Projects Half Done (PhD) Challenge

Ok, Myra has done it again . . .

Thrown out that challenge that just makes me want to prove to myself that I CAN do this.  I start all these wonderful things and then something new comes along and POOF! I’m sidetracked again.  This morning I grabbed up my camera and started walking around my sewing room taking photos of projects that are started and not completed.  That was all the humiliation push that I needed to take the bull by the horns.

So, I’ve signed up over at the PhD Challenge blog and if you want to join all us (I think there are 53 of us now!), you have until tomorrow night at midnight to sign up.  How many PhD’s can I get done between January 1, 2011 and June 30th, 2011? 

The following is my list of shame . . .

#1

This was a mystery quilt that I have been working on and it still requires one more border with some appliquéd words on it.  Need to find the right print for that final border though, so that will require a shopping trip.

 

#2

The borders have been decided for this one and just need to be cut and attached.  Also have plans for another quilt using the scraps from this one – we won’t include that one in the PhD challenge though!

#3

This was from a class that I took about 4 years ago and it has been hanging in my quilt room ever since.  The border fabrics are bought and just need sewn on.  I think what stopped me four years ago from finishing this one was that I didn’t know how to machine quilt back then . . . or if I did, I didn’t have the confidence to dive into this one.  Now I think I know what I want to do and I’m going to commit to getting this off my sewing room wall and hung up where it was intended to go in the first place.

 

#4

Is the Hopscotch pattern . . . and

 

I don’t like my fabrics!  BUT . . . I’m going to commit to getting it done.  The wool is all picked out and sitting on my cutting table to make the appliqués and then get her layered up and quilted . . . I have six months after all – right??

 

#5

The backing fabric came for this just before Christmas so I’m ready to get this one done also . . . just need the time.

 

#6

This one was a workshop that I had taken a couple of years ago now.  Just last month I pulled out all the pieces and put the blocks together and then the quilt top . . . all ready to layer and quilt.

 

#7

This was supposed to be a tree skirt for this Christmas.  Once again – not happy with the colors I chose, but the backing fabric has arrived and it is ready to be layered and quilted also.

 

#8

Here’s an easy one (I think!) . . . The appliqués are all done up and ready to be stitched down and then it’s ready to layer up and quilt and tuck away for October, 2011.  I’m going to be ready for Halloween this year!

 

#9

This is a Sipiweske original and I don’t know where I went off the rails with this one but it’s been almost four years since it was started.  It has never been tucked into a drawer though . . . it remains out in plain view to taunt me for my procrastinating ways.  It’s time I showed it who’s boss!!!!

So there we have it . . . “9”, NINE – I tell you, NINE projects half done . . . can I really do it?  Keep reading and you’ll see that I could have gone with more than nine, but even I know when to cry “uncle”!  So the rest are goals for the remainder of 2011 – after June 30th.

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To Complete in 2011

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Bunny Hill BOM – still need to complete a bit of embroidery and then setting everything together and quilting.

 

The Brandon group’s BOM – garden theme.  A couple of blocks to complete and then finding a layout.  Plus quilting.

Great intentions from last year never came true!  Still love this quilt and haven’t lost my enthusiasm to make it – I lost the time somewhere along the line though.  One block done, fabrics chosen for the remaining eight – would love to get this one made . . . love it, love it!!!

Also another one that I love and can’t wait to get going on . . . so far only the one block cut out and ready to go, although I had fun one day deciding which fabrics/prints I wanted to use on the other blocks. Would like this one done for Fall 2011.

Have most of the blocks made for this quilt . . . still ironing out some of the details for the remaining couple.  Original designs always are a work in progress and this one is no exception.  The Fresh Cotton fabric is gorgeous and I think this one will be a favorite – if I ever get it done!!!

What plans do you have for 2011?  Joining a PhD group?

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone is all ready for Santa's arrival.

My last gift went out the door on Wednesday night and I even found the time to make a cute little gift tag to go with it.  Really easy stuff and I think it will make a great little Christmas tree ornament once it comes off the gift.

This one finished up just as easy as the first one did . . . only difference between the two were some of the fabrics of course and this one has plain meander quilting while the other one had loopy meandering.  Gotta make one of these for my Christmas table next year - too cute!!!!

 I even managed to get the cookies baked for Santa.  Mind you there have been a few going missing here and there ever since they came out of the oven, but I've got a couple tucked away and Santa won't be going hungry at our house.

Merry Christmas!

Counting Down . . .



I'm almost ready!!! 

and this little guy came to the rescue . . . just in the nick of time.

The two of these came to together in almost no time flat and one headed out the door this morning for delivery.

Of course I couldn't locate a pattern for them, but had a photo from last year and sat down and drew out the basics.  I love these little guys and need to get one on my table for next Christmas - my hat is off to the gal who designed these little guys - they make me smile everytime I see them.  

  I am also managing to keep up on my group's BOM . . . well almost . . . when these ones were shown we also received the next one.  Something to work on between Christmas and New Years maybe?

How are your holiday sewing projects coming along?  Everyone done?!?!?!!?



OMG – I’m In A Mess . . .

I’ve lost track of the number of projects that are underway!

My sewing room looks like a whirlwind of inactivity and that just needs to change – and soon!

There are pieces of that and pieces of the other – everywhere.  There are leftovers, scraps and things waiting for things.

Here is something completed . . . a little Christmas gift that needed done for “soon”.  I also picked up some more flannel to make a couple of more (if I can find some time).  This pattern works up really quick and if I make two or three at a time and do the steps assembly-line style, I’d be done before I even started – almost.  I just noticed in the photo that my mitten is for a righty and the one on the pattern front is a lefty – is that an oops or just being creative?!?!!?

I did start machine quilting another Christmas gift (quilt) this morning and I don’t even see it in any of the photos – must have been under something else at the time.  Nope . . . wait . . . I think it might be over there on the ironing board.  Anyway, it is now underway and once I get the machine all set for quilting I like to keep at that one project – maybe by week’s end it will be ready for some binding – let’s cross our fingers!

Christmas is coming . . . and quick . . .  

The winner is . . .

I just got back from RANDOM.ORG and punched in the numbers 1-64 . . . the lucky winner is #50 . . .



Northernknitter said:  Oh my b-day is on thursday this would be so fun to win!  I'm dreaming that the quilt faerie will come and clean up my sewing area so I can get rid of the guilts!

How fun is that?  A birthday winner . . . congrats Northernknitter!

I'll be in touch tomorrow . . . if you see this before I get an email off to you, please send me your mailing information.

Thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway and especially for all the wonderful comments.  You've cheered up my Season and I'm hoping that I can now get moving on all the Christmas sewing that I need to get to - your good wishes have rejuvenated me!

Thank you!!!!

Bad News and Good News

First of all I want to thank everyone who has stopped by and left such wonderful comments on my blog as well as over at the Moda Bakeshop - I really appreciate each and every comment!

Now for the bad news . . . I can't believe how many of you gals who left me such beautiful comments are set to - NO-REPLY.

I would love to reply to your comments, but I can't. {insert a very sad face here}. So we can't let this continue . . . we CAN fix this!!!!

What is a NO-REPLY blogger?

You may not even know that you are a NO-REPLY blogger. But don't worry!  Follow these instructions to see if you are a NO-REPLY blogger:

1.  Sign in to Blogger and bring up your Dashboard or Profile Page. Click on EDIT PROFILE.

2.  In the third box down (SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS) there should be a check mark in it and then scroll down some more; see the section titled IDENTITY. See the box labeled EMAIL ADDRESS. Your email address should be in that box.

3.  If there is no email in that box or if you don't have the Show My Email Address box checked. You are a NO-REPLY blogger.

So here's your assignment for the day. Check your PROFILE. Are you a NO-REPLY blogger?

Use the instructions above to make sure your email is in your profile, and email me with your comments before tomorrow night to get in on the giveaway for the little tablerunner.

If you want to remain NO-REPLY, just please remember to put your email address in the body of your email.

Now for the good news . . . for all you bloggers who do have an email associated with your blog - YOU ARE MOST DEFINITELY IN THE DRAW!!!  Actually your chances just may be better than you think because of the number of NO REPLY comments that I received.  Of course these gals still have a chance to get their actual addresses to me if they leave me a comment before tomorrow night.

There is also some medium good/bad news - for anyone who is set as NO REPLY and if one of your names is drawn, I will still post the winners name and then place a deadline for them to respond to me.  If there is no response then I will have to redraw and repeat.

So good luck everyone . . . pop over and check your profiles!!!!

Now on to other news:

If you get a chance to head over and take a peek at this over at the Green Fairy blog make sure you stop and drool on this photo . . . I wish I could machine quilt like that!!!

Also - don't blame me if you pull out your credit card - you won't find any better pricing on pre-cuts around . . . I LOVE this site!!!!

AND . . . have you ever played Holly Jolly Bingo?  It is so much fun and it's back again for the second round!  But be quick . . . it starts tomorrow so get over there and choose your words and get registered and ready.

See you Saturday . . .

Dream On . . .

Yes, here in Manitoba we are in the cold, snowy grip of Olde Man Winter already and my dreams turn to owning a lovely cabin in the woods.

Maybe with a lovely fire crackling in a beautfiul stone fireplace . . . watching the sun sinking low . . . curled up on the sofa . . .

. . . dreaming of Spring!

Yes, there has been some sewing going on here in the past couple of months and this design is now ready to share with everyone over at the Moda Bakeshop.  I hope you get a chance to head on over and have a look at this pattern - even if you didn't want to tackle the whole quilt (and it's not difficult!), you could make just one block and make it into an extra happy, cheerful pillow top. . . .

or . . .

. . . make two blocks and make it into a small tablerunner.  Of course you could make four or more blocks to make the tablerunner the right size for your table . . . it just so happens that I have a nice small area that needed a short tablerunner and I just happened to make two of them!

Wonder what I should do with the second one?  If you would like to get your name in to win the second tablerunner just leave me a comment before midnight, Friday, December 10th and I'll announce the winner on December 11th.

If you want to make your own you can follow the directions posted over at the Moda Bakeshop or you can decide to skip some of the applique and use rick rack for the flower stems and skip all those buttons ( I LOVE buttons!!!) and make yo-yo's in whatever size you want. 

I also LOVE yo-yos so it was lots of fun to make the two versions.

So click on the comment button and let me know what you're dreamin' of - is it something for Christmas?  Looking forward to Spring like me?  Or dreaming of that cabin in the woods . . . which by the way is not mine . . . that's why I'm dreaming - right?

Have a great week and I'll be back on Saturday!

Bad, Bad Blogger

I’ve lost it!

My motivation, my zest, my get-up-and-go – everything . . . got up and went!!!  

    

I think it was the municipal – stupid- convention . . . it just sucks the enthusiasm out of life and then there’s nothing.

No incentive, no desire, no wanna-get-it-dones – just nothing.

Sure I’ve started a few things . . .

worked on a couple of old things that still need to be finished before the 24th.

Plan on starting something new again tomorrow . . . just to try and rejuvenate some enthusiasm – maybe.

    

I’ve been to a Saturday quilting day – a couple of weeks ago . . . love what Karen has been working on.

Makes me almost want to go and make some HST – almost.

Here’s hoping for a great weekend – I hope you get to do everything that you were wishing for.

I WILL be back on Monday with a giveaway that ties in with some baking that I did a while back.

Stay tuned . . .

A Week Late and a Dollar Short . . .

. . . although maybe the Golden Boy could help me out with the dollar part (he's not really gold I'm told - darn!).

Last Tuesday we headed into Winnipeg for a "do" at the Manitoba Legislative Buildings.  My hubby was receiving a plaque for long-term service with the Manitoba Government and we were invited in for a tour, munchies and the presentation.  I've lived in Manitoba for a good number of years (I'm not telling!) and this is the first time I've ever been to the Legislative Buildings.  A lot of schools used to do school trips but I never hit it lucky there.  Actually going now was probably more interesting than going as a youngster with a whole gang of people the same age.  We appreciate things more when we're just that tad bit older :)

We got there a little early just to make sure we got a parking spot close by and had some time to wander around the grounds for a while.  What a gorgeous day it was - November 9th and we even saw a few dandelions hanging around - hardy little beggars, aren't they!

I love these polar bear!.  The artistic license that each maker used is remarkable - I wish had got there earlier so that I could have had a closer look at each one.

This is the River Walk . . . but I don't think anyone better try walking down there right now.  Manitoba rivers, streams and creeks are seeing their highest levels in any one's recent memory for this time of year.  Once this all freezes and it snows on top of it - what will the Spring bring - lots of forecasted flooding.

I took a few photos inside the Legislative Buildings, but I think this one was the best - I love the statues and the beautiful marble and the architecture is amazing.  Always amazes me with the detail in these older buildings . . . we have all the conveniences of modern tools and equipment and yet none of the new buildings I have seen recently can measure up to the scale of these amazing structures.  The good old, quick and easy approach is the way we do it today . . . I suppose that goes for quilting also!

Lovely snowfall on Thursday, plus a ton of frost yesterday morning . . . temperatures are certainly changing.  Calling for snow possibly for today - Winter is here.

And . . . I did some digging in my vintage sewing supplies the other day . . . not to be revealed until December 6th I'm told . . .

Did some more sewing on my circle quilt and I can certainly see it done in a dozen other color ways different than this one.  Not sure where this one is going to go . . .

I lapsed in my last post by not mentioning where the pattern came from - this is an excellent book for all kinds of circular quilts.  I hope to try another one at some point and will certainly keep this book in my stash.

Oh, I got bored on the weekend.  Actually inspired was more like it.  What do you think of this one?  It's not an original, but one that I had seen elsewhere and thought it would be pleasing to the eye.  A Christmas gift for someone maybe?

Have a great week!