Disappearing 9-Patch

When Julie at The Crafty Quilter announced she was going to do an easy Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt Along, I was excited.  I had a charm pack of Wind and Sea from Island Batik that I bought a long time ago--long before I was an ambassador--that this seemed to be the perfect project for.   The Quilt Along was perfectly paced and I am pleased to say that I finished the quilt--quilting, binding, and all!

There were a few fabrics with a really dark background so I pulled those out to use as the centers.  I still needed a few more dark squares, so I went to my local quilt shop, Quilt Patch Fabrics, and found some Seaweed from the Seashore collection--same colors as my Wind and Sea fabrics! I also bought a background fabric, mini springs in oatmeal from the Lavendula line. It is prefect for this--there are blues, purples, and greens in the springs! I was then about 14 squares short for the rest of the fabrics, so I cut some squares from scraps and stash builder rolls from my ambassador box.  I love that Island Batiks go together so well even if the collections are several years apart.

I absolutely love the colors in this!  Purples, blues, and greens are just so soothing!  I did diagonal line quilting with a variegated thread.  It's not a lot of quilting but I acutally like them that way. I didn't have enough of the dark Seaweed fabric for the binding so I used the background fabric instead. This will be a donation quilt once I choose a children's organization now that my Project Linus chapter has closed. 

This was my One Monthly Goal for July in the link-up hosted by Patty of Elm Street Quilts and was #16 on my list of Q3 goals for the Finish Along. And of course, I'm linking up with Julie for the Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt Along!

Q3 goals

In this year's globally hosted Finish Along, I had a slow Quarter 1 and a much more productive Quarter 2.  Here's my list of goals for Quarter 3.   My list has more than I can finish because I never know what I'll be in the mood to work on. 

General Projects and Gifts


1. Penguins
When I was Queen Bee in Stash Bee this January,  I asked for penguin blocks.  I'm so excited to create this Waddle of Penguins!

2.  Extra for Miren
I finished a baby quilt last quarter that still needs a companion gift for Big Sister.  I'm still waiting to hear from her parents what Miren, age 3, is particularly fond of, so this one is undefined so far.  It will likely be either a pillowcase or a small pillow.

3. Island Batik July Project
July's project features Aurifil thread.  I'm really close to finishing this one.  Check out the beauties that I've been working with:


4. August Island Batik project
The theme is Stars and I'm so excited to work on it!

5. September Island Batik Project
September is Child's Play and you know I love making quilts for kids! This will be my first ever spider web quilt!

6. Panda for Tracy
My friend Tracy asked me to make her a Panda wall hanging.  I've ordered fabric and would like to finish it for her birthday in early October.


Mini Quilts & Pillows

Pillow Menagerie
I am slowly making us a menagerie of animal throw pillows four our couch, as I got rid of the big cushions that came with the couch because they were so big it was annoying.  The following are pillows I have patterns and fabric for, and I've spent time getting the pattern pieces enlarged and color coded.
7. Lion--pattern is from the zoo animals collection by Kristy @ Quiet Play
8. Giraffe--pattern is from the zoo animals collection by Kristy @ Quiet Play

 

Donation Quilts

9. Snowmen
I liked the Snowman block by Sherry of Powered by Quilting so much that I'm doing a whole quilt of snowmen!  I've made 5 blocks and I want to make 4 more and then have fun with different embellishments.

 
10. Patriotic Stars, part 2
These were my bee blocks from April 2018.  Most of them were turned into a door decoration, but I still have a few blocks left to turn into a donation quilt.

11. Blue Forest Animals
This was a fabric donated to my Project Linus chapter that I really liked.  I have the blue print cut into 10" squares, plus 2 other fabrics and a plan.

12. Elizabeth
This is a fat quarter quilt that is mostly cut and partially sewn.

13 & 14. Sailboats
In Bee Inspired, I asked for simple and fun sailboat blocks for a charity quilt.  I received enough to make two quilts.  Ahoy, Matey!

15. Dog Quilt made with the Fire Monkey
My son asked if we could make another quilt together to give to a kid and we've been working on a fun quilt with dog fabric.

16. Disappearing 9-patch
I'm doing the Quilt Along with Julie of The Crafty Quilter.

17. Two by Two
This is my current leaders and enders project.

So there's my list!  I know I won't get all of these done, and I'm okay with that. 

mid-year check in & PhD progress

The beginning of July feels like a good time to do a mid-year check-in on my goals for 2019.  (Yes, I know we're basically in mid-July. Let's pretend, shall we?)

My goals have been going fairly well.  The one with the most tangible yardstick is the goal of 25 quilts to charity.  So far I've donated 8, with another 2 that are completed and ready for donation.

 

I'm also working on my PhD (Projects Half Done) with Gail of Quilting Gail.  She has you make a list of your UFOs and commit to completing at least half before the end of the year.  AND, the hardest part, you have to complete anything started in 2019. 

I started with a list of 25 projects.  One on the list will actually be two quilts, so that brings me to 26 with a requirement to finish 13.  I'm pleased to report that I've finished 11 so far!  So this part of my PhD should be a piece of cake.

Disney Princesses	1	March 17, 2019
Fish pillow for Samantha	2	March 24, 2019
Dandelion Embroidery	3	March 26, 2019
Fall fat quarter quilt	4	March 31, 2019
Horse fat quarter quilt	5	March 31, 2019
Devin’s baby quilt	6	May 6, 2019 (estimate)
Giselle & Mario’s baby quilt	7	May 16, 2019
Hidden Stars/Sherry’s QAL	8	May 19, 2019
Doggone Cute	9	May 20, 2019
Dad’s tea cozy	10	June 5, 2019
Postage Plus	11	June 23, 2019
Giraffe Pillow	12
Laura’s quilt	13
Bookshelf quilt	14
I Spy for our bed	15
Snowmen	16
Magical Forest	17
Food themed picnic blanket	18
Extra for Miren	19
Penguins (Stash Bee)	20
Sail boats (Bee Inspired Charity Quilt)	21
Elizabeth	22
Lion Pillow	23
Smitten Kitten (Rainbow Scrap Challenge)	24
Blue Forest Animals	25

The harder part of the PhD is completing anything started in 2019.  So far, I've started 6 projects not on the original list.  Four have been completed.  One is the hand sewing QAL from earlier this year when I made the first block and stopped.  I'll have to figure out what to do with that block because I'm not sure that more hand piecing is in my immediate future.  I also want to start/get caught up with the Harry Potter QAL with Lorna of Sew Fresh Quilts. I'm planning an abbreviated version. I haven't actually cut anything, so it's not technically started or a Project Half Done.  Yet.  Here's the breakdown of what been started in 2019:

Hand quilted QAL
Pillowcases	May 24, 2019
Dress	May 31, 2019
Utility apron	June 9, 2019
June’s repair (turning a damaged quit into 3 smaller projects)	July 11, 2019
Disappearing 9-patch QAL

My list was created before I knew I was chosen as an Island Batik Ambassador this year.  I haven't included them in either list because they weren't started before the year started and since they have deadlines, they will be completed before the end of 2019.  But if you are keeping track, I've completed 6 challenges (one not yet blogged) plus a bonus Quilt of Valor.  I've got a new tab at the top with all my Island Batik projects. 

 

So that's where my year stands.  I'm pleased with 2019 so far.  Let's see how much I can accomplish in the next 6 months!