A Quilt for Japan....

    Our guild is promoting the Quilt for Japan project being sponsored by Quilter's Newsletter.  They have arranged for shipping of any quilt sent to them by April 31st.

     Here is a link to a request for baby quilts..... http://www.electricquilt.com/Users/News/current.asp
and here is the link to the Quilter's newsletter blog....  http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/2011/03/18/call-for-quilts-for-japan/

     Since I don't have to pay for any shipping at all if I can get a quilt to our chairperson by the 20th of April.... I decided I could help out.

     A couple of years ago, in an effort to move some fabric along from my stash,  I cut some "kits" for charity type quilts.... a couple of baby quilts... and some large lap sizes.  These were EZ patterns... a few "yellow brick roads".... and some "one block wonders"...

     Having these pre-cut kits means that if I'm heading out to a sewing day,  or need a quick project,  the cutting and planning part are already done.  I can grab a packet and go!  Plus, the patterns don't require a lot of fussy piecing.  Both patterns are great for beginners,  because the individual block components never have to meet another seam.  Once all the blocks are squared to the same size, they hide a lot of errors.

     So,  back to my quilt for Japan.   I had a kit for a baby/toddler quilt still in the drawer.  So last night after the dinner dishes were done,  I started piecing.   This is what I came up with in just a couple hours of piecing.  

     This  cute little purple with yellow duck print has been hanging around at my house since my 15 year old granddaughter was a baby.     I cut out a sundress and bonnet, and never got it made before she outgrew the pattern I had cut out .... so I re-purposed the fabric into 2.5 x 4.5 rectangles.  This is the "one block wonder" pattern.   I've also made larger blocks with 3.5 x 6.5 rectangles.   Oh, and the yellow pin- dot fabric?  I can't remember when I purchased that, but it is probably the same vintage as the ducks. 

     So, today I need to go buy some  cuddly flannel backing.  JoAnn's has their flannel on sale for 60% off.      Since I have another identical kit in my drawer,  I'll go ahead and buy enough backing for both.   Who knows... maybe I'll get both finished before the April 20th deadline????  

     I plan on doing a very simple machine quilting design.... nothing too fussy.   And a label is definite must! 

April UFO challenge #4

this is the quilt I need to finish for the April UFO challenge....

This is my quilt #4.... the number chosen by Judy today.....   this is one of the quilts on my to finish list..... which I did not buy backing for this winter.... That will need to be the first task on my list....  or piece something from mutliple fabrics in my stash.... since I'm also doing the stash challnge... that makes the most sense. 

March UFO is complete !!!

I still have 24 hours..... and my March UFO is done!  

I wonder what next month's number will be? 

I am so glad to be finished with this group of fabrics.... I made 4 quilts with the same print in 3 colorways over the last 2 years.....  down to crumbs of scraps and a couple of binding strips left.

2011 UFO challenge - March

The UFO drawn for March is #1.....

How fortunate am I?  that is the one at the top of my list...... I'm holding off presenting two other quilts on getting this one finished! 

It's spring brek week, and this is on my "to do" list.  

I need to get the quilting marked,  pinbaste and do the quilting on this one... then bind and label....

Wish me luck!  I have 8 days off work yet.    and 11 days till the end of the month to meet my challenge. 

Stash report week 12

I haven't finished anything.....  haven't sewn a stitch in 2 weeks.    But I did buy 1 fat quarter at our local quilt show last week.   

I'm getting ready to make some mug rugs as gifts, and one of my co-workers  loves chickens.  I NEEDED some chicken fabric!  

I wandered around our quilt show for 4 days.... and that FQ was my only purchase! I went to another local quilt show Friday... no purchases.....  a trip to a local fabric store..... put 3 pieces in my cart, but ultimately put them back...... 

WTD stash used:  0 yards
YTD stash used:  19.145 yards

WTD stash increase:    .25 yards
YTD stash increase:    99.63 yards

stash busted:  - 80.48

Sunday STash report Feb 20

I'm new to the stash reporting stuff,  but I decided to start a spreadsheet at the beginning of 2011 to see if I could use more than I puchased this year.

That didn't work out so well at the beginning...... A local craft store had flat folds of Red Rooster, Andover, Makower, etc for $3.00 a yard.!!!  So much for my best laid plans.....

I did take an inventory of all my current UFO's and quilts in planning, and took advantage of the great pricing and purchased backing fabrics for everything in the pipeline.  ( I think)....

WTD stash used:  3.5 yards
YTD stash used:  19.145 yards

WTD stash increase:    0 yards
YTD stash increase:    99.38 yards

stash busted:  - 80.23

What have I been up to?

     I can't believe it's been a month since I posted last.... I've been trying to stitch more..... and be on the computer less.... guess I've made  progress on at least one of those goals....LOL . 
     I've finished a quilt for my new nephew, Dylan.   I made his big brother, Carter, a quilt with sailboats  in bright colors, so since the two are sharing a room, wanted bright colors for Dylan's quilt as well.  
     I chose this darling little airplane from http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/.   Added some churn dash or monkey wrench blocks from my scrap stash and found this bright stripe for borders and backing. 
     This is Dylan's "Friendly skies" quilt before I quilted it.


This is Carter's "Clear Sailing" quilt which I finished 2 years ago.

I have completed the quilting on this one, but haven't created the label or washed it yet.   I've decided to enter the airplane quilt in our guild's quilt show this next month, so I need to attach a sleeve as well.