Catch up day & February Goals

It's time to catch up again. This seems to be a regular event for me. I realize that I'm way behind on my BOM projects, and I spend a weekend working away to catch up.  This weekend apparently will be no different. 

Judy posted the next Tell it to the Stars block, and reminded me that it's time to step up to February.  Fortunately that project is on track and I do have last month's block finished (ok, it's only been 1 month so far), so that's on track.  Here are my January blocks.

But then I started thinking about my other BOM, and I know I'm behind on all of them. So, time to make my Downtown blocks (2 houses, 2 stars to catch up), Toes in the Sand (1 month to catch up) Guild mystery (I'm not sure I even saw instructions for this month), Border Creek Station (just 1 month behind) and I think that's all of them.

I just read the LQS newsletter, and there's a new challenge brewing.  One block a week for 49 weeks - for only $25.  I think I have to join this one - I live so close to the store and I'm there almost every week anyway.  I wonder if I'll be able to stay on track for an entire year (if your block isn't done, it costs $5 to get the next one).

Last month I set some goals, and then promptly forgot about them.  So let's check back.  Ok, here's what they said:

1. quilt 3 customer quilts - Done
2. quilt last year's Easy Street top - not done
3. attach hanging sleeve to swoon quilt, so it can go to the quilt shop for display - Done
4. catch up on Downtown and Tell it to the Stars BOM projects TITTS is (was) up to date, but only got half of Downtown done.

Not too bad, over 50% complete.  For this month, I'm have a pile of customer quilts to get done, so that's priority number 1.  Getting any of my own stuff quilted is probably a dream this month, with the customer promises I've made.And Downtown needs its own entry, because paper piecing takes a chunk of time. 

So here are my plans for February:

1. Finish the current one before next Saturday, and 3 others that I've promised for February.
2. Catch up Downtown
3. Catch up mystery quilts (Border Creek and guild)
4. rest :)

Saturday progress

As expected, I spent less time than planned in my sewing room today.  But I had a lovely time with both my sons - out to a movie (Looper - I highly recommend it, although my son had to clarify one bit at the end for me) and then a nice dinner and chat.  Little tidbits of information about university have been forthcoming this weekend :)

However, I did manage some sewing time.  First thing this morning, I finished quilting a baby quilt . In fact, there are 4 here.  All about 24" square, and I had 60" backing fabric so I loaded it up and quilted all 4 at once.  Saved a ton of loading time.  A different design on each one - my long arm skills are improving but there is still work to be done.

And, I almost got caught up on my Dancing with the Stars block of the month.  One square left for September.  Of course, I picked up October today, so that's another 3 to make now.  Just can't get ahead on this one.  I am enjoying the paper piecing - to a point.  One star - fun.  30 blocks all the same - not so fun.  Unfortunately, October is 3 of those 30 blocks.

Drop by Judy's blog and see what others are up to for this quilt-a-thon.  It's time for me to go make pumpkin pie, so my quilting for the night is likely done.

Design Wall Monday - March 5

The incremental changes to the Monday Mystery continue.  Last Monday, we put together the small 1/2 square triangles.  I'm still auditioning corner settings, while I wait for the official plan. Today the next clue will, I hope, finish the blocks and then it will just be borders left to go.

The other blocks on the wall are from Dancing with the Stars.  The March package is available, and the first of two blocks is complete.  This one is Viennese Waltz, and Polka will join it soon.

I was a bit worried about this block of the month.  I don't do paper piecing in general. I tried it several years ago, and it was a complete disaster, so I swore off the whole thing and have studiously avoided any project that required paper piecing since then.  However, I fell in love with this quilt when I saw it, and I just couldn't pass it up.  So, I am commited to 30 blocks, paper pieced.  Last month, I cheated.  The block was pretty simple, so I converted it to regular piecing, and put together those 3 connecting blocks.  But the star blocks are not going to work that way.  So, this weekend I jumped in. Drawing on my vague memory of my last attempt at paper piecing, I carefully cut the pieces, reduced the stitch length on my machine, and made one part of the first block.

Imagine my surprise when it actually came out correctly, and all the points matched.  Eight more block sections, and I was able to assemble my first ever paper pieced block!  Now I can't wait to start block number 2.  And I'll even do next month's connecting blocks with paper piecing.

Also on my design railing, is the next quilt I need to quilt.  I like this quilt a lot, and want to do it justice with my quilting, but I'm not sure what to do.  I feel like I want to echo the increasing sizes of the stars, but I don't know if that would work, or exactly how to do that.  What would you do in the star points and plain areas, given the varying sizes?

Check out Judy's blog for more design walls today.

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 - Jan 23

My design wall is busy today.  I got started on my January colour challenge this afternoon, and it is coming along quickly.  That's the blue/burgundy/green in the lower left.  This is one of the quilts in the calendar I received at Christmas and I decided it was just right for this month's challenge.  Two more corners, and then the border to complete.  It looks like this will even be done on schedule - the top anyway.  I doubt this one will get quilted this month.

Also on the design wall are the blocks from the blogger's block of the month.  I just finished December's block, and since January is due out on the 25th, I decided to leave them on the design wall for now.  And on the right is the Monday mystery from last year that I finally finished.  That ones goes into the quilting pile, and will hopefully be finished before too long.

Check out Judy's blog for more design walls today.

November BOM

November's block of the month came out on Friday. I was away for the weekend, so I didn't get a chance to work on it until yesterday.  Fortunately, these blocks are pretty quick assembly, and I have my 3rd BOM done and up on my wall.

I wasn't sure about this block at first, but seeing it up with the others, I think this quilt is coming together nicely.

Check out more blocks over at Canton Village Quilt Works.

Block of the Month - Sept

The Blogger's Block of the Month starts today!  Jackie sent us over to see Sherri at A Quilting Life to find the first month's block.  Each of the bloggers who are designing blocks are using the same palette of fabric, a gorgeous set of fabrics from Kaffe Fassett Collective.

I've chosen to go my own way however - mostly so I can use up some stash doing this BOM.  I've had this dark in my stash for a while now, waiting for the right quilt.  I guess I'll find out this year whether this was the "right" one.  Here is my block for this month.

Sherri was kind enough to suggest some options for colour arrangement in her block, and I decided to restrict mine to 4 of the 6 colours I've chosen for this project.  The missing colours are a blue and purple - you may see them next month.

New Project

Do I need a new project?  About like I need a hole in my head.  But will I let that stop me?  Not on your life.  I stumbled across this Block of the Month  project today, thanks to Amy's Creative Side blog, and I think I am going to jump in with both feet, and maybe a prayer or two.  Jackie has some lovely fabrics chosen, or you can pick your own (I can see some stash leaving my closet already).

So come along and join us if you like.  Click on the compass to find your way.