February Monochromatic Challenge: Violet Slippers

I want to apologize to anyone I offended when I spoke about keeping track of finishes.  I know I didn't communicate exactly what I wanted to say.  I think it's great that other people get so much done AND keep track of their completed projects.  I've tried not to measure myself as a quilter by how many things I get done in a month as I'd probably get too depressed if I did since I work at a snail's pace.  I'd be more of one to say I finished something and tout that I actually finished something (like I did with the Whooo quilt), but not make it a habit to point out that it's the #X thing I've finished for the month.  The whole conflict is one of the reasons I hesitated to blog. 

On to more happy things...

I spent a good amount of time surfing Quiltshops last night looking for inspiration.  These challenges are really just an excuse to buy fabric and a new pattern....  Oh, no--my secret's out!  Deep in my heart I know shouldn't for a number of reasons.  I was so tempted, though.  In all honesty, I'm sure I'm going to have to compromise and buy a couple of FQs.  It's a good thing I have such a great store in my neighborhood like Wooden Spools.

I did find some violet fabric in my stash.  I actually think its a very lovely color.  One of my favorite fabric lines of all times is Fossil Fern.  One of the violet fabrics I found in my stash is from this line.  I'm going to get over myself and use it in this quilt because what am I really saving it for?

I've always loved Atkinson Designs.  As a beginning quilter, I latched onto these patterns because they were well written with nice diagrams.  Many of the quilts had blocks that floated in their settings so matching seams and keeping points wasn't as difficult.  I dug out the Atkinson books and patterns I had in my library and decided on a pattern for this month's challenge.  It's called Ruby Slippers from Kansas City Scrapbook.  I'm going to call my quilt Violet Slippers.

Ruby Slippers, from Kansas City Scrapbook

February Monochromatic Challenge: V is for Violet

I had fun visiting all the blogs featuring projects made by January's participants.  Large quilts, small quilts, placemats, and a pillowcase.  People really took on the Challenge with wonderful results.

V is for Violet.....  I might as well play along in February's Monochromatic Challenge.  If it gets me quilting, why not?!  Violet is such a pretty color.  When I plugged violet into the Quiltshops search engine, I got a huge range of shades.  Violet is this color to me:

Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Solid 47 Dark Violet

I actually think that I have this color in my stash, but I know I won't be able to resist supplementing.  The pressing question is what am I going to make?  I think I'm going to have to figure that out first.

I'm going to go drool over some virtual fabrics....

January Monochromatic Challenge: As Finished as It's Going to Get

After my last post, I got to thinking....

I wouldn't mind if I accomplished more.  Who doesn't?  But, I'll never be the type who wants to be in a quilting race.  I know I'll never be the type to keep track of how many finishes I have in a month or a year and I'll always wonder why people seem so focused on keeping track.  I need to stop trying to keep up with other people.

I am pretty darn excited, though, that I got as far as I did with this quilt.  I set a goal to at least finish a quilt top for the Monochomatic Quilt Challenge and I did.  (As I am undecided as to whether I will finish the applique before or during quilting, I am considering my goal met.)  I can't even remember how long it's been since I've met any goal or pieced a complete quilt.

Quilt Statistics:

Remember Whooo Loves You, pattern by Acorn Quilt & Gift Company

40"x52", finished

**The story:

When I found out January's color was yellow, I started searching for a yellow fabric that would inspire me.  Lila Tueller's Garden of Eden was the ticket.  I ended up using the fabric for the border.  I had my eye on the Remember Whooo Loves You pattern for awhile.  I also knew that I needed a manageable project to get my feet wet again and one that would not overwhelm.

I will quilt this one myself.  I'm not very good, but I'll never get any better unless I practice.  I was eager to get started today, but I didn't have any batting on hand.

My daughter wants it.  I had thought I was going to donate it, but how can I say no?

I wonder what color February's challenge will be?

January Monochromatic Challenge Remember Whooo Loves You: Race to the Finish

I expected to be back here sooner to show more progress with the Remember Whooo Loves You quilt for the January Monochromatic Challenge, but I haven't sewed at all since my last post.  In fact, I had all my quilting stuff put away for a week.  It was that bad!  I only had one row of this quilt's blocks sewed together before taking my break.

I finished sewing all the blocks together into the rest of the rows and then the rows together today.  The top still isn't ready for borders, though.  I have the applique still to do.  I haven't decided the method of applique I will use.  I don't even know which method the pattern suggests.

I don't think I will finish this quilt by the end of the month for the Challenge.  I'm disappointed.  Quilting should never be a race in my opinion and it's a good thing because I would always finish last.

January Monochromatic Challenge Remember Whooo Loves You: Oh, NO...Fabric Shortage

I really felt the urge to sew tonight so I cranked up the heat, turned on the fireplace, and got right to it.  I had nine more blocks to make for the Remember Whooo Loves You quilt and I planned on finishing them all.  I had a head start since I had cut out all the squares.

I'm not one to strip piece as I find I'm more accurate piecing square by square.  I also pin everything.  I do chain piece, though, so I can still make quick work of blocks like the 9-Patch.

Oh, no!  I realized I am short two plain setting squares when I set the finished blocks on my design wall.  I miscounted.  I plan on heading over to the quilt store tomorrow to get a little bit more.

I'm making good time even though I haven't been going gang busters on this quilt.  I really think I can finish it by the end of the month and complete the January Monochromatic Challenge.

I may still switch some blocks around....

January Monochromatic Challenge: Progress

I mustered up some courage this evening and cut into some fabrics.  Nine of the 18 blocks have been completed.  So far so good!

Many of these challenges I join are just an excuse to go to the quilt shop and buy more fabric.  I shopped for a couple of FQs for this quilt yesterday in addition to shopping for a couple of charm packs for another project.  I wasn't happy with the yellows I was finding in my stash.  Of the three I purchased, I'm only going to use one.  Oh, well....

Design Wall Monday: January Monochromatic Challenge Remember Whooo Loves You

I may be disqualified from Design Wall Monday since I don't actually have any blocks to show or any true progress except for more fabric shopping, but here goes anyway!

Today was a snow day for me.  The kids had to go to school, but I didn't have to go to work per the boss.  I didn't put up much of a fight to be true...  On my way home from dropping off the kids I thought to myself, "Great!  Snow Day means Sew Day."  I couldn't get my act together today, though.

I started the day with my sewing area in a state of disorganization. I sew in my living room.  My sewing table was near a row of  windows and I could just feel the cold air emanating from them.  I decided to move the living room around a bit to get away from the windows.  My table is now on the other side of the room and the couch is in front of the fireplace.  Made sense to me and I love how my husband didn't really complain about me just doing it.  Like many of my projects, though, the moving is all I accomplished initially.  My sewing table remained a mess and dusty since I haven't sewed in over a week.  My cutting area was covered with a couple of projects that I needed to figure out if I was going to keep working on or put away.

I drove down to my closest quilt shop before picking up the kids from school.  I had my eye on some fabric online for the Remember Whooo Loves You quilt, but I wanted to see if I could find something that would work locally.  The yellow section is one of the smallest sections of fabric, but I still had a hard time making up my mind.  I was tempted to wait until I could check a couple more shops, but my impatience to start the quilt won out.

I purchased a yard of this fabric:

Moda, Puzzle Pieces (Style 1008 Vines/Color 31 Yellow)

I will use it for the background fabric in all my 9-Patches.

I have decided to use my focus fabric that I fell in love with as my border fabric:

 Moda, Eden by Lila Tueller (Garden Buttercup)

I've helped the kids with their homework.  I got my sewing table cleaned up.  My husband is working late fixing something.  I've had a couple of cocktails (Lucy Browns) so the mood is right.  I'll be watching the BCS Championship and sewing.  I'm going to audition all these fabrics I've picked out by sewing them together....