These are the first 12 blocks of the mystery sampler Just Take 2.  One more block – a string of 8 flying geese — and I’ll be caught up and ready for the February 15th blocks. I want to go on record that just because I’ve started this new quilt, it does not mean I have given up on my numerous UFOs.

• The purse now has two of the four tabs attached.  Two more, the grommets and handles then it will be done.
• Admittedly no work has been done on the frog quilt, this month’s Christmas BOM or the SBS quilt.
• Even though I don’t have any blocks up on the wall, I’ve partially pieced some of the Ocean Wave blocks — these are for the 4th section of the quilt.  I need more neutral HST.
• I’ve also pulled out the box of Orca Bay parts to use for leader/enders
• Just a bit was quilted on the DWR this week

Don’t forget to check out the design wall links over at Patchwork Times.

Yes — I bought fabric this week.  The FQ are to replenish my “neutral” stash which is getting a bit thin.  Ocean Waves and Orca Bay really bit into them.  The turquoise and blue.  Well let’s just say “Resistance is futile”.  Yes, I’m semi-committed to the Just Takes Two project.  I say semi-committed because I only bought enough fabric for about 1/4 of the quilt from “basic” fabrics. In theory I’ll be able to go back and get more of the same fabric.

There have been three sets of block released and I’ve got the first set done.  Hopefully I’ll get the rest of the blocks done and I can show them all tomorrow.

The good news is I am still in the black on my fabric usage.

Fabric Added Last Week: 5.833 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 10.583 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: .779 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 15.012 yards

Net Used for 4.429 yards

Follow the links over at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their fabric usage goals.

Today’s the last day to link up our Orca Bay progress.  As much as I would love to be showing a finished top, other quilts have taken priority.  This is the #1 reason I have UFOs. I set this project aside January 1st to focus on Ocean Waves, a graduation gift for my niece.

So what have I done and what do I need to finish?

• Part 1 – DONE
• Part 2 – DONE
• Part 3 – DONE
• Part 4 – In progress — need to lighten up my purple strings
• Part 5 – In progress — I think this will become my next leader/ender project
• Part 6 – In progress
• Part 7 – In progress
• Part 8 – Not started

Last week  I was thinking I was going to have to cut into the fabric for my Scrappy Irish Chain quilt to have a L/E project while I finished up Ocean Waves, but I’ve got plenty here to keep me going.

Make sure you stop by Bonnie’s page to see all of the beautiful quilts.

Yes, this is the 3rd section of Ocean Waves.  This section is done!    I get to cross off something off my goals list.  Actually I get to cross three things off the list.

I’ve written and revised the instructions for the retreat mystery quilt.  Here’s a sneak peek of the top I have made following (and correcting) the instructions.  The pattern is now in the hands of my two testers. The first top was made based on drawings and vague notes.  Of course they both still need to be quilted.

Additionally, another ring in the DWR was quilted.  My revised illustration is on the right side column of this page.

Other than pulling the fabric (and subsequently burying it) I’ve made no additional progress on my UFO challenge quilts.  I have however, top stitched the top edge of the Bellanca bag. Now I’m ready to add the tabs for the handles.  Small steps.  It will get done.

Don’t forget to check out the links over at Patchwork Times.

I’ve been sewing all week, but have very little to show for it.  I used 1 yard in a sample table runner and just a bit under a 1/4 yard making parts and pieces for the Ocean Waves quilt.  On the flip side I won 1/2 yard of fabric.

Here’s this weeks results:

Fabric Added Last Week: .5 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 4.75 yards

Fabric Used Last Week: 1.244 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 14.233 yards

Net Used for 9.483 yards

Follow the links over at Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with their fabric usage goals.

Next week, I will need to test my new quilt pattern before I send it off to my testers.  So, I dug into my stash to see if there was any chance I would have four 3/8 yard cuts of coordinating fabrics.  I found these four fabrics.  I think they’ll work.

My Ocean Waves quilt is almost too big for my design wall, so I’m working on it quarter sections.  This is the 3rd section up on the wall last night.

Each of these blocks has to be turned in the right way to make the pattern show up.  Everyone has their favorite method for assembling a quilt top.  This is how I do mine.

First — I wrote numbers on my flower head pins.

These are what keep my blocks in order.  At the design wall, I put pin #1 in the top left corner of the first block.

I then flip the second block over the first and insert a pin in the seam to hold them together until I get to the sewing machine.

Flower pin #2 goes in the next block, the following block is flipped over and pinned as above.  If you have an odd # of blocks it gets a flower pin the top left corner. Take all the blocks to the sewing machine and pin if desired.  I have tons of seams which are not nesting well so lots of pins.

Sew the seams.  Then sew the pairs together, remembering the flower pin is in the top left corner of the block/section.  Once all the sections are sewn together press.  Do not take pin #1 out of the row so you know how to put the row back on the design wall.

Since I’m only working with half the quilt, I know the half block goes on the left — for this quarter — but when I was working on the log cabin it was easy to get the row turned upside down.

Repeat with each row.  Then sew the rows together.  If you are concerned about the rows falling off the wall, exchange the #1 pin marking the top left corner of the block with a number pin with the correct row number.  Once it’s time to sew the rows together do them in pairs, then sew the pairs together.

To get an idea of working in quarter sections, here are a couple more pictures.  The section on the left is sewn together, and I’m still piecing the blocks on the right.

The top half sewn together.

I’ll finish up this section, then finish piecing the 4th section.  I’ll sew the “short” vertical seam between the sections and then only have the one long horizontal seam to sew.

If you struggle with quilt assembly, I hope this post helps you — or at least gives you some ideas to incorporate in your quilt assembly.  Feel free to ask questions if I need to clarify something.

Thursday night my husband brought me a new book — well new to me.  The Patchwork Quilt by Valerie Flournoy with pictures by Jerry Pinkney.    Published in 1985 by Dial books for Young Readers, the summary says:

Using scraps cut from the family’s old clothing, Tanya helps her grandmother make a beautiful quilt that tells the story of her family’s life.

The Patchwork Quilt is the 1986 Coretta Scott King Award Illustrator Award Winner.

I really enjoyed the book.

This month’s UFO Christmas blocks are Visions of Sugar Plums and Hole in the Barn Door.  Pulled from  my pre-cut bins where I could, then dug in the FQ boxes. That red and white stripe was purchased specifically for this block — years ago.  I think I bought 3 or 4 over the years looking for just the right fabric.  Then the appliqué stopped me. But not now.  It may not be this week, but sometime this month, I’ll get these two blocks made.

Tuesday when I went out to pick up my mail I found a package sitting on my porch.  At first I tried to figure out what I had ordered.  Then I remembered, I won the little jelly roll lunch box from Shelly at Prairie Moon Quilts.  Why I didn’t remember this I don’t know.  Shelly had sent me an e-mail less than 24 hours earlier telling me the package was on the way.

Anyway, the box came into the house and I opened it up to see the little lunch box.  She stuffed it with cool stuff.

The box is decorated with Brannock & Patek’s Hemming House fabric designs.  The burgundy fabric is a 1/2 yard from the same line.  The heart is Oatmeal & Honey Soap made by Anna Lee with Goats’ Milk.  There a package of itty bitty paper hexagons. Each side is only 1/2″ long. They are just barely bigger than my thumb.  There’s a cute little note pad with a travel theme cover & coffee flavored lip balm.  It’s hard to see, but the last thing from the box is a redwork elephant and thread ready for me to stitch.

Opening the box was a great break to an otherwise long day.  Thanks Shelly.  I really appreciate the goodies.