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

A week with Bonnie

Orca Bay Mystery by Bonnie Hunter.  Clue 3.  350 half square triangles.  Really?  After Roll Roll Cotton Boll and having to make 600 HSTs one week (month), this sounded manageable.   Not necessarily a walk in the park -- but not too bad.

And it was manageable.  After cutting the black strips, all the neutrals were already in my overflowing 2" tote and we were off and running.  At the end of the day (before sunset even), they were done, pressed, and double counted to make sure I really had them all.

So, what to do with the rest of the week?  I had expected a clue of epic proportion after getting by with the little 3.5" strings the week of Thanksgiving.  So -- maybe I should pull out my other mystery quilts from Bonnie and get them back on the front burner while waiting for the next clue?

The easiest was to get the binding on Carolina Christmas from two years ago.  We've actually been sleeping under it without binding once it got chilly before our furniture got here and one quilt wasn't enough.  I had been to Iowa to quilt this during a summer visit to a friend and hadn't even gotten it trimmed a before we started sleeping under it.  Once our island was installed, I could at least trim off the extra batting and backing. So Saturday was the day to get the binding on and get it washed.  It's back on the bed in proper order and I can mark it as COMPLETE!  Another finish before the end of the year!

Now what?  Oh dear....I know.  Roll Roll Cotton Boll.   Since I was sure I was pretty far along with the various steps, this should be a piece of cake.  Alas.  I am SO wrong.  I have two blocks done, all the strings complete and cut in half and most of the border pieces partially sewn into little strips but not even finished, much less assembled.  Basically, the quilt is cut out and each step has some work done on it.  Without instructions -- what was I thinking? Oh, yeah, I know -- that I was farther along than I was.

Last year at this time I was knee deep in the holiday stuff that we're all involved in but was also managing the acquisition and integration of a competitor and all the "people stuff" associated with it. A 12 hour day was a short day and a 15 hour day (with some weekends included) was more in order.  It was tough and they were cranky about all the changes. I was cranky too! Quilting was not on the front burner and staying up with the clues was impossible.  Apparently printing instructions was something I didn't think I needed..... we'll see about that in a few days.

So, I'll be spending the week with Bonnie after all.  Working on RRCB, sorting out where I am, and seeing what all needs to be done to get this top completed at the same time Orca Bay is looming.  I suspect there is a doozy of a clue coming since we haven't even gotten to touch the "red" or primary fabric and so much is needed.  I should put a new blade in my rotary cutter while I'm thinking about it and change my needle now!

I hope you're getting time to sew and making progress with whatever you're working on!  Jan

Postscript:  After putting 8 of the blocks together, I remain amazed at how well they go together and match -- so long as I pay attention to the 1/4".  Such a pleasure.  If you want to see what's going on with Orca Bay,  you can link to her post today and see everyone's progress.