January Challenges all met...and then some.

 I am happy to report that all my January Challenges were finished. A good start to the new year.

Let's see what was on the list.....

Make blocks from the HUGE pile of black scraps....done.

Embroider Mylar Boots.....done.

Since the boots have Mylar in them, they are all shiny. I made hats and horse and riders for the corners. Pink background fabric and a dark green print for sashing. Might have enough of that green for a border.

Do something with the huge pile of 2.5" zebras....done and done.

All different configurations of borders. I made about 120 of these and then quit.

 But, there are still over hundred zebra squares left…so, I made these with scraps I got from the quilt famous Scott Murkin.

 

And, when I ran out of zebras, I used the rest of Scott’s fabric to make these.

 

Other accomplishments for January include…

 

A Facebook BOM…Bona Lisa

This is the first block

 

And, she got a hat and scarf

And she has sweaters…

 

 

The first of the month I will get the next installment.

 

Also found on Facebook,  SAHRR….Stay At Home Round Robin.

You use any block you like for the center. Each Monday you get a block from a different designer to use for your next round. So far, we have 2 rounds.

 

 Sweet Pea BOM…Houses

This is a large block, made in 2 parts and sewn together. The first Thursday of each month you next the next block. So far, just the first one.

 

I made my February snowman Wall Hanging and got it quilted.

 

Molly Mine released new embroidery quilt designs. This is Part 1..blocks 1-4. The idea is to make 4 of the same blocks and put them together as 1. Not sure I will do that or leave them all single.

 

My cousin gave me a set of Lorelei fabrics. They are all sewing related and have some Sassy Ladies. This is what I came up with to use them. It is about 64 x 72”. I still have pieces left from most of the fabrics.

 

And I am working on my Boxes quilt top here and there.

Here is the inspiration…

 

This is what I drew up…

 

I have almost half of the boxes put together so far.

 

I think that is all of my January. I didn't realize I had done so much. haha

The challenges for February are…

 

1.        Turn this box of green scraps into blocks.

 

2.       Piece the Judy Martin Celebration quilt. I have had the pieces cut out for some time, just waiting for me. When I looked at them yesterday, I discovered that I had cut the white and black pieces correctly, but the scrappy pieces are cut the wrong size. So, there will be some finangeling going on with this one.

 

3.       Embroider Baltimore Album blocks. There are 20 embroidered and 20 redwork. I decided to do them all. Should be fun.

 

Of course, I will continue with…

 ..Bona Lisa

..SAHRR

..BOM Houses

 

That should keep me busy for a while.

Stay at Home Round Robin

 I have decided on my center block.

It's a left over St Louis Cardinals star block from my cousin's quilt.

Block is 12.5"

Ready to get started.

New Year....new challenges

 This year I am again challenging myself to do certain things each month.

January's list is....

1.  Use that ton of black scraps and make blocks....DONE!  I made 117  8.5" blocks.

2.  Piece the zebra blocks....there are over 200  zebra squares that I am framing. So far, I have 59 finished. I am quickly losing interest in this project. But, I shall push myself to finish.

3.  Embroidering colorful Mylar cowboy boots. I will make 30 of them. I need 12 more to finish.

4.  Sweet Pea's BOM....Houses. DONE!  I finished January's house today.

5. Bona Lisa's BOM. I keep finding cute applique projects on line and sign up. haha

This quilt has a skeleton in the middle and the border blocks are sweaters that she has knitted.

I just started and am cutting out fusible parts. Hope to have the middle skeleton fused down today.

And I have 2 sweater blocks to do also.

If you need me, I'll be at the sewing machine....or the ironing board

This is Sweet Pea's January house. It is done in 2 parts....About 12x20"

These are some of the black scrappy blocks.

Red, white and blue squares

 I pieced this while I was at my sister's the last few months. 

I got a stack of r, w & b squares and then cut a few more of mine from the stash.

And this is what happened.

The border and backing is fabric I got from my cousin's stash.

It is 72 x 76".  I cut 4.5" squares.

I quilted wiggly lines horizontally over the seams. You can't see the quilting though.

I actually got this to match up pretty well when I pieced the back.

I used Glide Ruby for the top and So Fine Navy for the bottom.

I used a few pieces of batting that I had laying around, so there are a couple lines of thicker places. 

My sister expressed a desire for this one, so she might get it if she still wants it.

St Louis Cardinals baseball quilt

 This is the last project for my cousin. I'll see her to deliver next weekend. 

She had made 6 of the star blocks. I made the rest. It's huge....about 96 x 102  .... for her bed. It is so heavy, she will never get cold.

Sorry about that birdcage blocking the top left....but all the corners are the same, so you didn't miss anything. haha

Lots of machine embroidery work here. I embroidered the letters and then cut them out and sewed them on the blue fabric.

I looked up stats to put in the quilt.

There is also blocks of peanuts and popcorn.

Had to pay some homage to Gibson and Musial.

Paul Harvey's famous saying.

She gave me the names of the players she wanted incorporated into the quilt.

 

 

Star blocks, baseball blocks, framed baseball blocks. There are 3 different baseball prints. She only had a little of one print. I found the others on eBay.

 

And, the back. The oldest year I saw here was 2006 so this might be some old fabric. 

 

I used Glide white for the top thread and a dirty cream So Fine for the bobbin.

Mets T-shirt Quilt

 My sister is at it again. Someone brought her a bag of kids' t-shirts and wanted a quilt. She got sucked in. haha

It is 74 x 80"  Notice binding is half blue; half orange....just for kicks. I thought that might be difficult, but was actually easy.

My main objective was to sew everything down....so nothing fancy here.

She did do a few embroidery blocks.  

Another embroidery block. The quilt is for the dad of the kids who wore these shirts. He couldn't just toss them out. 

Another cute embroidery block.

A couple orange hearts thrown in...just for fun.

 

The back is orange. I am told the Mets colors are blue and orange.

Glide Cobalt for the top and So Fine Orange for the bobbin.

Claire's Tea Party

 This is for my cousin's 9th grandchild. She arrived at the beginning of this month. It was a surprise to me, as no one told me she was pregnant. Those people know how to keep a secret. I talked to the mom and she preferred a green quilt. OK, so green it is....along with some pink and brown. I have embroidered this pattern a few times before and I just think it is so cute. Applique done with my embroidery machine. 

It is 45" square. 

You know by now that my camera skills are marginal at best. haha  It's a bright green....the first pic is pretty true to color.

I did some background quilting...not much. and went around whatever was in the block.

And went around arms and cups and legs and whatever needed a bit of holding down.

I love this little guy. 

This one is my favorite block.

 

 

Cupcake...good choice.

 

Cupcakes for the cornerstones. Lines going back and forth through the sashing.

I just played in the border....curvy stuff and a few feathers

The back is parts of the fabrics used.

Glide chocolate, shamrock and azalea for the top. So Fine beige for the bobbin.  This little thing took 4 bobbins...I was kind of surprised at that.

I am putting it in the mail tomorrow. I hope they like it. Big sister is just about 2, so she might take it over. haha

Big brother is 4....he probably would care less about a tea party.   He likes frogs.