January Recap

 I'm going to try and be organized this year and get lots done. I have numbered 12 quilt tops to quilt this year....and 12 projects to finish...and 12 colors to use up scraps.

January was successful.

This was the January quilt that got finished ....

 I also quilted a couple more....

This was a flip and stitch that was pieced and quilted at the same time on the longarm.

This was a new process that I saw on a video and tried. Just lay the pieces out and stitch them down. Then I couched the edges with colorful yarn.  Fun to do.

I also quilted up 4 snowmen wall hangings  and sold them to my sister.

The project for January was a quilt as you go project that I started a year or two ago. 2 rows were finished....some blocks were made. I finished the rest of the blocks and put 2 more rows together. Then decided I did not want to finish it. I zigzagged over the edges of the 4 rows I had put together and put it in the dog's crate. haha    The rest of the 45 blocks were sold on eBay.  Sometimes you just have to say.... enough....and get rid of something. haha

The color was brown.  I made some 4 patch posy blocks with a brown Halloween print. And then sold them on eBay.

On the embroidery front, there was some progress ....

This is a BOM that I saw on FB...waiting for this month's block.

A few more dog blocks done...

And a couple patchwork pet blocks finished....

So, I feel good about January. Let's hope next month is as successful.

Cats and Dogs I is done

 This came off the frame today. It still needs a binding. It is #3  in the 'binding pile' that is accumulating in the studio. haha  I have enough blocks cut to make another one, but am going to work on a snowman next.

This might be my new way to use up fabrics. The stitch and flip method goes so quickly. Just takes a bit of time to make the sashing to cover the horizontal seams.

This time I quilted lines going across about every 3 inches.

I have lots of that fabric of dogs in sweaters...gotta come up with a good plan for that.

I cut the blocks 15"

Great use of batting scraps, too. These types of quilts will use up all kinds of scraps in a hurry. Does that count towards the "Clutter Busters" total? haha

Back is a tan sheet from the thrift store, naturally. haha  Their sheets are so soft...and only 2 or 3 dollars. Beats the price of fabric and makes my thrifty soul happy.

Now that I'm back in the quilting mood, January is rolling right along. And I hadn't forgotten how to use the longarm. haha

Cats and Dogs I

 I was thinking about Beth's video last night and woke up with a new idea. Thought I would try the stitch and flip method like the embroidery design people do. It required cutting some blocks..... but i cut them 15"....so 20 of them will make a good couch quilt.  Just sewed the first block down, laid the second block RST, ran a line of stitching down, flipped it over and repeat.

Cats and Dogs I....

I cut squares from my cat and dog fabrics. Seems I have more cats than dogs...strange.

15" squares....20 of them...will make a top about 60x72 or thereabouts.  I quilted straight lines across about 3 inches apart.

Check out my wiener dog fabric to cover the horizontal seams where the blocks come together. haha

 

I'll probably finish this one tomorrow....and then do the second one.  what next???

Piecing and quilting on the longarm

Beth attached that video of Piecing on the Longarm....and I watched it and was captivated. WOW...right up my alley.  So, this morning I finished up the quilt on the frame....thank goodness it was small, or I might have just pulled it off.

And I did 2 throat spaces worth of 'piecing'. it will be large....about 80x90.  I used a sheet from the thrift store for the backing....a purple and white check. haha    and all kinds of batting pieces.  

Sooo much fun. can't wait to get back at it tomorrow. Even the embroidery machine didn't get turned on today. haha

 

I'm quilting as I go, too.  I will call it "Is it HOT in here, or is it just ME".  reds, oranges and yellows.

 

OK....I finished up the 'piecing' and quilting.  I have to wait for yarn to couch and bind....but it is finished and I LIKE IT.  it is 72 x 86. 

This uses a lot of those pieces of fabric that aren't enough for anything big but you can't just throw them away. And no trimming the pieces...just lay them down and layer with other pieces. 

And no cutting of little pieces.  If I wanted a piece smaller, I just ripped it.  I don't know why that piece shows as purple in there....it is orange.  weird.

Check out the little orange polka dot peek-a-boo. haha

This was sooo much fun. at the end, i just slapped some small pieces on there to cover up some spots. 

The backing is a light purple and white check sheet from the thrift store.

You can see it better here. 

I have already started another one. hahahhahaaha 

Patchwork Pets

 Anita Goodesign has the best embroidery designs. I have many, many of them. I especially like the crazy quilt, applique types. This new design ticks all my boxes....it has applique....it has crazy quilting....it was cats, dogs and birds. what's not to like. There are 16 blocks. So far, I have finished 4.  Here they are.

I like the several different background fabrics.

This one I used plain background fabrics and put in the meandering design that they had in the backgrounds. 

Black, white and gray kitties.....with a bird

2 Dogs, 2 birds.

Their designs call for batting in the blocks, but i skip that part. and i skip the meandering stitching in the background fabrics, too. except for that one block.

The only downside is that they take so long to stitch out. The first 2 cats was 73 steps....and over an hour of stitching. So, I only make one in a day, but they are soooo darn cute.

Gardening Time

 

After being in a funk for months, I finally finished quilting this fused applique top. It has been so long since I started it, I have no recollection of the name of the pattern.

I changed colors....about 10 times.....to stitch everything down.

As I was putting on the binding, I realized the star points were cut off. I need to remember that....yeah, right...for the next quilt.....too close to the edge.

Love that bird fighting that worm

I may actually have to buy more thread. I was having trouble matching colors.

Gave my eyes fits on those tiny pieces. Another thing to remember....only applique large pieces. haha

I love all the pots lined up in a row. 

Feathers going every which way.

Just the right fabric for a butterfly.

I always enjoy the backs....almost more than the front.

 

 

And, have another loaded on the frame. Hopefully, it will be finished in a couple days versus months and months. 

 

 

Paper dolls are a hit....so far.

 I got a message...and a photo... from my cousin.  Granddaughter Norah was tester #1 for the paper dolls. She was having a good time with them. She put the super heroes outfit on a girl. haha   way to go, Norah.