My First Quilt Along (QAL)

I am happy to be taking part in the 2014 Online Quilt Show, hosted by Hobbies On A Budget.

I was finally able to take part in my first QAL. (Quilt Along).
It was hosted by Stitched in Color.   I happened across it while going through the WIP Wednesday posts of others one week.  One blog that I hopped over to talked about her and her daughter taking part in the QAL.  I clicked over and to my delight it wasn't too late to join in.

You can click HERE if you would like to know more about the QAL, even though it is completed now.

I started to learn how to quilt several years ago, but still consider myself to be in the beginner's stage.....maybe heading in to intermediate since I am learning more and more all of the time.

This is my first quilt completed in 2014!!  It was to be done before Christmas, but I didn't make that deadline.  I'm glad that others didn't either :)

Here is a picture of the completed quilt:

Here is a close-up.  This is the first time I have attempted to machine quilt anything this large.  (It's called lap size but seems a lot larger to me).  Prior to this one I've only machine quilted a baby quilt.
I did a simple straight line, and should have done more than I did, but I am happy with it.

This photo shows the backing I used (a thicker bed sheet) and the binding.  I was fortunate that I had this blue binding already made up and it was the perfect size for this Penny Patch.

I had so much fun making this quilt!   I like the design too.

I am now taking part in a sew along with Terry's Treasures and a UFO and NewFo challenge with Joanie's Trendy Quilts.   You will find buttons for both of these to the right if you are interested. Both buttons are clickable and will take you to their blogs for more information.

Click along with this year's 2014 Online Quilt Show below.  Every blog taking part has this list at the bottom so you can go from one to the next until you have seen all of the quilts.  Have fun!

WIP Wednesday---First Post of 2014!

Here we are to 2014.
I have goals for my sewing and crafts.  
I'm still in the process of organizing my projects, but I am getting closer to being done with that.
I plan to do some sort of sewing each and every day, even if it's just for a few minutes.

Since my crafts involve selling them online, I really need to step up my game.  Not only in getting things done, but also promoting myself as well.

Here is what I've been up to this past week.

I have the binding on the Penny Patch quilt from the QAL (that was supposed to be done by Dec. 20) and I'm ready to start handing sewing it down.

At my last stitch group I got all of my applique bunny blocks squared up.  I still do have 5 of the 20 of them to finish embroidering around.
Everyone is asking me if I will have the blanket done by Easter---I don't honestly know!

I am getting closer to getting this toothbrush rug done.  It's an experiment one to find out how large a rug comes out when I have cut up an entire full size sheet set.  I actually love how it's all the same color.

 I am linking up with the following blogs:
 

WIP Wednesday 12/11/13

Here we are with Christmas day only 2 weeks away!  I have so many projects that I yet need to get sewn up for gifts!

On the Penny Patch quilt for the QAL, I do have it sandwiched and pinned.  Now I need to see if I can figure out how to do the dogwood quilting.  I sure like that that looks.

This is not a current picture but I am still working on knitting scarves for Christmas gifts.  Since taking this picture a couple of days ago I have finished the one with the skein on yarn laying there and started on the other one with the teal yarn.

 Yesterday was the monthly sewing day at church.  This is the progress on the quilt that I am currently working on.  I am actually going to finish this one all by myself because I am doing it in quilt as you go.  I hope to have it finished by the end of next month's sewing day.

 I was able to get some work done on making my yo-yo's while my youngest daughter was at the doctor and while we visited my middle daughter this past week.  Unfortunately I left my yo-yo box at my middle daughter's house.  I don't think I would have taken another picture though as I am still just making them with the fabric in my box and then will start putting the table runner together.

I didn't get any applique bunnies done this past few weeks at home, but I do have stitch group this afternoon.  I had hoped to have them done and to get to spend this afternoon squaring up the blocks.  Such is life though!  I will applique on them today and then next Wednesday and hopefully then next month to start squaring them up.

This past week I did a review lens on on Squidoo for a book called Crafty Creatures.  You can click to check it out if you would like.  It will open in a new window:  Fill Your Home With These Crafty Creatures.  I will be making the cat's bed, along with the cat, that I show at the bottom of my lens for my 2 yr old granddaughter.  She's going to love it!  I hope to make lots of of the projects in the book as well.

I am linking up with the following blogs:
 

WIP Wednesday 12/4/13

Christmas is getting closer.  Here is my progress on the knitted scarves.  I am not sure how many I am making.....6 or 7 I think.

Some time ago I started working on making yo-yo's.  I keep this box in the car and work on them here and there.  I have been taking them in to my quilt guild meeting and working on them there for the past 3 months.   I am wanting to make a table runner for our coffee table.  I did start on it but decided I wanted to make the yo-yo's that I could out of the fabric I had put in the box first.  You can see that I have a lot in the bag ready.
I see that some sell the yo-yo's by themselves on etsy.  I'm thinking I might try that too at some point.

 The top should be done for the Penny Patch QAL but I didn't work on it for a week once Thanksgiving hit.  I have my top half way to being completed.

I am linking up with the following blogs:
 
 

WIP Wednesday 11/20/13

I did less sewing this past week than the week before, but still a lot more than I had been doing.
I'm happy with progress that I am making in all ways.

Each month I attend 2 stitch groups.  One is the second Wednesday of the month and is with a few of my quilt guild members.  It's from 1-3 pm.
The second one is the 3rd Wednesday of the month at the quilt shop from 1-4, but most of us do leave by 3. 
For months now I have only worked on my applique bunnies at my stitch groups.
I have completed 12 of my 20 bunnies as shown in the photo.  After I work today I am going to bring my box in the house and work on them in the evenings.

I worked a bit more on my remaining 12 log cabin blocks to finish my wall hanging top.  I had hoped to have it done by the 25th for show and share at quilt guild but I would really need to get on it to make that goal.   I am including the 4 blocks that I had together and showed last week along with my progress on the other 12.

Last but not least I have the Penny Patch QAL that I am working on.  I am still a bit behind, but not too bad.  Click the button below my picture to see what it's all about if you would like.  Last week there was a linky included for us to show our progress.
I laid out my blocks.  Oh how I wish I had a design wall!  I messed with it over and over and finally gave up.  This is what I ended up with and then piled them by rows and numbered each pile.  Since taking this picture I did put row 12 together.

 I am linking up with the following blogs: