Evening in the Garden Quilts

Adventures in Fabric Art

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October / November Goals

October

Happy November!  It’s crisp and sunny and leaf-covered here, perfect quilting weather (after I get the garden cleaned up and put away!).

October’s quilting was a mixed success.  I really like the String Ornaments quilt that I just planned to start, but had to finish.  Handy Dandy, on the other hand…  I think I’m just bored because every block is quilted the same way.  Whatever the reason, I put it off and put it off, until I finally got it out and quilted one row of blocks.  (Thank you to the Twilters on Twitter for all your encouragement!)  Then I spent a week very sick and couldn’t quilt at all, so there went the month.  I’ll keep it out and try to get back to it between tasks this month.

 

October Goals:

  1. Make donation blocks for Kat’s September/October block drive.  Yes!  I made a dozen and mailed them.  See above.
  2. Finish quilting Handy Dandy.  Um, no.  I got it out and quilted one more row of it, but there’s a lot more to do.
  3. Bind Handy Dandy.  No.
  4. Begin a Christmas scrap quilt.  Begun and finished!  Once I started, I couldn’t stop on this one.

 

November will begin with a commission quilt, and then I’ll see what else I can find time for.

November Goals:

  1. Design, communicate, and order fabrics for Louisville commission quilt.
  2. Piece top for Louisville.
  3. Quilt and bind Louisville.
  4. Pull fabrics, begin cutting for Charlotte’s new mystery.
  5. Work on Handy Dandy.

 

As far as I know, I’m not sewing anything for Christmas, but who knows?

 

2019-10-31 12.29.58-2.jpg

Good luck on your goals!


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2017: The Goals


Happy New Year’s Eve!  Time to take stock of my goals for the year.

2017 Goals

1.Sandy’s (Quilting for the Rest of Us) word this year is “Balance”.  I have the opposite problem from many of you, in that I have plenty of time to sew and don’t always take advantage of it.  My life has definitely gotten in the way of sewing this year. There are lots of reasons, but a lot of it boils down to distraction and/or laziness.  I developed bad habits of sitting around while my knees were recuperating and I need to replace them (the habits!  Already replaced the knees!).

I’m making an appointment with myself to sew every day from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M.  If I start earlier, fine, especially in warm weather.   If I go back to it later, fine.  If I tweak the time, fine.  I just want a target and to know that I can put the housework, etc., aside and go quilt.

-This was partially successful.  The times didn’t always work, but I did get into the studio more.  As my walking stamina improves, my schedule continues to evolve, but I am sewing more.

2014-06-07 19.50.572. This year I want to finish my largest UFO, the Slow Quilt.  I have some ideas about cutting it down or otherwise changing it to improve it.  Finishing it will free up a lot of physical and mental space, and take some fabric out of the stash.

-No, I didn’t finish this.  Because of this goal, I did take it out, do a lot of thinking about it, and made a little progress.  So, it will go back on the goal list for 2018.

Urbana-20130414-007863.  Continue to work on the way I store things in my studio.  My personal quilts are hard to reach and take up space I could use for other things.  The fabric needs to be refolded and organized.  And going through it will make sure I see it all again.

Yes!  I revisited and refolded a lot of my stash (although some of it is messed up again).  I cleaned out a cabinet, hung up some small quilts, and stored others out of the light in that cabinet that is hard to access behind my ironing board.

4. Work on those art quilts again!

No.  Nothing happened here.  Maybe it was this crazy year, but I just didn’t feel moved to create anything this way.  I made three mystery quilts and many donation blocks where others made all the decisions and all I had to do was sew patches together.  It seemed to be what I needed this year.  Another one to revisit in 2018.

5.  I’m going to take another fifty yards out of my stash this year!  (Four hundred yards in the past five years!)

Yes!  So that’s a net reduction of 450 yards from my stash since I started tracking.  And there’s still so much there!  No, I am seeing it turn over and contain more fabrics that are to my current taste.  To that end, you’ll see me continue to purchase new fabric as I use the old.  This year those last eight donation pillowcases put my over the top.

This week:  +  0 yards,  – 8 yards

This year:  + 109.25 yards,  – 165.75 yards

Net destashed added in 2017:  56.50 yards

 

December Goals:

  1. Cut scraps for Charlotte Hawke’s mystery quilt, Stars Over Fawn Lake (begins in January).  Yes!  Waiting happily in their basket.
  2. Make blocks for Kat’s Nov./Dec. block drive for Covered in Love.  Yes!  I made a dozen.
  3. Make donation pillowcases for Case for Smiles.  Yes, I made eight.
  4. Make nautical baby quilt.  Yes!  Here.

 

So, a pretty successful year, but room to improve for 2018.  I’ll be back soon with my new goals.  In the meantime, I’m going to use this quiet day to sew!  Hope you can, too!

 


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Sunday Stash and October/November Goals

2017-10-01 11.49.39A finish!  A post about Layer Cake Explosion in a few days.

 

2017-09-25 13.52.40And… a large amount of fabric came in.  It’s for a commissioned quilt, and I wish I could say that it will all go out again soon, but there will be lots left over that I will need to put to use.  So.

This week:  +  16.5 yard,  – 12.5  yards

This year:  + 81.75 yards,  – 104.75 yards

Net destashed added in 2017:  13.00 yards

So, net destashing needs work, but I have used more than a hundred yards of fabric this year.

 

September Goals:

  1. Make back for Layer Cake Explosion.  Yes!  And I quilted it!  A post soon.
  2. Make donation blocks for Kat’s September/October block drive.  Yes, I made eighteen.
  3. Continue with Pacific Stars Mystery Quilt.   No, I skipped this.
  4. Customer quilt commission? (in the works)  Not made, but I spent the time discussing, ordering, and washing the fabrics.  Almost ready to sew.

I got on a roll after making the back for Layer Cake Explosion, and got it basted, quilted, and bound.  This was a huge project (93″ square), so I don’t mind that I put off Pacific Stars.  I’ll just be doing lots of work on that this month.

 

October Goals:

  1. Make last month’s Pacific Stars blocks.
  2. Make this month’s Pacific Stars blocks.
  3. Make commissioned flying geese quilt.
  4. Donate some quilts that are hanging around.

 

2017-09-01 18.17.07Good luck on all of your goals!  Right now I’m feeling fortunate to have food, water, and power, and I hope you do, too.


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Sunday Stash and March/April Goals


Well, I bought fabric and I haven’t really completed anything, despite make progress on a few things.  This batik will be a backing, so hopefully it can be counted out soon.

This week:  + 12.25 yards,  – 0  yards
This year: + 50.25 yards,  – 56.75 yards
Net destashed added in 2017:  6.5 yards

“Surrounded by Scraps” by Charlotte Hawke


The warm weather is really slowing sewing production!  However, I’ve inched along and gotten a few things done in the past two months.

March/April Goals:

  1. Make donation blocks for Kat’s Covered with Love.  Yes!  And mailed!
  2. Clue 3 for Surrounded by Scraps.  Yes!  And the next one, the top is finished.
  3. Finish the orange Cabins donation quilt.  Yes, also mailed!
  4. Storm at Sea Quilt:  Decide about cropping corners, finalize quilting plan, trim excess batting, sandwich, begin quilting.  I worked on this.  I made a number of decisions about quilting, and trimmed some of the batting.  I still have more marking before I begin quilting.

May Goals:

  1. Make blocks for Kat’s May/June block drive.
  2. Begin the Twilters! facebook group quilt along.
  3. Make backing and sandwich Surrounded by Scraps.
  4. Make summer/patriotic wall hangings.

Hope youre making all of your goals!

I’m linking up to Sunday Stash Report at Patchwork Times.


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Finishing February, Setting Goals for March/April

picmonkey-collage-februaryI was successful at meeting my February goals, and brought my fabric usage into the black.

February Goals:

  1. Complete Clue #2 for Surrounded by Scraps.  Yes!
  2. Make blocks for HollyAnne at String and Story.  Yes, I made a dozen.
  3. Finish assembling top for Scrappy Stars Around the Corner (last year’s mystery quilt from Charlotte).  Yes.
  4. Quilt and bind SSAC (see above).  Yes!  Here.
  5. Take out my Storm at Sea (the Slow Quilt, photo at the top of this page) and make some decisions.  Yes, I took it out.  I’m still thinking about it.

Bonus:  I made this donation quilt.

 

I’m combining March and April for my next goals, because I’ll be traveling during the end of March and beginning of April.  I’ll lose a few weeks of sewing time, and I know I won’t making a report then.  Here’s what I’m thinking for these months:

March/April Goals:

  1. Make donation blocks for Kat’s Covered with Love.
  2. Clue 3 for Surrounded by Scraps.
  3. Finish the orange Cabins donation quilt.
  4. Storm at Sea Quilt:  Decide about cropping corners, finalize quilting plan, trim excess batting, sandwich, begin quilting.

Kat’s blocks are intriguing this time, and she’s allowing two months to make them.  Check them out!

Don’t forget that it’s time to March-A-Long with Darla, the Scientific Quilter.  Sew or prep or do something quilty for a few minutes every day in March!  I will while I’m home.


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January / February Goals

picmonkey-collage-1-30-17

January was a great sewing month for me!  New fabric, cold weather, clear goals…I got a lot done!

January Goals:

  1. Make pink baby quilt.  Yes!  Finished and gifted.
  2. Blocks for Kat’s block drive.  Yes!  And I mailed them.
  3. Finish cutting for Surrounded by Scraps mystery quilt.  I’ve cut all the print fabrics.  I’m cutting the background as I need it.
  4. Step one for SbS mystery quilt.  Yes!
  5. Make commissioned baby quilt.  Yes!

Bonus:  I made four more baby quilts for my shop!  A pink one, woodland, and the two elephants.

I’m going to try to cram a lot into February, too, knowing that we’ll have more snowy sewing weather, and vacation plans start in March.

February Goals:

  1. Complete Clue #2 for Surrounded by Scraps.
  2. Make donation blocks for HollyAnne at String and Story.
  3. Finish assembling top for Scrappy Stars Around the Corner (last year’s mystery quilt from Charlotte).
  4. Quilt and bind SSAC (see above).
  5. Take out my Storm at Sea (the Slow Quilt) and make some decisions.

 

If you need some concentrated sewing time, join us this weekend for the Sports Ball Sew In (#SBSI) on Twitter and the Twilters’ Facebook group.


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July/ August Goals

So, July has come and gone.  I didn’t do too badly with my quilty goals.  I was only home for two weeks in July, so I kept them modest.
July Goals:

  1. Make the quilt for Orlando.  Yes!  Ready to mail off.
  2. Finish the Impressionist Quilt.  Yes!  I sent it to victims of the WV floods.
  3. Hang photo in Studio, etc.  No, again. Sigh.

Bonus: I made commissioned Elephant baby quilt, and I sewed a top for myself.

 

August Goals:

  1. Hang the darned picture already!
  2. Coastal-themed art quilt.
  3. Piece top to Birds in the Air quilt.
  4. Make autumn themed wall hangings / table runners.
  5. Make blocks for Kat’s August drive.

 

We shall see what August brings, but that’s what I’m thinking for now.

Good luck on achieving your goals!


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Sunday Stash and February/March Goals

PicMonkey Collage2-28This week I sewed and didn’t buy, so that’s good news for stash reduction.  The Cool Colored twin quilt took 9.5 yards.

This week: + 0 yards,  – 9.5 yards
This year: +38.5 yards,  -43.5 yards
Net destashed added in 2016:  5 yards

 

February Goals

  1. Complete the second clue for Charlotte’s Scrappy Stars Around the Corner.  Yes!
  2. Continue Gyleen’s Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles mystery quilt.  Yes!
  3. Unpack fabric lockers and get help moving them over a foot.  This will help with locker and floor access and make it easier to vacuum.  Well, no.  I did unload the lockers and attempt to move them, but they’re heavy and on carpet, so I gave up.  Instead, I moved a lamp in the way, and the roll of batting.  I also tidied up my cords, and changed the sewing machine so it wasn’t plugged into the same outlet as my iron (bad for the computer).  And I vacuumed and dusted.
  4. Find a new home for the little project bins that live under the cutting table.  Yes! There is clear floor space there.
  5. Make donation blocks for Kat’s February Challenge.  Yes!
  6. Make a quilt for my Etsy shop.  Yes, I made three!

Bonus:  I made a blue and green twin quilt to keep at home.

March Goals

  1. Complete the third clue for Charlotte’s Scrappy Stars Around the Corner.
  2. Make a back and donate it with the top from Gyleen’s Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles mystery quilt.
  3. Clear the area behind the door in my studio.
  4. Make donation blocks for Kat’s March Drive.
  5. Make some summer-themed wall hangings.
  6. Participate in Darla’s March-A-Long, where we sew a little every day.

So February was a good month for goals, but it usually is.  As we creep toward spring, outside work and other activities call, and I sew a little less.  Luckily, Darla has her March-A-Long this month to encourage us to sew/prep for at least a few minutes every day, and that helps keep me going.  Hope you join in, too.

2016-02-27 11.02.35Good luck with your goals! I’m linking up to Judy’s report at Patchwork Times.


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November/December Goals

PicMonkey Collage11-30Wow, the year is really winding down!  I sewed a lot this month, but didn’t quite complete my goals.

November Goals

  1. Piece the top from the Hashtag blocks when they arrive.  Nope.  This just did not happen.
  2. Bind the scrappy Star Wars baby quilt.  Yes, here.
  3. Catch up on the Droid Quilt Along.  Pretty darn close.  I am ready to make the sashing, then assemble the top.
  4. Make scrappy Maple Leaf blocks for Kat’s November Block Drive.  Yes, here.

In addition to my goals, I made a 60″ x 80″ Baseball quilt, six pillowcases, and a pair of potholders.

 

December Goals

  1. Finish the Droid Quilt Along quilt.
  2. Make Aggie commissioned quilt.
  3. Make string blocks for Kat’s December Block Drive.
  4. Optional:  Assemble Hashtag quilt top.

Keeping this list short because we may be traveling for a week or so in December.

Hope you accomplished everything you wanted to this month.


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Sunday Stash and October/November Goals

2015-08-26 11.22.23 pm

Stash

Well, no fabric in, and I did complete a commissioned baby quilt (same as the one above, with purple accents for a girl), so the stash is creeping in the right direction.

This week:  + 0 yards,  – 3.5 yards
This year:  + 110.25 yards,  – 145.75 yards
Net fabric destashed  in 2015:  35.5 yards

Goals

October Goals

  1.  Piece and quilt Boxed Elephant baby quilt commission.  Yes!  Here it is.
  2. Quilt and bind Gold and Turquoise quilt.  Yes!  Turned out great.
  3. Piece top from Twilter Hashtag blocks.  No, I was confused about this, and we won’t even get our blocks until this month.  Instead I started the Droid Quilt Along on The Stitch TV Show.  Have I kept up with it?  No.  But the back is made!
  4. Make new baby quilt with elephant scraps.  No, there were no useful scraps from this.  But I’m almost finished with a baby quilt made from the scraps from my Droid quilt backing.  And I did that new Star Wars commission baby quilt.

As you see there are a couple of “no, but”s in there, but I’m mostly pleased with what I accomplished.  Just have to get on that Droid quilt.

November Goals

  1. Piece the top from the Hashtag blocks when they arrive.
  2. Bind the scrappy Star Wars baby quilt.
  3. Catch up on the Droid Quilt Along.
  4. Make scrappy Maple Leaf blocks for Kat’s November Block Drive.

I notice there are no Christmas projects in there.  I may not make many homemade gifts, but I have a few vague ideas, so we’ll see.  There’s still loads of time, right?

Hope you’re progressing on all of your stuff!  I’m linking up to Judy’s report at Patchwork Times.