Saturday, December 28, 2019

December Goal

I've finished the December Cheddarback blocks. 
There are still a few months to go on this project.
Although we've had some truly challenging blocks in this Sew Along, it's been lots of fun.  

This is part one of my One Monthly Goal for December. I used mono-poly thread to quilt both of my little "goal" quilts so I wouldn't have to change thread colors. Oops--still need to remove some of my chalk markings!



My second goal for December was to get this little one quilted as well. Just a little stitch in the ditch and some piano keys in the border. Done is better than fancy--lol! 

Linking with One Monthly Goal HERE
December OMG FINISH link-up is open!

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Happy Holidays!

Here's a little punch needle project from the depths of "The Closet". This hadn't been started when I rediscovered it, but was stretched on a hoop with notes on the colors to use. I added the wavy border for a little whimsy. 

Jayne's hubby made this sweet little hanging frame (one of a set of 2)--perfect for showing off my little mitten snowman.

You may have seen on Instagram that I have gone a little bonkers making gnomes.
These are two of them--I've been trying to do something a little different on each one, and they do kind of take on a life of their own as they are made. 

This frame tree (again made by Jayne's hubby--he made enough for our entire quilt guild!!!) is the perfect setting for a couple gnomes hanging out by the bottle brush tree.
Hope your holiday is happy and safe! 

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Planning 2020

I have a few things lined up to work on next year....
I couldn't resist signing up for The Quilt Show's 2020 BOM--Sue Garman's Afternoon Delight.
The Quilt Show used Yarra Valley fabrics  in their model and kits (along with other fabrics) and I just happened to have a bundle of my own. I'm adding other fabrics from my stash as well, and hope to only need to purchase border fabrics for this one.

Next up is Smith Mountain Morning, from Bonnie Hunter's book Scraps and Shirttails II. I've been wanting to make this one for ages.
The last few years I've been participating in Bea and Cecile's Quilt Along's--always fun because there is a theme, but you are free to choose your own project within that theme. In 2020 the theme will be Stars and that is the perfect incentive for me to get started on Smith Mountain Morning. 


Smith Mountain Morning is made with recycled shirts and thanks to donations from friends, I have plenty of blue ones....
....brown, not so much!
Actually, I have no brown shirts, but a few home spun fabrics that will be used.
I see some thrift shop visits in my future! 
Instead of the muslin suggested for the light fabric, I will use this Primitive Gatherings fabric since I have several yards to use up.

Those should keep me busy for a while!

I have several other projects I want to get made next year, but these will be a good start. I'm hoping to get some cutting done ASAP--I have a retreat at the beginning of January and need to have something ready to sew!
Do you have any quilty plans for 2020?



Friday, December 13, 2019

Unfinished Business

I just have a few finishing touches to complete my December goals, but instead of working on that, I have gone off the rails again.


While searching in my storage closet for something else (that I can't remember), I came across a bin of rug hooking and punch needle stuff. Several projects in the bin were at the "almost finished" stage. All that needed to be done to this hooked star was to sew the binding to the back.  Check! 
This little punch needle design just needed a sleeve sewn to the back to fit over the standing photo frame. 

I'm happy to say that I can check this UFO off the list too. 

Then there was this UFO. Again, only the binding needed to be sewn to the back, but I could never bring myself to do it because I hated how it looked. This was the very first rug hooking I had ever done--it was from a kit. I just was never happy with the background--not enough contrast in my opinion. I decided I still wanted to get this one finished, so I pulled out all the background strips.

I left a few outer rows and added one row of blue. I had a small piece of hand dyed off white that I hoped would be enough for the rest of the background.... 
....and happily it was. Another old (really old!) project checked off!
Both the star and the moose were supposed to be pillows, but I am going to use them as mats instead--I definitely don't need anymore pillows.


I still have a few more projects from the bin that I want to finish up and some that I  don't. I had to watch a YouTube video to remind my how the use my needle punch tool, so I will be practicing that tonight--and staying away from that closet.











Monday, December 2, 2019

December Goals

Remember these pincushion projects?
I had been stitching them back in June and July.
Well, I decided I just did not want to make so many pincushions, soooooo....
I put three of them together in a little wall hanging.
I made good use of my scrappy bins of strips and squares -- there's a little making-do going on too. 
I also just finished English Paper Piecing this little quilt from Primitive Gatherings. It's supposed to have a little wool snowman in one corner, but I am kind of liking it the way it is without the applique.

It's my One Monthly Goal for the month of December to get both of these little projects quilted and bound.
Linking with One Monthly Goal HERE

December OMG link-up is open!