Moving Things Forward

I am always uncertain about committing to any QAL involving finish-it-up goals. Frankly, it sort of panics me, which sounds very odd as I actually do finish things occasionally! But... Meredithe is a great friend and her '17 in 2017' sounds very no pressure. Thanks to Kyle I had access to a nifty little pdf and so now, after much pondering, here is the list.

17 in 2017 QAL

After perusing the other links, I noticed everyone has their own way of listing the projects.  Mine is simple: #1-11 are quilt projects still currently ongoing. The only really dusty one is 'Shattered', and I totally credit Meredithe for helping me dig that one out. #12-17 are completed quilt tops that hopefully will become a full fledged quilt sometime this year. Along with others of course, but I can't know exactly which quilt tops I'm in the mood to get started quilting. This leaves me lots of wiggle room!

Vintage Coxcombs

In the meantime, I've been trying to be very disciplined about not starting a new quilt project just yet. Tho I am itching, itching, itching to do just that! My tentative plan is to get three of my eleven ongoing projects to the completed quilt top stage before allowing my greedy self to jump into something new and shiny. Lots of applique work here, so I need to get cracking!

The quilt above, 'Vintage Coxcombs' includes 20 blocks. {Because I am insane and don't know when to stop.} Most of the background blocks are sewn together in similar, but different looking fabrics, pieced together as the leftover bits dictate. Since I mostly buy fatquarters, getting 20 similar background blocks can be complicated at times, but I love the look of this way versus made up of all of one fabric.

After I complete appliqueing the coxcombs to the oval shape {done!}, then next up is the possible star background. I'm going to do a test block to see if the triangles are large enough and proportions work out properly. This is the part I hate--thinking the triangles look perfect as is which would means re-cutting and adding the seam allowance once again. And yes, I've already cut out ALL of the triangles for 20 blocks.*sigh Thus the test block. I've been fooled once before.

Chunky Crossroads

Don't judge me by my crinkly looking applique, It's all coming along rather nicely! Two borders out of four down with two to go on the Chunky Crossroads improv. quilt. I ended up adding the fat looking flower buds as it just looked too barren without. I'm still a little {okay, a lot} waffle-y about whether the quilt sincerely needs the applique borders or I'm just indulging myself. Ahh... Self doubt. Always there to rain on our parade.... Too, I get kind of jumpy after sewing the same exact thing for hours on end and usually make myself a bargain or two just to keep going. It helps to have perspective and not let sheer tedium come up with our answers!

After completely two borders, then I gave myself permission to go straight to work on the 'Gather Ye Rosebuds' quilt which includes the  Big Tumbler Basket and a whole bunch of smaller baskets. It's going to be an asymmetrical quilt with a vine running down the left side and across the bottom before connecting with the text block on the right side. I'm trying to do as much applique as possible before joining it to the larger basket and thus making a big 'ol awkward mess to do my stitching on. Lots of work to do here, but then I'll probably jump back to the Vintage Coxcombs test block before yes, you guessed it! finally diving back into the Chunky Crossroads borders once again. I really do like to mix things up and having smaller goals helps keep me on track for feel-good finishes along the way. Hey, whatever works!

Gather Ye Rosebuds

And of course, there's always a quilt in the hoop around here. The middle portion of this quilt is finally done and next I'm going to be starting in on the outside two borders. Last night I marked off a simple grid pattern and with stitching one or two frames an evening, this could be done by the end of January!

Geese Tracks & Black Shadow Applique

I put this particular quilt off for a long time as I just wasn't 'feeling' it. And honestly, it took getting the entire geese-tracks/applique section getting stitched and finally working of the basket quilting before I finally settled in and started loving it again. So funny. I've always appreciated this quilt, enjoyed working on it so much and then when it's time, I can't feel the love while starting to quilt it.

But that's the way quilting works with me. I often have to reconnect. Just the steady stitch, stitch, stitch, hearing the needle slide in and out, staring down at the quilt, remembering the whys and wherefores. It all works to remind me of what's so great about quilting. This quilt? I'm the one making it, but it has a few fabrics from my grandma who was a quilter too. Just another in a long line of 'makers' allowing the work of quilting to quiet and soothe our {often} worried and troubled minds. I can tell--this quilt's gonna be a keeper...

Sweet, Sweet Progress on the Geese Tracks Quilt

Implementation is often the very hardest step for me. Seriously. I get this idea in my head that seems fabulous, but the details are a little fuzzy. Okay, lets be honest-- a lot fuzzy. Way back when this project was just a great stack of fabric, I knew I wanted black shadow appliqued flowers, especially in and around the border.

The last border, promise....

Then the project progressed. I somehow ended up with a basket border. The baskets wanted to show off my black flowers that had suddenly appeared in the centerpiece. (Huh? how did that happen?) It seemed like a good idea so I went with it. But what about my black flower border? Hmmm.. Got to make sure the center ties in with the outside of the quilt. Which was not done yet, so yeah, a bit difficult.... The details of my quilt were starting to meld and morph and even play a little hide and seek with me. This is the stage that makes me want to chew my fingernails off I if let it get to me.

The bias vine before I fussed with it a hundred more times.

But I persevered. I made another border and then yet another. Some people didn't understand what I was doing or where I was headed because they thought it looked 'really wonderful' at the basket border. Stop! You are ruining your beautiful quilt! {You really can't ignore the elephant in the room comments.} People just want to, ahem, be helpful and stave off what is obviously the equivalent of a normal person driving their car off a cliff on purpose.

The bias vine just before I fussed with it for the very LAST time.
You can see the major improvement from before.*wink

Even I winced as the last border was added. Those super light gray/whites--so drab and plebeian. What was I thinking!!!! What if I was destroying the best part of my quilt?!!! Ahh.... the angst. I made myself cut out and sew together the bias vine and then I folded it all up and put it away. There! I am so. done. with this quilt.

Starting to place the flowers and leaves

Yeah, about that. I didn't put it too far away. That would be quilt project murder. It was in plain sight all the time. Every single time I went into my quilt room there it was. It even had to be moved a time or two to get to the quilt projects around it, but I kept it out where it could taunt me. Haunt me a litte. Beg for mercy. Anything to be put out of its quilty misery. 

So finally, yesterday I hauled it down to the living room and laid it right smack in the middle of the floor. I fixed myself a tall glass of iced tea and threw the bias vine on the border, fussed with it a bit and griped to myself about not planning the border better. You know, so the applique could be put on one border at a time instead of this big unwieldy quilt monster. My husband came home early for work, wafting concrete dust all the way back to the bathroom. Reprieve! Lets put it up and work on it another day. But nope. Just taking a shower and leaving again for a couple hours.

Starting to hack the flowers and leaves into bits....

Hmm... So I visited for a few minutes and went back to work. Pinned the bias vine. Fiddled and fussed. Then I took a break. Fixed some strawberry lemonade. Fussed with the bias vine some more. Started cutting out flowers and leaves. Made Took a few phone calls. Decided to put it all away for a better day when my head was clearer.

All that drama for this?

Oh I was so tired of this quilt. It was draining all my energy away and I couldn't SEE it. You know, that brilliant light bulb map of where to go next? It was eluding me. I still had a couple hours until my house filled up with people tromping around my living room so I told myself to quit being a coward and get on with it. But then I promptly went into the kitchen to do some dishes. lol Good to get the priorities figured out! Uh huh, got distracted by the idea of making a yummy lemon jello, cottage cheese, pineapple, and blueberry salad--never did the dishes. (You can see that the inside of my mind is a very scary place indeed......)

Okay, enough avoidance. Even I was tired of all the wasted time, angst and drama. So I went back to work with a vengeance (haha too much sugar for that) and actually got the last flower in place just before it was time to make dinner. Good thing my husband had called and said he'd be late! I pulled all the flowers and leaves off the quilt and quickly pinned the stems into place for sewing. That part is for later. 

Whew! Can you believe what it takes for me to finally settle down and concentrate on what is basically just a simple little design element? Some quilts. If I didn't know better, I'd think they were a lot more trouble than they're worth.*wink

Geese Tracks Border and Other Things

Another border on my Geese Tracks quilt! The baskets might look a little like vases to you, but I know what they are. I'm liking this so much that I'm almost afraid to add another border on but... you know me. I have plans for this quilt and that involves making it bit bigger!

Geese Tracks quilt

In case any of you were wondering if I had depleted my scraps after the String Play quilt? Ummmm... not exactly. I think they must have multiplied while I was sleeping. String Play was my 5th scrap quilt made directly out of the scrap bin in the past 2+ years and look at this! All those totes are filled with scraps too. Is this shameful or playful? Hmmm... I've yet to make up my mind about this.

Scraps gone crazy.....

I noticed that Wendy over at Legend and Lace has another basket pattern ready to print off. It's been really, really hard for me not to start this Baskets Galore BOM. So very difficult. I love baskets. Seriously (ridiculously) adore them when it comes to quilting.

A few fabrics for the basket BOM

I have been printing the patterns off and hoarding them all the while gathering my fabric for when the big day arrives that I can start this guilt free. So many projects in the way, I was hoping to maybe whittle a few things off the list first? Honestly, I'm not sure I have the will power to finish even one more top before I cave and start in on these!

More gathered fabric

This is how I often keep stacks of fabric that have a definite pattern/idea/plan--in these clear zip bags. (If I have pieces cut and ready to sew, then I usually use a smallish tote.) The first bag with red etc. fabrics is for my Muddy Creek quilt and the second bag is more fabric for the basket BOM. My quilting area is pretty small and so I have tried different things to help keep me on track and make sure that I don't 'lose' important fabrics. So far this is working out as well as anything else. My husband has promised to expand my quilting room some day in the future, but for now I just try to stay as organized as possible. Ha! Not sure any method can work super well when I have so much going on!

On to the Next Border(s)

You know me, always jumping around from project to project. It keeps me from being bored (as if that's ever a problem with quilting) and the color change-up from quilt to quilt is a wonderful thing. Some calming, others not so much!

Geese Tracks & Improv. quilt

Most of the baskets are appliqued now for my Geese Tracks & Improv. quilt. Just a few more and I can start sewing the borders together. They are SO blueish! I may have to add a little more color in to help that border out, but then there is that single red basket to think about. Mustn't take away from it's moment in the spotlight....

Flowers and Flying Geese Medallion

I finally sewed my Dresden wedges together for the Flowers and Flying Geese quilt too. Can you believe that I once didn't even like pink? (Having little girls probably took care of that problem!) I found a great fabric in my stash to fussy cut for the half circle centers and I am loving how it makes the Dresdens 'pop'. It's a bit brassy and bold for the rest of the quilt, but my heart is saying go for it. The border lengths are cut out, my Dresdens are ready to applique and I am getting excited about this border. Can you tell? I know if I would have plowed through the entire quilt last July when I first started this quilt, I would never even have come up with this border. It wouldn't have happened because Dresdens were just not on my horizon then!  Okay, lots to do today. Basketball games tonight and I'm still not through with everything that needs done for the day.  Never enough time to quilt like we want to.*wink

Always Love to See Progress

I knew I wanted to add some more applique to my Geese Tracks & Improv. quilt but wasn't sure where that would be. A couple people had suggested that I needed to add a red basket but I just couldn't quite see it. Big? Little? Fat? Wonky? Until it managed to sneak into my quilt all on its on. (Absolutely no help from me at all.)*wink

More work on Geese Tracks & Improv.

One basket just doesn't look right though. I decided to give the red basket a supporting cast and make it the star. That is, if I can get this layout figured out to my satisfaction! I'm at the point where everything just needs to be transferred to my design 'floor' so there is room to spread out. And wowsers, could the color of my wall be any more terrible than it is for this particular project?

Trying to figure out the basket layout

Still working on my String Play blocks too. The are moving along at a whizzing pace. That's the lovely thing about working straight from the scrap bin you know!

String Play Blocks

After I get a nice stock of fabric scraps piled up right beside my chair, then all I have to do is reach over and grab what I need. I don't pre-iron or pre-cut my scraps. There's no need. The only thing I might do is whack off about 5 1/2" inches--for the length (roughly with my scissors) if I grab an overly large scrap.

String play blocks before ironing and trimming

Grab and sew, grab and sew until my blocks are the appropriate width (remember the length on these has to be min. of 5") and pretty soon I end up with a nice little stack of blocks. Yep, they're rumpled and thready, but all that can be taken care of very easily later on.

String Play goodness

See? Proof positive that scrap bin blocks can be tamed! I iron the seams in each block all one direction and then when I am finished with that step, I trim them all to 5". With these blocks I decided to go with variation #2 so I just have to trim the length of each block to 5" and then trim straight sides to the width. It shouldn't matter if the width is different block by block because I will be sewing them into horizontal rows and I can even up the rows later.

After doing some calculations, I decided I better do about 30 plus more blocks. That will give me about 225 blocks in all. Thank goodness I remembered my plaid strips tucked away separate from the other scraps and a couple shirts that could be up-cycled too. Two of them were actually my brothers shirts (he passed away about four years ago) that I haven't been able to even contemplate cutting up until now. It's a good time and a good quilt for this, esp. since I have already added in a bit of my grandma's fabrics. I really don't want to use all of any one shirt, but it will definitely add character and sweetness to my quilt.