UFO Update

February's UFO was my son's quilt.  I finished this top back in Feb 2010, so it's been waiting a long time.  Too bad I didn't get it done - it could have been completed on it's own anniversary :)  If only I'd known that before.

The top is still waiting - all folded up patiently. This month just blew by, with business trips and the quilting retreat in Texas, so the UFO never got pulled out.  I think I may swap it for the March UFO (#8) - mostly because I really don't want to face that one :)

However, I did start quilting on my January colour challenge quilt - so maybe it will avoid becoming a UFO. That's my goal for the next couple of days.  Then, 2 other quilts which are already basted.  After that, I can figure out what's next on the list - new quilts, old quilts, UFOs - there are plenty to choose from.

Check out the posts from lots of quilters who DID meet their Feb UFO goals, over at Patchwork Times.

Blogger's BOM #6

I was quite surprised when the Blogger's block of the month came out on Saturday.  This month has gotten away from me, and I didn't realize it was already the 25th.  I had other plans for the weekend (finishing my colour palette challenge), so the BOM was bookmarked for later.  Here it is, with all other blocks (top left).

I love this block design.  It was really easy to assemble, and I think it looks really neat.  I may have to see what it looks like in a quilt all by itself.  If you want to see more BOMs, check out the flickr group here http://www.flickr.com/groups/bloggersbom/

Design Wall Monday - Feb 27

My design wall doesn't really show it,  but lots of quilting went on this weekend.  I did finish 2 blocks from Dancing with the Stars.  The third is about 1/2 done.  The Monday mystery is still hanging out, waiting for a decision on the corners - that should come out later today.  And the Blogger's block of the month is still up - block number 6 came out Saturday, so I should get to that one this week.

On the more productive side, I finished the February colour challenge.  Bad news is that the quilt store is out of background fabric, and I wanted to bind the sides with that.  I don't know if you can tell with the dark background, but the top and bottom have a purple strip - they will be bound in purple, and the sides in background.  Worst case, I'll bind the whole thing in purple, but I have my eyes open for the background. 

Trouble is, I don't know the exact colour code, and searching the northcott site did not reveal any colours that appear to match exactly.  This is freckles, and the fabric has a slight greenish tint to it.  Maybe it's "antique", but I really can't tell from the swatches online.

In any case, my cats seem to like this quilt.  I laid it on my son's bed for a quick pic, and before I got the camera focused, Rocky had taken up residence.  When I put it on the floor for a more complete picture, Cari immediately came by to check it out.  Cat approved, I'll have to put this one away for a bit.  I'll go on a hunt for backing fabric, and hope that my quilt shop pulls off a miracle and can order the right colour fabric for the end of next month.

Check out Judy's blog to see what everyone else has on their design walls today.

Stash Report - Feb 26

It's a sad stash report this week.  One day I'm sure my numbers will start heading towards the black.  But not this week.

The local quilt shop had a sale today - fat quarter frenzy.  My resistance is apparently very low, because I headed over to check it out.  Trouble is, I can't just buy fat quarters.  In addition to the 5 yards of FQs that I picked up, an additional 10 yards came home - background fabric to go with the FQs (at least I have a quilt already designed for this).  Plus backing for two quilts.

I did manage a little bit of sewing this week.  But all I used was 2 yards for Feb colour challenge.  And now I'm out of fabric, so I have to wait for the store to order more, before I can finish this one.  The top will be done, but the binding is missing.

2 yards out
15 yards in

Total this year:
17 1/4 yards out, 55 yards in
Net for 2012: 37 3/4 yards in 


Hop over to Judy's blog for more stash reports.

Can't stop now!

I added the final block to my February colour challenge quilt tonight.  The borders are on too, and this is what the original plan was for the quilt.

But looking at it, I don't think it's finished yet.  So more blocks are underway, and the quilt will get a bit bigger before it's done. Unfortunately, I don't have enough background fabric for my first border design. So I've made a couple of modifications - and depending on my success at the fabric store tomorrow, I will decide which border treatment I end up with.

Retreat pics

 I keep meaning to share some of the wonderful quilts that were put together at the Patchwork Times retreat last week.  We all had a wonderful time, and many quilts were produced.  On Saturday night, we laid them all out, so everyone could have a look at what went on. 

 This was Sue's January colour challenge.  Beautiful colours, and it was fun watching it come together as she was sitting beside me.

 This Texas quilt was from Pam, I think. And I suspect it was made from fabric purchased on our field trip on Friday.

 I love this chicken - and wish I knew whose it is.  She did some fabulous thread painting in the tail feathers.

 These are just a few of the quilts at my end of the room, on Saturday's show & tell.

It was a lot of fun watching  some of these quilts grow from nothing, or a few blocks, into finished projects in the course of the retreat.  These pictures don't begin to showcase all the quilts, so be sure to check out Judy's retreat pics part 1 and part 2

Colour Challenge

The final block of my February colour challenge is now done!  I cut the two missing strips of fabric, and put the block together today. It will soon be attached to the quilt, and I should be able to call this a finish before the end of the month.

Too bad my UFO this month is not likely to see the same fate.  I haven't even pulled it out yet.

Mystery Progress

Monday's clue came out, so I spent yesterday making a bunch of 1/2 square triangles.  Then I put them all up on the design wall, trying to see where this is going.  4 corners equals 4 different possibilities.

I think the lower right is the most likely option, and hopefully I'll find out next Monday.

Design Wall Monday - Feb 20

After all the work at the retreat, I have a few quilts to finish.  None are actually up on my design wall this morning, because I haven't even unpacked yet.  This quilt is what will be going onto my wall, as soon as I find everything in my suitcase.

I'm really happy with how this mystery is turning out, and I can't wait to see the next step later today.

You can check out more Monday design walls over at Judy's blog.

Retreat Day 4

I know, I know - I missed day 3.  We had so much fun, and worked so late into the night last night, that I did not get a chance to post an update.  I have lots of pictures - there were so many quilts worked on during this retreat.  I'll post a longer report once I get home.

Day 4 is a sad retreat day.  We all have to leave today.  It was so great to meet everyone, put faces to names (and screen names to names). I am so glad that Judy decided to organize this retreat, and it was fun being "the Canadian" :)  I cannot wait to do it again!

On to real business - it's stash report day.  The field trip on day 2 did some damage, 9 yards came home with me from that trip.  I did do a lot of work this week, however.

2 3/4 yards - Mexican Stars
1 1/2 yards - Monday Mystery

Totals for this week:
4 1/2 yards out
9 yards in

Orca Bay and the colour challenge were already counted, so that's all I have to show for my retreat efforts.

Total this year:
15 1/4 yards out, 40yards in
Net for 2012: 24 3/4 yards in 


Hop over to the blog of our fearless leader, Judy :) to see more stash reports.  I bet there is lots of usage to report, from the retreat folks.

Day 2 - Field Trip!

Day 2 at the Patchwork Times retreat.  I opened the room again, heading up at 6:30 to start work on my projects.  Cheryl wasn't too far behind me, and most of the crowd was well into their projects before 9.  Judy took us on a field trip today, out to see her sewing room and to a local quilt shop.  I think we all left her sewing room a little more jealous of the wonderful (and large) space she has out there.  At the quilt shop, most of us picked up a "little something".  I found 2 fabrics on the sale shelf, which looked wonderful together.  I told them they could come home with me, as long as they found a couple of friends :)  Fabric is so much less expensive here!  I almost wish I'd bought more.

I made lots of progress on Orca Bay, but at this point I moved it back to a leader/ender project.  All those little bitty bits really take a toll on my stamina.  I have decided that I'm going to make this quilt 5x7 blocks. So far, it's 4x4, so I need another 19 star blocks (which are made) and about 30 purple strings (which are not).  That may be part of tomorrow's plan.

Next up, Sherri's Monday Mystery.  Seven steps are now complete.  I am liking this quilt very much, so far.  But I won't get to do any more work on it at this retreat, since the next clue won't be out until Monday.

So that is now 3 for 3.  Three projects worked on at the retreat, and not a single one completed.  I think I'm on a roll :)

Retreat Day 1 Report

 The Patchwork Times retreat officially started today.  I got things off to an early start, setting up my sewing machine at 7am while waiting for more people to arrive.  That's my machine, all lonely down at the far end of the room.

By mid-afternoon, the room was full, and activity was in full swing.  Lots of sewing went on today.  Also plenty of talking, laughing and eating.  With the ironing board set up at the opposite end of the room, I got plenty of exercise walking back and forth while working on my first project.

Here is my progress from today.  This quilt is for the February colour challenge.  I'm very happy with how this went together - the only disappointment is that I did not bring enough strips to finish the quilt completely.  It will have to go home 8/9ths complete, and I'll finish the last block when I get back home.

This is project #2.  I figured this retreat was a good time to make some progress on this project.  It's been shelved since Christmas.  I started by using the little triangles as leaders & enders for my colour challenge project. That got enough additional purple blocks to get this up on the wall.  I think I've decided on this layout - a minor change from Bonnie's design, but I think it works better with the very dark purples I have in my set.

Once the colour challenge was complete, I focused on more blocks for this quilt.  I put together another 20 star blocks after dinner.  Next up - purple strings.

It appears that my theme for this retreat is going to be "not enough fabric".  After running out of the colour challenge, I realized that I do not have all the parts needed for this quilt either.  I am missing a large number of black 2.5" squares for the star blocks.  And I am positive that I will not have enough purple strings to make all the required string blocks.  I'll take this as far as I can, and hopefully get the blocks I do make put together in to a top.  Then when I get home I can decide whether it wants to be bigger.

Day one is done, and I am on my way to bed.  Still riding the adreneline high from my first retreat, so sleep may not be so easy to find tonight.

Retreat Time!

Everything really is bigger in Texas!!  My 'compact' rental car turned out to be a Crown Victoria.  Not exactly a small car.  But at least this one has a working 12V port for my GPS.  How did we ever survive without those? I never would have found this place without it.

Left home at 4am this morning, and just arrived, at 8:30pm.  I am TIRED!   But thrilled to be here.  And the advantage of being exhausted is that I will certainly sleep tonight, and not spend the night awake waiting for the official start of retreat day.

No pictures today, because I am too tired to hook up the camera.  I'm off for a quick tour of the hotel, and then off to bed for me.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I hope you are having a wonderful day, whether it be spent with a loved one, or if you are spending a day loving yourself.

No quilting news from me today.  My projects are all packed, suitcases are ready to go, and I'll be off to Texas in 12 hours.  I hope to have lots of activity to post over the next few days.

Stash Report - Feb 12

A short stash report today.  I used 2 yards for my cathedral windows quilt, and that is it for this week.  On the bright side (I think) - I am packed and ready for the Patchwork Times retreat!  I can't wait.  I don't leave until Wednesday, so I think it's going to be a long 3 days :) 

I have 3 projects packed, which I think will be more than enough to keep me busy during the retreat.  My February colour challenge, Bonnie's Orca Bay mystery, and a pattern I bought a few weeks ago.  I do wonder if I should have packed something a bit less intense for my first retreat, but I don't want to risk running out of things to do, since we'll have 3 full days of sewing.

Total this week:
2 yards out

Total this year:
10 3/4 yards out, 31 yards in
Net for 2012: 20 1/4 yards in 

Check out Judy's blog for more stash reports this week.

New Project

I'm away from my sewing machine for a few days. But I hate the thought of not being able to do any quilting at all until the weekend.  So I did some hunting for projects I've wanted to start, and decided that this is my next project.  I've looked at cathedral window projects for a while, but never had the patience to tackle one.  However, I have 10 hours of plane rides this week, and another 8 or so next week.  So something hand-pieced and time consuming seems like a good choice.

The advantage is, it's mostly hand-piecing.  So no worry about  not having my sewing machine along on the trip. I can take this project with me to work on when I have a few mintues.  Like 5 hours sitting on a plane.  That is, assuming that they don't make me give up my sewing needle as a "dangerous weapon" when I get on the plane :)

I made a trial piece, just to be sure I had the technique figured out, and that this was indeed something I actually wanted to do.  Two hours to do this much, so at the very least I know this will pass lots of time.

I did some more on the flight - they didn't even look twice at my sewing kit.  Maybe that had something to do with the fact that I replaced scissors with nail clippers.  I'll take this along to the quilt retreat next week, and see if can get more done on those plane rides.

Orca Bay Link-up

I originally posted this on Jan 2.  Sad to say, there have been no changes at all in the progress on Orca Bay since then.  So, this is all I can show for Bonnie's last Orca Bay link up.  The good news is, I am taking this quilt with me to the Patchwork Times retreat next week.  So I hope to have some significant progress to show soon.

Design Wall Monday - Feb 6

 I made 2 quarter blocks for Dancing with the Stars yesterday.  They looked wonderful, and I was happy to be off to a good start on the block the month quilt.  It's really too bad that this is not what the blocks were actually supposed to look like :(

A couple of seams undone, and voila - the correct placement of red and blue.  This is 1/2 a block, and I need 3 blocks this month for the "block the of the month". So I have a bit more work to do on this.  Looking at the instructions, it's not so much a block of the month, as a block of the week (2-3 blocks every month).

So, this is what's on my design wall today.  A little bit of Dancing with the Stars on the right, plus my current progress on the Blogger's block of the month.  January is done (second row left). And I redid December's block, to have more background fabric. It really changes the look, but I wasn't happy with what I had before.

Check out Judy's blog for more design walls.

Stash Report - Feb 5

I can't count much actual usage this week.  But I'm starting to get myself organized for the Patchwork Times quilt retreat mid-month.  So yesterday I bought the rest of the fabric I needed for the February colour palette challenge, and I designed the quilt top that will use all those beautiful colours.  Then, I cut up enough strips to make the quilt, and packaged them up to take with me to Texas.  I obviously bought more fabric than I needed, because I was only filling in 2 of the 10 colours but I barely used more than I bought.  Well, at least I did manage to use a little bit more :)

3 3/4 yards out, for February colour challenge
3 yards in, for Feb colour challenge

8 3/4 yards out, 31 yards in
Net for 2012: 22 1/4 yards in 

Check  out Judy's blog for more stash reports today.

February Colour Challenge

Colours for the February colour challenge have now been selected.  And I cut them all up into strips, ready to take with me to the Patchwork Times retreat later this month.  Pattern and fabric are all packed up. 

It would be a challenge to keep my hands off these for the next 2 weeks, except for the fact that work is going to interfere with my quilting plans this coming week.  I won't get much (if anything) done, so this little bundle should make it to Texas, and hopefully come back as blocks (or maybe even a finished top).

February Palette

The palette for the February colour challenge is out, so I went rooting through my stash yesterday to see if I could come up with a set of fabrics in the appropriate colours.

I thought I had found a good match for all the colours, but now that I have everything on my computer I see that my purples should be maroon - fortunately I have a couple that I think will work there.  And my greens need to be a bit more olive - I think I'll be able to manage that.  And the light orange is too light - no problem ( my medium is actually the light). Now I just need a new medium orange

Back to the stash I go.  I wish I could take my computer upstairs with me for matching colours.