December Finish

July finishes...

 

November Finishes

These 2 quilts were finished in November--though they were almost finished in October!  I had originally planned to embroider in the ecru parts of the log cabin blocks (Sandi sent me designs of Red Hat symbols/ladies), but I was tired of working on this panel and didn't want to spend any more time or effort on it.  The chandelier quilt was a mistake waiting to happen.  It measures 88 x 88 and isn't as wonky as the picture looks.  I find it harder to get down on the floor and straighten the quilts for a photo!  Anyway, I made mistakes on cutting the setting triangles but it worked out.  I lacked 4.5 x 25 inches of the block material at the end of October (hence the delay in finishing the quilt) but Hobby Lobby had enough to finish the last 3 blocks and the setting triangles--yaa!  That's a good reason for buying from their quilting wall!  I bought the end of the bolt!  It didn't turn out as pretty as I thought it would be.  This is the second Chandelier quilt and I doubt that I make more of this pattern.

UFO #10 for November

 The UFO number for November is #10.

October Finishes

 Well, not much to report!  Just one lap-size throw.  Two others are nearly done, but life got in the way again.  I had a Vertebroplasty procedure done on my back by Dr. J. New in Idaho Falls, ID.  They make small incisions and use image guidance to stabilize a collapsed vertebra with an injection of medical-grade bone cement into the collapsed vertebra.  This was the result of the August 14 fall in the bedroom.  I had X-rays done before, and they could not definitively determine that it was a new break.  So, then I had an MRI which confirmed that the break and subsequent collapse was from the August 14 fall.  The T12 vertebrae was the worst, but the L1 vertebrae was also collapsed, just not as bad.  It was an out-patient procedure at the Radiology Clinic.  Dr. Tew used a balloon to raise the L1 to the correct height and used a titanium thing that I think looked like a miniature double-sided house jack on the T12.  From what I've read, they hammer ("mallet" they tell me!) a biopsy needle into the vertebrae and use it to inject the cement.  Dr. Tew told Dan it was more extensive than he expected so it took longer than he had predicted. Interesting procedure.  That occurred on October 18.  I've healed nicely and can stand up straight and walk without a lot of pain.  Yea!!

August finishes...

 I didn't get much finished in August, but these had been hanging around for many, many years!  So, I'm glad to get them done.  The bottom picture I made from some scrap material and the others were from totes I had purchased years ago.  I still have one large transfer and some small ones (frogs--I used some of the frogs for something I made grandson Wes when he was about kindergarten age--and he's in his 30's now).  So it's nice to have them done.  I'll probably use the Christmas ones as bags for gifts.  I started on a quilt but didn't quite get it done.  I had 2 weeks out after I fell and hurt my back & ribs.   Better now, thank goodness!

The September UFO number is #8.

July Finishes

 

The finishes for August weren't much!  The top photo is a table topper and 4 placemats..  The bottom photo is 2 larger placemats and 4 mug rugs.  The panel quilt is one of the last panels--yay!!  Now on to UFO #6!

July-August UFOs

July UFO is #4.

August UFO is #6.

June finishes....

 

June UFO...

 June UFO is #1.

Remaining May projects...

The two panels quilts are throw size.

First quilt in May...

Finished--finally!  It seemed like it took a long time to put this together but that's probably because it's not the prettiest one I have made.  I cut out the blocks while babysitting with the Epic2 which was embroidering Christmas trees!  I finished embroidering 36 trees and then embroidered one of Sandi's recipe designs on a large tea towel.  Then I started sewing the blocks for this quilt; it's 74 X 93.  I wish I had used only my pretty blue fabrics instead of raiding all the leftovers so each block would be different.

Now on to the Christmas trees!  And the chicken placemats.  And at least one more panel, maybe 2.

Forgot to mention that JennyM's in Afton is closing and had a sale on the rest of their fabrics.  I got 2 Christmas panels and some coordinating fabric---just what I needed!  

MayUFO

May UFO is #11. 

April 27, 2022

I finished the apron yesterday--yay!!

April 26, 2022

 I had a Beginning Embroidery Users class on April 7.  Francine was supposed to use a lesson plan--as the owner instructed her.  Apparently he knows how scattered she is.  We were supposed to bring our FSL baskets to show; and then she went over some things like stabilizers, needles, etc.  She got tired of that and then asked us if we wanted to embroider on toilet paper--which everyone did.  So we all embroidered on toilet paper--that was the thinnest paper I've seen for a long time!  Probably won't ever embroider on toilet paper again!

We had another Epic2 class on April 25th.  She was supposed to teach on QuickFont, design positioning, and the ribbon attachment--didn't happen!  She spent about half the class teaching the other lady how to  take designs from a CD, put them on the computer, transfer the designs to a flash drive, and then use the drive in the sewing machine.  So, what did we learn: 1) the site where we could download QuickFont; 2) the above computer lesson for the other lady; 3) she did a very short stitch out of 3 decorative stitches.  After 2 hours of the above, I said I had to leave.  Traveling 140+ miles and spending 2 hours for the above made me really disgusted!  So today (26th) I went to the site and tried to download the QuickFont program from the MAC site onto the MAC computer.  It gave me an .exe file which doesn't work on a MAC.  Can't remember my password for my 4D Embroidery software registration (that was in 2008!) nor where to put in a new one.  Anyway, needless to say, I'm at point 0 on QuickFont and will have to call support.  Francine was supposed to show us how to use it--didn't happen!  We had no teaching on design positioning or the ribbon attachment.  Not sure whether I will make that drive again for so little teaching.

I had paid for a virtual learning class for the Epic2 embroidery side and finished everything except the zippered purse.  When I started to put it together into a wall hanging, I ran into trouble.  Since the squares (4x4) are so bulky with 2 pieces of fabric, 2 pieces of stabilizer, and batting, I tried to press the seams open, which needed steam.  I ruined a couple of blocks--can't steam iron no-show mesh as it melts it and crinkles it.  At that point I gathered the blocks up and put them away--maybe I'll try to do something with them in the future and maybe not.  I learned a lot so it is ok--just no wall hanging.  I do count it as a finish!  

So, the next thing I did in April was to make a quilt top from the fairy panel.  I finished it today (26th) and it isn't bad but not exceptional.  I used a picture of another panel quilt to make it.  I think I have 3 more panels to finish.  I hope to finish the apron yet in April.  

April UFO #9

The UFO drawn for April is #9. 

March NewFOs

March has come and will be gone in one day--it went so fast!  I have a little bit to show this month, but no quilt.  I have finally started to conquer my Epic2 sewing machine.  I feel I've made some real progress this month but have a long way to go before I'm really comfortable with it.  So I took a class at my sewing machine shop in Idaho Falls for Embroidery Users.  It is free for those of us who bought our machines there.  What was interesting is that there was one user with a Pfaff, myself with the top-of-the-line Viking, and the other 7 ladies all had Brothers! One lady had a top-of-the-line Brother and had a good knowledge base for her machine.  Anyway Francine provided each of us with a 1MB flash drive, a FSL basket pattern, stabilizer, etc.  I used the shop Epic2.  It was interesting--not something I would ever choose to do on my own, but a good learning experience.  Francine likes FSL designs---I think they are fiddly!  Our homework was to finish the basket (4 sides, a bottom, and a handle).  She also gave us a FSL pattern for little "sewing machine" earrings. I finished the basket and earrings and washed out the water soluble stabilizer--and today I put the basket together.

I have an Epic2 class tomorrow.  I think there willl be 2 of us.  I'm looking forward to this class and have written down a lot of questions, which is what Francine wanted us to do.  She said we can have as many classes as we want.

I had paid for a virtual learning class for the Epic2 embroidery side.  It is presented on-line, uses Anita Goldstein designs and procedures, and makes a wallhanging.  I had hoped that it would guide me step-by-step in doing embroidery on my machine (there are different segments for Berninas and Vikings), but they assume you know the basics of your machine.  Believe me, I can thread my Epic2, wind bobbins, etc. with ease now!  Anyway, I need to make 3 more blocks, a zipper purse, and then put my wallhanging together---and then I'm done with the course!  I'll finish that in April.  I have never purchased Anita Goodstein's designs; they're really not my "thing."  I like making embroidery for quilt blocks or to put on shirts, etc.  But I'm glad I purchased the course "Embroidery Essentials" and have become more comfortable with my machine.  I willl probably purchase 2 more of the courses.  The lady who does them has a quilt/sewing shop.

My Viking Designer Diamond was several new machines back and that is why my learning curve is high.  My biggest hurdle is navigating the menus.  By the end of this year I will be up to speed.  Right now I can hardly wait to start my Christmas tree embroidery for a quilt!

The other thing I finished was a Janet Powers counted X-stitch---irises.  I had made it one time many years ago and gave it to Mike for his house.  I love it and have wanted to make it again for a long time--decided this was the month.  I cannot believe how she blends the different colors.  Her designs are based on water colors, and she is excellent.  When you are up close, you see lots of individual colors but when you stand back, the colors blend and look like a real iris!  Love it!

And that's my month of March!

March 1, 2022

 The UFO for March is #3.

In addition to finishing the butterfly pillowcases and the baby afghan, I finished a second set of pillowcases, 3 Christmas ornaments, and a lap quilt made with a panel.

These ornaments were a true UFO!  I bought the booklet and the plastic shapes back when Chris was in lower elementary school--his first grade teacher displayed the one he gave her for Christmas for years.  I had these done except for hot gluing them together.  So these must have been embroidered at least 38 years ago--took a long time to finish!! And I just noticed that the church is not centered!  Completed 2/23/22. 

  This lap quilt finished at approximately 50X60, smaller than I would have liked.  I'm glad I tried the French Braid border as I haven't used it before--but it took a lot of time and  had a lot of starts and stops!  I made this very similar to the sample that was at the Sewing Corner of the Ace Hardware in Thayne, WY.  I added the outside border and corrected one error (they had all the braids going one way except for one border).  I'm happy with it.  Completed 2/23/22, a NewFO using a panel.             

  

The set of pillowcases were finished with piping that was purchased when Hancocks in Casper closed (20-30 years ago).  I don't like the purchased entredeux as well as what I made on my Designer Diamond--the holes are too large--but it is much faster since the heirloom entredeux stitch probably has about 10-15 stitches for each hole.  (I have just found out that stitches C8, 5, and 10 can be used for entredeux on the Epic2!). So, as we were watching Justified on TV, I thought about using a couple of rows of purchased lace as an edging--and I have a lot of lace purchased when Hancocks, Casper, closed!  The next day I auditioned what the pillowcases would look like with the lace--and didn't like the look.  But in that drawer, I saw peach piping (purchased same place, same time!) and it matched the 3 shades of floss used on the pillowcases--and that's what I used.  I think I like it better than a single row of crochet that I used on the other set of pillowcases.  I have only 1 set of pillowcases left to embroider/finish.  Completed 2/17/22 (from scratch).

Baby Afghan in Feb.

 Finished #2 project in February!  What a good feeling.  But let me tell you what you shouldn't do--and hope I pay attention to my own advice!  We were at a garage sale last summer, and I saw a sack with yarn and knitting needles.  I loved the yarn--it's called Baby Cloud in Tutti Frutti by Red Heart.  I bargained with the lady and finally bought 3 skeins of the Tutti Frutti and 1 skein of pink for $3--leaving some other yarn and the knitting needles.  It's a boucle type yarn, incredibly soft and with a lot of texture.  And I love the soft pastels.  Well, I was sure the 3 skeins (4.5 oz.) would not be enough to make a large afghan so I searched at different stores but could not find additional skeins.  Amazon had Baby Cloud in blue, lavender, etc., and one set of 2 skeins (1 was Tutti Frutti) for about $20.  Not interested!  I decided to make a baby afghan and used a DC with a Chain 1 between.  It was still pretty small when I finished the 3 skeins but it is an acceptable size with 2 rows of pink (6 oz. skein) in a solid DC.  It's done!  Lesson learned:  don't buy yarn at a garage sale unless you know it isn't discontinued!!  Glad it's done--sooooo soft!  Completed 2/9/22.

First Finish for February

UFO #7 was drawn

I finished the stamped XStitch pillowcases--pair #3---on the 6th.  I would like to finish the Baby Cloud yarn baby afghan, a counted XStitch, and 1 quilt in February.  I can't believe how much "stuff" I have to do!  I need to quit getting anything new, whether it's on sale or not!!

January 2022

UFO #12 was drawn

On the 19th, I realized that I had nothing finished for January!  I really want to finish a quilt each month in 2022 and did receive 2 Kona Rainbow Jelly Rolls for Christmas.  (I had seen a Rainbow Bargello quilt made with jelly rolls and wanted to try it myself.)  So, on the 20th, I took myself downstairs and started sewing and cutting.  If you use a jelly roll, half of the cutting is already done as all the strips are already cut at 2.5" wide.  It was interesting because it seemed to go really fast--of course, the pattern was a simple wave pattern and not nearly as complex as the pattern my sister and I used a few years ago.  I finished the quilt top on the 26th (ironed seams on that date).  I didn't want to buy Kona fabric for a border so I decided I wouldn't add any borders. It is a nice lap size at 56 x 69.  I cut the backing from a marbled red--no seaming as it is 108" wide--and will use the extra backing fabric to make the binding after it is quilted on the longer. 

I had been working on one of the 5 pillowcases I purchased a few years ago and finished the XStitch.  I used a purchased entredeux ribbon, attached it to the bottom of the pillowcases, and then did a simple SC edging.  The purchased entredeux ribbon isn't nearly as nice as if I had done it on the sewing machine--but much, much faster!!  Why did I ever order pillowcases to XStitch?!  I have a stack of embroidered pillowcases that have never been used!! Oh, well...  I finished the pillowcases on the 28th--easy to crochet the edging while watching TV.

I had been working all month on a counted XStitch picture (a JanetPowers watercolor) showing an Oriental Lily and finished it on the 29th--whew!!  I love her charts and had started this one several years ago--about 50 stitches or so.  So, technically it was a UFO but quickly turned into a NewFO since I had used the wrong color of floss to start the leaves.  I ripped out those stitches and started from scratch.  I now have 3 XStitch "pictures" of flowers (iris, daisies, lily) that can be framed and hung.  Of course, they take a lot less room just laying in the dresser drawer!  I will need to soak this one because it got fairly dirty.

Three finishes from scratch--not a bad way to start the year!  

 

 2021 Stats

QUILTS:  2
    XStitch Fishhook Quilt (NewFO)

    Selvage Quilt (NewFO)

    

XSTITCH/EMBROIDERY:  9

    Angel Pillow Cover (NewFO)

    Pfeiffer Cardinals (NewFO)

    #1 Pillowcase (NewFO)

    Dreams Dresser Scarf (NewFO)

    Christmas Stocking (NewFO)

    Family (NewFO)

    Daisies (JanetPowers) (NewFO)

    Bronco Helmet (UFO)

    Pink Iris (UFO)

AFGHANS:  5

    Coral Ripple (NewFO)

    Turquoise Ripple (NewFO)

    Green DC (NewFO)

    Yellow Angel (NewFO)

    Pink Angel (NewFO)

MISCELLANEOUS:  1

    Camelback Steamer Trunk (NewFO)

2022 Goals

 

2022 GOALS

A) Reduce the LongarmUFO list.  

B) Establish a UFO/NewFO quilt top list--this will be A and B lists, as follows:

1a) Moda Cowboy boots Quilt (NewFO)(Sandi-Pat Challenge 2021)

DONE 6/27/2022 2a) Embroidered Christmas Trees (NewFO)(machine embroidery not done)

3a) Light/Dark Sawtooth Star (NewFO)

4a) Embroidered Child's Parable Quilt (NewFO)(machine embroidery not done)

5a) Embroidered Morehead Angels (NewFO)(machine embroidery not done)

6a) Bullion Rose Quilt (NewFO)(machine embroidery not done)

7a) Sunshine Pineapple (NewFO)

8a) Embroidered Lil Kids Sports (NewFO)(machine embroidery not done)

9a) Manipulated Quilt in Pinks(NewFO)
10a) Penguin (NewFO)

11a) Embroidered Puppy Tails (NewFO)(machine embroidery not done)

DONE 1/26/2022 12a) Rainbow Wave Bargello (NewFO)
 1b) Cathedral Window (NewFO)

DONE 4/26/2022 2b) Pink Fairy Panel (NewFO)

DONE 6/9/2022 3b) Turquoise Scene Panel (NewFO) 41x62

DONE 2/23/2022 4b) Panel Winter Wonderland #1 (NewFO)

DONE 5/24/20225b) Panel Winter Wonderland #2 (NewFO)

DONE 7/8/20226b) Panel USA (NewFO)

7b) Panel Loopy Ewe (NewFO)

DONE 5/15/2022 8b) Blue Cascading Triangles Quilt (NewFO)

DONE 6/20/2022 9b) Santa Christmas Panel (NewFO)

DONE 5/28/202210b) Christmas Red Truck Panel (NewFO)

DONE 9/14/2022 11b) Double Sawtooth Star quilt in Purples

DONE 10/14/2022 12b) Panel 2nd Red Truck (NewFO)

DONE 11/10/2022  1c)  Panel Red Hat (NewFO)

DONE 11/26/2022  2c) Chandelier Quilt in Pink (NewFO)

3c) Panel Lavender/Yellow Tulip (NewF)

This list will without doubt be added to as I see other quilt patterns that push my buttons.  

C) Finish other UFOs in the categories of counted Stitch, stamped embroidery, crochet, painting, and other crafts.  I will also add to this list as I "find" other UFOs or NewFOs that I "just have to do!"

Counted XStitch:

1a) Patriotic Pride (NewFO)

2a) Butternut Road Sampler (UFO)

3a) Grandpa's Workshop Sampler (UFO)

4a) Sewing Sampler (NewFO)

5a) Merry Christmas Sampler (UFO)

6a) Wildflowers by MarjolinB (NewFO)

7a) Lavender&Lace Enchanted Alphabet (NewFO)

8a) Single Boot Afghan (NewFO)

9a) Multiple Boot Afghan (NewFO)

10a)Animals 2x2 Afghan (NewFO)

1b) Glad Rags Stitch (NewFO)

2b) Pillowcases

DONE 1/28/2022 #2

DONE 2/6/2022   #3

DONE 2/17/2022   #4

    #5

    #6

Counted Stitch Flowers:

    Crocus

    Geranium I

    Geranium II

    Wisteria   

    Snapdragons

    Daffodils

 DONE 3/30/2022 Iris I (NewFO)

    Iris II

DONE 1/29/2022 Oriental Lily XStitch

Crochet:

DONE 2/9/2022 1a) Baby Multi-Color Afghan (UFO)

2a) Purple Multi-Stitch Sampler Afghan (UFO)

3a) Star Afghan (put blocks together)(UFO)

4a) Variegated Strip Afghan (UFO)

5a) Beaded Purse (NewFO)

6a) Heirloom Sachets (NewFO)

Miscellaneous:

1a) LOVE Teddy Panel (UFO)

DONE 2/23/2022 2a) Ornaments (UFO)

DONE 4/26/2022 2a) Turquoise Apron (UFO)

3a) XStitch Christmas stocking (UFO)

4a) Dreams Dresser Scarf (UFO)

5a) XStitch Shams (UFO)

DONE 7/1/2022 6a) Moose Shams (UFO)

7a) Peony Apron (NewFO)

DONE 3/30/2022 8a) FSL Basket (NewFO)

DONE 4/23/2022 9a) Embroidery Essentials On-Line Course

DONE 6/20/202210a) Chicken Placemats

DONE 7/29/202211a) Bird/Nests Placemats/Table Topper/mug rugs

DONE 8/5/2022 12a) 2 Watercolor Totes from Scratch

DONE 8/7-8/2022 13a) added fabric pictures with decorative stitching on 7 pre-made totes