December 31, 2013

2014-The Year of the UFO!

Too many UFOs?
Of Course!
This past year, I have been trying to whittle down that UFO pile. I have made myself a list and must complete 5 UFOs before starting something new. It has worked fairly well. 
But that pile is still way too large. I want to be able to start a new, exciting project whenever something strikes my fancy!
So for 2014 I want to work double time and get that pile down! 
In 2 of my online quilt groups, I have joined their UFO challenges. They do overlap, but hey, I'll get double credit for finishing a project. And that should give me double incentive too!
My first UFO is from the Downton Abbey fabric line. I am making the free pattern from Andover Fabrics called Violet's Quilt. It is for my daughter. Didn't this fabric line just come out, you ask? How could it already be a UFO? Well, I started it, and it has just sat on my cutting table with other stuff piled on. It is in huge danger of becoming a never finished quilt.
I did spend the last day or two working on cleaning up my craft room. While far from neat, it is much better. Most of the floor is cleared off. Lots of supplies put back where they should be. Just don't look in those couple of drawers that became catchalls! I think this cleaner room will really help in getting more finished.
One bonus of the 5 finishes before a new start has been that I have finished many of my small to dos. My mending especially has been finished instead of gathering dust. 
Hurray for 2104-The year of the FINISHED UFO!


December 21, 2013

Mug Rug Hostess Gifts

Today V and I are going to a `Drop-In Brunch'. A family from V's gymnastics team has invited us over for a little holiday get together. Mug Rugs are a fun quick-ish, depending on the pattern and quilting!, hostess gift. The colors of the Mug Rugs and the card match pretty well-just by chance! These are fairly large-8 x 16-almost place mat size. Lots of room for yummy goodies!

December 15, 2013

Mug Rugs!!

Monday night, at the Duvall quilt meeting, we are having a Mug Rug Exchange.
You make a mug rug, wrap it up, and we take turns picking a wrapped rug.
They can be any style, but since it is our Christmas Party,  I went with Christmas trees :)
Have you ever made something for exchange, really liked it and wished you had one to keep? I do it all the time! I like what I receive in the exchange, but I also like what I make! So the top Mug Rug is the one I made for myself. I used 1 1/2" strips to make these, so they dictated the size of the squares and the tree stripes. I can't wait to see what I receive tonight!

December 5, 2013

Finished! My 2008 Christmas Signature Quilt!

Finished! 
Yea!
This is my quilt made from Christmas Signature blocks from one of the yahoo Dear Jane lists I belong to. The center block is one my grandmother had made. I thought it made a nice center.

December 1, 2013

LUS BOW 9, Democratic Watchman

My block for this past week-the ninth BOW.
The blues are new fat 1/4s-and I thought I wouldn't be buying any blue!
The BOW is on a break until after the first of the year. That will give me time to work on other hand work projects. What shall I prep next? Maybe I will get back to my Michele Hill William Morris style sampler that has been put away for awhile....