My 2019 Quilty Inventory

Okay like many of you, with the New Year ahead, I have found myself taking "inventory" of my stash. As I keep calm and carry on, I decided to make a list of my inventory along with "why" I bought or started each, in hopes to inspire myself to tackle a few them in 2019.

KITS

So here we go:

1. Hollyhock Flowers bought as I was inspired by some new techniques included in this kit.

2. It's Good To Be Square bought to make a summer quilt for hubby.

3. Brown Bear  Brown Bear bought as a great story quilt for the grands.

4. Kinder layer cake bought just because I like the fabric! LOL!
5. Material for two receiving blankets because my gift inventory is low.
6. A Bloomin Dozen Wall Quilt by Kim Schaefer.
7. Home is Best Wallhanging by Timeless Treasures
8. Buggy Barn Winter Blooms (Potted Hearts)
7. My Lori Holt Picture block quilt. I joined as a block of the week to create a quilt for our master bed. But! The store got wayyyy behind on their kits...thus, I got way thrown off. These blocks are always fun to make, I'm thinking of doing them as a block of the week again, I mean I have the kits!

W.I.P

These three are top priority. They are all ALMOST done! I'm going to be intentional about finishing each one as I love them. I plan to hang the Bee Happy in my laundry room, the houses and birdies in my living room and My Scrap Dance Tango from Carole's 2017 Mystery QAL I'll continue into a Queen size so I can use it on our Master Bed as our Winter Quilt.
Also, but not pictured: My Metro Rings Polka Dot Quilt

HAND SEWING

I am probably "two movies" away from finishing my Anne Downs quilt and though this has  providing some wonderful winter stitching, I'm ready for something new! Some cotton applique and not wool, as I miss my needle turned applique. These are kits I have on hand that I could rejuvenate:
1. Two Kim Schaefer Calendar Quilts: February, March and April
2. All Around Town by Susan Garman (2000)
3. My Hexi Flowers! (This one is almost embarrassing to admit!)

QUILTING

Looks like I have about a half a dozen quilts to get on the long arm. Not bad really.

Annnnnd I think my BIGGEST area of exploration is in having the confidence to do some custom quilting! Seriously, I'm my worst enemy in this area and literally have unquilted quilts hanging in my house! LOL!!! I'm afraid I'll ruin my quilts.So this week, I will BEGIN with our grands guys cow quilt. Not going to over think it...just going to dive in!!  

EXPERIMENTING

In our process of downsizing, I'm also experimenting with a different "sewing station". I'm 5'10" and have long legs. I'm using a pub size level table for my sewing right now and so far it is proving to be much more comfortable. My back doesn't hurt and my legs can extend. I'm kinda liking it. As we  continue to downsize, I'm also hoping to donate a few quilts and fulfill my foster care quilt mission for kids at our elementary school andddd play with my scraps more! (More on this Sunday)

Notice I'm not really committing to anything...but have to admit, taking inventory inspires me.

I'm looking forward to the New Year and close wishing you the very best as we all welcome 2019!!!! 

Sharing and linking with everyone else at:

Winter Stitching

With Winter on our doorsteps and evenings starting earlier and earlier, I spent this morning inventorying my many hand stitching projects that are a WIP and those I'd like to finish by years end. For evening stitching, first up is to put the finishes stitches on my Anne Downs BOM:

This one has been so much fun to work on this past year. I'm admittedly beginning to look forward  to have it finished and hanging in our home.

Next up, is my Sunny Side of the Street wool applique:

I love the combination of cotton and wool. I want to finish getting the birdies and flowers stitched on and the patchy grass lawns sewn so this one is done and ready for some whimsical quilting over my upcoming Winter Break at the end of December.

And finally, some fireside binding on my Snowman Jelly Roll Finish:

Thank you for your patience with my slow blogging this Fall. I have truly enjoyed this time of transition as I took on a new position at work and found myself enjoying the process of change in my work life. Yet, now that I'm settled into some routines, I'm grateful to find my stitching as a peaceful comfort at the days end. Linking up and sharing with everyone else at Kathy's Quilts.

PS: Enjoying a good Holiday read too. (Thanks Mom!)

Evening Stitching

With Fall knocking at the door, it was so nice to end my busy week stitching at the kitchen table. The  windows were open and with a glass of "cheer" nearby, I finished my wool birdies and started to trace templates for the flowers that will all be added to my Sunnyside of the Street quilt.

Here's a peek at the birdies finished and blocks awaiting to be stitched together:

A happy weekend of stitching for sure. This week's plan: Once I get these blocks sewn together and it's flowers pinned and prepped for my evening hand stitching, I'm cutting into a bunch of SuperHero fabrics to make our grand-guy's birthday quilt. Luckily with his birthday only three weeks away, I found a quick layer cake/jelly roll pattern. (Hmmmm...I may have procrastinated on this one a little bit!) I tell ya, it sure feels good to be stitching and sewing again...especially as I'm able to open the studio windows and enjoy the Fall crisp air that has finally found it's way to our little part of the world. Hope your days are filled with a little bit of stitching as well.

A new WIP!!!

I can't even remember the last time I had a new project on the design wall! I'm sooooo excited! 

My Labor Day sew day was so productive that I immediately came home and put this WIP on the design wall. If you ever liked Buggy Barn quilt patterns....the One Sister continues the wonkiness and this is her Sunny Side of the Street Pattern from her newest Crazy Kind of Wonderful book.

Next step is the wool applique! Stay tuned! I think this is going to be a quick finish.

Moving It Forward....

Aughhhhh.....hello Summer!

I'm sitting on our back patio, sipping my coffee, thinking of everyone else going to work.

I always find this first Monday of Summer to be rejuvenating.

I absorb the quiet. I adjust to not having a schedule to follow. (My husband calls this my "decompressing week") I'm grateful for the good school year had and the time off ahead.

I loose track of time and before I know it, it's 11:00pm and I almost have a quilt top made! This is the Eye-Spy quilt I'm making as a family gift for some friends that are having their third son in August. The boys are seven, four and newborn, so I thought an eye-spy they could all use would be fun.

QUESTION:

Right now this one is a lap-size and I'm wondering if I should add a few rows to make it a twin size?

I'm thinking they could use it as a family or on one of the boy's beds?? Your thoughts? 

As I get my own 4 inch blocks ready for our swap, I'm cutting a 7 1/2" square from each fabric to alternate with the four patches I made from previous swap pieces. I like the variety.

Sometimes I think I should add sashing to break them up, but that thought quickly fads as I think of our own grand guy happily laying on top of his own Eye-Spy quilt playing the game with me.

Well, Happy Monday everyone! 

Don't forget to comment to leave your opinion: 

Should I make this one to be a lap size or twin size quilt?

OUR SPOT IS CLOSED! 

Hey Guys! There's still a few openings left and what better way to collect 200/400 different Eye-Spy fabrics than by swapping with fellow blogger friends. Click HERE to read about our Eye Spy Swap and perhaps think about joining us.

Hello May!

Oh Happy, Happy Merry Month of May!

It's that time of year again when the end of the school year is fast approaching and there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done I'd like to do. Soooo here comes my list to share with everyone else at OMG to help keep track of all my creative projects.

In the sewing room:

   My H2H quilt will be posted and mailed this week. Yeah! Then, as the weekend nears, I plan to complete my April Scrap Dance Tango Mystery step and get this pretty below onto the quilting frame. I want to get it quilted & bound for my May OMG over the next couple of weeks. Don't ya just love it's "springy" colors. And for some easy peasy, scrappy sewing, I'd be pysched to get my March red and May green RSC crayons done. Well see....if not, I'll get them caught up over Summer.

 I also plan to have a little R&R one Sunday afternoon as I stay in my jammies and enjoy a good movie as I prep the first block of my 2017 BOM. (It just arrived in the mail!). I've missed having an applique project on hand and do look forward to having this as my Slow Sunday Stitching...especially as the weather gradually begins to warm and I can sit outside and stitch. (It finishes as a queen size so I'm looking forward to having a new bed quilt around this time next year.) 

Sounds like a good month of sewing ahead don't ya think.

 

In the classroom:

With six weeks of school left (Time to make up for our January Armageddon of snow) we will continue to be busy and creative in the classroom to help make the best of our make-up days: 

Our last "theme" of study for the year has us engaging in American Traditions. We have team t-shirts to tye-dye, a classroom quilt to create, field trips by bus and more Virtual Google Exporations,

Finally we'll wrap up the year celebrating summer birthdays by frosting and decorating our very own cupcakes and creating handmade pinatas (remember paper mache). I'll be sure to share our growing school of fishy beanbags as the kids have not grown tired stitching yet. I have a feeling I'll be putting some summer sewing kits together. Their enthusiasm to stitch truly makes my day!  Thanks so much for cheering us on with your kind comments, know your support makes my day too. I'm looking forward to sharing this creative month of fun with you as this Merry Month of May gets underway! .

I just posted May's themes on the sidebar. 

(I'm probably the only person late to their own linky.)

Tackling Some WIP...

We were awoken at the crack of dawn with a truck delivery of wood for our patio extension.

As you can imagine, our little guy was quick to jump out of bed 

to watch  all the trucks and trackers in our driveway!

We spent the rest of this rainy morning hanging out together in the studio. 

He busy playing Paw Patrol near by.

Me happily sewing and getting caught up on my Scrap Dance Mystery:

After squaring up all those Half Squared Triangles, I now have a wonderful bowlful of scraps to refill my thread bird feeder...just in time to welcome Spring and the birds back to the yard.

But, now it's time to take a break for some painting as I hear a little someone 

pitter patter up the stairs exclaiming: "Please meme, can we do this now?"

I mean seriously, who am I to resist such charm!

Aiming to start quilting another WIP this afternoon once you know who takes a nap unless of course, Meme ends up taking a nap too. (Which is most likely!) 

Feb. OMG: No Valentine Quilt

And here my Valentine Quilt sits....awaiting it's turn at the sewing machine.

I have no idea why really, except for the simple fact February seemed to have zoomed by right before my eyes. My husband teases it's due to the fact I've had to get use to working again since our unforeseen January series of snow storms. (Even this morning's inch of snow didn't phase us.)

Truth be told, I have been enjoying the day by day flow of my life. My daily workouts, reading and watching movies as I stitch the binding of a quilt I finished almost three years ago! 

I've truly felt calm and as if I've been truly just carrying on, peaceful in my own shoes.

Life is good.

Please do stop by tomorrow and share your posts about: THREAD

Some Quilting and Sewing...

 So I've spent a large portion of my long weekend off from teaching right here: 

 I've been quilting.

I used this "Square Dance" pantograph to...

 ...quilt this top for Nancy who commissioned me to do this for her. She blogs at PugMom Quilts. 

This one is for her nephew and I absolutely love how it's turning out!

 I've been sewing. 

 I finally started my Feb. One Monthly Goal. About now I'm thinking it was a little over optimistic of to think I could sew a queen size quilt top together in one month...as, seriously,  I should know better! I mean I ALWAYS have more than one project going on at the same time...what was I thinking! I do love all these prints though and find the fat quarter friendly pattern I'm using quick and fun! I'm  spending the rest of the afternoon sewing a few of these rows together and will look forward to sharing a little bit more of this project with you later this week. (Who knows...maybe I'll even make my goal!)

And speaking of multiple projects...I also have my second step of Carole's Scrap Dance Two Step QAL all ready to sew together tomorrow after school. (LOL! Can you say squirrel!)

Anyhoo, we're hoping for a break in the weather, as an afternoon walk outside sure would be nice.  

Until then, that hum you may hear in the distance, is me just sewing along here as I use my sewing to beat the Wintertime Blues with a cozy sew day at home with my buddy Jackson.

Thanks for stopping by.

I'd love to quilt for you too.

Click HERE to read the details.