Slacking Again

Excuses, excuses, excuses....story of my life, which is why I never seem to get the hang of regular posts.

I have been busy quilting--rather piecing. Here's a photo of what I locked myself in my workroom with the weekend before last.

This is the 2007 Thangles Buck a Block...my very first piecing project. It got better as the months progressed. I actually did finish the blocks in 2007, they just sat in a box while I made the 2008 Buck a Block blocks. Now that I've started the 2009 (which I really like the color combo), I thought it might be a good idea to go back and actually finish the ones I've finished.

I made up the sashing and sashing squares (which used leftover fabric from the blocks). It will have a light blue print backing. All that remains is to whip out the 'sandwich table' and put it together...oooh, I can use my new curved safety pins my daughter put in my Christmas stocking.

I seem to be avoiding doing that, probably because once I do I'm comitted to machine quilting, and it's just a bit larger than the last piece I freemotioned on my 1260. So this weekend I pulled out my Baltimore Blues applique blocks and finished one block and started another. Sometimes it just feels right to do some hand sewing.

Hopefully I'll do a little quilting this weekend. Or maybe I'll pull out the Babylock and learn how to serge...Lord knows I've had that machine for 5 years now and never even plugged it in.

I've also got a Santa I'd like to make (Beachwalker)--yep, the one I've been procrastinating about for the past 2 years--ever since Cap'n Jack was finished, but I'm still not feeling the doll-making creative vibe enough for that one. I need a beach trip for some inspiration, so he may have to stand down until we get back from Hawaii, though I have been thinking it might be fun to just suck up the 3 hour drive and hop in the car and head to the Eastern Shore for a little Winter Beach Walk.

Black and White Challenge Project

To show that I'm not slacking, I'm attaching a photo of a work in progress. The plan is to make a throw for my daughter using a black and white jelly roll she gifted me for Christmas this year. To spice it up, I'm going to sash in red and the backing is a most excellent Moda red with white print.

I've got 4 block patterns going, two opposites in each pattern (swapping black for white in the pattern I'm using).

The plan is to use the 2-1/2" strips to create 8 striped blocks and 8 checkerboard squared blocks as well. Though I may need to cut that to a smaller number once I see how it's working out size-wise.

No real pattern here, just using some of the Thangle block patterns from the 2007 Thangles BOM. (I love using Thangles--so much cheaper than rotary cutter blades and band-aids).

Two more blocks to put together for the 2008 Thangles BOM. Need to find a good print fabric for that one. Lots of wild colors going on there. (It's the swatch ring on the far right). Last night I started on the final two blocks, and tonight I'll finish them and post a photograph of the 12 blocks.

Considering that I still haven't put together the 2007 Thangles BOM (swatch ring on far left), it's time I finished something before I run up to 'far north' Frederick this weekend to pick up the first block in the 2009 series. I really don't want to become a collector of unfinished pieces of quilts. I'd much rather be known for finishing what I started (hmm.....wait.....how many half finished needlepoint and crewel projects are in a box in my basement right now, and have been there for 30 years?).

Well, I'm not going to be an 'old dog'. It may be too late for those needlework projects, but I will finish every quilt I've started this year. (fingers crossed)

(........Well, ............maybe not ALL those Baltimore Album applique blocks... )