Another UFO NOT Finished in Febuary

Ok so my Febuary UFO didn't get finished.  This month my brain was not in the game! I had one project I was working on that gave me so much grief!  And the funny thing is that my project ( a little old runner no less) was actually a beginner, easy-peasy project!

Oh well, maybe March will be a little better for me.  I did have two finishes in Febuary.  One was the runner mentioned above (I wrestled it into submission, but there is no denying the distortion that resulted in all my stitching and un-stitching!)

I also finished another quilt for Quiltmaker Magazine.  I can't show you that one yet, but here is the sneak peek!

Oh, right, I almost forgot. This post was supposed to be about UFOs. Now my UFO List looks like this:

1. Road to California

2. Christmas Bauble Runner

3. Around the World Cottage Quilt

4. Old Tobacco Road

5. Kaleidescope Quilt

6. Flannel Crazy Quilt DONE! My January Project! This crazy quilt started as a few finished blocks and several bits and pieces. It ended as a flimsy. You can see a picture of it HERE. If you go look at it, let me know if you think I should put a border on it!

7. Cameron's Calender Quilt

8. Greenpiece - This needs to be finished, quilted and bound.

9. Robot Quilt

10. Rhapsody in Bloom NOT DONE! This was supposed to be my Febuary project!

11. Cinder's Best Day

12. Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll

Cheers,

Dionne

Feb. Stash Report and a Blast from the Past

Used this Month: 11.25 yards

Finished:
Raspberry Dessert Large throw - Look for this pattern in your next Quiltmaker magazine
Raspberry Dessert Runner - variation of the above pattern
Used year to Date: 24 yards

Added this Month: 20.5 yards

Added Year to Date: 27.25 yards

Net Used for 2011: 3 1/4 yards ~ I am in the red!

Picture from the Vault:

Here is a picture I found from 2008. This is my oldest daughter when she was 9. She is showing off the first quilt she had ever made. I had already taught her the basics of sewing on an apron project before she tackled this.

Cheers,

Dionne

New Jaybird Quilts Pattern coming in Quiltmaker!

I'm so excited about the new Jaybird Quilts pattern coming out in the next Quiltmaker magazine.

This pattern is fabulous.  It's everything you expect from a Jaybird Quilts pattern.  It's clean, simple and modern.  And even more, it's super easy!

Who could ask for more!

I can't show you too much yet, but here is a sneak peek of my quilt:

For another sneak peek by my fellow Scrap Squad member Kim check out her blog Pokeytown Kim .

Cheers,

Dionne

Just a little clutch

My daughter asked me to make her a little clutch she could put into her backpack.

She picked out the fabrics and I had a fabulous pattern to work from!
.

I was able to whip this up while I was cooking dinner. Easy Peasy!

Cheers,

Dionne

Great Guilds, Scrap Books and a Giveaway!

Diane Harris of Quiltmaker magazine recently posted on Quilty Pleasures about finding a new quilt guild. It's a fun post. Check it out!

She is also hosting a giveaway for a bundle of new quilting books. But hurry, this giveaway is over on Midnight, Monday, Feb 21st!

Also, do you have a favorite book about scrap quilting?

There are so many GREAT books.  I have all three of Bonnie Hunter's books.  I have found that although my color choices are often radically different from Bonnie's, her patterns are perfect (of course) for scrap quilts.  Her books also contain great common sense advice that are helpful to those of us that have been making and loving scrappy quilts for years as well as those new to scrap quilts.  My only warning about Bonnie's books are they use a variety of sizes so if don't have a lot of scraps already cut up, be prepared to do some cutting! But then, we do that for non-scrappy quilts all the time don't we.  Bonnie's books are:

• Scraps and Shirttails
• Adventures with Leaders and Enders
• Scraps and Shirttails II

The book Diane recommended is by Kim Brackett.  I don't yet have her latest book, but Kim also has a previous book called Scrap Basket Surprises  Unlike Bonnie's book, Kim heavily favors  2 1/2" strips and simple sewing instructions.  That makes her book excellent for new quilters, those who haven't yet built up an inventory of scraps, and anyone looking for a super quick pattern.  Scrap Basket Surprises is one of my 'Go-To' books for quick gift projects.  I can't wait to check out Scrap Basket Sensations!  Thanks for the recommendation Diane.

• Scrap Basket Sensations
• Scrap Basket Surprises

For using pre-cuts, there is also the book by Carrie Nelson called Schnibbles Times Two  This book, like Kim's book is great for those who love scrappy quilts and those who are new to scrap quilts.  Unlike Kim's books, this book has patterns for 5" and 10" squares. 

• Schnibbles Times Two

Two final books I recommend are Stash Buster Quilts by Lynne Edwards.  In this book Lynne presents her patterns in clear, easy to read directions and usually in more than one colorway.  Her book, like Bonnie's books, don't focus on any one size cut but offer a nice variety.

• Stash Buster Quilts

Also, Cozy Modern Quilts by Kim Schaefer.  This isn't a scrap quilt book per say, but the patterns in this book lend themselves brilliantly to using scraps.  The other thing I've found that makes this an ideal book is that the simple modern designs are very attractive to the young people in my life.  Those that don't have the same appreciation I have for more traditional quilting styles.  I can always find a quilt in here for my young college-age cousins.

• Cozy Modern Quilts

Okay, that's my list.  Check out more of the discussion at Quilters Club of America: Scrappy Book Discussions

Have you been to the Quilters Club of America website yet? It's a great discussion board and gallery that I recommend. You will have the option to upgrade to a paid membership, but the basic membership is FREE!

I have a free membership, and LOVE it!

Cheers,

Dionne

Happy Heart Placemats

Happy Valentines Day!

I made these stylized heart placemats to practice my freehand quilting. You can see, if you look closely, that I could use some more practice.

I used a JB Shiff pattern for the placemats!

Cheers,

Dionne

Feb Greenpiece

This month looks a lot like the previous months. These flying geese leave no left-overs, so nothing to add to my scrap basket~!

But the star blocks are quite nice!

Here are the applique blocks and the alternate colors.

Cheers,

Dionne

Another Local Quilt Shop is Closing!

I heard the sad news that another quilt shop is closing its doors. Pieces Quilt Shop is located in Renton, Washington. When I had a regular contract in Renton, I went into this shop quite regularly. But that was a couple years ago.

Since then, I've only made the drive down there once every couple of months. I made the drive because I believe that we should support locally owned businesses. I really do. It makes me sad that big corporations are taking over.



Now don't get me wrong, I do still shop at Joann's. It's really the only other place I shop at besides my local quilt shops because we don't have any of the other chains near us. The only Wal Mart is also in Renton, I don't even know of a Ben Franklin near me. Although I did hear about a Hancocks Fabric somewhere in Kirkland, only about a ten minute drive.

But I make it a point to support local businesses. Family owned restaurants, dry cleaners ~ ok, well it's not very often I visit a dry cleaner, but you get the idea. I drove down to Renton, at least a 45 min drive, every couple of months with the idea that I would buy something. Not because I needed something, but because even a couple of small sales help small businesses.


I heard a statistic that said that small businesses only need 5% of the sales large corporations get to stay in business. It's not that much is it? To give 5% of our sales to local businesses?

And where do I shop? Well, I certainly didn't give Pieces 5% of my business. I shop primarily at the quilt shop in Bellevue, Quiltworks Northwest, also at a local chain called Pacific Fabrics, and at the ubiquitous Joann's. But I do a lot of online shopping, and those are often small businesses.

What does all this add up to? Well, not much really. I don't have any great lesson to share, or any wise pithy remarks. Pieces quilt shop is closing, and I'm sad about that. That's all I'm saying.

Cheers,

Dionne

Something NEW on my list of OLD

The UFO chosen for this month is #10. Which I had just added to my list. At the end of January I had a new flimsy that I really want to finish. So I took a look at my UFO list and traded out the batik star quilt for my Rhapsody in Bloom flimsy.

When I inserted this quilt I actually thought I wouldn't be working on it for months, but here it is.

Well, you've seen this quilt before. But here it is again. By the end of the month, this flimsy will be a bonafide quilt!

Isn't that a word that isn't used often any more, Bonafide. It reminds me of that old George Clooney movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"

And here is the quilt, Rhapsody in Bloom.

Well, there you have it. #10 is only a week old.

Cheers,

Dionne

January was Quite Contrary!

January is over and I've made progress on my #6 - Flannel Crazy Quilt

When I started it looked like this:

I had many other commitments this month, so my flannel crazy quilt was still just a sew-between, but still after sitting in a box for 13 years, even a sew-between is progress!

I also hit a speedbump when I sewed all the wrong pieces together because I thought I would just get a little bit done at midnight, when my eyes were already bleary.

It's not quilted and bound, but I'm further along than I was! And that's my overall goal. To get further along in my projects and not to add to my UFO list.

Here is what it looks like now:

My daughter and her friend are holding up my flimsy. Should I put a border on it? Right now it's a small, but cozy throw.

But of course my son had to get in on the action!

Also, I've decided to update my UFO Challenge list slightly.

1. Road to California

2. Christmas Bauble Runner

3. Around the World Cottage Quilt

4. Old Tobacco Road

5. Kaleidescope Quilt

6. Flannel Crazy Quilt My January Project!

7. Cameron's Calender Quilt

8. Greenpiece **CHANGE**

This needs to be finished, quilted and bound.

9. Robot Quilt

10. Rhapsody in Bloom **CHANGE**

This needs to be quilted and bound.

11. Cinder's Best Day

12. Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll

Cheers,

Dionne

Guest Blogger on Quilty Pleasures

I'm a guest blogger on the Quiltmaker blog called Quilty Pleasures.

Please check out my interview with Rhapsody in Bloom designer Doug Leko.

Cheers,

Dionne

And.... a stash report.

I've watched so many others do their stash reports with great interest, but I've never really done one myself. Still, I really need to slim down my fabric habit. And what I learned during my years in the business realm is that what you measure gets acted upon. So if my goal is to use more fabric and to buy less, I'm more likely to act on that goal if I measure it and track it.

That being said, I'll just run a little experiament. This year I'm going to issue a monthly stash report.

These won't be the most riveting of posts. Feel free to skip them if you wish. Or you could cheer me on with lovely comments. Actually I like that idea best. Yes, please do. Leave me lots of lovely comments. And to make this post a little less boring I'll conclude it with a blast from the past photograph!

Used this Month: 12.75 yards
Used year to Date: 12.75 yards

Finished "Rhapsody in Bloom" by Antler Quilt Designs for Quiltmaker magazine

Finished two Valentines placemats
Added this Month: 6.75 yards
Added Year to Date: 6.75 yards
Net Used for 2011: -6 yards

Picture from the Vault:

Son, age 5 (in picture) at Sister's Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon (2008)

Cheers,

Dionne

Rhapsody in Bloom (and a giveaway)

This creative pattern was designed for Quiltmaker magazine by a teenager, Doug Leko. I was quite fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview him. You can read that interview at the Quiltmaker Blog, Quilty Pleasures. I believe it will be published tomorrow, or the next day.

Many of the other members of the Scrap Squad finished their quilting completely and they look fabulous! I have the quilting still left to do.

We learned about our first pattern just after Christmas, when my spirits were high and my pocket book was low. Have you ever found your self in that position? More inspiration than financing! I dug deep into my stash and found enough scraps to make a twin size RIB. (that's Rhapsody in Bloom ~ love the acronyms)

I was initially worried I wouldn't have enough contrast, colors, fabrics... you name it, I fretted about it! When I completed my first block, it was SO SCRAPPY, it was hard to see the actual pattern.

But I had faith that with more than 20 blocks in the twin size, the repeat would show up. In the end I am incredibly happy with the final quilt! And my daughter is thrilled with a new quilt for her bed.

I used approximately 32 different fabrics. The largest cut of fabric was a fat quarter and my smallest cut was a 2 1/2 inch square. I didn't use a unifying fabric to tie the project together and give your eye a place to rest ~ with my fabrics, it's all go, go, go!

One of my favorite elements of quilting is seeing how many incredibly unique ways one pattern can look fabulous. As a part of the Scrap Squad I get to be a part of seeing that process first hand. I am so fortunate to work with such a talented group of women that all look at the same pattern I do and see something radically different. I am inspired and amazed when I see the many interpretations of the same pattern! You can browse all the photos at the Scrap Squad Photo Gallery. I think you'll be just as inspired as I am!

I hope you'll take the time to check out everyone's blogs:

• Ruth at Threads of Mine


• Jane at Forest Jane


• Kim at Pokeytown Kim


• Donna at Donna's Quilts


• Pat at Crazy Quilter Mama


• Linda at Linda's Quilting Blog


• Carol at her Connecting Threads Blog

Oh, and I almost forgot. The designer of the quilt, Doug Leko, is having a little giveaway on his blog ~ but it ends today, by the end of the day! So head over to his blog: Antler Quilt Designs Please tell him Dionne sent you!

Cheers,

Dionne

Last Sneek Peek before the reveal...

On the 28th I'll be able to show off my quilt for Quiltmaker magazine. It's a delicious pattern designed by a teenage boy. Yes, you heard me right!

I have two teenage girls and I know how unique it is for a teenager, not only to be interested in quilting, but to then take the step further and design unique and wonderful patterns AND THEN take that talent and turn it into a fabulous little business.

I had the great opportunity to chat with this young man, and I'll be sharing that interview with you on the 29th. Come back soon!

Meanwhile, here is a little peek at the loveliness to come!

Cheers,

Dionne

Crazy Patch Snafu!

My Flannel crazy patch quilt has been my sew-between this month. I know that putting it on my UFO challenge meant that I should actually make it a primary project and not a secondary one, but my other commitments come first.

So there I had all my cut pieces laying nicely next to my Pfaff, ready to pick up and sew between my the pieces in my other quilt. But I get moving and grooving on my machine and my hands start grabbing fabric before my brain starts thinking and soon the pedal is to the metal, or in my case, the wood floor and I think to myself, it's not midnight yet. Let's burn through that crazy pile and finish up some more of good old #6.

Next morning I come down to see my progress only to discover I had grabbed the wrong pieces and sewn them together. 28 flannel pieces all sewn wrong!

So much for "blowing through the pile". I'm not looking forward to un-stitching that pile. Two steps forward, one step back.

Cheers,

Dionne

Quiltmaker Sneak Peek

So I mentioned earlier that I'm working with Quiltmaker magazine on their Scrap Squad. Well they've given us our first assignment and it's a FUN one!

This first quilt assignment is for a pattern called Rhapsody in Bloom. I can't wait for you to see it! It's a quilt designed by a teenage boy. It’s a clever block that seems to form sashing when joined to other blocks.

I can't show you much of the pattern yet, but I'll show you the colors I worked with. I used all scraps from many, many other projects. When you see my quilt, you'll hear Calypso music playing in the background.

Next week I'll be able to share a bigger sneak peek and then on the 28th I'll post the entire quilt top, with links to the other Scrap Squad members, a link to Quilty Pleasures, and I'm hoping to share an interview with the pattern designer on the 29th.

Cheers,

Dionne

It wasn't in the Small Print...

Before I get a bee in my bonnet, let me just ask you a question. Have you ever bought a pattern, only to find you had to pay extra to get the border pattern?

I thought I would like to learn more about machine embroidery; something I have done very little of. I happily signed up for a 'Block of the Month' embroidery class at my local quilt shop.

It's called "Goose Tracks" by HoopSisters. The pattern and class was $150. The paperwork that you get before the class starts shows a few colorways and a line drawing of the pattern both with and without borders. The one with borders looked much better to me. It's a simple border that finishes off the wall hanging quite nicely. I figured I would put the extra effort in and finish the optional border.

The first day of class, I found out that if I want to do the border, I have to pay an additional $45! I don't mind telling you, I felt rather cheated. I mean really, I've participated in many BOMs over the years and I've NEVER had to pay more for an 'optional' border, especially after I already paid $150 for the pattern!

Yes, therein lies the difference. No where in all the paperwork does it actually SAY that I have to PAY MORE for the border. What it does reference is the "Optional Border".

I feel like I don't ever want to buy anything from the HoopSisters again. I think they were misleading, and they should have made it very clear from the onset that the border pattern is $45 extra -- even if not all of the pictures included the border. Am I over reacting here? What do you think?

Anyhow, I have learned a bit and have finished two blocks:

Cheers,

Dionne

January Greenpiece

This month the centers uses the pieces we saved from last month. The rest is just a duplicate of what we did before.

Assemble on point.

For two more blocks!

And the alternate colorway:

Cheers,

Dionne

#6 has a ways to go!

The first number of the 2011 UFO Challenge has been issued. The first project we will attempt is #6. In my list, #6 is a Crazy Flannel Quilt. I pulled out my project box to take a look at what state this project is in.

I started this project before I had children. My oldest is now thirteen. It's old. I took a look at the directions to figure out my next move.

These directions are quite funny. It was a class I had taken at a quilt shop called Country Sewing Center in Elk Grove, California. I live several states away now, and I don't know if that shop is still open. But if it is, and you live around there, check it out. It was a nice little shop. Just in case you didn't get a good look at the directions, take another quick look.

Do you see what is missing? No where in any of those sheets does it tell me what size the finished quilt is meant to be. It doesn't say what size the block should finish to, nor how many blocks are required. I figure since it's a crazy quilt, and there is only one block to make it all depends on what I decide. But still the directions are very vague, with statements like - "...and will be demonstrated if you don't understand."

I also found, and this is so amusing to me, I found mylar templates! I haven't used mylar templates in... well, I guess in about thirteen years! Thank goodness I have finished up all the cutting because I don't think I would want to deal with cutting from a template!

There were also twelve finished blocks that measure approximately 10 inches and haven't yet been squared up. My son asked me to include his robot dog in my picture of the blocks.

There are also enough pieces cut to make an additional 28 blocks. So I think I thats where I'll start, piecing 28 more blocks.

Cheers,

Dionne

Snowy Night is Finished

You know how snow falling can look like fluffy little balls? Well, that's what I pictured the border would look like when I bought this fabric. Sometimes things don't look in reality like they do in your head. The border fabric background is too dark and the fluffy balls of snow just look like polka dots (nothing wrong with that... usually) Yeah, the border still bothers me, but it's done.

Here is some detail of the quilting I did. I used a metallic silver to machine quilt snowflakes. I've never used metallic thread before so there was a learning curve!

I used my Accuquilt cutting system to cut all the pieces and the applique snowflakes and machine appliqued them on the quilt.

This picture shows some closer detail on the appliqued snowflakes.

I think I'll add more quilting, and perhaps outline the snowflakes in the metallic thread and then I'll be done. I'm pleased with the results, but I think it looked a lot better in my head. Seems to be a running theme with me!

Cheers,

Dionne

2009 Challenge Review

I thought I would look back to my last UFO challenge. Two years ago I thought I would list ALL of my UFOs and tackle them one at a time. I didn't just list projects that were unfinished. I also listed projects that weren't yet started.

On that list I had 24 items! (You can see the post HERE) Of those items listed, I finished 5 quilts:

1. Christmas Trees first quilt top,


2. Tree of Life,
   
   


3. Botanical Shop Hop Quilt,
   
4. Disappearing 9-patch,


5. Lap Quilt Swap IV

And I "De-commissioned" 2 more projects on the list: Woodsy Center - This became the back of another quilt, Lost Blues - this one I took apart and used the fabrics elsewhere

Another 5 of these previously listed projects I just plain never started. So I'll take them off my list until they become either projects in process or get used elsewhere.

That leaves me with only half of the original 24. But of course I've added more unfinished projects to the pile so not all of these original 12 made it too my new UFO challenge list. But that's ok, I've come to realize I will always have projects in process. Its the thrill of starting something new!

There will always be quilters who are more productive than me, with better skills and bigger fabric budgets. But I will always love my projects best, because they are mine.

Cheers,

Dionne

Quiltmaker Finishes

I recently challenged myself to take two Quiltmaker patterns and finish them in a scrappy style. Two quilts tops in two weeks. It wouldn't have been that bad if I would have been able to take a break from all my other responsibilities.

Still, it was a lot of fun. Here is what I came up with:

First is a controlled scrap quilt. I used all warm, fall colors to make the pattern "Confetti" found in Quiltmaker on page 22 of the March/April '10 issue No. 132.

This second quilt is entirely scrappy. I didn't control the colors in this crib-sized version of the "Sweet Morsels" pattern found in Quiltmaker on page 60 of the November/December '10 issue No. 136.

The really fun thing is that Quiltmaker magazine invited me to work with them on their 2011 patterns. I'll keep you updated as I can!

Cheers,

Dionne

2011 UFO Challenge

I am going to participate in a UFO challenge for the year 2011. If you want to participate as well, go to Patchwork Times. Participants number their unfinished projects 1-12 then each month Judy will pick a number and that’s the project you have to finish. I'm taking the challenge.

Here is a list of the UFOs I plan to complete in 2011:

1. Orange Road to California - blocks completed, just needs sashing and sewing, quilting and binding.




2. Christmas Bauble Runner


3. Around the World Cottage Quilt


4. Old Tobacco Road (a Bonnie Hunter Mystery) - a lot of little quilty pieces, lots of work left to do... this is a big one.



5. Kaleidoscope Quilt - Not sure what the status on this is, I took this picture more than a year ago and haven't looked at it since! I blogged about it HERE:
   
   
   
6. Flannel Crazy Quilt - This is another quilt whose status is unknown. I haven't looked at this quilt since I took this picture more than a year ago. I blogged about this HERE:



7. Cameron's Calender Quilt - This quilt I made with my 5yr old son. We never put the blocks together, my son is now just 7 and has forgotten about it almost. Think it's time to finish this one. Here is a picture of my son at the age of five:




8. Starstruck Quilt - These fabrics were chosen by my daughter, whom this was originally intended for. It's a series of blocks that need to be put together. I had intended to do the quilt as you go method on it, but are now trying to do the just-get-it-done method. I blogged about the day I started this quilt HERE.




9. Robot quilt - Almost done!


10. Batik Triangle Quilt - Not much further I'm afraid from this picture.



11. Cinders Best Day quilt - I started this quilt, but I didn't have the skills to finish it. Now I can finish it.


12. Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll - I'm not sure how old a project has to be to get onto the UFO list since I started this project this month, but I'm already behind and it already got shoved aside for some other projects. But I sincerely want to finish it.

I do plan to complete several more quilts as well. All my normal goings on. So here we are. I needed to choose some of my UFOs to finish up and I guess I could have spent more time choosing the projects, but these are the ones I've chosen.

My biggest goal is to complete more than I start.

Cheers,

Dionne