Compounding Issues

Do you ever make a mistake and then create another one when fixing the first?  Well, welcome to my series of mistakes with this quilt.  First of all- I don't know what I was thinking, but I started quilting it from the sides instead of the middle so I ended up getting a lot of puckering....

I didn't notice that my top was also pulling - I think it's a combination of going too fast and not pinning it together close enough.  Anyway, I didn't notice that the layers didn't match up anymore until AFTER I had sewed on the binding.  Bleh.  So then, being the brilliant person that I am, I tried to fix where the binding didn't attach to all 3 layers, but completely forgot about matching thread color, so this is what I ended up with....

The binding is pulled tighter in some areas to cover some of the mistakes, and to be honest by the end of it I didn't even want to give the quilt away.  I was totally bummed with the way it turned out.

I suppose from a distance it looks alright- just don't look too closely.  I seriously was not going to give it to my friend, but my husband was the voice of reason.  He said, "Do you really think she's going to give it back to you and say how dare you be thoughtful and make a quilt for my baby?!"  Point taken.  I'll swallow my perfectionist pride and give her the quilt.  Lesson learned and at least the baby will still have something to enjoy.

Meanwhile, I finally got all of my fabric cut out for the Diamond Chains Quilt A-Long.  I need to catch up and piece those together this week.  I'm excited, because I think the purples and blues will look good together.

This Week's Stats: 

New projects - 1

Completed projects -1

Currently in progress - 5

Check out the other WIP at Freshly Pieced. 

The Organization Continues

You know that drawer that is the official "Junk" drawer?  That's what I tackled today.  I actually have 2 of those drawers that are side by side in my kitchen.  One is supposed to be for coupons and the other has Nathan's art supplies in it.  I forgot to take a "before" picture, so just trust me when I say they look amazing now in comparison to a couple of hours ago.  Nathan's drawer would barely open before, so I'm feeling pretty good.

So nice to be rid of coupons that expired back in January (hypothetically speaking of course)

Now I can actually get to the band aids

I did actually start cleaning out my closet (that's only because I was so excited to make room for my fabric- details, details).  I got one side of it cleared out - that's progress, right?

I'm in love!

While organizing all of my fabric I found things I had totally forgotten about, and now I have so many different quilts I want to make!  This past year I've been trying to work mostly with what I already have, and now seeing everything all nice and pretty will make it so much easier to do just that.  I even organized my scraps.  It really makes me want to do a scrappy quilt.

I'm using my old bin to put all of my current projects (and the fabric I've pulled for them).  This clears off the top of my piano and my desk.  Yikes!  I need to get moving on some of these projects to clear out the bin.  One thing at a time....

Bracelets

This week in Activity Days we had a very special guest (and friend) show the girls how to make bracelets.  It was a lot of fun to see the different styles/beads each girl chose for her bracelet.

Joel was working, so I had the kiddos with me.  Here's Vanna Emma showing off a bracelet of her own.  Meanwhile, it was quite the job keeping Nathan entertained, but in the end it worked out alright.  We had a little coloring, a little snack, and oh yes, he didn't want to be left out of the fun.  He was into the jewelry- quite literally.  Actually, he found a couple huge, orange beads and thought they were balls, so he was thrilled.  He's been carrying them around the house ever since. 

A fun time was had by all!

Midweek Progress

Phew.  I finished it last night.....

 I thought it would be fun to put a patch in the middle on the back....

It's getting mailed out today- goal completed!  Yay!

Here's my Skill Builder Block #8 - Breaking Out (Flying Geese)
This block was so fun to do and I'm really happy with it.  The purple just pops against the black.

This Week's Stats: 

New projects - 0

Completed projects - 1

Currently in progress - 4

Quilts completed thus far in 2011- 12 (and one quilted table runner)

Goal- I've got another baby girl quilt to start ('tis the season of having babies)

Check out the other WIP at Freshly Pieced. 

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Meanwhile, my wonderful hubby got me shelving to organize my fabric for my birthday.  He's so sweet - he knew I had wanted to have it organized for a while now (instead of all crammed in the back of my closet), so he let me order what I wanted.  It's nothing fancy, but I'm seriously so excited for it to get here! 

A Wee Bit o' Progress

We've been having all kinds of fun with family the past two weeks, so quilting has taken the back burner, but I did manage to squeak in a few things......

I got the quilt top done for the baby girl quilt.  I need to get this done this week.  I feel like the baby is going to be off to college by the time I mail it off.   I may be exaggerating a tiny bit, but for some reason it bothers me when I don't get the quilt sent before the baby is born.

 Here's my SBS Block #7- The Virginia Star:

And that's all folks!  I sound unhappy with my lack of progress, but really I'm completely happy to be enjoying time with my family.  That's what life is all about- mi familia - not my quilting obsession. :) 

This Week's Stats: 

New projects - 0
Completed projects - 0
Currently in progress - 5
Goal- Baby quilt done & mailed.  

Check out the other WIP at Freshly Pieced. 

 ............

I'm off to a train museum tomorrow - it's Thomas the Train month there and well, I know 2 little boys that are going to think they died and went to heaven!  Have any fun plans for the week?

It's Been a Week?

Holy Cow, this week flew right by!  I did manage to finish my Baby Niece Quilt (see yesterday's post).
Meanwhile, I thought my friend was having her baby in September, but um, she had it last week.  Oops.  That means I need to whip out a quilt STAT.  I barely started piecing the blocks together last night.   

Here's a quarter of one of the 4-piece Chain blocks:

 

This Week's Stats: 

New projects - 1
Completed projects - 1
Currently in progress - 5
Goal- I've got to get this bad boy done and in the mail this week.  Wish me luck. 

Check out the other WIP at Freshly Pieced. 

Pure Love

It's done!  I finished it a couple hours before the arrival of its new owners....well, surrogate owners until Baby Girl comes......

Baby Niece Love

This week I started a tummy-time quilt for my soon-to-arrive niece.  We're pretty excited around here - it's our very first Thompson cousin!  I put together her quilt top- the design is Pure Love by Jera Brandvig from Moda Bakeshop.  I altered the measurements to make it a little smaller than the original, but I love this "recipe." 

 (The baby's bedroom is yellow- thus the background- it's hard to tell in the picture but it's a white and yellow stripe).

 

And if that's not exciting enough, I'm completely in love with the fabric for the back of the quilt...... I know I said I wasn't going to buy anymore fabric, but when I saw this it called out to me in the store to buy it (I'm pretty sure it said my niece really wanted this to be the back of her quilt).

Besides that, this week I layered and pinned together my ladybug quilt and completed the SBS block #6 - The Bowtie.  I'm loving this block.  I think I see a full quilt with this block in the near future.

This Week's Stats: New projects - 1
Completed projects - 0
Currently in progress - 5
Goal- I wanted to complete the Pure Love quilt this week, but my husband has reminded me that it might be too lofty of a goal considering all that is going on this week.  We'll see.  Never say never (at least until the end of the week).

Check out the other WIP at Freshly Pieced.