My 2015 To Do List Update

I think it is time to check in on my 2015 To Do List and see if I have made any progress or have I wander way off my path.

UFO's from 2014

1. My Pies & Tarts quilt. I am 3/4 through hand quilting this one.
 Completed

2.My Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt. I have finished the top in 2014 so it is ready for quilting. I just have to decide hand quilt it or machine quilt it.

It has returned from the long arm quilter ready for binding..
3. My Double Wedding Ring quilt which has become a bed runner. I have lots to go on this one.
My bed runner is now ready for pinning and quilting.
4. My Disappearing Hourglass quilt. I only have made 6 blocks so far.
Completed.

5. My Wishes quilt. Ready for quilting.
Completed

6. My Pink Dahlia quilt. I need to find the templates so I can continue.
Templates found so I will be able to do some more of this one soon.
7. My Inklingo Castle Wall quilt. I am working on the 2nd pieced border.

Completed.

8. My Inklingo star quilt. All printed and 2 blocks completed out of 12.

Completed

9. Grand Illusion Mystery quilt. I am currently working on the blocks.
Blocks all joined together, ready to do the borders when I have time.
10. My Lozenge scrap quilt. 
Completed

11. My Aurifil Block of the Month quilt.  I am ready to arrange and piece the top ready for quilting.
Still sitting waiting to be sewn together.

12. My Crossroad Quilt. I am still working on the blocks, 12 done and 13 to go if I settle on 25 blocks. I am undecided about a border I may just make some more block to make it bigger.
Completed now called Scrappy Roads.

New things to do for 2015.

Pat Sloan's Vacation Time Block of the month.
 I am working on August's blocks.
Quiltmaker's New Year Mystery Quilt
Blocks made ready to be sewn together.
So Scrappy Rainbow Scrap Challenge 15
I am stuck on this one at June blocks.

Added to this list is
Scrappy Dance Quilt Along
The big reveal has been done I am ready to sew all the pieces together.
Quiltmaker Bitty Blocks
Starting to fall behind I think I am working on July's blocks
Just started Christa's Quilts Paper Piecing Quilt Along
We have sewn the first block. No progress on this one.
Addicted to Scrap Idaho Square Dance blocks have turned into box runners to hide my plastic crates at the fairs.
12 blocks completed and 5 joined together.

Still a lot here to work on. At least 7 of my long term projects are completed with at least 3 more at quilting stage. Plus there is a number of other projects that got started and completed.
 Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

My Wishes Quilt is Completed.

Yes finally I have another finish to cross off my 2015 list. This quilt was from the Fat Quarter Shop blog. It was their Wishes Block of the Month last year. I was using some of my reproduction stash and  I only brought the meterage of the background fabric for it. Once again Valerie from the House of Valerie has done a wonderful job quilting it for me. I left it to her to select the quilting design and I loved it on sight.

During the week before I picked it up I was kicking myself over the fact I didn't keep all the leftover to make a scrappy matching binding but yesterday I was thinking I was already working from scraps so there wasn't a lot of pieces large enough for binding. I did have 3 fabrics in the stash that were in the quilt, 2 blue and a red. So after asking my LSH (long suffering husband) which one he liked. It was decided the red was the better choice.

Everything was going fine until I reached the last corner and I thought I had run out of bobbin thread but it turn out I was wrong but I was low. Was there enough to finish the binding? How high up did I start on this side? Then I noticed I was almost to the last binding strip. I hope my maths was correct.
I can tell you my maths was correct and I didn't run out of binding but I did run out of bobbin thread this close to the finish. What a bummer. I suppose it is better I run out of bobbin thread than binding. It is easier to slip in a full bobbin then add another strip of binding.

So here she is all finished. Sorry it isn't the best picture I was on a ladder to take this photo and not feeling too secure and it wasn't too bright.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

PS Hopefully I will be writing a post on my Farmer's Wife Sampler sooner than later as I have change my mind again and left it with Valerie to quilt for me. I wanted to hand quilt it but realistic I knew it would take me years and I really want to use it. Just not enough time to sew all the projects I want to make.

Wishes Quilt Along- Border Update.

Happy New Year to everyone. May 2015 be full of crafty delights.

This is where I am up to on my Wishes Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop Wishes Quilt Along 2014. I had to work hard to complete the pieced final border before the end of the year. I knew there was no way I could complete the full quilt before the end but I aimed to complete the top. I am thinking I may have this one quilted for me so I can continue on other projects. It is a large quilt.
The final border was a checkerboard border so there was lots of chain piecing done to get all four side pieced and I had my fingers crossed I didn't make a mistake.

The top 2 piles are the side borders ready to go to the sewing machine.

 So I was over the moon when the side borders went on perfectly. I did play around with the top and bottom border so at the corners I didn't have same colours touching in the corners. I just took 3 from the bottom of my pile and put them on top so they are slightly different at the begin and end of the strips. They went on beautifully too. I am so happy how this quilt top has turned out. Now for the quilting.
 Do I take it to my long arm quilter or do I do it myself?

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along Borders Update

I have spent some time cutting this week in preparation for borders to go on a few projects. One just needs the borders add as they are solid but the other two have pieced borders and the Wishes is one of them. So I cut the sashing strips and the first set of borders strips ready to be added and I got the blocks sewn into rows ready for the next lot of sashing to go in between them.

Once I have the block rows sewn together the 1st border is goes on.

 Then there is some work to go in to sewing the pieced border together before I will be able to join those borders to the quilt but I am getting close. Time for a big cutting session.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- December's Block

Here we are at the last block for this quilt along-Grape Basket. Once finished we will be able to complete our tops and turn them into finished quilts. If I get the top completed I can add it to my To be Quilted list for over the Christmas break maybe it will get quilted. This list is growing quickly. I think I better have a look at what is to be quilted I may be in over my head already. This is recipe to failure for me if the list is too long. In the meantime let’s get back to finishing this quilt top before I worry about quilting it, again 2 steps ahead of myself. 

All my blocks ready to be pieced together.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along - November's Block

I really want to get ahead this month, with Christmas just around the corner I want to get stuff done that I know I need to get done early. So when life becomes hectic I might not lose total control. So I have got my Wishes block done early. The good thing about this project being only 1 block it doesn't take long to make. I have on a number of times this year done these blocks in 2 parts, when I have a spare 10 minutes. I select the fabric and cut the pieces for the block and lay them out on my board in order. Then another time when I am free I sew it up. 

Here is November block - Stair Step.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- October's Block

 We are getting close to finishing our Wishes Quilt Along blocks. This is #10 out of 12 blocks. So there are 2 more to go. I have the finishing instructions. So once I have all the blocks made I can start to assemble the blocks. I did think I might start joining the blocks sooner but when I took the photo of the 10 blocks there was  a couple of fabrics I have used a number of time and didn't realise it. I may do a rearrangement of blocks to spread them out a bit or maybe not. We will see what happens once I have all the blocks made.

Here is this month block Idaho Beauty.

This is the 10 blocks so far laid out according to the pattern. Tell me what you think. 

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Time is Flying By.

I was cutting my fabric for my block of the month projects and thinking of 100 other things when I made a cutting mistake. Oops! At least it was the first cut and not a whole batch cut wrong. There seem to be a lot going on and I'm not getting anywhere fast. I can't believe there is only a week of October left. That means only 2 months left for this year and there is a ton of work still to be completed, mainly on my unfinished projects which I wanted to complete by the end of the year. I think some are going to end up on next year's list. Really does it matter? I have achieve some much this year compare to 2013 I should be happy, should I?
Time for a review to see where I am at to and see what I can still complete before the end of the year.
Here is my list.
1. My Pies & Tarts Quilt I am half way through hand quilting this one.
This one is already on next year list. I have only done a tiny bit on it.
2. My Batik Hexagon Quilt top ready for quilting and binding.
Completed
3. My Batik Log Cabin Quilt I am nearly finished the blocks (4 blocks to go)
Completed
4. My Farmers Wife Sampler quilt -only have 30 blocks to go then sashing and borders.
I won't get this one completed but there is only 6 rows to piece together and add on.
So I am aiming to get the quilt top completed.

5. Bonnie Hunters Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt the final layout was only released on 1st January 2014 I have 24 blocks completed.
Completed
6. My Double Wedding Ring quilt I started at the end of October at a workshop. 3 rings completed only.
This one may become a bed runner instead of a quilt. I'm going to do some work on it on Sunday. We will see what happens.

New things to tackle this year, there are plenty of new things I want to try but there is only 365 days to work with..
7. Building Blocks Quilt. 2014 Free Motion Quilt Along created by Leah Day. This one is going to allow me to tackle 2 things on my list, improve my free motion quilting and have a go at the Quilt as you go technique.
This one I have mixed feeling on this one, I have improved my FMQ skills with the blocks I have done but I have fallen way behind. Not sure what is going to happen with it. It may be a smaller quilt.
8.A new Cynthia's Ark design featuring our Mystery Batik Sampler Pack. All designed just have to sew, write the pattern and kit it.
Halfway through the blocks and pattern.
9.A new Cynthia's Ark design featuring hexagons using the Inklingo technique or EPP.
My Camellia Quilt is Completed
10.Quiltmaker magazine Black Tie Affair using Riley Blake Evening Blooms (in stock atwww.cynthiasark.com.au)
I haven't started this one.
10. Pat Sloan's Globtrotting  BOM for freequiltpatterns.info (One block a month)
Blocks are completed just have to piece the blocks together and add the borders for the top to be completed.
11. Fat Quarter Shop Wishes Quilt Along BOM (One block a month)
Up to Octobers block so should have the quilt top completed by the end of the year.
12. A Dahlia Quilt I have a pattern.
I have started this one but it will go on to next year's list as I am hand piecing it.

To view all the completed projects this year click on the tab at the top on my blog. There has been a number of extra projects completed on the way. 

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along - September's Block

We are up to September block. I am happy to say mine is completed. I finally broke the machine piecing drought that has been happening here and it is not the last week of the month. So that is 2 stars by my name this month. LOL. I must say I really love how this project is turning out. I can see some other quilts being created from certain blocks. 

Here is September's block.

This week the Fat Quarter Shop posted a teaser for next year project. It looks fantastic so I have already decided I am going to do it.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- August's Block

August’s block for the Wishes Quilt Along is completed. I can wait to piece these blocks together. It will be a decent size quilt when finished. A couple weeks ago I saved the border and finishing instructions for the quilt so I'm all set to finish it once I finish the last block. There is only 4 more blocks to go.  There is still two more block of the month to finish before the end of the month. Will I get them done? 

Let's see what happens. I have been piecing my Farmers Wife Sampler blocks into rows.  It has been 2 1/2 years in the making and I would love to finish it by the end of the year. Sounds like an excuse to me if I don't do my blocks of the month. So I better do them.

 No excuses please.

The first 3 rows done. 

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along - July's Block

I finally got around to my Wishes Block of the Month and I have completed July's block - Court House Lawn. Just in the nick of time. 

I love the size of these blocks. At 14 1/2 unfinished, this will be a decent size quilt with 12 blocks and the borders finished. 

Here are the first seven blocks in this quilt.

                                            Until Next Time                                           

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along -June's Block

Where did June go? Most of my Block of the Month projects is still waiting for their June block to be made. Where did I go wrong this month? I have cut 2 ready for sewing and this is the only one finished so far this month. Maybe I can find some time this weekend. I hope I can or I will be really behind. How are you all going with your Block of the Month projects? Are you keeping up or like me occasionally falling behind? Let me know in the comment below.
Here is the only June block finished.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Sewing Time # 3

It is always good when you spend time doing what you enjoy and it is a bonus when you complete projects. There are no completed projects this week but I have managed to complete plenty of blocks and assemble blocks into rows toward finishing 2 quilt tops. Let me show you what I achieved. First we have the Aurifil Block of the Month for May from my scrap box.

Then we have Globetrotting and Wishes blocks for May.

While all this is going on I continue to slip in my lozenge blocks from the Leader and Ender Challenge on Quiltville I am surprise how quickly they build up. Here is some of this batch laid out to give you some idea on what is going on.

Next on my list to share is the rows assembled of my Layer Cake Sampler Quilt. The blocks are all joined into rows with the sashing so I just need to finish the sashing rows so I can join the rows together. This is going to be a large quilt by the time the borders go on. I will have to decide how I am going to quilt it soon.

Finally my Inklingo hexagon project I am hand stitching. It can be done by machine but I just love hand piecing. I am just joining the rows together now so we are nearly finished with the top.

Have a look at what others have been working on this week at

http://sewfreshquilts.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/lets-bee-social-20.html

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along -Mays Block

It feels like ages since I worked on this project but then I remember we are only doing 1 block a month and it was probably the first one I did last month. So here is my Log Cabin block all finished.

It is a good feeling to complete each month's block I feel I am achieving a lot more this year compared to last year.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along - Aprils Block

We are already 14 days in to April and I haven't started any of my April blocks. It seems I have been too busy, so on Sunday I decided that is it I had to do some if not all. I know it is a little ambitious on my part but I had to try. I started with the Fat Quarter Shop Wishes quilt first. It was nearly completed when I had a thought, half square triangles are playing a big part in my quilting world at the moment with this block and the Layer Cake Sampler Quilt (which is all HST) plus I was playing around with a new design featuring batik fabrics and they make appearance there to. When you take notice of them they do appear often. One of the most used blocks out there I am thinking. Here is my block for April.

Now I better get to the next one. 

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

My Quilt Along Addiction

 When I saw the Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along on the Material Girl Quilts blog, how could I resist. I may have a problem.  I may have become addicted to these Quilt Alongs this year. Last year  I participated in my first Quilt Along which was  the Inklingo The Case of the Secret Garden quilt, which I hand pieced. I enjoyed it and I have finished my quilt. One of only a handful of projects finished last year. It was a lean year sewing wise.

 So late last year when I came across Bonnie Hunter's Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt I jumped in using the Inklingo method. I am still working on it. I learnt a lot with Celtic Solstice including posting progress pictures online and adding links back to my blog. It has started me on a big adventure I discovered and I am really enjoying it.  One of the best things is sharing my progress on the quilt alongs with others doing the same project and see what others are doing and where they are up to.

A little sneak peak at what my Celtic Solstice quilt layed out.

So as we entered 2014 I was on the look out for new Quilt Alongs I could join and I may have gone overboard but I how could I resist these beautiful quilts and I was looking to improve my skills. So here are the Quilt Alongs I am  currently involved in.
1. Globetrotting  1 block a month with Pat Sloan.and freequiltpatterns.com
2. Building Blocks Quilt- Free Motion Quilt Along- This one has weekly lessons with Leah Day teaching the piecing and the free motion quilting.  The pattern is available at www.leahday.com  to purchase. This one is to improve my free motion quilting.
3. Aurifil Block of the Month- 1 block a month from different designers with an interview with the designer for added interest.
4. Wishes Quilt Along- 1 block a month  with the Fat Quarter Shop 
5.Layer Cake Sampler Quilt Along- 2 blocks a week with Amanda from the Material Girl Quilts.blog. This one uses layer cakes in its construction for something different.
6. This one is the newest on my list Triangle Quilt Along from Paula at The Sassy Quilter blog. This is a short 5 week Quilt Along and should be fun. I alway wanted to make a triangle quilt. It starts on the 21st March. So this one is about to start.

Have you joined any Quilt Alongs? I would love to hear what ones are being done out there. Or is it just me with this addiction. I am posting my progress on my blog on all the ones I am doing.
                                                          Until next time
                                                          Keep stitching
                                                               Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along- March Block

After getting side tracked last month and only just finishing my block before the month run out. I got my act together and did the March block early so I can focus on a project I designed that is waiting to be stitched (which I will share another time). March's block was a breeze to stitch no mistakes this time. So here it is.

                           I really like this block and will most likely make a quilt featuring this block in the near future.

Until next time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along 2014 - February Block

February has come to an end so quickly. I just finish this block just in time. The double windmill block was a little tricky  keeping the pieces in the right order. I did the first 3 quarters not a problem but the last one I must of twisted a couple of pieces and sewed them together wrong. It is so annoying when I stuff it up. But it is all fixed now. All happy and ready for the next block.

                                                   Until next time
                                               Keep Stitching Cynthia

Wishes Quilt Along 2014 January Block #1

Wishes Quilt Along 2014 is a block of the month quilt run by the Fat Quarter Shop. You can find it on their blog and it comes with instructions and tutorial. You can also purchase a kit from the Fat Quarter Shop if you want to make it the same as their quilt or choose your own. I have chosen fabrics from my stash and I only had to purchase the background, sashing and border fabric for the top. I will get the backing later. Stash busting already this early in the year. Way to go. Tick that off my list. It will allow me to refresh the stash later when I see something that takes my fancy. These are the fabrics I have chosen.

                                                   
                                                Here is the first block completed.

 

 

So I look forward to tackling February block. You can still join in just follow this link http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com.au/p/wishes-quilt-along.html to catch up.

 

Until next time keep stitching

Cynthia