What Are Quilters Blogging About Today?

It has been another challenging week here with lots of places to be and things to do and not a lot of creative time. Regardless, I did get out the paints and darkened both the upper corners of Open Dialogue.

I’ve moved on to planning the quilting design. The original idea didn’t work out, nor did plan B. I have a vague concept drifting just out of reach, like a dream you can’t quite remember once awake. Hoping the weekend will provide the time and space to finalize a plan and start quilting.

I’m sitting here watching the rain pour down wishing for a warm sunny spring instead of whatever this is. On the plus side, the weather encourages me to stay inside and sew.

I finished my April OMG, the Margo Handbag.

I have too many projects going again. No more adding projects to the active rotation until I finish a few.

Project One: I’ve stitched about 25% of My Sewing Treasures by Bobby G Designs.

Project Two: The band sampler will return from time out once my Guild demonstrates the stitches for the next two rows at the meeting ...

I finished my March OMG, catching up on the band sampler. I also finished Roads. Finishes are good because they make room for new projects.

The band sampler is on a break. My Guild isn’t demonstrating the stitches for the next two rows until May.

Project One: I’m working on a kit called My Sewing Treasures by Bobby G Designs.

Project Two: I will continue working on Open Dialogue.

Project Three: I’m starting the Margo Handbag by Lazy Girl Designs. The instructions come in a ten page booklet. My OMG will be to get through the first ...

Open Dialogue is coming along. I added more fabric bits, fused them and stitched them down with embroidery floss. I didn’t want anything falling off.

I did similar stitching on this piece. It may be a thing going forward.

Now I’m looking at the green splotches and listening. They feel out of place. Do they need toned down? So many choices to do that: paint, crayon, tulle, thread, fabric, lace, or any combination thereof.

A bolder choice would be to add more green to keep the others company.

Leave it, hide it or add to it – what do ...

No fabric in or out this week.

Big decision yesterday – what to work on next?

I spent time looking at the five projects in the “do next” bin. Then I pulled out a few from other storage areas. So many choices. Two went back into storage, three went back in the “do next” bin and two made it to the design wall. I have to reevaluate two in the “do next” bin. Hard to believe, but I may not have everything I need for those.

The active quilt is Open Dialogue. Last time I posted a picture it looked like ...

The challenge quilt, renamed Roads Less Traveled, is finished. I cleaned up the sewing room last night to make space for new projects.

I chose not to post a full picture until we find out if our quilts are accepted for the exhibit. I’m not sure of the rules and don’t want to create a problem.

But I will show a section of the quilt where I did a lot of beading.

It’s one of my favorite parts, along with the birds.

This project definitely got me back in the quilting groove. I retreat to the sewing ...

I finally have something to report!

The challenge quilt is quilted, the facing is done and the sleeve is on. I’m sewing beads on now.

It still needs a label, a compass and more beads, but the end is near. Best of all I can count the fabric out.

I have to turn it in next weekend. I can’t wait to start something new.

Fabric In: 0.5yards

Fabric Out: 2.5 yards

Net Fabric Out: 2 yards

How did you do this week?

I finished my February OMG, the challenge quilt top.

I will continue to keep the list small, but not quite as small. I’m feeling the need for more variety.

Project One: My Needle Arts Guild started a band sampler stitch-along. We review the stitches for two bands at the monthly meeting, with a goal of finishing those bands before the next meeting. This project will continue into May.

Project Two: This is a challenge quilt for my Art Quilt Group. The top is quilted and three sides of the facing are sewn. It needs a sleeve, a label and ...

No change in the numbers.

Quilting continues on the challenge quilt. I haven’t worked on anything else this week.

I should be ready to count at least some of the fabric out next week, although I don’t think the quilt will be complete.

I can’t wait to finish it and have the freedom to work on other projects.

Fabric In: 0.5yards

Fabric Out: 0 yards

Net Fabric In: 0.5 yards

How did you do this week?

My OMG for February was to finish the top for my Art Quilt Group’s challenge quilt. We have size requirements, plus it has to include paper, a compass, a piece of focus fabric, beads or jewelry and a road. The theme is “Roadtrip”.

I finished the top and have started quilting it. I won’t add beads until I’m done quilting. I also haven’t added the compass yet. I think the compass will also be a surface embellishment.

I’m linking to Elm Street Quilts for the February finish party.

No change in the numbers, but soon.

The challenge top is pieced. I pulled backing and batting yesterday. The goal today is to baste it and start quilting.

Last week it came to my attention that my comments on many of your links reject. I appreciate everyone that takes time to link up, and I read all of your posts. The reject notices went to my spam folder, where I didn’t notice them. I’ve had this problem off and on over the years. Hopefully it will resolve itself again soon.

Fabric In: 0.5yards

Fabric Out: 0 yards ...

I finished two projects in September, the Winter Pines runner and Noel, and had one stitched piece framed. Other projects moved forward, making it a good month

The Short List categories are UFO, garment, original design, hand work, finishing, classes and other. I’ve used this system for 8 years to keep me focused. The categories change as my goals and interests change. Categories with nothing in process will not be listed, only active categories.

Original Design – Open Dialogue may get attention in October. If not, November for sure.

Other – Waugh Street Christmas is almost quilted. This will be my ...

I finished two items in August, the circle challenge and the November BOM blocks. I just realized the BOM wasn’t on last month’s list. Sneaky how it cut to the front of the line.

The Short List categories are UFO, garment, original design, hand work, finishing, classes and other. I’ve used this system for 7 years to keep me focused. The categories change as my goals and interests change. Categories with nothing in process will not be listed, only active categories.

Original Design – I think about Open Dialogue often, but it probably won’t see the light ...

Sometimes you need to give yourself permission to make bad art.

Circles became an experiment in many things – circles as line, straight stitch on fusible applique and feather quilting. In hindsight, I should have either hand quilted the feathers or practiced them before stitching on the quilt. I wasn’t happy with them, but I didn’t dislike them enough to rip them out.

The smaller feather was meant for machine quilting, the larger one not so much.

More importantly, the quilt is finished.

Now I move on.

It’s hard to believe, but the circle piece STILL isn’t finished. It’s just silly at this point. Guess what I’ll be doing today?

No change in the numbers goes without saying, but here it is for the record.

Except for the eyes and the metallic stars, I finished the “E” in Noel and started the “L”. Hand work is the cool kid on the block for me this year. It never gets old.

Fabric In: 7.125 yards

Fabric Out: 3.875 yards

Net Fabric In: 3.25 yards

How did you do this week?

I didn’t finish anything in July. This may need to change to the Shorter List with fewer projects on it. No illusions of being a prolific quilter here.

The Short List categories are UFO, garment, original design, hand work, finishing, classes and other. I’ve used this system for 6+ years to keep me focused. The categories change as my goals and interests change. Categories with nothing in process will not be listed, only active categories.

Original Design – I’m quilting the group challenge with circles.

Other – Waugh Street Christmas is ready for borders.

Hand Work – Work continues on ...

I paused a minute when I typed the date in the title. August? Really? I need to pay more attention to where I spend my time because I can hardly believe we’re eight months into the year.

I obviously am not spending my time in the sewing room because the numbers haven’t changed.

I hand stitched the circles down on the small art piece. I even basted it. Perhaps this one will be a finish next week.

I have a list of other projects I want to work on. I better pick up the pace if I ever ...

No change in the numbers.

I’m working on the challenge piece with circles. I hoped to make more progress this week, but life continues to get in the way.

The circles are fused. I have a plan for attaching them more permanently and ideas on how to quilt it. This one is 10” x 12”.

The background fabric and the dark pink circles are my hand dyes. The light pink circles are my painted fabric.

I’m working on using up some of my dyed and painted fabric to create space for more. When I take the time to ...

Things are happening in the sewing room. Each project deserves its own post, but I couldn’t pick and decided to summarize instead.

The circles are fused on the challenge quilt. No new picture because the group meets this week and I want to show it there first.

The pattern has gone though a couple revision and the background is cut for the quilt using the Sweet Christmas charm pack. It doesn’t look much different.

The “O” is almost stitched in the Noel piece. I’m about half way through the back stitching.

Big surprise, it will rain here ...

Another month gone and two more projects finished. Time passes so quickly, or so it seems. Any month with finishes is a good month.

The Short List categories are UFO, garment, original design, hand work, finishing, classes and other. I’ve used this system for 6+ years to keep me focused. The categories change as my goals and interests change. Categories with nothing in process will not be listed, only active categories.

Original Design – The group challenge with circles is moving to this category.

Other – I decided on the pattern to use with the Sweet charm pack, but haven’t ...