January UFO Update/Design Wall

I willl not be able to finish the January challenge on time, but I will finish it.  I have all the blocks done, and am working on the last filler strip (under the angel).  After seeing it up on the wall, I need to adjust the curve in the stem.  So I'll be ripping it out to start again.  It needs to be more curvy to match the ones already done.  It is good to see this one almost done.  When I was reading the instructions for the angel block it said to sew on the appliqued filler and the plain filler (what!).  I don't have anymore fabric.  I never gave a measurement for the plain filler or said to cut two of the background when I cut the filler strip.  I cut and made all of the background blocks a long time ago and pack them with the patterns so that back ground was ready to go when I would go to work on the blocks.  This has been packed away for at least 5 years.  I drew out the star color of the blocks to watch how they would be placed and just pulled scraps for the applique when I would work on that block.  I spent part of the weekend spraying the blocks with vinegar and water to help set the colors as some of the reds were bleeding.  This is my first applique quilt I have ever done.  I have done small sections of applique,  but not a whole quilt before.  And this is all needleturn.  I have enjoyed sitting in the living room working on it as the TV is on, especially when it is too cold to get in my studio to work.
     We are expecting another cold snap to come in on Tuesday.  The weekend was sooo nice, 75 on Saturday and Sunday was almost the same.  Tuesday/Wednesday it is to get into the 10-20's possibly with a wintery mix. Speaking of Saturday:  my quilt group got together and worked on our donation quilt for this year.  I had a nice time with everyone and enjoyed the sewing that we got done.  It is a churn dash in 1930's and will have applique in the corner borders.  I'll post a pic when it is done.  Here we are working:

You only see two rows of the quilt, the rest is out being sewn.  We had quite the conversation planning the borders. It has been a small challenge, but as usual will be great when it is completed.  I like that we do something different each year.  It is always a challenge to work with blocks that other people sew because you get such a varience of sizes.  It does help us all to grow as quilters when we see a problem and brainstorm together to find the solution.  This year we are going to make a smaller quilt to donate to the AgriLife Center where we hold our meetings.  If they hang on the wall in the meeting room, it will help to buffer the sound and make the noise level better.  I hope we donate some more to them to show off our guilds work and add to the decor of the building. 
     I also worked on the buttons a bit, but will have that as a later post.  It will be a busy week.  Today is the last day to pay property taxes without a penalty, so I expect I will be standing at the counter most of the day and my feet will be killing me tonight.  Happy sewing.

Design Wall/Table Monday

I have worked when I could on my UFO project, I Believe.  I have to finish the I Believe block (near the center) and one filler that goes below the angel block.  I will push to get it done this week and hopefully will at least get the I Believe block finished.
Of course, I have another project going.  What else is a quilter suppose to do? (Finish what is started.)   I am putting together a program on buttons for my guild next month and have been wanting to do a quilt to show off some of my buttons.  I found one that I like and started it.  It is Star Flowers from Kim Schaefer.  It was on my sewing table.

I also have another project on the design wall under the I Belive, it is Santa Stick.  It is on hold for a little while.  Sew many projects.

SNOW DAY!

It snowed yesterday and just a wee bit this morning.  We got at least 4" of snow.

 The office is closed!  The snow is still soft as it is just now getting above freezing at noon. We never got the rain on top of the snow so that did not freeze overnight. I have spent the morning working on my UFO.  I finished the angel block.

Two fillers, and one block to go. I might get it done this month.  I hope so.  I have been working on this since probably at least 2002.  I thought it was only about 5 years old, but the date on the pattern is 1998 and I probably started a few years after it was out.  It is a hand-me-down pattern from my SIL.  This afternoon I will work on the Civil War blocks from Barbara Brackman.  Have a good afternoon and stay WARM!

January Challenge for UFO

Wouldn't you know that #6 was drawn. I think that is the oldest thing on my list. I will have to swap #5 and #6. Can't put it together until I am finished with the applique. So I will start working on it. I dug it out of the UFO box and put it on the design wall. I can't remember where the finishing part is for the layout. I will look for that this weekend. A few blocks have embroidery to be done and two need applique done. I think there is only one more filler piece. This pattern is from Village Classics and is the I Believe BOM.

That means I have several things to do this weekend. I need to do a craft for a program later this month and I started working on my Santa Stick that I did not put on the UFO list. Lots of fun! I can't believe that I have so many UFO's. I did put together a clutch today, I can see a few things that I need to watch on making another one. It went together fairly quickly. Makes a cute small clutch to carry just the basic necessities. I will leave out the divider piece on future bags. I think it just gets in the way. You can find it here.

I have done some great things so far this morning. I started a batch in the new yogurt maker that I got for Christmas. I used wild blueberry jam for the flavoring and the culture was organic plain yogurt. Tonight (after 9 hours in the "incubator") I will put the lids on and enjoy the yogurt with the homemade granola I make. YUM! Hope it all sets up and taste great. I can see I will be experimenting with the flavors and subtle changes.