One Thing One Week #3 - Halloween Quilt

Once again Amy at Amy's Creative Side has challenged us to finish one thing in the last week. So I joined in and choose designing my Halloween quilt. I got the blocks from two virtual quilting bees so all my friends made them (plus I added a few to get the right number). The block sizes are unfisished 6.5", 9.5" and 12.5". So I had some finagling to do!



I also got a start on sorting the scraps and cutting them into sashing for the 9.5" blocks. Woo hoo!



Maybe I will get the top done by Halloween! Yeah maybe... LOL

DQS9 Finished

I did finish my DQS9 last week and will be mailing it today with some fun extras.



I had two ideas and thought I could meld them, but that was a failure. So I just went with my original wagon wheel looking block and then hand stitched some details. I had help choosing a background from the ladies in the Flickr group.

I am also sending a couple of fun homemade sewing accessories including a needle book, a dangle for scissors/rotary cutter and a little needle magnet to hold while sewing. I might send a couple of fun FQs as well.

One thing this week

Once again Amy at Amy's Creative Side has challenged us to finish one thing in one week. So I had to join in and choose finishing my DQS9 and sending it by Saturday. Honestly, the binding is 3/4 finished and I have an idea for the label and extras so this should be simple. But who knows what life will throw me in the next week!

I joined Amy's Creative Side's One Thing One Week Challenge last week and committed to getting the sashing done on at least one of my ABC quilts. I succeeded and almost finished a second. The second only has the last bottom sashing that I need to add, but I had to piece the sashing and then put the rest off.

Here is a photo of the top that I finished. I will be quilting once school starts in the middle of August.

Careful use of my time

I have started back to school for my Master's Program (only four classes left). I had taken a few months off. So now I have school work on top of everything else I try to do daily... cleaning, childcare, crafting, playing, TV watching, etc. I also have committed to a local roller derby league and have practice twice a week for a total of five hours of skating (though I have only been able to go once a week the last two weeks). So my sewing time has been reduced.. a lot. Good thing that four of my five quilting bees ended in the last two months!

I have been busy sewing though...
ABC Quilts (really moving along, but no where near done)
BUZZCUTS Bee (we just started the second year)

DQS9 (half of the piecing is done)


Small Quilts Class (only three more months out of nine)
January - Rail Fence


February - Interwoven


March - Old Maid's Puzzle


April - Lady of the Lake


May - Variable Star


June - Maple Leaf


July - Triangles and Squares
Class is this Saturday the 24th!

Accountablity and even more Bee blocks

I have a horrid habit of starting projects with no intended recipient then letting them languish unfinished for years. I do not think I am the only crafter with this problem as I hear and see so many others complain about UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) and WIPs (Works in Progress). So I am tryingto hold myself accountable and made a list of ten projects to complete this year, I called it my "10 in '10" List. I am going to post it here to help myself stay motivated...

1. ABC - Ronin
This quilt has the blocks complete and I have started the sashing process. All sashing is cut and half is already attached, but not yet ironed.
Update 7/24 - This quilt top is now done and needs sandwiched and quilted.
Update 12/1 - Finished in November
2. ABC - Zach
This quilt has the blocks complete and I have started the sashing process. All sashing is cut and half is already attached, but not yet ironed. Yes, it is in the same stage as the other as I am working on them simultaneously.
Update 7/27 - This quilt top is now done and needs sandwiched and quilted.
Update 12/1 - Finished in November
3. ABC - School
This quilt has the blocks complete and I have started the sashing process, but I am half a yard short of the sashing material and need to find some more. (Anyone have 1/2 a yard of the White on Black dots from the "That's It" line by Michael Miller that they want to trade with me?)
Update 12/1 - Finished in November
4. Broncos Mountain Majesties
The blocks are done, but I am having a hard time find a cotton pillowcase or flag with a large Broncos emblem on it for the center.
Update 12/1 - Not even touched all year!
5. Bright Strings
This top is complete, but still needs a backing before going to the quilters. I need to find a big enough piece from my stash and prepare that backing.
Update 7/27 - I seamed the backing today.
Update 12/1 - At the Quilters
6. Halloween Quilt from Bee blocks
All the block are now here and I have a layout planned.
Update 12/1 - Top complete needs backing
7. Triple Four Patch
Top, Batting and Backing ready, so why I am I not quilting it yet?!
8. HR Stripe Bee Quilt
Bought sashing for the completed blocks last weekend. Next on my list after the ABC quilts.
Update 12/1 - At the Quilters
9. RK Strawberries Bee Quilt
This top is complete, but still needs a backing before going to the quilters. I bought a bunch of Kona Avocado and plan on putting the one incorrectly sized block off center within the backing.

Update 12/1 - At the Quilters
10. All 9 Minis for Quilter's Studio Class
I missed class in June, but am finished with Jan., Feb., March, April and Mays tops. So halfway done?!
Update 12/1 - Five are completely finished while four still need quilted and bound

Now for a June update on my quilting bee blocks...

BUZZCUTS Quilting Bee was for sunflowerquilt (Jennie) and she sent the gray/black and we added our scraps. I almost had enough to make three whole blocks.


In the Stash Busting Bee Int'l, it was my month and I had the group create the same variation stars as BUZZCUTs made me last month. With over half the blocks here, I am almost ready to start putting that top together. June is the last month so this bee is practically over.

Sew Kid @ Heart II Quilting Bee was for curtiqueen and we made wonky log cabins with her fabric as a focus. I failed to take a photo of the block I made, but it was cute. This was the last month for this swap.

Relearning iPhoto to show Bee Blocks

Since my last post, my reliable old Dell laptop died and was replaced by a beautiful sparkly new Mac Book Pro, which I have no idea how to use. I have easily learned the internet via Mac... LOL But I have no idea where it is saving my photos when it downloads them off my camera, so it might take me a couple tries to get the photos added to this post as I hunt them down across the computer.

April BUZZCUTs for Sara we made monochromatic blocks from our stash. I got to pick my favorite color... Green.


April SK@H2 for Becca we made cute blocks with her novelty focus fabrics.


April Sweet Dreams Bee for Terrie we made blocks with her fabrics that featured the cutie kids fabric. April was the final month for this bee!


April Stash Busting Int'l for Kyra we made postage stamp blocks. This block took a long time for being simple squares.


In May BUZZCUTs started all over for another year and I got to go first this time! I sent out white fabrics and asked for a blue/green block from everyone following a specific pattern that has recently gotten popular in Flickrland. Check out the linky to see what people have been creating for me!

May SK@H2 for Ida we used her white background and added 2.5" bright squares from our stash.


May Stash Busting Int'l was for Corey and had tons of little (1" finsihed) squares that I added to her lovely grey solid.


For June in the Stash Busting Int'l, it is my month and I am having them make more more of the blocks that BUZZCUTs made for me in May. I should get 24 or so 16" blocks and hope to make a duvet cover for my own bed.