April UFO Complete!

I am still following along with Judy's UFO Challenge.  For the month of April, Judy chose the number 6.

Recipe Scrapbook...

I hope Judy and the other UFO Challenge participants don't mind that I mixed both quilt and scrapbook projects for the years' challenges.  I DO have more than enough of each to fill an entire year, but these seemed to be the ones that I would like to have done sooner rather than later!

Remaining on the list...

1. Jean Picnic Quilt for Kayla
2. Heart Quilt
3. Thai 'Ostrich Quilt'
4. RWB Swap Quilt
5. Jean Picnic Quilt for Larissa
6. Recipe Scrapbook
7. Fan Quilt
8. China Scrapbook
9. School & Family Scrapbooks
10. Spring Flower Wallhanging
11. Military Scrapbook
12. Quilt Scrapbook

And Judy chose #2...Heart Quilt for May's UFO.  This is gonna take ALOT of work!  1100 2x5" bricks and 500 2x2" squares are almost cut, but still need to be sewn together along with the hearts and triangles...oh my!

And Many More

While we were living out of suitcases this summer in a hotel waiting to be able to move into our newly purchased home, I decided to get started on a gift for my brother and sister-in-law's 10th anniversary.  We will be traveling to PA this summer for their vow renewal (since all 4 of us were in the original wedding party).  Since I never made a quilt for them when they got married and my sister-in-law did ask me a few years ago where her quilt was after I made one for my sister's wedding, I decided it was time to make one for them.  This one is called "And Many More" and it's based on Bonnie Hunter's "Florabunda" quilt.

I tried to use fabrics that reminded me of their original wedding colors.  She used hydrangeas in the bridal party bouquets and in her bouquet and in the table centerpieces, she also had some bright pink roses.  

  As usual, this quilt was machine pieced and I hand quilted it.  By the way...do you know what my favorite part of making a quilt is?  The binding!  I just love binding a quilt.  I don't know why.  Maybe it's because it symbolized the end of a project or because it combines machine and hand work or maybe it's just because it's relatively mindless sewing?!!?

I just hope they like it.  This will be a surprise (she is not a reader of my blog...neither are many others, lol) and since I'm not sure what size their bed is, I made their quilt to fit a queen or they could use it to cuddle on the couch.

As you can imagine, I did not travel from the Netherlands with my sewing machine and quilting items in tow.  I have to say a huge thank you to our LQS, The Thread Peddler, and owner Bertha for suggesting I borrow her shop machine to keep me busy.  Thanks Bertha!

Gone To Pieces

I joined the local quilt guild!  I've lived here on and off for over 9 years and this is the first I've ever heard of them, but...I was invited to attend a meeting last month and joined!  As my first assignment...I was given instructions for the guild nametag.

One order of business was an annual fundraiser generally held at one of the town festivals.  Since the deadline for registering for the upcoming festival was not met, we were told there was still time to turn small "quilted" items for the fundraiser whenever it may be.  So, of course, I also got to work on those...

11 pincushions and 8 potholders made from some leftover orphan blocks.  Quick, easy, and productive!

Sassy Stars

My mother, a piecing beginner, recently attended an Eleanor Burns "Sassy Stars" quilt workshop, but has since begged off of the Sassy Stars quilt and sent her kit to me with her one completed block. 

I find the directions in Quilt in A Day's "Radiant Star Quilts" 
very easy to follow with one exception.  I am having "volcano syndrome"...the center of my blocks are puffing up (the seams are flat and windmilling nicely).  


I am wondering if my issue is coming from inaccurate trimming of the quarters (p. 85 & 86 steps #10 - the directions aren't clear - am I aiming for a perfect 45* right triangle?).  I'm not having any problems with matching seams anywhere throughout the star...just that bubbling center.  Any suggestions for deflating my ballooning center points would be greatly appreciated!

Judy's UFO Challenge

At the beginning of this year, Judy Laquidara over at Patchwork Times issued a UFO challenge.  The challenge is to make a list of 12 unfinished projects (one for each month of the year) that will be completed.  Judy chooses one number each month and the project correlated with that number is the one to complete by the end of the month.

Since I had been neglecting my blog lately, I never posted my list or that I have completed the projects for the first 3 months of this year (yay me!)...just one thing...my list contains both quilt and scrapbook projects!  Yes, I'm that far behind...in fact, I could realistically list 2 or even 3 UFOs per month if I thought I would ever complete that many, hehe!

So first, the list...

1. Jean Picnic Quilt for Kayla
2. Heart Quilt
3. Thai 'Ostrich Quilt'
4. RWB Swap Quilt
5. Jean Picnic Quilt for Larissa
6. Recipe Scrapbook
7. Fan Quilt
8. China Scrapbook
9. School & Family Scrapbooks
10. Spring Flower Wallhanging
11. Military Scrapbook
12. Quilt Scrapbook

In January, Judy chose #5 - the Jean Picnic Quilt for Larissa...

 In February, Judy chose #1 - the Jean Picnic Quilt for Kayla...

 And in March, Judy chose # 8 - the China Scrapbook...

All up-to-date and blogged!  I hope Judy and the other challenge participants don't mind that I added several scrapbooking projects to the list!?!?