Last Minute Link Up

I never seem to be able to link up before the last day when it comes to the Star Sureound QAL. All of my centers went together quickly and I'm loving the way it looks!  I don't have a shot of all do the finished centers laid out but here is a sneak peek :)

I Had an Idea

but we'll get to that in a minute :)

First up, two WIPs that I will hopefully be crossing off of my list this afternoon

First is my Plus Quilt for Little Miss.  It is ready to be basted!

And second, my In From the Cold Quilt.  I have one more block to piece then I can add the borders (I've been doing the sashing as I go).

I've also got a bunch of other WIPs hanging around, but these are my two priorities at the moment.  A different type of WIP...

Hubby is trying to get the backyard Squeak proof.

It's not there yet, but he's made pretty good progress.  Due to a neighbor's dog and a chain link fence, we're having to add another small fence a couple of feet inside the existing one. 

And we figured while we're at it, why not redo the patio so we can actually use it?!  I also have a semi-plan to add a small vegetable garden in the area between the two fences since it would be safe from babies and dogs.

Now, on to my idea.  I'm not sure if it's idiotic or kind of fun.  While I was trying to organize this mess last night

I realized that I buy fabric with no idea of what project it will be used for.  I then hold onto it for months (or let's be real...years) waiting for inspiration to strike.  Anyone else have this problem?

What if I started a new challenge/linky party called Reader's Choice?  I'm still working out all of the details but basically I would show a picture of the fabric I have and tell you how much I have and let the readers leave suggestions of what I should make in the comments.  And I'm talking about specific suggestions.  For example, instead of just saying you would like to see a quilt, tell me you'd like to see a Swoon Quilt or instead of bag or purse tell me you'd like to see me use the fabrics to make a patchwork Super Tote from Noodlehead.  Then at the end of the week I would randomly pick one comment and actually make the item suggested.  Some months would be a fat quarter bundle that would be made into a quilt, other months I might have a bag of scraps that someone thinks should be turned into a scrappy potholder.  If nothing else it would challenge us to be creative and think outside our normal box.

And the best part?  You all could join in the fun with me by linking up with your selected fabrics at the beginning of the month and again with the finished project at the end.  There may be someone out there doing something similar but I've not stumbled across it yet.  And projects don't have to be limited to sewing.  Any type of crafty project is welcome to be linked up.  Maybe you have some old embroidery projects that you don't know what to do with (I know I do!).  Let someone else make the decision for you.  Maybe I could even scrounge up a small giveaway item for those who link up both times during the month...

Let me know if this sounds like something you might be interested in or if you have any suggestions about how to make it work better!

Linking up with WIP Wednesday. 

On Track

Just a quick post to let you know I'm actually keeping up with the Star Surround QAL. Here's what it's looking like so far

I'm posting from my phone this evening so unfortunately there is no link to the Happy Quilting site :( but I will be joining in the linky party anyway. Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

July Round Up & Fresh Sewing Day

 

 I accomplished more than I could have hoped for this month!  Here's a look at my list of items to finish for July:

• Make a baby quilt from the kit I bought on clearance at JoAnn's-nothing too special, but it should be a quick finish and make room on my shelf. --FINISHED
  

• Finish nursing covers-I'm trying to get everything ready for Little Miss's arrival.  These most likely would have already been done if I could find boning anywhere.--FINISHED!
  

• Receiving Blankets-these have already been cut to the proper size, they just need seams on the edges.--FINISHED but no pic, whoops!

• Family Tree Baby Blanket-top is pieced, just need to buy the backing, basted, quilt and bind. --FINISHED (except for embroidering the names on)

• Boo Crew Quilt-Just needs binding.--FINISHED

• Headbands-they each just need one, little seam to be completed.--FINISHED

• Riley Blake Halloween Quilt-my oldest WIP and the second quilt I ever started.  I need to finish piecing the back, then just baste, quilt and bind!--FINISHED

• New Wedding Quilt (not to be confused with the Dreaded Wedding Quilt)-again, this quilt isn't really my style, but at least the design is so much simpler than the previous one!  The top is almost complete...a trip to the fabric store and we should be good to go :)--FINISHED and delivered

I also managed to finish three quilts that weren't on my list as well as a pillow cover, two Lucky Stars blocks, curtains, pj pants for Squeak and his doll, 5 In From the Cold blocks, and the cutting of the fabrics for the Stars Surround QAL.  I'm still way behind on most of my BOMs but hopefully that will start to change.

My goals for the month of August are:

• Finish my Giant Swoon Quilt top
• Make the tops of the new quilts for the nursery (I'm thinking 2 boy, 2 girl)

Not exactly lofty goals but maybe this way I'll be able to get them done!

Linking up with A Lovely Year of Finishes.

Keeping Up

Last week's post about the Star Surround QAL was written and published from my phone :(.

So, a little more about it...

I chose to use a fat quarter bundle of Rock 'n Romance by Pat Bravo that I had been hoarding for quite awhile.  I only needed 16 of the fat quarters so the others will most likely be made into a coordinating pillow cover (or two or three).  My living room has no natural light and therefore needs to be decorated with bright, fun, vibrant colors, but every time I try to redo it, I gravitate toward the darker purples (I don't even like purple!!!)  Point is, this may end up being the first of our new decor for the living room.  I still haven't made a non-holiday quilt for our little family and that needs to change!  For the background I'm using a solid cream.  I'm going with the scrappy version (hence the 16 fat quarters) and spent Monday night pairing up my fabrics for the blocks, Tuesday sewing the triangles together, and the rest of the week trimming them down to size.  I thought that Melissa might have given us the impossible goal but I FINALLY finished them up yesterday afternoon! 

TGIFF x 3!

Several finishes that I've been waiting to photograph are finally ready. 

This quilt is my oldest WIP and the second quilt top that I ever started.  It was also my first time using designer fabric.  The quilt top has minimal quilting due to the fact that my piecing wasn't as accurate as I would have liked (understatement!).  The fabric does pucker a little where the quilting lines meet.  All in all though it is a fun quilt and is already being used in our living room along with the Boo Crew Quilt. 

A better shot of some of the cute prints :)

And the back...which is what caused this quilt to sit unfinished for so long.  I was trying to do a semi log cabin pattern on the back when I first started but after pulling it out of the closet a year later, I just started sewing stuff together randomly to get it finished.  I kind of like how it turned out though!

This is the first quilt I've finished for Little Miss.  It is just the panel from Sarah Jane's Children at Play line with two borders sewed onto either side.  Simple, but fun!

I had a blond moment when I washed it after marking the names with a Frixon pen (doh!).  So they will have to be put on and actually embroidered before it is truelly finished.

This was my first time free motion quilting a whole quilt (even though it's crib size it still counts, right?).  I just used a medium sized stipple on the whole thing.  Not too bad.  My shoulders were very sore and it took forever but I like the texture.

This is a cheater panel kit that I picked up on Clearance at Joann's a while back.  Again, very simple quilting.  I am tempted to add a bit of embroidery around the first letter of each animal but I'm not sure I'm that ambitious at the moment.

The back is a soft, snuggly flannel.

I have another quilt cut and ready to piece and one more just waiting on binding that will hopefully be finished this weekend.  Linking up to TGIFF!

What Got Into Me!?

Even I was a bit surprised by what I managed to accomplish this weekend.  I don't have many pictures to show yet, but believe me they are coming.  I basted two quilts, quilted two quilt, bound 3 quilts, finished two swaddling blankets, made a pillow cover, worked on my In From the Cold Quilt, and made matching pj pants for Squeak and his doll. 

Here is the pillow cover (I even bought a pillow form to put in it, yay me!).  I used some of the charms I received from Pink Chalk Fabrics as part of the Charming Solids Club.  This month was World Tour.  I still have quite a bit of the charms and solids left so there may be some coordinating pillows coming.  It will be making its way to a surprise recipient before too long.

 Squeak and his doll looked pretty cute all matchy-matchy.  I didn't use a pattern so these are far from perfect, but hey they fit!

I now have 5 of 9 mugs made for my In From the Cold Quilt.  I have been having issues getting some of my seams and corners to meet up so this will stay with us or be gifted.  I'm sashing them all as I go so hopefully it won't be too much longer before the top is done.

I nearly had a panic attach when the doctor told me Friday that there was a chance they would put me on bed rest.  But after another checkup today I have been cleared for normal life :) 

I hope to start on my HST for the Star Surround QAL tonight...or maybe my project for Le Challenge-I've got my project planned and the fabric ready to go!  Decisions, decisions!!!