Center is done

The center of the test quilt is done.  Can't show you, but now only the outside mitered border to do.
I've been playing with other things too, so it is taking longer than it should.

Excitement

I received a couple of packages today. From the Quiltbug I got my folded wreath pattern

I can't wait to try this one/

I also have an applique pressing sheet.

I am testing batting for The Warm Company and am really excited to do that.

I have the bee quilt I can try it out on or maybe even the test quilt I'm working on that I can't show you.

Year long 2015 Prairie Moon Organization Challenge

January 1: Organize your oldest UFO Changed to organize my UFOs
January 8: Work on organizing your magazines or books
January 15: Change your rotary cutter blade(s) or change your sewing machine needle
January 22: Organize your marking pens and pencils
January 29: Clean out and organize one drawer
February 5: Clean off your cutting table or main work area
February 12: Learn to use a new tool
February 19: Put away stray fabric and other items

February 26: Deal with the paper clutter

March 5: Go back and pick a task from a previous week that you're not finished with and work on it again.

March 12: Organize your thread

March 19: Clean out one drawer

March 26: Work on your one UFO that is closest to finished

April 2: Eradicate a pile

April 9: Choose one small area that needs attention and work on it.

April 16: Organize your ruler collection

April 25: Clean up the area around your sewing machine

April 30: Choose 10 things to deal with

May 7: Clean your sewing machine (or have it serviced)

May 15: Put together a travel sewing kit

May 21: Clean out a storage area

May 28: Clean out a fabric bin

June 4: Revisit a previous task and work on it again.

June 11: Clean out one drawer

June 18: Work on organizing your magazines or books

June 25: Make a list

July 2: Organize your UFOs

July 9: Fix something that's broken

July 16: Clean off your cutting table or main work surface

July 23: Deal with the scrap pile

July 30: eradicate a pile

Aug 6: Clean up and back up your computer files

Aug 13: Choose 10 things to deal with

Aug 21: choose one thing you've discovered needs more work, and work on it.

Aug 27: Organize your finished quilts

Sep 3: Clean out and organize one drawer

Sep 10: Clean out and reorganize a fabric storage area

Sep 17: Organize your hand sewing supplies

Sep 24: Pick a UFO to concentrate on

Sep 31: Revisit a previous task and work on it again

Oct 9: Organize your needles

Oct 16: Work on organizing boos and magazines and patterns

Oct 21: Clean out a drawer

Oct 29: Choose 3 things you've been putting off doing and do them.

Nov 5: Clean your sewing machine and the area around it

Nov 13: Make a list

Nov 19: Put away stray fabric/organize a fabric bin

Nov 28: Clean out a drawer

Dec 3: Try to finish a UFO

Dec 10: Clean up the floor in your sewing area

Dec 17: Finish up any last minute Christmas gifts

Dec 23: Do something for yourself

Final Countdown:

Dec 29: Take a good hard look at your fabric stash

Dec 30: Organize ALL our UFOs

Dec 31: Get out of your quilt box

Prairie Moon

Get out of your quilt box

I think the one thing I am going to do is find a quilt guild to go to.

Bee Quilt

The Bee Quilt is a small baby sized quilt made from leftovers.

I'll quilt it in the new year.

I also finished both of the main blocks on the test quilt.

Now to do the setting for it.

December To do List Summary

horse panel pillow
Mini Wall Hanging
Special Reach
Christmas Bears
Pink test quilt
Harley
Go through UFOs and make sure the list is correct
Quilt Diva pincushions (2)

Prairie Moon Block Challenge

We were challenged to make 365 blocks.  I finished at 1103

January.........66

February......107

March..........129

April .... ....... 56

May ............. 89

June ........... 128

July .............. 52

August.......... 22

September.....65

October.........88

November....157

December.....135

Total.....1103

Stashbuster January Numbers

They drew the numbers early for Stashbuster's Numbers game

The low number is #3, which is Ann's 2009 NYE Mystery

There are many of the pieces done on this one, and all the fabric included.

I made one of these before, but had started to make it larger. 

The high number is #39, which is Crazy Stars.

This is a really strange process, because it is whatever way you want to cut.

I do better with things that are absolute.  LOL

So, I think I cut pieces for a number of these and only did one.

I'll see how many I can make and what I can make out of it.

2016 UFO finishes are off to a start.

So, I thought it was #39 for the high number, but it was not. :(  

Someone must have not had anything higher than #39 and they chose that one.

Well, I have a #51, so it is the Fall Table runner.

I love these colors and can't wait to finish this one.

It should not take lots of time, so that is good.

I might just do #39 and get it over with. LOL

We shall see.

2015 UFO Finishes

January
(1)   Stocking -
(2)   Stocking -
(3)   Stocking -
(4)   Stocking -
(5)   Stocking -
(6)   Stocking -
(7)   Postage Stamp Quilt (needs quilting)
(8)   Applique My Whimsical Garden Pillow #1
(9)   Applique My Whimsical Garden Pillow #2
(10)  Applique My Whimsical Garden Pillow #3
(11)  Applique My Whimsical Garden Pillow #4
(12)  SS#1 Bug Jar Quilt
(13)  Butterfly Needlepoint pillow
(14)  Clifford Pillow
February
(15)  Misc 12” blocks (used 3 blocks for History table runner)
(16)  Scooby Do Pillow
(17)  Accented Chevrons
(18)  Quilt Sunset/Dragon Quilt
(19)  Coaster squares
(20)  Chicken blocks (14)
(21)  ABC Quilt
(22)  Pineapple Blossom<
(23)  Sampler Christmas Quilt
March
(24)  Minkee Pillow
(25)  Batik 9 patch beauty
April
(26)  Applique Owls (by window)
(27)  Bee Quilt
(28)  Monkey n round
(29)  Quilt Tulip Trio
May
(30)  Color Guard pillows
(31)  Band T-shirt Quilt
(32)  Purple Quilt<
June
(33)  Animal Panel Christmas quilt
(34)  Black & Bright
(35)  Dolphin pillow
(36)  Texas Badges Quilt
July
(37)  Embroidered Name block ornaments (5)
(38)  Christmas Tree Wall Hanging #1
(39)  Road Quilt
(40) Christmas Tree Wall Hanging #2
(41) Christmas Tree Wall Hanging #3
(42) Christmas Tree Wall Hanging #4
August
September
(43)  Christmas block swap Calico kitten (2) Trees
(44)  Oh Henry
October
(45)  Monkey 'N Round
(46)  Angels
November
(47)  Zippered pouch (2)
(48)  6" 9 patch blocks large
(49)  6" 9 patch blocks small
(50)  Green Floral
(51)  9 patch floral
December
(52)   Horse Panel Pillow
(53)  Red, Black and White Quilt
(54)  Special Reach
(55)  Christmas Bears
(56)  Harley
(57)  Quilt Diva Pin Cushions
(58)  Rice bags

2015 A Lovely Year of Finishes

2015 is the last year of a Lovely Year of Finishes.

January - charm quilt 

February - Christmas Sampler 

March - Batik 9 patch 

April - Tulip Trio 

May - Color guard Pillows 

June - Cowboy badges quilt 

July - Baby Road Quilt 

August/September - Oh Henry 

October - Angels 

November - 9 patches 

December - Harley 

My 2016 Quilts I quilted

Postage Stamp
My Whimsical Garden Pillows
Bug Jar
Test Table runner
Sunset/Dragon Quilt
Chicken
ABC quilt
Pineapple Blossom
Christmas Sampler
Super Hero Quilt
Wilder T-shirt quilt
Batik 9-patch
Owl
Monkey 'n Around
Tulip Trio
Band T-shirt quilt
bookshelf
World
Purple Quilt
Animal Panel
Testing rainbow table runner
Bright and Black
Texas Cowboy Crests
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
 Road Quilt
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Music quilt
Oh Henry
Christmas Tree Table runner
Monkey 'N Round
Margarita Sunrise
Margarita Sunrise table topper
Angels
PP Test Quilt (W)
6" block large
6" block small
Green Floral
small 9 patch floral
Red, Black and White
Horse pillow panel
mini Christmas wall hanging
Special Reach
Christmas Bears
Pink test quilt
Harley

2016 Quilts quilted

Postage Stamp
My Whimsical Garden #1
Bug Jar
History Tablerunner
Test Tablerunner
Sunset/Dragon Quilt
Chicken Quilt
ABC Quilt
Tulip Trio
Tammy friend patriotic quilt
Pineapple Blossom
Christmas Sampler
Tammy T-shirt quilt
Super Hero Quilt
Wilder T-shirt quilt
Batik 9-patch
Patriotic Woodland Oaks quilt
Tracy Fink's quilt
Owl
Tammy BOM quilt
Love quilt<
Tammy Love Quilt
Monkey 'n Around
Lana's Blue & Yellow quilt
Tammy's T-shirt quilt
Band T-shirt quilt
bookshelf
World
Purple Quilt
Animal Panel
Testing rainbow table runner
Bright and Black
Texas Cowboy Crests
Faith's T-shirt quilt
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Road Quilt
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Christmas Tree Wall Hanging
Music quilt
Samm's purple quilt
Oh Henry
Christmas Tree Table runner
Monkey 'N Round
Girl Scout gold project
Margarita Sunrise
Angels
Margarita Sunrise table topper
PP test quilt
6" block large
6" block small
Green Floral
small 9 patch floral
Red, Black and White
Horse pillow panel<
mini Christmas wall hanging
Special Reach
Christmas Bears
Pink Test Quilt
Harley

One step closer

Just to be accountable, I'm two steps closer to getting the second block together on the test quilt.

Pat Sloan Challenge

The next UFO that is on my list to complete.

So, Pat Sloan is doing another UFO Challenge.

Prairie Moon Final Countdown

Our challenge is to 

Organize ALL our UFOs

I've got this one nailed.

I did that at the beginning of the week.

This is a window seat that has all my UFOs housed in it.

I even have my list in excel with the door that the UFO is behind.

These are the questions to ask.

·         Do I still like it and want to finish it?

·         Do I wish I'd never started it?

·         Would I rather have bamboo shoots driven under my fingernails than take another stitch in it?

·         If I opted to make it smaller just to call it done, would that be a good option for it? Mug Rug, potholder, table mat, etc.

·         Should I just get rid of it?

·         Should I quit now, put the extra fabric back into my stash, and use the finished parts in another project, if possible?

·         If I do like it and want to finish it, what's the holdup? What is stopping me from finishing it?

I've asked and answered all of them and have a plan for finishing around 50 in 2016.

I might get fewer that that done, but it is a plan.

Make a list.

The top ones are located under my pressing table and are for challenges I joined.

The ones in black are the UFOs not yet planned to be worked on.

I'll pull from this when I need something to work on or if they are numbers drawn by Stashbusters.

                Located in the green bag

                Hummingbird blocks

                Jo’s club retreat teal and brown

                Maze or Mahjongg

                Charm Square tote Bag (2)

                Under the Sea Quilt

                Sun Kissed table Runner #1

                Located in plaid bag

                Western Sunset

                Pieced Tulips

                Zippered Pouches

                Spring Jelly Roll

                Map of Texas – Lone Star State

                Sea Quilt

                2016 Band T-shirt Quilt

                Hawaiian appliqué (pressing table)

                Christmas squares – 26 alphabet squares

                Mount Rushmore

                Race Track quilt – Patriotic (under cutting table)

                T-shirt quilt – Ashley’s(in extra bedroom)

                Located in black pillow bag

                Ashley’s Art block

                Buffalo Tote

                Casserole Cover

                Chinese Coin strips

                Christmas tree – applique

                Eric Carle Quilt

                Girl Scout drawn patriotic wall hanging to be donated.

                Olivia Baby Quilt

                String quilt

                Sun kissed table runner #2

                Tulip Trio pillow

                Wall hangings – patriotic panel

                Located in Red and Black Bag

                Misc Fall Blocks

                Pink & white strip quilt

                Cat swap blocks (12) Tulips & Cats (2 packages)

                Purple Triangle in a Square (leftovers from 54-40 or fight)

                QBS Mystery Quilt

                Purple and green 9 patches (7)  

                Misc dark squares

                Misc Patriotic

                Green & Brown woven border

                Batman pillow

                Christmas hst

                Christmas panels (3)

                In windows seat cabinet

                2017 Band T-shirt Quilt (will do this in 2017) upper cabinet

                America the Beautiful

                Ann’s 2006 NYE Mystery Quilt

                Dolphin pillow

                Ann’s snowball

                Applique Pixie Garden (by window)

                Applique turtles (window)

                Baby clothing quilt – boy 

                Baby clothing quilt –girl

                Basket block

                Batik & Black QST (left from Batik 9 patches)

                Black embroidered butterfly

                Blue and beige misc

                Bread & Butter Flag

                Bright Bee quilt

                Bright Pinwheels

                Bug Jar Quilt

                Bull’s-eye – 30’s

                Chicken makings

                Chicken strips leftover from making a purse (couldn’t find)

                Children’s book - Tidings

                Children’s book – Woodsy Wonders

                Children’s book Maisy

                Christmas -  Nature gift

                Christmas Diagonal

                Christmas Panel – Winter’s Evening

                Christmas squares (from Carol)

                Christmas Stockings (1)

                Christmas sweatshirt project

                Christmas tree skirt -- blue

                Coaster squares (table)

                Color guard pillow (under pressing table in bag)

                Color Wash from Carol

                Copper and teal quilt

                Courthouse step panels

                Cozy Days Quilt (under pressing table in cardboard box)

                Cozy kitten mystery blocks

                Crazy heart paper pieced

                Crazy stars

                Daisy Banner

                Dazzle

                Double Wedding Ring (near fabric drawers)

                Elvis Quilt

                Embroidery blocks

                Fall border

                Fall orange quilt

                Fall panel

                Fall Panels

                Fall Quilt

                Fall Square Quilt

                Fall Table runner

                Fall Yellow & Brown top

                Fancy Fox

                Feathered Star pieces

                Floral & Blue square in a square

                Flower quilt (hand quilting)

                Flower Shop Quilt

                Framed 4 patch (from Carol)

                Frog & flowers baby quilt

                Future Heirlooms (can’t get in touch with her)

                Gypsy Wife

                Halloween quilt

                Heart ornaments

                Heart Struck Runner

                Home in the Middle (Window)

                Horse Barn

                Imperfect Squares (29)

                Jo’s Club blue (by window)

                Jo’s Club red (by window)

                John Deere pillow

                Keri Bag

                Kim’s Pillow

                Landscape

                Leader /Ender 2.5”, 1.5”, 1” scrappy (on curtain)

                Liberty blocks

                Madam Mim

                Midnight Snowflake Wall Hanging

                Mini Scrap baskets

                Mira - Red Hat purse

                Misc panels

                Monkey ‘N Round

                Office going away squares

                Paper pieced block

                Paris

                Patches for Randy’s quilt

                Patriotic GMFG

                Patriotic panel (Lorena gave me)

                Patriotic stars

                Peacock

                Pink & Green Quilt Panel

                Pink & Purple 9 patches

                Pink & Purple QAYG for bag

                Pink Horse Quilt

                Pretty in Pink

                Purple and brown Baby Quilt

                Quilt Smart butterflies

                Quilter wall hanging panel

                Quilters Dream animal applique

                Red and Black pinwheels odd sized (4)

                Row By Row (by table)

                Run around bag

                Salsa

                Sampler Society BDB (window) 2014

                Shirting Half Square Triangle or Quarter Square Triangle quilt

                Shy Little Kitten panel

                Simply Woven

                Special Reach pillows

                Sunset/ Dragon leftovers

                Teal and blue BDB

                Tie Quilt

                Tinker Bell

                Tree - genealogy

                Triple Irish Chain

                T-shirt Yarn

                T-shirt quilt – random from Carol

                T-shirt quilt - Randy’s(in extra bedroom)

                Western Courthouse Steps

                Whimsy Playground

                Wool ornaments

                Yellow and Blue Birthday Blocks

                Yo yos

I've got this one done!

I don't have any quilts waiting to be quilted, so I'm good there.

164 listed UFOs for 2016.

Fabric usage

I was wondering how I'd been in using my FABRIC over the years.

I started tracking in 2006

Year	used	bought
2006	15.03	2.50
2007	211.30	37.00
2008	196.36	48.06
2009	106.53	63.25
2010	154.40	45.25
2011	180.75	11.75
2012	267.32	47.00
2013	148.67	51.75
2014	236.30	33.00
2015	355.12	30.75

1,871.78 yards of fabric used.

   370.31 yards of fabric bought

1,501.47 net decrease in my fabric stash

So, I've had my ups and downs in buying fabric.  If I could focus on 2011 and only buy a few yards each year, I'd be good.  I think I bought mostly backing fabrics this year.

I'll have to try and figure out the piecing of fabric backing again.  I used to do it, but have decided I didn't like quilting through them.

Just some interesting information for me to know that I really have used some fabric in the last 10 years.

Accountability

I can't show photos of what I'm working on right now because it is a test quilt.

It is made with the same block colored differently.

The method is different from what I normally do.

It is a good method, just different.

So, I'm finding I am having procrastination problems.

I have the first block done.

I have the second block all cut out.

I have the first step done.

I have the second step ready to do.

If I keep accountable and post what I'm working on, maybe I will focus and get it done.

I would like the flimsy done before NYE.

Guess I'd better get busy.

I'm also looking at patterns for the band T-shirt quilt.

Prairie Moon Final Countdown

Take a good hard look at your fabric stash

 

I have a fairly good organization going, but there is always room for improvement.

This is my string bin.

It sits right next to the sewing machine.

I've not made any string blocks this year, and that is why it is so overflowing.

My plan for 2016 is to incorporate string blocks into the UFOs I'm working on.

That will help with the string mess.

I don't know of any other way to store these.

A bigger container would be too awkward in the space I have.

My main fabric is stored in these two cabinets.

I color coded them and fold to fit the cabinet.

Each fold is about a yard of fabric, so there is plenty in there.

I went through this last year and I did thin most of it, so most is what I will use.

I will go through and straighten it for this challenge.

If I can consolidate some of the stacks, I will rearrange to fit the size of the stack. 

My batiks are overflowing because of finishing some of the UFOs and needing to put the fabric back on the shelf.

This side needs to be rearranged.

The fleece and minkee are on top of the cabinet and could be arranged so I know what is there.

I have the t-shrit material that I'm making into t-shirt yarn under the long arm.

My bolts of fabric are under the long arm too.

I need to remember they are there when I need them.

I don't really have any other place in the studio to store them. 

Scraps, scraps, scraps.

When I use a color, I make sure to fold and put it back in the drawer.

When I add to the drawer, I'm not so good.

It would be nice to go through and see if I can get these organized so things fit.

I've been using them in my UFOs, but when the UFO gets done, there are always strings and scraps to put away. 

I do have some pre-cuts in the top drawers.

I don't really like them, but it is a good place to store when you have leftovers.

I go to them when I need a certain size and color for projects.

I know my 6.5 inch squares are overflowing.

Guess I should plan something with them and reduce that drawer.

I think that is all the fabric storage I have.

I'll work on things for 15-20 minutes a day to get it in better shape.

Design Wall Monday

This is the annual band T-shirt for the auction.

Even though we are not in that band anymore, it will be fun to support them.

I already have the shirts, so why not? 

In cleaning out my UFOs, I found this little doll quilt.

I want to put another border of the black and white around it.

They strips are already made from some other quilt.

I just need to cut and sew together.

If I can quilt it quickly, that will be one more UFO for 2015 and one not on my 2016 list.

That will make me happy.

This is the last link up for the year.

2015 UFO listing

This is the listing left from the year.

I did a number of them, but ended up making more than one item out of each UFO.

That's sometimes discouraging, but I'm trying to focus on the process and not the list itself.

Now to update for 2016.

2. Alphabet BOM (by the window – apocketfulofmysteries)

3. America the Beautiful

5. Ann’s 2006 NYE Mystery Quilt

6. Ann’s 2009 NYE Mystery Quilt

9. Applique Pixie Garden (by window)

10. Applique Turtles (by window)

11. Applique turtles (window)

13. Ashley’s Art block

14. Baby clothing quilt – boy

15. Baby clothing quilt – girl

16. Basket block

18. Beginner/Ender hst long term project (2.5” used, curtain)

19. Black embroidered butterfly

20. Blue and beige misc

21. Bright Pinwheels

22. Bull’s-eye – 30’s

23. Casserole Cover

24. Cat swap blocks (12)

25. Charm Square tote Bag

26. Chicken makings

27. Chicken strips leftover from making a purse (couldn’t find)

28. Children’s book - Tidings

29. Children’s book – Woodsy Wonders

30. Chinese Coin strips

31. Christmas - Nature gift

34. Christmas Panel

35. Christmas skirt -- blue

36. Christmas squares (from Carol)

37. Christmas panels (3)

38. Christmas squares – 26 alphabet squares

39. Christmas sweatshirt project

40. Christmas tree – applique (by window)

41. Coaster squares

42. Cozy Days Quilt (under cutting table in cardboard box)

44. Color Wash from Carol

45. Copper and teal quilt

46. Cozy kitten mystery blocks

47. Crazy heart paper pieced

48. Crazy stars

49. Dino pre-quilted

51. Dolphin panel

52. Double Wedding Ring (near fabric drawers)

53. Elvis Quilt

54. Embroidery blocks

55. Eric Carle Quilt

56. Fall dress

57. Fall Quilt

58. Fall Yellow & Brown top

59. Feathered Star pieces

61. Flower quilt (hand quilting)

62. Framed 4 patch (from Carol)

63. Frog baby quilt

64. Future Heirlooms (can’t get in touch with her)

65. Girl Scout drawn patriotic wall hanging to be donated.

66. Halloween quilt

67. Hawaiian appliqué (pressing table)

68. Heart blocks

69. Heart ornaments

70. Heart Struck Runner

71. Home in the Middle (Window)

73. Hummingbird blocks

74. Imperfect Squares (29)

75. Insect swap

76. Jo’s club retreat teal and brown (green bag under cutting table)

77. John Deere pillow

78. Landscape

79. Leader /Ender 2.5”, 1.5”, 1” scrappy

80. Liberty blocks

81. Madam Mim

82. Map of Texas – the Lone Star State Quilt

83. Maze or Mahjongg (under pressing table)

84. Midnight Snowflake Wall Hanging

85. Mini Scrap baskets

86. Misc 12” blocks

87. Misc 4.5” blocks

89. Misc 7” blocks

90. Misc 9” blocks

91. Misc Cross Stitch outs

92. Misc Fall Blocks

93. Misc Odd sized blocks

94. Misc panels

95. Mount Rushmore

pattern

97. Office going away squares

98. Olivia Baby Quilt

99. Paper pieced block

100.Patches for Randy’s quilt

101.Patriotic GMFG

102.Patriotic panel

103.Patriotic panel (Lorena gave me)

104.Pink & Green pieces

105.Pink & Green Quilt Panel

106.Pink & Purple 9 patches

107.Pink & white strips

108.Pink Horse Quilt

110.Pretty in Pink

112.Purple and brown Baby Quilt

113.Purple and green 9 patches (7)

114.QBS Mystery Quilt

115.Quilter wall hanging panel

116.Race Track quilt - Patriotic

117.Red and Black pinwheels odd sized (4)

118.Red Hat purse - Mira

120.Run around bag

121.RWB flag wall hanging

122.Sampler Society BDB (window)

123.Sampler Society birthday block (by window)

124.Sea Quilt

125.Shirting Half Square Triangle or Quarter Square Triangle quilt

126.Shy Little Kitten panel

127.Snowflake Memory quilt

128.Stockings (1)

129.String quilt (in string container)

130.Sun kissed table runner #2

131.Teal and blue BDB

133.Texas Panel leftovers

134.Thanksgiving wall hanging

135.Tie Quilt

136.Trip Around Texas

137.Triple Irish Chain

138.T-shirt quilt – Ashley’s(in extra bedroom)

139.T-shirt quilt - Randy’s(in extra bedroom)

140.T-shirt quilt – random from Carol

141.Under the Sea Quilt

142.Wall hangings - patriotic

143.Western Courthouse Steps

144.Western Sunset

145.Whimsy Playground

146.Yellow and Blue Birthday Blocks

147.Yo yos

148.Batik & Black QST (left from Batik 9 patches)

149.Zippered pouches from Carol