Where did January go?

Here is what I did get done--
1)  Pieced Carpenter Star Quilt of Valor and sent to Long Arm Quilter
2)  Pieced New Year's Day QOV but it still needs borders
3)  Pieced Home of the Brave Quilt and sent it to our Guild for finishing
4)  Took 7 dog beds (full of fabric scraps) to local Animal Shelter
5)  Pieced Arkansas Crossroads quilt (Guild's Mystery Quilt project)
6)  Was inspired at week-end Quilt Retreat by many friends from guilds
7)  Discovered how many fabric scraps can be stashed in plastic tubs
8)  Bought an antique Singer sewing machine and treadle cabinet

GET IT DONE IN FEBRUARY 2013
1)  Sort and cut scraps -- Yikes!
2)  Quilt and bind Attic Windows Quilt  (UFO)
3)  Hand Quilt 2 blocks on 1989 quilt  (UFO)
4)  Add border to QOV and request Long Arm Quilter

Design Wall Monday

Arkansas Crossroads

These "Design Wall Mondays" seem to come around quite often and I always seem to wait until Monday evening to do my post.  Last Friday, I went on a Quilting Retreat to the mountains in Tennessee.  Thankfully, the predicted snow and ice did not fall where we had to drive.  It was a bit cold, rainy and foggy but since we were indoors sewing, that was just fine.  It was a beautiful sunny day on Saturday, so many of us took a little drive down the mountain to Hammer's and Dechard's Needlework Shop.  Oh, the arrays of fabric were delightful and made you want at least one yard of every bolt.  I resisted but still bought a few yards.

ARKANSAS CROSSROADS was begun as a Mystery Quilt at our guild.  Since it was offered as a great way to use up scraps, I decided I would try it.  Yes, I know there is a missing block at the top.  I have more 4-patches than the diagonal stripe blocks.

When I was getting ready for the retreat and pre-cutting many of my fabrics, I discovered many more scraps than I realized I had.

Design Wall Monday

As I was sewing my blocks together this evening, I realized I had taken a picture this afternoon but never posted it on my Blog--so here it is.  Another QOV.  I love Judy's designs.

Another "January Get It Done Project' complete

Carpenter's Star Quilt of Valor

This afternoon, I sent in a request for a longarm quilter for the Carpenter's Star Quilt of Valor top.  I went ahead and made the presentation case using some of the same fabric as in the quilt top and I used the sausage pillowcase method.

QOV Presentation Case

Home of the Brave quilt top done

Home of the Brave Quilt top

Yesterday, I finished sewing the final borders on this Home of the Brave quilt.  I will be turning it in to my guild for another quilter to quilt.

Design Wall Monday

Home of the Brave Quilt

Our local Quilt Guild met on Saturday to work on Home of the Brave Quilts.  The last time I made one was in 2006, so I still had several fat quarters of Civil War fabric in my stash.  One block didn't make this photo due to lack of contrast.  I'm working on the last 3 blocks for this quilt and then I can rearrange the blocks and decide on the border fabric.  The block with the light green and blue may have to be replaced also, since it is really standing out.  

Design Wall Monday

Carpenter Star QOV Dec 2012

Last week, I purchased a solid red for the 5" border that will be sewn on all sides to bring the completed top size to 60" x 70" for a Quilt of Valor.  I used Judy Laquidara's pattern from Patchwork Times.com.  This quilt was shown on her website as a free pattern under her post of 5/8/2012.  I did change the size by making the squares 6" finished and the top & bottom HST units 4" finished.  My narrow strip border is 1" finished and the outer red border will be 5" finished.  Judy made it so easy, since I did not have to design the quilt, I could just enjoy picking out the fabrics and sewing.

Will Funky Chickens bring a smile?

Funky Chickens

Before Christmas, I thought it would be fun to make a few Funky Chickens for little gifts.  About 10 years ago, I made over 15 little chickens and gave them to my co-workers.  This year, I discovered it takes more time than I had anticipated to make these little characters.  My sample took  3 hours, so I decided it was best to work up a few, via the assembly line method and chain piecing.  Here's a picture of the few I made. 

Get It Done in January

Got one project done in January--my sister's tablerunner.  It was easy to sew together, just triangles and the sides consisted of  one additional triangle sewn to each side of every row and when it was all sewn together, you just cut down each side and added the black border.

Giveaway at Desert Sky Quilts

Giveaway at Desert Sky Quilts

Here's a link to celebrate Desert Sky's 1,000th post.  Check it out by clicking the link above.