Progress

Hi Friends!

I finally finished the few home improvement projects I had planned.   A few new floors and a lot of paint happened here.  

I am back to sewing on my free time.  I was fortunate to have two weeks off from work so I was able to reacquaint myself with my sewing machine.

I finished one the "Charming Addition" quilts I started a few months ago.  This will be for a gift for my friends father.   I made the backing but am waiting to quilt it.  I am going to be taking a longarm quilt class and then I can rent one of the machines she has.

I also caught basket fever.  We are supposed to make one basket a day in the month of July.  I am up to this Tuesday.   I will soon be behind since I only sew on the weekend.

These are little applique blocks from "Fit to Frame" #6.  I plan on making all twelve blocks and framing them for my future sewing room.

The next three are from "Ode to 30's"   Joy and I are on a mission to finish this quilt by the end of the year.  

I also decided to start working on "Rainbow Jane" again.  I am planning on 10 blocks a month until she is done.  Here is my progress so far.

I also made an entire wall hanging that I forgot to take a picture of.  I dropped it off yesterday to be quilted so I won't be able to share until I get it back.


Well, that's all I have.  I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Yvette

Sewing Withdrawals

I missed the last three Sundays of posting because I have nothing much to show.  I am in the midst of home projects that require all of my spare time.   I hope I remember how to sew when I finally get back to it.   I should be done by the end of the month so I will resume full force in July.

I did take the day off on Memorial Day and sewed blocks of "Ode the the 30's".

That's it for three weeks.  Sad, huh?  :( 

I hope you all have a wonderful June.   I can't wait till it's over and all the projects are done so I can get back into doing what I love.

Yvette

Two Flimsies

I was able to get two flimsies made this weekend.  

The first one is the 2012 Designer Mystery.  

 The second was my Bonnie Hunter Cheddar Bow Ties.

I am so glad to have these made.  I will piece the backings and make the binding next week and put them away until I am able to either have them quilted or do them myself.

I dug out my traditional Dear Jane yesterday and started going thru the blocks.  I really don't like the background fabric I used.  I really hate some of the blocks I made.  I just don't like it and decided to scrap it.   I am going to dig out my Rainbow Jane instead, which I actually love and finish that one.  Here is a link to what I have done so far.

http://olefrogeyes.com/gallery.php?quilter=Yvette+++&quilt=12

Well, that's it for this week.  I wish you all a great week.  I am praying for all those in Oklahoma that they are safe thru all the tornados going on right now.

Cheddar Bow Ties

I hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day today.   

I spent my morning building Ikea Bookcases and organizing fabric.  I have come to the conclusion that I already knew the answer too.  I have too much stuff.  My 401K Fabric fund is 100% funded.  I do not need a pin or a thread.  Am I the only one?  Please tell me I am now alone.   

After I finished the building and organizing I prepped 15 more baskets.  I have 270 of 300.  YAY!

After that I worked on my Cheddar Bow Ties.  I finished all the blocks I needed.  This is 80 nine patches of Bow Ties for a total of 720 3" blocks.   Next weekend I will iron and square them up to start putting the quilt together.  

That's all I had time for this weekend.  I hope you all have a great week!

Yvette

Club quilt

I didn't have that much sewing time this weekend.  Three good friends of mine piled in the car and we went shop hopping on Saturday.   It  was fun spending time with the girls and looking at all the pretty new fabrics.

I did manage to get my Jo Morton Club mini done.   (not quilted)  It measures 17" x 17".
I wonder if I will ever take a picture that isn't blurry.

Friday night I managed to finish the 9 patches I started last weekend.  Here are 40 more for a total of 80.

 I also made a few more cheddar bow ties but I didn't take a picture of them.   I need to start putting them all together and grow it into a quilt.  

I hope you all have a great week.  

Yvette

End of the Month

I can't believe the month is already over.   There are still two days but those are work days so they don't count.  LOL     I finished everything on my list.  BARELY.   Two things on my list are BOM's from Homestead Hearth.   Both came just in time but both were missing fabric.   FRUSTRATING!!!   This happens with them more than I can count.  This time I just dug thru the stash and replaced what I needed.  

 Here is this months "Four Star Generals".   It went together fairly easy and quick.

 Joy came over on Saturday and we worked on "Ode to the 30's".   Here are the two 9" blocks we chose to work on this month.   I should have taken pictures of hers too.  Ugh!  

Next up is this months "Crossroads" blocks.  This may be my favorite quilt I have going on right now.  I wish I had just kitted this myself and just work on it till it is finished.  

During the week I finished 7 more baskets (no picture) and another "Sweet and Simple" block.  This is number 14 of 30.   Sorry about the poor picture quality.  

This months mystery clue for the Silver Thimble Mystery from Fatquarters came early so I got a head start.  I need to make 80 - 3 1/2" 9 patches.  Here are the 40 I put together today.  I can't wait to see what this quilt looks like.  So far I am really happy with the pieces we are making.  

That's it for this weekend.  

I have shortened my list for the month of May.  I am not even sure I will be able to get this list done.   I have decided that I really need to organize my house.  I have MANY things that still need to be donated that were my moms and I am ready to do that.  I want to simplify!  This may take me several months but it won't get done unless I make a start.  Once I am organized I will be more productive.  

May Quilt list

 1) Prep baskets.  ( I need 40 more)

 2) Silver Thimble Mystery (40 more 9 patches)

 3) Take apart the three rows of Dear Jane that I started several years ago and re-make the blocks that I      don't like and put together row A.

4) 2012 Mystery -  Make last block and finish top and piece backing.

5) Charming Addition Gift.  ( Piece at least 6 more rows)

6) Jo's Little Woman Club.   (Make one mini)

7) Cheddar Bow Ties.  (work on when all items above are completed)

I wish you all a wonderful, productive, healthy week.  

Yvette

Charming Addition Day

Today was dedicated to sewing on the two Charming Addition quilts I am making.  

The first one was started in December and is set to be finished in November.  I put on three more rows today.  It is a king size so I have to fold it in half in order for it to fit in the picture .  

Why do kitties always insist on helping you out?

This one was started last month and it is a full size and will be for a birthday gift this September.   I did another seven rows on this one.  

Notice a kitty on the prowl to mess this one up too.  

During the week I finished block 13 of Sweet and Simple.    

I finished sewing 25 more baskets this month.  (no picture)  That brings my total to 250 of 300 needed. I prepped another 10 baskets and 1 Sweet and Simple block so I should be set for hand stitching for the week.

That's it for this weekend.  I have two more things on my list for April that I am hoping to get to next weekend.  That is if Homestead Hearth would get them in the mail.  Grrrrrrrrrrr

Have a great week everyone!  

Yvette

This Weeks Accomplishments

 I was chipping away at my goal list again this weekend.   

First up:  Jo's Little Woman Club 

This one has 180  1.5" HST's, which turn into 45 pinwheels.  

Next up was this months "Designer Mystery"block from Fat Quarter Shop.  Next month will be the last block and then I can finish putting it all together and add the borders.  

Joy was too sick to come over last weekend to work on "Ode to the 30"s" so we decided to be on our own this month.   These are the four blocks we chose to make.

I also finished my fourth "It's Raining Cats and Dogs" block last night. 

That's it for this weekend.   

Have a great week everyone!

Yvette

More progress

Beth came over Saturday and we picked up where we left off last weekend and worked on our Dear Jane blocks.   The plan is to do ten blocks a month.  Here are my ten blocks for April. Next month I am taking apart the three rows I put together several years ago and taking out the blocks I don't like and remaking them.  

After I finished my last Jane block I made this months "Women's Voices" BOM.  It was refreshing to make such big easy blocks.  

I even had time to make this months Country Threads BOM.   More nice and easy blocks.

After work I like to hand stitch.  Here are two more "Sweet and Simple" blocks I finished from the last two weeks.   

Today (Sunday) I only had time to one "Sweet and Simple" and one "It's Raining Cats and Dogs" blocks.  Those, along with my baskets I have prepped should keep me busy for a few weeks on my lunch hour and before bed.

Well, that's it this week.   A few more things off my list.  

I hope every one has a great week! 

Yvette

A little Progress

Well, back to work for me tomorrow.  I need to go back so I can rest.  LOL   I accomplished quite a bit around my house and garden.   Only a little sewing was done during the week but I did make a little progress.

I took a break from gardening one afternoon and made my "Four Star Generals" block with Ranette via Facetime.

I finished the parts for my new mystery quilt one evening.  I had to make 124 HST's and then piece them with the squares I cut last month.  I can't wait to see what this quilt is going to look like.  

 Friday afternoon I pieced this little mini.  It is from the Jo Morton club I joined.  

Saturday I had a sew day at my house to celebrate a friends birthday.  There were three of us sewing on Dear Jane.   We have decided that we will be doing ten blocks a month.  My traditional Jane is pretty well under way and if I stick to the ten a month I would have it done next spring.   I will show you my blocks when I have all ten done.   I made six yesterday and one today.  I forgot how labor intensive these babies are.   Next month I am going to evaluate all the blocks I have already done by putting them up on my design wall.  I know there are a few that stick out like a sore thumb that I need to remake.  

Well, that's it for this week.   

I wish you all a happy, healthy, safe week!

I leave you with my list of goals for April.  I cut it back quite a bit but will add those projects back in as others get finished.

1. 10 Dear Jane blocks
2. 4 Ode to 30's blocks
3. 2012 Designer Mystery block plus flying geese sashing for row #3
4. 25 Applique Baskets
5. 2 Sweet and Simple blocks
6. 1 It's Raining Cats and Dogs block
7. 3 rows of Charming Addition
8. 8 rows of Charming Addition for gift
9. 1 Four Star General block
10. 1 Crossroads block
11. 1 Jo's Club quilt 
12. Silver Thimble Mystery
13. 1 Women's Voices block
14. Country Threads BOM

When all those are completed and if I have time I will work on Cheddar Bow Ties till it is finished.

BOM Progress

I am just slightly overwhelmed with projects that it is starting to get a little stressful.
This is supposed to be fun, right?   I am going to re-think my list and put a few things
on vacation until I finish up some projects.  

This project will NOT be going on vacation.  Joy comes over once a month and we sew on this together.  It is called "Ode to the 30's".  Each month we try to pick two blocks that we can sew up in an afternoon of sewing together.  Here are this months blocks.

Here is another that I will keep up with.  Only two more of these and I can finish this up.  This is the Designer Mystery from Fat Quarter Shop.   

This is one that a local shop is doing.  It is called "Women's Voices".   We will have the option to make a big king size or two lap size quilts.  

I finished up the 31 S'mores I started a few weeks ago.

Here are this months "Crossroads Blocks".  Another one that I don't want to go on vacation.

Here is another "Sweet and Simple" block I finished. 

I started another "Charming Addition" quilt for a gift for my friends father.  I thought it would be the perfect man quilt.  I put on seven rows and figure if I do that every month I will be done by his birthday in September. 

Here is my "Charming Addition".  I added three more rows.  

See!  These are only some of my projects.  I have way too many going at once.  Something has gotta give.  

I hope you all have a great week.   I am off from Tuesday - Sunday for Spring break.   I plan on working around my house and garden and trying to organize and donate items I don't need.   I have been doing this off and on for over a year and I still have way too much.  It's amazing how much a person can accumulate in fifty years.

Sad

Someone I was proud to call a friend passed away suddenly this past week.   I have only known this person about a year an a half but oh how I looked up to her.  She was a wonderful artist, quilter, wife, mother, grandmother and friend.   She was way too young to leave this world.  

Everywhere I look in my house I have a quilt.  Most of the quilts I have on display were quilted by her.  I have so many treasures to remember her by.   I heard that one of my quilts is on her quilt frame ready to be started.  :(

If you are believer I ask that you please pray for her family and friends.  We need to learn to live without her.



 

Mindless sewing weekend

This weekend I had to sew around a lot personal commitments.  I chose things on my list that required little thinking and plenty of cutting and mindless sewing.   I don't think my BFF, (seam ripper), came out to play much at all.  

Friday night I worked on part one of the Silver Thimble Mystery that I am getting from Fatquarters quilt shop in Vista.   I had a ton of squares to cut out in various sizes that aren't in the picture and sew 80 HST's from my focus fabric and background fabrics, which I sewed Saturday night.   I look forward to next months installment.   I have never really done a mystery that I had no clue of what it would look like.   I do the FQS Mystery but they give out so many clues that you have a pretty good idea of what you are making.

After I finished all those HST's I started sewing Cheddar Bow Ties.  I hit the wall and continued on Sunday morning and finished 10 - 9 patches (90 bow ties).   I now have a total of 60 - 9 patches done.   I think I will make 20 more and put them together to see if that is a good enough size for the back of my couch.   

After I ran a few last minute errands I thought I would have time to make 31 more S'mores blocks.  Well, I had time to cut and sew the first round on but time got away from me and I will have to finish next weekend.   I really could have used that extra hour that was stolen from me this weekend.

During the week I managed to finish 7 baskets during my lunch hour.  (No picture)  

I also finished another Sweet and Simple block.  I think this makes nine blocks done.   

That't it for this week.
I hope you all have a great week and find plenty of time to play with fabrics and thread.

Yvette

March Goals

I hope everyone had a great week.  It sure seems like it went fast!!
I made my list of all the projects I want to get to this month.  It seems a little heavy but we do have five weekends in March (YAY) and I am off the last week for Spring break.

Goals:
 Ode to 30's - 1 pieced and 1 Applique block
 Double Delight - Cut for part #2
 Cheddar Bow Ties - Make 10 nine patch blocks
 Afternoon Delight - Month 4 (4 applique and 2 pieced blocks)
 S'mores - Make 31 Square in a Square blocks
 2012 Designer Mystery - 1 block plus one row of geese
 Baskets - Get to 225 finished
 Sweet and Simple - 2 blocks
 Charming Addition - 3 rows
 Five Star Generals - 1 set of blocks
 It's Raining Cats & Dogs - Stitch block 3 and add to other blocks
 Crossroads - 2 blocks
 Country Threads BOM - 3 pieced blocks
 String quilt for charity - 6 blocks
 Charming Addition for B-day gift - 7 rows
 Plaid Obsession - Start string blocks
 Silver Thimble Mystery - Month 1
 Jo's Little Women Club - Mini #1
 Women's Voices - Month 1 & 2
 2009 Mystery - Sashing
 Old Glory - Sashing
 Simply Charming - 1 mini

Whew!   I am exhausted writing all that.   Another goal I have is to finish organizing and cleaning the garage.   Any helpers are welcome!

This weekend I was able to prep both blocks for "Sweet and Simple" and the rest of the baskets I need to stitch to hit 225.   I also cut part 2 of "Double Delight".  I needed 120 squares and 480 triangles cut.  Next month I will be sewing square in a square blocks for hours on end.

I also finished stitching block 3 of "It's Raining Cats & Dogs.   I added this to the other two made and completed row 1.

It was TJ approved.

I also sewed month one of "Women's Voices".  Beth and I started this today and we sewed our blocks together via Facetime on our IPads.

After that we put together this months Country Threads free BOM. 

That's it for this weekend.  

I hope you all have a wonderful, healthy week.

Yvette

Four Day Weekend!

This weekend I was fortunate enough to have four days off.   I sure could get used to that!!!
My friends know that I have to do my work before I play, so on Thursday I did most of
my chores and ran a few errands.   When I got home I decided to prep appliqué.   I like to hand sew when I am on my lunch hour at work and at night before bed.  For the past several months I have been working on these little baskets.   I have 195 finished and need at least 105 more.   I prepped 21 more so that should hold me over for a few weeks.

Friday I did more chores, got my hair done and ran more errands.  After all that I prepped block three of "It's Raining Cats and Dogs".  I am doing this BOM with a local friend and a blogging friend, Grethe.  We are shooting for a block every other month but I think Grethe has taken off on this and has more done.

Here is the block I prepped to stitch.

Here are the other two that I have already finished. 

I also was able to work on another BOM I have going.  This one is called "Four Star Generals".  Here are this months blocks.

and here are all that I have done so far.

Saturday was "Sew Saturday".   Joy and Pam (no blog) came over to sew for the day.   I forgot to take pictures of Joy's blocks.  She was working on her Grandmother Choice block of the week and then started putting together her Farmer's Wife.   Both are just gorgeous.  Pam is a beginner and with a little help from me put together a baby quilt for her nephew.  Here is Pam holding up her first top.  I think she is getting the bug.  

I was working on a row for a charity quilt I am making.  I am using a bin of strings I have from homespuns.   I thought it would make a great boy quilt for the crisis center it will be gifted to.

I also put together this months free pattern from Country Threads.  Here are January and February blocks.

I also worked on an old UFO.  This is Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery from 2009.  I was able to get the center medallion finished.  I also pieced the sashings.   I hope to get this together next month.

Today (Sunday), I ran more errands and cleaned my floors of all the threads from yesterday.  They sure do add up!   I then settled in for Quilt Cam with Bonnie Hunter.   It's so fun to sew with Bonnie!

I worked on "Old Glory".   I had all the red blocks made so today I made all the blue blocks.  All I really need to do is put the sashing strips on and call it a flimsy.

Well, that's all for this weekend.  My sewing is done for February.  I am off to work on my March list of projects.   The good news is we have five weekends in March.  The bad news is that I work two Friday's in March.  (shut up Beth and Nancy).    LOL!  

I hope you all have a wonderful, productive, healthy week.