Design Wall Monday

Scrap Quilt Plan

Now to tackle the scraps..  They are everywhere and they are multiplying!  In order to have a little fun along the way, I thought of a quilt design to use up      (1 1/2" strips).  Each block will be a different color.  There will be a one inch black square in the center of each block.  Strips will be added around each center.  Not sure how big each block will be.  I'm thinking of sashing the blocks with white.  Here is what I have so far.

Get It Done in February

Finished QOV Carpenter's Star

Saturday, the 2nd, I received the Carpenter's Star QOV back from Marty.  Her quilting is beautiful and it brought the quilt to life.  Yesterday, after church, I started working on the binding and finished after Downton Abbey.

Close-up of QOV Carpenter's Star quilting by Marty

Quilt of Valor started New Year's Day 2013

Today, I worked on getting the borders on the QOV that I started on New Year's Day.  Judy Laquidara from Patchwork Times.com shared the pattern on her Blog dated 12/23/2012.  It is listed under QOV New Year's Day Sit and Sew.  I still must wash and iron the back, prior to requesting a long arm quilter.  This QOV was part of my Get It Done projects.

Table Runner wedding gift

Piano Keys Table Runner

Before I posted the pic of this table runner, I wanted to make sure the young couple received it.  I missed both her bridal shower and wedding, so her gift was delivered via her new brother-in-law.  She and her husband both love music, so when I found the pieced heart design on-line and remembered I had the piano keys fabric in my stash, I was delighted to make their gift.  Yes, she loved it!  Mackenzie was in the Quilt Class that I taught at church last year.  She brought the class to life with her young spirit and energy.

New Strategy for February

Yesterday, I decided to try a new strategy for working on my "Get It Done" projects for February.  I normally procrastinate, unless I have a deadline and then I still wait until the last possible moment.  Lately, I have been running out of time to make the month-end due dates.  So, on Feb. 1st,  I pulled out the Attic Windows quilt top, found a back, a piece of  leftover batting and machine quilted in the ditch with my walking foot.  Obviously, the goal was to finish it before midnight but I only got half done with the binding, so I finished the binding this afternoon.  Hooray!!

Kangaroo Attic Windows

This was a class sample for a beginning quilt class that I taught at church last year.  It measures 30" x 39".
It would make a nice little baby quilt since all the kangaroos have a baby in their pouch. 

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.