Not In the Plan

But I couldn't resist the Fat Quarter Shop's free pattern celebrating their ten years in business.  It's just so cute!  Part one is finished.

Another New Pattern

I have recently discovered Lynn Wilder's blog, Sew n Wild Oaks and of course had to have her pattern Country Charmer. I love it and will make mine scrappy. The pattern came today. I want to get started on it but it must wait, I have a customer quilt on the machine that I must work on today. I am behind schedule due to the flu and taking off Easter weekend.

I understand from reading Lynn's blog that she works at In Between Stitches in Livermore Ca. In Between Stitches is a wonderful quilt shop that I love to visit when in Ca. They have great mail order service too!

Another new project I took on this week is the monthly Schnibbles quilt. This month the project is Hat Trick, a cute little nine patch.

I'd better go get busy and get enough quilting done to justify a little sewing time later today! Fortunately and unfortunately warm weather has arrived so tomorrow I will be mowing the yard:()

Spring

Even though it has been a cold and dreary Spring in ENC, the flowers are beginning to bloom. My first white Iris.

One More UFO Finished

This one is a Pat Sloan pattern. machine appliquéd. Glad it is finished and hanging on the wall! Lots of piecing getting done the past few weeks. Easy Street is pieced and ready for quilting. Also a pinwheel quilt top that started as a group project has made it to the to be quilted pile. Another batik project is close to being a top. I really need to rev up the quilting. This weekend I will be quilting an Easy Street for a customer. I plan on loading mine when hers is finished and use the same pattern.

Spring is in full swing here so yard work will be added to the mix!

A Method to My Madness

This one is Andrews Star in the Window from Jennifer Chiaverini and Nancy Odom 's book Elm Creek Quilts. This has been a UFO for several years. I ran across it when cleaning the quilting closet recently. After I started A Little Porch Time I realized that I could use the left over fabric from the star quilt but needed to get it finished in order to do that. I don't know why I stashed it away, it had so little to go to finish it. I didn't really think I would like this quilt but now that it is finished and thrown over the rocker in my living room I am really enjoying it. So one more out of the closet!

Quilted

Another top from the closet. I made this one to support a pattern designer that I was quilting for at the time, a few years ago. The pattern company was called Two Quik Quilters if I remember correctly. It's one of those that you cut up into shapes and stack and shuffle so each block is different. I have no idea why I chose that border fabric unless it was just because it had all the right colors. This one will be good to take to the beach for Lucky and I to sit on, although Lucky does prefer to lay in the sand so he can get as much sand as possible in his fur to drag back to the car and house.

New Project

A little porch time. The first block is one of those best seen from the galloping horse. Not bad except for the one missing point. Embellishment may be the answer.

Another Finish

Binding is on, another flimsy done, yea. Not loving the loops on this one but it will have to do!

Cleaning, Stripping, Sewing, Quilting

I've been cleaning out the closet in the quilt room. I'm determined to get all these tubs of scraps stripped up. This may be a life long project.

Sewing the Easy street blocks together. Block A is finished and I have started on block B. only nine of those, then I can start to put it together.

I pulled out a top that has been waiting for quilting. Another Christmas quilt, lap sized that was a guild mystery a few years ago. I will stitch down the binding while watching Downton tonight.

I have also been reading some new blogs and of course found another quilt I want to make. Ordered the book tonight - Stitches on the Porch - I think.

Onto to binding.

Summer?

A little change of pace today. I enjoyed this beautiful summer like day outside putting together a couple of scrap books. The pages have been done - just needed to get them in order and put them in books. A lovely quiet day filled with memories of good times.

Marlene's Memory Quilt

This quilt has been pieced and waiting to be quilted for far too long. The quilt is the product of a block exchange with friends in memory of Marlene Ball. Marlene was an avid quilter and an exceptional person. Finishing this quilt made me smile with memories of time spent together and also brought some tears.

I am happy that the quilt is finished. I will remember Marlene's beautiful smile when I look at it.

Quilted with Loop D Loop panto

This Weekend

I have been working on Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street. I have all the parts done and will be working on putting it all together this weekend. Also I hope to load a top on the machine that has been ready to quilt for a very long time. I have to make a decision on how I want to quilt it, I may do some custom...or not.

Some pics of the mystery in progress.

Goal Accomplished

The Thimbleberries quilt is finished, just with a couple of hours to spare!

The quilting design doesn't show up much on the front so also included a picture of the back. Also a picture of the entire quilt that I finished earlier in Dec.

So today it will be taking down the Christmas decorations, cleaning and a little sewing. I'm going to try and tame my scraps and stash-they are taking over. Going to at least get started on that.

A couple of goals for this NewYear will be to work on a wool project. New adventure for me. I bought the BOW in wool from Primitive Gatherings last summer. It is neatly boxed up and waiting for me. I know I won't be doing a block a week!

I have a set of beautiful embroidered blocks that my dear friend Sylvia was working on. Just a few stitches to finish the embroidery and then I will set them in a quilt. I have given the design a lot of thought, just need to find the perfect fabric.

Of course the getting organized goal is always on my mind but I still need to work on that!

Happy NewYear!