My 2017 UFO Challenge List

Judy L over at Patchwork Times is hosting UFO Challenge for 2017. While I have oodles-I refuse to count them-of UFOs, I have chosen 12 to play along with and I'd love to get them all done.

#1 Millefiore

Needs 2 outside borders, quilting and binding.

Started June 2015 

This is the new #1o.

#2 Circle of Jewels

Needs borders, quilting and binding.

Started July 2014

#3 Quilt as you go SWAN (swap without a name) Blocks.

These are from an internet quilting group exchange from 2005.

They are all quilted and ready for sashing and binding.

February 2015

UFO for January finished in January!

#4 Windows to Heaven

Needs 2 borders, quilting and binding. 

Started May 2015.

#5 Hexagon BOM

Started January 2014

I plan to add a scrappy border before quilting and binding.

#6 Tumbler Leader/Ender

Quiltville L/E project for 2015-16

I still have a few rows to make.

So when this number is called, 

it will turn into the main project.

#7 Pat Steph's Deli Geese

This was a free project from the Nickel Quilts blog.

Started  March 2014

I don't know how many more blocks I need to make. 

I think this will make a nice lap quilt.

June UFO

It's a quilt top!

#8 Garlic Knots

A group of local quilters had a Garlic Knots block exchange recently.

Does it qualify as a UFO???

I'd like to get this finished before it really turns into a UFO!!

#9 Jamestown Landing

Started January 2016

All the blocks are made.

Need to make pieced border, start sewing this together.

UFO for February.

February UFO Progress 

I think I did pretty darn good considering where I started. 😃

#10 Garden Party

All the blocks are made,

needs to be layed out and sewn together.

Maybe I could even get it quilted during the month???

April's UFO # was 1 but I switched mine to #10 so I could have the top completed for our retreat with Bonnie Hunter. 

Here it is at our show and share.

Still needs to be quilted.

#11 Scrappy Stars

Blocks are all complete.

Sashing, borders, quilting and binding.

I started these March 2015. 

I can blame Bonnie Hunter because she was working on these and I fell in love with them.

So I got busy with EQ7 and designed my own block.

UFO for May
Top complete June 5th

#12 Grandmother's Choice Sampler

Top completed February 2014

Needs quilting and binding.

Look how little Jessie is. 

This is right after we adopted him. 

I love that little dog!

My Word for 2017

Content

con·tent¹

kənˈtent/

adjective

1. 1.

   in a state of peaceful happiness.

   
   

   "he seemed more content, less bitter"

   
   

   synonyms:

   contented, satisfied, pleased, gratified, fulfilled, happy, cheerful, glad;

2. 
   
3. I like having a word for the year. I like feeling content--all of the synonyms this definition shows. I like living my life on an even flow, no drama and please, no sadness-but I'm sure just like every other year of our lives, there will be sadness. I want to be as content as Miss Polly!
4. 
   
5. I have goals--personal, quilting, sewing and travel. In 2017 I'm going to try to keep notes for my quilting life in a  composition notebook. I love the concept of the Quilter's Planner but I know myself well enough that I wonder if I would use it as it is planned to be used. I will just write down in my own notebook my hopes and dreams and truths. 

    My first section will be my wish list, then the good ole UFO list. I'm joining in on          Patchwork Times UFO Challenge so that means my last business of 2016 is to get that list made. 

I'm ending this year with post number 1500. That's a good sign, right!!!

Happy New Year everyone. 

Design Wall Monday and...

Mystery Monday Link Up

It's hard to believe I haven't blogged for 3 weeks!

The cold/flu bug bit hard this time.

It's that stuff that won't go away.

Just when I thought I was good again, BAM!!!

It knocks me on my face.

So that makes sewing like I do impossible.

When I did start to feel good, it was only a few minutes at a time but

I finished part 3 of  En Provence from Quiltville,

only 1 week late!

On a day I felt really good,

I cut part 4 and then next morning sewed it all up.

Part 5 will hopefully happen today.

It's always fun when the spool of thread gets way down.

I love to predict when I'll run out.

I was way off with my prediction because my bobbins ran out.

All 8 of them were empty.

So I grabbed my supplies and wound bobbins,

changed the needle, cleaned and oiled my baby.

We are all ready for the marathon that will (hopefully) happen this week.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

We sure did.

It was a camo sweatshirt Christmas for the grands.

I'm so looking forward to the new year! 

Today I'm linking up with

Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday

and

Quiltville Mystery Monday Link-Up. 

Design Wall Monday

Quiltville Mystery Part 2 had to be put on hold until Sunday evening.

I had some serious Gramma duties to preform.

Parents were vending at a craft show so that meant Gramma time!

We had so much fun in those 3 days, 

but this Gramma is exhausted!

Sunday evening it was time to pull out the neutral 3 1/2" strip bin.

There were lots of great strips but I needed more variety.

 Out comes the yardage to get just that.

Now my bin is looking pretty good again.

Cutting and grouping into 20s.

I think there may be a few extras in there too.

Sometime today I will start my sew day.

But first, I'm going back to bed for a little while.

I'm still tired.

It is only 6 am here.

Linking up today to 

Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday

and

Quiltville Monday Mystery Link Up

Tuesday morning edit...

100 finished triangle in a square blocks finished Monday afternoon. A new audio book made this sewing session easy peasy!  Don't you love it when you find a really good book that you don't want to turn off!!

Slow Stitching Sunday

I am having so much fun creating the rosettes for my On The Road Quilt.

It has actually seen more action from my couch than from the road.

I added a couple more sections to the 1st row.

One more section was added since this photo.

I now have the plan in my head on what makes up the smaller sections.

These big sections are kind of cumbersome to work with. 

Again, I learn the hard way.

It's lots of fun to spin the hexies around to find the design I want to use.

I love using my little design board (link to Lori Holt's tutorial) to keep my layout the way I want it.

In the Pieced Hexi books, Mickey Depre has shown lots of variations for each design.

I am having so much fun making her On The Road Quilt-

find all the info on her website.

See fabulous Slow Stitching projects at Kathy's Quilts:Slow Stitching Sunday.

Monday in Blogland

Design Wall Monday and Quiltville Mystery Monday on the same day! How great is that!!!

I wait all year long for Quiltville Mystery/Black Friday.

Clue 1 is released and I sew and sew and sew.

Expect this year.

This year I had the flu so I watched from the sidelines.

But I pulled out my bin of 2" strips and knew I would be OK.

My friend Trina and I have been swapping 2" strips for quite a while

so I have some really fun strips and lots of variety.

We never know when the other one will hand over a little bag of new strips.

Saturday I sewed strips together.

I cut my long strips in to smaller pieces for variety.

I sewed and sewed and sewed.

(That's a nod to a special little girl as she talks about her Auntie 

who is very busy as she sews and sews and sews.)

After many breaks, I ended the day with 60 fun four patches.

Sunday was more productive with more four patch fun..

I now only have a few more to press and I can call step 1 complete.

En Provence is off to a great start!

All information for this mystery is available at the top of the 

Quiltville blog page in it's on tab section..

It's a fun link up day today.

Judy L's Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday

and 

Bonnie's Quiltville Mystery Link Monday Link Up.

Bring on the coffee...I've got some reading to do this morning.

Design Wall Monday

I love a great BOW and Moda Be My Neighbor is just that.

I was 5 blocks behind and decided if I was going to start the Quiltville Mystery,

I had to get caught up!

So I did.

These blocks are big.

My blocks are scrappy.

I spent 2 days sewing time kitting up the blocks.

Then they sat for another day before I started sewing.

Once I started sewing, 

all of the sudden I was caught up.

Only 5 blocks to go.

I wanted to lay them out on the floor to get a decent picture,

but I have 3 dogs and a cat and no floor space.

I also have florescent lights and a cel phone camera.

Check out other design walls at Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

Slow Stitching Sunday

Holy Guacamole! It's been a long time since I've done a Slow Stitching Sunday post. Since August! It's not because I haven't been stitching, it's mostly because I haven't been in a blogging mood. Isn't that strange.

I have been busy making piece hexies for my On The Road Quilt. I work on this almost every day. Either basting a hexi, making the pieced blocks or connecting the hexies into a rosette.  Last night got the best of me and I HAD to sew some rosettes together!

I learned that I am making my pieces too big. I need to section off the gray and cream units and not do the whole great big blue pieces.  Then I can do them in smaller row. I'll go ahead and finish connecting the big ones I have stitched up-I think there are 7 of them now. Then I'll work smaller and smarter.  Again, I've learned a lesson the hard way!

Another lesson is to stitch right sides together. LOL  I had only taken a few stitches before I spotted this big whoopsie!  I am so good at laughing at myself!

Today I am going to take some more slow stitches while I enjoy a girlie movie. I went through Netflix yesterday and found a few I'd like to watch or listen to while I stitch. 

See some fabulous stitching at Kathy's Quilts: Slow Sunday Stitching. 

Design Wall Monday

This week has been filled with production sewing. My daughter and son in law are soon vending for the first time at a craft sale. I am making a few things for their sale.

I'm making fun Runaround Bags-pattern from Lazy Girl Designs and New Clutch Wallets-pattern from Emmaline Bags. I have a few more of each ready to sew.

It's been fun since I haven't done this type of product for a sale before. When our kiddos were little, I used to do the bazaars quite a bit. I made the cutest stuffed animals and dolls. I don't think I ever took a picture of any of that stuff. 😦

First thing I'm going to do is fill my coffee cup and take a little tour of Blogland via Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

Design Wall Monday

Retreats are over for the year.

See my big sad face?!?

I couldn't help but smile every time I walked past this guy.

I spent the weekend with my middle daughter, Crystal.

It's always fun when one of your own shares your passion.

I worked mostly on Garden Party.

My goal was to finish all my blocks.

I did it!!

I asked (a bit loud) who wanted to see my Garden Party Quilt 

and then held up my box full of blocks.

I love when my friends understand the silliness.

Finally on Sunday morning I got to working on my Jamestown Landing blocks.

These blocks hadn't seen the light of day since the last retreat in May.

I sewed the broken dishes blocks into pairs.

Then it was time to come home,

I think I made some pretty good progress.

I'm excited to get both of these projects up on the design wall.

Check out the design wall posts shared today at 

Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

Recycling this picture to show you the fun I will be having at retreat this week.

I can't wait to dive into my red and neutral parts.

These are my mistake blocks from Garden Party.

All of the dark corners have now been replaced with neutral corners.

I honestly don't know how I missed that part of the directions.

I also cut and kitted up the remain blocks I need.

This will be my main retreat project this week.

These Dresden Plates are now a quilt top.

I need to trim the setting triangles and add the borders.

I can't wait to show you how awesome it is.

I need to get my machine cleaned and oiled 

and check my to go supplies for this week.

I love this time of year when the retreats are happening.

After this weekend, the countdown to the May retreat will begin.

The May retreat/birthday party that I will be spending with Bonnie.

Oh I cannot wait!!!

Check out great design walls at Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday.

Beach Life

Our beach property is a no hunting zone.

This makes my hunter a bit anxious.

Not really.

We see deer all over, I've heard there are bear.

I saw a porcupine.

I want to see a bear.

From the pickup window.

This fat coyote was standing in the middle of the road one day.

He finally moved to lay down under this tree.

Boardwalk Quilts in Long Beach is closing.

I am sad to see this happen but the owners want to retire.

I understand.

So I helped reduce the inventory on a recent trip to the property.

The scrap bin was my first stop.

Do I have a scrap problem.

I don't think it's a problem.

I filled one lunch bag with neutrals that will be used for my On The Road Quilt

and a table runner that I will quilt and use in the bus.

This time I went to the scrap bin and loaded up my lunch sack with all kinds of zip baggies.

Open the baggie to get all the air out and roll.

I stuffed that bag full. 

I guess I could have emptied the baggies but it was more fun squishing the air out.

I saw this fabric and passed on it.

I had Ernie stop on the way home because it haunted my dreams.

I bought 3 yards.

 I love it so much.

Retro typewriters bring back childhood memories of my Aunt Sharon.

Walks on the beach are nice.

Tony dog runs like a crazy dog.

My little Brother machine now lives in the bus.

I took a few projects to work on.

I needed to applique some blocks for a swap.

Then my Dresden Plates were all appliqued down. 

I wish I would have thought to use the walking foot sooner. 

It made the applique so much smoother.

The blocks were sewn into rows.

I brought them all home because I need a good hot iron.

That has now been added to my bus bag.

Some of the items are already to go on the next trip.

I love this beach life. 

I'm so glad we finally achieved my dream.

I really happy that it is now Ernie's dream as well.

He took a long time to think about it.

Like 40 years. LOL

OK, when's the next trip???

Design Wall Monday...

...and Retreat Report

This past weekend was our annual quilt retreat.

Most of the quilters have been coming to this retreat for several years.

I always look forward to spending time with my friends and 

sewing with my daughter.

Numerous hours of sewing, talking, laughing, eating.

Definitely having fun!

  

I mostly worked on quilts in progress.

These Garlic Knot blocks will complete my quilt after the blocks swap next month.

I can't believe I have them ready ahead of time.

Unlike these log cabin blocks that I made to complete a top from a swap earlier this year

I now have enough to put my blocks together.

 I started these Dresden Plates at our May retreat.

I put them in the box at the retreat and promptly put them away

and didn't even look at them until this weekend.

Now they are ready to applique to the background.

I'm pretty excited to get this one done.

I must have leaders/enders!

I do that crazy reach for something when nothing is there.

I'm working on Bonnie's Garden Party.

Just the flower blocks are my l/e project and 17 were finished.

I started the connector blocks as my last project of the weekend.

Of course I had to put a few together,

just to see. :)

I have a nice bunch of parts for 9 patches now.

I think red  9 patches might be my favorite.

The weather for the weekend was super stormy.

For a little excitement Friday night,

 this tree crashed into the barn.

No one was hurt.

There was a horseback riding class happening at the time.

The kids kept their horses under control,

the instructor did a wonderful job of keeping everyone calm,

despite "wanting to have a nervous breakdown".

We sew in a huge classroom on the other side of this huge barn/covered arena.

That was more excitement than anyone wanted.

Here's a great video of Royal Ridges where I retreat to 3 times a year.

You can see the covered arena and on the far side is where the tree came down.

We sew on the opposite side.

Despite the storm and the tree,

we had a fabulous weekend.

Great to spend time with friends doing what we love to do.

See great design walls at Patchwork Times.

Edited to add...

I forgot to show you my Be My Neighbor blocks~~

The last one is a tribute to my cat loving friend Sue.

I call it the Crazy Cat Lady's house.