17ufosin2017 final update & Happy New Year

Well 2017 is done and dusted and keeping up my track record I've just tipped over into January. I've really enjoyed Meredithe & Anne's challenge which has been a great source of motivation for me.

FINISHES:

#1 The Comfort Quilt

#2 Chester County Criswell Quilt

#9 Sew Laugh Love

#13 Cushions

#15 Boro coasters

#17 Knitted scarf

PROGRESSIONS small and large:

#3 Reading the Fine Print - a few more blocks to go

#4 Value Proposition Quilt completed the top

#6 Cheltenham - a very long term project

#8 Words to Live By completed the top

#10 Sovereign - up to working on the stars for the 2nd border

#11 12 Days of Christmas stitching the second border

#12 Aunty Green I'm going to hex this up

#16 Home Sweet Home There's No Place Like Home almost finished sewing down the binding

DIDN'T TOUCH:

#5 Vases of Flowers

#7 Dear Jane

#14 Simply Blessed designed by Rosalie Dekker who very sadly recently passed away. This will definitely be on next year's as my tribute to her passion and creativity.

In summary, 6 finishes, 8 progressions and 3 didn't touch - I'm really happy with that! 

Thank you for your encouragement throughout the 2017 challenge and I look forward to participating in this year's. 

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and all the best for '18.

With apologies to Sally @ Feather on a Wire who created a much better image!

17ufosin2017 January update

Yikes, we've tipped over into February already but here's my January update. Meredithe & Anne's challenge has really worked for me so far and I have three finishes from my list😊😊😊
1. The [Travel] Comfort Quilt - most of the fabrics in this quilt are from my travels in Japan and New Zealand. This quilt was designed by Leanne Beasley and the pattern is in her Vignette #3 magazine. It's lovely to have it on our bed during the summer months.

The little EPP tumbler blocks on the label were left over from a sewing box that I made, all these fabrics are in the quilt.

9. Sew Laugh Love - another Leanne Beasley design.

I really like the way the applique squares and triangles from the border fabrics blend in and don't you love the vintage buttons that I inherited from a friend?

15. Boro coasters - these were started in a BeBe Bold class.

I have also FINALLY finished all of the blocks for the Chester County Criswell Quilt - yay! As you know I have subsituted some different blocks into this quilt, the pineapple block below was designed by Elly Sienkiewicz. 

'Hospitality'

 I drew a pomegranate block from a picture I saw on one of Barbara Brackman's blog posts.

So I have finished all the blocks but now I'm struggling with the layout, anyway hope to have it sorted soon.

And I have made a block for the retro quilt from Sharon's blog.

Bow tie block

I have also been doing a lot of hand sewing of the first pathways for the Value Proposition Quilt, the done pile has now out grown the unfinished pile.

Thank you for all the encouragement I received about my list. This challenge has really motivated me and it's not too late to join in the fun.

Cheers

Carole

Finally

Yay! Finally I have a finish - my Comfort Quilt top.

After thinking that I would big stitch quilt this by hand I decided that I wouldn't get to it for ages so I'm going to have it machine quilted. I was feeling in need of having something finished this year. Now I just have to decide on which type of pattern. At first I was thinking of spirals...

Google image

Then I was thinking of baptist fans...

Google image

which would match the backing fabric.

And then I saw this quilting on Audrey's 'Lil Retro Baby' quilt and I really like the way she has used a clever mix of both horizontal and and vertical lines.

'Lil Retro Baby' quilt by Audrey @ Quilty Folk

I think this is more in line (no pun intended) with the original design. What do you think? Opinions please!

I also have another small finish that I made with pieced scraps from the Comfort Quilt. 

These tumblers were going to be a bag.

But then I decided I didn't really want a bag, I'd much rather have a box.

 This clever little box has a that lid folds out to reveal a cutting mat...

and a preparation area.

Bits and bobs can fit inside snuggly.

Quite snazzy really and sooooo nice to have something finished!

I bought the box as a kit from Heather's Sewing Room - it comes with everything, just add your own fabric and lining paper.

Don't forget to help with me with some quilting advice :)

Supersize me

I've had a play around with my blog layout so that I have less empty space on the sides and a wider area in the middle. This has allowed me to have extra large photos, hope it's not too much. I find that when I'm reading other blogs I'm always stretching or clicking on the images to see the detail so I thought I would just 'supersize' mine.

I can't seem to get my header to sit in the centre, any ideas? I use Blogger and the layout is Picture Window.

Anyway onto sewing...I finally completed the last block of the Comfort Quilt, yay!

My last post on this quilt received comments encouraging me to hand quilt it sashiko-boro style. It would look great but the time involved is putting me off. So I'm still pondering on this.

I have finished a mini-block for part D of Gossip in the Garden. 

Because I changed the border to yellow on the basket block last week, I thought I'd better add a yellow border here as well to help balance out the whole quilt.

I have also prepped block #22 for CCCQ. An 'odd botanical' as Sharon describes it. I have slightly altered the original - all will be revealed.

We are off to Phillip Island for the Queen's Birthday long weekend  - one advantage of having a monarchy ;)

So on that royal edict I shall bid you all adieu.