On the Up Side

It’s now on the up side of the Winter Solstice! Once again, the days are getting longer. And, before we know it, this winter will be over! Spring is just around the corner!

The last time I posted, it was about the Promises I made to myself. I’m thrilled to report: I had the honor of covering three Veterans at the American Legion Post #116 Christmas Party!

Doing the math, I have one quilt finished/ready and safely stored (because I had 4 ready for the party but only 3 new Veterans attended)!

And, my friend’s quilt will be ready for the January’s Post meeting! We have 2 new members I’m hoping will attend!

Once I get back to the sewing room…

This is what 1080 pieces sewn together looks like! It’s called a “Beggars Quilt” or “Charm Quilt” and some call it a “Postage Stamp Quilt”. 

It’s taken me a little over a year to complete it thus far. I put a call out for scraps back in May 2016 in the article “Begging for the Beggar” and the response was overwhelming! Thank you again to my family and friends that now have a bit of their scraps in this quilt!

I quickly discovered, however, I can do just so much cutting (holding/using a rotary cutter) at one time and is why it’s taken me so long! I didn’t make it for the 2017 Dallas Quilt Show, but that’s okay.

With this quilt, I plan on covering a Veteran ~ not a member of our Post ~ but a member of our community. I’ve been acquainted with him for many years now. Back in March, his sought after advice meant the world to me and brought me inner peace I haven’t had since my daddy was called home. It’s past time I cover him.

How do you work?

Recently, “How do you work?” was asked on the Lone Star of Texas Quilts for Others Facebook group. Michelle asked if we have several work-in-progress (WIP) going at once, or do we totally start to finish before going to the next project. The discussion had mixed results. Some do several at a time – like me! Others must complete before starting something new!

Bottom line, it is whatever works! Either way, you are not alone!

I decided to share my WIP list before the world, get it out into the universe. I need to set goals and get them done! There are so many more projects I want to do!

Besides the following major WIP, there are “minor” projects I want to do, like Blessing Bags, Action Quilts (aka Fidget Quilts), Kennel Quilts, more Prayer Flags, and any Pocket Prayer Quilts when the need arises.

It will be interesting to see at the end of the year what I’ve accomplished…

Carry Over from 2016 WIP:

1.     Camp Quilt – top is ready, need to quilt and bind and label.

2.     Butterflies and Dragonflies Quilt – ordered fabric arrived, need to finish border, then quilt, bind and label.

3.     Nancy’s Quilts – design and create at least 3 more

4.     Charm (Beggar) Quilt – two rows pieced, need total of 6 rows. Cut more 2” squares and stitch together, join rows, quilt, bind, and label. Will be a *Veteran’s Quilt

Block of the Month (BOM):

5.     Secret Garden – catch up on the bi-weekly blocks, add sashing, stitch together, quilt, bind, and label – Will be a *Veteran’s Quilt

6.     Splendid Sampler – half way through creating the blocks. Add sashing, stitch together, quilt, bind, label – Will be a *Veteran’s Quilt

7.     Starry Night – bunches of blocks to make, join together, quilt, bind, label – Will be a *Veteran’s Quilt

  

*DEADLINE on the Veteran’s Quilts – July 1, 2017

Totally NEW Must-Do projects:

THEN: Create at least 6 more Veteran’s quilts by July – to cover veterans that attend the American Legion Post’s Cowboy Breakfast!!!

THEN: replace those quilts for the September’s Cowboy Breakfast

THEN replace those for the Veteran’s Day program at the local school!!!

Projects I want to start for Me, our Home:

The Farmer’s Wife 1930’s Sampler Quilt

Where Forever Begins, ASimple Love Story Quilt

And, two wall hangings for my NEW dedicated sewing room!

Yes. I have various projects going at one time. I love it! I don’t get bored for a lack of something to do!

How do you work?

One project at a time?

or

Several on-going?

Simple Instructions

First, a little background – A while back, my sister gave me a HUGE tub full of unused/unopened craft projects ~ mostly quilting related. The tub was too heavy for me to pick up as it was packed full of goodies! Thank you again, Sister! I quickly separated/sorted into smaller boxes and brought them home. What I learned, a friend’s grandmother had passed away and no one in the family wanted the items, so they gave them to those interested in either creating them, or to pass along to someone who would.

As I organized the multiple packages for “Quilt of the Month” Blocks, I discovered an amazing thing! One had 95% of the pieces already cut to size! Only a tad worth needs additional marking/cutting! YES! The perfect project I needed to work on right now… not much thinking or deciding or designing required!

Although I’m not all that excited about the colors and prints the creators selected, I keep reminding myself it is an autumn quilt. The finished quilt is supposed to be 89” x 97” but I’m hoping to redesign and make two lap quilts with the blocks using the “backing” provided in the “Setting Kit” package. If it works! I’ll give an update later with its status, and what the veterans end up receiving!

I love the simple instructions – WITH PICTURES – within each block kit. They even have little arrows pointing to which direction to press the seam! No thinking needed!

I’ve never bought/used a kit before. They are a little too pricy for me. BUT, considering the instructions provided to make new blocks never tried before and the “save” on my hands cutting out all the pieces, I may have to reconsider/rethink!

If you’re interested in learning how to piece a quilt top together, try a kit!