NewFO Challenge - January

Boy, have I found a challenge made just for me.  It is the 2012 NewFO Challenge at Cat Patches.

I do love starting new projects, and this is a challenge that actually encourages you to add to the UFO pile!  I can do that!  I LOVE starting new projects.  The rule is that you start a new project every month.  Then link your project on the last day of the month, along with a status report of previous month's projects.  I think I can do that.  And I do have a new project started in January.  I wrote yesterday about a new applique project from Kaffee Fassett's pattern for Rice Bowls. 

Once I got the first one figured out, the rest have gone together well.  I now have a stack of rice bowls ready for applique.  So far, so good.

Design Wall Monday - Rice Bowls

Today I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

I started a new applique project this weekend.  It is Rice Bowls from Kaffe Fassett's Passionate Patchwork.  I got the idea after I picked up a small fat quarter bundle that was only marked as Asian fabrics.  This is the first time that I have worked with curves and the first one was a bit tough for me.  But I like the block so, for now, I am going to keep working on more bowls.

 

Design Wall Monday - Houses

Today I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

What's on my design wall today?  Not too much, I am working on cutting scraps to make more houses, like the ones made during this past Friday night sew in.

I am happy to finally say that it is finished!  The quilt that started my blog - String Tulips from the cover of Georgia quilts.  The blocks are hand appliqued (my first attempt at applique) and the quilt is hand quilted in a free-style pattern. 

Last Monday, I had just started a new rendition of Kaffe Fassett's Tilt.  The top is now complete.

I am not sure if I am liking the pinks and yellow, but I do like the first Tilt made from aquas and greens.  Both quilt tops are made from a fat quarter bundle of Olivia's Holiday by Tina Givens.

Results - Friday Night Sew In

Today I am linking up to the Friday Night Sew In at Crafty Vegas Mom.

I hadn't planned on a sew in, but late Friday night my weekend plans got cancelled. 

A few months ago I made a quilt top, shown here, for the Thank You Quilters in Fort Hood Texas.  With the scraps, I was able to make a smaller baby quilt.  Last night, I used up all the scraps to make scrappy houses from a pattern found at Quiltyville for Happy Scrappy Houses. 

I really like this pattern.  If you want to make some houses, this is the easiest pattern that I have found. 

Design Wall Monday - Tilt 2

Today I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

The down side of reading blogs is that there is so much beautiful inspiration out there in blogland.  The projects on my wish list and the quilt designs in my head make me feel like I am on overload.  Also, there are many challenges and QAL going on right now that I don't know what to do first.

I started out this holiday weekend going through my stash and finishing several blocks here and there while trying to decide on the next project.  I chose to work with some of the FQ from the bundle of Olivia's Holiday by Tina Givens.  I had previously pulled the green and aqua FQ from this bundle to make Kaffe Fassett's Tilt discussed here  and here.  The top is currently in the quilting process and I am quite pleased with the look so far.

The colors that I had left to work with are pink, yellow, and brown.

I started piecing last night and completed the mid-section.  I am not sure how well the colors are going to work together yet, so I am going to trust the process and keep going.  I know that if I have time today, the top should be completed.

Here is a snippet.

Design Wall Monday - Several Projects

Today I am linking to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

Not much new on my wall today.  I am still working on more scrappy X & + blocks.

Mainly, for the past week, I have been working on my project for the Color Palette Challenge.  Since the project has to be completed in a month (and my projects are usually long term), I settled on making a mini quilt for the AAQI.  I know that the purpose of the challenge is to stretch your color use, but I stretched myself in more ways.

• I have never made a mini quilt before.
• I have never made anything for AAQI.  
• I challenged myself to use materials from my stash.
• I have never used embellishments. (I used beads).

I am not showing it yet because it still needs binding.  I think that I may get a visit from the quilt police on this project because I may have interpreted the colors differently from those in the challenge.  When I first saw the colors, I went with a more plum color than mauve.  Also, I thought the light blue was more aqua.  Hopefully, the challenge quilt will be bound this week.

Most importantly, I am so excited about my string tulip quilt.  The hand quilting is finished and I hope to have the binding on later this week.  I am so looking forward to presenting this as a finish!

Design Wall Monday - January Color Palette Challenge

Today I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.

I have decide to participate in the 2012 Color Palette Challenge with Judy and Vicki.  I am excited because I love challenges and I think this one will let me experiment more with color.  I really do like the color palette for January and right now I am thinking through ideas and pulling fabric.  There is a rule that the project must be fully completed in the month and that is going to be difficult for me, so I really need to plan this out.

While I am thinking, though, I finished sewing a box full of 4 patches for 4Patches4Hope.  The goal is 4,000 patches by February and they are currently over 2,600.  I hope this box helps toward their goal.

 

On last week's wall, I had just started Kaffe Fassett's Tilt.  The top is completed and it went together quickly.  I will use this design again although I may add a few rows to make it wider.



P.S.  I definitely need to work on my new year's resolution of learning to take better pictures of my projects!

Happy New Year 2012!

Happy New Year everyone!

To celebrate the new year's eve I had a quilt-a-thon which I hope to continue throughout the weekend.  I am trying to clear up my sewing area and finish some projects so I can start the new year with new projects!

Today, I am linking up to the Small Blog Meet at Lily's Quilts.  This get together is held on the first of every month where new and/or small bloggers can meet fellow bloggers.

December was a busy month with the holidays, but I still managed to get some time to sew.

December projects:

1. Tilt quilt top.  Pattern by Kaffe Fassett and made from aquas and greens from a fat quarter of Olivia's Holiday.  This top went together so easy, that I am planning another quilt from this design.
2. Neapolitan Star quilt top.  Pattern titled "Made in Cherry" by Sarah Fielke from a tutorial at Lecien.  The top is made using orange, pink, and brown fabrics.
3. Georgia Quilts String Tulip quilt.  Just a snippet is shown.  It is hand appliqued and hand quilted in a free hand pattern.  This is SO CLOSE to being finished as it just needs binding.  This is the quilt that started my blog and is my first attempt at applique.
4. Scrappy X and + quilt blocks.  Based on a quilt made by Setsuko Inagawa and made from a tutorial over at Badskirt blog.
5. Twister mini-quilt top.  Created using the Twister template and leftover charm blocks.

If you have stopped by from the Small Blog Meet, welcome.  If not, head on over to Lily's Quilts and check it out.

P.S.  My new year's resolution is to learn to take better pictures of my quilts!