2/1/14

ALYoF: February Progress Report and Goal Setting


January is over and we're into the shortest month of the year. I had a huge list of to-do's for January, and while I didn't get through all of them, I made a pretty good dent. Here's what I had on my agenda for January:

1. As my goal for ALYoF, I'd like to quilt and bind the Vintage Miniature Sewing Machines quilt. Complete!



2. Make the flower applique for the Cornflowers table runner. Complete! The top-stitching is finished as well. It just needs some prairie points at each end, and it will be ready for quilting and binding.


3. Remake the first block for the Forest Giants quilt. No Progress. I took this off the list for January since my genius quilting friend from high school Marei is coming for a visit in April. She has some ideas about how to accomplish this without templates, and I'm going to hold her hostage be her hostess while she teaches me.


4. Make two more blocks for the Yard Art quilt. Complete!


5. Make the next blocks for the Pony Express quilt. No Progress. This quilt has some baggage attached, and so it generally gets moved to the bottom of my priorities list.


6. Make the next door for the Doors of Ireland quilt. No Progress. Still want to get this one done soon.



7. Make the next block for the Folk Art Cats quilt. No Progress, but ditto for this one.


8. Start on Block 2 for the Wind in the Whiskers quilt. You'll notice I said "Start", and so Complete! Working on this one right now. As I'm writing this post, I have the first of the appliques made.


Also on the list, my January NewFO project, which is this "On A Roll" wall hanging. Complete! The top is finished. It just needs quilting and binding now.



And, finally, make the first block (blue) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Complete!


So...not perfect, but not a bad showing for January, especially considering I was gone from home for almost a week.

February being a short month, I'm going to try not to get overly ambitious. Think I'll make it? I fear not, but here goes. These are in no particular order.

1. For my February commitment to ALYoF, I want to quilt and bind this Strawberry Tablerunner.


And this is the project I'll use to link up to the linky party for February goal setting at:

2. For a while now, I've been trying to quilt and bind one quilt and finish one quilt top each month. This month I want to finish up a quilt I started a while back. The blocks have been done for months now, but I need to sew them into a top and make the back so that I can get it quilted before June. It's my son Matthew's graduation quilt. He will earn his degree in engineering in June, and so I need to get going on this. I call this quilt "Intel Underneath". Matthew has just completed a one-year internship with Intel, and now he's back in school to finish up his degree. And I am one proud Mom, let me tell you!


There are 16 blocks in this quilt, and the image above shows four of them. This will be my configuration and then I have some other fabrics to add to the top and bottom of the quilt to make it a Queen size. The image is a little blurred, but that is printed circuit board fabric in the largest squares. I have some computer keyboard fabric to add to the top and bottom. As for quilting, my goal is to take the long-arm class at a local quilt shop and then rent some time on the machines. I want to have this as my first "solo" project after I learn to use their machines. And this would qualify as my "Something New" for the "Something Old, Something New Challenge". It's two goals for the price of one.

3. Complete section two of the Wind in the Whiskers quilt. You can see what I have so far in the image further up this post. Here is what the section will look like when it's complete...at least this is what I hope it will look like. One never knows. Since I'm making the whole quilt rather than individual wall-hangings, my section will not have the borders on it.


4. Complete this wall-hanging from a new technique I learned in a workshop in January. I call this "A Rose is a Rose is a Rose". It was the name of a perfume I wore on my wedding day...something cheap, but it really smelled like roses! Anyway...I want to stack these three roses I made using a new free form cutting and piecing technique and turn them into a wall-hanging.


5. Make the next door for my Doors of Ireland quilt (pictured above).

6. Complete the next block for the Folk Art Cats quilt (also pictured above).

7. Piece the next section for the Gardener's Journal quilt. I have the next set of embroidered blocks finished, and now they need to be pieced into the quilt. Here's the quilt as it stands so far:


Also, I want to start my newest project in the NewFO Challenge, which is this little quilt called Duluth Trees:


I may change my mind and do something else, however. I saw a picture on Facebook the other day that I think would make a seriously cute quilt if I can pull it off.

Also, I have a project picked out for "Let's Book It"...this Christmas tree scrappy wall hanging:


from this book:


In keeping with the NewFO Challenge philosophy, Let's Book It only requires starts...no finishes...and so my goal is to just get started on this. Matthew and I are going to try to add some blinking LED lights to the tree once I have the top completed.

Lastly, I want to make a block for this month's Block Lotto, and the next block for my project in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This month's color is pink.

So, what do you think? Have I succeeded in keeping my list manageable for this short month? Ha! I think not. But as I always say, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Having a long list definitely keeps things moving along in the sewing room.

What's on your list for February?

15 comments:

Feathers in my Nest said...

Love your Vintage Sewing machines Quilt...You have so many projects going on, I thought I had a lot!....Well, February looks like this: Let thumb heal (Sliced it with a Kitchen knife pretty deep),.....Finish Celtic Solstice & drop it off at LA's.It's King size.....I have to think on which project to finish after CS....

Vroomans' Quilts said...

A long list, but even is only little bits of it are done I think you earn a gold star. There's lots of variety which I think is inspiring.

Doris Rice, The Quilting Queen said...

Wow, that looks like a list I would make. I always have good intentions. Sometimes I fall short but if I don't make the list I get distracted in too many different directions and get nothing accomplished! I have every confidence you'll make another huge dent in this list too. And even though Feb is 3 days shorter than Jan you won't be gone for a week and actually have 2 more days than you did in Jan. :)

Ruth said...

Lots of plans!! I need to get the two tops I started put together as they are gifts for June & July. Since I quilt my own quilts, I need to allow time for that as well. I want to get a wall hanging that I just finished the blocks for put together and maybe quilted. With a trip to my sisters, I plan to piece on my two new tops while there - if one of her sewing machines works. Plus make a Christmas item for that challenge.

Dar said...

You have so many wonderful projects to keep you busy. Congrats on so many finishes and such good progress on the rest. I am doing well on my things, but just can't seem to get pictures or posts made to show them off. Maybe that will change soon. I miss blogging with friends, but I'm still reading and commenting on others.

Linda M @ Pieceful Kingdom said...

You do so wonderful work. I love how the Gardener's Journal is turning out!

Linda M @ Pieceful Kingdom said...

That should be you do "such" wonderful work!

WoolenSails said...

You have accomplished a lot and sometimes, some projects just don't interest at the moment, so do the ones you are in the mood for, then the rest will come. Love the deluth trees, that looks like a fun piece to do.

Debbie

Marei said...

I'm left wondering WHAT you would have put on the list if it was a "long" month! Lots o' projects, and I have a feeling you might just pull it off.

CeLynn said...

Wow,I am tired just reading about all your projects,finishes and goals! Good luck on this months projects/goals.

Brown Family said...

You almost always get a lot done on your list! It is amazing to see all of the starts and parts you have done! I am working on my NFO post.

Junebug613 said...

What a list! I think its good to plan big, as long as you can accept it, if it doesn't all get done. I didn't make as much progress in January as I'd hoped either. Best wishes for your February goals and good job on your January accomplishments!

quiltzyx said...

Yep, gotta keep you busy & off the street corners y'know! :)

I had forgotten about Matthew's quilt - until you mentioned the circuit board fabric!! And way to go Matthew!!!!!

Kate said...

You did well in January. Good luck with your February list, it is ambitious. We call them stretch goals at work, to plan for more than you can do in hopes it will spur you on.

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

That's a list to draw to, paraphrasing poker days. I hope to finish my Potholder Project for my pie-sending friend and get it mailed out. We're better than halfway there so it should be attainable.

Your Matthew quilt is a great block. I love the configuration a lot.