Never Just One Thing {WIP Wednesday}

I am always hoping that I will only have ONE thing to share on WIP Wednesday, but I can never manage it.  I always wonder what everyone is thinking about me!!!

Finishes:

Blush and Bashful Quilt

My Aunt's quilt is done.

I just finished the quilt label last night so I can mail it off to her!

 

Charlie's Whale Song Quilt

Complete. 

 It and a few other things are on their way to Seattle as I type and you read. 

I am going to post his final quilt photos/post Thursday.  

 It will be my kickoff post for the online auction that I have been involved in for he and his family! 

 Keep an eye out!

In Progress:

Giant Christmas Star

I have this mess up on my design wall. 

I am rearranging to try to get the perfect balance.

  I REALLY need this to go quick!

Shuffle The Deck

Is loaded on my longarm. 

 I am praying for a certain wee one to sleep in this morning so I can quilt it before he wakes up and gets into my business. I am going simple meander for this one.

 New Project:

Pajama Memory Quilt

There are two bins filled to the brim with a friend's pajamas.  It's a long story and I will share all the details in the near future.  I can tell you that they have been at my house since Spring.  I need to scan them and get her a mockup of the pattern to her by this Friday.

Why Friday?

SCRAPBOOK RETREAT TIME!!

She will be there and I "see" her tapping her foot with her arms crossed in my head!

(in her defense, she won't...she is too nice for that.  I'm more worried I will disappoint her)

The biggest problem is that I am excited to see my friends and work on my family albums,.

However, that I am completely unprepared. No photos or any new supplies.

Based on my past, do you think I can get all of the things I need to get done in time?!?!?

Because I certainly just couldn't just have ONE thing, right?

 

Blush and Bashful {Quilt}

Shelby: "My colors are blush and bashful".
M'Lynn: "Her colors are pink and pink."
Shelby: "My colors are blush and bashful Momma."
"Pink is my signature color"

-Steel Magnolias

This quilt is for my aunt.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer.  I spent a long time trying to figure out what pattern I was going to use, but I knew I wanted pink as a main color. But not too much pink.

Luckily, my good friend, Tracy at Traceyjay Quilts, was destashing around that time!  

Blush by Moda.

Then I became distracted in the early fall by a lump I found.  Breast cancer and lymphoma were thrown my way.   Lots of tests, doctor visits, and surgery in December distracted me from my mission to make her a quilt.
Edited to add: To new visitors, I don't want to mislead, I was cleared after my lump removal
It was just a scare for me, thank goodness.

I was paging through my new Simply Fat Quarters, while recovering, and stumbled on the Poppy pattern.  It was a marriage made in heaven!

The only REAL dilemma I had the entire time, was my background choice.

I fiddled with white, cream and stone, but finally chose pale flesh.
THE WORST NAME Kona has ever created.  I couldn't stand saying it in my head, so I switched it to  Bashful because it is the palest of pinks. (are you listening out there in the blogesphere Kona?)  

The quilting was inspired by the original. I had planned to do a pantograph, but really liked the floral effect.  It wasn't my shining planning moment, because I honestly only had a small photo to try to mimic.

But it works for me. I am curious to see how it crinkles up when I wash it.  It still needs a label too!

I am really happy that I finally finished it.  Much later than I wanted, but it is still very much needed, unfortunately.  She now is back on chemo and radiation.  The cancer has spread to her spine.

If you are the praying kind...send them in the general direction of the middle of Illinois, okay?

I apologize that I don't have more pictures.  My camera decided to act naughty and both batteries crashed...despite recharging. Time to figure that out!

 Maybe I will just bore you with more pictures in the future?

WIP: Round Up

Time for me to round up all of my WIPs!  Things have been hopping around here since our return from vacation.  Uniforms to buy.  Uniforms to embroider.  School supplies.  

Fun stuff.

But I have squeezed a bit here and there.

Finishes:

Beach Bums

I finished a special bathroom artwork for the little boys.  

Such a tease, I know...stay tuned for the full pictures this week!

In Progress:

Trick or Treat (2)

I am at the finish line.  I was commissioned to make a second charm quilt from the Deb Strain collection.  

Still love it.  Binding here I come!

Argyle Quilt

My long term hexie project doesn't seem terribly long lately.

I just have one more blue "diamond" to complete. 

And then I can take on the large connecting gray diamonds!

Blush Quilt

My aunt is visiting my family next week.  My goal is to have this ready for her by then!

I had a mess up and added borders without sashing last week and it sorta set me back mentally.

But now I have a new panto for it and am excited to get this on my longarm machine this week.  Maybe even tomorrow?

New Project:

Whale Song

A simple patchwork quilt is planned with this stack of fabrics.

It's for a special baby boy.  I am using the orange from the mermaid's hair to make a pop!

Now back to the grind.....

Ain't Nooobody Got Time For That

It's been a rough week.

I managed to score a trip to my asthma/allergist yesterday to find out I have bronchitis.  I've been fighting allergies for over a month and a horrible cough for over a week now and they won.
Why did I fight so long?
  Frankly, to quote Sweet Brown,
"Ain't nobody got time for that!"

It figures.  I finally was cruising and things have to come to a standstill.  Again.  But progress.  Enough progress for WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced!

At the Cutting Table:

Blush and Bashful Quilt

My aunt's quilt pieces are all cut out.  

Including the color with the dreadful name, Pale Flesh.  Not Kona's finest moment.  But I have to admit, it is a GREAT color for dolls like my Not So Raggedy Ann.

I felt like Hannibal Lecter cutting into it.  I also was watching Snow White and the Huntsman at the time.  All the talk about cutting out her heart and eating it will forever be burned in my mind!

But I am pleased with the choice now that I have committed to it.  I think it will bring a soft feminine touch to the deep browns and reds that are in the prints.

At the Sewing Machine:

Cat in the Hat

I finished cutting out all the pieces and have made significant progress piecing it.

 I am getting really close to the layout process!

On the Design Board:

Stars and Stripes Quilt

The star hexi panel is 95% complete.  I finished piecing it, but need to address the falling stars.  

I posted on Facebook my feelings about it.  I finished it while riveted to the Boston Marathon coverage on television.  Irony or destiny that the last stitches were made when the doctors came out to update on all the victims statuses?  I'm not sure, but it was perfect timing.  I had looked down sad and dejected.  My view? This on my lap.  And suddenly, I couldn't help think about the history of our flag in this country.  I had the image from my childhood memories.  A cartoon of a lady in a rocking chair, stitching the original Stars and Stripes while a war for freedom raged.  I know our nation is still in it's infancy, in many respects, and I know that we are feisty and strong.  We will endure.

The red, white/black hexies demanded to be started right away.  Layout commenced Sunday night, so two full rows have already been completed by the time I closed my eyes last night.

 See? Feisty and strong.

I am actually getting more and more excited about this project because Mr. Boss and I have decided that it will be a wall hanging, not a throw like my plan.   

Oh, and clarification...this is NOT my own design.  It is from the book HexaGoGo

On the Long Arm:

I have my first "customer" quilt ready and willing to be sandwiched by me!  But first, I have to get better so I can stand at long enough increments.  In the meantime, I am making final decisions about thread color and quilt design!

But. Like always.  It will all have to halt soon. My second scrapbook retreat of the year approaches and I am not ready for it.  I need to select, edit, and print February through now.  As long as I am done coughing up a lung by Friday, that is.

What is everyone else up to?  Anything stopping you from using up your sew-jo?

Stash

Ever since Monday when I posted the giveaway and started reading everyone's comments, I started thinking about how quilters use the term stash for their fabric! 

According to the urban dictionary?

We all sound like we are drug addicts or something!!

Which brings me to what I am calling my Black Friday haul that I mentioned on Wednesday.

First, my awesome friend Bree at Distant Pickles messaged me to let me know Joann's was offering their 40 yd roll of Warm and Natural batting for $209.99. It is normally $449.00. Not to mention she shared a free shipping code with me. Wow, right?!?! It was too good to pass up.

I wish I had a better photo of my box and batting, but it is too heavy for me to lift right now.  The boys plopped into the garage.  Just picture it as a HUGE roll of batting.  I think I will have enough batting for the next ten years....or maybe not?

________________

I also noticed that my Facebook quilting friends were abuzz about the sale on craftsy.com. I just had an email yesterday and it seems they are still having some really decent deals on pre-cuts! Since I had birthday money I shopped for the first time for bundles that I loved. No plans. No particular person in mind. 

Riley Blake!! 

I couldn't pass them up.  Recently, I have really been intrigued by their lines and wanted them!

Fly a Kite, Scoot, and Simple Life FQ Bundles and Fox Trails Layer Cake

I also picked up these extra pre-cuts. 

 Scamper bundle,  Chicopee design roll, and Bernatex.  

________________________

Oh....and it doesn't end there! 

 My friend Tracey at Traceyjay Quilts was destashing.  I couldn't pass it by.  

Blush.  
Yardage and about 32 Fat Quarter cuts.

  Perfect for the quilt I have planned for my aunt who is battling breast cancer!

_____________

I am wondering....how many of you took advantage of all the amazing Black Friday sales?!?!

  I used to hate having my birthday right before Thanksgiving as a kid.  It seemed that everyone was distracted about the coming holiday.  But, now?  I think I am starting to like it!!!!

Speaking of stash....it isn't too late to enter the giveaway for the Amy Butler bundle.

I think it would look very nice in ANYONE's stash!!!