Finished! Sarah

This UFO went back to 2002 or 2003, so I am particularly glad to cross it off my list!

I bought the pattern at a shop in Kidron, Ohio during a shop hop.  I had the top pieced, the applique woman assembled and fused to the top, and the whole thing layered for who know how long.  When I rediscovered it, the in-progress quilt looked like this:

The woman was fused in place, so there was nothing I could do about her placement.  I ripped out the inner border and everything beyond.  My husband, A, helped me pick a dark purple from my stash to use instead.

I like it much better both in the smaller form, and with the darker, less match-y borders.  I struggled with the name of this one.  The pattern is called "Sarah," and I just couldn't identify with the name.  But in the end, I've been working on this for like 13 years (off and on) and always thought of it as Sarah, since that's the pattern name, so Sarah it is.  Here is the detail of Sarah herself:

There is some shading and layering with her dress and her scarf.  I took the finished quilt in to a local quilt shop as part of a UFO challenge they are running, and the staff person commented on the layering on the dress, something I had honestly forgotten about, since I did it so long ago. Machine applique is not my strong suite, but I was glad to really work at it some on this project.

I did an attempt at stippling in the tree tops, then outlined some of the tree trunks.

This was my July goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes. (Goal setter #61.)  It is also on my Q3 list for the Finish Along hosted by Adrianne. (My original list of Q3 goals can be seen here.)

Quarter 3 goals

So far this year, I have finished 11 projects.  I'm really enjoying the Finish-Along hosted by Adrianne, because in addition to being fun, I think it has given me a lot of extra motivation to actually finish things.

I stated last quarter that my list is more for the year (and probably beyond) than simply this quarter, and that is still the case.  The benefit being that I can choose what to work on based on what I'm in the mood for, and that works for me.  I also want to concentrate on finishing things and tying hard not to add projects, so in that vein there is only new project--a sewing machine cover, for the new machine that I got in late March.

Project Name/Description	Project Type	Project Status at start of quarter
*Verona's I Spy	Twin bed size	Some cutting done
*Emily's I Spy	Lap size	Some cutting done
*Pepper Tote	Bag	In process
*Paper Piecing project	Bucket list/mini quilt	3 blocks completed
*Winnie the Pooh quilt (project Linus)	Child size	Tops pieced
*Magician/Star quilt (project Linus)	Child size	Fabrics and pattern chosen
*Food picnic quilt	Huge	40 or 50 blocks completed
*Laura's quilt	Double/queen	Piecing the top stage
*Savannah	Lap size? Bigger?	Piecing the top stage
**“Sarah” (to be renamed)	Wall hanging	Layered; reimagined; relayered
**Alaska cutout quilt	Wall hanging	Layered, quilting begun (hand quilting)
**White/pastel dogwood quilt	Lap size	Top completed
**Rainbow I Spy	Child size	Top completed
**Debbie quilt	Bed size	Top completed, repair needed before continuing
**Elephant ticker tape quilt	Bucket list/wall hanging	Embroidery outline completed; layered; ready for ticker-taping
**Dinosaur quilt (project Linus)	Child size	Fabrics chosen
*2 ½ inch strip I Spy quit	Child size	Fabrics chosen; most cutting done
*Puffin	Kit (wall hanging)	Kit
Sewing machine cover	3-demnsional project	Pattern chosen; fabrics chosen

While I do want to be free to decide in the moment what to work on, here are some of my top priority projects:

 "Sarah," which may or may not get renamed.  It got this far many, many years ago. I've since taken the layers apart, gotten rid of all the borders, and put a new border on.  This one is getting a bit of a makeover!

Project Linus quilts.  There are fabrics for three here: Winnie-the-Pooh, dinosaurs, and wizards & stars.

Paper Pieced Trees. I've made 2 more trees, and now need a 4th to make my wall hanging.  This is my first paper piecing project.

Ticker Tape Elephant.  I've got the outline stitched and she's layered, so all I have to do is use my scraps to create the elephant.  And, you know, stitch everything down!


Here's to a productive quarter 3!

A Lovely Year of Finishes: July goal

My July goal is another one that has been a UFO for a really long time.  At some point, and I'm pretty sure it was 2002 or 2003, I bought a pattern called "Sarah" while at a quilt shop in Kidron, Ohio.  It was during a shop hop.  I don't know exactly when I started it, but I had this beautiful pink and purple tree fabric that I bought at the JoAnn's in Wooster (where I was living), so I'm guessing it was shortly after.

At some point, I got the applique woman put together, fused on the background, and I layered the quilt. And it has been that way for years. Years!

So I got it back out and am now reimagining the project.  My July goal is to finish the quilt.

Linking up with Shanna and Melissa for A Lovely Year of Finishes.

Swap is full

The I Spy swap is full. If you want to go on a waiting list in case someone pulls out, leave me a comment here or on the Flickr page. You can also leave me your email address so that you get an email about future swaps.

I Spy Swap Round 4!

Are you ready for more?!  I Spy Swap #4!

Please read the rules carefully.  There is at least one change.  If you do not think you can follow the rules or make the deadline, please do not sign up.

The Rules:
1) We are swapping 5" squares.  Each "spot" in the swap will contribute 24 squares each of 4 different fabrics.  There will be 24 spots in the swap.  This means we will each end up with 96 different squares of fabric!  If your fabric does not require fussy-cutting, you should get 24 squares from a half yard of fabric.  So each spot is essentially a total of 2 yards of fabric.

2) Participants may have up to 2 spots.  If you are doing 2 spots, each of your 8 fabrics must be different.  You will receive back 2 identical sets of 96 fabric squares.

3) Quilt shop quality fabric, please.  If I doubt the quality of the fabric, or it is clear that you are using your cast-offs from another swap and therefor cannot possibly know the origin of the fabric, I will return your fabric unswapped.  No licensed characters or teams. I Spy quilts are for everyone, so no adult-themed fabric.  Anything identifiable by your average child is a-okay. Creative and unusual fabrics encouraged!

4) Packages must be mailed to me no later than August 7th if you are in the United States and August 1^st if you are international. This is a mail-by date. Earlier mailing is encouraged. If you do not think you can meet this deadline, do not sign up. I will send an email with my address once the swap is full.

5) Sign up at the form on the bottom of the page.  Then check out our Flickr Group. https://www.flickr.com/groups/ispywithmylittleeye  I will use Flickr to track who has signed up and when I receive squares.  If you don't have an account, it is free to create one.  You can also post pictures of your fabrics on the group if you choose, but that is not required.

6)   Place your charms in a ziplock bag with an index card/piece of paper/sticker on the outside containing your name, address, and Flickr ID.  Please place all 4 fabrics for a “spot” in one bag together, alternating fabrics.  (ABCD, ABCD, ABCD....)  Please don't forget to put your name on or in your bag--that's how I sort, so it helps me a lot.

7)  Include a prepaid self addressed envelope.  If you do not, I will not be able to return your squares to you!

8) If you want to use up stash of fabric you have purchased, it's fine with me if you combine fabrics to make a group of 24.  If you do, please limit to one hodgepodge per spot and please place the mismatched fabric as "A" in your stacks of ABCD.  Due to the way I sort, this makes it easier for me. Because most of us do the same swaps, please do not send in fabric you have used in one of my previous swaps.  Fabrics you have used in other swaps are fair game.  I do not expect new swappers to know what has been swapped before. Please note that using up your stash is not the same thing as getting rid of your unwanted squares.  If you are just giving out fabrics you've gotten in other swaps, I will send your squares back unswapped.

9) No public complaining! If you have an issue with the quality of fabric, the cutting of the squares you receive, or anything else, contact me privately. Do not send or post admonishments of any kind to the group.

10) Have fun!  Leave me a comment with questions!

Second Quarter Finish Along: Report

I finished 5 projects in Quarter 2. Yay! I was hoping to match Q1's 6 finishes, but I am pretty pleased with 5.  Especially since I know that I have several unfinished things that are farther along than they were, so that should (I hope, I hope) mean a larger number of finishes in Q3.

Here's a recap of what I finished.  I also included projects that I didn't finish, but that I worked on, with the chart changed to reflect my progress.

Project Name/Description	Project Type	Project Status at start of quarter	Completion Date
Project bags, round 2	bags	2 left to finish	April 19
Blaise's baby quilt	Child size	Top completed	April 30
*Geoff & Laura's wedding quilt	Bed sized	Layered	May 23
*Last big 9-patch	Child size	Top completed	June 20
Katie's baby quilt	Child size	Fabric & pattern chosen	June 30
Paper Piecing project	Bucket list/mini quilt	3 blocks completed
*“Sarah” (to be renamed)	Wall hanging	Took the layers apart, reimagined, layered again
*Elephant ticker tape quilt	Bucket list/wall hanging	Embroidery outline completed, layered, ready for ticker taping
*Alaska cutout quilt	Wall hanging	Did some more quilting (this one is being hand quilted and will take forever.)

Finished! Color Block Baby Quilt

I got this one done just under the wire!  Did the last stitches last night, while it was still June!

When I started my new job in February, I inherited 2 expecting coworkers.  Since I adore baby quilts and had no pregnant friends or relatives at the time, I was thrilled.  The first baby was born in April. Baby Henrie (girl) arrived on June 12th, and I finished her baby quilt last night.  Her mom, Katie, won't be back at work until September, so I have a little while before I gift it.

This was inspired by a picture from the book Scrap Happy Quilting, though I didn't follow that pattern.  I'm really pleased at how it came out.  The setting squares in the sashing are scraps left over from Munchkin's baby quilt. The white solid is Kona Snow.

Here's a closeup of the pink block, from the center.  I did loopy lines quilting in each  block using thread from that color.

This was a Q2 finish from the Finish Along hosted by Adrianne at On the Windy Side.  My original list of goals can be found here.  Please note that this was listed as "Katie's baby quilt."