Saturday, February 1, 2014

First 12 in 2014 UFO Parade

Wow, 52 Quilts readers are off to a great start in 2014! Look at these great finishes!

If you're new to the "12 UFOs" Challenge, here is a link to the post explaining how it all works.


Because I know you're eager to see what you'll be working on in February, here is the number for this month:
I'll be putting together my "Amish With a Twist" BOM quilt this month. I have an exciting color for the background, in place of the black called for in the pattern. Just wait and see!


Marcus Nancy Rink Amish With A Twist Quilt Kit 88 x 105

And now, on with the parade!

The first finish submitted this month is from a first-time challenger, Joy in Nashville, Tennessee. The story behind this quilt is inspiring:

The quilt is not actually mine.  It belongs to a friend that started it for his son about 12 years ago.  It was really before t-shirt quilts were popular, and the man didn't know much about quilting.  He was unhappy with the results, so he just wadded it up and threw it in an old trunk.  When he moved last year, his new wife found it and decided that it needed to be fixed and finished to give to his son.  I had to rip out all of the seams, which were of varying widths, press, press onto a stablizer, and trim each "block".  Unfortunately, none of them were even close to being the same size.  Some of them also had holes or missing bits, so I had to patch them. After extensive quilting math and remeasuring, I trimmed each to its final size and began sewing them together.  After adding borders to both the front and back, I quilted it using a neverending square design.  Both challenging to mark, and move around my regular sewing machine. (I am not a longarm quilter.)  There were a total of 12 of these squares.


Here's a close-up of the back so you can see the quilting Joy did:


Joy, this is truly a work of love! I have refused many requests to make t-shirt quilts, and re-making one is a credit to you. I hope you'll be back next month with another finish.

Sue finished her Star Surround for a baby who might be here by now (due February 1st)! Be sure to stop by her blog, Sue's Quilty Bits and Bobs, to read the whole story.



Sue, the quilting on this is gorgeous!

This is Donna's first submission for the UFO Challenge. She made SIX of these cardinal wall hanging for her quilty friends (lucky friends!):


Donna reports this quilt was made for the Vermont Quilt Festival Block Exchange. She had five of the six blocks hand quilted and now it's finished!


We'll see Donna again this year, she says she has a "dauntingly large" number of UFOs to finish!

Carol Anne made this darling Noah's Ark quilt for a little boy whose Daddy is a recently-commissioned Navy Chaplain.  She says she doesn't usually use panels, but who could resist this one?


A new Aussie blog friend! ChristieLeigh made this yummy strip quilt for her Auntie's 60th birthday (it was last year, oops!). I love the quilt holders in this first photo:

But ChristieLeigh is right, this one shows the colors better:


Happy (belated) Birthday, ChristieLeigh's Auntie -- I bet she loves this quilt! I'm going to show it to my Jelly Roll Party group and suggest we add it to our list!

The next quilt is testament to the power of social media. Katie's younger sister was a good friend of mine who also played flute in the school band. Peggy saw one of my quilts on Facebook and encouraged her sister to follow 52 Quilts. With a little urging, Katie submitted this quilt for our parade. 



Katie used the Missouri Star Quilt Co.'s "Periwinkle" tutorial -- I love what she say about it:
I bought the fabric in April 2012. It is 4 charm packs and about 8 yards of background fabric. My husband did the cutting for me as I had wrist surgery in December and couldn't put any pressure on my wrist. He just asked me two days ago if I needed any more fabric cut. Cute, huh.
I need to borrow Katie's DH!

I love this next quilt, from another first-time challenger. Elisa calls it "Zombie Lipstick," although her DH prefers "Zombie Apocalypse." She named it because it has "every shade of red under the sun, just like a Revlon display."

Revlon Red is my all-time favorite lipstick color!



Isn't it great? Go here to read Elisa's blog post about this quilt.

Another first-timer, I'm pretty sure Becky wins the "Oldest UFO" Award. Here is her "Patch In Time" from the 1998 Jo-Anns quilt block of the month series:


She even used Susie's Magic Binding to bind it!

I want to share Gill's comment with everyone:
I didn't have 12 true UFOs (as in actually started) this year so I included projects that I wanted to do or I had got as far as bundling up a pile of fabric for.
I consider "kits" of quilt fabric and patterns to be a "UFO." Remember, in the 52 Quilts UFO Challenge, YOU decide what is a UFO, as well as what is "done!"

That being said, here is Gill's January finish:
Number 7 was a pile of scraps, sale remnants and fat quarters with a vague idea of a Bonnie Hunter Scrappy Trip. I started cutting on New Years Day and finished last night!
This is the first time I have ever done so much in one month - thank you for the motivation, it really focuses the mind - plus I didn't want to fail in Month 1! I really don't know how you manage one quilt per week.
Wow, Gill, good on you!

I have to say, I always look forward to Sandi's kwilts -- because the names always begin with "K!" 


This month's kwilt is called "Konquerer", and here is what Sandi tells us about it:
My Konqueror, the #7 UFO for this month, is a design by Joyce Weeks of Geoff's Mom Pattern Company (www.geoffsmompatterns.com).  I took a class from her at the San Diego Quilt Show last year in September.  I decided to make mine a bit smaller than the pattern, opting for a 50" x 70" finish rather than 70" x 90".  Now you might say I was trying to cut corners to finish in time for the month...but no...I really didn't want to make yet another large quilt.  I really enjoy the experience of the many designs I come across, smaller sizes when it can be done are perfect.  I have a paisley print to use for the back in all the right colors along with the dark gray for the binding.
Go to her blog post from yesterday to read all the details, at KwiltnKats.

Sandi also sent in her "extra credit" finish from 2013, Keltic Krest:


Here is the link to her blog post about it. 

I rearranged things in this post so you can compare Sandi's Keltic Krest with Kerry's Celtic Solstice.

Kerry is a long-time UFO Finisher. I love what she did with the colors in Bonnie Hunter's newest mystery, Celtic Solstice:


The red and purple in place of orange and blue is gorgeous! Go to her blog, Kerry's Quilting, to read the details. Be sure to click on the tab that reads "2013 Finishes" to see all the quilts she completed last year!

I think this quilt by Irene is so appropriate. She says she was very busy in January because of a trip to the American Farm Bureau annual convention. I am a big fan of the Farm Bureau because a close friend in my high school class won the Farm Bureau scholarship!


Aren't the "farm scenes" perfect? Irene posted details on her blog, A Serendipitous Retirement.

Another first-time finisher, Betsy, completed not one, but three pillowcases this month.


From bottom to top: a breast cancer case from a kit, a pieced and appliqued case from a kit I bought at the Houston Quilt show years ago, and a companion case for the middle one. It doesn't match exactly, but close enough. We'll use those two in my fiance's RV. 
Betsy, I think custom-made pillowcases will be lovely in the RV! I hope we'll see another finish by you next month.

Returning finisher, Noela, submits this lovely Christmas project. She says she is planning to do some hand-quilting on it and will use it for a table topper. If you click on the photo so that it "biggies," you can see the hand-embroidered "Merry Christmas" around the central border.


Notice the green grass and filled swimming pool in the background? Yep, Noela is from "Down Under," where they are "enjoying" a very hot summer while I am looking out at 5" of snow. Care to trade places, Noela?

Debra B. sent in this photo of another Bonnie Hunter mystery (YES, they ARE addictive!). "Lazy Sunday" was featured in Quiltmaker magazine last year. I really like Deb's versions!



Look closely at the photo -- can you see the little visitor in the upper left?  It's Lola! So cute!

I can't believe she is working on a second Bonnie Hunter scrappy quilt -- Orca Bay:


Bonnie B. is another first-timer and apologies for the "phone photo." But really, the quilt still looks adorable, Bonnie! I love that focus fabric (and the quilt holder, too!)


Bonnie finished two of these disappearing 9-patches this month, in two colorways. Ahead of the game, Bonnie! She says this is the first time she has shown her quilts outside the family, so I hope for lots of encouraging comments.

Eighteen entries this month! 52 Quilts followers completed 157 UFOs in 2013 -- it looks as though 2014 will be even more successful.

I haven't picked out a prize for this month, but Mr. Random Number Generator has chosen a winner:


And  the 9th entry is newcomer Becky! Congratulations, Becky -- I'll be sending you an email asking for your postal address so I can send you something fun!

I hope you will consider sending a photo of a finished UFO next month. Email me at AuntMarti at 52 Quilts dot com and attach a photo and a link to your blog if you like.


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Friday, January 31, 2014

Some Friday Finishes

I thought I was going to finish a quilt at Strip Club today, but with upwards of 5" more snow predicted, I think NOT!

It's a stay-inside-and-knit-you-clever-girl kind of day! Here's what I finished last night:


The daughter of a quilting buddy fell and cracked her head while "twirling." You KNOW how those head wounds bleed -- she needed seven stitches! She needs a hat! This is an adaptation of the From Norway With Love pattern on Ravelry. 

I also finished both the January and February "Monthly Mini" door hangers. Beth talked me into it (really, it's all her fault) but Betsy is keeping me up to speed -- she already has the March one finished! They really are fun, and I bet Ruth's Stitchery still has kits available.


Not quilting or knitting, but I had to share this photo of My Little Sailor's dog, Duncan, guarding the front door.


And the Devil Cat of Doom, Moussa Koussa peering out the front window!


What is going on out there?  Oh -- DH is shoveling snow! Mousse is certain if we just tried, we could make it be 70 degrees when she wants to go outside!

Last day of the month, and I have all the January boxes checked off, save the Marti Michell BOM. And it doesn't start until tomorrow, so, woot woot, I'm all caught up!



Linking up to Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday with Jo at Riddle and Whimsy.


And "Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?" at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.



If you haven't already, go here to comment on my "Grow Your Blog" giveaway post!

From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

WIP Wednesday: January Report

Three days left in January, and my "January Quilty To-Do List" is completely crossed-off!

Which means I get to do "whatever I want."

Knitting

Here is what I have underway right now. First, the "My Year in Temperatures" scarf. This is really turning out to be fun. I use the Weather Underground "History" page for my zip code to determine the low, mean, and high temps each day. I chose a color of yarn for each five-degree range of temperature difference. Nearing the end of one month of knitting three rows each day, it's easy to see how widely the temperature swings in Colorado!


Notice that new row of hot pink? The low yesterday was -3F! As we enter February, I'm hoping for some more green-into-yellow rows.

With the advent of the new season of Downton Abbey, I'm back to knitting Hats for Sailors. Hats are the perfect project to knit while watching TV, or listening to the "Outlander" series on Audible.  Thus far, I've knit three Hats for Sailors, one for me and one for Elder son. I guess I might be knitting 52 Hats in 52 Weeks this year! Details on Ravelry -- my Ravelry name is (surprise!) Aunt Marti





Leaders and Enders

My current  "Leaders and Enders" project is the "Cathedral Square Quilt" from Lee at Freshly Pieced. The sample is made from Denyse Schmidt fabrics and I have an (cough) extensive collection of DS fabric, so -- that's what I'm using also!


That's only four of the 4-patch blocks I've finished. I have most of the 39 required 4-patches sewn, just not yet pressed. It's amazing how fast things go together when they are the leaders and enders! The next step requires Flying Geese (yuck), but since I've discovered the Bloc Loc Flying Geese ruler and the "no waste" method of Flying Geese, I don't hate making them as much as I used to.

Quilt WIP

This is my "when I have time" project:


It's "Metro Hoops" made with Jenny's Quick Curve Ruler. I started it back in November! I have all the grey blocks made and trimmed, and I've sewn all the curved pieces on the white blocks. This is my "reward" project, when I have everything on the list completed, I get to work on this one!

Grow Your Blog Giveaway

Have you entered the giveaway for the 'Grow Your Blog" hop? Click here to go to the post where you need to comment for a chance to win all 12 patterns from Sassafras Lane Designs.




Linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced

Be sure to mark your calendar for the first UFO Parade of 2014, on Saturday, February 1st!


From the desk of your auntmartisignature

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Sunday is for Scraps

If you're looking for the "Grow Your Blog" giveaway, go here to comment and enter the giveaway.

I finally have all the blocks for my Celtic Solstice Mystery from Bonnie Hunter completed. I love how the secondary pattern emerges when they are hung on the design wall!


I thought about changing the border so the points of the blocks continue into the border, but decided that would take too much calculating. I have four rows put together, so I should be able to finish the top next Sunday.

Tomorrow is Block of the Month day -- should I fix the borders in my January UFO, or make the last block of my Twisted Amish quilt?

From the desk of your auntmartisignature