2017 Finishes

I didn't think I had finished so many quilts, table runners and wall hanging.

I was happy to go back and see exactly what I had finished. 

So in no particular order and no comments,

I present My Year of Finishes.

Quiltville Mystery Tuesday Link Up

I'm just getting started on part 5 of On Ringo Lake.

All clues for this mystery are available for a limited time at Quiltville.

This clue was released Friday but I was deep in to Christmas happenings

and playing with some quilting.

I knew I'd have the rest of this week to get my parts sewn.

I pulled out the appropriate size neutral strips 

(most received from our strip swaps)

to use with my Go Cutter.

Then I cut into my blacks for the geese

and got to crankin' and cuttin'.

All the pieces are ready to sew. 

Machine was given a once over with the dust brush and the oil bottle.

A few bobbins were wound and a new needle inserted.

I've got Alias Grace on Netflix ready to push play.

Check out all the progress at today's 

Mystery Tuesday Link Up-Part 5 at Quiltville

and see the fun my friend Mary is having at her sew in. 

Hey Mary. 🙋 

2018 Pantry Challenges

I love my pantry. 

I love using my pantry.

I love a challenge.

 When Leisa at Sutton's Daze on you tube announced her January Pantry Challenge, 

(She has so many fun videos and awesome, simple recipes.)

I knew I wanted to do this.  

I've done my own challenges in the past,

but I think it will be more fun doing it with others.

I don't make you tube videos,

I'd rather blog about my results.

I'm hoping to do some sort of pantry challenge every month,

whether it's on my own or with someone doing something like Lisa is doing. 

I do have my own guidelines for this challenge.

I will shop if it's a good sale and I'm near the store.

(Because in my head, it's silly not to shop the sales.

That's what I do. 😀)

 Mostly I will use what I have in my pantry and freezer.

Of course if Ernie wants to fix dinner, 

(which means he'll go get take out)

I will not refuse.

It's kind of like date night. LOL

I'm excited to make my meal plan.

I'll probably do that a week or so at a time like I already do.

I'm excited about not grocery shopping. 

This is going to be so much fun!

Design Wall Monday & Quiltville Mystery Link-Up

Have I said I am loving each step of On Ringo Lake???

If you haven't started yet,

check out the tab at Quiltville.

This is one of my favorite quilt units.

I made a whole quilt of this block with a larger half square triangle added to make it a square.

You can see what I mean as I start my own quilt from this block.

My finished quilt is here.

The Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's.

+

I love chain piecing.

I love creating the mountain behind my machine.

I love chain pressing.

I also love a hot iron and this pressing pad.

I learned (again!) not to lay my arm on the pad after pressing my pieces.

Owie, owie!

After finishing my units,

I pulled out my Tumbler's Leader/Ender project.

It's time to get this made into a quilt top.

It's already on my UFO list for 2018 but it's in the front of my brain 

so it's time to just get 'er done.

After all, I only need a few more rows.

How long can that take???

Maybe I'll have a top before Friday.

Maybe I'll have to choose something different for UFO #9 before the Challenge starts!

Wouldn't that be fantastic!?!

Check out all the fabulousness at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday

and 

Quiltville Mystery Link-Up 

I May Be In Big Trouble

I have a hexi problem! I just made my 2018 UFO Challenge List and 5 are hexi quilts with another being a hand pieced quilt that all need to be finished. So why am I even thinking of starting something new??? Here's my logical reason---I need to learn something new. There, that's the best I can do. If I were being honest with myself, I would simply say just because I want to!

Now my mind is all consumed with a new hexie project. Because you know I have no plans to start any new quilts in 2018. Hahahaha, I am so funny.

This morning I'm reading Mary's blog-Quilting through Rose-colored Trifocals!  I get sucked in to how she is piecing her hexies on her machine. This is not my first time reading her blog. I don't know why I reacted to it like I did today. But I'm fine with my reaction. It shows how passionate I am about quilting.

OMG, I am in so deep. I quickly go to Marti Michell's website and order Set H for 3" hexies and I needed a corner trimmer so I can use some of my own templates.  

Now I will wait for a shipping notice and then stalk the mailbox. I am going to do my homework and learn Mary's method Set-In Piecing Simplified. And I'm going to practice. Can you tell I'm excited.!!

In the meantime, I'm going to finish clue 4 to On Ringo Lake and work on my Tumblers quilt top so when that number is called for the UFO Challenge, it will be or be closer to a complete quilt top.

2018 UFO Challenge

My list for Judy L's 2018 UFO Challenge.

 #1 

Circle of Jewels

Leftover from last year's UFO list.

 Started July 2014.
Finished April 2018

#2 

Castle Wall

Hand pieced--need a few more blocks.

Started January 2015. 

#3 

Millefiore

Started June 2015.

This is a carry over from April during the 2017 UFO Challenge.

Here is what I had  planned for finishing.

It's a good plan so I am going to follow it when this number is called.

August UFO

Finished! Wahoo!

October 7, 2018

#4 

On The Road Quilt

I have not stitched one single stitch in this on the road! LOL

Started August 2016.

I have been working on this.

As of today December 16, 2017,

 I need to make 6 more blue rosettes and 7 more yellow/orange rosettes.

I have been very busy stitching rosettes to the mother ship.

#5 

Mischief Quilt

Started March 2017.

I put this away in October 2017 but I'm determined to finish it in 2018.

This was the April UFO.

I made good progress on this and consider the month a success.

I will continue throughout the year and hopefully finish before the end of the year.

#6

The Hexi Blog BOM 

Started January 2014.

A carry over from 2017 UFO Challenge. 

Ready for quilting.

This will be fun!

June UFO completed July 6, 2018.

#7

Garlic Knots

Started as blocks for a blocs swap August 2016.

Made into a top November 2017.

Still trying to decide, borders or no borders.

#8 

Jamestown Landing

Started January 2016.

Turned into a quilt top in February 2017.

Quilting will happen in 2018.

It happened! And it's finished and I love it!!

#9

Tumblers Leader/Ender

Started July 2015.

Carry over from 2017 UFO Challenge and a current WIP.

Finished September 2018

#10

Strings and Stars became a quilt top in June 2017.

Borders or no borders?

Still undecided.

Finished April 2018

#11 

Grandmother's Choice Sampler

The oldest UFO on this list.

Started October 2012.

What's funny about this is I saved all the scraps in it's own bin.

I pulled scraps from it recently for make a wall hanging.

It's time to quilt this beauty and clean out the scrap bin.

A neglected top from the 2017 UFO Challenge.

#12

Deli Geese

Started March 2014.

Became a top June 2017.

This is May's UFO.

Finished June 23, 1018.

Waahoo!!!

My goals for 2018 are to make a major dent in my UFO collection.

I have not counted them. 

Maybe I'll make a list for myself.

(It's been a few years since I've done that.)

Maybe I won't. 

Design Wall Monday and Mystery Monday Link Up

I am loving each step of On Ringo Lake, the current Quiltville mystery.

(Link found at the top of her page.)

I never count when I start cutting pieces.

I'm a guesser.

I always guess wrong. 

Usually I start way under and then go way over.

I love having the extras in another project or pieces for the back.

 I want to cut into these piles today.

And the pile of neutrals that are waiting their turn.

Christmas shopping is top priority today.

I have my driver and shopping companion. I am ready with my list.

We'll have a great time and a late lunch out, 

be home in plenty of time for him to go to his meeting.

I will cut and sew and press until he comes home.

 I press and clip into 10s.

I am having so much fun visiting old fabrics,

using up the last of the chunks that I haven't yet cut for my Scrap Users System.

(Have you ever read the Scrap UsersTestimonials?-Mine is there. 😃 )

So many fabrics pulled from my blue and neutral strip bins.

So many fabrics acquired through swaps with friends.

Today is link up day and my favorite day in Blogland.

Quiltville's Monday Mystery Link Up Part 3

and

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Have a great week everyone!!!

Quiltville Mystery Link Up-Clue 2

Everyone that knows me knows that when mystery time rolls around,

you will find me working on my clue until it is done.

Clue 2 to On Ringo Lake (found at Quiltville) was finished Saturday.

Remember, I don't have a full time job or any children at home.

I have lots of time to sew.

Or should I say, I take lots of time to sew.

First thing I did was get out the appropriate Go dies.

With each die, I write on the package the fabric chunk size.

I cut my chunks and stack them in a layer of 6.

This took me about an hour.

Then it was crank, crank, crank.

During one episode of Switched At Birth,

I had all my parts cut.

Sew, sew, sew.

Binge watch my show.

OK, part 1 of sewing and pressing was enough for day 1.

Someone thought he needed dinner. 😉

(Honestly, I did do a few things other than sew, but not many.)

Day 2 brings me stacks of 10 1 winged geese.

I sew 10, grab a pair of tumblers to get this leader/ender to completion,

(since I'd love to mark this one off the 2017 UFO Challenge list)

sew 10 more.

And sew on and sew on until all my stacks of 10 are complete.

Then it's press and clip, press and clip.

All flying geese are complete with a few (23) extra.

Lots of progress was made toward completing my UFO.

I'm happy to have Clue 2 finished,

because it's going to be a busy week. 

Thanks Bonnie for another fun clue.

Check out everyone's progress at Quiltville's Mystery SUNDAY Link Up.

2017 UFO Challenge Report Card

It's that time of year to confess to how I did on the 2017 UFO Challenge hosted my Judy L of Patchwork Times.

January 

Finished in January and gifted to my sister Karen.

February

Jamestown Landing is a quilt top.

March

Quilt top finished in March.

Still unquilted.

April

Garden Party is a quilt top, 

still unquilted.

May

Strings and Stars

Quilt top complete.

June

Deli Geese

Quilt top complete

July

I didn't even take this one out of the box. 

August

Garlic Knots blocks were put together at November retreat.

September

Windows to Heaven

These blocks were put together but still need borders and quilting.

2018??

October

Tumbler leader and ender

I'm currently working on this between mystery clues.

I have 4 more rows to add and 2 border rows.

November

This still needs side fill in pieces added.

I should get it out for evening tv time.

December

Millefiore has also been ignored all year.

Even though it's only December 1, I know I will not work on her this month.

Needs side fill ins and border.

Seems to be a pattern going on here. 

Thanks Judy for hosting this. 

After writing this post, I don't feel so bad about my accomplishments.

I am thinking about what I want to put on my 2018 list.