New list of finishing goals ....

Here is my current top ten (plus 2) list of projects that I aim to finish by the end of September....  All have indeed been started and yet are lingering too long in this unfinished limbo state.

1) bind my first Red-n-White quilt (& label)

2) bind my Oopsie Daisy quilt (& label)

3) finish my cross stitch ABC Words of Wisdom

4) buttons and buttonholes on peach plaid shirt

5) stitch up rayon peach top

6) quilt "Dream" quilttop (or will it be a pillow? or pillow case?)

7) quilt "Geometric USA" then finish into mini quilt or pillow

8) finish assembling 2015 Row-by-Row (water theme)

9) finish piecing, quilting, binding & label the latest Thangles pattern

10) dress and garnish my first spirit doll (maybe more than one)

 11) bonus:  quilt and finish my original Instagram logo mini-quilt (and finish an identical twin for a future swap ...) pattern by Lori Holt (IG: beelori1; her website: www.beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/)

12) might as well go for an even dozen:  finish any old UFO that I re-discover in the next two months .... (hee hee hee - there are many that I've forgotten about!)


This is my official list for the Finish-Along group effort -- teams of fellow finishers are wonderful spirit-boosters!  Check out this link or this one for more information and join (if you act fast .....).

Thank you to all the Finish-Along hostesses and prize donors and participants for inspiring me to get things DONE!

I am happy to report that I am linky number 87 for the 3rd quarter of 2017 Finish-along fun.

Three .... sort of ...

I have been plugging away on my UFOs to try to finish some from my posted list of 10 for the Finish Along group and for my local groups that are also hosting UFO challenges ... as of today, April 1, I've only finished three so far ....

First up:  I finished my Owl pillow repair and it is now living proudly on my couch ... though I have notice another pillow seems to have a damaged (puppy-chewed?) corner now .... finish one UFO only to discover a new one?  Is that fair???

 poor pillow in need of loving repair ....

to begin, must first remove the mangled face ... 

one happy owl-pillow repair is complete! 

For more about this pillow's beginnings click here or to learn details of its repair, click here.

Second, I've finished one of the Silk Tie pillows, and have prepped most of the ties to slice, dice and stitch up into new pillows.

 I love this classic design (one of my own creations!)

Now I must stitch up several more -- but using square and triangular pieces.
Click here for more about this pillow.

Third, and my favorite of all, I've made four more blocks for the original 12-block Drunkard's Wife QAL and have stitche the 16 blocks into a top!  I hope to piece the back and get my favorite long-armer quilting on it soon-ish.

This is pile shows the first six blocks that I pieced.

Ten more blocks were completed, plus embroidery "Oopsie Daisy" was embroidered to the top block.

 A peek at my title block -- "Oopsie Daisy"

and some of the other blocks

and a full view of Oopsie Daisy

This quilt is PINK! and it is for me, me, ME .... (I think).

Here are some links to some of the blocks (how-to's) that are in this funky quilt:  Click here to learn how to use Thangles to make two of the blocks.  Click here, here and here to see more of these blocks.

This very pink quilt that I am making just for me is the #346 linkie of all the finishes that have been posted for this first quarter of the Finish-Along 2016.  Click here for a link to get you to all the linkies that have been shared.

Three completed UFOs ... out of ten on my official list of UFOs 

for the first quarter of the 2016 Finish Along.  Click here to see my complete list of UFOs.

Now to ponder which to finish next .... and how many other UFOs I should list on the next quarter!

These are such lofty and important decisions.

Hopefully it will get me blogging more regularly too ... could happen...

My lil owlie pillow

I spent the evening repairing this little pillow.

Lil Owlie - after the attack

As you can see,  my lil owlie has suffered a vicious mauling by our puppy when he (the puppy) was still new to the family (he's a little older and wiser now).  I've tucked the damaged pillow away for over a year or maybe closer to two years.  I loved it too much to toss it and yet hadn't decided how to repair it (especially the lower right corner - can you see that the corner is missing?).

I made this pillow using an owl from my toddler class bulletin board (in 2011-12, my co-teacher and I decorated our classroom with these owls).  I made two owl pillows, trading one in Another Little Quilt Swap (in the 7th swap) and keeping the other one (the one shown above) for my home. I especially love the background of this as my friend Liz B painted, over-dyed lightly, and enhanced it.  Click  here for more information on this pillow.


Meanwhile, on Instagram, The Cloth Pocket is hosting a WIP contest tonight.  I immediately grabbed this damaged owl and determined to fix it ....

Lil Owlie in need of new eyes and a beak

First step:  Carefully remove the damaged, half-eaten eyes and beak.
Next:  Stitch two black yo-yos, attach to white circles and stitch in place on the owlie's face.
Next:  Make the new beak and stitch it in place too.
Last of all:  Mend the dog-chewed-and-eaten corner ....

Lil Owlie ready to party again!

Ta-dah!
I've finished!

This marks my second finish in the 2016 Finish Along for the first quarter.  Do you like my creative patch to mend the lower right corner?  This little sleeping owl is appliqued in place and matches the fabric on the pillow back.  Click here for my original list of UFOs to finish for this quarter.

My lil owlie pillow is #345 of the official Q1 finishes for this first quarter.  Click here to see it and other amazing finishes.


Thank you to @TheClothPocket and also to the many hostesses of @FinishAlong  #2016FAL; #finishalong2016  #theclothpocketwipcontest #wipcontest

My first tie pillow

I am working on a special project -- making memory pillows using the shirts and ties once worn by a dearly loved gentleman.  The pillows are for his children and grandchildren, something to keep the memory of his love in their daily lives.

Here is pillow number one.  It uses six ties that have been appliqued onto a shirt and is an original design that I came up with while playing with the pretty silk ties.  This may be a fun project!

The back of the pillow is made from the shirt's button front.  The buttons open to reveal the custom made pillow form inside.   The pillow measures approximately 12" by 18" in size.

As seen in this detail view, I quilted the front and back pieces of the pillow to add to its longevity.    

This pillow is my first completion in the 2016 finish-along challenge.  Click here to read more about the finish-along challenge where you will see my full list of 10 projects I hope to complete by March 2016 as well as links to more details about this challenge.  I do excel at beginning projects, but this year I plan to finish many too.

My first silk tie pillow is entry #344 of the many finishes that have been posted for the first Quarter of the official Finish Along.  Click here to see the many links.


Time to dream up the next pillow ....

My official list of UFOs

Here it is.

(drum roll please) 

My Official List of UFOs

(with photographs to support the current state of each project).

My goal is to work on finishing UFOs all year long, while I will also be starting new projects (because I just cannot help it!).

1)  The first project that I hope to finish in 2016 is my version of the Drunkard Wife's QAL.

I have six blocks completed (minus the embroidery on the top one) and must finish six more.  I'm thinking I may even add a few additional blocks of my own variation before finishing this quilt.  This is a fun quilt-along project that my friend Felice Regina came up with.  Feel free to make one of your own -- all the directions for each block can be found here.  Be sure to wander through her website Sew Scatterbrained or follow her on InstaGram where she goes by iamlunasol.  She is also a designer for Windham Fabrics, with her first line debuting at the Spring Market this year.


2) These blocks made of Marcia Derse fabrics need to be finished into a quilt as my second UFO. 

The blocks are from mystery quilt-workshop by Jamie Meuller offered by my Houston Modern Quilt Guild at our October 2015 meeting.  I love the simplicity of the blocks which use Marcia Derse fabrics and Kona Cotton solids.  I am especially excited that I finally cut into my prized Marcia Derse collection!  I haven't finished this quilt yet as I am thinking of making more blocks to end up with a larger quilt, but have not decided what size I wish the finished quilt to be ... yet.


3)  I don't know if a needed repair will count as a finish .... but I'm listing it here anyway as I really really want to use my owl pillow again!

My pillow was mauled by a sweet puppy who is now older and wiser and hopefully will not chew up the repaired pillow.  I made the first owl pillow for an international swap and liked it so much that I made a second one for myself. Click here to see the two pillows.  The whites of the owl's eyes and the beak were made of wool felt - perhaps that's what was appealing to my puppy?  I must decide if I will replace the damaged pieces with new wool felt, or if I will use cotton fabric instead.  What do you recommend?  I need to patch the lower chewed corner somehow too ... wonder if I can find scraps of the original fabric that I used for the background (which is from a hand-painted and over-dyed printed sheet by my friend Liz B).


4) My next UFO that I wish to finish into a quilt is this small piece, a Hamsa with a Texas appliqued in it's center.

 Click here to see how I began the first of my Hamsa series and click here to see the finished trio that were gifted to friends who all married in 2015.  I also made two with Texas on them, like the one above, which were gifted to friends who were heading out of state to begin their college studies in Massachusetts.    When I was making the college gifts, I appliqued a few extra ones -- and I've thought of who I wish to gift this one too, which is why it is now on my "must finish" list of UFOs.


5)  Next, I wish to complete one or more pillows made from silk ties and dress shirts.

I was asked to make these by a friend of a friend and for some reason the little two-letter word (no) did not come out of my mouth!  Instead, I agreed to make the pillows for her, and I have had the ties and shirts since last May ..... time to get these done!


6)   The next collection of blocks waiting to be in a completed piece are these Polaroids.

I have made several Polaroids for myself, and even more to swap and trade with others (both members of the Houston Modern Quilt Guild and through a "Lovely Little Polaroid Swap" held this past Fall on InstaGram).  I am thinking they will be made into zippered pouches and possibly a tote bag or two to carry projects to and from classes.  Or perhaps I will keep the tote to keep my scrapbooking projects inside (the non-digital scrapbook, that is).


7) I have so many projects to finish!  This one should probably be listed as number 2 because I am already envisioning how I wish it to be completed.

These are mostly 12" blocks, though some are larger and the leaves on top are smaller.  I was inspired to make a red-n-white quilt after seeing the wonderful exhibit of red-n-white quilts called the Ruby Jubilee in the 2014 International Quilt Festival, their 40th year.  Click here to see my post with photos from the exhibit.  The blocks in the photo above include many that I made and six that I received in a trade which my local Houston Modern Quilt Guild had with the London Modern Quilt Guild (yes, London, England!)  For every block I made to trade with the London quilters, I made a duplicate one for myself.  I kept making additional blocks (such as the leaves which were a pattern-test that I did for Quiet Play, click here to order your paper-pieced leaf pattern) so that the quilt would be larger .... but recently I've redrafted (mentally) how I will piece this quilt and end up with a quilt the size I desire without needing too many more 12" blocks.


8)  This is the first red-n-white quilt that I began ... with hopes that I would have it quilted and finished in time to enter into the 2014 Ruby Jubilee exhibit.

I made several of these blocks for a swap with my traditional bee, the Block Builders Bee in February of 2014 (click here).  I did make many and traded them and even pieced them into a top at a quilt retreat I attended with my Modern guild last June BUT I have since decided that I want to add a few more rows so that the quilt can fit my bed.  However, I have not pieced the extra blocks (about 16 or 20 I believe -- these are small 8" blocks) .... it will be a race to see which of these two red-n-white quilt UFOs that I will finish first.


9)   This would be an easy one to finish (at least I think it is ...)

These batik split four-patches were made and swapped with my traditional bee, the Block Builders Bee (also mentioned above).  The blocks were pieced into this top at the June Modern Quilt Retreat that I attended (sound familiar?  just like the blocks and top in #8 above).  I need to get this top quilted, labeled and bound for the completion -- I think I can do this one by the deadline!  (I hope!)


10)  This will be my last one to list for this quarter (in part because the deadline to link is approaching fast (within the hour!))

These batik blocks are from the most recent block trade with my Block Builders Bee.  The trade was held last month, December 2015.  I hope to get them pieced and quilted .... but may need to make more blocks first.  I wonder if I am finally making a little dent in my batik collection?  I am dedicated to Sewing My Stash this year!  I have fabric for at least a gazillion quilts, and even more fabric for garments too.  Perhaps in the next quarter I will list clothes that I wish to finish.

I also have mini-quilts to make for swaps on IG, but I won't count them here ... they're not really begun other than the thoughts and plans that are still brewing in my head.

There.

Ten UFOs to try to finish by the end of March, 2016.

The Finish-Along group has gone global and is open to everyone everywhere.  To win the prizes they have, you must follow the guidelines (found here and other places too) and post your linkys to join and to show your finishes as stated in the rules. BUT if you missed the sign-up deadline for this first quarter, sign up for the next quarter (links open the first week of April). OR just keep plugging away and finish your projects and share on IG or FB or on your blog or with your friends and family.  The idea is to focus on finishing projects -- good-bye UFOs and hello quilts!

Joining the Finish-Along 2016

I love joining groups, especially ones that encourage me in my sewing and quilting adventures.

This 2016 Finish-Along group splits the year into quarters, then members post a list of projects they plan to finish at the start of each quarter (with a photo showing where they are) then post again at the quarter's end, showing their finishes. I've no idea how many UFOs I will finish this year, or even in this first quarter ... mostly because I've no idea how many actual UFOs I have at the moment (lots and lots!). Stay tuned .... By the way, the deadline to sign up for this quarter is fast approaching:

Saturday, January 16th, 2016 specifically by 11:00 pm EST.

Here is the list of hostesses (there are nine) of this fun Finish-ALong (FAL) group for 2016.  Check in with any and all of them to learn more details and to follow all the fun finishes.

 Debbie – A Quilter’s Table – USA [aquilterstable]

 Jess – Elven Garden Quilts – Australia [elvengardenquilts]

 Stacey – SLO Studio – Canada [slostudio]

 Jennie – Clover & Violet – USA [cloverandviolet] 

 Helen – Archie the Wonder Dog – UK

 Nicky – Mrs. Sew and Sow – UK [nickyeglinton]

 Rhonda – Rhonda’s Ramblings – USA [rhondatherambler] 

 Leanne – She Can Quilt – Canada [shecanquilt]

 Cindy – Fluffy Sheep Quilting [fluffysheepquilting]

There will be shared link-ups.  You may sign up with any one of the nine above and then your link will magically appear on all the hosting sites.  Join me!   The Finish-A-Long Q1 Proposed Finishes Linky closes Saturday, January 16th at 11 pm (EST) ~ (hint:  Q1 = first quarter).

Please excuse me now as I must go and figure out which of my UFO's to focus on finishing in this first quarter of the 2016 Finish-Along.

On Instagram and other social media, for 2016, please use the hashtag #2016FAL and follow the FAL IG account @finishalong. You can also join the new community at the Finish-A-Long Facebook Page.