Around the World Swap 2014

The floral fabric is my choice to send out in this years ATW swap.

It is a really pretty bright fabric.

The pink on the left is really more of a magenta than the red it looks. I'll post a picture when I make my own block-Flowering Nine Patch.

Plastic Bags, Fabrics and Weeds

Time to change my yearly counts.

Sigh, it looks like I lost interest round about the end of summer.

Bags, I can bring in less!

Fabric! Use it up!

Weeds! Pull them out! But really! My total said over 27000. Can you believe I hand pulled that many weeds? I am going to aim for 30000 this year. A very attainable goal!

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!

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!

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!

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.

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....

LUS BOW 8

A quick one this week! 20 pieces and 2 hours. My hand sewing group met today, and I was able to finish this at the meeting. Woo hoo!

8 straight weeks of keeping up with this BOW. I also went and picked out 5 new blue fat 1/4s. Thanks Mary for the gift certificate :)

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 7 Peace and Plenty

Only 24 pieces this week. But it took me a bit longer to finish. 

Both kids have been sick and home from school all week. Both are on the mend, and ready to get out of the house!

Just in time for Ethan's Paint Ball Birthday Party tonight!

LUS BOW 6, Charlie Stokey's Star

Woo Hoo! Another BOW finished. And wow did this take me awhile.

Unfortunately I think my corner points will be cut off-so I have to decide whether or not I will redo them. 45 pieces.

Loyal Union Sampler BOW 5 Beacon Lights

Beacon Lights.

I love doing this Block of the Week, and staying caught up!

The light blue is from a fat quarter I just got in Kingston weekend before last. I know I thought I had plenty of blues, but I couldn't resist adding more. I may have to start looking for more whites too!

Loyal Union Sampler BOW #4

LUS Block of the Week #4.

D-9 Gerda's Puzzle.

I have a few pieces from a fabric line that is blue, white/cream, and a little gold.

I love these fabrics! 

I picked up a few fat 1/4s this weekend to add to the mix too! 

 

Loyal Union Sampler BOW #3

Still keeping up! Three weeks in a row!

Hand stitched. I think I am going to try keeping track of how long each block takes to complete. I spent 30 minutes last night putting it together and it got me wondering how much time I do spend on hand piecing. Most of my hand sewing is spent while watching the kids at various activities-but I am still curious :)

2nd LUS block

This is my second block from the Loyal Union Sampler. 

So far so good-2 BOWs finished in time!!

Loyal Union Sampler!

I made my first block from the Loyal Union Sampler by Jennifer Chiaverini.

I have decided to make it all blues and whites and creams. 

I have plenty in my stash to choose from.
This first block is hand pieced, and I will attempt to hand piece the entire top.

I hope to keep up with the Block of the Week with the LUS yahoo group!

Wish me luck :)