So, it's a new year, the holidays are over, the Christmas quilts are (hopefully) all in their new homes, the house is back in order, and now it's time to start something new. :D

I'm starting a quilt for my sister-in-law in northern lower Michigan. It's log cabin and bright hopes blocks in black moda marble, three shades of brownish fern prints, and a bit of very deep brick red. She lives out in the forest just like I do and the quilt is symbolic of that environment. It's called 'For the Love of Meg' and is in memory of the puppy she gave me (she's a breeder) when I divorced her brother. Meg was a tri-color Sheltie, the colors of the quilt.

What are you working on, or planning to start next, now that the crazy days are over?

Working on a mystery quilt that is suppose to end up 64 by 64.

My biggest project for the next couple of months is getting this house ready to put on the market to sell. We have movers coming on Thursday to take all the extra junk/ furniture to a storage unit. Cleaning out closets, cupboards and anything else to declutter 17 years of living here! Attic is on our list this week too.

Going to try and quilt a couple of hours each day or at least organize a new sewing room as I am not going to hide my sewing. Moving it into my office and people can just deal with it!!

your new project sounds great!! I so love Moda:)I am working on my UFO's....owning them and finishing them and have 3 down/done now! I am also going to read up on that quiltville mystery...I just might bite that new thing tomorrow:))Also, I really like that homespun/antique looking quilt in BHG magazine..front cover. Shirtings like the snowball pattern...cute! (I just picked up some more fat quarters for that...shhh!)

I have a quilt planned for my friend's daughter who is expecting a baby March and I have fabric bought to make my daughter her quilt (she's been so patient). I also have to finish my 2 son's quilts, I think I want to make them a tad bit bigger. They've been patient too, they were told they couldn't have theirs until Gabby's was done and then hers got put on the back burner because of Christmas projects. I told her as soon as I get the baby quilt done hers is next! Then once all of those are done I just might make one for myself, which I have not done yet.

Let's see I just finished the top Mothers and Daughters, it needs to be quilted.

I also finished teachers pet, it needs to be quilted.

I've started cutting sitting pretty.
I've started an applique wall hanging that's now turned into a lap quilt.

I'm collecting fabric that has grapes on it or wine bottles or corks, etc.

I have to have everything in order prior to spring as I will most likely move outside once the time changes and work in the gardens that I have started all over the place.

I've started a lap sampler for my Gramma. I am documenting on paper and with pics this particular top, and it's posted in the pics section.

On plans for this year are 2 baby quilts. One will be a D9P with classic Pooh in there somewhere. I'll probably make another D9P for the other quilt, but unsure of the colors. It will wait until the baby's born. If they have a boy, it'll FINALLY be a boy and I know the mom would appreciate some baby boy fabric. We shall see.

Also, I want to make a couch size quilt using The Wizard of Oz fabric. I can't stand the movie (sorry folks) but one of my closest OK friends just loves it. She got me a little Dorothy ornament before I left, knowing how I feel about the movie, thinking that I would think of her. Like I wouldn't think of her anyway, she's my best friend! But the quilt is still in the planning stages of my mind. I hope to have it done by next New Year.

Well i had planned on making mum a lap quilt for when she is in her wheelchair but life has its ups and downs and unfortunately mum passed away before i could even start making it. i already have the fabrics which i had specially selected for her and now i just look at them and stroke them and think of mum.
But life goes on and because i am a newbie to quilting I take forever to make anything.I still enjoy the challenges that quilting brings and am looking forward to trying progressively more difficult projects.
I have just started making my 16 year old son a drunkards path quilt in black and white but dont hold your breath as it could be years before it is completed! :roll:
I think i will make the cats a blanket each as well this year as they are definitely achievable for me! My other thought is to make my dad a quilt but want to make him something really special so will have to put my thinking cap on...

Great topic!

I'm just finishing up an overly large batik frabric lap quilt for myself, just the border and binding left to do...fingers crossed.
Next I want to do a lap quilt for the husband, a grey and blue "winding ways", but I'm having some problems with fabric selection.
I do have fabric for a quilt I want to make for our guest bedroom, it's kind of a "primative asian" thing as far as the fabric goes....(as apposed to using all those realy nice asian themed fabrics that are so popular right now.)
This is the first year I'm seriously doing machine quilting so I'm kinda nervouse and kinda hopefull.

This is all assuming my sewing machine keeps up it's end of the deal, I have my suspicions it might need to go in for a check-up.
Zoo

I am sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. Take that fabric that you were going to use for her quilt and make one for yourself. Everytime you snuggle under it will be hugs from her.

Sorry to hear about your mom. And I like Gail G's idea about what to do with the fabric you had specially selected for her quilt.

Other than making a couple baby quilts, I don't plan to start any new projects until I clean up some of my UFO's!!

I am going to make a list within the next couple of days so I will let you know how many their are when I finish the list! LOL I know there's ALOT!

Your new project sounds great! I'm doing a BOM quilt hosted by this site. It's the first time for me doing this type of project. Already completed the first block and looking forward to the next. Aside from that, I will continue to work on a quilt for my Godson. Using a "sampler" of sorts for blocks, I've chosen patriotic themed fabric.
Happy New Year!!!
-Pat :) :) :)

Am also so sorry to hear of your Mom's passing. Yes, make yourself a special quilt to wrap up in. Remember the good times, wish I had been quilting when my Mom passed, would love to have had something like that.

My list is way too long :-o

I'm completing my second round of IRR
Making Christmas blocks for the RR
Making Blue/White stars for exchange
Gathering fabrics for Valentine exchange
UFO list:
Finishing my BF's wedding quilt-only 2 years now! :shock:
Finishing quilt for my Dad, his 84th BD is the end of this month-will post pics soon. On row 2 of 3, and all cut out. Will quilt by hand, hopefully with finish on time---- :?:
Making a quilt for gniece, pattern and fabrics bought
Making a quilt for gnephew, pattern and fabrics bought
Have quilt cut out for son, who helps support me
Have fabrics for a quilt for ME, a turning twenty in french blue, yellow, and white-will complete this year
Have two quilts in the planning stage - but will finish above FIRST

Now that I have discovered my sewing machine, piecing is going MUCH faster :wink: but the hand quilting is not. I did find a wonderful set of quilting sharps with big golden eyes at Hancocks that is making the hand quilting go smoother.

I really love this board, it keeps me going on days I have no energy.
Thank you for being my strength.

Working on the campanion quilt for my son.

Two other "leftover" quilts (that's what DH called them since I have cuts of fabric leftover from straight borders that were big enough to provide substantial yardage).

Our quilt with tiny applique. This is a labor of love.

Oh wow...my list changes everyday.

I have (as of today)

2 IRR groups going
Blue & white star block swap
Baby quilt (design is in my head) for my friend's daughter
couple of shirts to embroider for Angus youth group auction
Sandwiching & quilting Heartsong quilt for DH
Use the Challenge Block swap blocks for 2 animal shelter raffle quilts
Blue & White quilt kit by Alex Anderson- want to start
A shabby rose quilt kit -need to finish cutting and then piece/quilt
A table runner for MY kitchen

The kits came in a box of other ebay fabrics and I'd like to put them together. I'm considering taking another class to learn a new technique at my LQS

I will be working on my DGS Eagle scout quilt. I will have foot surgery on the 13th so I have been planning & getting the center block ready. I plan to applique an eagle on a block in the center of the quilt. The rest of it I will use the boy scout print fabrics. I don't have a 'pattern' picked yet because I want the eagle on it & I'm not sure how that will work out. I figure the applique will keep me busy when I can't get downstairs to my sewing room!

I will also cut out some blocks for another quilt I plan to give some friends we will be visiting in Texas in March as a hospitality gift. Also, I plan to cut out the blocks for a quilt (throw) for us. That should get me through the worst of the pain/cast period. I know I won't be able to stand and cut or quilt for a time.

Polly

organizing my sewing room :oops:

sigh . . . i'm still working on christmas gifts. i gave my mom her triple irish chain for christmas, but i hadn't finished the quilting on it. i still need to piece a backing and quilt my DH's t-shirt quilt. then i will get started on some things i want to do like play more with my embroidery machine and the new Cricut electronic cutter that is headed my way. can't wait to see how it cuts fabric! supposed to be really cool!

i need to put in a requisition for an extra 3-4 hours a day!

my plan is to finish some ufo's and get the Hinterberg EZ Quilt frame put together so I can get them quilted by hand. My daughter's baby shower is at the end of this month so I need to get about 5 quilts done for that. Easy utility quilts she can wash repeatedly. Oh, and find my cell phone charger! it is somewhere in this house.

I made a baby quilt over the week end for a shower this month (how about that- done ahead of time!) Have the mystery quilt (planet patchwork) on Step 3, forgot to print out the fan template so I will do this today and finish that this week. Cut out a lap quilt for BF, will finish this week too.

Starting reading the pattern for DH and my quilt. I decided to move it to the top of the list as his whining is pathetic everytime a quilt leaves the house. Of course, I need to make the shams, bedskirt and curtains to match too. I can't wait for this- I LOVE the fabric and it will look awesome. I'm even going to splurge and take it to be quilted professionally.

Then, back to the list of other quilts to make. Two wedding showers this year that I want to make some table runners, placemats, etc. for prizes. Then there's the 6 tote bags for the bride and 5 maids for DD's wedding in June. Using the mystery quilt as 1 for the reunion ones I make, so I only have 1 more to make for August. I will make a list at home and tack it on the wall and keep plugging away.

I will not start another project without finishing the one I'm working on, so my list should get marked off and anything new will have to go to the bottom of the list. No UFOs or WIPS! Need to stick to it!

Barb

Fabricluvr
I had not heard that the Cricut system would cut fabric.
I've been looking at the Accucut - but even the AccuCutGo is $400
and the dies are $200 for each set.
Please post about the CriCut system and how it does for you.
Thanks,
MJ

This is exactly why I refuse to list all my "things to do" or WIP. I would be a basket case just looking at the list.

I agree with this wise woman that this board gives me strength. Today is one of those days that I have zilch energy. And I have sooooo many things to do. I've been awake since 12:15 this morning. Yes, 12:15. Took a 10-minute cat nap around 4:30. So what am I doing instead of tackling all my chores and/or projects -- I'm sitting here doing this.

I have so much to do that I'm overwhelmed. Don't know WHERE to START. I should have gone with my DD when she called to see if I wanted to meet her at WalMart. The weather is so nasty outside, I declined. SHOULDA GONE. :lol:

i just saw it in an infomercial over the weekend. that was what i needed to push me over the edge and buy one (i also scrapbook and make cards). i googled it and found where lots of people do this. they apply the heat 'n bond and then cut the applique out with the cricut. i'm looking forward to giving it a whirl! hope to have my machine next week sometime (it has to come all the way from Utah!). then i have to download the software so i can hook the cricut up to the 'puter! fun!

Here's my list so far:

blue and white star swap - finished just have to get in the mail
christmas row round robin - finished my row, have to put in the mail
ladies at the beach applique wall hanging for my sister - started yesterday
purple and gold quilt for DD for college - have to finish by August
red/white/blue quilt for auction - would like to finish by Memorial Day
king size star quilt for BIL/SIL - finish before they move to Germany ~1 yr

I think that'll keep me busy for a bit. I hate to work on more than one thing at once, so tend not to have ufo's hanging around. Of course, I have a loooong list of things I'd like to do, just haven't decided which ones to start yet.

I'm still working on my daughters quilt. It is from an old Fons and Porter book. One block is a green and white Irish Chain and the other block is a star. I'm making different colored star block. My daughter's quilt has about 20 stars to finish and then I will put on the border.

I watched all of you working on the UR last summer and swore I was going to do one too. My neighbor and I decided that each of us would make one. We're meeting each Wed. to talk about it (except for guild night Wednesday).
I had fun going through my stash to find the material for this quilt.

I want to make a third project on my treadle machine. I want to make the radiant star by Eleanor Burns on my treadle machine. I believe it is also called the Lone Star. I thought her system would work well with sewing it on the treadle sewing machine. I haven't decided on the colors yet so it is still in the planning stage.

Three projects, all in different phases. This year should be fun.


:lol:

OMG, what a group of incredibly busy, organized, active, ambitious, creative, generous quilters we have here!! I feel like a slug for only listing my very next project and not all the ones after that, but I only do one at a time...or else I'd never finish ANYTHING. :oops:

My significant work in progress is this one:
When I cleaned out my mother's house after her death in 2002, I found an "almost" queen sized plaid wool patchwork quilt top that she had "almost" finished. One row of patches was still pinned to the main body. It was made from fabrics that she and I had bought together long, long ago from a shop that sold wool for rug braiding, in 20" wide strips 6 yards long. I still had some of my matching fabrics, so I added a row of patches all the way around hers, sort of embracing her work :oops: , and making it truly queen sized. The backing is solid, though in 20" strips of navy and cranberry, and it is sandwiched and pinned. I plan to do various hand embroidery stitches in crewel yarn (also left by my mother), to "tie" this one simply because the top is far from flat and because my mother taught me a great deal about crewel embroidery back in the '70s when it was "the thing to do" (does anyone else remember Erica Wilson??). I will probably just tie it temporarily and bind it so I can use it and embroider at my own speed over the next year or so. I call it "Mom's Quilt" and the label will say pieced by Kay, finished by Janet. This is one that I am keeping, that's for sure. It will be left to my daughter, who has been told it's history already. Lots of love and hugs and memories in that quilt!! :oops: :D

And, fabricluvr, I still have to sew the binding on one last Christmas quilt, so you're not alone in that category! :wink:

Forgot to add that I need to make my mom's memory quilt. I have her clothes, but I want to use more than that, so I'm taking the next year or so and building my "stash". I can't buy fabric very often, so I'll see what I end up with this time next year. But it's the most important thing on my to do list and I want to make sure I have all the time and fabric I can for it. I also have to get around to picking out a pattern too. Sometimes, that takes forever by itself.

To the wonderful quilter whose mother just passed away, use those fabrics for a quilt for YOU. I agree with the other quilters that everytime you snuggle under it you will think of her. Make it special for you. A throw, couch size or bed size...whatever YOU want. It'll be good for you. I promise. I no longer keep my mom's machine in it's case, but I use the case for current projects so I can thin of her often. She never quilted, but she sewed.

Here's a challenge: as we work on things throughout the year, we should periodically post about how we are doing on the projects on the list. I think it would be a great year-long thread to keep up on .

I'm just shocked you have your house straightened up from the holidays :shock: :shock: I've just finally cleared everybody out :D Now I have to finish up the paint in my son's room so all his junk can go from my sewing room and I can get in to do anything!! Gotta love life's little interuptions :lol: :lol:

I got EQ6 from my dh for Christmas, so I've kind of gotten sidetracked from actual quilting :-) , BUT I have a table runner for my sofa table in the planning stages. Then, a couch throw for a dear friend and a baby quilt for another friend who's due in May (I have plenty of time to get that one done). Also want to do another flannel throw for MY couch. I think that's enough for starters. I have a couple of snowman applique wall quilts I started before Christmas that are just going into a UFO pile for now. I've had so much trouble with them (one for me, one for my daughter), that I just don't want to deal with them right now. Maybe if I put them aside for a while I can deal with them later. Right now I want to do something that isn't frustrating, so probably the table runner comes first!

Nothing as exciting as you all. I'm just working on baby quilts right now. Then a few valentines quilts for lovebirds.

Now that Christmas is over, with all the stuff I made for gifts, I will be finishing the quilt for my bed. I got my UFO done before New Years and will post that pic as soon as I can get my sis to take a digital pic.
I also am determined to make a kaliedescope for my oldest (in time not age) friend. I just bought some frog fabric for a D9 patch. I also have the mystery quilt from my guild to work on and a block of the month through a quilt shop. Then there are as many charity quilts as I can get done.

Oh, Janet, from, Northern New England. That is such an awesome project. The love is just oozing. I can only imagine how warm that quilt will be. And I can only imagine how I would itch if I were wrapped in it. We have so little use for wool in our area. And wool is so beautiful. My mom loved wool skirts and she always bought one for me every winter. Itch, itch, itch.

Seriously, I can't wait to see the pics of that lovely quilt. :thumbup:

mpeters, I think it's a great idea to post our progress throughout the year. It's the UFO challenge that brought me closer to finishing my project. And along the way, I picked up little things and finished those too. The problem was I got side-tracked and picked up NEW projects to be done before Christmas. So, all in all, I'm pretty pleased with myself that I came so close to finishing my biggest thorn in my side (only two bindings left), finished two baby bibs, made and delivered a baby quilt, and made a Christmas quilt. (AND THE BEST PART IS THAT I GOT THE QUILT AT OUR CAJUN CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE !!) My point is that the postings kept me pretty much on track. I felt like someone was watching me. :lol: :lol: :lol:

LOL Gail! :lol: The wool is remnants from Pendelton wool clothing and throws, sold throught their outlet stores primarily for rug braiding, rug hooking, and quilting. I used to make A-line skirts (lined) out of it when I was in high school a hundred years ago. My mother braided rugs. It's less itchy than blanket wool. My cats already love it to death (guess it reminds them of their moms, too! :) ). I'm hoping the results are something like a 'not-so-crazy' quilt, but it has 528 patches so it will take a LONG time to embroider around all of them!! :shock:

Wow!!!! Sounds like everyone already has enough plans to last them most of 2009!!!

First on my list--I have not undecorated from Christmas yet!!! And boy is my husband going to be shocked when he comes home from work tonight and finds out that all that I did today was catch up with everyone on the board!!!

As far as quilting goes--I am going to finish the last two blocks of my URR and get it in the mail to be quilted. Then I am making my youngest son a queen sized quilt for his bed. I already have a patten and all the fabric collected. Just need to get started on it.

Then I have several UFOs that I would like to finish and several projects to start---alll for me :lol:

I am making something for myself for the first time. It's going to be a lap quilt/throw size to keep me warm on the sofa of an evening.

I have started off making some 6inch square pinwheel blocks using fabric left over from my Mom's quilt. I am going to take it slow, adding to it as ideas hit me, trying to use some of my stash and secret santa fabrics, rather than buying new fabric.

I will treat myself to some nice thick cosy batting. I am going to back it using the fabric from an Egyptian cotton ivory duvet cover that has a rip and a small stain so has been 'retired'.

I have just started to make my DH a quilt for our bed. I found the most beautiful batik fabrics in several shades of brown. Those are his favorites & I love them too. Then I have a graduation quilt to make for June. I am also starting to work on a Christmas themed quilt for the holidays. I am sure that I will find something else to do along the way!! :D This will all keep me very busy. Also I have collected my Valentine FQ's for the exchange coming up.

Those browns are so beautiful! I think that is going to be one spectacular quilt! As a matter of fact, I think my dh would love those too. Will you just send them to me when you finish? :mrgreen:

I'm faithfully plugging along now. I finally got the tension correct on my machine and I ordered the plate to cover my feed dogs on my machine, I'm kind of anxious to see what this year I can accomplish. New Year, New Tricks! :wink:

Sulabug, I just love the way you brought the darker tones together in your D9P. It really looks like a piece of marble. Gorgeous. :thumbup: