UFO list, 3rd quarter Finish Along...

First, let me state that I'm not insane enough to think I can actually get all of these UFOs done.
Also, let me apologize for some of my crappy phone pics.  I've been having trouble with iphoto when I try to upload pics to my folders.  So, I had to reshoot some of these because the ones on my camera show up as black boxes.  Blarg.

Anway, back to the UFOs.  I figure, I'll get at least part of them done.  And, this way, I'll have my list all in one place.

So, here goes my insane list of UFOs, with appropriate photo documentation.

1.  Postage Stamp quilt.  This one has been lingering for at least one, maybe two quarters.  I now have an idea of what I'm going to do with this one.  It will probably be heading over to either Project Linus or a quilt drive for the wildfires.



2.  Red, Black, and White/Grey quilt.  It's been living in a snap frame for longer than is good for it.  I had decided to hand quilt it, and it's trapped in quilting limbo.  It needs to get done.


3.  The Stained Quilt.  This poor top has been lingering since the QAL ended.  I want it to be done.  I really love it.  And I'm scared of ruining it.  I need to woman up (or maybe Chelsea will pick me) and finish it.


4.  The Tree Quilt.  I was in a swap with the Misfit quilters.  My trees have arrived.  Now I need to make the quilt.



5.  The Pirate's apron.  It finally made it to the "cut out" phase, but it's been sitting in a bag unfinished.  My fiance is incredibly patient, since this was originally intended as a Valentine's present, then an anniversary, then a bday present...and all of those dates are LONG past.


6.  My Soda Pop quilt.  I've gotten as far as the background top and stalled out on tracing and cutting all those petals.


7.  The Hexy MF quilt.  I've got stacks and stacks of hexies basted.  I need to not fade out and finish it.


8.  The Across the Sea boy quilt.  It's been living in a box.  I need to finish it and find a friend's boy who needs a quilt.  It's gotta be someone special as I've used up my blue 1001 peeps on it.


9.  Hexy Bag.  I started this with Rachel's hand stitched class and then postponed finishing it because the other paper piecing took me longer than I thought it would.


10.  Snail bag.  I finished the paper piecing and have the pieces of the bag, but haven't sewn it all up yet.


11.  Medallion quilt.  It's in process.  I've stalled out for the moment on the paper piecing.


12.  Red Wonky stars.  I collected these for the Sew Bee Blissful quilting bee.  I need to make the few that went AWOL and sew it all up.



13.  Green and Blue quilt.  I've been collecting blocks from the 4x5, 3x6, and Nubees to make the fiance a quilt.  It now needs to happen.



14.  Do.Good.Quilt.  I was the quilter for June.  I have to make a few missing blocks and sew that puppy up for delivery.


15.  Coaster Set.  Another Hand stitching project that fizzled because the embroidery on the Medallion Quilt took me longer than I thought it would.


16. Dog bed #1.  Stinky needs him a new bed.  The old one is kinda gross.  I promised him one in winter, and I have all the supplies taking up space.


17.  Dog bed #2.  He needs a second one because Kraken steals his...and he likes to sleep upstairs and downstairs.  Ditto on the supplies still living in a bag.


18.  Quilt for B.  I was gifted some Ghastlies to make a quilt for a friend in the in vitro process.  This one is a priority finish.  I started a few framing blocks, but haven't gotten further.


19.  Converging Corners quilt.  I started this as a baby quilt with a bundle I couldn't figure out what else to do with  (Thanks, Allegory, for suggesting this one!)...and I was procrastinating on another project to start this one.


20.  Orange and Purple quilt.  I'm not sure I have enough blocks to finish this one.  If not, I hope to get it a bit further along this round.



21.  Swoon.  I don't think I have it in me right now to do a whole quilt yet. I have a stack of stash saved for one, but this is a solo block.  I think it needs to be made into a mini or a pillow.



22.  Table Runner for R.  This has to be done before Thanksgiving anyway...



23.  Secret project for Sept.  (I'm ok if this one doesn't count.  Someone special asked me to help out on a very special cause...and I'm glad to help!)

Add to this list bee blocks for a BUNCH of bees, at least one other QAL I've joined, and more blocks for the Heal circle...and I know there will be more...and it's likely whatever doesn't get done this quarter will roll into the next.  Plus, I have a bunch of Christmas projects to put in here as well as more work for Rachel's hand sewing class....so, wish me luck.

Me and my new machine (yes, crap grammar, I know) got a LOT of work to do.

Go ahead and laugh at my list...I know I am.

Help me out, Chelsea!

I don't know if I'm still eligible, but I've got a quilt I've been stuck on for a while.
I'm hoping that maybe Chelsea will pick me and help me out of my rut.



See, I made this quilt MONTHS ago as part of a QAL.  (The Stained QAL run by Sarah over at Narcoleptic in a Cupboard.)
It is currently one of my all time favorite tops.  (Yes, I can say that, the other one I think may top it isn't actually done yet.)  It's sitting in a chair, unfinished.

It was, perhaps, the beginning of my love of fuschia and lime together.



I think it's about 45 by 55 ish.  I just don't know how to quilt it,  and I'm terrified of ruining it.
I was thinking maybe bubbles in the pinks, following the diagonals in the ironwork, straightlines? I'm open.  I really just want something that will ADD to it, not take away from it.

Help me, Chelsea!

rolling, rolling, rolling...

I've got a huge "to do" list today.
Making minor headway.
I finished my first block for the Running with Scissors bee.



I did two triangle blocks for Shanna.






I got fabric to make a GIANT totebag out of this:



I'm more than a little in love with EPP.  Which is good because I have 4 corners of my quilt to do still.

I finished my July blocks for do.Good.stitches Heal circle:




My hands are tired and I think I'm done sewing for the day.  All the handsewing is taking a bit of toll on my hands.  I really wish I wasn't allergic to ibuprofen.  Blarg.
Happy weekend, y'all.

I still haven't picked a name for my machine.  I did like Festus...but he feels like he's got more of a Spanish/Italian vibe going on...I think.

Linking up:

Something cool came home in my trunk today...

and it wasn't a dead hooker.  (Sorry, inside joke.)

It was this:



It's still in the box. I have two chores that have to be done tomorrow before I am allowed to open it.

It needs a name.  I think it's a he.  (Most of my mechanical objects are male, including my car.)
Any suggestions?  Whoever gives me the name I like best may get (hint hint) something nice from me.

The machine was my reward for finishing this:



I couldn't eat the sundae that Rachel said I'd deserve for finishing this.  So, I went in *cough* another direction.  The shopping process was a bit nerve-wracking.  I don't spend big money on anything.  Unless it's a new AC unit or something.  I was feeling a bit guilty.  (Why do we do that, ladies, when we really really want something and even save up money for it?!)  Then I sat there and realized that I sew a TON.  Sewing (and dance) are my de-stress activities.  So, I'm NOT going to let myself feel bad about getting something for me (especially since I've been saving for it for over a year).  SO THERE, Guilt Voice!

I still have to trace and cut out petals for my Soda Pop QAL, but I had to take some breaks from hand sewing the jewels on the Medallion above.  (Bite me, satin stitch.)
I stayed up til 4am last night and only managed to finish jewel #7.
I have to admit, I love how it came out, even if I wanted to punch whoever created the idea of satin stitch in the stomach after jewel #1.  (Not, you, Rachel, I meant whoever in ancient times created it.)  The background for my Soda Pop is done.  I love it ALOT.  I used some of my favorite designers fabrics for it.  Some Nightshade by Tula, some Castle Peeps and Hello Pilgrim! by Lizzy House, Nested (WAS SOOO glad to win some from Laurie herself) and Tufted Tweet by Laurie Wisbrun, some AMH, some Wrenly.  I'm thinking the addition of the petals will make it all pop more.  I, um, just need to cut those.  Yeah.
Anyway, I'm loving this quilt HARD.



I've got my scrap bin sorted into colors.  (I looked like a walking piece of thread after I did it.)
Tomorrow, I will get through my required chores and bust that box open.  In the meantime, any names you want to throw my way will be pondered.

Fresh Sewing Day June.

Today started off lovely!
Coffee with Allegory.  Plans to sew.
Then when I got home, the power went out.
It's um over 100 (like 105? 108?) here in Atlanta.
Not so nice.
So after giving the animals ice water and packing the fridge with ice, we headed out to the movies.
Finally saw "Brave."  I loved it.  Cried.  Ate some chocolate (which I recorded on my points).
Now I'm back home, and the power is back on.
And I still (still, dammit) have 4 jewels to sew.
I may just power through and stay up all night just to get them done.

Here's my mosaic for June:



I got a lot done.  (Some of which isn't pictured here)
I have a HUGE list for July, including two quilt alongs, a throwdown, and many projects for a Rachel's hand sewing class.

Hrm.  I am having faith I can handle it all.
and Zumba.

Oh, and tomorrow I'm going machine shopping.  At least that's the plan.

Linking up with Lynne!

2nd Quarter FAL report...

Okay, I did better than I thought I would, honestly.  And I probably could have finished one more of the unfinished 3, but I kind of lost momentum.  Besides which, new projects are mounting quickly.

Soooo....drum roll.  I finished 11 out of my 14 proposed UFOs.

Here's the update:
1.  Red, Grey, Black Quilt from bee blocks.  Sadly, I decided to hand quilt this one and got pretty much nowhere.  It will end up back on the list for next quarter.  It IS basted though.

2.  First quilt using Skill Builder Blocks.  DONE.  Not my best quilting, but it's being used as a throw around the house right now.


3.  Vintage-y quilt #1 (from pattern testing for Bijou Lovely).  DONE.  I gifted this one to a co-worker who is having her first child, a little girl.  She cried.  I can't wait to meet her daughter who is due by September.


4.  Vintage-y quilt #2.  DONE. This one will be gifted to a charity.  I just haven't decided if it will head to Project Linus or go to the quilt drive for the wildfires in CO.


5.  Sew.  Happy Quilt.  DONE.  I did actually handquilt this one. It is currently in the closet because the dog is sleeping on the bed and was getting it dirty too fast for my liking.


6.  Postage Stamp quilt.  No progress actually made on this one.

7.  The Lawn Chair Quilt #1, aka jellyroll quilt. I started this a while ago from a Moda tutorial using Happy Zombie's Lawn Chair quilt pattern.  DONE.  It's going to be a picnic quilt for the Pirate's car.


8.  The Lawn Chair Quilt #2.  see above.  The Pattern yields two quilts.  DONE.  I'm not sure if I'm keeping this one or donating it to CO.


9.  The boxy bag for Trollop.  It was done AROUND her birthday but I'm gifting it to her in person (with goodies stuffed inside) when I see her in person in August.



10.  Cosmic Burst QAL/Precious QAL.  I cut up some of my hoarded Parisville for this QAL.  DONE.  I finished this one and LURVE it.  No one gets to use it but me (not that the rest of the house is fighting me for it.)


11.  My random Farmer's Wife blocks.  DONE.  I made my three measly blocks into a cute table runner.


12.  Prayer Flag quilt.  DONE.  It must have been missing a bag of blocks somewhere because it came out as a throw rather than the ginormous quilt I made for my mom.  This one was initially tagged by The Pirate for his picnic quilt but will instead be donated somewhere.


13.  The Pirate's last shopping bag.  DONE.  He's using it today to go shopping at the Farmer's Market.


14.  Stained Quilt.  I *still* don't know how to quilt this one, and I'm terrified of ruining it.  I really really really love this one.  Any advice would be welcome.


So.....11 out of 14.  Not bad.  Next quarter's list is going to be probably at least as long and I won't have all summer to finish it.  Plus the Sewing Summit is adding to my To Do List.  Did I mention I'm taking Rachel's Hand stitching Class or that I joined 2 QALs and a throwdown?

Eeep.

Thank you, Rhonda, for helping me keep the house in somewhat of a state of order rather than piles upon piles of projects.

Ridiculous...

I think it's been almost a week since I blogged.
I met some gloriously awesome peeps at Whipstitch.
Jacey, Rachel, Nicke, Maureen, Holly, and Jessica.  Jacey's super awesome.  Nicke gives amazing hugs.  I was a bit of a geek and showed Rachel my medallion from the class she's teaching.  I didn't really get a chance to talk to Amanda or Ara Jane, but there was shopping accomplished!  (Maureen, Holly and Jessica, I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to you more.)

I had to leave early because I had a FMQ class with the Atlanta Modern Quilt Guild.
While I learned a lot in abstraction, I didn't really "get" anything done.  My thread kept breaking.  I'm pretty sure there is a burr on my foot.  (It is a modified one.)
It made me REALLY want a new machine.  I have some money set aside for one, but I'm ridiculously intimidated by buying one.  (It kind of feels like buying a car....which, if I went the Bernina route, I probably could.)
Hrm.

I've been sewing sewing sewing, mostly by hand.

I finished all the embroidered HSTs.  I *still* don't have a pic.
Here's the last one I took of it:



I finished two other items on my Finish Along list (today):





I think I've gotten 11 out of 14 done for my Finish Along this quarter, and I don't think I can get the final three done. (Red, White, Black is in the snap frame still, Stained is in a pile, and the postage stamp hasn't been sewn on at all.)  My walking foot is acting unhappy.  (Cue violin music and more desire for a new machine)

I started sewing for the Soda Pop QAL, but all I have pic wise are my squares (before sewing)



I also have a crapload of hexies sewn for the Hexy MF.  (I can't get that pic off my camera.)

I feel like I've got major sewing ADHD.

On an unrelated note, I've successfully stuck to Weightwatchers for a week.
I've eaten a ton of veggies this week and feel great.