More Christmas Crafting

This year we made a few crafts for gifts....  I can't take credit for these as I had some great help..  The drill press make these reindeer fairly fast, except all the whittling my husband did!!!!  BTW thanks to my step-father for cleaning the garage, it was much easier to make a mess with this project)
Reindeer

Penguins

And finishing up a UFO... my step-father's birthday present (from his birthday last January 2012)

2012 Project Updates

2012 Goal Review

My goals for 2012 were listed at the end of 2011.  So how did I do? First I joined my local Quilt Guild.... and then I entered one item in a Quilt Challenge at a local Quilt Store, and I entered 2 items in my Guild's Quilt Show.

• Sew something every week
  I started off well, but travel, and getting back into routine got in the way... Overall I did lots of quilting, not so much garment sewing
• Purchase with a plan
  Yes!  Most fabric was purchased with a plan.  I lost track of stash in/out but did use lots of stash fabrics
• Learn to Longarm
  Yes! Getting better at this
• Work on UFOs
  Got 8 UFOs (5 Quilting, 3 Dancing) Completed!
• Enjoy!
  I did enjoy my sewing this year and at Christmas I only did 2 projects and I enjoyed both of them!

Current Status

I am not at home, but this is what I think the current status of all my projects from this year are....   Have a number in various stages of quilting....  Only one new project waiting on longarm...  

Project	Name	Stall Point	Status
1	Stars on the Mountain Quilt	Piecing	Still need to finish Mountain Blocks
3	Animals - UFO #5	DONE	1 UFO into 2 Quilts!
4	Sew Happy Geek QAL	Longarm
5	Wonky Log Cabin Blocks (Colour Challenge BOM)	Piecing	January and February Completed
10	Just Takes 2	Piecing	Done some blocks, but not enjoying... might just turn into either a lap quilt, or pillow...  Or let it sit for a while...
13	April Mae Designs - Sun BOM	Embroidery	January and February Completed March's has been Started
16	Craftsy BOM	Piecing	January and February Completed
28	BMQG - Preemie Donation Quilt	DONE	2 Airplane Quilts Donated
31	Quilt for my Husband	Piecing	Most of the Fabric is Cut Out
32	Sewing Machine Cover	DONE
33	Quilt for my Step-Father	DONE
34	New York Beauties Quilt	Piecing	7 blocks finished
35	Gecko Quilt	DONE	Entered in Contest and Quilt Show
36	Strip Quilt	DONE	Donated
37	Hugs Quilt	DONE	Mailed and Delivered!
38	Techie Quilt	DONE

Christmas Gift...

A quilt for my husband.... a few weekends ago, my husband took the kids to the island to get a Christmas tree and check on our property...  While they were away I quilted... When Connecting Threads first saw the Mastermind Collection I knew I needed to get it for my husband.... The quilting is free motion or ruler  work... It was great fun, but densely quilted so took a while to quilt!

This was my last NewFO project for the year.... and it didn't even become a UFO!!!!
I'm now ready for 2013 NewFO Challenge!!!!

Christmas Sewing

I didn't do many projects this Christmas.... But both quilting projects are done... as well as 2 family crafts!

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and wonderful holiday season!

Way too long to post (Stash Report #4-2012 & #5-2012)

Update for the Past Two Weeks

Completed

• Nautical Quilt 

What am I working on?

• Just Take 2
• Sew Happy Geek QAL 
• Stars on the Mountain - 28 9 patch blocks completed, Mountain Blocks started

Projects to work on in the next week (no current progress)?

• Baby Quilt (UFO #5)
• Hem 2 pair of pants

Projects upcoming

• Installing Red Snappers on my Longarm
• Quilt for my stepfather

Stash Report #4-2012 (22Jan 2012)

Used this Week:        1.1m
      Year to Date:               6.3 m
      Added this Week:       4.5 m
          Year to Date:           23.1 m
      Net Used for 2012:        - 16.8 m

      Projects Completed this week:    2           (Includes UFOs)
          Year to Date:                7
      UFOs Completed this week:        0
          Year to Date:                2
     Mending&Alterations Completed:   1
     Year to Date:                     2

Report #5-2012 (29Jan 2012)

Used this Week:         0 m
     Year to Date:                6.3 m
      Added this Week:        1.5 m
          Year to Date:           24.6 m
      Net Used for 2012:        - 18.3 m

      Projects Completed this week:    1           (Includes UFOs)
          Year to Date:                8
      UFOs Completed this week:        1
          Year to Date:                3
     Mending&Alterations Completed:   0
     Year to Date:                     2

Stash Report #2-2012

Colour Challenges
Over at So Scrappy today's scrap challenge colour was
Red.  I decided to do a red wonky log cabin block...  Its 12.5".  My thought is I'll do a wonky log cabin block in each colour and then sash them in white and have a whole quilt top....

Playing with colours... I think this would need a border too!
  Maybe the green...  I'll have to play with that....

Quilt Times Lonestar

Judy from Patchwork Times has a great colour palette challenge for this month... I love the colours and was contemplating making a Lone Star wall hanging with the l(joining the quilt along over at Quilt Times. I probably don't need another challenge or quilt along... but I like the look of the colours and that block... Maybe... or maybe this will just stay a dream! 

UFO Challenge Update

Judy's is Challenge has us work on #5!  I pulled it out, and it was just a bag of squares and rectangles.  I sewed the rectangles together... so now I have a bag full of 6.5" and 3.5" squares...  I've come up with the proposed layout... now just to sew together the stack of 4-patches...  My goal this month is to get the quilt top finished.

I think I'll need to update my list... As I've already finished 1 Quilty UFO... So when its number comes up, I'll just insert another project....

What am I working on?
Sewing

• Highland Dance Vest - Muslin made, tested.  Then cut out all pieces in velvet, cotton lining, canvas interfacing. (the black is the pattern)
• Highland Dance Blouse - only need to make 1.  My older daughter no longer needs a new one - her old one is just short with the old kilt, this new kilt sits much higher, so she won't need one.  For my younger daughter, her's is too short and too skinny... Fabric is washed and ready to be cut out - now what pattern did I use?  Highland Dance Outfit  lists the pattern as Ottobre Designs 2/04 #23...  Must measure and then trace...

Quilting

• Longarm -Nautical Quilt is still on the machine - slowly working on it.  No progress this weekend.  Tomorrow once the kids (or the healthy ones) are back at school.  Deadline - Jan 24th.
• Quilt for my stepfather - black fabric is washed, now I need to make bias tape for the celtic knot I'll put on it...Guess I need to look up the easy way to make continuous bias tape - it has been a while!
• New Years Day Mystery Quilt Class from Longarmclassroom.com - fabric is supposed to arrive tomorrow...  maybe?  maybe not...
• Baby Quilt (UFO #5)- need to make 4 patches
  

Stash Report #2-2012 (8 Jan 2012)

      Used this Week:        2.4 m
          Year to Date:      2.4 m
      Added this Week:      12.2 m
          Year to Date:     12.2 m
      Net Used for 2012:   - 9.8 m

      Projects Completed this week:    2           (Includes UFOs)
          Year to Date:                3
      UFOs Completed this week:        1
          Year to Date:                2

UFO #2 Completed! Silent Auction Quilt COMPLETE

I finished my 2nd UFO of the year...  and no it wasn't the one chosen for this month by Judy @ Patckworktimes.  But it was one of my items on my list for the Finish A Long hosted by Rhonda @ Quilter in the Gap.

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Kilt Modelled....
She was pretty excited to try on her new kilt....

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Progress on the LongarmI'm nearly 50% complete... the halfway stripe on the back will be under the needle soon....

KILT Making: First UFO Finish for 2012!

UFO Completed! First UFO done...First Kilt done...

This kilt was completely hand crafted by me and 95% of the stitching was all handstitched!

This kilt was started Sept 2009 in a class that lasted 9 weeks. The course was great... and I made the kilt "large" so it would fit my daughter this year. She is now in need of a new kilt, and other than I needed to take it in a little (move the buckles from their intended location) the fit is pretty good... I'm linking this up as December's UFO Completion, because I didn't have a quilt numbered 12...

The course was great - 4 students... we had 9 weekly classes of 3 hours each week!  We were exhausted when we left each week with our homework.  Most weeks it was 6-12 hours of homework!  WOW!   And the final 4 hours of homework was just completed today.  I figure this kilt took between 50-60 hours plus class time.

After sewing this I understand WHY a KILT costs over $500!  First the 100% wool tartan... and then the 30-60 hours to handstitch!  Will I make another is the question?  I know it'll be faster....  I won't be making these to sell but may make them for family (really close family, like ONLY my kids)

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Note: The black basting thread are still in for one final press. I'm going to take it to the Dry Cleaners to have this done. I'm hoping I can get it done while I wait...

Next Project: Highland Dance Vest to match
Glad I didn't start this before the kilt was finished. I probably would have made the vest too skinny. This kilt adds 1-2" to her waist and hip measurements due to the layers of fabric... Now off to search for the pattern.

Deadline: 14 January at 8AM for the next Competition

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Stash Report #1 (1 Jan 2012)

      Used this Week:       0 m
          Year to Date:     0 m
      Added this Week:      0 m
          Year to Date:     0 m
      Net Used for 2012:    0 m

      Projects Completed:    1
          Year to Date:      1
      UFOs Completed:        1
          Year to Date:      1

2012 First Quarter Projects

Happy New Year....
Today I am supposed to be working on my New Years Day 2012 Mystery Quilt - Stars on the Mountains Quilt Class from LongarmClassroom... But I have 3 kids at home, its nice enough outside to go for a bike ride, and I am still waiting for the post to deliver my fabric...  Hope I'm home on Tuesday when the mail arrives so they leave the box...

 

For the first Quarter of the 2012 Finish-A-long, here is my list of projects...

In progress

• Kilt, Vest, 2 Highland Dance Blouses
  -- Kilt is waiting for the last buckle to be sewn on Kilt Completed - 1 Jan 2012
  -- I have all supplies for the Vest and blouses ready to cut out -- In the end only one blouse is needed
  -- Vest and Blouse Completed 13 Jan 2012  
• Nautical Quilt
  -- On the longarm
  -- COMPLETED  Updated Jan 27 Quilt Done! 
• Silent Auction Baby Quilt
  -- Waiting for Binding Quilt is done - 3 Jan 2012
• Baby Quilt from Panel -- Waiting for Longarm to be free - Quilt is Done - 21 Feb
• Dresden Square Quilt
  -- 4 Panels Partially Completed... I might put them on the longarm to finish...
• St Patrick's Day Quilt -- Will be put on the longarm to finish quilting, binding cut out and ready to be attached
  -- Quilt is DONE! Feb 2012
• Garment Sewing UFOs - Top for me, top & dress for my youngest, skirt for my older daughter
• Longarm University New Years Day 2012 Mystery Quilt
  -- My fabric is due to arrive Tuesday, course opens tomorrow (Still waiting on fabric :() White fabric is cut and ready to go (Dec 31,2011)
• Quilt for my Step-father
  -- Fabric is squared and ready to be added to the longarm machine. I need to get some black bias ready to iron in a celtic knot onto the fabric just prior to loading it on the machine....

In the Planning Stage:

• Quilt for my son's teacher (baby gift)
  Will use a school t-shirt and some denim on the back, This quilt is done, given as a gift and Thank You card received  Completed March 2012

Further from Completion - on the highly unlikely list

• Dresden Square Table topper
  -- Needs Borders, backing, etc

Just a dream:

• A quilt for my husband....Cut out

2011 In Review & 2012 Goals

2011 Sewing Resolutions

From my blog last December....

My goals for the upcoming year are very similar to the past few years

• Make meaningful fabric purchases
  for the most part I've purchased with a plan, sewn from stash... but haven't made the projects from all the fabric I purchased
• Finish UFOs
  Got 4 Quilting UFOs finished, 1 is partially completed
  unfortunately I also created some new ones....
  
• Start Gift Sewing Early
  I didn't sew much for Christmas and was pretty good most of the year on this one

2011 Stash Report
I lost track mid year... I think I ended up about equal, as I needed to buy some larger pieces for the longarm...  But I have plans for them and they aren't just going into stash!


2011 UFO Completions

Hand Print Quilt	Small Bags Started at a Quilt Class
Teacher Gift Quilt	Pink & Purple Stars & Hearts

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UFO Partial Completion
Its on the longarm!

My first completed project on the longarm

One of my UFOs is nearly 50% quilted... and one new project from the year is my pinwheel quilt - the first project I completed on the longarm....

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And the best sewing of the year was completed by my "helpers"

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2012 Goals
My goals for 2012

• Sew something every week
• Purchase with a plan
• Learn to Longarm
• Work on UFOs
• Enjoy!

2012 UFO Challenge

I didn't do so hot on 2011's UFO Completion... I did manage to complete 4 of the items, and work on 1 additional item.  BUT I also created 4 quilting UFOs.

I'm hoping my longarm machine will soon solve my UFO issues....

2012's Quilting list...

Projects I worked on but didn't complete in 2011

1. Nautical Quilt -- Currently On the Longarm... might be quilted before 2012!!!
   DONE! January 27 Nautical Quilt Completed

Projects I didn't even work on in 2011

2. Bag for my mom 
3. Rocking Chair Covers for my mom
4. Quilt from my grandmother's fabric -- not sure if I'll do it... Maybe I'll do it for my dad...
5. Baby Quilt Two tops completed
   DONE!  Two Quilts
6. Baby Rag Quilt

New UFOs

7. Dresden 4 panel Quilt from the QAL -- Quilting started
8. Dresden table topper - Needs borders before quilting
9. St Patrick's Day Quilt - Partially Quilted, DONE February
10. Hallowe'en Quilt - Pieces cut out
11. Baby Quilt for Silent Auction
    DONE! January 4 Baby Quilt Completed

New Quilting Projects Planned for 2012

1. Whole Cloth Quilt for my Step-father (in plaid)
   DONE!  Dec 2012!
2. New Years Day Mystery Quilt 2012 

2012 Sewing List

• Kilt
  DONE! January 1  Kilt Completed
• Highland Dance Vest
  DONE! January 14  Vest completed
• 2 1 Blouses for Highland Dance (only 1 needed, with new kilt blouse still fits)
  DONE! January 14  Blouse completed