Back from the beach!

Good Morning quilting friends,
I missed my usual Tuesday post, but this time for a good reason.  My husband and I spent a few days at Hilton Head enjoying beautiful weather, golf and long walks on the beach.  We decided to go after Labor Day to avoid the end of summer crowds and had a great time.  I didn't take quilting along, but did take a knitting project along to work on in the car....it is a new project and this time is for myself...a wrap in a very simple pattern made in handpainted mohair.  I think it will be ny new take along project.   But, I have made progress on my hand quilted project and am almost finished with the quilting on the Moda Stars quilt on the quilting machine.   I have two borders to do and then binding.  Don't think I will have it for this month's meeting, but by next guild meeting for sure.  I am then going to do a cuddle quilt and see if I can do feathers on the quilting machine.  The next big project is a Christmas quilt that I have had  for at least 10 years.  I finished the top at Bethelwoods last year so quilting is all that needs to be done.  I think it is doable don't you?

I am trying to make sure that I spend some time every day on one of my projects.  It is helping me to stay on track.  I also took a look at my quilt to-do list and I am making pretty good progress there, but the list is long and I have a way of adding to it!  One of the things I may tackle is to rearrange my sewing room.  I think if I change the direction of how my cutting table sits I may be able to get some extra room to move around and won't feel so cramped. 

Hope that all of your projects are going well...would love to know how you are progressing on yours.
Until next week,  keep on quilting.....Vicki

Oops! I missed August!

Hi Quilting friends,
  Sorry I have been a blogging slacker, but the heat of the summer and travels conspired against me for blogging.  I have however, been working on some UFO's as have many of the folks in the guild.  At the end of August we held our second drawing in the Finally Finished Challenge....Floy, Anne and Joyce walked away the winners.  The next drawing is at the November meeting so keep working on those UFO's and who knows, you may not only win a prize, but perhaps what you make will become a perfect Christmas gift!

  I am excited today because I have almost finished machine quilting one of my UFO's.  It will probably be a couple of hours more, but since I started this particular quilt at least 10 years ago and finished the top at Bethelwoods 2 years ago, it will be nice to get it done...look for it in an upcoming post!  I have also finished one of the four panels on my Amish quilt.  It is looking fairly good, but I have to confess that I am not a fan of hand quilting for big projects!  As I get older, I find that I am drawn to smaller, easier  and quicker to complete projects.  After I get these projects done, I have several smaller projects to tackle, wall hanging size, and am hoping to get them done by the end of the year so I make my goal.   In addition, I have several other projects on my agenda...so wish me luck.  In the meantime.....all I can say is to keep plugging along on your UFO's.  The one I am quilting now (machine)  I spent a lot of time agonizing on finding a quilting pattern that was "just right."  I finally decided just to put it on the maching and pick something that I could get "finished" and for me, that became something that was "just right."  Sometimes, I think we get in our own way and block progress. Not everything has to be perfect....sometimes Finally Finished is perfection!

Enjoy the photos of some FFO's from Elaine and Sylvia....and keep those photos coming!  I really enjoy seeing them and sharing them.  Until next time ( and it won't be a month from now, promise)  happy quilting!  Enjoy the holiday weekend!  Vicki
 

Off to the Mountains

Hi Firends,  I am going to get a short post up before leaving for the mountains for a short stay.  I am packed with both quilting and knitting projects.  Unfortunately, the UFO I am working on is a bit to bulky for the trip so I have packed a quilt with binding to finish and some handsewing as well as some beautiful new yarn.  I don't know how much time I will have, but at least I should get some things done.  My handquilting is coming along.  I almost have one of 4 sides done.  Only one circle of feathers to go on this side.  I am trying to work on it a little each day, and while I don't always make that goal, I do get to it most days.  I have learned to just keep at it and not to beat myself up when I don't make the daily goal.  It has helped me to stay focused and less discouraged.
Today I received a photo of a lovely wallhanging that Penny finished for the challenge ( see photo).   I am pleased that so many folks are participating and finishing things.  I even had someone sign up at our last meeting...it is never to late to start finishing things.
I know that it is hot and that quilting is sometimes not optimal in hot weather, but keep at it.  Until next time, Keep quilting...Best,  Vicki

Handquilting again

Well friends, first my apologies for not getting to this recently.  My daughter and now my son have visited and since they are so far away most of the time, I let many things, like the blog and a quilting group go.  But right now, I have a few minutes, so I wanted to share my progress on the old UFO.  After looking at many patterns and not finding anything that would fit well, I decided to try designing my own. What turned out to work in the space was 5 intlocking circles of about 11" in diameter.  Then, just for fun, I decided to add some feathers to the mix and an interior design.  It took a couple of times to get the direction of the feathers right, but think that I have it down.   Oh, and did I say that I am basically freehanding the design (except for the circles) so they aren't exactly even, but it is turning out to be quite interesting.  I have included a photo of  part of the panel.  Once I get this one done there are only 3 more sides to go.  This may get finished after all!   Oh, as for the handquilting....it is improving as I go along but the point is that I am on my way to finishing this thing.  Will be going away for a week soon and I may take this along to see if I can make progress.  My strategy has been to try to do a little every day and it seems to be working.

The challenge for the guild is also going well.  Every meeting I have prople coming to me to tell me that they have finished something (or 2 or 3).  It is great to see so many people having success.  At the next meeting, there will be a UFO adoption day where each person in the challenge can "finish" a UFO by having it be "adopted" by someone else with all of the materials needed to finish the project.  This will give folks the opportunity to rid themselves of something that they really don't want to finish but didn't think it right to just throw it away.  The purpose of this whole exercise is to get unfinished thing out of our lives, so in my book, giving it away fits the bill!  Will have to see how it works in practice.  That's it for now....until next time, keep on quilting!  Best, Vicki