end of the year finish

quilted & ready for binding!

detail - campfire

After a fantastic Christmas vacation with family I made it home to deal with the unpacking, errands, reheating the house and finding something edible in the pantry.  Once most of that was out of the way, I managed to squeeze in some quilting this afternoon and finished up the quilting on my Outdoors quilt!

It's been exciting to actually see this become a quilt over the last year - it certainly waited long enough. There's some of the back story here if you're interested.  In short, it's about 6-7 years old, I dusted the pieces off this summer to assemble the top and now all it needs is some binding.  Yay!

detail - trees, flying geese & sky

My December goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes at Fiber of All Sorts was to finish the quilting on this one and what a relief to have this final goal met for the year!  I've participated and finished my goal every month from February - December!!  Thanks for the extra kick in the pants to get these projects finished- can't wait to keep it rolling in 2014!

detail- onderwater fish

This quilt is on my Quarter 4 list for the Finish-A-Long 2013 at She Can Quilt and I should be able to put the binding on it shortly.  This may find a home on the wall in my living room so I'd get to see it everyday.

detail- twinkling stars

another finish!

Last night I put the final stitches into the binding of Momm's Christmas quilt.  I really love this one and know Momm will too.  More details are here- check it out.

 Yes Momm, I'll bring it home with me but I'm glad I get it to myself for a few more weeks! ;)

So I'm linking up at Fiber of All Sorts for the Lovely Year of Finishes as this was my November goal.  Here's the original goal setting post. 

 Nothing like a deadline to get you motivated! This is on my Quarter 4 list for the 2013 Finish a Long as well and will be linked up accordingly.

back- quilting detail

Also squeaking in on the deadline to link up with Finish It Up Friday over at Crazy Mom Quilts.  

I'm gonna wreck it!

Happy Halloween readers!  This year I had a blast figuring out my costume and it turned out really awesome!  

I went as Fix-It Felix and highly recommend watching Wreck It Ralph if you haven't already seen it.

I can Fix it!

I'm squeaking in with my October finish for the Lovely Year of Finishes tonight as well.  Linking up over at Fiber of All Sorts.  This is also my first finish for Quarter 4 Finish A Long and will be linked up accordingly.  Also linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday!

I finished up the Pinwheel quilt originally posted here and loved experimenting with the quilting on it.  This was a top Momm made and I used a pieces of red fabric from my stash for backing.  

I quilted it with Aurifil thread and using a flower design around the center.  In the sashing pieces I just did a little swoosh-like motif.  I did little swirls in each of the blocks as well which look really fun on the back.

The binding is fabric from my stash as well and is machine bound.  I'm definitely getting better at the machine binding, though I prefer to finish binding by hand.

quilting back detail

This quilt will be donated to a charity for kids as soon as I can get a box and decide which one to send it to.  There are so many great options out there and I hope whoever gets it feels the love and joy that went into making the quilt!

Fourth Quarter Finale

Wow! It's already time to make the last list for the 2013 Finish a Long?!  I went back to my previous 3 lists and out of the 10 projects I've linked so far this year - I've finished 7 of them!  :D  I decided to go big for this final Quarter - it's nice to make progress on some WIPs even if I can't get them all finished.

So here's the official list for Quarter 4 (in no particular order)::

1. Pinwheels: 
 Lingering from the Q3 list that's almost managed: I need to finish the quilting & bind it. *Edited: #274 on the Q4 finishes link up!

2. Challenge Quilt: 
I got the top put together this summer and recently ordered the perfect backing.  Needs basting, quilting and binding.

3. Swoon:
Also lingering from the Q3 list, but I did get the backing together and batting cut.  So it need basting, quilting & binding as well.  Still have no idea how to quilt it - any suggestions??

blocks

pieced top

4. Christmas Sparkle:
 Not sure if this will officially count, but it's on the list.  Momm pieced this awesome quilt and we got it basted recently.  I volunteered to quilt it before Christmas so I can snuggle with it on vacation! :)  We coordinated a plan on quilting and should have just enough of the red fabric for binding as well.
*Edited: #275 on the Q4 finishes link up!

5. GS Quilt:
 So this quilt is lurking in my sewing room....it needs some serious attention (note: seam ripping) and just hasn't been at the top of the list.  I would like to get the top figured out  at least so it's back on the list....

6. Camera Bag:

I almost forgot to add this to the list but am putting it on before the deadline! Momm had some great camera fabric that I used to make a Wide Mouth zipper bag to store my camera & cords & such.  So fun.  It's partially put together, but still needs to have the lining stitched shut, top stitching and zipper pull attached.  This will be a straight forward finish.

*Edited: #276 on the Q4 finishes link up!

Linking up at SheCanQuilt and checking out all the other great projects.  There's still time to join in - make a list and grab some motivation!

stitch stitch stitch

I'm linking up my end of the month project for my August's Lovely Year of Finishes over at Fiber of All Sorts.  My original post can be found here and my goal was to quilt my Kaleidoscope quilt this month.  I'd happy to report that I got all the quilting done and have even started on the binding!

I FMQ back and forth lines in all the grey pieces and left the orange & raspberry triangles as is so they would stand out from the background.  I'm so happy with the way it looks all quilted!

Another quilt to add to the finish pile instead of the in-progress list.  Interested in joining the fun of finishing up some lingering projects?  Stop on by Fiber of All Sorts or Sew Bitter Sweet for Septembers link-up!

Also, this is my finish #2 for Quarter 3 of the Finish A Long at She Can Quilt.  My original list post can be found here.  So happy to have this one finished and ready to use.  :)

Quilts on Deck

Heading into the next Quarter takes us into fall - I'm not sure I'm ready for that to be in the back of my mind just yet.  I'm going to challenge myself this time around and have a longer list ready.  We'll see how that turns out on the other side!

1. Kaleidoscope quilt - this one is a carry over from Quarter 2 and next up for Gilbert to tackle.  Even though I didn't finish it last quarter, I do have the backing and batting prepped so it's ready to baste.  Still undecided about how to quilt it, but will figure that out soon enough.

2. Swoon quilt - I joined the Swoon Along on flickr last year when I started this quilt. Right now the top is finished & the backing almost all together.  I need to baste and figure out how to quilt this one so it's ready to use come Fall on my bed.  I waited to quilt this one until I had my new machine and know that Gil will be up to the task!

3.  GS Quilt-  this was fun to piece....until I decided i need to make the center strips shorter so I'll be seam ripping and trimming and re-piecing the top.  Then it'll just need backing and a decision on how to quilt it.  *phew*

4. Table/Counter runner - this is a more recent start, but does need to be finished soon as it'll be a gift.  I have strips cut and backing ready, so it's almost complete.  I'm using the strippy table runner tutorial from ps I quilt.  

5. Pinwheels- This is a quilt top from Momm that is intended to be a quilt to donate. The blocks are from a Triangle Tricks class we took together. A perfect summery quilt waiting to be basted, backed, quilted and bound!

Catch you on the flip side Finish a Longers!

back against the wall

In which I recap my Quarter 2 Finish A Long progress and link-up a last minute finish.  My goal setting post found here seemed a tad ambitious due to the major events of Quilt Week and Quilt Camp.  I surprised myself a bit in that I completed 2.5 of my 3 goals.  I know only 2 will count but am super excited!  [the .5 is that I have the 3rd goal ready to baste]

Stepping Stones, my first finished project link-up (#22) post can be read back here.

Stepping Stones detail

Today I'm sharing my 2nd finish: this 4.5 year lingering quilt top has been turned into a finished wall quilt.  Here it is on the wall of my entryway - it's so happy!

This top came about from the 1st winter retreat Momm & I planned 4.5 years ago.  We played a right, left, center dice game with batik fabric strips and I ended up winning the equivalent of a jelly roll!  Afterwards, I turned it into a top using the Athena Puzzle pattern and showed off the finished top at the 2nd retreat.  Each year the winner of our game has continued to turn their prize into a finished quilt.  Last year I was a bit embarrassed to admit my winnings were still just an unfinished top and determined to finish this one so that I could show it off at the next retreat - our 5th anniversary!

quilting detail

I call it Cave Painting because of all the cool designs of the batiks and the quilting design.  I used my walking foot to quilt a giant spiral starting from the center outwards.  I kept seeing this used on various blogs and wanted to try it myself - this top was the perfect fit.  I liked the idea of using the spiral to mimic the blocks, but have it create interest by being round instead of square.  I enjoyed the process, but don't think I'd do this type of quilting on a larger quilt - too much turning and asking am I done yet?

quilting detail with backing

Stats: 
Finished Size: roughly 47" x 47"
Machine Pieced and quilted by me 
Quilting: giant spiral using the walking foot & guide bar
Backing: a brown print from Moda's 108" wide I picked up from the remnant bin at Hancock's
Binding: purpley Batik print from my stash

So there you have it readers - 2 finishes this past Quarter and getting my line-up for Quarter 3 ready.

1/2 year finish line

Hello again dear readers!  Last night while relaxing after the end of Quilt Camp 2013 I sat and finished the binding on my Roman Stripe quilt.  This is my June project for the Lovely Year of Finishes.  I wasn't sure it would get done due to the business of Quilt Camp and the lure of summer but it did.  Hooray!  

stepping stones quilt

Here's my start of the month post for June: ALYOF.  I pieced the top last Fall and have steadily been working to get this one all wrapped up so it's thrilling to have another finish under my belt.  
This quilt is also on my Quarter 2 list for the Finish A Long so I'm glad to get a win on two columns. Here's the link to my post setting my Q2 list.  :)  It's nice to keep stacking up the finished quilts with all of this motivation.

back view

I'm still thinking on the name for this quilt, but am leaning towards Stepping Stones.  Here's the stats:

detail view

Finished Size: 72" x 64"
Machine Pieced and quilted by me using aurifil thread
Quilting: mostly FMQ in a variety of designs.  some inspired by Angela Walters' Free Motion book and Leah Day's 365 quilt designs blog
Backing: Leftover squares and fabrics from the top with a piece of
Binding: scrappy raspberry prints from the quilt & stash

me & my quilt!

I had a fun time taking photos of this one and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Linking this finish up at Fiber of All Sorts for the June link and over at Crazy Mom Quilts Friday finish.  Also will be linked up for the Quarter 2 finishes linky at She Can Quilt for the Finish a Long.

Finish A Long Q2 list

April seems to be zooming by already - for me it marks the end of the unscheduled weekend.  I'll be busy with Scout programs and workshops and such for the next few weeks.  Most notably, we're only 6 days away from the start of Quilt Week!  I'm so excited to see the show and see all the quilts at the AQS Paducah show!  

With that in mind, it's been hard to decide on a list for Quarter 2 of the Finish a Long.  I won't have time to sew during Quilt Week, and the end of the quarter hits right at Quilt Camp- my biggest program of the year.  Of course, I don't have anything small started at the moment so I'm going for the big quilt finish again this quarter and know it will help me make progress on my 2013 goal of finishing up the stack of quilt tops.

So without further ado, my Quarter 2 list::

1. Kaleidoscope Quilt:  I have the top complete already as it's a more recent project.  I still need to find backing for it and decide on how to quilt it, but can't wait for it to be finished!

finished top

2. Roman Stripe quilt:  Also a pieced top that needs backing, and finishing.  I have an idea on how to quilt this one already so hopefully it can be ready for some picnics this summer.

in progress blocks

3. Athena Puzzle Retreat quilt:  This top was made from the strips I won at the first Winter retreat.  I'm a bit embarassed to say I made the top and set it aside.  Oops.  I want to finish it up and be able to show it off at retreat next year - which will be the 5 year anniversary!!

finished top

Linking up at SheCanQuilt for Quarter 2 - come cheer us on over the next few months!

last minute wrap-up finish

Just under the wire for my last Quarter 1 finish along project!  I wasn't sure this one would get finished in time, but my new machine meant the quilting went super fast.  There was just enough fabric left for binding and I caught up on Psych episodes and some Netflix to get that all wrapped up as well.

the start of the quilting

Several years ago when the top was finished, I purchased the green fabric for the backing.  When I pulled out this project to baste it a few weeks ago, I realized there wasn't enough of the green - apparently my quilt math wasn't so good in the past.  Ack.  So I raided the stash for enough fabric to make it work and decided to echo the design of the front.  This is the first time I pieced my label into the backing for my quilt as well and I really like how it looks.

detail-back

I quilted swirls into the top, straight lines in the yellow border and did circles (that look more like jelly beans) in the orange border with Aurifil thread.  It's bound in the same black fabric I used on my Summer Sampler and Cross Eyed binding and measures: 56"x82".I've called this the 'Psalm quilt' while working on it due to the white pieces that have verses from the Psalms written on them, and have no other idea for a name at the moment.  Perhaps it will remain the Psalm quilt.

backing

 I'm so excited to see this one finished after several years.  I'm proud to say I finished all 3 of the projects from my initial list.  Wahoo!   Linking up at She Can Quilt for the Quarter 1 finish party.   Then onto figuring out a list for Quarter 2!

Introducing...

...Cross-Eyed!  Because all those Xs and Pluses start to get a bit overwhelming.  ;)

Last year I participated in two rounds of a swap on Flickr for X Plus blocks - so much fun!  I ended up with 35 blocks and wasn't sure how I wanted to assemble them at first - one lap/wall quilt? -two smaller quilts? -make more blocks for a larger size?

  Well the blocks came with me to quilt retreat and I played with them on the design wall for a bit before settling on using them all in a lap size quilt and put together the top.  Once home, I found the perfect piece in my stash for backing - this fun DS for Joann's Daisy print.  It was just the right size too!  It's quilted with straight lines through the pluses and on the diagonal with a blue aurifil thread and bound in the same black sketch-like print (not sure on designer/print) that I used on my Summer Sampler quilt.

It was a lot of fun to make and as it's still wintery cold here in KY, I'll be pulling it out in the evenings. :)  Turning the blocks into a quilt was on my list for the Finish A Long Quarter 1 over at She Can Quilt and this is also the project I chose for my March finish in the Lovely Year of Finishes over at Fiber of All Sorts.  Here's the start of the month goal setting post.  It's nice to cross things off the list and use them instead.  

In the meantime, I'll be linking up over at Crazy Mom Quilts for the Friday Finish!  Be sure to stop and check out all the fun project finishes.

February Finish!

I am so excited to share this quilt finish on the Year of Finishes link up for February!  It's been a long time coming and setting a deadline gave me the motivation to sit down & quilt this one.  I finally got some good natural light shots of the pre-washed finished quilt even with the dreary cold here this week.  

I took it out on my lunch break at work today.   :)

please ignore the blue tape...thx!

You can see the texture of the quilting really well in these shots too which is fabulous (in my opinion!).

 My Summer Sampler Quilt - quilted, bound and labeled!
Edit: this was included on my Quarter 1 finish a long found here.