UFO #12 - December DONE

Well, the last day of 2012!  For December I completed a NewFO that was not on my original list; it is a B&W String quilt with an appliqued echinacea.  (My bucket list keeps growing as I look at everyone's quilts!)  I machine quilted another QOV; it was mailed this morning.  I make machine embroidered labels for the QOVs.  My UFO list suffered in the last quarter of the year--I didn't follow it very well.  However, I completed 18 quilts in 2012 which is satisfying.

GET IT DONE 2013 - January

I may be setting my goals too high; but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

January, 2013 Goals:
1) Finish piecing R/W/B String QOV - to be donated to Star Valley Piecemakers for WY soldiers.  I currently have ten 11.5-inch blocks made; I need to piece 15 more blocks, make borders, binding, and backing.  I'm using a non-fusible foundation grid to sew my strips on--I can't remember when or why I bought it but I'm "using it up"!  (UFO-NewFO)

2) Machine quilt Blue/W Labyrinth QOV.  This top was pieced in December, 2012 and will be used when/if notified.  (It would be so nice if it was NOT needed!)  I plan to do feathers, SID, and a background fill on my longarm.  (LA-UFO)

3) Piece 2 Labyrinth QOVs in R/W.  I may substitute a QOV pattern from DeeDee's site.  I have fabric for these--nothing started.  (UFO-NewFO)

4) Make 2 Fall/Pumpkin table runners.  The pumpkin and backing fabric are cut to length, and I have tassles for the ends.  I plan to use fusible cotton batting as I did for the Halloween table runner I made in December.  (Hey, I'm counting it as 'being ahead' instead of 'being behind'!)  (SewUFO)


2013 UFO-NewFO List:
1a) Red Xmas Basket Quilt (UFO)
2a) A Graceful Winter Xmas Quilt (NewFO)
3a) Bear Claw in Bear Claw (NewFO)
4a) Baby 3D Pinwheel (NewFO)
5a) Embroidered Colorwork MOY Boys (UFO)
6a) Embroidered Colorwork MOY Girls (UFO)
7a) Scrappy Birds in the Air (NewFO)
8a) Scrappy LogCabin (NewFO)
9a) Embroidered Undercover Kids (UFO) DONE
10a) Scrappy Trip Around the World (NewFO)
11a) T-Shirt Quilt for Niece (UFO)
12a) Forest Floor (NewFO)
1b) Penguin (NewFO)
2b) Sapphire QOV (NewFO)
3b) Secret Jungle QOV (NewFO)
4b) Biscuit Quilt (NewFO)
5b) Scrappy "Corners 81" (NewFO)
6b) Embroidered Playful Snowmen (UFO)
7b) Lavender/Blue Pineapple (NewFO) DONE
8b) Black/Yellow Pineapple (NewFO) DONE
9b) Scrappy Postage Stamp
10b) Craftsy2012 BOM (NewFO)
11b) Craftsy2013 BOM (NewFO)
12b) Scrappy Irish Chain (NewFO)

{All Listed QOVs are NewFOs}
QOV1) R/W Labyrinth  DONE
QOV2) R/W Labyrinth
QOV3) R/W Labyrinth
QOV4) R/W Labyrinth
QOV5) R/W/B String DONE

LA-UFO
I currently have 79 quilts in this stack--too many to list here, but I do have a paper list (which will increase as I work on the UFO-NewFO List!).  I will list completions each month.  Wouldn't it be nice to complete all of them in 2013--and then have a problem as to where to put them?!  Time to get these done--my skills should definitely improve by the reduction of that pile!  Some of these are baby quilts; most are large quilts.

Other UFO Lists
SewUFO
MachineEmbroideryUFO
CrochetUFO
X-StitchUFO
DecoPaintingUFO
All of these lists are on paper; I will list completions each month.  I did not do very well on these lists in 2012; hopefully, by noting them here, I will do better in 2013.

STASH REPORT - Week 52, 2012

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 222 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 127 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 95 yards

 

I really wanted to finish 2012 with a net stash decrease of 100 yards, but life got in the way.  The sewing/quilting studio was lonely this week--the only thing I did was quilt a QOV on the longarm.  (Today will see me doing binding!)  Medical issues took priority, which thankfully doesn't happen often.  I love the gingerbread man fabric Judy showed on her blog--oh, the temptation!!

I'm excited to start the new year with new goals--are you?  I wish us all success in reaching our goals in 2013.

STASH REPORT - Week 51, 2012

Used this Week: 9 1/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 222 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 127 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 95 yards

 

It was a busy week in the quilting/sewing studio on the mountain!  We mailed 2 QOVs yesterday; I hope to get a 3rd loaded on the longarm today and start quilting it tomorrow.  (Today I will bake goodies to take to some of the seniors--and for DH's sweet tooth.)  Of the yardage used this week, 3 yards was gifted--it was so "rubberized" that my longarm didn't like it.  So, even though I "hoard" my patriotic fabric, I said goodby to it and sent it to a friend who crochets rag rugs.  Picture of one of the 2 QOVs is below; the other picture shows the label with name so I won't add it.  It is a different pattern--I don't like it as well so probably won't use that pattern again.  I made 2 QOVs like the one below, except for the narrow border (ran out of material so one has the flag material and one has the blue).  The 3rd I pulled a different blue from my stash for the solid blue in this picture.

And (drum roll!) I finished the string quilt that was hanging over my machine for soooooo long--I just needed to make a backing & binding for it.  It's now moved to the longarm UFO stack.  I used leftovers from another black & white quilt top I had made in which I incorporated the Morehead Lil Pierrot machine embroidery designs--so that top has just a touch of red plus red prairie points.  I'll take a picture of it when I get it quilted--can you tell I love that top?!  I digress--anyway, I added an appliqued echinacea (I have echinacea in my flower bed).

 

 I also finished a Halloween table runner--love it!!  The fabric is so special; I'm not sure you can see the bit of lime green in the haunted houses, but I used lime green for the backing.  (And Halloween isn't even one of my favorite holidays!)  I'm going to get some lime green buttons to put on the top and attach tassels (on order) to the buttons.

And that's what has happened in my mountain studio this past week!  Oh, I also started a red/white/blue string quilt--1 block done.  A friend gave me scraps from QOVs she makes, so I am making a string quilt for her to donate to the WY soldiers.  Now to the kitchen (I'm writing this on Saturday and will post it tomorrow)!

Judy's 2013 Project Aids

I've already decided to participate again with Judy Laquidara's "project aids" (for lack of a better name) in 2013 (see:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2012/11/30/2013-at-patchwork-times/).  I hope I can reduce the stash even more in the upcoming year--I'm excited to put 2012 behind me and start anew!  I think I will participate in (1) Sunday Stash Reports and (2) the UFO Report, and add a LA-UFO report to my UFO/NewFO report. 

My UFO/NewFO list for 2012 only decreased by 6--well, 7 because I found I had already put together a top with one of the embroidered block sequences!  And I substituted 5 quilts for those on my original list.  So, I can say (sort of) that I finished 11 out of 12.  And I did 6 QOVs--for a grand total of 17 quilts finished. 

My 2013 list will start with the unfinished quilts from this year--and I may list steps at the end of each month although my goal will really be to finish a quilt a month, which is a good motivation for me.  I have 5 remaining on my original list, and 10 left on my "B" list, and 3 left on my "C" list--I'll probably have an "A" and a "B" list for 2013.  In addition to piecing tops, I'm going to have a separate list of LA-UFOs which will be quilting all those pieced tops on the longarm.  (Would you believe 77 tops in that stack plus 3 QOVs?!  Time to get those done--my skills should definitely improve by the reduction of that pile!)  Some of these are baby quilts, most are large quilts.

I will again have lists for X-Stitch (1 finish this year), crochet (3 baby afghans finished and 1 stocking cap), sewing (I made 18 receiving blankets and 7 pillowcases plus some miscellaneous things), machine embroidery (I made embroidered blocks of snowmen for a quilt for myself and one for my sister), and decorative painting (none finished :-(  --have a lot to do here!).  I didn't do well on any of these lists--but, hey, one finish on any list is better than none!  I think I have too many hobbies.

So, my 2013 lists (that I will report) will be:

UFO/NewFO - LA-UFOs
Sunday Stash Reports

The other 5 lists I will share only on my blog, but less frequently than the ones I share on Judy's site.  I'll start making all my lists soon; wish me luck in 2013!

STASH REPORT - Week 50, 2012

Used this Week: 9 4/6 yards
Added this Week: 24 yards

Used year to Date: 213 1/2 yards
Added Year to Date: 127 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 85 3/4yards

 

Well, I messed up my stats big time!  I bought 24 yards of fabric that can be used as backing for patriotic quilts!  I made backings for 2 quilts (1 patriotic and 1 not) yesterday, and will make backings for 2 more QOVs this week.  Whew, I may get back to 100 yards decreased again before the end of the year.  I may start cutting out my next QOV today--or maybe I'll start on the Halloween and Thanksgiving table runners instead.  An early start sounds better than a late one!

 

I'm enclosing pictures of the sausage pillowcases I made last week--the gift ones are wrapped and on their way.  I still have 2 packages to mail, which I will do tomorrow.  Delivery seems to be really slow this year for some reason.  I'll have to start earlier next year.

I hope everyone is experiencing the joy and hope of the Christmas season!

STASH REPORT - Week 49, 2012

Used this Week: 11 3/4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 203 3/4 yards
Added Year to Date: 103 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 100 yards

 

Well, finally!!  :-)  I made 7 pillowcases this past week--5 will be used as Christmas gifts and 2 will be future gifts.  And I have 1 QOV quilted--so the backing was added to yardage used.  It will be mailed as soon as I receive an address.  I have the 2nd QOV ready to put on the longarm.  I'm seriously low on fabric I can use for QOVs, including fabric to back these quilts.  Seems that most of my backing fabric yardage is floral--and I hate to use that on patriotic quilts.  So, I need to bask in reaching my goal of 100 yards net usage before I mess up my stats by buying more patriotic yardage!!

 

I used the "sausage" method on the pillowcases--really like having all seams enclosed (and not getting out my serger!).  The instructions I was using was 24-12-2 dimensions, but I changed the 2 to 1.5 for the accent and like the smaller accent better.  

 

We have had some snow--but not nearly enough!  Roads were icy when we went to church yesterday, and temperatures have dropped drastically.  Last week we were in the high 30's--this morning it was 2 degrees when I got up at about 6:30.  The wood fire burning in the fireplace feels sooooooo good!

STASH REPORT - Week 48, 2012

Used this Week: 13 1/2 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date: 192 yards
Added Year to Date: 103 3/4 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 88 1/4 yards

 

No excuses necessary this week!  I finished three tops and have 1 cut out and ready to assemble.  Two of the tops will be quilted on the longarm this next week and will be sent to the families of two of our soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan in November.  I will try to get the third patriotic quilttop sewn this next week to have on hand; I did count the fabric on it as all the blocks are made--and because I sort of forgot what I was doing!!  The third top was all done except I needed to finish appliquing an echinacea with leaves/stem on the front; I finally got that done--I think that was the UFO for either October or November.  Next week I will be able to add the numbers for backings/bindings which should boost me over the 100 yards for stash decrease.

 

I gifted a little over 3 yards--it was the "painted on" fabric from JoAnn's.  I didn't realize it was so "rubbery" until I tried to quilt feathers on my longarm; my thread broke nearly every 12 inches.  Talk about being frustrated!  Anyway, a friend of mine crochets rag rugs, and it will work fine for that--so she got it.

 

No, I didn't get the pillowcases made--maybe I will get that done next week, too!  I'm not sure where the last 2 months have gone, but I didn't get much sewing/quilting accomplished.  I think the pillowcases will be a priority so the Christmas box can be mailed to Hawaii.