1/7/15

A Winner and Whatnot

2014 NewFO Challenge photo 2014NewFOChallenge_zps5a31001d.png

Say good-bye. The time has come to announce the last winner of the NewFO Challenge. Mr. Random has spoken, and he has selected:

#10--Vivian!

Congratulations, Vivian. I've sent you an email, so check your inbox.

Ordinarily now would be the time for me to tell you not to despair if you didn't win, but this time, I'll forgo that cheery advice and tell you to go ahead and cry. The NewFO Challenge bites the dust for the last time. I'd be lying if I said I had no plans to bring it back. Actually, I don't, but you never know. I actually have some other ideas about games for the blog, but 2015 is going to be the year of catching up.

That said, I've been luxuriating in the freedom of a day at home this morning. I spent a couple of hours doing embroidery. The Gingerbread Square piece is about 1/3 of the way finished now. As long as I was unrolling it to move my hoop, I decided to iron it and let you see.


It's a fun piece to work on with all that color. Given that I'm going back to the gun metal gray of Vintage Tin when it's finished, I'm basking in the color while I can. And now it's hooped and rolled and ready for me to continue.


A couple of days ago, I gave you a peek at my quilt for the January doll quilt swap. After giving it some rational thought, I decided it was okay to show you the whole thing. For one thing, I'm reasonably certain my partner doesn't read my blog, but also, this quilt kills two birds with one stone because I'm also using it as my piece for the first project in Season 6 of Project Quilting.

Project QUILTING

Even though it's Season 6, it's only my first time participating. The theme of "Trees" caught my eye since I had already decided to make a tree quilt as my quilt for the doll quilt swap. The theme for the doll quilt swap this month is "A Good Book". After giving it some thought, I decided to use A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson as my inspiration. If you've never read any of Bill Bryson's books, you are missing out on some seriously entertaining reads. A Walk in the Woods is one of my favorites. So all of that to introduce my little 16 x 16 quilt, which is sort of a take off on a little quilt created by Jacey of Jaceycraft. You can find her tutorial right here

This has been on my list of quilts to make for a long time, and mine ended up looking quite different from hers. It's also a take off on my own Shine On quilt since I added the moon up there on the left.


That background fabric is some my daughter-in-law gave me for my birthday a couple of years ago. This seemed like a good time to use it. Yesterday I sandwiched it and let my applique top-stitching serve as the quilting. Here's how it looks from the back.


The moon is pebbled to give it some craters. I used a pearlescence thread that would have driven me crazy if I'd had much to stitch. It was a cheapy thread, and it kept unraveling and causing me grief. We got 'er done, but not without a little bit of swearing thrown in. This being such a small quilt, I decided to go ahead and do the whole thing on Big Bertha, but I covered her ears before I started swearing.


Then this morning I used an image from the book cover to create the label. I'll print that off in a little while.


Now that the NewFO Challenge has ended, of course the first thing I'm going to do today is start a new project. You knew I couldn't resist, didn't you? It's actually a small little thing...a gift for a friend, and so I won't be able to show it to you right away. In any case, I might actually finish the whole thing today. With that as my goal, it's time to get sewing. I need to fill the bird feeders, and I have a couple of housekeeping chores on my to-do list.

What are you doing today?

12 comments:

quiltzyx said...

Oh my word! You're on your way to your THIRD FINISH of 2015! OVER ACHIEVER!!! Holy smokes, you're leaving me in the dust to be sure...! I was wondering, did you use the thread conditioner on that pearlescent thread in the moon? I do like the craters and that background fabric is perfect!
I think I need a new picture of Smitty though, to make me feel better that you're getting so much done!

quiltzyx said...

Oh! Congratulations to Vivian too! I'll be looking forward to a new game to come. :)

gpc said...

I always love your woodsy quilts. If I weren't such a slacker, I would look for one to try myself. Instead I enjoy yours. Seriously, I didn't win AGAIN?!?!? My tears may never stop. It is good to have an excuse to let out my inner drama queen. Congrats, Vivian. Sniff.

Kate said...

Boohoo! All those NewFOs and I never won anything, except for...a pile of UFOs. ;)
LOVE Bill Bryson and especially "A Walk in the Woods". And your version!

Dana Gaffney said...

Congratulations Vivian, such an honor to be the last winner! I'm really loving the gingerbread house, those colors are beautiful and as you add the stitching it's really looking fun.

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Congratulations to the winner. Loving the gingerbread house piece. And the little trees are a wonderful version of 'Awalk in the Woods'.

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

Your walk in the woods is a lovely ramble swear words and all. I'm working on small wall hangings which will be gifts for friends to commemorate our fall trip together to Alaska. I'm pretty sure I'll get the quilting done today.

Vivian said...

Thank you to Barbara and everyone! Dana is right, it does feel like a big honor to be the last (for now) winner of the NewFO link ups! Hopefully, it will be back one day and we'll all get another chance to participate.

Barbara, the embroidery work you're doing is beautiful! I'm dipping my toes back into that this year so need to ask: did you color the design as an accent for outline stitching or as color cues for later stain stitch fill-in? Also what size hoop do you prefer to use? Also loving the Project Quilting creative challenge and look forward to seeing your other challenge entries!

Nita said...

Good morning! I really sat up and took notice of your walk in the woods wall hanging. I am just about ready to burst out of the box and try my hand at fabric art. I am inspired by how you used the background fabric. It is perfect!

Dar said...

Your Walk in the Woods is delightful. Love the color of the background fabric especially. Yes, congrats to Vivian, but I like many am dabbing my eyes from crying over not ever having won, nor the possible chance to win this year. I guess there is a rainbow at the end of all those tears somewhere. I started so many New FO's and didn't get pictures to post on the monthly linky. I know, I have no one to blame but myself. Now to get busy finishing them up.

Brown Family said...

I enjoy doing crayon work. I am hoping to take a class in hot melt crayon. It comes out brighter.

Kate said...

Your doll quilt turned out beautifully. Your embroidery project is looking lovely too. You are getting lots done.