Friday, December 18, 2015

A Pre-Holiday Catch Up

Got my computer back late yesterday evening but refused to plug it in until all my Christmas cards were addressed and mailed. Which finally happened today. And wouldn't you know it, a ton of addresses needed updating. Why do people move? So annoying.
The new wall hanging
The good news about my computer is that it should be fine until next summer now.*sigh  I was not looking forward to fighting for computer time on anyone else's computer in this particular house. Or learning new programs, operating systems or important laptop tricks.

As you can see, in the last two weeks I managed to finish up my Vintage Basket AHIQ wall hanging.  It's going to go on the wall in my quilting room and make me think very creative thoughts. Of course it is....
Not my favorite batting, but it turned out alright for this small quilt.
And I also finished up my Tipsy Geese baby quilt. I machine quilted in the ditch on all the vertical rows and then came back and started stitching in between over the top of the geese. Bad mistake. Ended up using my seam ripper because all my geese were bunching up in the mid section of the quilt. There's just something about machine quilting that means there can never be too many pins in the sandwiching process. I know this and yet I continue to be optimistic there can be a compromise made.
Looking at the initial phase of quilting.
So I threw it in a hoop and randomly hand stitched {half or less of} every set of geese. Not that I had time for that, but what do you do? It obviously needed more stitching. Did I ruin it by not hand stitching every single one of them? Sometimes I think my get-up-and-go is not in keeping with all my expectations. I love it and yet, I was itching to add more hand quilting. In fact it was all I could do not to spend more time on this little baby quilt! But really, the time had run out. And it's fine. Perfectly acceptable.
Tipsy Geese is done!
I was only able to incorporate one of the oddball geese units into the quilt. Love how it finishes off this top corner though. And in case you were wondering, this quilt is for a baby boy who is almost six months old now. I personally don't think it's ever too late to gift a child a quilt, but wonder what the mom will think when it shows up out of the blue!
Such a sweet geese unit to finish off the corner....
I totally forgot about getting a label onto the quilt until today when I was packing it into the box for shipping. My daughter totally put the guilt trip on me until I hurriedly wrote one out and got it attached. Which made me arrive at the post office at ten minutes before closing with a mailing box and also needing 120 stamps. Oh, and can you wait to close until I get them all on please? hehe  I almost put the babys name on the label but decided not to at the last second. Cynthia's oops with her beautiful quilt was still very fresh in my mind. Just hope I got the husbands name correct on the mailing address as that could be a bigger oops.....
All my boy, baby quilts end up with the same colors....
In the event I might possibly get bored, there is a new project in the works too.
A new project
One box of dark colored flannel strips and another of medium to light colored flannel strips. All I have to do now is sew a light to a dark until they're all sewn together and then I'll sew those sets together until I have new sets of six.
Accumulating the strip sets
It should look something like the pattern below only I'm eliminating the border altogether and making the quilt a bit wider. Funny how a pattern from January/February of 2005 can still be extremely relevant today. I desperately need a no nonsense, non thinking, chain piecing project right now and who cares when it gets done. And uh... I actually cut out enough strips to make two of these. Which is good because I need a couple more comfort quilts to give away in the next little while.
A Fon's and Porter pattern
And I'm still getting to those pesky circles. Whose idea was this anyway?
50 circles sewn and 4 more ready to go
All going well etc., there will be a linkup party on the first of every month for the next year.  Okay, must go now. I still have a major Christmas shopping list to get figured out as tomorrow is the day to try and finish up. Oh how I hate going the last Saturday before Christmas, but that's the way this year has been. I am very grateful for all of our blessings, good health and wonderful family and friends. If I don't get back to you before the holiday is over, Merry Christmas to you and yours!

29 comments:

  1. good to see the computer is back but sounds as if there is not much life left in her if she will only be okay till summer. Windows 10 is easier than 8 t onderstand if you have to buy a new one.
    Baby quilt looks lovely I do like hand quilting on them but it takes so long, mind you quicker than machine for me as I cannot machine quilt. Lots of cards you must have sent I only had 14 to post!

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  2. Glad your computer is working for now at least. I like your finished wall hanging a lot - though I don't think you need a quilt to make you feel creative! Also like the baby quilt (actually I'd quite like a me-sized one like this) and understand the dilemma around how much work to put in. I err the other way, but then the baby would be leaving home by the time he got his quilt!

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  3. Great to have your computer back. I like your baby quilt, it's quirky, and agree that any time is a good time to give a boy a new quilt. Interesting new project.....it should use up a lot of stash. I'm still holding out on the circles, but yours are looking good. Happy Christmas to you too.

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  4. Merry Christmas to you as well :) Glad your computer is okay and you were able to finish up these pretty projects :)

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  5. Merry Christmas to you as well :) Glad your computer is okay and you were able to finish up these pretty projects :)

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  6. Hmm, yes, who started this quilty365! I am glad to say that as of this morning I have kept up. I even tried using silk for the first time. I've always wanted to try silk. I'm going to try thinking outside the box with this project. Thanks!

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  7. Pesky circles . . . giggle. Love that basic rail fence chain piecing project, too. Have a good final week leading up to Christmas!

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  8. Glad to see you back! I think of you almost every day as I stitch my circles. Now that the "new" has worn off, I'm thinking 365 days is a looong time! No worries, I'm committed. :-) Have a wonderful Christmas!

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  9. Well, the good thing about a broken computer is that you get a lot of sewing done. Two finishes! They are both lovely. I love that reverse goose in the corner. :D Good luck with your shopping, and Merry Christmas!

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  10. bet you are glad to get the computer back. I like the geese quilt think it looks great - I have a hard time making one circle a day - I tend to like to sit down and do them weekly instead and I'm ahead for now which is good because Xmas will slow things down. I do digital xmas cards now and that was because I was complaining about 40-50 stamps - 120! wow too much!!

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  11. So many charming projects! I am especially fond of the tipsy geese.
    Wishing you a safe, happy & love-filled holiday!

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  12. Really cute quilt! So glad you are back up and running with the repaired computer. When you go computerless for a while you realize how much time is spent on the computer instead of 'doing'. ;)

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  13. Audrey, you crack me up!!! I'm sooo glad to see you back here :) I love your AHIQ quilt, it's going to look fab on the wall. And as for baby quilts, ha! The last time I made one was for my great nephew. It was a hand pieced tumbling blocks quilt, mostly in blue Kaffe Fasset's (circle-y rather than floral). I then spent hours hand quilting it, and guess what my niece said when she received..."it's nice"!!!! Hahahahaha! Too funny! I really enjoyed making it and hope she at least got some use out of it! Yours is just gorgeous - I love the way you've made blocks of colour/pattern. And of course you need a new project, or 10, I mean, who doesn't! I think the basket weave will look 100% better without the border, it looks a bit of a 'weak' effort - nothing like you're capable of! Wishing you some downtime over the next week - I haven't even got the decorations out from under the bed yet, arggggh!!! x

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  14. So happy to see you are hooked back up! The momma of the 6 month old will be thrilled!!

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  15. So glad your up and running with your computer. The baby boy quilt is really fun. What a great use of your flannel strips. Totally understand the need for a mindless project.

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  16. Audrey, I just love both of these, the basket wall hanging and the tipsy geese! You did a beautiful job on both of them!

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  17. Beautiful finishes Audrey, love them both, such nice colors and patterns.
    Greetings,
    sylvia

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  18. Good to hear from you again. You certainly made good use of your off line time.

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  19. You're killing me! So many great projects and Christmas right around the corner! I really really love the vintage basket wall hanging and would like to make something similar.
    All I got going right now is sewing binding on a quilt I made 2 years ago, that I'm finally getting around to gifting to some friends for Christmas. I'm churning lots of ideas in my head and am looking forward to a quilting explosion right after the holidays :) Glad your computer woes are straightened out.

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  20. You could not be accused of not keeping busy with your quilting!!! I am a huge fan of flying geese so love yours .

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  21. Good to see your computer is up and running again. As always you've accomplished more than I can even think of in a two week span! Yes, who thought up those pesky circles just before Christmas?! I wish you and your family a joyous Christmas filled with fun and laughter and friends.

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  22. Glad you got your hands on a working computer! Love your wallhannging and flying geese quilt. Wonderful that the shapes don't match up, are a bit off, happy, happy, shapes!! Also what I like to see in old quilts! Have a lovely Christmas!

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  23. Glad your computer is back from "hospital". Your projects are lovely, and what a nice surprise for the 6 month old. Have fun with your new project. Merry Christmas to you and yours.......x

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  24. I'm so glad your computer is all better and you are back! I think your geese are adorable and that's a lucky little boy to be receiving it. Merry Christmas to you and all your family!!!

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  25. I adore that Vintage Basket quilt. Right up my alley! Love the story about the Tipsy Geese. I too had quite a laugh at Cynthia's story. Your new flannel project looks like fun. And believe it or not, I am still excited about getting my circle done each morning before I leave for work. Now if we can just eliminate the work element and stay home and quilt I might get to make two circles a day!

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  26. I love everything you make Audrey, you're such an inspiration and so enthusiastic! Have a 'calm and bright' Christmas xxx

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  27. So many lovely quilts and projects. Your basket it charming. I'm mulling a medallion quilt, too, but determined to work on a couple of borders first. I finished Christmas shopping quite early this year; doubt I'll cards out though. Merry Christmas.

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  28. Best wishes Audrey for a lovely Christmas with your family. Thank you for sharing all your thoughts and progress on your quilt making. May you find time during the Festive Season to sit & sew!

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