Goodbye October, Hello November!

I think it is time I had better start saving for a better camera. Yikes! Either my photo's are too dark, too light or too blurry. I used to have a great camera but I didn't want to put the time in necessary to learn it. New technology has arrived and I think I had better start saving and invest.

I put the borders on my "A Gardener's Journal" this morning. It is much brighter in person but I just couldn't get the lighting right. (see, I think I need a new camera) I am hoping to purchase the backing fabric in November so I can pin baste and get her quilted before the end of the year.
This is the tenth Redwork Basket completed. Two more to go and then I figure out how to lay them out. I have a ton of leftover red/white fabrics but I don't have any big pieces. I may have to shop for some sashing/border fabric for this also. I think I will cut strips and tumblers with the balance of my red/white stash and knock out a charity quilt in 2011.
This is block #1 of "Baltimore Bunnies" that I am doing with Monica. I bought this kit 2yrs ago at the Long Beach quilt show. The backing is flannel and the applique is wool and cotton. I almost went crazy sewing all those leaves on.
That's all for October! Time for November's goals.

1) Make/pin baste backing for "A Gardener's Journal"

X2) Row D of "Sylvia's Bridal Sampler"

X3) 2 - Redwork Baskets

X4) Cut all squares for "Life is Beautiful"

X5) 10 - Klosjes

X6) November's "Calendar Redwork"

X7) Work on "Blue Ridge Beauty" Leader/Ender quilt

X8) Block 2 of "Berry Picking Party"

X9) Block 2 of "Baltimore Bunnies"

X10) Cut Blocks 1 & 2 of "Civil War Tribute"

X11) Cut scraps into strips & Tumblers

If all above are finished before the end of the month

1) Quilt & Bind "A Gardener's Journal"

2) Prep more "Berry Picking Party" blocks

I pray you all have a happy, healthy, safe week, with plenty of time to play.

Berry Picking Party

Monica and I decided that we were going to do a BOM together. Now only did we decide to do one, we decided to do two. So far I finished the first block of the one I chose. This is called "Berry Picking Party". I prepped the first one Monica picked, "Baltimore Bunnies" and I will be starting to stitch that one soon. We even picked another one after we are done with these. I was also able to finish another Redwork basket on my lunch hours. Three more to go.

That's all I have for this week. It seems like I only had time for hand stitching. I do have "Tisket a Tasket" on my sewing machine. I am about 25% into quilting it and hope to have it done next weekend.

I hope everyone has a ton of time to play this week! Have a happy, healthy week!

This weeks accomplishments

Nearly Insane(ish) #1 is on Colleen's bed now. This is a California King bed and the quilt finishes at 118x118. My first and last jumbo quilt. Today Joy came over and we each made a purse. I could kick myself that I didn't take a picture of Joy's purse, it came out so great with the fabrics she picked from her stash. Here is my version of the reversible bag.
Look what I won on Darlene's blog. I love charm packs and I adore Schnibbles patterns. What a great gift!! Thank you Darlene!!!

Three more Klosjes made last night.
I finally finished the binding on the Crazy Catz. Just made it in time for Halloween.
This is October's "Catalicious" BOM. I think I only have a filler block to do and then figure out how I am going to set these. I thought a pattern would be given to us at the end but I think we are on our own.
I also finished another redwork basket. Four more to go before I have to figure out how to set these too. I sure wish I knew how to work my EQ7. LOL!!
Have a happy, healthy, crafty week!

Hand Stitching Fever

I made another Klosjes. These things are going to be addicting! I have to prep a bunch more when I have the chance because these will be a great portable project. 2 down 1198 to go. LOL!I put together the last block of my "Gardeners Journal" top and added it to the others. I have to find something for a small border and then add the scrappy final border. This will have to be put away until I go shopping.
Here is a closeup of the last block. I cut a little too much on the left. OOPS! I guess the wind is blowing my tree.
I managed to get October's "Calendar Redwork" BOM Done. These are quick and easy!
I also finished 2 more Redwork Baskets.

That's it for this week. I did clean out my sewing room of patterns and books I knew I would never use. I gave some to a friend online and am waiting for another friend to go through them before I put them up here to see if there are any takers.

I pray you all have a safe, happy, healthy week.

My First Klosjes

Ever since I have seen these little guys on other blogs I have wanted to make them. Thanks to Crispy and her hand piecing tutorials, I was able to make my first one. This measures 2 3/4" finished. I figure if I want a queen sized quilt I would need to make 1200 total. LOL! I am sure a table runner is as far as I will get. To start I will try to make one a week.I also used the skills Crispy taught me to hand piece this block from my "Sylvia's Bridal Sampler" quilt. This is D-1.
I also finished 2 more Redwork baskets.

I wasn't able to visit my sewing machine this weekend. I did pin baste the Crazy Cats and Tisket-a-Tasket and will try to get to those in the next few weeks. I think I am dedicating next weekend to cleaning out the sewing room and organizing. It will not be an easy feat. I want to get rid of anything I know I don't need or want anymore.

Another UFO bites the dust.

It isn't the best of quilting jobs but it is done. I should have probably sent this one out to be quilted but my quilting budget is at a halt at the moment. I am still plugging away at my works in progress. My goal is to get all of my WISP's and UFO's done, including my flimsies that need to be quilted, before I start anything new. I'm not sure if this is possible but I want to try.

Here are two more Gardener's Journal blocks done. One more block to go and I can start on the borders and get this baby on the flimsy list. I think I have enough fabric left over to make a scrappy backing.

This is the Catalicious BOM, finished just in time for the end of the month.
By the time I can get to my sewing room it will be October so my progress for September is done. I met all of my sewing goals for the month. Unfortunately, I didn't lose the 5 pounds I had set for myself. I weight exactly the same today as I did the first of the month. :(

October's list will have the the 5 pound goal as #1. I am going to have to start earning my sewing room time. It is limited to the weekend only as it is but before I can go in there I have to have all my workouts and foods cooked for the week.

October Goals:

1) Lose 5 pounds

2) Pin baste, quilt & bind Crazy Cat table runner

3) Pin baste, quilt & bind Tisket - a - Tasket wall hanging

4) 10 Sylvia's Bridal Sampler blocks

5) Cut and sort squares for Leaders and Enders quilt

6) Basket Redwork

7) Calendar Redwork

8) Catalicious

9) Cut all fabrics for Life is Beautiful

10) stitch last Gardeners Journal block

I hope you all reach your goals you set for yourself! Have a happy, healthy week!!

A finish, a flimsie, more embroidery blocks

I quilted this 2 weeks ago but finally hand sewed on the binding this week. I have 2 more quilts on deck to hand sew binding so I potentially have 2 more finishes this month. I basically just echo quilted the flowers and did a swirl throughout the sashings.
I got out my "Crazy Cat" blocks and sashed them into a long table runner that fits my dining room table. After I took these pictures I added some embroidered whiskers. I am hoping to get this quilted in time for Halloween. I guess this had better go at the top of the list for Octovber. ;) Linda seemed to like it too!

Here are the last two "Life is Beautiful" blocks. Now I need to start making 4-patches and start the applique process.

Another weekend has flown by. Time to sit, relax and sew some bindings. I hope you all have a happy, healthy week.