One Less UFO -- That's a Slam Dunk!

My UFO list is shrinking and that makes me happy.  I started out this year with twelve projects on the list (which is more than I've ever had at any one time since I started quilting!) but as of this evening there are only nine left.  The quilt I finished tonight was started with a group of online friends in August, 2012.  The pattern is called "Skinny Dip" by Me and My Sister Designs.  

The pattern is much simpler than it looks, and was easy to put together.  The rectangular pieces are pretty simple .....

..... but borders make them interesting. 
























Adding simple alternate blocks .....

..... then putting blocks together to form squares .....

..... makes for an interesting pattern!

I'm thinking it would look pretty cool just like that, but borders really make it look finished.

Of course, quilting is the crowning touch.  This one is a little larger than I like to tackle on my domestic machine, so I'm sending out a big "Thank you!" to my friend Shirley at Custom Quilting by Shirley Jackson.  She always does a great job.

This one will go into the mail tomorrow to our great-nephew Dalton who loves to play basketball.  His Special Olympics Basketball Team went to National Playoffs recently so I am calling his quilt "Slam Dunk."

March Goal for ALYoF

So far, so good for my goals this year.  I've met both of my ALYoF goals, used 35 yards of my stash, not purchased any fabric, and I completed two of my UFO's.  That makes me hopeful that I can set and finish a goal for March. I want to have it done by mid-month this time.

A friend asked me to make a quilt for a fund-raiser at the school where she teaches kindergarten, Clarence Cannon Elementary in Elsworth, Missouri.  It's for a little boy in her class who is undergoing treatment for Leukemia.  The school colors are red and white so I decided to make something in those colors. Of course, all my reds needed to be washed first, but after three washings this is how much the Color Catcher was still picking up.  

I was afraid the fabrics would be worn out if I washed them any more, so I soaked them in a Synthrapol solution to set the dye.  I hope that did the trick.

So far, I've cut and pieced the top.

The school's website has a lot of shooting stars on it, so the plan is to put some white stars on it with raw-edge appliqué then quilt it with a large stipple.  My goal is to have this completed in the next week or so.  

I'm linking up with Fiber of All Sorts for the A Lovely Year of Finishes Goal Setting Party   

February Stash Report

This stash busting thing is going great!  I have been so motivated since the New Year that all I want to do these days is sew.  (Ask Hubby.  He's feeling a little neglected in the area of clean shirts and home cooked meals.)

I'm also excited and looking forward to my first Project Linus Sew Day at the end of this month, so I'm getting kids' quilts ready to quilt and bind that day.  Since I made a blue kids' quilt last month,  I decided to make a pink/red one for February.  I kept it simple .....

..... and pieced the backing.

I even made the binding.

Pillowcases, quilt backs, applique, charity quilts, and working on UFO's made February a really good stash busting month.  Here's my report:

February

Fabric Added in February - 0

Fabric Used in February - 22.56 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date - 0

Fabric Used Year to Date - 35.81 yards

Net used in 2015 - 35.81 yards

Two More Houses - WIP's Be Gone Week 9

Angie, at A Quilting Reader's Garden has been encouraging us to write more often about our Works in Progress, so I thought I would share with you the two most recent house blocks I have completed for my "Quilted Village."  

When I shared block #9 and #10  they didn't have all the embroidery added, but they do now.

This week I finished block #12, so I am making steady progress.

I saved the most complicated block #11 for last.  It's the courthouse so it has lots of windows, a clock, two trees and an American flag.  Maybe I should set that as my March goal, but I'm hoping it won't really take an entire month.  

I am linking up with WIP's Be Gone Week #9.  I'm going over there now to see what everyone else has been up to.

February Goal -- Done!

February is a short month, but it's really not THAT much shorter.  Why then, is it so difficult to get anything done?  I was starting to think I wouldn't accomplish my goal this month, but here it is two days early, and I'm done.  I told you in this post what my goal was for ALYoF -- 12 pillowcases.   

Having a snow day helped.  We got a record 8.1" of snow here in Huntsville, Alabama so it's a good day to sew. 

I made some last week .....

..... I made some yesterday .....

..... and I made some today.

That makes twelve. 
















Not only have I made my goal for February, but I used up a lot of stash, and I have something ready way ahead of time for retreat in June. That's a first for me!

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

Quilted Village Update - WIP's Be Gone!

In 2012 I started working on a Block of the Month called Quilted Village.  You may remember me writing about it in this post.  I normally don't like to make my quilt just like everyone else's, but prefer to make my own version.  This is what the pattern writer had in mind .....

As this is my "Year of the UFO" I pulled this project out last week and started making more houses.  I made 8 of the 12 house blocks and lost interest which is why this ended up on the UFO list.  Anyway, I finished block # 9 last week .....

..... so this is what my village looks these days.

Here are a few closeups of some of the embroidery.

I started block #10 this week.

I'm thinking this one may actually get checked off the list this year, but for now it is still a WIP (Work in Progress.)

I am linking up with A Quilting Reader's Garden for their WIP's Be Gone Week 7.