The good, the bad, and the ugly....

 The year in review -- the good, the bad, and the ugly!  Some I love and a few -- not so much!

My test block for Kim McLean's Lollypop Trees.  I have decided to go with a different background and hope you'll be seeing more blocks in 2012!

Blanche Young's pattern for Trip Around the World.  Loved her precision and liked the quilt.  Was done as a challenge with friends where we all used the same core fabrics and then added to with a "big reveal" at a retreat.  Such fun!  Given to my son's friend as a wedding present.

Definitely in the "ugly" category.  This crisscross quilt was easy to make and fast.  I started out trying to use my charm squares that I had gotten in a swap years ago and had no plans for  -  as well as from my strip bin for the "crosses".  This just did not work and I plan to make it again but with a more controlled palette.  I think I gave this to charity or sent to Japan with their terrible devastation.  It will keep someone warm -- but not necessarily feed their creativity.

My birthday quilt that I've blogged about.  I love it because of what it means and the fabrics selected just for me by the people I love the most.

My first and last hexagon "I Spy" quilt for my grandson.  Learned a lot -- and one of the things I learned is that kids won't care if these are hexagons or squares!

NICU quilts with friends for a hospital in Chicago.  We've used these to practice piecing and quilting while hoping they will bring peace to the baby and family.

 Quilt for a co-worker.  Loved the mindless sewing!  Surprised by how much fabric this used however.

Wedding quilt for son's close friend in Montana.  Fun to make but the harlequin pattern is not as bold as I had hoped.

 Quilt for co-worker.

Grandmother's Choice.  Finally got this one bound.  Blogged about finding the right home for the right quilt.

Chuck's wedding quilt.  Delivered and hopefully being used.  Cover quilt from American Patchwork and Quilting.

Carolina Christmas finally finished from year before last, I think. Big queen and wonderfully comfortable.

Mahalo! as a thank you for friends' generosity during our trip to Hawaii.  From Kim Schaeffer's book.

Quilt for co-worker.  This was also a challenge among friends with our all using the same pattern and revealing at a retreat. Another quilt from Kim Schaeffer's book (although I added the sashings/cornerstones and didn't do the small pieced border blocks.  I was ready to be done!

So -- that's the quilting part of my life in 2011.  In addition, I should mention that the year also consisted of other joys and challenges (like everyones).

1. I managed an integration of the people part of an acquisition of our largest competitor in one segment of our business.  They did not necessarily come willingly.  It was tough and there were many long days, late night calls, weekend conference calls, and unexpected "surprises"!
2. We got the house ready to sell.
3. Within 90 days of listing our house, we had sold, put all our belongings in storage and moved into temporary living -- without telling anyone but close family and friends.
4. Lived in a hotel/temp living arrangement for 60+ days.
5. RETIRED with no place to go.
6. Moved to Kentucky and left wonderful friends, an incredible village and a very special church.  Moved 7 hours farther away from our son and his family in the process.  Definitely tears.  Lots of them.
7. Stayed in a hotel for short period of time before closing on a house and leaving for Hawaii the next day.
8. Lived in new house with NO furniture (other than appliances and 2 twin mattresses/box springs) for 1.5 months.

This has been a year that we will remember in all the good ways.  There was some sadness -- there were some tears -- but all in all, there has been more joy and peace and that's my hope for all of us as we think about all we want to accomplish in our quilting lives and our personal lives!  

I hope you have joy.  Jan

Done ... and done!

Another finish!  YIPPEE!  This is the wedding quilt that I fussed about in an earlier post.  This was a case of procrastination -- pure and simple.

 I'm thrilled to say the wedding quilt is bound, labeled, wrapped, and delivered.  Out of my house and off my list.  Considering they were married in mid-October, it's not exactly early.  But it's done and hopefully the bride will love it.  Her favorite season is fall and her color palette is autumnal.

 

This is from American Patchwork and Quilting (one of my absolute favorite quilting magazines!).  When I saw the cover and considered what fabric I had with me in our temporary living apartment, this was just what the doctor ordered.

I was able to get it assembled and made a quick trip to Chicago to visit friends and take advantage of one friend's generosity with her Gammill.  This one (and three others) were quilted in two days and then home I came since Thanksgiving was the following week and there were more boxes in the house to unpack (or hide).

I used a faux Minkee backing since winter is upon us here in the states.  Note to self (and all other quilters out there):  watch for after Christmas sales of "blankets".  About three years ago (or longer) we cleaned out Linen's N Things (about a year prior to their going out of business) when they had "blankets" on sale for about $12-15 dollars.  They were king sized and were two huge pieces of faux Minkee (not fleece) that were bound together. All we had to do was cut the binding off and we had two huge pieces of plush fabric with no seams.  I have two left and always keep my eyes out for sales at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Wal-Mart, K-Mart or any other home store that might be clearing out their bedding section.  They make a huge mess when you cut them apart (best done outdoors if you can) but it's so worth it.

I hope you're finding time to piece and finish any holiday projects looming over your head!  Jan

Procrastination.....

Well -- let's be frank.  Procrastination can be fun when you're a quilter.  There are lots of dips and turns and creativity that can come as you work on one project and are distracted by another.  I am certainly guilty of that this week.

The cover quilt for the October issue of American Patchwork and Quilting came at just right time.  I needed to make a quilt for a special friend's son who is getting married and most of my fabric is in storage.  Lucky for me -- I brought all my FQ and smaller pieces for our foray into temp living and the bride loves all things Autumn -- particularly the colors.

So -- with the blessing of her soon-to-be-mother-in-law, I started cutting 2.5" and 3" squares out of my browns, reds, oranges, deep yellows, greens, and a few purples -- and every scrap of "neutral" I had that fell in the buttercream family.  This quilt requires 50 blocks and each block requires eight HSTs at 2.5".  I am one of those quilters who cuts the squares at 3", does the double seam, and then after pressing them open, trims every single HST to 2.5".  I could have avoided this "fun" by cutting the original square at 2 7/8" but I prefer the accuracy.  The tiny little pile with the red paisley on top is the stack of "trimmed" blocks -- the mountain still needs trimming and squaring up!

This has been a marathon of sewing and sewing and sewing followed by  trimming and trimming and trimming -- not to mention pressing seams open.  You get the idea.  The pile felt insurmountable.  The wedding is in mid October.  I need to be making stars and stars and stars.

But -- instead, I got sidetracked and started playing with the scraps.  I have never been taken by the "crumb" fever that has been prevalent since Bonnie Hunter made the very valid point that scraps still cost $9 per yard (and now $10) and need to be used.  Jo at Jo's Country Junction has been hosting a "Crumb Along" and I've been reading along but not crumbing along.  Until now. And I just had to make one 6.5" block which took much longer than the star.  This is not good.  My scrap bin exploded and I know how big the basket of scraps is that is packed and coming in three weeks.  I do not need to get started with this -- but it was kind of fun and it's so rewarding to be using little pieces that are too small/thin for strings.  Oh, dear......

One down and  49 to go!   Keep piecing -- no matter how small!  Jan

PS -- I'm linking to Lily's Quilts Small Blog Meet (button to the right).  She regularly sponsors this as a way for smaller bloggers to get some new readers and possible followers.  Check out her blog as well as the Small Blog Meet!  Both are worth your time!