I have some completions! Woo hoo!

In the fall I shared a long list of "in process projects".  I joined the "2015 Fall UFO" group via a Ravelry Group called Quilters Knitting. I had to list at least 5 "in process" projects and make an effort to get "something" done, or (at the very least) to encourage others with their efforts. I visit the group threads everyday. Seeing every one's success (plus targeting a few of my own projects) resulted in a few completion's of my own!

fussy cutting and improv QAYG blocks in process

My first finish was a Quilt As You Go Table Runner that I think I had started earlier last year. It was primarily a stashbuster project. I used a panel that I had on hand and fussy cut the autumn themed leaves, sunflowers, nuts and pumpkins and went at it from an improv point of view from there. I highly enjoyed the process, but came to a complete halt when I hit the sashing bit (and into the UFO pile it went). I finally decided to pull it out, return to the tutorial and soldier on. I am embarrassed to admit how easy it was and how intimidated I had been. The technique is from The Quilting Edge. 

sashing added - QAYG in process

Finally finished!

With a heady feeling of success,  I pulled out my second "time sensitive" project. This was a Happy Holiday Runner that had been languishing from last Christmas.

I spent entirely too much time trying to create a great backing fabric using up my leftovers. In the end I was pleased and I guess the upside is I now have a reversible table runner!

I tried my hand at some free motion quilting (FMQ) with varying levels of success  - bearing in mind that no one who looks at my quilting efforts (in this house) has a clue!

Other than that I finished (finally) my Audrey Cardigan bribing myself that I could start another knitting project if I did.

I'm very happy with how it has turned out but I need to get used to the slippery / slinky feel it has. The yarn is a llama / silk blend and I'm used to warm and woolly yarns!

Well that's it for now. I've a few other thoughts mulling around in my head right now for this blog - just need to let them "moodle" a bit!

Happy New Year!

(Linked to the Needle & Thread Network WIP Wednesday)

Happy February Cinnamon Hearts Retreat Weekend!

So - here I was thinking that I might be the only person having their own little "in house" long weekend quilt retreat. Boy was I wrong!

Cinnamon Hearts QAYG stash

I woke this morning to start Day 2 of the Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat but thought I'd do a quick check of my email first (quick as in get the coffee and put my feet up).

The checklist:

1. the news headlines (just in case a meteor has hit and I need to hide my stash from end of world mad dog zombie crafters).
2. my mail (just in case another long lost relative has left me their winning lotto ticket).
3. my calendar (just in case I forgot the date and I'm actually supposed to be at work).
4. facebook (just in case SOMETHING ...)
5. Ravelry (I'm not knitting these days - but it's on the morning check list).
6. and last (but not least) "Threadbias" - my newest online place to hang out and talk quilts.

(you'll note I never check my bank account - how many ways can a ZERO balance be interpreted?)

I can (if pressed) do all of this in less than 5 minutes. I usually do it in 40. On weekends when I want to luxuriate in the wasting  investing of time I can spend well over an hour - but by then I've gone all zombot ...

... but I digress.

Yesterday I did pop by my LQS for my weekly FQ latte fix (since Fat Quarters are less expensive than lattes and don't affect my waistline I've headed down that route). I discovered I had a gift card from the store behind the counter! Yippee! This is like finding $20.00 in an old pair of jeans you haven't worn since... since... (hmmm there's a reason you don't wear those jeans anymore and made the switch to FQ lattes).

Back to the retreat. There was a big retreat in progress at the store. It started Friday night and was going all weekend til Monday evening. I admit - I was jealous. I wanted to be there too. But you know how it goes. Besides I do have a Quiltalong day coming up next week... and I was having my own private retreat at home this weekend. 

But this morning the mail was loaded up with blog reports about "Virtual Stitching Retreats." being hosted by The Liberated Quilters group and the Dear Jane BOM group.

So I am not alone....

Back to the actual -virtual Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat. I have a lot of red and pink fabrics in my stash (top pic). I am wanting to learn a few QAYG (Quilt as you go) techniques and I am taking an online class via Craftsy which is teaching this QAYG specifically. Since this is February and I love love love cinnamon hearts... hearts will be my quilt project for the retreat. "Say it with Quilts" is a book I found at the used book store.  

The quilt is comprised primarily of half square triangles and double half squares triangles (which is just two half square triangles on the ends of a rectangle. There are 14 large hearts, 14 medium hearts and 62 small hearts. I have cut 768 rectangles and squares. My biggest worry is that 248 of the squares are only 1" x 1". 

Thus far I have completed 7 large hearts. 

snip! stitch! sew happy!

stitch cat

Happy February Cinnamon Hearts Retreat Weekend!

So - here I was thinking that I might be the only person having their own little "in house" long weekend quilt retreat. Boy was I wrong!

Cinnamon Hearts QAYG stash

I woke this morning to start Day 2 of the Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat but thought I'd do a quick check of my email first (quick as in get the coffee and put my feet up).

The checklist:

1. the news headlines (just in case a meteor has hit and I need to hide my stash from end of world mad dog zombie crafters).
2. my mail (just in case another long lost relative has left me their winning lotto ticket).
3. my calendar (just in case I forgot the date and I'm actually supposed to be at work).
4. facebook (just in case SOMETHING ...)
5. Ravelry (I'm not knitting these days - but it's on the morning check list).
6. and last (but not least) "Threadbias" - my newest online place to hang out and talk quilts.

(you'll note I never check my bank account - how many ways can a ZERO balance be interpreted?)

I can (if pressed) do all of this in less than 5 minutes. I usually do it in 40. On weekends when I want to luxuriate in the wasting  investing of time I can spend well over an hour - but by then I've gone all zombot ...

... but I digress.

Yesterday I did pop by my LQS for my weekly FQ latte fix (since Fat Quarters are less expensive than lattes and don't affect my waistline I've headed down that route). I discovered I had a gift card from the store behind the counter! Yippee! This is like finding $20.00 in an old pair of jeans you haven't worn since... since... (hmmm there's a reason you don't wear those jeans anymore and made the switch to FQ lattes).

Back to the retreat. There was a big retreat in progress at the store. It started Friday night and was going all weekend til Monday evening. I admit - I was jealous. I wanted to be there too. But you know how it goes. Besides I do have a Quiltalong day coming up next week... and I was having my own private retreat at home this weekend. 

But this morning the mail was loaded up with blog reports about "Virtual Stitching Retreats." being hosted by The Liberated Quilters group and the Dear Jane BOM group.

So I am not alone....

Back to the actual -virtual Stitch Cat Studio First Annual Midwinter Stitch Retreat. I have a lot of red and pink fabrics in my stash (top pic). I am wanting to learn a few QAYG (Quilt as you go) techniques and I am taking an online class via Craftsy which is teaching this QAYG specifically. Since this is February and I love love love cinnamon hearts... hearts will be my quilt project for the retreat. "Say it with Quilts" is a book I found at the used book store.  

The quilt is comprised primarily of half square triangles and double half squares triangles (which is just two half square triangles on the ends of a rectangle. There are 14 large hearts, 14 medium hearts and 62 small hearts. I have cut 768 rectangles and squares. My biggest worry is that 248 of the squares are only 1" x 1". 

Thus far I have completed 7 large hearts. 

snip! stitch! sew happy!

stitch cat