June Goals and a Stash Report

We've just returned from a little road trip where I got to see most of my family.  An extra special treat was being able to give my niece, Natalie, her quilt in person.  She loves it!  I thought she would.

I got to see all four of my sisters.....

 ..... and thirteen of my nieces and nephews. 

 

We had a blast!  That's bound to happen on a beautiful day with good food, cold drinks, picnic games, and nearly 60 loved ones getting together.  

So, about those goals.   I've decided to finish a UFO this month.  I started making these appliqued stars several years ago just to have handwork to take along when I needed something to do.  You know, idle hands and all that.

I only have a few more stars to stitch, then I can make some alternate blocks and finish it for a donation quilt.  

 

Hopefully, I've set a more reasonable goal this month.  

MAY

Fabric Added in May - 3 yards

Fabric Used in May - 8.7 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date - 29.3

Fabric Used Year to Date - 77.9 yards

Net Used in 2022 - 48.6 yards

Days I sewed in May - 30/31

Days I sewed this year - 144/151

Percentage - 95%

Oliver's Quilt

Now I can tell you about the most recent baby quilt I made.  The last time I posted I was getting ready to mail it to our newest great-nephew, Oliver.  I had actually started this one in plenty of time instead of waiting until the last minute, I just couldn't post about it until now.  I wanted to make his quilt with black and white and brights because I had given this quilt to Oliver's mama, Nikki, when she was a teenager.

I decided to appliqué stars onto a black and white print marked off in 5" squares.

Then I found a great black and brights print to use for the alternate blocks. 

Love the green I used for a little accent border!

Hand-quilting is one of my favorite ways to relax in the evening.

I wanted to use another shade of green for the binding, but after I made it and started sewing it on, I decided I really didn't like it .....

..... so I tried out a red and a yellow and didn't like them either.

Do you ever find large pieces of yardage in your stash and you can't remember why you bought it?  I didn't think so.  Anyway, I found five yards of this in my stash, and it looked perfect.

I really love this quilt.  Hubby smiles when I say that.  I say that after every quilt.

The backing is pieced with a few bright strips to make it wide enough.

I think little Oliver likes his quilt.  I know his mama does.  

That makes this quilter really happy!

I'm linking up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and WIP's Be Gone at A Quilting Reader's Garden. 

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March Goal -- DONE!

March's ALYoF goal turned out to be a lot of fun.  Once I made up my mind about what to make for the fundraiser it went together fairly quickly.  After prepping all the reds in my stash and cutting squares, the sewing was easy.   Adding the stars was a new experience for me.  Even though I've made quite a few appliqué quilts I've never done raw edge appliqué before.   I like how it turned out.

I used a stipple design for the quilting and learned that working with red on red is almost as much "fun" as working with black on black.  I was thankful for the good lighting in my sewing room!

I pieced the backing as I often do, using all the red & white prints I had in my stash, which wasn't very many, and a red with stars print.

  






















A lot of love went into this quilt.  I hope it raises a large amount of money for the child in need.  That's why I'm naming it "Wish Upon A Star."

I'm linking up with the Finishes Party at Fiber of All Sorts.  

A Year of NewFo Challenges

I can't believe I survived a year of New Projects with Barbara's 2013 NewFo Challenge!  I went in thinking not only would I start and finish twelve projects, but I would also finish a few UFO's I just happened to have on hand.  I was thinking that it was a real disaster, but actually, when I looked back over my list of finished projects, I did okay.  Take a look.

January Project -- Gavin's Quilt -- FINISHED!

February Project -- Neutrals Challenge -- FINISHED!

March Project -- Pillowcases -- FINISHED!

April Project -- Tile Tango -- FINISHED!

May Project -- Pink Stars -- FINISHED!

June Project -- A Real Disaster -- And I STILL don't know what to do with this one!!!

July Project -- Jason's Quilt -- FINISHED!

August Project -- Zelda quilt for Josh -- Up Next!!!!

September Project  -- Baby Quilt -- FINISHED!

October Project  --  Aidan's Alabama Quilt -- Sooooooo Close!!!!!  

November Project  -- Marmalade Squares -- FINISHED!

December Project  -- A Christmas Surprise --  Ooops!  You didn't think there was a December project did you!  Well, I thought it would be something I could quickly throw together along with all those last minute Christmas preparations, hand-quilt it in the car on the way to St. Louis, and give it to someone as a real surprise for Christmas.  Well, that didn't happen.  But I'll give you a peek (because I do still want to finish it!)

With that, I will link up with Barbara's Linky Party over at Cat Patches for my final 2013 NewFo Challenge.  It's been a lot of fun.  I have thoroughly enjoyed it.  

Old Quilts and Country Hoedowns

Last Saturday night our Newcomers Club of Greater Huntsville had a Country Hoedown.  That morning while we were decorating I noticed that the display in front of the building needed a little something.  I just happened to have an old quilt in the trunk of my car so I grabbed it and draped it over the step-ladder.  Now it was perfect!!

It's really just a tied comforter made out of all kinds of scraps left from garment sewing in the mid 70's and early 80's.  It is a well-worn quilt so it stays in my car, "just in case", and has come in handy many times. 

A lot of the fabrics are almost disintegrated.  A few of those I remember buying at the J.C.Penney for 25 cents a yard when I was a student's wife in 1974. 

This quilt has been used as a drop cloth for my boys' craft projects (notice the paint) and as a moving pad when hauling large purchases or pieces of furniture, so it has more than served its purpose.

Yes, some of the fabrics look brand new, don't they?  You might never guess, but they are polyesters.  That would explain it!  I see four pieces left from my maternity clothes, one from my boys' pajamas, and even one from my bridesmaids' dresses.  I am certain they will last forever.  

This got me thinking about old quilts so I thought I would share with you just a few I have which were made by my grandparents.  I love this blue and white Drunkard's Path.

This Drunkard's Path is not made in the traditional setting, but it's really pretty.

I think this is an interesting star block.  

My grandparents had each of us select an applique pattern from a sales catalog when we were probably about 10 or 12.  Then they made the quilts and put them back for our weddings.  By the time I was of "marrying age" I had forgotten what mine would look like so it was still a surprise.

I think this one is my favorite.  It's a whole cloth quilted with green embroidery floss, or maybe even crochet thread.

After they stopped quilting my grandfather gave me this pink and white Hearts and Gizzards baby quilt top.  When I was expecting my first baby I finished it for my newborn, and it became the first of many hand-quilted quilts I was to make.  Both our boys used the quilt (pre-ultra sound days!) and now it's tucked away in my cedar chest.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some old quilts.  I can't sign off without showing you at least one picture from the Hoedown.  This is Hubby and me in our Hoedown garb.  I don't get a whole lot of opportunities to wear pig-tails.  None, actually.  But that might be a good thing.

My New Project for May --- and a Finish!!

The project I started in May for the 2013 NewFo Challenge is almost exactly like the one I started in February - appliqued stars on a neutral background.  Only this time the stars are pink!

I got all the stars finished and all the strips cut.


When I got the other quilt top put together I decided I didn't like it because there wasn't enough contrast.  Most of my neutrals were so similar that it looked like the stars were appliqued to a solid background.  Quilting it made all the difference, though.  I hand quilted it with aqua thread which made the individual strips stand out a little more. 

Of course, a quilt always looks better when the quilting is finished!  Now I love this baby quilt!

I am linking up with Barbara at Cat Patches.  Now to see what other quilters are up to!