How About a Quilt Along? Come Join The Library Project

Back in August I had an idea. I wanted to make a commitment to my Quilting Books, and the folks that wrote them, that I would  make something out of them. I have quite a collection of amazing quilt books, and yet I hardly ever make anything from them. Shameful! So I started The Library Project. I chose six books from my library, chose a project from each, and have plans to make them over the next year. 

As I have been updating here on the progress of the Project I have had a lot of comments about how folks would like to do this, and even what a great Quilt Along it would be. So I say, listen to the people and launch a Quilt Along!

How does it work?

1. Dig out your quilt books and select as few or as many projects as you would like to make from January to December 2014 - one per book. I leave the number of projects you chose up to you, as I know how busy life can be. BUT - I would like to challenge you to at least 4 projects :)
2. Each month come back here to link up with my update post and tell us about your progress.
3. At the end of the year I will host a final link up party where you show all of your finished projects for the year. From these posts I will randomly chose a winner for a prize. (this is likely very unprofessional but I don't know what the prize will be yet - just haven't gotten that far. But I promise it will be good, and open to international participants!)

The link up schedule:

• January 17th, 2014 - Write and link up your first post with you book / project choices
• February through November - Monthly links ups on the third Friday of every month with progress on your projects
• December 2014 - Final post to show off all of your finishes and link up to be eligible for the prize!

So - grab this button, dig into the stacks, drool over some patterns and make your choices! Come back here on January 17th to tell us all about it!

Can't wait to see what you pick:)
Adrienne

Fabriholics Anonymous

I was going to wait until the new year to talk about this, but they have started, the sales! And by they I mean my LQS, and every on-line fabric store I can imagine. Oh I want to buy fabric everywhere, because it is on sale. I don't need it, I just want it. That's right, I am a fabriholic.

My stash today. All 24 boxes are full. A lot of the tops will not close...

Two years ago I had sewn my stash down to almost nothing. It felt great, it felt free. Since then I have been building up my stash. Now I will say I have been doing A LOT more quilting in the last couple of years, so the growth of my stash is natural. But seriously, at this point I know that I have enough in the stash to get me through a whole year of projects.

the "Large Cuts" drawer

So I don't need any fabric, and I don't have any extra money to speak of, so it is time for a fabric intervention. Last week, Leigh Anne over at Ella's Cottage talked about the FabricFast 2014 that she is embarking on. This got me so inspired! And then I came upon Rebecca's Fabriholics Anonymous at Making Rebecca Lynne.

I am in! Here is how it works...
Goals

• To use the Stash I already have!
• Finish UFOs without distraction by shifting to other new beautiful fabric.
• Stop the insanity of constantly buying the latest and greatest fabric.
• Save the $ I spend on stashing - I want to go to Quiltcon in 2015. let the saving begin! 
• Destash the fabrics that I realize I am never going to use.

Rules

• No fabric purchases for 6 months beginning January 1, 2014.
• At 6 months I will reevaluate and decide whether to keep going for the full year. 
• I am extending the fabric fast to books / patterns / magazines too. I have so many on my shelf now, I need to use them (See The Library Project for how I am handling this issue). I currently have a subscription to Quilty magazine, I will keep that until it expires.

Exceptions

• I can purchase batting or quilt backing fabric to finish projects but will try to piece backings from my stash where I can, and I am going to hit the thrift stores for things like cotton sheets as an alternative to buying "new' fabric for backings.
• I can buy white or background fabric e.g. another solid if I need it. 
• I can purchase thread or notions, as needed.
• Commissioned Quilts - fabric for those quilts can be purchased - they pay for themselves!
• For Bees - I am in two quilt bees. Both work using fabric in your stash, but for the rare occasion where I do not have what my bee mate needs, I will have to make a purchase

Tops waiting for assembly and quilting

UFOs/WIPs

Also as part of the challenge, I need to lay out my UFO/WIP list, to keep myself on track. Here is the list:

• Patchwork Wheel - needs backing and binding
• Postage Stamps Quilt (Commission) - pretty well everything needed. Top is started. 
• Giant Star Quilt (times two!) - needs to be quilted and bound
• x and + Quilt - needs to be quilted and bound
• Churn Dash Quilt - Top needs piecing, quilting and binding
• Sugar Block Club - Everything! Only have 4 of 12 blocks made
• Tennessee Road Quilt - Everything! Fabric cut. That is all.

Well this list is not too bad. All fun projects :)

I am feeling pretty stoked about this Fast. Will you be taking the challenge this year? You are not alone :) Thanks again Leigh Anne for lighting that fire under my butt!
Adrienne

What a Year!

This time last year I made a bunch of lists about what I wanted to accomplish in 2013 related to all things quilty. I just went back and read it. I am here to tell you that I got off track :) For example, the list looked like this:

• No quilt book/ pattern purchases - fail, epic fail
• No fabric purchases - um yeah, right, funny
• Complete the Sugar Block Club quilt -I got as far as April in the BOM
• Fresh Mini Quilt Club - um yeah, only made one of six in that one! 
• Make a Union Jack something - didn't get to that
• Finish off all UFOs - Right. Still have two from about ten years ago, and currently have three new ones in the closet

Now, I could beat myself up about this, or I could consider all of the stuff that I DID DO this year.
I made all of these quilts:

How wicked it this! The real goal for me this year was to make stuff. That's it. I don't know why I got so particular last year, by making lists. I really just wanted to allow myself the time to be creative. Cut fabric up and put it back together. I did it in spades!

I also made some non-quilty things, which turned out to be more fun that I thought

And then there were the Bees! I finished off the Stash Bee and also started running two bees of my own! Global Scrap Bee and ModQImprov Canada Bee. Look at all of these blocks!

This year was also busy with the  whole blogging thing. I spent lots of time here and participated in two big Blog Hops. This has been so amazing. I have met lot's of cool people and learned so much.

Oh and of course, my crowning moment this year. The Maritime Modern Quilt Guild is a Go!

I cannot wait to see how the guild unfolds this year. Can. Not. Wait.

So, to sum up. While I have been horrible at sticking to those New Year's resolutions, I have had a pretty good friggin year!

I do have some new goals for this year, goals are good, but I think I need to lighten up on this lists :)
The Guild will be a big focus this year. I want to do some fabric fasting and I want to keep working on The Library Project (which I am hoping you may join me for...stay tuned)

I will keep working on those UFOs and perhaps finish off on the Sugar Block and Mini Quilt Club. And who knows, I may join another Quilt Along if something speaks to me. There are so many popping up this year, it is hard to resist!

But bottom line, I want to keep giving myself time to make things. It is so easy to get caught up in the hectic business of life. Fabric cutting and stitching back up, and talking about it here, keeps me grounded.

So, a toast...here is to past years and new years, and may your holiday season be fraught with sewing time! 

Cheers!
Adrienne

Bear Stockings: A Finish

...Wait for it...Wait for it... I made something that is not a quilt! I don't know why I get so proud of myself when I make something other than a full fledged quilt, but it is really a break-outside-of-my-box kind of thing. Now mind you, this project does involve fabric, batting, thread, and quilting, but it is not a quilt. It's a stocking!

I bought some of Laurie Wisbrun's Brrrr! last year. These polar bears just make me smile.

I used the Falling Flakes Tutorial from Imagine Gnats to whip these QAYG babies up.Yeah, you heard me, I made two! One for me, and one for the Mister.

I loved the color scheme in the main fabric so I stuck with it. I hit the stash for some reds and aquas

This one is mine. The obvious choice since somehow my polar bears landed on their heads!I have to admit that I did have to take a quick jaunt to You tube to see a visual of how you get the lining inside the stocking. And while I figured this out, I was paying too much attention to the lining and my bears landed upside down.

Oh well, I still like their peek-a-boo ways.

I have been meaning to make us stockings for five years now. Five. I'm felling pretty good about finally just doing it. Now I need to go stuff these with goodies!

What are you working on these last few days before the holidays?

Linking up this week at 

Happy Sewing - quilt or not!
Adrienne

Giveaway Day Winner!

Wow! What fun Giveaway Day was. Thanks to everyone for playing. I had so much fun hearing what you wanted Santa to bring you. I hope you all get just what you wish for, especially all of those shiny new sewing machines :)

Without further ado, the winner of the Hex Pop Pillow cover is:

#90 - Becky who is hoping for a gift certificate to her LQS.

Congratulations Becky!

Well back to the decorating. I have a naked tree who needs some trimming.
Adrienne

Giveaway Day!

It's Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day! This is my very first time participating in a Giveaway Day. It is a great event to meet some new blogger friends and have the chance to win some swag!

If you are  new visitor, welcome! Please feel free to peak around. I thought it would be fun to giveaway one of my quilting projects, the Hex Pop Pillow Cover.

I have been thinking about what I would like Santa to leave me under the tree... so to enter the giveaway leave a comment on this post letting me know what you would like to see under your tree this year. 

This giveaway is open to international participants, but if I can't contact you, you can't win. If you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your email address in the comment. I will randomly draw a winner on December 13th at 6:00 pm AST. 

Good Luck and thank you for dropping in! Hope to see you again sometime :)
Happy Holidays
Adrienne

WiP Wednesday: The One with Circles and Squiggles

I hate to say I told you so, but... well, you know what comes next. Back in October I had a rash of finishes, and that has come to a screeching halt. Ah, I guess it couldn't last forever. While November was a VERY busy month, little in the way of sewing was accomplished. And I'm here to tell you, I miss it.

So even though the holiday month is upon us, and you will find me doing this kind of stuff...

I am also hoping to get more time at the sewing machine.

This week I am working on the circles... I now have a nice little stack of patchwork wheels all quilted and ready to go.

 

So, I have these sweet little blocks all quilted up. How to join them? Darned good question. I wanted the colors and greys to pop, so have decided to sash in white. But this also means I need to quilt-as-I-go on the sashing as well. Today was kind of a sucky day and I just didn't have the patience for straight lines. So I gave the pre-programmed stitches on my Kenmore some love and decided that my sashes needed some squiggles.

I think this is going to look pretty cool. So, back to the sewing machine I go. And maybe back to a little of this...

What are you working on this week?

Linking up this week with Lee at Freshly Pieced for WiP Wednesday
Adrienne