Yes, I was able to knock 13 of the 16 blocks needed in the 2nd 1/4 of the wedding quilt yesterday after work. The other 3 are laid out on the sewing table, but I called it a night around 10 PM.
- 350 Challenge = 29
- Easy Breezy = 93
13 of 16
2021 Personal Quilting Challenge #1
This past year I found that if I had a hard date I could challenge myself and make significant progress on my projects. The Guild program for February is Member Show and Tell. Although the Guild is meeting via ZOOM, we really haven’t had Show and Tell. I would like to have something to show that I haven’t posted in our FB Group Chat. The title of this post is Challenge #1, so it’s possible I’ll do more personal challenges this year.
Challenge Dates: January 1st – February 23rd. (Six weeks)
Challenges:
- Alphabet BOM – Complete the top, I have a plan.
- MQA BOM – Assuming the rest of the tops is released I’d like to get at a minimum the rest of the blocks made.
- Red, White & Blue Wonky Broken Dishes – Quilt and Bind. This is what I want to show at the meeting.
- Moda U – finish the binding.
- Ruby’s BOM – I’d like to get at least the next 4 blocks made and instructions written.
- Runaround Bag – Everyone needs a new start on occasion. This is mine.
- Wedding Quilt – Finish the top.
Stretch Challenges:
- Wedding Quilt – Quilt, bind, label, and make pillowcases.
- Ruby’s BOM – Finish the top and complete the instructions (12 blocks total)
- MQA BOM – Finish the top
Double Stretch Challenges:
- Ruby’s BOM – Quilt, Bind, and Label
- MQA BOM – Quilt, Bind, and Label
- Alphabet BOM – Quilt, Bind, and Label
I’ll continue to do daily-ish posts, leaving the challenge post to once a week, or whenever I cross something off the list.
- 350 Challenge = 16
- Easy Breezy = 93
Starlight Quilters Guild Opportunity Quilt
My quilt guild is now selling tickets for this beautiful red and white quilt. It measures 64″ x 84″. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. For more information about the quilt or to purchase tickets check out the Guild’s website. starlightquilters.com/2021_opportunity_quilt.
Design Wall Monday – January 11, 2021
After yesterday’s post, I did not go back to the sewing machine. Instead I watched a bit of TV and worked on the binding of my Moda U quilt. I turned the 2nd corner, which means I’m halfway done.
Tonight I’ll start assembling these units into blocks for the wedding quilt.
I’m linking up with Small Quilts and Doll Quilts for Design Wall Monday.
- 350 Challenge = 16
- Easy Breezy = 93
Weekend Sewing
As of 8 PM Sunday night, this is as far as I have gotten on the 2nd quarter of the wedding quilt. Each cross of units contains 2 lavender broken dishes, 2 seafoam broken dishes, and the 5 neutrals squares necessary to make one block in the quilt. It doesn’t seem like much, but much of the weekend was spent doing non-piecing quilting.
This year I’m my Guild’s Quilt Registration Chair to the Kansas City Regional Quilt Festival, so Saturday morning started off with a call with my co-chair. Afterwards, I visited a friend to try and figure out how to load the bobbin to the new to her Bernina 820. That machine is smarter than I am.
Afterwards, instead of coming straight home, I headed off to Stitch-On Needlework in Lawrence Kansas. They do Facebook Live Shows on Mondays and Thursdays. A few months ago I fell in love with a quilt they had hanging in the background.
This is Fairy Floss with Maggie Sashing from The Block-Maker II for Half-Rectangle Triangles by Janna L. Thomas.
The last time I was in the shop they didn’t have it in stock, but Saturday was my lucky day and I was able to pick up a copy.
Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon was spent working on the Guild’s website, bringing the content up-to-date. I also watched the video on how to use the Bloc-Loc Half-Rectangle Triangle ruler. I fell in love with the quilt in the background of the video.
This quilt is Star Fusion with the Serena sashing. The video can be seen HERE. It was after this that I finally sat at my sewing machine.
I haven’t decided if I’ll try to assemble a few blocks tonight or not.
- 350 Challenge = 16
- Easy Breezy = 93
More HSTs
Half Square Triangles in seafoam and lavender are the only thing on my plate for the next couple of weeks. I might squeeze in a block here or there if the BOM instructions come out. These are the pieces for the next 32 Broken Dish units. Once they are made I’ll assemble the next quarter of the wedding quilt.
Another Easy Breezy block was finished.
In other news this sheet pan and cooling rack arrived today. I’m playing with acrylic paint pouring and previously only had this silicone mat on the counter to help keep the counter clean. My hope is I’ll be able to contain the paint drips in the pan and off the counter, as well as be able to easily move drying canvases. Since it’s a full sheet pan it doesn’t fit in my oven so I don’t have to feel back about getting paint on it. I am wishing I bought two cooling racks though -one for painting and one for cooking.
- 350 Challenge = 16
- Easy Breezy = 93
P.S. I forgot this post was to be part of Finished (or Not) Friday, so here is where the wedding quilt stands. 1/4 finished plus all those HST above.
One Monthly Goal – January 2021
Elm Street Quilts is hosting a One Monthly Goal Link up. Today is the last day to join. My goal for January 2021 is to finish the wedding quilt top.
I’ve got the 1st 1/4 of the quilt assembled, but the rest of it is still a work in progress. I’ve cut and started to assemble the rest of the broken dish units for the 2nd 1/4 of the quilt.
Hopefully I’ll have a complete top by the end of the month and the accomplishment link up party.
2020 Final Countdown Recap
It’s time to do my 2020 Final Countdown Recap. Shelly over at Prairie Moon Quilts hosts the Final Countdown each year so we start the new year with a clean(er) sewing room.
Task One was Clear Your Main Work Surface. Here it is 7 days into the new year and the main work surface still only has the current project on it.
Task Two was Fabric Storage and Stray Fabric Piles. The above picture shows one of my biggest problem areas. It’s still a mess, but it’s better than it was.
Another place was the fabric shelves. Most of the fabric was backings, so they are now stored with my quilt tops.
Task Three was Take Stock /Organize/Deal with UFOs.
I did a several things here.
- Passed 4 unfinished projects to friends and family
- Sorted my quilt tops. I’ve now have a box of tops with the fabric I’ll need to make the backing and a box of tops with wide backs, no backing and backings without tops.
- Finally started the binding on my ModaU quilt which was quilted several months ago.
The sewing room is not perfect. I still have a pile of fabric on the sewing table to enlarge the backing for Frolic, and if I load anything on the longarm, I’ll have to move a couple of bags, but I think the room is in a better place than it was.
There was a bit of piecing as well. I finished the lavender Broken Dish units for the wedding quilt and pressed and stitched a few seafoam HST. Those finished seafoam Broken Dish units were from before. I need 32 of each color for the next 16 blocks. Even with this progress, neither my 350 Challenge # nor my Easy Breezy # has gone up.
- 350 Challenge = 15
- Easy Breezy = 92
Tuesday’s Progress
There was a bit of binding while I watched Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and the second half of The Lion King. Then I got up and went to the sewing machine.
All of the lavender HSTs are sewn and pressed. I’ve even started assembling the broken dish units.
Tonight I’ll review my Final Countdown Challenges to see where I stand. I think it’s a case of progress is made, which is definitely a step in the right direction.
- 350 Challenge = 15
- Easy Breezy = 92
HSTs and Binding
Have I mentioned that the wedding quilt has a gazillion HSTs in it? Yesterday I cut a bunch more. After I get these sewn and trimmed, I should have enough tomake another 1/4 of the quilt.
As for the binding of the Moda U quilt, I have less that 6″ to go before I turn the first corner.
- 350 Challenge = 15
- Easy Breezy = 92
