I am making a list and checking it twice to have my 2015 UFO Challenge quilt list.  Stashbusters.com has me motivated to "git 'er done."  Their challenge is to make a list and complete the quilts of the past year (or years) and complete them in 2015.  I can accept this challenge!

 I have selected 60 quilts of the many I have to move them to another level of getting to the finish line.  Most of my UFO's are tops being created.  Some need more blocks, some need a final border, some need more material cut to get the next set of units completed. Quilts tops completed waiting for quilting will be the quickest to move to finished!

So setting some goals to get these quilts to the finish line.  Finished includes the top complete and quilted, binding completed and label attached!

Ready, Set, Go!

I have too much fun playing with material.  I have all morning to make some Block Lotto Blocks for the next exchange. We are making an O Block, quick and easy and I can use my scraps.  Going to make 5 more.  Then back to Grand Illusion Mystery quilt.  I am behind but will continue to follow the steps and get my blocks completed.

sunday stitching

Spent last night sorting through the many scraps accumulated from the past two retreats and scrap bags from friends. I sorted by color, pulled out strings, cut squares and dropped scraps into appropriate containers to wait their turn for a quilt top.   I put the strings by the sewing machine.   I like to lay them on small tv table so I can sew a few each day.
  
Today, Sunday,  I am ready to sew.  First on list is Grand Illusions mystery quilt.  Second is sashing string quilt blocks.  Only have 8 to go and I can then sew rows together.

Happy Sunday Sewing!

Thanksgiving Friday

House is cleaned.   Wonderful Thanksgiving Meal has been shared.  Now to find the stuff I moved around and "out of sight!"   I sewed on my new treadle Singer sewing machine made in 1904.  It will be fun to stitch some quilt tops using this little lady.

Finishing Quilts

It always seem to take longer to finish my quilts.  I have been working steadily on my blue pineapple.  I added 11 blocks to make it bigger.  Completed all blocks yesterday.  So got up early today to sew blocks together to have top completed.  Well, I only got 16 put together.  I think I am too fussy, or distract myself, so don't get as much accomplished as I expect.   Will be back at it tomorrow.

Quilting in Michigan!  been collecting the row by row experience quilt patterns from stores across Michigan. I appreciate the work that went into this summer travel shop hop....I finished my first row by row quilt and took it to Quilted Memories in Montague.   Quilted Memories is in a log cabin building and run by Jill.  She has a nice variety of material and quilting supplies in her shop.

Now I am collecting and starting on a second row by row quilt top.  There are more wonderful patterns to collect and make into quilts.

The priority task for today:   finish the binding on the jelly roll quilt so I can take the top to my daughter's home.  This was a simple top to make out of a jelly roll of bright colors and cute insects.    I picked this roll up on sale at Walmart in Sault Ste. Marie.  They were closing  their sewing department.  Gave me an opportunity to try a jelly roll quilt.   This is also one of our firsts on the long arm machine.  A good one to quilt for practice and to learn the skills of long arm quilting.

National Quilt Day, March 15

Amazing what happens when folks find out your are a quilter.  I received a manila envelope today with two patterns and about 300 2"squares....what a pleasant surprise.

Saturday is National Quilt Day.  I hope you all have plans to enjoy the day and celebrate the wonderful art of quilting.  I am off to a one day retreat sponsored by our guild.  Have two projects to take with me...my leader/ender and a kit I purchased in October, that should go together quickly in 2-3 days.

Happy Quilting.

too busy to blog?

Oh, goodness.  I have been too busy...now need to get back into the routine of blogging about quilting. Been learning and figuring out new long arm machine.  This has been a wonderful addtion to my sewing machines! Takes quite a bit of space but we are enjoying learning this new skill.  I am going to do one more practice sampler on long arm, then will start with the tops that are ready to be quilted. 

I have been working and enjoying "15 Minutes of Play" each day in sewing room.  This is a great way to have fun with material.  It was exciting to see Victoria Findley Wolfe on the Quilt Show broadcast this month.  I had just picked up her book and was grabbing my scraps to play with.  A friend called to tell me she was on the Quilt Show broadcast.  What fun to have the computer running as I stitched and listened.