11 Project Progress Plan–Moving On

Well, I had hoped to finish my January project.  That didn’t happen.  Still, I moved from this:

to this:

I added 6 rows and picked out the border fabric and the backing fabric.  The dark fabric in the lower right corner will be the border and the light fabric right above will be combined with the border fabric for the backing.  So, didn’t finish but I most definitely made progress. 

February is No. 7.  And for me, that is a “Love Quilts” row quilt:

This was a row quilt my Batting Beauties quilt group did years ago.  I made the top row that says Quilts and provided the background fabric and all the batiks.  We did a round robin of making rows for each other so at the end of the year I had gotten all the other rows.

There’s a story to the bottom row of hearts.  I had said I wanted my group to use only batiks.  One group member decided she wanted to do her own thing.  So she added a country themed fabric with little sewing objects on it.  When I got all the rows back, I laid them up on the wall, and no matter how long I stared at it, I couldn’t make myself live with that one row.  The country look didn’t fit at all. 

So, I shoved guilt aside and took apart her row,  I was really careful to keep all the other batiks she used the same, kept them in the same order, and replaced the upper left quadrant of each heart that had country kitsch and replaced it with a batik.  She’s no longer in our quilt group, so I’m hoping she’ll never know!

Look at the beautiful rows I got.  Aren’t those clamshells fabulous worked like that?  I would never have thought of that design, but it creates the most marvelous effect.  And all of them are just so beautiful.

So what held me up on this?  For one, there’s a gap in the border seam that I need to fix.  For two, I never really liked the border fabric.  It was the best I could find at the time.  I still don’t love it but I’m thinking if I keep the border narrow, then it will be okay.

And here it is, the better part of the month done so I have to get some work done on it this next week.  Progress, baby.  It’s all about progress!

What’s Buzzing

I found my camera again (ahem . .  . lost it there for a bit in the remodel clutter).  So, here’s a picture of the gorgeous log cabin quilt I received from Julie in the latest S.T.U.D. (Swap Till You Drop) swap.

Absolutely fabulous!  She also sent a sweet bit of fabric and a way cool pincushion to match!

Aren’t I the lucky one?  Julie’s is still in process.  I’ll have photos next week.

Meanwhile, we’re still home improving.  Cooper is keeping an eye on us.  He takes the concept of being a watch dog very seriously!

And I’ve been doing up a little more for my Etsy Shop Daisy Fair.

A couple of iPad sleeves, this time designed to work with either the iPad alone or with a Smart Cover.  One, because I love playing with the Ghastlies,

And two, because I love fabric with old style script on it.

And then another Sweetwater Kindle Touch sleeve, just because.

For an immediate gratification kind of gal, these projects are a great break away from painting base boards and grading papers.

I’ve got more coming up on the 11 Project Progress Plan, so there should be some of that for next week as well!

Simply Irrestible

Off visiting a new quilt store in the area and I saw these patterns from Primitive Gatherings.

Let’s see: 

Civil War reproduction fabrics – check.

Miniature quilts – check.

Looks challenging but the technique is super easy – check.

Yes.  Well.  They’re mine now.

First, the teeny tiny medallion – 10 1/2" square.

Is that sweet or what? 

And then, for the slightly larger version, I decided to change the design and go solids and modern (a possibility for the “For Love of Color – a Modern Swap”).  This one’s 17" square.

I may have to make two of those.  If my own true love likes it enough, perhaps one for the living room.  If he doesn’t, I’ll consider my sewing room.  I love how bright and sharp it is.

So, there it is – proof that it’s not all home improvements around here!  (Though I still have more base boards to paint).

More on the Floor

I’ve got quilt stuff coming up as well.  Tomorrow I’ll have pictures, but today, it is all about this:

No, it’s not done.  the base boards still need to go back up.  The little table in the corner doesn’t actually go there, and the working clutter on the (ugly) mantel and (even more hideous) fireplace inset is upsetting my sense of wa (what Jeff and I call our sense of balance and harmony in the world – in other words, all the clutter is annoying).  Still . . .  sigh . . . .  Love the floors, love the area rugs.  Our new mantra: “Carpet b-a-a-a-d; rugs g-o-o-d.”

A picture of the our tiny dining room:

A view that goes down the hall:

And, see?, this really is a quilt blog: notice the miniature quilt on the wall! 

Love it, love it, love it.  Jeff and I just keep standing at vantage points and sighing.  We’re not done yet, but we’re happy as pigs in you-know-what anyway.

And now?  Well, I’ve got a quilt buddy coming over this afternoon for a sew date, but till then it’s about painting those base boards.

Sigh . .  .