First UFO Challenge Top Finished

 In my last blog post,

I mentioned that I have joined the

UFO 2025 Challenge.

 

The first UFO I tackled is one that I started

years ago and put into time out when I realized

I had made a big cutting error.

I received a number of comments 

encouraging me to go ahead and finish the quilt.

As my husband and a few others said...

if one hasn't seen the pattern,

how will they know how it was supposed to look?

It will be my take on the pattern.

 

Well,

the top is finished and I love it!!

 

 

 

It still needs a good pressing,

but it's finished.

This is "Diamond Delight" from

Kaffe Fasset's book

"Quilts from Morocco"

with my own design twist.

:)

 

I am preparing the backing and will send it off to my

longarm quilter soon.

It's so exciting to have this quilt done and out of time out!

 

 

As I was going through some piles of parts,

I found this pile of Kaffe bricks I had used to make

this quilt a few years ago.

I had seen this quilt on Pinterest and loved it. 

  

 

There were enough of the colorful bricks in the pile

and I had to add a few of the low volume bricks to the mix.

After cutting the 1" sashing strips, it went together very easily and quickly.

It is now in the "to be quilted" pile.

 

Last week I had carpal tunnel release surgery on my left hand

and am very thankful to have cut several quilts before it was done.

I can sew, but cutting is a challenge.

Since the first UFO challenge is done,

I can decide which fun project will come out of the box next.

 

Happy Quilting!

New Year... Old Project

If you are on Instagram,

you may have seen that Jandi Dean is

hosting a UFO challenge for 2025.

 

While I am not one to usually start something and not

finish it, I do have projects and kits that I've purchased

and then let them sit.

And sit they can do!

 I jumped on board with Jandi for this challenge.

 

 

For my first UFO,

it is a true UFO.

I don't remember when I cut the parts and pieces

for this quilt, but it was years ago.

I moved it to this house almost 4 years ago

and think it was cut out several years before that.

 

This is a Kaffe Fasset quilt from his

"Quilts in Morocco" book and I loved the fabrics he used.

His shot cottons and stripes are so soft and comfy feeling. 

As soon as I cut the pieces out,

I realized I had made a huge mistake.

My striped fabrics were cut so the stripes were on an angle

instead of straight across.

GRRRRR!!!

 

 

 

This is a photo of the quilt from the book. 

I was so mad at myself and put the pieces and

fabrics away.... for years.

With this challenge,

I decided that done is better than nothing.

The quilt will still be soft and cuddly,

even though the stripes are all on angles.

So, the sewing has begun.

 

 

 

All of the big blocks have been made and one has been framed,

just so I could see how it will look.

It is a jumble of fabrics and designs,

but once it's done, it will keep someone warm.

Once all of the blocks are framed,

I will arrange them so the colors are

more evenly distributed.

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully, this will be done by the end of the month

and I can move onto the next UFO on my list.

 

 

Happy Quilting!

Out with the Old, In with the New

As I look back on 2024 and what I was able to accomplish,

it was a very good year. 

 

A lot of time was spent in my Hidey Hole,

making baby quilts, big quilts, donation quilts,

Christmas decorations and other fun things.

 

 

 

As I look over all of these finishes,

I am very thankful for the desire and ability to create.

It feeds my soul.

While spending time in my Hidey Hole, in the car, sitting with my husband in the

evening while he watches sports, etc., I listen to books.

!

It was a record year for me!

My favorite book of the year was

"The Women" by Kristen Hannah.

Welcome 2025!

May you all have a blessed and joy-filled year

and may your bobbins never run out of thread!

Happy Quilting!

The Irene Baby Quilt

 My sewing machine is back home and working!

For those who have Bernina sewing machines,

it's best to plug them into a surge protector strip

versus the wall outlet.

It turns out, this is why my machine was malfunctioning!

Once I had my machine back,

I was able to finish quilting this baby quilt for donation.

 

 

 

This is "The Irene Quilt" by Kitchen Table Quilting

and is a super fast pattern to make.

 

 

 

 

A while ago I had picked up a jelly roll of "Willow" (I think)

and was able to make two baby quilts from this jelly roll.

 

 

 

 

 

The quilt is finished and has been passed on for donation.
I hope to make many more quilts for donation

in the coming year.

My Cricut machine has been busy, too!

 

 

 

These shirts are ready for my littles to wear for our

annual cookie baking day this weekend.

 

 

My littlest little won't be baking with us,

but she can still get a new shirt.

This child has some of the chunkiest thighs I've seen.

As my son-in-law says.... her thighs have thighs!

Happy Quilting!

No Sewing Machine Again

 I had my sewing machine in the shop in September

for its annual clean and service.

They had it for almost 3 weeks then,

which was fine because I was gone for part of the time.

Two weeks ago I was quilting a baby quilt

and it began acting up on me.

I was using the serpentine stitch to quilt 

and as I was sewing, it would switch to straight stitching mid row.

The only way I could get it back to serpentine was to turn the

machine off and back on again.

After the first time, it would switch back to straight stitch frequently.

So, back into the shop it went and the time frame is

four weeks this time.

:(

Thankfully, I wasn't planning on doing a lot of sewing

for Christmas.

Before I took it in,

I managed to piece this quilt for my great-nephew.

My sister-in-law (his grandmother) saw this kit while we were on

vacation in September.

I told her if she bought it, I'd make it.

It's been sent off to my quilter and should be back in a couple of weeks.

I really need to get a back up sewing machine!

Happy Quilting!

Three Completed Baby Quilts

 These three quilts have been hanging in my

Hidey Hole for quite some time.

It feels so good to have them finished

AND delivered!!

 

 

 

I didn't follow a pattern for this one and can't remember

how large I made the triangles.

 

 

 

 

 

This quilt is made from "The Charlotte Quilt" pattern by

Kitchen Table Quilting.

 

 

This quilt was made from an old pattern from

Moda Bake shop.

Is that even still a thing?

Now, I can begin a new pile of baby quilts.

Happy Quilting!

The Charlotte Quilt

 The other day I posted a baby quilt made using

a Kitchen Table Quilting pattern,

"The Irene Quilt".

Today I have another quilt finish using a

Kitchen Table Quilting pattern,

"The Charlotte Quilt".

Both quilts were made using the same jelly roll.

I think the jelly roll is called "Willow",

but I'm not 100% sure.

 

 

 

These colors are so soft and soothing...

Not my usual color palette. 

 

My pile of "to be quilted" quilts is growing,

so I really need to get going on this.

 

Happy Quilting!

Chasing Dreams Finish

 I am excited to say that my

"Chasing Dreams" quilt top is finished!

The final stitches were sewn

and I can finally cross this off of my list.

 

 

 

This was made exactly like the pattern and kit.

It was too intimidating to think about changing anything.

Plus, I love it like it is!

 

The batiks in this kit are so rich and luscious.

I'm thinking of having this custom quilted,

so will be chatting with my long arm quilter.

Woohoo!!

Happy Quilting!

Chasing Dreams

 Several years ago, while on vacation,

I found this kit for the Chasing Dreams quilt

by Jacqueline de Jonge.

I have pulled it out and put it away more times than I can count.

It intimidated me so much that I just couldn't make it.

 

Finally, it was time.

Before quilt camp I cut all of the pieces

and prepared to make this one.

 

I did take other projects in case I just couldn't make it again,

but pushed myself to start it.

 

 

 

 

 

The first step was making the big star in the middle.

It's all paper pieced, which helps with the precision. 

I finished that and was pretty happy with the results.

Next up was the small star and then the flying geese outer band.

The most difficult part was dealing with all of the paper!

I finally thought to use some clips and folded the unused paper

until I got to those sections.

 

 

 

This was my sewing set up.

I remembered to bring my light box,

which made all of the difference.

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't my trash pretty? 

 

 

 

These beautiful borders took HOURS to make!

 I could not be any happier with them

and was very glad to have them finished.

 

 

 

The pieced border pieces will go on after two narrow borders of

the black and white striped fabric and a black and

white star fabric.

 

Onward and upward!

 

Happy Quilting!

 

Baby Quilts

 For the first time in a long time

I do not have any quilts that I have to be making,

so I am taking the time to make some baby quilts

for donation.

 

My church helps support a free health care clinic

and they have requested baby quilts and blankets

to give to their patients.

 

 

 

 

 

This quilt is made with a Kitchen Table Quilts pattern,

"The Irene Quilt"

and went together in no time.

I had a jelly roll of Willow and used half of it for this quilt.

The other half is being used for another baby quilt.

 

Last year at Quilt Camp I used the

Jelly Roll Sampler pattern by

A Quilting Life

and made all of these blocks.

I used the Tula Pink fabric

(I'm blanking on the name)

for the sashing and setting triangles

and put it all together.

It will be trimmed once it's quilted.

 

 

 

This last baby quilt has been waiting to be sewn

together for some time.

I had some of the Kaffe fabric and

pulled pinks and blues from my stash for this

triangle quilt.

I don't know what it is about triangle quilts,

but I just love them.

 

The edges will be straightened once it's quilted.

 

 

Now to get all of these quilted!

Happy Quilting!

Quilt Camp 2024

 I have no idea how we are almost at the end of October!

This has been a crazy busy month,

but with good things.

Last week I took my annual trip to upstate NY for Quilt Camp!

Six of us get together and rent a house on Keuka Lake

(in the Finger Lakes region)

and sew and chat and laugh and sew for 4 days.

At last years quilt camp, we decided to draw names and

make a quilt with a fall theme for the person whose name we drew.

It was so fun to see everyone's quilts!

 

 

 

Kathy, on the left, made this quilt for Shelly.

 

 

 

 

Irene, on the right, made this quilt for her daughter, Missy.

 

 

 

 

Missy, on the right, made this adorable quilt for her mom, Irene.

How fun is it that they had each others' names!

 

 

 

 

I made this quilt for Holly, who was unable to join us this year.

She fell a couple of weeks before camp and broke her left hand

in two places.  Ouch!!

 

 

 

 

My sister in law, Shelly, made this gorgeous quilt for me.

I had commented that I loved this fabric line,

not knowing that she was using it for my quilt!

 

 

Holly made this beautiful quilt for Kathy.

We are hoping that we all will be able to attend next fall.

The theme for next years quilts is Spring!

While we are in upstate NY, we were able to see

the northern lights.

It's the first time I've seen them and they were so beautiful.

Happy Quilting!

Acorns and Woven Quilt

 Wow, it's been a while since I've posted anything here.

Things have been made in my Hidey Hole,

but I can't show them yet.

Yesterday I pulled out a bag from my cabinet of projects

and decided to make a baby quilt to donate.

Years ago (I can't find when in my photos)

I made a quilt using these parts and pieces.

There were a bunch left over, so I put them in a bag

with the pattern and there they have sat.

This baby quilt went together in no time since

everything was cut.

It was mindless sewing while I listened to a book.

The pattern is an old Moda Bake Shop pattern.

We had our two oldest littles here a few weeks ago

and while they were here, we picked up

some acorns at my church's playground.

I dried them and was able to easily take the caps off

of the acorns.

After looking on line, I combined a couple of ideas

and made these fabric acorns.

 

 

Another mindless project that was fun to work on in the evenings.

I need to get a few more acorns, as I made more bodies than I had caps.

 

 

Hopefully, it won't be as long in between posts next time.

 

Happy Quilting!

More Hemingway Pouches

 Making Hemingway Pouches is such a fun project,

especially when I use the vinyl or faux leather

from Zipper Valley.

(The zippers and pulls came from Zipper Valley, too.)

 

The one change I made to the pattern is to sew the binding

to the outside of the pouch, which eliminates the

need to turn the pouch inside out after the binding is sewn in place.

 

 

 

 

 These pouches were gifted to a few people

and all were very pleased.  :)

 

 

 

Since I stitch the binding to the outside,

this allows for me to use the top triangle

that is cut from the bigger bag to make a smaller bag.

These would be great for coins, chapstick, hair clips, etc.

 

 

This eye glass case was made with quilted fabric and

will protect my sunglasses nicely.

 

 

Happy Quilting! 

Red, White and Blue Veterans Quilt

 These past few weeks I've had the time to cut and sew

another Veterans quilt.

 

This one was made with some of my collection of

red, white and blue fabrics.

 

 

 

 

 

The block pattern is the Disappearing Nine Patch

and it went together so quickly.

(Notes for me... I used 4.75" squares for the nine patch to 

make the 48x60" quilt.)

 

 

 

 

I quilted it with the crosshatch using my walking foot.

 

 

 It is labeled, laundered and ready for delivery.

Happy Quilting!