on Clue 7.  I've got some of it done, but not nearly enough to be ready for the final Clue 8 that Bonnie will release tomorrow morning during the wee hours of the morning.  With a little bit of luck I'm targeting to be done with Clue 7 and a significant start on Clue 8 by days end on Friday.

No progress at all on my Kourageous, #6 2011 UFO with Patchwork Times...well unless you want to call pulling the fabrics I plan to use and preparing the foundation pattern on paper.  This one will be a doozy as it has really itty bitty pieces where my add 1/8" ruler will definitely be needed.  I have been busy online purchasing some additional flower patterns to add to my "jungle".

Last but not least is my BOM for Sunshine Quilt Guild that meets on Tuesday evening of next week that I've not even removed from the baggie it came to me in.

I sure am glad that this is a three day weekend for me....  I'll add pictures a bit later of Kollette and Katerpillar.  With a little luck the finish of Clue 7 and progress on Clue 8 on Kottonwood Kurl.  The BOM deadline is looming so it will find it's way into my sewing weekend madness.

Hope your week has been more productive in the sewing room than mine.

Sunday Stash Report, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween Friends!
It's a beautiful day in San Diego. The weather folks called it right; Mother Nature cooperated to give us nice weather for the ghouls and goblins that will grace our doors later this evening looking for treats (or beware if they find none--tricks might be served instead)! We've got our witches cauldron of Hershey candy ready. Of course we've selected everything we like in the just right snack size in case there are leftovers! I love being home to pass out treats to all the kids. I'll admit that sometimes I'm not quite sure and end up having to ask "What Are You"?

I accepted the generosity of Memory Lane Quilt Shop in Santee with a gift of 25% an item during my birthday month. Well Bonnie Hunter says its a legal to purchase to get neutrals anytime...so no additional encouragement was needed on my behalf. I found this nice one that I brought home 3 yards of yesterday. I also have the last 2010 UFO to finish that will use mostly stash, but I will need a few white with red backgrounds to give me enough for the project. Add to my 3 yard purchase another 1/2 yard. Not really too bad, but you know I thought about reporting a purchase today.

I've been working on Kreamed Korn this week. I've got all the pieced border blocks done as well as most of the other three blocks that make up the main block. I will finish them up in the next day or so and start laying out the pieces to determine what colors look best where. I will also start looking through my stash for yardage for the solid borders of which there are four. Three are light and one is dark. I'll use a dark for the binding. During this scouting what to use for the back comes into play too. I don't have enough ecru, yellow or orange to put together the approximately 72 10 1/2" squares that will be needed. Hmmm...what can I find. I also fixed Kollette and added to Kerry's Quilting queue. I'll selected parchment colored thread and a quilting pattern called Paradise. Can't wait to get started with Bonnie Hunters Mystery Quilt Project that starts tomorrow called Roll, Roll, Cotton Bol. Yardage requirements first with the first clue out on November 19th. Enjoy the rest of what's left of October; Novmeber is upon us.

So my numbers for this Spooky Day.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 118.5 yards
Purchased this week: 3.5 yards
Purchased YTD: 10.25 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2010: 109.75 yards

Go to Judy's blog at http://www.patchworktimes.com/ and see other Sunday Stash Reports.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

It's the middle of the week today. San Diego started getting back to it's normal weather, but towards the end of the week I'm hearing it will be back to rain. We need every bit Mother Nature can give us this time of year. I suppose we should be thankful :(. I sure hope for the Trick or Treaters that it is dry on Sunday evening for this annual event.This is Shelly's 2010 Block Exchange project. This one was a challenge with the curved piecing in the center. I'm anxious to see how the other color ways turn out as well as Shelly's finished project. This is just one piece of the master piece I'm sure she'll create.

Finally, Kollette complete and ready for quilting. I'll be selecting a dense all over quilting pattern in a thread color yet to be decided upon.  Kreamed Korn is on my sewing table. I've got several more border blocks that need to be finished yet. I do like what I'm seeing so far. I'll be cutting more 2 1/2' and 1 1/2" strips since I need loads more to finish the 30 main blocks that make up the quilts center. I'll be working on these steps the rest of the week and throughout the weekend.  This week is an Off Friday for me and that means an extra full day of sewing! Hope you have some accomplishments this week.

Sunday Stash Report, October 24, 2010

Kollette is in it's final stages of assembly today. I'll have it all together sometime this afternoon. So I'll post yardage used in this week's report. I'll be posting a photo soon for this spring like beauty.

I sewed as much as I could on Shelly's 2010 Exchange Block for BAE Systems Quilters. I mentioned in an earlier post the pattern Mississippi Wheel of Fortune that she'll have us each make. The next step of assembly involves a template that unfortunately is at work. The template has markings that are significant when sewing the curved middle portion of the block. The blue and yellow curved pieces will go in the center of the "wheel" and the orange will be the middle. The green/green pinwheel points get cut away. Perhaps you can make it out in the instructions photo.

Kreepy (my Any Witch Way project) is finished and ready for Kerry's Quilting queue. (Sue made the suggestion of calling it Kroones...what do you think?) It was fun working on this project with my Mom. I think Mom did a better job on her witches' eyes, although mine didn't come out too bad. Kerry had a kit to take with her this weekend when she visited her Mom; I wonder if she was able to finish hers.
My next project is one designed by Judy Laquidara called Peaches and Dreams. I've been gathering my orange, yellow, and ecru strips as well as cutting some more for my quilt. I'm starting first on the border blocks. I'm only 14 blocks into the 78 that are needed for the huge 92" x 104" quilt. I'm thinking to make this one smaller. Judy has been wonderful to describe how to easily achieve this. Of course I'm already starting to figure out a "K" name. My thoughts so far are Kantalope and Kream, Kreamed Korn, Kustard, and Kreamsicle. I'll have to see what color stands out to help me decide on a name.. Kreamed Korn is winning at the moment.Here's my report for this "finally" not rainy day in San Diego.

Used this week: 16 yards
Used YTD: 118.5 yards
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 6.75 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2010: 113.25 yards

Go to Judy's blog at http://www.patchworktimes.com/ and see other Sunday Stash Reports.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

It's still raining in San Diego...much more than a drizzle. We've had lightening and thunder and intermittent down pours since Sunday. Rain, rain go away! Enough is enough, bring back paradise....

Step 3 is done! This is just part of the blocks from Step 3. I've pictured all the different colored options that I'll get to arrange with the other two steps.
Now all three steps are done. 20 applique flower blocks from Step 1, 31 flying geese blocks from Step 2, and the 50 strip blocks from Step 3. I've not spent much time arranging yet, but will get to it the later part of the week. There are nine rows with the quilt finishing at 65" x 80". I just may have a finished top on Sunday! Kollette sure is looking pretty. It's back to the design wall for me. Assembly should go fast. I'm thinking of a dense all over quilting stitch. An off white thread will probably be my choice as I've got an off white backing. The lime green Batik is what was provided in the kit for the binding which works for me. This was a fun project and my last of five 2010 UFO Patterns.
Already starting to think of what's next to work on.

Design Wall Monday, October 18, 2010

Here's my Design Wall for today. Another rainy day in San Diego. Weather forecasts call for this condition all week--yuck! Step 1 of Kollette is well on its way. I've got to make a few more of these fused flower blocks and then it will be on to Step 3. Step 2 is complete.

Check out other Design Walls by going to www.patchworktimes.com.

Sunday Stash Report, October 17, 2010

Rain here today in San Diego. Well for us it is! Not much more than a heavy drizzle, but enough for us to call it rain. Was about to go for my daily exercise, but I'll melt! Instead I'll wait a little later in the day. In the meantime here's my report...

I was able to sew four exchange blocks and the three Any Witch Way kits have been assembled (Mom's is finished to the quilting). This yardage will all be claimed this Sunday. Let me show you some pictures...This one is Sue's 2010 Block Exchange with BAE Systems Quilters. A paper pieced Morning Glory from a free pattern she wanted us to make for her. It can be found at http://www.winnowing.com/corning.html. It is a 4" block that will be added to a 2010 Row Quilt Exchange that she did with Sunshine Quilt Guild. This block is the Maple Leaf block from the Scattered Leaves pattern in the October 2009 American Patchwork and Quilting magazine. Carol organized this October 2010 Sunshine Quilters Guild BOM Exchange.This block is the Pinwheel block from the Windblown Posies quilt pattern by Pat Sloan introducing the Chelsea Lane fabric collection by and Textiles. It is also a free pattern. Peg organized this November 2010 Sunshine Quilters Guild BOM Exchange.

The final block I finished is a block from the Inching Along pattern by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith featured in the November/December 2008 Quiltmaker Magazine. It's been made for Christie who is the exiting President from Canyon Quilters. Members who participate are to make a basket block in the bold end of the French color spectrum.

I plan to work today on the last exchange block that's due in three weeks. I'll also be spending time on my Kollette quilt project. Here's my report...

Used this week: 11.75 yards
Used YTD: 102.5 yards
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 6.75 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2010: 97.25 yards

Go to Judy's blog at http://www.patchworktimes.com/ and see other Sunday Stash Reports.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Today my home has been pretty quiet. My parents left yesterday morning after a fabulous visit. Wish that they could have stayed longer; hopefully the next trip for the both of them won't be as long as the gap was before this trip. Here's Mom's finished Any Witch Way from the Quiltmaker Magazine Sep/Oct 2009 issue.


There were many firsts for her with this project. A mitered seam on the pieced border was the biggest challenge. As you can see she did real well. Her next challenge will be to quilt it. The plan when Mom left was to stipple in matching colored thread the hair, hats, and background. Not sure how the borders will be quilted. I'll look forward to her finish. Now it's on to getting mine done. Since both of these projects came from my stash I'll be claiming the yardage used on both of them this Sunday.

I finished the back for Koala so it's ready to get into the quilter's queue. Step 1 of Kollette is on the agenda for tomorrow night. Friday this week is an Off Friday from work where I hope to finish sewing down the sleeve on Kufflinks and put the binding on Katalooche. I've got several blocks for various commitments due in the coming weeks so I plan to get these done this weekend or at least make a big dent in that direction. Two are paper pieced, a Morning Glory block (need to make two) and a Mississippi Wheel of Fortune block. Two are pieced, a combination Log Cabin/Maple Leaf block and a Pinwheel block. The last block to make is a Basket. Look for photos on Sunday of what I've been able to accomplish.

Think I've got my weekend packed?

Design Wall Monday, October 11, 2010

Hope you've been having great weather like it's been in San Diego these last few days. We had a nice time Sunday at an Octoberfest Party. There were lots of great things to eat and friends new and renewed to enjoy the time with. The party was in a new home of close friends who have still yet to move in. So it was the first event ever for this beautiful home in La Jolla. Our friends can't wait to move in after being in a very tiny place for the last two years. The party was put on by other friends because it's just what they enjoy putting on this event every year. Boy can they cook!

My design wall shows all the pieces of Step 2 complete. There's a flock on my wall.....


More on Kollette to be posted later. I'll be starting Step 1 which is the machine applique of the flowers a little later this week.

If you have time check out other design walls from some fabulous quilters at http://www.patchworktimes.com/.

Design Wall Monday, October 4, 2010

Not much change to my design wall except that most of what will be there soon is on my sewing table! Picture is of Kollette in progress. These are all the flying geese being sewn, assembly style of course. I am excited about the extra half square triangles that I'm going to end up with. I'll have 248 2 1/2" half square triangles to put into some future project.
There are two other steps that remain in this project. The flying geese is Step 2. Steps 1 and 3 are machine applique and a stripy block border. I'm going to work on half of Step 1 then complete Step 3 and then go back to the rest of Step 1. You have figured out that Step 1 is the machine applique I'll bet.
Find time for what you love this week. Check out the other Design Walls this Monday at http://www.patchworktimes.com/.

Sunday Stash Report, October 3, 2010

Happy October!

Today in San Diego we have the last day of the annual Air Show at Miramar. Wasn't sure if the planes would fly today since it was overcast for nearly all of the morning, but they are flying now. Lots of noise, the rumble of the jets flying over and over and over...

I am getting ready for my parents visit that begins Tuesday! I've been putting two identical kits together for small Halloween wall hangings that my Mom and I will be making while she is here. Its a Quiltmaker pattern from the Sep/Oct 09 issue called Any Witch Way North and South, East and West. I had to make a very small purchase of three FQs for the "gray" looking witch hats. One would think with all the fabrics I have it would have been easy to pull out a "gray" black and white. Unfortunately this was not to be. I will be needing one "K" name for my quilt. Is there some witch with a "K" or "K sounding" name? If not, I'll come up with something Kreepy. Hmm...maybe that will work.

Kollette is continuing a bit slower than I'd like but moving forward nonetheless. More on Kollette tomorrow. This week I look forward to picking up Katalooche from Kerry's Quilting and also dropping Koala off. I'm still working on the binding of Kufflinks the last one I picked up.

Have a wonderful sewing week.

Used this week: 20.5 yards
Used YTD: 90.75 yards
Purchased this week: .75 yards
Purchased YTD: 6.75 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2010: 85.5 yards

Go to Judy's blog at http://www.patchworktimes.com/ and see other Sunday Stash Reports.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

So far this week I've been working on cutting and marking the components of Step 2 for Kollette. Kaos has gotten in on the action too; trying to figure out how she can help mark the background squares! I just love this Creative Grids ruler, so handy the perfect size 2 1/2" by 6 1/2", for most of the pieces I end up working with in many of my quilting projects. The Sewline pencil is my favorite marking tool. It has several different leads available to mark any color fabric.So a couple of tricks I've learned on my quilting journey. Using the usually discarded tips of the flying geese units. Draw a second line 3/8" away from the center line. Next, sew on both lines. Finally, cut between the two sewn lines. You'll have the flying geese units PLUS a HST to use for something else that comes along. The other trick is cutting the dog ears off the HST before you open and press. Notice how they are cut? Hard to explain but you want to snip the tips at a 90' angle; see the still folded HST on the bottom. If you want to know more leave me a comment and I'll put some close ups on a future blog post.I got a comment on my Monday Design Wall post about the name of Kollette's pattern. It's called As the Geese Fly by Cozy Quilt Designs 2008. If you are interested contact Cozy Quilt Shop.

I'll be working on Kollette the rest of this week and then I'll be changing directions to sneak in a Halloween project from Sep/Oct 2009 Quiltmaker called Any Witch Way. It will be fun working Kreepy with my Mom!

Design Wall Monday, September 27, 2010

Last week of September is upon us. Before you know it Halloween will be upon us! Will you be making anything special for the spooky occasion? I'm planning on it. My Mom and Dad come to visit in a little over a week...I'm so excited to have them. Mom and I will be making something cute while she's here. Thinking about this cute pattern from last year that was in a Quiltmaker Magazine. More on that later, but now let's talk about Kollette. These are the very nice fabrics that came in a kit that will make the entire top. It's full of these cute sort of retro flowers and lots of flying geese and a stripy border. I'll tell you more about it as I go. Check back on Wednesday for a progress report. Batiks...Batiks...Batiks...

Check out more designs this Monday at www.patchworktimes.com (I've made it easy for you with Judy's button).

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Hump Day! The rest is all down hill. Gosh with the first part of September having four work day weeks this one has been tough. Since the day light is getting shorter after getting home from work, I've started back up on my morning exercise...rise and shine and out on the pavement at 6:20a this morning. I'll have to admit that it's nice coming home and not having to rush to beat the sunset.
Koala is ready for final assembly. I've got all the puss and star blocks done and pretty certain all the hour glass blocks for the border ready to go. I will use the tan paisley print for my inner border that was pictured in the last blog post. I did go back and remove the "not reading green" corner unit in that puss block. Went through the rest of the blocks and removed it everywhere. This one was a blue green that just had to be removed when I noticed how much it popped out after taking the photo. I'll probably do this again when I have it all laid out to make sure nothing else pops out that I hadn't expected. I've also got most of my 10 1/2" squares of green cut and ready to assemble for the back.
I've been considering my next project and decided to work on two. One is to be called Kollette. I've chosen this name because it sounds femine and Spring like. Kollette is a pattern called As the Geese Fly by Cozy Quilt Designs. I'm told that it is a combined effort of Cozy Quilts, Amidon Quiltworks, and Quilt In A Day. I purchased the pattern in 2009 and then in 2010 found the kit of all Batiks at 50% off. Needless to say at that price it came home with me. This project is on my challenges 2010 UFO Patterns that happens to be the last one to complete on the list. My second project is my last 2010 UFO Projects quilt to complete. It will be named for the event that made it come about 2009 Kruisin' Kwilt. During the San Diego Cruisin' Quilters Shop Hop held March 7 -14, 2009 each participating shop passed out a free block pattern (it's done every year). 2009's event theme was stars. I'm still trying to decide on fabric colors, but it will be scrappy as I want to continue using my stash. Sorry no photo of this one as I'll be figuring it's layout along the way.
Time to get back to Koala. I'll be posting again on Sunday with my Stash Report.