October PHD Report

I'm taking the liberty of sounding positive with the title of this post. I don't have much to share since I was gone for the last two weeks of the month but I will share what I did manage to finish/work on. First the quilty things.

I did get ALL of the applique blocks finished up for Afternoon Delight. This was the last block of forty total. Pshew! 

I also got a start on the Double 9-Patch blocks. There's a ton of these to do and will make fabulous leaders & enders. *wink*

I made progress on Twisted 2020 blocks. The blocks on the left will join the ones on the right that I finished last month.

This adorable project from Timeless Traditions was started and finished at quilt retreat this month. Score that one for me!

Now for the knitting ...

I started AND FINISHED this new hat. The pattern is called "Change Your Mind" by Joji Locatelli. You can see the details on Ravelry HERE.

Fits just right! I actually wore it this morning due to frosty temperatures on my walk this morning with Gracie. (The new header picture at the top of the post was taken this morning.)

I started knitting Caramel Sauce Socks (also by Joji Locatelli) but only got this far.

These will get finished shortly.

So what will I be working on this month?

1. Caramel Sauce Socks - need to be finished
2. Afternoon Delight - more Double 9-Patch blocks sewn
3. Twisted 2020 - more blocks sewn together to make progress on the quilt center. Then a decision will need to be made on how much more to add
4. Christmas Pillow - zippered back needs to be added along with a pillow form
5. Timeless Traditions Fall Mat - quilted and finished
6. Hope - let the quilting begin!
7. Twisted 2021 - progress ... any progress ... would be good!

So there you have it. October is over for this year and November is upon us. I don't feel like I made much progress last month. I plan on changing that for this month! I hope you made lots of progress last month with lots to come in November.

Have a great month!

WOOFA & PHD September Report

I looked back on last month's WOOFA & PHD post to see what I planned on working on in September. I pointed out how close I was to finishing the applique blocks for Afternoon Delight and that I wanted to work on the Twisted 2020 quilt. Checking my progress on each of these I've discovered that I never touched the applique! I was shocked! This is how I left it last month and this is how it still looks this month.

I think it was because September's handwork was my knitting project! I am happy to say that I finished these mittens. They are ready to be gifted. They were really fun to make but a bit intense. (Sadly this pattern is no longer available on Ravelry.)

Front Sides

Back Sides

So what did I sew during September besides my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks? I worked on getting the pieces sewn on Twisted 2020 and assembling the Falling Star blocks. Ta! Da! (As you can probably see, there are three blocks not 100% sewn together but I laid them out anyway. Wouldn't this make a stunning Quilts of Valor?)

During September I also prepped for Halloween by making an apron and finishing up BOO! (Pattern available at Sewing With Susan.)

Actually finished this at the end of August but never shared it.

What will I work on this month? Here's my list:

• As you can probably guess, I'll be working on actually getting the last of the Afternoon Delight applique blocks done.
• I'll also be working on the 2020 and the 2021 Twisted quilts.
• Did you happen to notice the new button on my sidebar for the 2021 Autumn Jubilee? I'll be working on all sorts of Autumnal projects there too. You should check it out and see if you would like to join in with Carole & friends!
• I've started another pair of socks with JojiKnits Fall knit-a-long. The socks are called Caramel Sauce.

I'll bet I find other fun stuff to work on too but I'll end my "official" list right there. What have you been working on? Are you ready for the Fall Season?

WOOFA & PHD Reports

As we're getting ready to wrap up August, it's time to look back and see what we had hoped to accomplish and what we actually managed. I have really been pushing myself to finish the applique blocks for Afternoon Delight. This is a Sue Garman pattern that I downloaded from The Quilt Show. Membership was required. Anyway, this is how I started out August.

I got the block 100% finished! It's a beauty!

Then I went on to get a few more done.

I am currently working on #39 of 40 applique blocks.

So close to done with these. Next step on this quilt? There are 64 OMG blocks to piece!! Yes, that is 64 9-patches-in-a-9-patch. I plan on using up my scraps from the applique blocks and then some probably! These will definitely be getting worked on behind the scenes since Afternoon Delight is on my PHD (Projects Half Done) list for this year.

Of course, that is not enough to work on. This month I will also be concentrating on Twisted 2020. I have been doing a lot of work on it also behind the scenes. It is on both my PHD list and is the bonus project on the UFO Challenge list. This will be my WOOFA for September as well.

Looks like another busy month! I hope everyone, whatever your hobby may be, picks out a project to focus on and then makes the time to work on it. Good luck!

WOOFA & PHD

This blog title sounds governmental, doesn't it, with all the acronyms? They're actually kind of one in the same. WOOFA means "Working On Or Finishing A ..." project, UFO, whatever. PHD stands for Projects Half Done. Either way, they both provide encouragement towards finishing a project. What a great idea! *Squirrel* Hahaha!

Last month I was determined to finish the cross-stitch project that I'd started a long while ago and I worked on it, and worked on it, and worked on it. I can say that it is done now! That one definitely falls into the WOOFA category.

I think this was a Lori Holt pattern. I know it was offered freely as a SAL through Fat Quarter Shop. It will fit nicely into an 8"x10" frame. Just need to find the right frame.

Last month I also finished a quilting project that was on my PHD2021 list. Sew Spooky top is finished. It will more than likely be quilted next year. Doubt I'll have time this year.

I have to include this picture also. I took it from a different angle and the sky was so pretty!

This checks off one of my PHD2021 projects. You'll notice I did just that on the right-hand sidebar.

What will I try to bring forward in July? First thing will be the little Wool Christmas SAL. It has to be done by August 10th so, if I can give it a really good push this month, I won't have to hurry it along in August. This picture is incomplete. All the borders and the "Merry Christmas" have been added. I'll get a better picture later. This wall hanging is listed on my PHD2021 list to be quilted and bound.

The other project I hope to focus on this month is Afternoon Delight. It was the QAL last year from The Quilt Show. The pattern was from Sue Garmen. This week I finished my 29th block (out of 40!).

I started this one. It's going to take a while since there's so many edges to needle-turn applique! I hope to get several of the Afternoon Delight blocks done this month ... maybe 5???

So those are my WOOFA and PHD projects for July. Wish me luck!

Linking up my WOOFA with Cheryll at Gone Stitchin'.

Purple, A Flimsy Finish, and a Quilt Show!

My local quilt guild, Hearts 'n' Hands, presents a quilt show every other year. We were supposed to have one this year, but we weren't able to meet this past year to prepare for it. So, the Quilt Show Committee decided to have a virtual quilt show! Besides displaying over 200 quilts, there is also a 12-minute bed-turning and a few vendors! You can check it all out On This Link. There are some really pretty quilts in here which just goes to show the talent of this group. Maybe you should grab a cup of coffee to enjoy the show!

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge's color for June is purple. Nice pick, Angela! Last month I had a hard getting any sewing time in but I am determined to make a better effort this month. My sewing group met yesterday for some "sewing with friends" time. I prepared by selecting & cutting fabric Thursday night and got the Lotus block sewn Friday. Yay! Purple!

While I was packing up my car this morning, look what I found under the handle of my Explorer. I moved him out to take his picture.

Cute little tree frog. I love their song! After I moved him using a twig, he sang his little heart out on the window sill.

Last Tuesday I met with my LQS's UFO Challenge group. This group meets every other month so it was nice to see these gals again.  At the end of the last meeting, Cindy (our fearless leader) pulled #2 so the project I was to work on that corresponded with #2 was the Halloween BOM. Turns out the pattern was called Sew Spooky and it was copyrighted 2012. That means that I probably started this project in 2012 or 2013. Time to get it done. What put me behind was the candy corn border. I was terrified to sew strips together, then cut triangles out of it along with a background fabric, and then sew it back together and still have a straight row. So now I had to in order to get this project finished ... and I did!

Scary Candy Corn Border. Ha!

It really wasn't as hard as I had thought it would be but I must say that it took me a LONG time to get done. I was being so very careful. Then it was time to sew on all the borders, including the bat border that I worked on in the car on my way to MD! You can see all about that HERE.

And here is the finished top. I say finished but there are a few buttons that still need to be sewn on. I can't do that until it is quilted which will probably be another UFO Challenge project for next year! This quilt, besides satisfying one of the projects for the 2021 UFO Challenge, is also on my 2021 PHD list. Hip! Hip! Hooray! For double-dipping!

Sew Spooky complete with spooky sky behind it!

This was a fun quilt to make. Some of the blocks had pieces from a panel. Some had applique some of which I did in wool and others I did on the machine. Some had embroidery. Here's a close-up of the blocks.

Block with Wool Pumpkins and Crow

Wool Ghosts
Panel Windows
Embroidered "BOO"

Panel Barn Door with Embroidered Cobwebs
Embroidered Cobweb Windmill

Wool Moon and Broom Bristles
Panel Lower Windows & Witch's Feet
Embroidered Cobwebs in Windows

Wool Cat & Star
Embroidered Smoke
"Flappy" Quilt (See Below)

 

Pretty sure I mentioned that I was going to sew with Laundry Basket Designs (Edyta Sitar). Last month, the day after Mother's Day started this block a day SAL. Of course going out of town put me way behind. Let's be honest though. I was behind before we left. Anyway,  Edyta did her quilt in blues & whites. I decided to sew mine in browns & creams. I worked on Blocks 4 & 5 today.

Blocks #4 - 100% Finished

Sneak Peek at Block #5

Because I certainly didn't have enough going on while socializing with my friends, I also had another set of blocks in the works. These will be my RSC May (Red) Irish Courthouse blocks.

I did start sewing them a bit right before I left but decided to leave them for Saturday. Did I mention we sew for two days!!??! Lucky me! It'll probably be my last hurrah for a while as Hubby goes in for his surgical hernia repair on Wednesday. Show time 5:30am. UGH!

Let's not think about that for now and just bask in my finished flimsy. Here's one last photo and it's a close-up!

I'll see you back here next week if not before. 

RSC Blue -- Not Quite Yet

Angela has chosen light/bright blue for the month of April. I'm anxious to dig into my scraps to see what I can come up with but that was placed on a back burner for the time being. Instead, I've concentrated my efforts on the April/Easter cross stitch project.

Last time I showed it, it looked like this. I still had the outlining to do on the entire tree, the bunnies in the foreground, the egg cart, and the bunny sitting by the quilt. Stitch, stitch, stitch!

Ta! Da! I finished it last night while watching Blue Bloods. Right down to my initials & year!

This morning I cut the self-adhesive mounting board and got the project trimmed & stuck on. After inserting it into the shelf, it is now hanging just inside the front door. To the right is a monthly hanger that my cousin gave me many Christmases ago. Below that is the weather station. The cross stitch will hang until May 1.

So happy to have this project completed 100%. The pattern was from a1989  calendar that my mother gave me back in 1988. This one was actually designated for March that year but that's OK with me. I've already done February, May, June, and October. One more will mark the halfway mark. Not sure if all 12 are in my future though! Haha!

The rest of my time has been eaten up with quilting Shark Bite. At 88" square, it's been a monster to maneuver under the needle of my little machine. There is a deadline of April 13th so I'll really be focusing on that one next. Plus it's on my PHD list. For my April PHD project, I'd like to have Awesome Land to finished top stage. I started some of the sashing so it really shouldn't be that big of a deal to meet that goal. Of course it's also a bed-sized quilt!

I did manage to sew a little bit with some blue scraps but it's definitely not light or bright. I'm working on a guild  group (called Twisted Mystery) project from 2020. I'm not sure of what the actual title of it is so I'll have to eventually come up with my own. I'm doing it in patriotic colors and so there is blue, just not light or bright. Here's a picture of the stack I worked on this week.

I'm really learning how to use the Deb Tucker/Studio 180 rulers. They take a little extra time but the piecing comes out perfect! Good thing I'm getting familiar with these rulers since the Twisted Mystery quilt for 2021 uses several.

So my WOOFA .... is going to be Awesome Land which will also satisfy a PHD project. Shark Bite will satisfy both a PHD project and also a 2021 UFO Challenge project at my LQS. I'll need to start looking through my blue scraps too. So much to do, so little time! Ha!

Whatever you're working on, I hope you have light/bright blue skies and sunny joy within.

Linking up:

• Angela at SoScrappy for RSC
• Gail at Quilting Gail for PHD

WOOFA(P) & PHD

The first of March means it's time to look back to see what was accomplished in February. Short month. Some progress but nothing monumental. I will be linking up with Quilting Gail for the PHD (Projects Half Done) and with Cheryll at Gone Stitchin' for WOOFA(P) (Work On Or Finishing A ... UFO (Project, Pattern, Problem, etc.). Both are designed to get us quilters on the right path to a completed project!

So what did I work on? I finished the wool mat project Reindeer Dance, which had been started in January. It hit a standstill when I ran out of the embroidery thread and had a little difficulty finding the same thread. You can read all about this project HERE.

While I was waiting to locate  more  of the needed thread for Reindeer Dance, I started another wool applique pillow titled Peace Love Joy. It, like Reindeer Dance, was purchased some time ago from Primitive Gatherings. The top is now completed. Just needs the zipper sewn in and backed. Of course then it will need a pillow form stuffed inside. I'll get it all done this week! For now, here's a picture of the finished front.

The Joyful Quilter presented a challenge to us for 2021 called Table Scraps. Each month, using the designated color of the month from the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, we are to make a table runner, table mat, mug rug, etc. February's color was yellow so I made a 17" square table mat using a new-to-me ruler. I think it turned out adorable and I love it! The back of it is a yellow print with little bees! You can read about the progress of this mat HERE.

For both WOOFA(P) and PHD, these count as starts & finishes. However, none of these were on my official PHD list. I don't have anything finished for that list but I did make progress on two of the projects. I worked on Awesome Land. It was nothing but a pile of blocks from RSC2020. I've started sewing on scrappy background sashing pieces.

I also worked on the 2020 Twisted Mystery quilt. I made 48 total of these units.

I started 52 of these. I think I have 18 of the 52 sewn but still need to be trimmed up.

Progress on Shark Bite was made. I picked out the fabric for the backing! Isn't it gorgeous? To get Shark Bite to the finish line is the goal for the 2021UFO Challenge, due in April. Just getting it layered up and basted will be a job inself! Ugh! Here's the backing I'm planning on using.

So let's see. I started a project in January and finished it in February. Started a project in February and finished it in February. Started a second project in February and it's basically done. Maybe 97%? I also made some headway on two of my official PHD projects and got the backing picked out for a third. Really not too bad for such a short month.

See you in a month with hopefully some finishes!