Break the Cycle

Peggy's Quilt - Peggy is the BFF of my "sister" Gige.  Peggy has had some shit thrown at her for sure, but she still is smiling every single time I see her.  She often comes with Gige when they come take one of my kids out for their birthday.  She does that, no matter how tired she is, so that Gige never has to drive alone.  Peggy's husband committed suicide - that would be hard enough to live through, but then her son, Scott, also committed suicide.  I can't imagine.  He was only 30 years old.  His entire life ahead of him. There is so much to learn about mental health and so much more we could do to prevent the pain of loosing a loved one ..... I personally know the pain of depression, and the angst that depression can cause on loved ones. Anyway - Gige asked me if I would take Scott's clothing and make a quilt out of them.  Peggy still had them all in a tote.  They dropped off the tote during one of their birthday visits.  I...

This week I don't have much to show on my design wall.  No new BOM's came this week - so I started working on Dan and Amanda's quilt.  The colors are much more subdued than my usual choice - but it's fun making something that I know will be loved by someone as special as Dan and Amanda. These are the 4 corner blocks These are the centers of the 12 middle blocks I did get into the kitchen over the weekend as well.  I woke up really early Saturday morning craving scones - so figured I'd try out my new cast iron scone pan I bought last year - love it !!!  To see what others are working on, visit Judy's blog at Patchwork Times !

I know it's only Friday, but the way my weekends have been going lately - it's better early then never!  To see what others are working on - check out Judy's blog at Patchwork Times. Finished the 3rd and 4th blocks of my Moon Glow BOM.  I really like BOM's because I make myself stay caught up - never letting myself get more than a month behind.  That way, at the end of the year, I'll have 2 really nice size quilts to get shipped off to a quilter (which, I'm still looking for a replacement for Margaret .... VBS)  Right now the quilt is darker than I thought it might be - I'm hoping when all the blocks are together it might pop more, but I still love the overall look of the quilt.  Not sure I'll be able to gift this one when finished. 

Judy at Patchwork Times often inspires me to become more organized.  Will I ever have the neatly labeled food pantries and shelves of color coded fabrics that she manages to keep up with - probably not.  But she has issued a challenge to list 4 things that you'd like to accomplish each month - and I think that'll help me get right on track, with sewing at least ! Finish first 3 BOM for Moon Glow Quilt.  I love this BOM.  I want to stay on top of it, so that when I receive the finishing kit sometime at the end of this year, I can box up the top and ship it off to the quilters ! Hem Adam's pants.  As a mom that can sew, I feel terrible when my son's pants are dragging on the ground.  He's a tall boy - not real sure why his pants are so long - but I do need to get those pj's hemed ! Work on the color challenge from last year.  Judy from Patchwork Times also issued monthly challenges last year to create a quilt using colors from different photos....

This one was hard - I tried to figure out how to set in the center square - then decided to read the directions which called for it to be appliqued on !  Silly me.  It went together quicker than block #1, and it measured up correctly first try.  Might try one more block before this break is over.

Feels so good to have the sewing machine uncovered once again.  Took me 3 days to get this block done - a bit rusty with Paper Piecing - but I love this quilt BOM - can't wait to start with #2 !! A few more days left of school break - 1/2 of my free time for paperwork, 1/2 for sewing .... I'll clean and do laundry later - right?

I have 2 baby quilts to whip up - I made 16 of these blocks in 3 hours - and it was fun.  Will use this pattern again. To see what others are working on - check out Judy's blog at Patchwork Times

This was originally a swap block - glad it's together - I've gotten lots of compliments on this one - I'm surprised !

This was on the table as it was supposed to be on April 1, 2012.  But, since I haven't photographed it yet, figured I'd share it on my DWM.  This was a kit that I picked up in Texas years and years ago - and as part of my vow to use what I have - I finished it, quilted it, and bound it - and it'll make an awesome wall-hanging ! To see what others are working on - check out Judy's blog at Patchwork Times

I only post the yardage of projects I actually complete - easier to keep track of what I have and have not completed - finished my mom's birthday quilt - hard to figure out exactly how many yards of fabric it used - it's roughly 80 by 80, so I'm saying about 18 yards of fabric - counting the binding and backing.  Still nothing in ... although I've been watching some online sales .... Used this Week: 18 yards Used year to Date: 23 yards Added this Week: 0 yards Added Year to Date: 0 yards Net Used for 2012: -23 yards Finished Projects for 2012 -   Jan. Table Runner Feb. Table Runner Mom's Birthday quilt

Finally got pictures of it - I really liked how it turned out - and it'll be good to add the #'s to my fabric out next week ! This will be off in the hands of the UPS man tomorrow - hope you enjoy it mom !

Stash Report – Week 3, 2012 January 16, 2012 Did a little sewing this week – still using scraps and whatever stash I have on hand.   I’m only counting fabric after the project is finished – so not counting what I’ve used this week.   Waiting for batting to finish my Feb. table runner – once that gets here – I should finish that pretty quickly. Used this Week: 0 yards Used year to Date: 2 yards Added this Week: 0 yards Added Year to Date: 0 yards Net Used for 2012: -2 yards Finished Projects for 2012 - Jan. Table Runner - snowmen

I really like this - it's me - fun and bright -

I am so happy to have something to share this week.  About a month ago, I received some inspiration from another blogger on Design Wall Monday - hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times .  I immediately fell in love with the star quilt that Kate from Life in Pieces   had put together using the pattern from Country Junktion .  I knew immediately that I could use it as the center of a quilt, and finally use those garden maze blocks that were sitting in my UFO pile.  What do you think ? This is the quilt made from the BOM pattern alone This is that same quilt surrounded by my garden maze blocks I started sewing the garden maze blocks together to see how big of a border I will be needing around the star blocks.  Now to figure out if I should border around each block, or just around the outside of the stars - what do you think?

It's going to be a great year.  My first resolution - was to spend more "me time" so today - I've actually gotten out fabric and sewed !  First - fabric for a monochrome quilt challenge that Judy at Patchwork Times is hosting.  This months color is yellow - I'm mixing mine with orange - not sure what to make yet, but everything will be stash for her challenges this year, so it definately will be a challenge ! This past week - lots of time was spent at swim practice - it's getting hard to see small needlework - so I decided to make a pair of fingerless gloves.  Couldn't find a pattern big enough for my hands - plus I wanted to use yarn I had on hand (stash busting) so I ended up using sock yarn.  Glove #1 turned out a bit tight - but already dd#2 is laying claim to it ... so it's all good. This morning I decided it was finally time to make those pj's I've been promising the kids - 2 pairs down, 2 to go ! The Sponge Bob fabric on the back o...

Nearly Finished !   Didn't get much time to sew this weekend, but did get all 5 rows together - the borders are cut, 5" on the top/bottom and 3" on each side.   I might just try and get those on today as well.  Finished size of the quilt will be 84" by 100 ", a nice size, I think.    Backing has been ordered, so as soon as that shows up - it'll be off to the quilters.  I'll have the binding already made, so by the time it returns to me, it'll be a quick finish, and ready to gift.  I can't wait to get my hands on the fabrics that I ordered for my first ever EQ6 design !  I've posted a photo of that as well.  Of course, the kiddo's have a swim meet this weekend, so no sewing going on ..... very BIG SIGH.  To see what others are working on, check out Judy's Patchwork Times.

Oh, I really love this new EQ6.  When I first started quilting - I started with some books, and some JoAnn's BOM's which were precut.  They were safe - fabrics were chosen for me.  Then I branched out and started buying patterns and getting my own fabrics (but always closely matching what the pattern looked like).  Then I joined an online group and went a little outside the box, using patterns from the net, and sticking to color schemes.  Most of my work now is done from patterns and my own fabrics, but always someone else's designs.  Years ago, I took a picture of a bank in Alexandria, Egypt.  They had the most beautiful stained glass ceilings - don't ask me how they kept them clean.  I vowed that one day I would make them into a quilt.  With this EQ6 - I can see that happening (but no time soon)  Yesterday I started working on my first design, today I added some borders - what do you think - all constructive criticism is appreciated ! ...

 FINALLY - I cracked open the EQ6 manual and downloaded the CD, and actually worked through the first lesson.  My promise to myself is that in 2011, I will design and piece my very own quilt.  My design, my choice of colors, simply mine, with nothing like it anywhere else.  This is what I have so far -

Finally have something to contribute to Design Wall Monday hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times .  I started this quilt last year - its for my brother and sister-in-law ....  their decor is very country - and these fabrics will go nicely .... but I like working with brights .... so I keep putting this away.  Finally decided to get it done - I need 23 of these 16 inch blocks - I started the weekend with 8, now I have 12, so I'm halfway there.  Still not sure of the setting .... will work on that after I get the blocks done .....

My father's 80th birthday is tomorrow - and I finished his quilt on time !  I'l be hand delivering this one - as well as a birthday cake and dinner !  I really liked how this one came out ... now on to the next project !