Quilting my way into the new year

Happy New Year! Best wishes for some productive time quilting this year. 

I spent the time leading up to Christmas and a few days after working at putting this lap quilt top together. It's made up of random blocks that were sitting in a pile waiting patiently - some longer than others. The 6 pointed stars near the top were actually handpieced by my husband's grandmother and have been sitting in my stash for almost 10 years! Happy to finally give them a home :)

My traditional New Year's activity is spending quality online time with the Sloanie group of quilters where we have a luau together, sharing photos of projects picked to work on over the evening as well as photos to keep us inspired (coffee, drinks, cabana boys. . . wink!) I pulled out these Little Wishes blocks designed by Pat Sloan for a challenge last year(um, make that 2015!). They never  became anything at the time.

Over the year I had made a few more units to make more blocks but never got around to it until New Year's. I really like that this block when set side by side creates another row of stars with a four patch inside. Unfortunately most of my scraps are dark and this feature really gets lost in my layout.

I went back to my cupboard and found these bright pinwheel blocks that were leftover from another project from several years ago too. I know I used some to make one side of a quilt for my son a few years back, but I still had these ones. I decided to border the Little Wishes blocks I had done and set them with the pinwheels to get it done! My family thinks it's pretty bright ;) I plan to donate this one either through my local guild or somewhere else local. Donating a quilt (or more) has been on my list of things I want to do for a couple of years - now all I have to do is quilt it!

I do try to work on Pat Sloan inspired projects over New Year's as the luau is with a group of friends brought together by Pat's work. And also because a lot of my UFOs are based on her work (LOL). This year I'm going to make a second Season of Grace quilt which was a joint project between Pat Sloan and Emilie Richards several years ago now. I made my first one using up a lot of my husband's granny's stash which I inherited when she passed. Several years ago my mom gave me her Christmas stash and I set it aside knowing I wanted to make a second quilt with it. 

Here's a great flashback post showing the progress on the first Season of Grace quilt.

I had my son get out the fabrics and sort them so I could figure out which ones I had enough of to make the quilt top itself. New Year's Eve eve day I cut out the fabrics and put them together so technically, this top was finished last year ;) I'm going to cut out all the backs for the stockings next and plan to quilt the top long before Christmas so I have time to put the buttons on - which I may even try doing with a sewing machine!

I also got caught up before midnight on the 150 Canadian Women quilt blocks being put out by Next Step Quilt Designs. My plan is to sew them into groups of 4 and set them with thirteen 12 inch Maple Leaf blocks. My sister gifted me with some of her stash at Christmas which is good because I have never really "stocked" red in my stash - nor whites for that matter! This project is fun for me on so many levels - a long project, sewing with others, patchwork (only so far!), and history. Each block is named after a Canadian woman in history and comes with her story. Also the challenge of working in such a limited palette - even though I am stretching into burgundy and pinks - is fun. And it will be a quilt for me which also seems to be a theme for me this year!

After all this catching up I slowed down. A lot. Overwhelm hit as I tried to figure out what next and to get my year of quilting planned out. I decided there was lots of time for that and to pick a quilt that I wanted to work on first. 

Yup. You guessed it, another Pat Sloan challenge! These are my blocks from the Madhatter Tea Party challenge - in 2009! I finally finished blanket stitching one of the last tea cups during the Rose Parade and then made the Snapshots quilt along Let Them Eat Cake block. Now I'm pondering some more additions. I look forward to sharing some progress with you on this one again next month. My goal is to have it up in our house for April after our birthday season is over.

This holiday season I'm grateful to be a teacher with time off over the holidays! Wishing you much joy in the year ahead.

With Joy,

Sarah V.

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Finishing up June and Finding UFOs

June Aurifil Block of the Month
Aurifil flickr link - view pics and find links to block instructions for each month

6 inch chicken feet block

for my Quilty Barn Door block!

Quilty Barn Along flickr pool - links to Lori's blog posts are here too


This morning I went on a hunt for some fabric I KNEW I had! I found it and quite a few more little UFOs to add to my list. They might be my summer pile, or teacher's college pile, or they might just get added to the list (wink!)

In no particular order. . . 

 A fused swan scene, made up a few years ago now with fused fabric scraps from the Layer Cake Quilt Along and my Prayer Flag fabric.  I will machine quilt this I think. It's less than 12 inches big.

My Follow Your Bliss Makealong top! Ugh! Is this from last summer (or the one before!) Most of it is quilted down now. I think I was considering more embellishing, and adding some purple stitching to the yellow words.

North scraps. Again I know this started out using fused scrap leftovers. Quilty Cat just made this  amazing prairie point pillow which has given me some inspiration for what I want to add to this. I think it will become a pillow too!



And the last one, which has been on my mind lately,

Blessings Baskets from Temecula Quilt Co.

Look at the fun stash of fabrics I have tucked away with these blocks! Another incentive to finish!


If you got this far, remember to enter my Canada Day Giveaway!

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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FALLing into UFOs

I've been quilting myself into a frenzy starting new projects that are long term projects. I find I always get the urge to start something new at around the same time I start the yearly debate as to whether or not I want to make Christmas presents this year!

I have been working at cutting material for my Hallowe'en 1904 by Blackbird Designs. I LOVE this quilt and have taken way too long to get at it. It won't be ready this fall either. BUT no more excuses! 

 I knew I wanted to quilt the 20 inch blocks as panels and then put the quilt top together {like I did for my last 2 big quilts, Liberated Churn Dash and Lady of the Lake}. After pondering this for about a week, I remembered that I had a Blindman's Fancy pattern picked out for my Bucket List{I'll check which magazine and update later}. I checked it out and the blocks are the same size! {or close to it. I think I need to add the sashing as I go to make them the same size} I made my first Blindman's Fancy block and I love it. I'm using the fat quarter bundle of Abigail by Kathy Brown, The Teacher's Pet/Red Rooster Fabrics that I won at my Local Quilt Shop, Cindy Bee's.

I've also been doing some blog housekeeping getting ready for my day on the Glorious Autumn Block Party. It's this coming Tuesday! I even took my Lady of the Lake quilt outside for it's official photograph for my designer spiel at Michele's site.

I even had my daughter help out and take some new headshots of me.  Silly, but fun!

I also clicked over to the Quilting Gallery to see what blocks I missed this week. Yay! Two more pieced blocks. Something to work on today while I take care of my sick son {instead of supply teaching today!} Make the best of every situation, right:)

With Joy,

Sarah Vee

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Make New Plans, But Keep the Old!

Read all about the Times Square New Year's Eve ball here.
Pretty 'quilty' looking, eh!

Photo Credit: Countdown Entertainment, LLC

from the Times Square Alliance website

As we get closer to a new year, I always get over excited making plans for my quilt projects.
I'm hoping to get many more designs out next year as compared to this one.
But I like to make other people's quilts too.

And that pile of tops that need quilting and UFOs hasn't gone away either!


Here's one challenge that I am joining in next year.

Monochromatic Challenge

You can click here to read Judy's introductory post and get your list of colours she has selected.

Judy is also having a UFO Challenge next year - a sneaky fun way to get your UFOs done!
I'm not joining in as the UFOs I plan to work on already have deadlines - in my mind:)
We'll see how I do!




Of course, I'm also planning to participate in the Block Lotto again. Love the challenge each month of trying a new block. There's no pressure to participate and you don't have to make 9 blocks each month (but usually that's the maximum if you get carried away!)

I've also mentioned the Sketchbook Challenge.

There will be a new Sew Along with the Old Red Barn Company starting in January. You can watch the flickr pool to find out about that.


Pat Sloan has something new planned with Emilie Richards to start in March.



And Pat's having a party to sew in the New Year! Read her blog today for more info.


Next year will be a different year for me as my son will be off to school. This means mom will probably be getting a full time job outside of the home.

Lots of planning going on - we'll see how much quilting gets done!
Do you have quilting plans for 2011?


With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Friday Footnotes

I've been busy with Pat Sloan's UFO Challenge.

Finding,
Sorting,
Listing,
Checking Things Off

I figured out how to quilt the bricks on my fireplace mantels on the Season of Grace quilt!!
This one might be done in time for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.
{that's a pretty BIG might:)}




I finished quilting the large Churn Dash block.
It measures 30.5 inches unfinished.
I have 4 more of these to make and quilt
while I wait for the smaller ones to come back to me
from my Sew Modern bee mates next month! {fabrics being mailed out today!!}

Lots going on behind the scenes here. November is a busy Sew Joy month. Stay tuned!

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Friday Fun and a UFO Mission Begins

Poor Molly Monkey is still waiting for me to stitch her head back on.
Last week's string block is waiting for it's neighbour, too!

Did you see what the monkey is holding onto for me?




Rainbow rick rack!
And some pretty fun prints that my mom pulled out of her purse when she was here for Thanksgiving. She picked them up while with my sister this summer. Exciting treats!




This is a beautiful magazine that I've been enjoying from my local library. All the needle crafts in one place. {Sorry for the glare - it really is that glossy!}




I love this quilt. I had to resist starting it right away. It's on the list!



The photos of the other needlecraft projects are equally inspiring.

Just in time!
Is there ever a bad time! :)
Pat's tips just started yesterday.
You can start here.

With Joy,
Sarah Vee


p.s. I'll be picking my Fall into Fall giveaway winner after lunch today.
Once I hear back through email I will announce who it is here.
Thanks for two hopping great weeks!

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Closet Confessions of a Quilting Procrastinator

I have been overwhelmed this week with the discovery of all my unquilted tops. They have been piled, rolled, shoved and stacked in piles in my sewing closet. After writing all 12 of them down {yes, 12!} I made a "September to do list". And I'm doing it!

Here's a peek at the back label for my sister's housewarming gift. I don't think I'll reveal it here until she receives it, but I'm hoping to be done the quilting today. Then binding over the weekend.



Right after completing my list of unquilted projects I got out Tong's fabrics for this month's Sew Modern Bee block. I know, I know! But it's just 2 blocks! Then I mail them away and she has to put the quilt together:)

Old habits die hard for me. I really want to participate in Pat Sloan's Lucky Charms Sew Along.
And I saw that Esther will be having a quick Christmas BOM.
Plus there will be the Minnesota hop with all those designers and their enticing projects!

But I really want to FINISH some things in my closet. I have plans for more and different things for next year and I really want to finish and enjoy what I've started.

I really want to get back to work on my Halloween 1904 quilt.


This is what I will cut and sew when I feel like I need to piece.


Wish me lots of luck, but more than that, perseverance!

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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Messy Monday Morning

Here's my design wall this morning.
Not too much has changed. There is one new Lady of the Lake block. The letters 'Peace' and 'Love' need blanket stitched, and yo yos added to the "O"s. The tree block is awaiting decisions, the stocking is the backing for when I finish blanket stitching by hand the front gingerbread, and the reindeer may get put away as I'm running out of time for that one! My branch continues to provide inspiration.

What have I been working on?


This is Sunday afternoon:


This is Sunday evening:
I've joined the Secret Elf exchange on Pat Sloan's Death by Quilting. I decided to make this project for my partner:
It's the project from Pat Sloan in the latest Irish Quilting magazine. All the fabrics have been dug out of my stash. You can see my background is darker and I've made some changes in colour values - most notably a white pumpkin instead of orange. The background reads pinky orange and my orange fabrics were just sinking into it. (The pumpkin is also flipped over as I felt my fabric choice made it look 'dirty'. The back is a bit better. I may redo it so it's the right way around.)

I also tried to incorporate some of my partner's favourite colours. I still have some more berries to add. And I'm waiting for some rick rack to arrive which I hope will match:)
This week's early plan is to get this made.

The rest of the week is looking at this pile:

All the new projects I have been working on are at the quilting stage. Some tops in that pile have been there since February! I'm hoping they make it outta there!!:)

This is what the end of my cutting table looks like after all the hunting and gathering yesterday. It will need cleaned up, but not right away. At least with it this messy, I'll be more likely to move to the sewing machine and get something finished!:)

Check out the other design wall participants through the link at Judy's blog. Here's to a week of finishes!

With Joy,
Sarah Vee

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