2012 Goals update...and some new WIPs

ok...so here we go...my monthly review of my goals for 2012 (last updated here):

1.  Finish T's Quilt (hasn't been touched since December 10th 2011) lots of progress made...should be finishing up soon!

2.  Finish OUR Quilt (not touched since August 2011) untouched still

3.  Complete at least 2 FWQAL blocks a month (this was becoming an overwhelming project last year, so I'm hoping to keep it honest and accept that it won't be 2 blocks a week!) got 2 more done for February!

4.  Blog at least once a week missed last week, but I was recovering from the nasty cold and catching up at work...so I'm giving myself a pass on this one for right now

5.  Complete Pinocchio Cross Stitch did a little bit of stitching early in February...found an error...and haven't touched it since...this may be a road trip project...when and if we go on a road trip

6.  Relocate sewing space to craft room (currently sew in the living room, and rarely use my office/craft room...I want that changed!  will also require a LOT of reorganizing and cleaning and getting rid of stuff!) did some clearing out, got rid of some stuff...still lots more to do!

7.  Make a Christmas Quilt in time for it to be used at Christmas!  (so wanted to do this last year...didn't get around to it!) nothing so far

8.  Make at least one quilt just for me! not yet!

9.  Attempt applique on at least one quilt (mini-quilt would work here!) same as above

10.  Make Swoon Terrain Quilt in progress as part of the Swoon-along, 6 of 9 completed, #7 in progress!

11.  Attempt FMQ!  DONE!  

12.  Quilt and bind Girls SQ (before Halloween!) nothing so far

13.  Finish White Rabbit Surprise/Strawberry Swoon (at least do something with the blocks that have been made!) nada

So not a ton of progress made on the goals...BUT...maybe if I didn't keep starting new projects in the middle of trying to complete some other projects!  This week I've worked on this:

Paris Race (using this video) for Girl...

I saw the video...and desperately wanted to try making one...so I let Girl pick a jelly roll (Pom Pom de Paris) and away I went while watching the Daytona 500 this past Monday...and I  took way more than an hour...but before the race ended...I had a completed quilt top!  I will definitely try this again!

and I just started this for my Sis who has moved into a new house and has new furniture...and now needs a new quilt to go with it all!  

I have a hard deadline for the above quilt, as in a few weeks I'll actually get to see my Sis...so other goals may get pushed to the side (again!).  Fabric is Curious Nature by Parson Gray (love love love this fabric!) and the quilt pattern is City Lights from the book City Quilts by Cherri House.

That's it for now!  Hope you have a great rest of your weekend!

FWQAL Week #...oh heck...who knows!

As part of my 2012 goals...I want to complete at least 2 FWQAL blocks a month...2/week was stressing me out...so I figured 2/month would be fair...opportunity for more blocks...but no stress if it was only 2!  Here is what I completed in 2011:

WOW...so happy seeing them all!  Now it's just time to add to the set!

I present to you...my January FWQAL blocks!  First up...Block #31: Evening Star:

after perusing my layout of the blocks completed so far...I felt I needed more red...and definitely got it with this one!

and then we have Block #39: friendship

I loved the layout of colors in the book for this block...so I pretty much flat out copied it!  Only in gingham...I heart!

ok...that's it for January...let's see what happens in February!

FNSI meets FWQAL!

Hopefully you have made it to this post...can't believe I linked to the wrong place!  oh well!

I actually started sewing about noon yesterday...and was able to get Girl's Seasonal Quilt top completed!  That was a major goal of mine, so I'm glad I got that part finished!  After taking a break to cook dinner and spend some time with the family before Guy had to leave for work, I headed back to the machine at about 7:15 p.m.

And that's when this:

met this:

and the fabric was flying and I got Weeks 13-14 of the FWQAL done!

I started with Block #24 Country Path and my sewing evening almost ENDED with Block #24...it took me 2.5 hours to get this one block sewn!    A good chunk of that time was cutting all the different pieces and then I had a few pieces I had to pull apart and restitch as I had them sewn to the wrong pieces...but in the end...here is the block...and quite honestly...I LOVE it!

after spending all of that time on one block...had to take a short break to have a snack with Girl and watch a little TV before she went to bed...and then I headed back to the sewing table...to work on Block #25 Cups and Saucers...which thankfully was a bit faster to cut out and put together...

and I'm torn about Block #25...not sure that I actually like it...it looks a bit off...may have to re-do that one later.

So finished up Block #25...and was ready to start the next...and then I saw what it was:

and that's when the laughter started...NO WAY was I going to cut out all 51 of those tiny little pieces last night...just wasn't happening...so for the first time since I started working on Farmer's Wife blocks...I skipped a block (I've been working in number order)...so I turned the page...and really started laughing!  These were up next:

Block #27: Darting Birds - 52 pieces

Block #28: Duck and Ducklings - 29 pieces

and while they don't actually appear to be that bad to put together...I just was NOT going to cut out all those pieces...so I just turned the page...it was getting late and I wanted to get some more accomplished, but I wasn't going to skip to the end of the book just to find some easier blocks to put together...thankfully all I had to do was turn the page...

BINGO!  Not a lot of pieces to cut out...and went together easy peasy!

Block #29: Economy

Block #30: End of Day (LOVE LOVE LOVE this one!)

and it was getting really really late about this time...so I called it a night!  Had a blast, got some things accomplished, and look forward to doing it all again!  One final pic of all 4 blocks together:

Now I'm off to hop along and see what some of the other folks did for their Friday Night Sew-In!

FWQAL Week 12

Is it really Friday already???  SO GLAD!  And...bonus for me...it's a late day at work...meaning I don't go in until late...but then I won't be home until late either!  Oh well!  I did enjoy sleeping in!

Here we go for a quick update on the

This week I only have 1 block to share for the FWQAL.  I've been steadily working on this quilt (coming home from work and quilting for at least 30 mins a day has been my goal) and hopefully I'll get it all finished this weekend and then back to Farmer's Wife blocks!

Block 23: Country Farm 

(I ADORE this block!  My favorite, hands down...so far!)

And now...off to stitch a bit before it's time to get ready to head to work!

FWQAL Week 11

oh my word...that's about all I can say as I bring you my latest post for the

(yes I know...haven't really blogged about any other sewing projects outside of the FWQAL for quite a few weeks...I just have to get "caught up" and then I can resume my other projects!  I'm motivated in so many ways on this one, But primarily I just don't want to fall so far behind that I feel like giving up!)

this week's blocks were so different...one was uber easy to put together...one about had me ripping my hair out!

Block #21: Contrary Wife

 (love the title, not sure how it ties to the design of the block...but whatev!  I enjoyed making this block...it was easy peasy quick and I love these fabrics!)

Block #22: Corn and Beans 

(I don't care about any other block prior that I said was difficult...this was a PAIN!)

I do like how both blocks ended up, but man oh man...corn and beans...thankfully I will only have to put you together ONCE!  Now off to work on other blocks...and it's another mixed bag coming up...one looks relatively simple...the other...not so much!

FWQAL Week 10

Let's here it for easy blocks!  I needed a few that weren't going to blow my mind trying to figure them out! Here is my Week 10 installment of the FWQAL:

Block #19: Checkerboard (my personal fave so far!)

Block #20: Churn Dash (went together really fast!)

and now...off to work on some more blocks...or get some more piecing done on some other quilts...or play with peaches! (you can read about the peach adventures here)

FWQAL Week 8/9...playing catch-up

After the insanity of the past few weeks, I'm really glad to be sewing again on my Farmer's Wives Blocks! The 4 blocks I'm posting today took me about a couple of days to get sewn...and then I was interrupted again by the real world...so it's only 4, and I'm a few weeks behind now in the FWQAL...not that there is an actual time table/schedule...it is go at one's own pace...but still...I feel like I'm behind!  LOL!  Anywho...on to the blocks!

Block 15: Buzzard's Roost 

(this one had me freaking out...nothing seemed to work...and then miraculously...it was done!)

Block 16: Calico Puzzle

(it's a little crooked...and my stripes are a tiny bit off...but they are all headed in the same general direction at least!  so i'm happy!)

Block 17: Cats & Mice

(I have read a few blogs where this one really messed with people...it came together fairly easy for me...but I was worried the end block wouldn't be the right size...thankfully it is...by a thread!)

Block 18: Century of Progress

(this one went great...until i realized i'd sewn two section on upside down...and then ripped it apart and started over...won't remake this one anytime soon!)

And now...all 4 of them together:

My weekend plans include a bit of sewing...and getting some more Farmer's Wives blocks done!

Stay safe!  For those in the path of Irene...be careful, get out if you can, and let us know you are ok when it passes!

FWQAL Week 7

Wasn't sure I was going to get my blocks done this week!  Guy and I had such a great time on our short trip last weekend (read more about it here) that pretty much all this week has been non-stop catching up!  But I did, over a few days, manage to get my two blocks done for this week of:

Block 13: Buckwheat 

Block 14: Butterfly at the Crossroads

I want to really like both of the blocks...but #14 is my fave of the two...my fabric selections are really not working out as well as I would have liked on some of these blocks.  However, what I'm starting to notice is...once they all get laid out...the blocks I'm not a huge fan of...actually start to look a lot better!  Here are my 14 blocks so far:

Now...off to get some sewing done so that I can update my works in progress and finally start piecing together OUR quilt!

Later!

FWQAL Week 6...the fruit punch is tasty!

Seriously!  I may have drank the kool-aid...but it tastes darn good!  So here is this week's (Week 6 of the FWQAL, my week 2, but I'm keeping with what the general week is as I've made the same number of blocks (2 per week) that would make me at week 6 anyways...wow I tend to over explain things!).

ANYWAYS...here are this week's blocks:

Block #11: Broken Dishes
 (my personal fave so far)

Block #12: Broken Sugar Bowl

and all 12 blocks together (pics like this help me figure out what colors/fabrics I need more of in future blocks):

just realized the above pic only has 11 blocks...will have to take another pic with Week 7!

I have to say...joining the FWQAL Flickr group has been the best!  All the fab folks over there have been so sweet, take the time to post pointers, post questions, and provide the best and most positive atmosphere for all participants!

and that's all she wrote for now...not much sewing in my plans for later this week...so hoping I will have a bit of time early next week for Week 7 blocks...otherwise...I'll just play catch up again!

FWQAL Weeks 4-5, I've lost my mind

Sort of, the blocks for weeks 4 and 5 about did me in...well one of them (actually 2) almost had me throw up my hands and quit!  These blocks are a lot of fun, but a few of them take some serious concentration.  Some of them have more than their fair share of pieces!  I took a quick pic of block #7 after I had all the pieces cut out, so you could see all 40 little pieces...yeah...I said 40:

Let's just say that those 40 little pieces kept me busy for a few hours!  Anywho...a little about the letters in the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt.  You can feel how passionate these women were about their belief that their daughter SHOULD grow up to be a Farmer's Wife.  I read a few letters at a time, some letters I read a few times.  Their stories of what they feel they get from being the wives of farmers, and what they hope for for their children is quite lovely.  I'm enjoying this book for more than just the block patterns.

And now:

Block 7: Birds in the Air

Block 8: Bouquet

Block 9: Box

Block 10: Bowtie

and that officially gets me "caught up"!  Here are all 10 blocks together:

On to week #6!

Drink the Kool-Aid! (FWQAL Weeks 1-3)

So last time I posted, I said that I had drank the Kool-Aid and let me tell you...it's GOOD!  I dove head first into these waters yesterday:

I had been putting off starting this until this weekend, figured I'd have plenty of time to "catch up" with a long weekend.  The original start of the Farmer's Wife Quilt along (the Flickr group is FABULOUS btw!) would have hit Week 5 this week (well it's SUnday, so this past week, this would be the start of Week 6).  And even thought it's a go at your own pace QAL, I wanted to "catch up" so I could keep myself on track.  If I'm "caught up" and others are posting for that week...I'll be more inclined to stay with the crowd as opposed to falling behind and then trying get going again.  Does any of that make sense?  LOL!  Anywho...drum roll please...here are my Week's 1-3 blocks (I'm doing them in numerical order or I'd be completely lost):

Block 1: Attic Windows

Block 2: Autumn Tints

Block 3: Basket 

(it's missing it's handle..when I figure out how to do it, it will have one...check back in a year or so).

Block 4: Basket Weave 

Block 5: Bat Wing

Block 6: Big Dipper

and a group shot:

I'm using Denyse Schmidt Picnic and Fairgrounds fabrics, Sweet Pickins by Darlene Zimmerman for Kaufman fabrics and a few Kona solids (in the above blocks I have a smidge of White and Big Dipper is using Kona Ash) and a few other random fabrics (Bat Wing).

and now I'm off to get to work on Week 4!  These little blocks are so much fun!