Saturday, December 31, 2011

12 for 2012

Last year I wrote a list of 11 quilting things I wanted TO DO in 2011.  Some were finished, some were started and some were ignored.  This year my goal is to continue to enjoy my creative side. 
My 12 for 2012 in no particular order are:

1-  12 quilts for QoV- Alycia in CO will hold me accountable for this one!

2-  Dear Jane-  All fabrics are in stages of prep and I will start on Jan 1, 2012- no plans yet as to how I will do the applique, my default is raw edge, I may surprise myself and do needle turn- only time will tell.

3-  Test  Blocks for QuiltMakers 100 blocks Vol5

4-  Finish and Submit Quilt from Amy Butler fabrics and blocks from Vol5

5- Quilt at least 12 tops from my flimsy stash.

6- Move all my upstairs sewing to the downstairs studio by the end of Jan. (and stay there- probably not going to happen but it is a goal)

7- DeClutter the Quilting room by doing weekly Flings (thanks StashBusters for the idea and encouragement)  One hour a week- Sunday afternoon marked on the calender- it's a date.

8- Use my GO and dies and kit, kit, kit,

9- Participate in at least One on-line Mystery or On Going Project (not counting Orca Bay which is almost finished!)  considering the 365 scrappy house blocks- we will see.

10- Organize my UFO-s  by year of poss completion- (I see a couple of crazy (tie  materials) quilts in 2013!)

11- Document the commissioned quilt for IDF- due June 2012- chicken theme

12- Host a lock-in sew-in


I will eventually do a post on each of these twelve TO DO's and link back to this page.  What are your sewing/quilts goals for this coming year?

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Blue and Yellow for Chicago Sara, what do I do for a border?

the top is 80 x 80 so far, I am wondering what to do for a border.

This is cut using my GO and the Isoc. Tri die.  A controlled scrappy using blues and yellows.

I have yardage in blue and yellow that I could do a 6 1/2 print border.  I am wondering if I want to applique words or flowers or butterflies, etc... or just call it done.  I will leave it hanging for a couple of days until I decide if it is ready to get quilted.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Dear Jane 2012


I picked up my copy a few years ago, figured it would be a good read, NO WAY I am interested in making one!



Found and purchased the 'ruler' set during a shop hop with friends this past year- wonder what I will use it for?


Ruler set includes the square to resize one's blocks.


I have a tun on tracing paper, think I am seeing a future TO DO.


This tote is mostly repos from a moving sale.  Lots of strips and fats.  I have several ideas on how I hope to use them.


First I sorted out 250 different prints to use IF I ever do a Dear Jane. (I think I see where this is leading!)


Then, I picked out enough larger pieces to do the side triangle with a few to spare.


Looks Like I have officially jumped in to do my own Dear Jane.  Starting in 2012, my challenge to self is to complete the top by the end of the year (I might leave the year blank, knowing my love of putting things on the UFO list)


My reward for sorting through the tote was a chance to die cut the rest of the fabrics.  I now have a couple of more kits to use, gift or sell.  This 'pile' is cut using the chisel die.  They may be used for braids, stars or other blocks.  I also cut a similar amount of triangles and a flat of 2" squares.  Two good side flats of strips and strings are now ready to be worked in to a scrappy projects.

Friday, December 23, 2011

OrcaBaySpoiler group

I saw that someone had tried to post a photo to the mystery group album and was deleted.  I am sorry I missed it b/c I am having ideas too.  SO..... I am going to start an unofficial group for anyone who want to banter ideas of where this mystery may or may not go.

I set it up as invitation only so bear with me.  (my first group)  I will keep it up just till after the reveal.

No prizes, no deadlines, just fun "What IF's"





Your OrcaBaySpoilers group at Yahoo! Groups is good to go.

Here are the details on OrcaBaySpoilers:
Group home page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrcaBaySpoilers
Group email address: OrcaBaySpoilers@yahoogroups.com


Of course I am traveling today so don't worry if it takes me a bit to get you in, I am still learning how to be a group moderator.


Merry Christmas to all the spoilers and non-spoilers out there!  cw

Step 6- Ohio Stars- My GO is getting a work out!

My 2 1/2' strip die is getting used a lot on this Mystery!  Because I can cut multiple of layers I think for this quilt I am going to use fabrics in sets of 4.
I really like the scrappy scrappy that I am seeing by other quilters but for me this will just have to be a little on the controlled side.  I was a little low on red and blue scraps but managed to get a fairly good variety for the string blocks in previous steps.  My blacks are really lacking and I am having to duplicate in several steps.
I am confident that I will love the final top and am not worried about only having a dozen different lights/darks. 
I found a piece of red that had been on the shelf way to long.  It was die cut and will be the centers of all my stars.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Step 5 (I'm hanging in there)

Most of my 'blacks' have floral on them
I even found some cameo to cut up
I was able to cut my 'wings' out using my 2 1/2" tri/sq die for my GO.  I am not sure but I think I will use matching wings to make this weeks units.  I am still sewing on the red strings but should be able to call it good this weekend.

After the units were sewn I 'trimmed' them using the triangle die #55009  3" finished 1/2 sq/tri

Thursday, December 15, 2011

First broken arm --

Karlee first broken arm.  This is the temp cast from the emergency room.




Waiting to 'see' the specialist

Looks like this arm needs a Pink cast!
Mike called me Tuesday night to see if I want to go the the emergency room to check out Karlee's arm.  As a grandma I can't stand to see any of my little ones hurt.

Karlee (age 4 1/2) tripped over her brother while playing outside before bedtime.  She dislocated her elbow and has a hairline crack in the upper arm bone.  We were at the hospital till 2:30am.  Karlee didn't cry once.
When asked it it hurt, she would nod and say "A little".  What a tough kid!  (Grandma about passed out after just looking at the swelling- lol)
Today was the visit with the specialist to see if it needed pinned.  He thinks because of swelling to do the cast and re- x-ray in a week.  Prayers are that the growth plate is not damaged.

Karlee said that her arm feels a lot better now that it is 'bent' and in the cast, she likes her sling.  I can see grandma making a few more in novelty prints (a Christmas one or two too?)  I also want to make her a cloak, there is no way she can get her arm in a coat.

Now I know what to get her for Christmas- a pack of perm.markers- lol

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

I need help w/a saying--

can't show you what I am working on (yet).  I want/need to add an outer border.

I need a saying that will go with my personality and the fabrics I am using.

1- "when I give to you, what I make with my hands, I share my Heart'

2-Do what you can, with what you have, where you are"

3-Beauty is in the way you live,let your surroundings inspire you"

4-"want to see my fabric collection?

5- something else??  all ideas welcomed.

I will throw in a bundle of fats to the person who helps me pick a saying......

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Orca Bay step 4 Red strings



I might not sub-cut until I know how we are using these- so far I like how they are turning out.
These should be called kitchen sink reds, everything is in here!
Pulled strings from my string bins and from the scrap bins.  Many of these are left overs from a 2 1/2" piano key border.  They will get sub-cut to 1" and 1 1/2" .  It will be fun re-visiting fabrics as I sew blocks for this mystery.  Lane and Karlee took turns using the GO dies to cut down the strips.
Gotta love having help at this stage.  Now to cut out the foundation papers and get started sewing!

Note to Self:  use the die for 5 1/2" sq to cut the foundation paper.  Use the Triangle Die #55002  4 7/8 triangles to sub-cut the units.  Just need to fold the striped squares in half and the die cuts out both perfect~

Monday, December 5, 2011

Orca Bay step 3


I would love to say that I am done but in reality all I did was cut into my fabrics!  The tri/sqs above are the ones still left on step #1 that need sewn together- my bad
In my defense, I had NOT planned to do this Mystery, so technically I am WAY ahead of schedule- lol
Here is "my step 3"  I am doing a light and dark sq. sewing down both sides of the middle and cutting them apart to product the desired unit.  "Zero down- 350 TO DO"