Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Several projects are being worked on--

Little Boxes

Little Boxes is a new project.  I had been a bit depressed and then I realized I didn't have a machine piecing project and THAT'S why I was depressed--I love mindless chain piecing--I find it relaxing and I think about other things in my life as I sew--maybe its more of a "thinking project" than a "quilting project".  Do you do that??  After a couple hours of sewing I felt much better!  The pattern was one of the Martingale downloads for $1.  I've resized it  to use 2.5" strips instead of 2".  My $1 is well spent when someone else figures the layout.  Yes--I probably could have racked my pea brain and figured it out--but I am a visual person--and find it much easier to look at the diagrams and how many "A" bits I need.  

Bibs from Towels

Remember working with knit fabric?  I had forgotten how I dislike that--but I do like the bibs.  Several more to do.  The towels cost between $1.00 and 1.50 and the knit collars were $1.49 for 10.  Yes--all 10 for that price.  Most of the collars are long enough to make two bibs.  Asher is a messy eater and I will put some away for gifts.  One blogger commented "after using it as a bib, wipe the kid down and toss it in the laundry".  A multi-purpose bib!

Block 16 BTCT

I have all the grapes sewn down--working on the vine.  Check everyone's Design Walls at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

1. Quilt brown 4 patch
2. Sew binding on one quilt
3. Finish applique block 16
4. Sew 2 more bibs
5. Make 9 patches for Little Boxes
6. Sew one more row of Birds in Air together
7. Borders on DeeDee's Star

Last week my goal progress wasn't so good.  This week will be busy too but I'll sew whenever I can.  Now, I don't plan to get all those goals done--I just like the option of variety in choices!   

The wind is howling and it alternates between cold (last night was 22F) and sunshine (now is 51F).  I'm SO ready for spring--I fondle my packets of flower seed and plan when to start them indoors.  I must remember not to plant them too early--last year the plants got too big and spindly before they were planted.    There are a few slow germination perennials I want to get a head start with.

Have a great week!!

Sunday Stash Report--Week 11

Time to update my numbers--

Stash in--13 yards
Stash out--0 yards
Stash in YTD--35 yards
Stash Out YTD--17.5 yards
 
Stash is ahead 17.5 yards

I bought 5 yards for a borders, 2 yards of a  stripe to make bias bindings, one yard of green for my applique.  5 yards of background.  This week Martingale had epatterns for $1--I bought several patterns that will use my charms and noodles.  I did something I seldom do--I pushed buttons.  3 wide backings are ordered but haven't arrived yet.   Even with shipping the wide backings were only $9/yd--a good buy I think.  See everyone's stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Yesterday was National Quilting Day--how did you spend it?  Sewing?  Or perhaps like me--stash enhancing!  

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Hurray--the last of the Mr. March went together over the weekend!

Mr. March--94x112"

Too big to get it all in the picture.  I stood on my stepstool and took lots of pictures--if I've made an error somewhere a photo makes it easier to see.  So far--so good!  Usually I don't make a pieced border--but the pattern had a picket fence border and I liked it. The pattern is  Four-Patch Plaid in the book Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth/Charlene Spode.  See what everyone is working on at Patchwork Times.

Henrietta's Brown Batik 4 Patches are on the Princess--

Saturday I had a sewing marathon--finished Mr. March, stitched around and trimmed Swoon, and made 3 sets of binding.  I was able to finish all my goals last week--maybe I didn't make enough???

This week I want to--

1. Quilt Brown 4 Patch
2. Sew one binding on
3. Add one more bunch of appliqued grapes to my block
4. Sew more Birds in Air rows together

I saw this pattern free on-line and maybe it will be my "fun time" this week--

Heritage pattern at Red Rooster Fabrics

Its not that big--44"--but I can see adding squares in the corner and maybe some fun diamond borders.  I tried to talk Henrietta into making one with me but she says I'm the one who likes diamonds and angles and to go ahead without her! 

And yesterday it RAINED.  

This is looking over into my neighbor's backyard--the ground is froze so the water doesn't sink in.  Later on it got much colder--the puddle is now a frozen lake and we've had about 2 inches of snow--all is white again. 

Its time for winter to be over!  I miss green grass and the smell of fresh dirt.  A few flower seeds and some pole bean seed fell into my shopping cart the other day.  I've been saving plastic pop bottles and plastic qt milk jugs all winter--found instructions to make "ghetto greenhouses" and they seem like my kind of project. 

Are you ready for spring?  Have you bought any seeds to plant?  Is your garden planned??

Motivation Friday

This week has flown by---how have I been doing??

1. Load Henrietta's Brown 4 Patch--no
2. Border on Plaid 4 Patch--in progress
3. Trim Swoon--no
4. Applique Cherries on #21 of Beyond the Cherry Tree--yes
5. Make binding for Swoon--no

Not too bad.  I won't load Henrietta's quilt until the borders are on Mr. March--I'm using the long arm rollers to lay it out.  I also made +100 grapes for #16 of the Cherry Tree project.  I have two bunches of grapes sewn down and I'm working on the 3rd bunch.  

There are four "bunches" of grapes, a ribbon wreath and leaves on this block.  Some viney tendrils you embroider.  The middle of the block is empty and is an open spot to sign my name etc.   Not sure about that.  Maybe I will have someone use their embroidery machine to make a nice label for on the back when I'm done.  That's sounds easier.  After all--what year would I put on it?  2010 when I started it--or 2020--when I might finish it?!!  I definitely want a label on this baby.  

I've also been blog reading--catching up my Google Reader.  I may not comment--but I've been reading!

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

The Plaid 4 Patch is back on the wall--

All the blocks for the center section are sewn together--it just needs the inner solid brown border and the outside picket fence units--those are all made.  Each month I need to pull out one UFO and move it one more step--meet Mr. March!  Check everyone's design walls at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

1. Load Henrietta's Brown 4 Patch
2. Border on Plaid 4 Patch
3. Trim Swoon
4. Applique Cherries on #21 of Beyond the Cherry Tree
5. Make binding for Swoon

Swoon is quilted, that's one more for the binding pile.  This month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color is Orange, I need to schedule time to play.  

Have you scheduled time to play this week?  What are you doing for fun??

Sunday Stash Report

Time to update my stash report--

Stash In--0 yards  
Stash Out--13.5 yards
Stash in YTD--22 yards
Stash out YTD--17.5 yards
    
STASH IS AHEAD--4.5 YARDS

Watch out Stash--I'm catching up!!

See everyone's stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Motivation Friday

Time to check my goals--

1. Quilt Swoon--half way
2. Sew binding to 4 Patch Posey--no
3. Pink Cake Stand blocks--no
4. Sew Birds in Air blocks together--no
5. Borders on DeeDee's Star top--no
6. Applique flowers on block 11 of BTCT project--yes

Good grief--have I been doing ANY sewing??  Lots!  A lot of time so far on Swoon--I'm not sure why but it seems to be taking longer than planned.   I decided to prep two more applique blocks--

This is Block #16 of Beyond the Cherry Tree.  There are 120 grapes in this block.   I'm using pennies, dimes, and nickels for templates to make grapes.   Since my "grapes" are bigger than the pattern I doubt I'll need 120!   There is an entire blog devoted to quilters who participated in this project--Beyond the Cherry Tree.  Mimi's quilt is finished and is entered at Lancaster and Paducah.  Some are being quilted, some are completed tops--and some like mine are still "works in progress".   If you have a quilt you've always wanted to make but wondered if you "had it in you" DON'T WAIT!!  Start!!   Get your bucket list out and pick one.  Or two.  Or ten!!   

I had a finish this week.  You know--a F-I-N-I-S-H.  Its the Blue Urban Cabin.

Twin size--64x85".  Its a great pattern, I've made two and Henrietta made one. 

The weather is going to be nice this weekend, maybe Henrietta and I will road trip.  And more quilting--hopefully Swoon will be finished.  What do you have planned?