Finished!!

This is my March project...
Technically it was #9 instead of #1 from the UFO Challenge. Executive decision!


48 Scrappy String blocks were made in Dec. 2010 following clue 3 from the Roll, Roll Cotton Boll Mystery. When I saw how many half square triangles were needed in one of the other clues, I baled on the Mystery-Along. These 48 blocks were at risk of being added to the bottom of the "I've changed my mind!" pile of UFOs.

Instead I used the Evelyn Sloppy book on my shelf - adapted instructions to fit the 8.5" squares - 30 used right away. The extra string blocks were whacked into 5" strips - across the middle for straight edge "piano key" outer border.  I was completely out of most of the colors, but by salvaging the extras, most of the colors are in the border.

Hand quilting began March 10th. Final stitch of the binding made 8 pm March 31st!  All stash fabrics used for this one except the backing.  
(Some I would probably not purchase ten years later...but there it is  ;)

Too lazy to find a random number generator for the Postcard Giveaway, so I asked my husband to pick a number from 1 to 7. 
He had no idea why, but said "6"!  
Myra...I think that's you :)

Orphan Block Quilt

FINISHED!!

Practically half Done may have been overstating it a bit.

At the beginning of February this quilt was stashed fabric and a pile of orphan blocks from years gone by.
(A lot of years! ;)

Selvage of the red print dated it as 1994.
I managed to find enough fabric for the center. I bought 2 yards of a similar shade of blue to widen things a bit.  Not a scrap remained of anything big enough to do the binding, so back to the store I went... only to find IT was all gone!  Purchased a yard of a solid color a shade up.

I had never sewn Drunkard's Path curved blocks before... found out why "wonky" is used as a noun instead of an adjective? (Makes all things forgivable... in an "I meant to do that!" kind of way :)

There was no Plan... this is just what happened!
Blogged here in greater detail.

Hand quilting began on February 14th and the last quilting stitch went in on February 27th. An ice storm kept me off the road until March 1st and prevented shopping for binding. Hand stitched the binding to backing today!

PhD POSTCARDS 

Because of the 12 foolishly blurted after my name in the sidebar, my stated goal was adjusted to finish 6 fabric postcards taking up space in varying degrees of un-done-ness.  I finished 7! 

If you are a fabric postcard fan - anyone who leaves a comment on this post will be in a drawing to win one if they like.

Finished 1st PhD!

AKA #6: Stack-n-Whackier @ "Treasure Boxes"
(50" X 54" lap quilt)

Long ago the local quilting group I belonged to hosted an all day workshop. Bethany Reynolds taught the class pre-book release if I remember correctly. Book is dated 2001 - so this PhD has been hiding for awhile.

To be honest it would have been hiding a whole lot longer, had #6 not been drawn over at Patchwork Times UFO Challenge. I was more or less at peace with stuffing it back on bottom of the pile!

This quilt top had wonky looking edge issues as a top and it still does now that it's finished. But it should be warm as I decided to go with a thicker than usual batting and a flannel backing. By adding the wider border that samples fabric each of the 'treasure boxes' were cut from, it at least gives it a bit of novelty of an I SPY quilt. And hopefully distracts from the what-was-I-thinking burnt orange?

It has now been hand quilted and binding is finished as of January 14, 2011. It could easily be used for demonstration purposes What NOT to Do in Quilting.
Also discussed was the option of placing it into the nearest drop-off box for charity and walking away as fast as possible.

A Lazy Duck in my Row?

Instructions were pretty clear: "BEFORE you comment [of your interest to take part in this PhD Challenge and to join in on the fun] we need to make sure all your ducks are lined up in a row..."

(#2 - the NUMBER of PhDs you are committing to...)

My sign up comment read:

"Please sign me up! My last blog entry was a list of 12 projects - some old as dirt and a few practically half done!"

I had just signed up for the Patchwork Times UFO Challenge and failed to note this PhD mission is set for 6 months until I saw the (only) 12 PhD's was after my name. I have at least a 6 half done quilted Fabric Postcards that will hopefully count and keep me from being a big fat liar on this Blog-roll list :)

6 quilts on my to-do list:

Patchwork Times Challenge entry #6 has been pulled from the bottom of my Treasure Box. A Stack & Whack in need of borders and quilting.
It's orangeness pushed it to the bottom of the box for years. (Plus, I took up knitting socks and learned to crochet, forsaking my sewing machine for needles & hooks.)

String Blocks intended for the RRCB Mystery were turned into an Evelyn Sloppy pattern. The step requiring 600 half square triangles had me running for the 9-patch sash. Turns out my scant 1/4" seam is out of practice, erasing SIMPLE from the description of the 9-Patch. It's come a long way in a week, though!

Row Robin from Patchwork Posse is on track. I started it the day after Thanksgiving and there are still 2 rounds to be released.

My husband decided he should paint the Laundry/Sewing room that day. My Sewing Room makeover is nearly complete!
It's a room I want to go into again :)
I've even vacuumed up the dog ears & thread clippings twice in the same day.

McCall's magazine 6 series Grandma's Country Album I. (1998!) I've finished 2 more blocks since digging it out in December.

1999 Y2K Quilt. 3" squares turned into a giant log cabin. Finally finished putting the top together in 2008. Have decided to hand quilt it, as cost for machine quilting is too much to justify. NEED HELP figuring out where to quilt it. Would welcome input!!!

Piecemakers Time & Seasons calendar 2002 TREES.
3 blocks are mostly done and am thinking a 4 block wall hanging.
(no picture yet)

Things may get shuffled depending on the number drawn next month.
(see above ;) Just need to get off the computer and sew more?