2018 Planning Party with Quilting Jetgirl

You may click here to see my 2017 goals.

I am linking up with Yvonne AKA Quilting JET Girl for the 2018 Planning Party. 

If you click on the link above you can see my goals I posted from the 2017 Planning Party.  I did fall short of my goals but I did make a bullet list journal and didn't do too bad but life got in the way! This year I decided to invest in the Quilters' Planner with Stephanie Palmer.  I have been looking it over and pondering my plans ever since I got it and I think I am ready to roll in 2018.

My 2017 goals included making one quilt a week including the binding.  I only made 35 and most of them were queen size with some smaller and some larger.  But, I did finish 35 quilts that I don't have to do this year! I also worked on organizing my stash, but I still have a long way to go for that.

2018 Planning

Using my new planner, I have chosen 3 main goals for the year.

1. Empty garage of all moving boxes - I have been moved in for a year now and still have a 3 car garage full of boxes!  Oh my!  I am hoping to get one box emptied each day until it is done. I also plan to take before and after pics.

2. Sort all fabric - That seems to be a never-ending project but I have decided to start each week with a reasonable goal for sorting fabric for the week with before and after pics.  I forgot to  mention that I still have fabric in containers in the garage! Oh my!  

3.  Keep house clean - Now, my house isn't dirty, but I like to keep a handle on things and I figure if I make a plan, then I can work it around my quilting and I reference Cynthia Brunz's blog title "Quilting is more fun than Housework!"  I can assure you that I'd rather be quilting!

Well, I have all of this written in my Quilters' Planner so lets's see how I manage everything.

I wish everyone their best in keeping up with their goals.

I am linking up with Yvonne AKA Quilting JET Girl for the 2018 Planning Party. Please click on the link to see how others are planning their new year!

Pam

Linking up with OMG - One Monthly Goal

Blocks from the Growing Up QAL 2017

Another layout of the blocks

OMG - One Monthly Goal

This is my first time to link up with OMG.  My goal is to decide on the layout for these QAL Blocks, get it basted, quilted and bound.  I am hoping that I can encourage myself to get this done if I make the commitment!  At some point, I will probably just close my eyes and pick the sashing and go with it!

Please click here to go to Elm Street Quilts and see what others are planning to do.

November Block Growing Up QAL

November Block

This is the last month for this QAL.  There have been a lot of different techniques this year.  Alida has given us quite a challenge! 

Layout of some of the blocks.

Auditioning Layouts

Click here to go to Alida's blog to check out what others are doing with these blocks!  While you are there, you can check out her 2018 QAL.  She has already given the layout and inspiration.  It should be a fun year ahead!

October Block 2 - Growing Up QAL

October Block 2
This is the second block which Alida offered this month. The technique is paper piecing.

Click HERE to see what others have done with this block.

Growing up QAL October Block 1

Block One - Paper Pieced

I am linking up with Alida and the others who are participating in this QAL.  Hop on over to see what others have made by clicking HERE.

Quilt Finishes for 2017 #31-35

My 2017 Goal
It was my plan to complete one quilt a week.  I was doing pretty good until life got in the way.  I don't know if I will catch up, but I am certainly going to give it a try!  According to the calendar, I am only 7 behind after this post!

Finish #31
This was a Saturday Sampler from my local quilt shop. I think it was from 2008.  The top was mostly finished, I just needed to add the piano key border and quilt it.
This one finishes at 72" x 88"

Add caption

Finish #32
This was a Christmas Row x Row from Fat Cat Patterns.
All I really needed to finish this one was the side trees, the gingerbread men, and to quilt it.
This one finishes at 84" square.

Finish #33
This was my first attempt at a weighted blanket.  It is for a little 4 year-old boy with autism and life threatening asthma.
I followed the instructions for the proper size and weight. It is 36"x42"
I will deliver it to him (his family) this week.

Back
I was so proud of myself.  I was down to my last two pockets to fill with the pellets and I hadn't lost a one yet.  Uh oh, somehow the last two pockets of pellets ended up in my lap!  I can see that  my vacuum will be picking up pellets for a long time!

Finish #34
This quilt is for the 3 year-old sister of the little boy with autism.  I just felt like she should have a blanket too.
It is 42" x 48"

Back

Finish #35
This quilt is for the 13 year-old sister of the little boy with autism.  I felt like she probably needed something special too.
Size: 64" x 72"

Back

Growing Up QAL - September Block 2

Block 2

This is block 2 of the Growing Up QAL with Alida.

Please click here to see the blocks the other participants are making.

Linking up with Alida for the September Block

September Block

I am linking up with Alida and the Growing Up Quilt Along Group.

Please click here to how others have made their blocks.

Growing Up QAL August Blocks

Bargello Block 1

Bargello Block 2

This month there were two variations of the bargello block.

Please click HERE to check out how others are making their blocks!

Gen X Quilters' Hoop Quilt Along

14" Hoop Quilts

I kept seeing posts of AnneMarie's Hoop Quilts and finally bought her pattern.  Shortly after that, she hosted a Hoop Quilt Along.  I decided that was a good time to start.  I have several hoops that I don't use and I picked the two that happened to be handy.  I certainly need to improve my handwork skills but I am still satisfied with my first attempt at the hoop quilts.
I am looking forward to making more of them (when I come across the rest of my hoops!)

Please check out her website at GEN X QUILTERS here!

30th Finish for 2017

30th Finish for 2017

Baby Panel

I don't remember how long I have had this panel, but it has been trying to get me to quilt it for at least a year now.  Every time I open the closet I see it sitting there waiting for me to make it whole.  Now it just needs someone to cuddle with it.

Backing

I just outlined the panels and the characters and put a simple ribbon candy in the outside borders.

Quilt Info

Size:  43" x 50"

Batting:  100% Polyester

Quilting on my Innova sitdown long arm machine.

29th Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

29th Finish for 2017

This quilt is from a swap sometime around 2008.  I am not sure about the date.  I wound up with 24 blocks and some were more boyish and some more feminine so I chose to make a boy and girl one. (see 28th finish for the girl one).

You can find the free pattern HERE. 

Back of quilt shows the outline of the cars.

Quilt Info

Size:  56" x 70"

Batting:  100% polyester

Quilted on my Innova sitdown long arm machine.

28th Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

28th Finish for 2017

These cars were from a swap with Sindy at Fat Cat Patterns.  I think it was about 2008.

If you are interested, you can find the free pattern by clicking HERE.

Quilt Info

SIZE:  55" x 70"

BATTING:  polyester

Quilted on my Innova sit down long arm machine.

Growing Up QAL July Block 2

Block 2

Growing Up QAL with Alida.  You can click HERE to see what others have done with this block.

Growing up QAL July Block

July Block - Growing Up QAL

I am linking my block up with Alida and the other quilters who are working on the Growing Up QAL.

Please click HERE to see what everyone has been doing.

Linking up with RSC17 Blue

RSC17 Color of the Month is Blue

 I have chosen to make the Moda Pattern "Lawn Chair Quilt" which you can find for free on the Moda Bake Shop website.

I am linking up with Angela and all of her quilting buddies at SoScrappy.  Please click HERE to see what everyone has been doing with their blue fabric.

#27 Quilted and Bound

#27 for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

This is my rendition of Lori Kennedy's latest spring QAL.

You can find the link below.  Mine is a lot longer than hers.  I had a bunch of HSTs waiting for a project, so I thought this would be a good time to get them sewn up!

You can find the link to this QAL here!

Linking up to Wednesday Weight Loss

An old swap from Fat Cat Patterns

I decided to get out my car blocks from a swap I did with Sindy at Fat Cat Patterns.  I think it was around 2008.  I have 24 blocks and some seemed a little "girly" and some seemed a little "boyish" so I tried to sort them where I could make a more feminine one and a more boyish one.  I am still auditioning the sashing for the girl one on the left.  I still need to do the horizontal sashing on the boy one on the right.

I am linking up with Jennifer at the Inquiring Quilter for Wednesday's Weight loss.  You can find the link here.

Having a Little Fun

Sewtogether Bags

I just love these bags.  They are a little tedious to put together, but I think I have finally gotten my "groove" making these bags.  They are so versatile.  Every time someone sees them they make a comment on how they would use them.  Everyone sees something different.  

This pattern can be found on Craftsy.

Sew-in Coin Purses

I have been wanted to make these for a while but I was really intimidated by them until I read a post by Mayra at So Sew Easy.  The link is here.

I also watched a few YouTube videos, but my main help was the encouragement from Mayra.  She made it sound so easy and it is!

HURRAY! HALF-WAY THROUGH 2017!!!

2017 FINISHED QUILTS!

I am pretty excited and a little disappointed. 

My goal for 2017 was to completely finish one quilt per week which would add up to 52 quilts by the end of December!

I am excited because I am on target for my goal.

I am a little disappointed to see that all of my quilts are stacked and they just don't seem as tall as I expected they would.  I am only missing quilt #24 because it is currently on my grandson's bed!

There are a total of 25 quilts stacked and most of them are queen or full size.

I knew I had a lot of quilts to finish and this is only the tip of the iceberg!

26th Quilt for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

Quilt #26 for 2017

 Made HSTs with 10" squares sewn around the edges of two squares, right sides together then cut them diagonally to make 4 HSTs.

Berenstain Bears Backing

I just happened to have enough fabric for the border and backing. 

I don't have much novelty fabric but this seemed to do the trick!

Quilt Info

Size:  55" square

Batting:  SewPerfect Polyester by Fairfield

Quilted on my Innove Sitdown Longarm Machine

NOTE:  No fabric, batting or thread was purchased in 2017 to complete this quilt.

25th Finish of 2017 - Quilted and Bound

Layer Cake Sampler QAL - 2014

 This QAL was sponsored by Material Girls Quilt in 2014.  This was a fun project making all of these blocks from HSTs using 10" squares.  I can't believe it took me so long to get it quilted.  The pictures don't do it justice.  Here is a link to the pattern and QAL.

Backing

I was surprised at how nice the backing came out.  I didn't have quite enough fabric so I put a few strips of white in between the two fabrics.

QUILT INFO

Size:  80" x 98"

Batting: Hobbs 80/20 bleached

Quilted on my Innova Sitdown long arm

NOTE: The only thing purchased for this quilt in 2017 was the bleached batting.

Second June Block with Growing Up QAL

All of the blocks to date

Second June Block

I am linking up with Alida at the Growing Up QAL.  You can click HERE to see what others are making this year.

Linking up with Alida with the Growing Up QAL

June Block

My first June block in the Growing Up QAL with Alida.  You can click HERE to see what the others have been making this month.

24th Finish for 2017 - Quilted and Bound

24th Finish for 2017

Grandson's Little League T-shirt Quilt

I have made t-shirt quilts before but I didn't expect this one to be so large!  I don't think he missed one season plus he was on the allstars every year!  It's hard to see the quilting but I put large circles on the t-shirts and called them "quilted curve balls!"

What to do with an extra t-shirt?

Make a pillow, of course!

I just had to add a pillowcase to make it a matching set!

What to do with an extra patch?

Put it on the back of the pillow, of course!

I put a hidden zipper on the back of the pillow.

Back

I bought this baseball fabric a few years ago.  I planned to use it on the t-shirt quilts but I don't remember what my plan was because I didn't have enough of either fabric for the backing, so I combined them.

Quilt Info

Size:  84" x 96"

Batting:  100% Polyester light weight

Quilted on my Innova sitdown longarm

NOTE:  The only fabric I purchased in 2017 was the green and red for the borders.

I learned from making this quilt that I am going to really have to pace myself when I make the rest of them.  It takes a lot of planning to tell a story with t-shirts and it took me a while to decide on the layout and this one seemed best to be laid out in columns by year.  

I have 8 grandchildren and lots of t-shirts so I can see that I am going to need to live a long time in order to get all of these done.  I guess I'd better get a good exercise routine for strength and stamina!!