Into the Wild {Quilt Camp Prep}

I am so excited to head back to "Quilt Camp" aka quilt retreat with my mom next week!

As I have done the last two years, today I'm sharing about the projects I am planning to work on while I am off in quilting land next week.

My first project is actually two projects. For my November Island Batik blog hop project, I received a very large bundle of fabric and split it up into two colorways to make two different versions of our Hip to Be Square pattern. I've actually never made our Hip to Be Square pattern before (shocking!) and this collection's larger prints are going to be a perfect fit for this pattern.

As an Island Batik Ambassador, I am provided with samples of various lines of Island Batik fabrics, Aurifil thread, and Hobbs Batting to use and share with you

My second project is my September Island Batik project -- another baby quilt, but this time using the new block-on-board die I received recently. I will be using the Quiet Shades fabrics to make some sort of Ohio Star block quilt, final design to be determined. I cut enough block parts for 16 blocks, but I'm going to take some of the fabrics with me so that I can decide on the layout and setting once the blocks are complete. Here are my fabrics, prior to cutting:

My third project is turning these two charm packs into a smaller version of the older Moda Bake Shop pattern, Four Squared.  The original quilt is larger -- 56" x 64" -- and I am hoping to just use up all of the charm squares to make as big of a quilt top as I can.

My fourth project is making a small version of the Marigold quilt using some fabrics I have been hoarding for years from the Joel Dewberry Bungalow line. (I have the purple colorway of the line set aside to make an epic Double Wedding ring.)  I have used this pattern before to make a mini quilt, but I have always wanted to make a larger version.

Let's see how many of these projects I actually accomplish and how many tops that I finish!

Big Plans {2019 Goals}

It's time for Quilting JetGirl's annual goal setting link up party for the new year!

First let's review my three goals for 2018:

1. Quilt and finish some of my completed quilt tops

-- I finished nine quilts that were on my WIP list in January 2018, including four twin sized quilts for my guest room.

2. Host a new QAL and improve engagement:

-- I hosted the Blocked Rainbow QAL (pattern now available!) and we had great participation!

3. Say "no" with more frequency:

-- I definitely succeeded at this! I have cut back on some of my commitments and made more time for my own just-for-fun projects.

Here are my goals for 2019:

1. Design and write six new quilt patterns with the rest of the HBD team

-- There are already three quilt patterns in the pipeline for 2019 in various stages of completion, so part of this is already accomplished! I'd like to work on designing three more Honey, Bunny, and Doll patterns over the next year and get all six into the shop.

2. Focus on finishing the quilt along and bee quilts

-- Despite the fact that I've made a nice dent in my WIP list, there are a few quilts that were tops from bees and quilt alongs that have been on the list for a long time. This list includes:

Sew Kitschy/Sew Retro quilt (started in 2014)

Pineapple Stash Bee quilt (started in 2016)

Magnolia mystery quilt (started in 2017)

April Showers C2C Bee quilt (started in 2017)

Breezy Blooms C2C Bee quilt (started in 2018)

I am going to try to finish one of these quilts per quarter in 2019, which allows me to work on other projects as needed but should hopefully mean at least four of these are finished this time next year.

3. Organize and decorate my new sewing space

-- Once we move, I'll have a new sewing space to plan, set up, and decorate! While it might not happen right away, I would like to get a nicer table and ironing board, as well as some nicer shelves and storage bins. 

4. Take a class (or a few!)

-- I'm going to make a sad admission -- I haven't taken any quilting or sewing classes since 2011. I have a long list of excuses why I haven't taken any classes: school, money, time, quilt shops being too far away. This year, I want to take at least one class (and maybe more) to learn a new skill, technique, or pattern.

Have you shared your goals for 2019? What's on your list?

Summer Shopping {Stash Additions and Shopping List}

I've added a few things to my stash this summer -- some for specific projects and some for stashing!

Back when I bought the fabric for the setting triangles for my Double Delight quilt, I also picked up a few cuts of clearance fabric:

I picked up half yards of the floral prints and a yard of the tiled cream print. These don't have any specific plans for use just yet. Over the last four years, I've really whittled down on whats in my stash, so I have been finding that it would be helpful to have a few more half yard and yard cuts on hand for things like bindings and spur-of-the-moment projects.

I also finally picked up a backing and a binding for my Magnolia mystery quilt! As a reminder, here's the quilt:

You can get this pattern from Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs -- I modified my version by adding sashings and cornerstones between the blocks. 

For the backing and binding, I picked out these two fabrics from the True Blue line by Ana Davis. The drop print will be the backing and the twist fabric will be the binding. 

I really have a soft spot for these fun large scale prints for backings. I'm planning to put together a tutorial for when I get back from retreat about matching prints for backings, so keep your eyes out for that! I think the red is going to be so pretty for the binding against the grey solid.

As mentioned in my retreat prep post, I am going to be working on a new Fat Quarter Shop shortcut quilt using the Sweet Marion Line. I also picked up this coral print that's actually from a Downton  Abbey line (also an amazing clearance buy!) to use for the backing and binding for that quilt.

This is another fun, large-scale print! Once I get back from retreat, I'll hopefully have this quilt in Sweet Marion done so both that quilt and my Magnolia quilt will be ready to quilt! I should be lined up for quite a few finishes in September!

Even with this shopping I still need to get fabric for quite a few projects:
-white fabric for my pineapple quilt
-border fabrics for Double Delight and Drift Away
-backing fabrics for Blocked Rainbow and Breezy Blooms
...and this is kind of a brief list focusing on the things I want to finish first.

On Monday, I'm going to be the featured interview with my good friend Jen of Patterns By Jen as part of the lead up to the Border Quilt QAL that will kick off in September! Make sure to check that out next week. I'm hoping to have at least one post scheduled for the blog while I am gone on retreat, but I am planning to post lots of pictures on Instagram of my progress and adventures.

I hope that you've been following along with the Great Outdoors blog hop too! Twenty Island Batik Ambassadors have posted amazing projects so far and we're not even halfway done with the blog hop! Check out all of the previous posts to see the great projects and enter the giveaways hosted by the individual bloggers. My day is August 28th and uses our Summer Patio pattern!

Happy Friday -- have a wonderful weekend!

2018 Goal Setting Party with Quilting JetGirl

It's that time of the year for reviews and resolutions! Today I'm linking up with Quilting JetGirl's annual goal setting party!

But first, let's see what my goals were in 2017!

1. Busting my WIP list -- I finished 5 projects that were on my WIP list this year.
2. Improving my FMQ skills -- I have done lots of FMQ this year!
3. Posting one tutorial per month -- I posted 13 tutorials this year.
4. Host a new QAL --This year I hosted the Christine's Kitchen QAL!
5. Participate in the RSC -- I made blocks each month for my Happy Houses quilt.

I would count all of these but #1 a success. I had a lot of "outside commitments" as far as sewing went this year, and I think that ate up a lot of time that could have been spent on WIPs.

This year my goals are similar but a little more specific.

1. Quilt and finish some of my completed (or nearly completed quilt tops)
This is the corollary to last years #1. I have 5 quilt tops that are complete or nearly complete and these are the WIPs I want to focus on first. I also have two quilts to pick up from the long arm quilter that should be done by year's end.

2. Host a new QAL and improve engagement
I already have the QAL quilt designed in two sizes and made in the smaller size! I also want to expand my QAL reach by partnering with my quilty friends, offering QAL specials in the HBD Etsy shop, and putting together a Facebook group for the QAL. Lots of logisical things to make the QAL more engaging.

3. Say "no" with more frequency.
It's bad when your husband asks if you sew for fun anymore. I still want to keep up my established relationships, but I think I just need to step back how often I commit to blog hops and outside designing. I have a few scheduled things for next year, but I am going to cut back significantly.

These are my goals for this year! Short and sweet and to the point.

Check out everyone's goals at Quilting JetGirl!

2017 Goal Setting Party with Quilting Jetgirl

Yvonne of Quilting Jetgirl his hosting her annual new year goal setting party! I've decided to join in the fun this year.

Here are my quilting goals broken down:

1. Busting my WIP list.

As I posted previously, I'm feeling very overwhelmed by my current number of works in progress (WIPs). I'd like to focus most of my efforts on finishing my WIPs this year, but I am not going to completely prohibit myself from starting a new project because I know there will be QALs that I will want to participate in next year as well as new projects I will "need" to start.

So I'm going to implement a "three for one" system. Three completely finished projects off of the WIP list means I get to start a project of my choosing. My ultimate goal would be to get my WIP list under 10 by the end of the year, including any new projects I might start.

2. Continuing to expand my FMQ skills

This is going to be accomplished in conjunction with #1! I have quite a few nearly-completed WIPs that are small enough for me to feel confident in quilting myself. I'd like to work on more filler motifs, but also work on more decorative FMQ as well.

3. Producing one tutorial per month

Between my own QAL, producing quilts for Moda Bake Shop, and tutorials for Benartex, I had 13 tutorials published which is a huge undertaking! Unfortunately last year a few of these were clustered very close together which was rather difficult, so I'd really like to spread these out a little bit more which should make the process more manageable.

4. Hosting a new QAL

This is already in the works, and different from what I have done before! If I expand it out to my ideal plan, it would fulfill my goal of one tutorial a month! Stay tuned for more details. :)

5. Participate in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge again in 2017

I loved participating in the RSC this year. I made a noticable dent in my scrap bins and I am so happy with my Farmer's Wife quilt! I am not planning to make 111 different blocks next year (thanks but no thanks!) and I think I might make all churn dashes. Maybe in different sizes, but maybe not. I definitely need something much simpler and potentially more versatile than the Farmer's Wife.

Hop on over to Quilting Jetgirl to see what everyone else is planning for 2017!

Admiring the Jelly Roll

I'm not one to buy a lot of pre-cuts (or really any, for that matter), just because I'm the cheapest cheapo on the block. 

But I have been anticipating unwrapping my Blizten jelly roll.

But unrolling a jelly roll is an irreversible thing so I've kind of been putting it off. If you know how to reroll them, let me know. I am planning to use it for my Basket Case pattern and yesterday I finally opened it all up.

Such a fun array of prints. So I spent a good half hour pairing everything up into sets that will work well in the blocks. I'm going to have to buy a couple yards of one of the snowman prints for the borders because it is so cute.

Do you get a lot of pre-cuts? What is your favorite kind of pre-cut? 

Accountability!

Rhonda over at Quilter in the Gap is hosting a quarter-by-quarter Finish-Along to encourage the finishing of UFOs! I missed the first quarter link-up entirely but I decided that this would be a great way for me to try to push forward and finish some projects once I get this exam over with (16 days, people!)

This is sort of in order of "closest to being finished" to "probably won't happen."

1. X-quilt
It has been machine quilted and is waiting for me up in Michigan. All it needs is binding!

2. Mystery Quilt
Again, all machine quilted and just needs binding. I'll be picking up these two quilts in May when I go up to Michigan for my sister's college graduation.

3. Snowflake quilt
Top is all done, needs quilting and binding.

4. Seville Quilt
Same thing, quilting and binding.

5. Shoes
Top needs to be finished, need to find and buy border fabric for this one.

6. Civil war quilt
Again, need to buy and find sashing and border fabric and finish putting the top together.

7. Railroad Quilt
HAND QUILTING. Seriously, I just need to take the quilt into the living room and work on it when I watch TV, instead of pinning on Pinterest.

I know that I can finish 1 and 2 before the end of June, and I think that getting 3 and 4 done is possible. Getting 5 and 6 all the way finished might be a stretch, but I will definitely get the tops done. 7 is the thorn in my side from long, long ago and I am going to get it done before the end of the summer because now that I have a queen sized bed, I can make good use of it!

One step at a time...

How is it Monday already?

Saturday I spent nearly the whole day grading and getting my teaching stuff ready for this week, but I did manage to get all of my strip blocks done for the Seville quilt.

Sunday I did all of the half snowball blocks in the evening, which went a lot faster than I anticipated, which was very nice.

And so I laid out the whole quilt on my living room floor on Sunday night and it’s still sitting there. It has to, because otherwise I don’t know how I would be able to get everything just right again.

So the next thing to do is to sew four half-snowball blocks together so it looks like a white x, this will take lots of patience and matchy matching. Then I can start sewing things into rows (with even more matching, of course.)

My stairstep quilt has taken up residence on my couch and stares at me while I eat dinner (tacos tonight, baby!). Tonight is long-distance House date with Park Ranger Boyfriend, so I will work on it some during that. 

Here's to a productive evening and next couple of days!

Also, check out Quilt Story to see other neat-o blogs and get info about a superawesome Valentine's blog hop!

And check out WIP wednesday at Freshly pieced!

Starting on my Seville...

Guilty as charged, I started sewing on a new project this week.

I sewed all of the square in a square blocks for my Seville quilt (pattern here).

Granted, this quilt was already all cut out, so it was technically already started. Most of the fabric is from the Eva collection by Basic Grey for Moda left over from my sister's quilt featured here.

So here are my 30 completed blocks, I am a really big fan of everything so far!

Hope your Thursdays are going splendidly!

Civil War Blocks 31-39

Most of these were done on Marathon Harry Potter/Quilting Boxing Day Extravaganza!

31. Empty Spools

Simple dimple.

32. Carolina Lily

If you remember, I Y-seam like a boss.

33. Indiana Puzzle

I can definitely own curved seams as well.

34. Rosebud

Pinwheel flowers!

35. Star of the West

Stars. Again.

36. Kentucky Crossroads

Another quick and easy block. Other than mine turned out like 10 inches wide. Hmmm.

37. Confederate Rose

Love the colors on this one.

38. Ohio Star

More stars, more awesome color combos. No big deal.

39. Hovering Hawks

If you squint, you might see birds.

Hope you all are recovering nicely from your hectic holidays!

Civil War Blocks 21-25

I can't believe that I am almost halfway done with all the Civil War blocks! I have to take a quick break from Civil War blocks to get a binding finished before this weekend.

21. Underground Railroad

This one would be a fun quilt on its own as well.

22. Blockade

The red, green, and yellow paisley is one of my favorite fabrics ever.

23. Illinois Roads

Easiest one so far! I didn't even have to cut the 2.5 inch strips.

24. Ladies Aid Album

Another with fabrics destined to be together.

25. Calico Puzzle

Not the most traditional colors, but pretty nonetheless.