Sunday, January 21, 2018

Jumping from project to project.

Since making concentrated progress on many different projects at retreat, it has been hard to come back to reality and have no sewing time for several days. I made up for it this weekend, but struggled to know where to focus. So I jumped around!

First off, I sewed over half of the rows of this quilt on my design wall.
The empty corners are due to operator error. I miscalculated when I cut the setting and corner triangles and had to redo them. Haven't cut the new corners yet. I had purchased plenty of the fabric for them, just in case. Good thing!
Who knows, maybe next blog post will have a finished quilt top that isn't a mini! Wouldn't that be a shocker?

I made another row of the little foundation pieced blocks for this Kim Diehl mini.

It has been tricky getting the center points to meet when I sew together the two halves of the foundation for each block. 
Even when I mark the centers with pins and match them, I don't always get a good connection, but I think I am getting the hang of it. I have unpicked and resewn a couple of them, but I am letting the others go. This will get three more rows and then a couple of borders. 
The 2 1/2" square ruler gives you an idea of the block size.


It has probably been a couple of years since Sandi sent me a little Valentine Applique kit. She is trying to convert me to the dark side, I think. :)
I got started on it, and then other things got in the way. When digging for projects to take to retreat, I unearthed this and set it out where I could work on it upon my return. All of the applique is finished, and I added some little flowers and words. Can't decide if I will embellish it more, and then whether to quilt it for a wall hanging, or make a pillow. Even though applique is not my thing, it was fun to put this together.

Saturday evening I started quilted the little snowman block from Karen.

Hoping to have this finished before all of the snowman pillows, mats, and wall hangings get put away at the end of the month. He is so cute.

Finally I got out this wool project that is all prepped for the blanket stitching, but didn't do any stitching on it. This was the one handwork project I took with me to retreat, in case I wanted to relax with it in the evening. But we usually just made it back to our room at night in time to get ready for bed, do a little reading, and crash.
I first saw this on Julie's blog and had to order it. I have mentioned before that I live next door to a bee garden, and DD#2 has always had a thing for bees--also, I live in "The Beehive State". It was a no brainer.

The other project that saw progress is my final mini quilt swap for 2017--yes, I said 2017. I know it is 2018!
Julie and I had a swap lined up for last November. But things got in our way and we agreed to put it off. We have done that a couple of times, but are hoping to actually have our projects completed and swapped in the not-too-distant future.
I have been quilting my quilt for her, and have had a surprising discovery with a new-to-me thread, thanks to Joyce, a blog reader. I will share all about it when this swap is completed.
Until next time, 
Janet O.


34 comments:

  1. LOL....all your jumping from project to project has worn me out. I may need another cup of coffee after this read:) As always, you have a great assortment and variety going on. Just love the snowman---and your quilting is absolutely beautiful!
    Foundation piecing that is split in two always seems to have a problem when joined. But I think you have it figured out. Really like the Bee project...too cute.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your big quilt is beautiful! That is a huge accomplishment. That mini is gorgeous, love the colors. You must have unbelievable patience to try things so tiny. The Valentine block is sweet and Karen's snowman has me drooling!! Birds and Bees is really cute pattern. We have a neighbor with beehives too. Do you get honey from them?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lots of projects means you don't get bored. All are very interesting. Love the bees.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such wonderful projects. I am such a fan of all your quilts. Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  5. Coming home from retreat can be a little disorienting. Complete change from “all sewing all the time” back to the grind of cooking, cleaning, etc. Project hopping is my daily norm LOL!!! I love moving from one to the other as the mood hits me, just flowing with the inspiration. Your projects are each so different that it would be fun going back and forth between them. Absolutely LOVE that little wool bee project!!!! I’ll have to look that one up. I have snowman all over my house in January too! Quilts of course in every shape and type, and a few Jim Shore figurines I have managed to collect over the years - his snowmen are my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Back to the "real" world. I am hoping to get a lot of sewing done today during the NFL playoff games, keeping one ear to the games. I haven't had much sewing time either. I adore the beehive in wool!!! Great projects!

    ReplyDelete
  7. It’s all eye candy from here, Janet! You’ve been acting like a bee would, sipping at each project for a beautiful nectar! Glad you’ve been able to sit and sew.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the on-point BIG quilt on the Wall and the Beehive block. Lots of Blog love sent your way. Get your stitches in.

    ReplyDelete
  9. lovely projects as usual...a maine friend has hives and she would so love yours! applique looks good....all it takes is practice...lol!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh don’t put your snowmen accessories away! Are you running out of snow??!! You could always send them out on loan to me...we typically don’t see the ground until late March and have had measureable snowfall into May...
    Love the Kim Diehl project - your points look wonderful! The bee skep is adorable - they always have a soft spot in my heart. Lots of good stuff going on with you...looks like your retreat energy carried over well at home too!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love your little Kim Diehl blocks, think that they will look just as nice with a button in the centre if the points wont meet! The snowman is very cute, the hand quilted grid is going to be perfect background for this applique. I wish I could hand quilt, such a lovely finish! Looking forward to seeing the quilt finished on your next post!

    ReplyDelete
  12. It does take a little while to recover from the excitement of retreat!
    That snowman is adorable!

    ReplyDelete
  13. That stars on point design is just beautiful! But then, all of your projects are gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are bouncing around like I do! LOL! So many wonderful projects.
    Blessings...
    Kristie

    ReplyDelete
  15. I too flit from one thing to another and it's not always quilt related.:) I love your big onpoint quilt and the snowman is adorable. Your quilting is beautiful. You must have had lots of practice. The wool project is very cute. I have not tried wool yet. Everyone says it's addicting and I'm not sure I need any more addictions. lol

    ReplyDelete
  16. You are 'sample quilting'.........nothing wrong with that at all! Enjoy!

    ReplyDelete
  17. You are making fine progress. Your hearts look great. The heart shape is my nemesis as far a appliqueing is concerned. That is a really cute snowman. I'm glad he's getting made into something that will show him off. What a fun project that beehive is going to be. Look forward to seeing it's progress.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Retreats are great--they always charge my batteries and give me motivation and ideas. Your quilts are beautiful and that wool appliqué with the blanket stitch is a stunner.

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's always fun to see what you've been up to. So many wonderful quilts that you're working on. Glad you tackled the "A" word alittle. Hahaha. Too cute.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I really love your little Kim Diehl mini so far, especially the colors. I didn't realize that she made miniature quilts too. They look like little kaleidoscope blocks.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I think you can safely continue working on your snow-friend projects for at least a couple months. Though DH saw a lone bumblebee out in the field the other day when it was above freezing - go figure! It looks like you've been a very busy sewist this past week, and are really accomplishing a lot in a short time. That retreat really jumpstarted your quilting for the new year and it's so fun to see your progress. Those Kim Diehl mini blocks look impossibly difficult to make!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wonderful! I love the beehive! I’ve yet to delve into wool projects, but maybe someday!

    Blessings and hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Love all you projects!! I always have several going at one time, so I'm never bored, just busy!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Another round of beautiful projects! I'm looking forward to your new to you thread post!

    ReplyDelete
  25. It can be hard to settle after being away and having so much sewing time..it sure looks like you put it to rights this weekend! Nice to see you making progress on your projects. I love how your Kim Diehl mini is shaping up, and of course nice to see you doing some applique! The woolly bee project is going to be gorgeous too..... me though, would much rather do needleturn than all that blanket stitch!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ha! Your weekend sounds more like my usual - jumping from project to project. I really like your tiny kaleidoscope blocks. Are you going scrappy or are the fabrics from a specific set. I love that you are doing a maxi-quilt - gotta mix things up.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow!love to see everything you're working on. Really love the first quilt!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Lots of fun projects to do ! I especially love the mini of Kim Diehl ! So original !

    ReplyDelete
  29. Such a fun wool project (birds and bees :)
    The more I see of that Prairie Sky the more I fall in love with it. I think I may need to try my hand at one for myself :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Your retreat setting looks very pretty.
    You didnget a lot done, so many pretty projects.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I do hope you enjoy a little bit of the dark side! I think I feel the same way about piecing that you do about applique. Maybe we should find a little project that has both and do the dark side for each other - wink! Everything you do is so precise and enjoyable to look at. You have a fabulous color sense which brings it all together. Happy to hear that you had a fun and productive retreat!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Every week you amaze me with how much you are getting accomplished!
    the centers look great to me - perfect actually.
    Your blocks look wonderful set. Those are some really tricky diagonal rows! wow you are the piecing queen. what kind of pins do you use?
    pretty pretty quilting stitches and nice new wool project too!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I spied the applique block in the center of your new project. And the snowman block from me. You are a busy, busy stitcher.

    ReplyDelete
  34. You have so many things in progress, Janet! I love the tiny pinwheel/propeller blocks. I have never tried a block where 8 points meet. I sometimes struggle with getting 4 points to meet like they should! The snowman is delightful and your bee/beehive block looks great.

    ReplyDelete

I love to have your comments and feedback.