Making a list

Katy's opened up the 2nd quarter Finish-A-Long! I work best with deadlines, so I'm excited to give myself a boost of motivation with this link-up. Ironically enough, tomorrow is the deadline for posting our proposed finish list, and here I am, getting in right under the wire! So proof positive - deadlines work!

Even as I write this list, I know I'm being over-ambitious. But if you know anything about me you know that is kind of my style. I have captured every single one of my started projects. Let's see how much I can get done in the next 3 months! It was a bit of a reality check to see how many there are. 

Small projects-

1. Monkey QFK-

This baby size quilt is destined for Quilts for Kids and it is so close... it's quilted so now all I need to do is put on binding!

2. Duck QFK-

This one is also destined for Quilts for Kids. Obviously it's not as close to finished but since it is a small project I think we can whip this out before the end of Q2.  I'm already thinking about how I want to put that maybe a modified Baptist's fan? Hrmmm, we'll see.

3. Turtle QFK-

Are we seeing a theme here? Top is pieced and needs to be basted.

4. Jungle quilt-

Pieces are cut and pinned, but I can't remember what the pattern was so I need to so some math before I can make real progress on this. 

5. Scrap-basket strip quilt-

I started this one as part of a block swap and have just sewn the last 20 6.5" blocks needed to get to this size. I don't know yet if it will stay with me or be gifted, but I do know that I want to try some free motion quilting on this one. Before I can do that though I'll need to pick out some backing and binding fabric. I pulled a black and white polka dot hoping I could calm down the crazy, what do you think?

6.  Halloween Table runner-

I ran low on the black fabric, got frustrated with the borders being too small to piece and stalled out this project. I will just bite the bullet and seam rip off the offending black border. The nice thing about this is even if I don't get to it before the end of the 2nd quarter, I'll have time to still get it done for the holiday.

Big projects-

7. The maroon and orange one-

That's a pretty unexciting name for one that I like so much... what should I call it?? These blocks are sewn, squared, and ready to go! I need to start joining rows. I haven't done so yet because some of the white strips in the middle are varying in widths and it will take a little bit of finesse to get things lined up. Thankfully now that I have a design wall I can lay things out without crawling all over the floor. So, no excuses, let's get this one done this quarter! 

8. Sister's grad quilt-

This is basted and has been since February.  I need to conquer my fear of wrestling this bad boy under my domestic machine. Well, sister graduated last May so it's seriously overdue.

9.  Anniversary quilt-

This is the biggest, hardest and most sentimental project on my WIP list. I've got quite a few more blocks to piece to get it to the planned queen bed size, and they are time consuming. But the result is so worth it! Hoping to get this done this summer, get it to a long-armer and enjoy it for our 4th wedding anniversary in August. We'll see...

10. Made in Color-

 Started as part of a quilt-a-long, I ran short of some fabrics in the fuschia colorway, and set it aside. Two more points to go before I can piece the background.

11. Across the sea

This was my first QAL! I got to the point where I needed to add the last and had to pack up to move. That was 2 years ago. Oh I am a compulsive quilt staller... is there a support group out there for us?!

12. Sisters quilt-

My sister and I picked up fabric for us to make matching quilts (same colored strips, but different neutrals). I am still in love with the idea of us having different but similar quilts, that we work on together. Our strips our cut, but the sewing has yet to happen. Sorry about the terrible cell phone photo. Trust me when I say those prints are CUTE!

13. Mod mosiac bonus quilt

I'm piecing these improv blocks to use up scraps. Since this is a 'bonus' quilt I am not putting the pressure on to finish it this quarter.  I'll put it here though to keep me honest when I get tempted to start something new.

Sheesh! I better get cracking!

Sewing under the influence (of cold medicine)

I've been feeling a bit foggy lately.

Could it be from...

a. the seasons changing
b. weird seep schedule
c. (still) looking- for-career-related-employment restlessness
d. an all day session of apartment cleaning, furniture moving, vigilante vacuuming 

My money is on, e.) all of the above

Once the sudafed kicked in I got to work on my Across the Sea QAL quilt.

We went from a string of pretties...

...to a pile of pretties.

...to a big pieced pretty.

It looks better in the daylight. You'll just have to take my word on that.
 The original goal deadline was October 2nd.

Crunch time....

Oh crap. I think I may like pink...

This post is part of a series related to the Dead Simple Quilt Along

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Do you have a happy place on the color wheel? A comfort zone, where you stay you pick fabrics? 

Colors that, no matter what trends come and go, you always seem drawn to?

I do.  My happy place is in the blues & greens.

 Case and point: my Across the Sea QAL fabric ...

 

Well.. I have a confession to make.   I may have become... 

tickled pink.

And I blame owe it all to you.

Remember these Design Seed images and mock-ups?

I asked for you to help me pick one of these color ways for the now under way Dead Simple QAL.

The votes have been counted.

The stash has been considered.

The winner is a no brainer.....

TA DA!

I love this fabric!!!

I can't stop looking at it on my table. It's calling me. Begging me to play with it. Telling me to hurry up and finish the Across the Sea quilt so we can hang out together.

And this is a big deal (for me anyway). See, I have another confession:
I have this irrational fear of using pink.

What do you mean it still has blue and green in it, so it doesn't count? 

Hush you. 

It totally does. 

Did I mention my irrational fear of pink? There's pastel pink in there and it doesn't make me think of baby clothes or ballerinas. 

This is huge progress for me, honestly! 
So props to you Lynne (and everyone else who's been playing with palettes)!


Now-

because I have mentally fast-forwarded to October,

and I would hate it if the rest of my stash got envious of all the attention PINK has been getting lately....

I totally gave into temptation and pulled some Halloweenie scraps and FQ's.. 

Same pull in black and white...

I forget who suggested taking b&w photos of fabric, but they are genius. It helps me see where they are fall in terms of value (dark to light) better than the stand back and squint thing I usually do.

*sigh*

 
I may be experiencing a fabric-pull induced high...
or is that just my head spinning from the realization I may actually like pink?

 Either way I should peel myself away from my pink pretties and get back to business! 

Playing With Color (Dead Simple QAL )

This post is part of a series related to the Dead Simple Quilt along.

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What do the design seed palettes and potato chips have in common? You can't just have one. Fortunately the color palettes are diet-friendly, so I am going to get my fill.


Here are my three favorite inspiration photos and palettes.

I did a quickie mock up with those colors to see how they played en mass.
What do you think?

I'm truly torn. I was hoping that looking at them this way would make it easier to pick one.

Ya no. Not so much.  Still love them equally. Poo.


I need your opinion! Favs? Hates? Loves?

Dead Simple QAL

Have you noticed quilters and designers pulling color palettes from Design Seeds? It's a website that presents colorways from photographs like this. 

I love the idea with starting simply with colors and building a quilt from there.
But, I haven't actually used Design Seeds to do that, yet.
Emphasis on the Yet. That may be changing.

Enter the ..

Lynne at Lily's Quilts is putting together a unique quilt along: the Dead Simple Quilt Along.

 

  

As per her description- Each person picks one palette and then rummages around in their stash for a selection of fabrics matching that palette. 

We then all make a Dead Simple Quilt where the palette, not the piecing, is the star of the show.

What a great concept, right?
Can't wait to see how she runs with this idea!

Ready, Set, Quilt Along

Jennifer of Ellison Lane Quilts and Sarah of FairyFace Designs are two of my blogland superheros.

            

I could go on and on about them, but that would be creepy. So, the abridged version is that they are both fun people and amazingly talented quilters.

Now I've learned (not surprisingly) that the two are good friends. Better yet- they are teaming up to share some wisdom and inspiration in a quilt-a-long!

(Read more of the Juicy QAL Details over at Jennifer and Sarah's introduction here and here)

I will confess. I thought I'd be sitting on the Sew-along sidelines for a little longer. I am still new to the land of sewing blogs, and goodness knows I have a bajillion (yes, I counted) projects that are sitting in sad little boxes and bags waiting for me to finish them. BUT ...

The Across the Sea QAL is beginner friendly.    Beginner, check. 

It is also fat-quarter friendly.     Fat-quarters in the stash, check.

Seems pretty perfect to me.

This is the point in my scheming at which the voices in my head make their presence known...

One is reminding me that my WIP list was at 6 last week.  A much louder and more convincing voice says that Sister and I won't be able to work on our quilt anytime soon, and my other quilts are pieced, sandwiched and in the final stage of quilting. Oh, and what is the point of a stash if you never dive in and use it?

BAM!  And that is how I justify starting a new project.

Operation Raid Stash: COMMENCE!

Here's the first set of pulls.

What do you think??  I'm not sure of the light multi-color prints.
Is it playing it too safe to keep it to just all tonal?