New Quilt Challenge!

I wasn't going to post about this until AFTER it was complete. I wanted to look like I was sticking hard to working on my UFO's but well, I read someone else's blog regarding this challenge and just had to post a picture of my planned little quilt.

So, the challenge is 1 every 3 months this year we are to create 1 block. Take your first name and use one letter for the first letter of the block name. Use 3 other letters in your name for the colors. Repeat letters only after you've used all the rest up.

I decided I want to use this challenge to work on my hand piecing so I did not want applique or rounded edges, just straight stitching. Since these would be 4 different blocks and I wanted cohesion, I tried to pick blocks which were similar in scale to one of the other blocks as well as keep color theme tight. So, I'm choosing shades of reds, beiges and blues. Here's how they work out in my name.

B – Boston pavement

E – Egyptian blue

C – carmine

K -

Y - yuma

B – beige

E – endeavor
C – Crossword puzzle

K – Kenyan copper

Y -

B - burgandy

E - ecru

C – cerulean blue

K - King's Highway

Y -

B – black rose

E - Empire Star

C - cobalt

K – khaki

Y –

The finished quilt (a small wall hanging) should look something like this if I've done it correctly.

Please bear in mind, I had limited resources with my crayola crayon colors. :)

New Year's resolution finish all UFO's

Maybe that's more of a New Year's goal. Can I really be resolute enough to finish all my UFO's if I continue to add or consider adding projects to my plate?

I guess we will see. A short update on the last to do list. F's quilt is actually dad's quilt. It's quilted and only needs to be bound and cleaned. DS quilt has been cut. All other kids' tops are complete and need quilting. Winter wall hanging top is complete.

It's now Jan. 11. By Jan. 18, I will have completed Dad's binding and started quilting one other child's top. I will also have at least 2 blocks for DS quilt top done.

Moving on to more important items... My observations/self-reflections while quilting. I have come to a revelation. No, not about projects and how I have too many of them, thank you very much. About how I'm stubborn. Wait, don't laugh yet.

My kids have come by their "learn their own lessons the hard way" mentality naturally. I've read the articles, posts, blogs. I've seen the television shows and tutorials but no matter what, even though I think, "that's good to know, I'll do that," I don't do that. In fact, I do the exact opposite and have to learn my lesson the hard way. Just like someone else, who posted the tutorial had to.

For example, I remember reading or seeing that one should have a quilting plan in place when they start quilting. Sounds logical, right? So please explain to me why I've taken my 3rd quilt to the frame without any idea what to do until it's sitting rolled up and waiting. AND try to convince me, while you're at it, that I actually really like the results of the quilting which was unplanned.

No? Well, I can't convince myself either. I don't dislike my quilting, I just can't say it's made me extremely proud of myself yet. Maybe I'm being too critical but hey, that's my perogative, right?

Alright, so, the next time my child doesn't listen to the sage advise I offer about how it's easier or makes more sense to follow a different path to finishing homework or anything else, I should probably try to remember the little revelation I posted today.

BAD SIL & BROTHER

This post is written solely for one purpose. To tell on my brother and sister-in-law. The last holders of the Tornado. The ones who tried to forward it without following the "rules." Alas, they were unable. The karma of the Tornado thwarted them and when they took it down from it's hanging perch a 2nd time, they were informed they were going to be mentioned specially in this blog.

So here you have it.

Rick, Karen, the "rule" is HUNG in a prominent place in your home for 1 week before you can banish it to another home. Deal with it.

Love you! B

I have an aversion to DS' quilt

I honestly think I have some deep down aversion to his quilt and therefore, I keep "conveniently forgetting" to work on it. To date, I STILL have not cut the fabric for his quilt. Seriously, it's a pineapple, paper-pieced quilt I had originally intended to give (completed) for Christmas. He knows it's coming, picked out the fabrics. WHAT am I waiting for?

This week, I will cut the fabric this week.

Here's an update on progress for the other items:

colored psalm blocks for bible study - ongoing
2 Mystery qulit tops - 1 done, other still needs border. These will wait until after Christmas to finish.
F's top - design changed but fabrics all washed and pressed. Cutting this week (simple square pattern)
Winter scene kit for wall - being cut
DS #3 top - not even cut
Nieces fleece blanket - next in line to be quilted

That's that. Let me know if you can find me some time in between work, kids, coaching, athletic director requirements, sleep, attn to dogs, Christmas to do's and coffee to finish, would you? Everytime I look the schedule seems a bit tight! ;)

Okay, I have faith it will work out. I'm sure I'll post pics when all is complete rather than pause now. Stay tuned.

Off topic - Hooray for sports!

And basketball in particular. I love this sport, can't get enough. I am coaching my second year at my child's middle school and having a blast. The boys had their first game last night and in a real nail biter, won 14 to 13. Hooray Falcons!