GET IT DONE 2013 - FEBRUARY

GET IT DONE 2013 - FEBRUARY Goals

1)     Machine quilt 4 quilts from my LA-UFO stack.  One quilt is partially finished; it's on zippers, so I just need to put it back on the longarm and start stitching again.  Two will be chosen randomly from my stack; and one will be the QOV I didn't get quilted in January.

2)     Design & piece Red Basket Xmas quilt (UFO).  My quilting friend and I usually make one quilt a year for which we use the same pattern.  They turn out so differently--color, fabric, embellishments, settings--it is so much fun to compare when they are finished.  Anyway, Sandi will probably finish hers soon--and I haven't gotten beyond the center motif (which has been done for over a year!).     

3)     Finish Embroidered Undercover Kids quilt (UFO).  I have the 12 blocks machine embroidered, but will need to make the blocks larger as they are about 6-inch squares.  I'm thinking of using a flying geese setting around each embroidered piece.

DONE     4) Finish piecing the top of the blue/lavender Pineapple quilt I started in January (being wooed by the siren song in my head instead of piecing a second QOV!).  It's close--just need some corners added before I sew the blocks together--then borders, backing, and binding.  (UFO)

Whew!  I'd better get started tomorrow--it's a short month!  My report on January goals is below--not all done, but progress made!

January, 2013 Goals:
DONE     1) Finish piecing R/W/B String QOV  Delivered to Diane for Valley Piecemakers WY project.

2) Machine quilt Blue/W Labyrinth QOV. Not done, but the backing is made and on the longarm.  This will be added to my February goals.

1 DONE     3) Piece 2 Labyrinth QOVs in R/W.

DONE        4) Make 2 Fall/Pumpkin table runners.   I actually made 2 of the Fall/Pumpkin table runners (am only showing one)--the other one is 72 inches long.  The fabric is beautiful (one I was having a hard time cutting!)--it has gold metallic outlining the pumpkins. I didn't have any fusible cotton batting so I used Warm&Natural instead.  The "Easter Egg" table runner (showing 2 pictures so you can see the backing) is one I made before--I made 2 and gave one away.  I still need to find some large lavender buttons to put on each end--then I will fasten tassels to the buttons.  I don't decorate much for the different seasons/holidays--but like to have different table runners as when someone comes over, we seem to congregate at the table. 

STASH REPORT - Week 4, 2013

Used this Week: 10 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  21.67 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 21.67 yards

 

The latter part of this week was very productive for me--1 quilt backing made and 1 quilt top pieced.  And then I got sidetracked--I was reading the Quilting Board and found a YouTube video quilt that immediately went to the top of my list!  I pulled fabric and started the first 4 blocks.  About half-way through those 4 blocks, I decided I wasn't sure whether I liked my fabric choices--so I pulled more fabric and started another top with the same pattern but only 2 fabrics instead of 3.  I finished the first 4 blocks before we went to Mass last night--and the second set of 4 are a little over half done.  Oh, dear, what have I done?!  Now I have 2 more UFOs to add to my list--and I probably won't finish the second QOV listed in my January goals!  Oh, well...  I actually think I will like both of the new UFOs--they will look entirely different!  Anyway, I hope to finish the 2d set of 4 blocks today and start on 4 more for the first set of blocks.

 

I have decided that I will list one item from my UFO (pieced tops) list as a February goal.  Perhaps that will keep me on track for finishing my UFOs.

 

 

STASH REPORT - Week 3, 2013

Used this Week: .67 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  11.67 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 11.67 yards

 

Nothing much to report--no trips downstairs to the studio this week.  I forgot to report 2/3 yard used last week, so I am reporting it this week.  Looks better than a complete zero!

STASH REPORT - Week 2, 2013

Used this Week: 4 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  11 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 11 yards

 

Not much sewing done this week--only one day down in the studio.  I constructed 2 table runners, using a beautiful (you know, one of those fabrics you just want to pet and save!) pumpkin fabric with touches of metallic gold.

 

It's really, really cold on the mountain.  Did you know that the ruffled grouse make little nests beneath the snow to keep warm?  Unless Smokey (our Lhasa) gets too close--then they fly to the trees.  Yesterday I sent DH out to rescue one that he thought was freezing--and she said "leave me alone." ruffled up, and burrowed down again.  What entertainment in our front yard!  Better than the Xtreme Snow Machines - Mtn. West Racing in our great downtown!

STASH REPORT - Week 1, 2013

Used this Week: 7 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  7 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2012: 7 yards

 

Here I come, 2013--starting the year off right stash-wise!  I know that I won't be able to sustain these usage numbers, so I'll revel in it while I can.   I will use the same counting process that I used in 2012:  I count yardage when the quilt top is pieced and ready to be quilted; I make the binding and the backing when the top is completed--so that yardage is counted also.  Then I bundle the top, binding & backing together and put it in the Longarm UFO stack--so when I actually quilt it, all fabric has been counted and I do not count it again.  Just what works for me. 

 

I finished the patriotic string quilt top; it will be donated to the Star Valley Piecemakers for WY soldiers.  Diane gave me her patriotic scraps, so the quilt top will be returned to her.  I thought that with her scraps and mine, I would be able to make 2 tops--but only had a few "strings" left over after finishing 1 top.  I went into my stash for border fabric, which brought the dimensions to 72x72.  I would have liked to add a horizontal & vertical row instead of borders, but did not have enough scrappy strings.  I like my black & white string quilt better--it doesn't have borders and has the appliqued echinacea--but this is nice and will warm some wounded soldier.

Health issues continue to limit my time in my sewing/quilting room.  Unfortunately, I'm still able to peruse others' quilts on the internet--and that adds to my bucket list!!  Have a good week!

New Year's Day, 2013

I'm starting the new year a bit slowly--I have definitely adjusted to "retired time."  I have finished reading all the posts on Judy's Get It Done blog post.  Some are going to do a UFO Challenge, as well as the Get It Done.  I have to admit that I will miss the UFO Challenge that Judy has hosted; that challenge forced me to work on a quilt that I might otherwise put off to do an easier/more exciting/nearer completion project.  Having a number that was linked to a specific quilt drawn was an incentive for me to work on a quilt that might otherwise have been put off yet again.  So, I may have my husband draw a number for each month--but will try January without doing this--in addition to participating in the Get It Done challenge.

I'm excited to do some sewing today--the QOV String Quilt is beckoning to me!  I received a couple of quilt books from DH for Christmas--I seldom buy them for myself as there are so many quilts I see on the internet that I want to make.  But I want to conquer curved flying geese to use on one of the machine embroidered quilts on my list--Fast Flying Geese Quilts by Karin Hellaby should help. 

We have clumps of snow clinging to the lodgepole pine, and we are in the single digits again.  Our hill road is snowpacked, but we didn't have to walk home (up the hill) when we returned from Mass last night.  I think the sun will be out today--what a way to start the New Year!