Finishes - Yay!

Finishes always feel good, don't they?  Sometimes I feel like I am adrift in a sea of projects and UFOs.  So when a finish comes along I feel especially good.  

I finished the binding on the Lil' Baskets quilt last night. YAY!!!  This quilt is not huge (70" x 70"), but it seemed to take forever. :-)  

Now it is ready to go on the back of the couch where the cats will sleep on it and we will get to use it occasionally.

I even like the reproduction back I selected.  With all the colors in the baskets, it was hard to choose an appropriate back.  I decided on a reproduction that complimented the borders. 

This quilt is a nice compliment to the courthouse steps quilt I made a few years ago. Ignore the leaves.. with so many trees it is hard to get a photo without them!

Both will keep us and the kitties warm on cold evenings this winter. 

 I also started this little penny rug on Halloween... and finished it on Sunday.  I  have had this pattern for a few years.  Glad I finally made it.  It was quick and fun!

Have a great week!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Stars In a Time Warp - Update, 7 Weeks of Stars!

Oh boy... I didn't realize I was so far behind in my posting of star block from the Stars in a Time Warp QAL.  Geez!!!  Where does the time go? (No pun intended - wink)  So I will try to do these in order and hopefully you will learn something about these fabrics like I did.... at the very least find them interesting!

Week 34 was Bronze Style Prints.  I chose the golden brown colored fabrics I found in my reproduction fabrics as Barbara suggested.

Week 35 was Cretonne.  Hmmmm.. this was definitely a learning experience as I learned Cretonne was a style of fabric very much like Chintz.  So I not sure I go this one 100% correct but I found  a really pretty floral print to use for my star.

Week 36 was Lancaster Blue and Greek Keys.  Very interesting to see the Greek Key motif used in clothing. However, I didn't have any of this style of fabric in my stash, so I went with the Lancaster Blue.  You can see a good example of this color in the corner squares of my block.

Week 37 - Chocolate and Blue plus Lace Prints.

This chocolate and blue print was recently purchased and I love the look of these two colors together.

The lace print was a complete surprise.  I was actually looking for something else when I found this in my stash.  Don't you just love when something like that happens?? :-)

Week 38 was Black, Gray & Asian Style Design.  I focused on the black fabrics from this week's lesson.  I knew I had plenty of those to choose from.  However, I realized I need to add some black and gray reproductions to my stash. :-)
Week 39 was about Claret Red.  So pretty I had to make two!



Week 40 Barbara inspired us to use Cadet Blue & Celestials.

Again, the Cadet Blue was easy to find in my stash.. lots of grayish blues to choose from there!

And the Celestials are so much fun.  I wish I had more of these, but I think these two fabrics fit the bill perfectly.
Right now I have 66 stars done... and we are going into week 41.  Whew!

Meanwhile, Gracie has decided that the unfinished basket quilt on the back of the couch is a good place to take a snooze....  It will be well broken in by the time I get the binding finished!

Happy Stitching!

Deb

Overwhelmed...but Making Progress

I am still feeling overwhelmed at work and thus not a lot of time for blog writing or even blog reading.  It's just a busy time and it will pass.  However, my sewing room is even overwhelming to me at the moment and has become more of a source of stress than solace.  

So, over the long weekend, when I tried to unplug from everything, I decided to try to get a sense of accomplishment by focusing on a UFO.  Notice I did not say UFOs (plural) .....too stressful.  But if I could focus on one and make some progress, I knew I would feel better.

Do you remember these sweet little baskets?  Hmmm, the date on the photo above might give you a clue. :-)  I started these a long time ago... I actually talked about them in my first blog.  That was August, 2012!  You can see that post here.  It's about time I finished this quilt.

So, I dug into my basket of completed blocks and started sewing them together.

Row after row.. until I was about out of blocks.  Oh, and guess what - I need to make more baskets.  9 more baskets to be exact.

By the looks of what is left over, I definitely need to concentrate on colors other than red or peach.  Some nice cool blues or greens, maybe even a yellow are definitely in order and greatly needed. 

Unfortunately, I did not get the quilt totally pieced together this weekend, but I did make some good progress and I am working on my additional blocks in the evenings.  I also pulled out this wonderful Moda fabric by 3 Sisters called Papillon that I bought a few years ago when one of my favorite shops was closing.  It will be perfect for the borders. 

In other 'need to make more' news... I thought I had all of my flower blocks for the Audrey's Flowers quilt almost done.  I had even taken them to a LQS for help with the setting triangles and borders.  The gals at Quilting Possibilities were very helpful.. and I came home with some great ideas.  Then I realized that I was short by 6 blocks.  Could I have miscounted?? It's possible.  Had I put them in another basket? another bag? No.. if I had them at all .. and that is questionable.. I didn't have them any longer.  So I prepped 6 more flower blocks.  

But in the "I finally got it done" category.. my Cake Stand quilt is finally pieced together and ready for the longarm quilter to do her magic. 

I haven't made mitered corners in awhile!

So, just remember...... 

 Happy Stitching!

Deb


Linking up at Let's Be Social and WIP Wednesday.