Quilty 365 Update

 I started participating in Quilty 365 on January 1st. Click on the button for more info.  This is the box of scraps I am using for this project.  They are all from a friend in the Carolina's who felt the need to clean out some of her scraps. This project is dedicated to her.  

My general plan of attack is to pull out a handful of fabric (no matching required) and prep several blocks for the coming few days.

Up to now, I have used 5 inch squares and a few blocks where I  pieced together a couple of narrow strips to make my circles.  Last night I decided to change it up by making a slab of fabric and then cut it into circles.

This rather ugly slab made these very cool circles.

These are my blocks prepped for the next few days.

Here are 18 of the 21 blocks I have completed so far.  

This project is very interesting. 22 days in (ha only 343 to go) and it still has my interest. Actually it's a nice little diversion when you don't want to tackle or start a bigger project.  For me it's also a challenge to stay on track because I know it will end up as a UFO if I get to far behind. That's one of the reasons I try and prep 6 - 8 in advance when I have a chunk of time.

January Updates

Where is time going? We've already passed mid January. Yikees!

I have been productive, I am happy to announce that I have finished my Christmas gifts for 2015. 

 They are now in the hands of my very patient friend.  This was the first item to be crossed off my 

Q1 - FAL list.

BA is the recipient of just about every Christmas thing I have ever attempted to make.  Going to her house at Christmas is like going to  a  "crafts my Selina show". Room after room.  We have been crafting friends for upwards of 40 years. Sharing gifts, ideas and challenges the entire time.

So for this Christmas I decided I needed to do something for spring instead of winter.  When we were together in the fall she mentioned that she liked to use placemats.  I have made her Christmas ones in the past.  Spring sounded like a great idea.

As I was finishing them up I came across this tutorial by Julie Hirt  for making rope baskets. Great tutorial and so easy to do. The fabric scraps in the basket and coasters are from the placemats. A great addition to the package. ( she called to thank me and to have me send her the tutorial info )

For Christmas I participated in another postcard swap.  This lovely tree was made for me by       Eglea Senna . It came to me in Florida from Brazil.  I love it.

The  winter bunnies were done by me based on a pattern by Michelle over at The Raspberry Rabbits. They made their way to Brazil and I believe they had a very Merry Christmas there.

My sister saw the basket and coasters that I made for BA and she wanted a set.  Of course she wanted them to match her placemats.  The ones I made last year.  Good thing I am a scrap hoarder.

The basket is about 14 inches across and 4  inches high.

The coasters are about 4 inches across.

It's a good thing that they are addictive to make because we had company for dinner on Sunday who saw them and wanted a set. She went to my stash to pick out her colors.

And I have been able to keep up with the 365 project in spite of the temptation of the baskets and coasters.

Q1 FAL 2016 Goals

This is my first time participating in FAL.  I have several projects that I would like to get finished sooner rather than later so I thought I'd join up. So in the order I would like to see these projects finished let my list begin:

#1

This is the last of my 2015 Christmas presents. It is for 1 very old and patient friend. She follows my blog so I can't say what these fabrics will end up as but hopefully they will have purpose soon.

#2

Baby quilt for my cousin's 1st grand child, who was born last month. Needs to be sandwiched, quilted bound and mailed.

#3

These are my blocks for the 365 Project.  I started on January 1, so I am right on time with this as of today. Hoping by quarter end I have 90 blocks hanging on this wall.

#3

These 16 inch tall tulip blocks by  Michelle Engel Bencsko for Cloud 9 Fabrics, are to be the center pieces to 2 doll quilts that will be 24 inch square.  They will be matched up with hand made dolls created by the local chapter of the  Giving Dolls, Inc. a  group who makes dolls for children in need around the world. To date they have donated more than 30,000 dolls.

#4

 NO Picture - I am participating in the Quilt Doodle Designs - BOM 2016   .  January is done. My goal is to have February and March done by quarter close.

#5

NO Picture - I am signed up with the   MIghty Lucky Quilt Club    This month we are doing a project learning to creatively quilt using bias tape.  I know I will have 3 different projects, by different very talented quilters, 1 per month of which I hope to get at least 1 done.  This is a new area for me. So I won't be racing through in my ususal Devil may care way.

#6

This is a knitting project.  I try and make a few helmet liners each year for the Forgotten Soldiers Outreach, Inc.  I'd like to get at least this one done and a second started this quarter.

While I know this list is very doable at the moment I also know that my biggest problem is getting side tracked. I'm hoping that participating in this FAL will keep me somewhat focused.

Finishes 2015 - Starts 2016

As noted in my last post that I found a couple of UFO's in my knitting stash. I am happy to say that I was able to finish up this pair of socks ( only had to finish one of the feet ).

I also finished this Santa sack that was supposed to be a Christmas 2014 gift for a friend. It too was well past the half way point when I abandoned it for greener pastures.  It is scheduled to go out in Monday's mail.  Better a year or so late than never.  Actually I know if I kept it to send to her next Christmas I wouldn't be able to find it.

  

Once I got my quilty mojo back I started on a baby quilt for a cousins first grand child. Since I shopped my stash for these blocks I am going to use it as my first  piece for

 Sew My Stash 2016

I have committed to Cindys BOM 2016 you can find the details here

quiltdoodledesigns BOM 2016

I got my deer done.  ( also from my stash ) Hope I can be as efficient  with the remaining months.

For the last few weeks I have been trying to come up with something to do for 365 days in a row. I have tried a couple of things in the past but never got more than 30 days done before fading out.

Then I saw the button for this 365 Project and thought it sounded very doable.  I have opted to use only scraps from 2 bags of scraps sent to me by a friend in the Carolina's. There isn't

 enough background fabric in her bags to complete this project so I will shop my stash for creams enough to finish. (it won't be a problem)

Quilty 365 Project

I cut some circles and some background and pulled together a sewing kit.

Tossed them all into the nifty bag she sent with the scraps and I'm off.

Well I'm off to a good start. It's the 2nd and I have 2 blocks done.  I'm hoping that posting will keep me on target.

Off to a wonderfully quilty start to 2016. Hope you are too.