Herringbone Progress

I pulled out my half square triangles the other night to see how I wanted the layout to look for this herringbone quilt. Well, then I just started sewing.  Didn't have anything else to work on.  I managed to get half of the top sewn then I decided to take a break.  

I have the other half organized and ready to go though.  

Maybe after I get the second half pieced I will switch back to the postage stamp.  

I bought my backing and binding the other day.  I think we are going to be snowed in this weekend so I may get a bit of this one quilted.  I'm getting excited about seeing this one completed!  

Current WIPs

 These two quilts are moving ahead towards completion!  The last two on my horrible list are actively being worked on!  

My three year old postage stamp is a finished top!  I skipped a column and two rows though because I was worried about buying a backing since I need to be better with my quilt allowance.

I'm very happy to have this top in the cabinet waiting for a backing.  I think I may have seen a print or two of this line in the discount room at my LQS so I'm heading there on Saturday to take a look.

And for the changed 'plums' quilt project which will now be my herringbone, I started laying it out this afternoon.

I don't think I'll start sewing right away.  I just wanted to see how many of the half square triangles I have needed to be pressed and trimmed still.  

This quilt pattern is supposed to be 16 x 18.  I am looking forward to seeing it all laid out.  

I cannot even tell you how thrilled I am that I have the motivation to work on these quilts!  When I made that dreadful list I really never intended to ever work on them or finish them.    Now I'm feeling giddy that I will have and hopefully keep a much more manageable number of projects in the future.

Apple Jacks Baby Quilt

 I just got word from my friend Bri that she received the baby quilt I made her so I can share!

Bri is a quilting friend and she and I went through a 6 month deployment together, so a soon as I heard she had conceived I knew I must make the new baby a quilt.  I had an Apple Jack charm pack in my stash and thought it would be perfect.  

The twisted four patch is such a snap to put together.  I used different solids for the border and added the red corners to make it even more colorful and bright. 

I found the backing online and I was so excited I was able to find the print I wanted! 

I had a spare four patch so I used it to mount the label and I think its pretty adorable.  

I'm so excited for her and her family to welcome another sweet baby boy into their family.  I hope he gets lots of use and fun from this quilt.

Finished Blueberry Patch Sampler

I am so flipping pleased to announce I am done with my sampler! Quilting it was a chore and I was reminded of why I love the large throat on my Juki....I appreciated every square inch of that space as I turned the quilt around and around.  

  

I did fairly loose quilting in the ditch so the quilt came out lovely and pillowy from the dryer. 

I made a mathematically bad decision to quilt my borders this way, but I don't want to talk about it.... its done.

Here he is!

Have I ever mentioned how difficult it is to photograph quilts in the South Dakota 'breeze'?

This happens alot.....

Sometimes this happens a few times....

I just wait...

.... and consider a shot like this 'good enough'  

So now for this exciting part!  

1. Birthday gift for my sister- DONE
2. Baby gift for a friend due in late spring- DONE
3. Happy Go Lucky- DONE
4. Cuzco- DONE
5. Economy Block I-spy- DONE
6. Marmalade- DONE
7. Blueberry Patch Sampler- DONE
8. Scrumptious- DONE
9. Baby gift for a friend due in late spring-DONE
10. Mod Pop Quilt Along-DONE
11. Mystery BOM - up to date 
12. Plums- Changing it to the Herringbone Quilt Along -starts 3/3
13. Postage Stamp- Sewing strips
14. A gift quilt- DONE

That's right folks my UFOs have nearly been destroyed!

I decided to take the 'Plums' quilt which I was going to leave alone, and I'm going to use it in a Herringbone Quilt Along my online group is going to start next month.  The great part is I already have all of the HSTs sewn so I'm ahead!

And thanks to some sort of  three year old WIP miracle I picked up my Postage Stamp. I'm still in patchwork and I have to sew eight more strip sets.  I'll keep you updated :)

Mod Pop

I finished my Mod Pop quilt this afternoon.  I'm so happy its over!  The pattern is striking and easy enough, just a bit time consuming.  But I love this finished quilt.

  

The backing I picked up at JoAnn's really is perfect.  

The color idea came from a design-seed.  I still love that site for new ideas.

Hopefully I can get motivated to quilt my Blueberry Patch Sampler.  I'd like to get that one finished up too! 

For a New Camper

A friend of mine is expecting and I can share the quilt I made for her upcoming spring baby. 

I was at the fabric store looking for something entirely different when I saw this lightening bug fabric. I thought it would be great for Julie's baby quilt.  They aren't finding out if the baby is a boy or a girl so it let the quilt stay neutral, but still fun.  

I did a zig-zag pattern with a few other prints and solids I thought made the quilt cheerful. You can see in the top photo the print of animal prints, and in the photos below you can see the tree rings print.  I thought they made for a really cute fabric combination.   

Isn't this backing adorable?  I know!  

I'm so happy for my friend Julie as she starts her family.  

I know she is going to be an incredible mother and I am so excited for this new adventure she is embarking on... its no Appalachian Trail, but she is going to love it.  

Number Five

2009

2010

2011

2013

2014

I cracked into my fifth bolt of batting the other day.  The hubs asked how many I had gone through in the past five years.... and I told him this was my fifth.  Then he did the math I've gone through 160 yards of batting.   But think of the savings!  I've spent roughly $640 on my bolts vs. $1,600 buying it by the yard!  (even if I had scrounged for coupons I still would have spend around $960 buying it by the yard)

That cost difference is like 96 yards worth of fabric I could buy! Friends!  If you are quilting regularly you should be buying bolts!