UFO Parade: September Already?

It's pretty clear August is holiday month for quilters -- not many UFOs got finished this month!

But first, the UFO number for September. It's"

The first to join the parade is a blue ribbon quilt by Katie from Wyoming. First place at both County and State Fairs!  Yay Katie!

Kate, log cabin quilts are my favorite, and you did a spectacular job with the layout on this one. Congratulations!

Sandi's August finish is one we did as a BOM at Ruth's Stitchery awhile back.

Here's what Sandi has to say about "Kavelry."

Kalvery used the Freedom Rings Block of the Month pattern and fabrics by by Paula Barnes of Red Crinoline Quilts.  It is a large project that is 88" x 88".  By the time Kerry and I started working on our individual projects finding the fabric line was near impossible. But with a bunch of searching around we gathered most of the ones called for.  The important fabric to get was of course the eagle and star panel.  Without it...well what can I say...it is what pulls this design together.  My eagle and star panels fell just short of what I needed so I improvised a bit using pieces of the blue star border that were part of the panel on the top and bottom of each panel.  So this patriotic beauty is done and I am very pleased.
Here is where I talk about the finish on my blog http://kwiltnkats.blogspot.com/2016/08/wednesday-august-17-2016.html

Seeing your quilt, Sandi, makes me wish I had participated!

Idaho friend Martha and her husband served with the Peace Corps at one time. She is busily making quilts for their fund-raising auction next summer. It is so fun to see her authentic African fabrics!

The first one she finished this month features fabric from when for a short time the Central African Republic became an Empire. More than 30 years ago. 

Here is another to-be-auctioned quilt. This one is 80" x 80" and will go at the Peace Corps auction. The proceeds go to Water for Good which digs wells in villages in the Central African Republic.

Here's a closeup so you can see the unique fabrics:

Australian Susan was lucky enough to retreat with her friends this summer (winter in Australia!). She writes:

I am not sure when I made this...I guess it was 2003.  It is not my oldest UFO…that one may never see the finish line! The pattern is “Donna’s Dream” and was designed by Donna Elkington  (who used to own a Quilt Shop here in Brisbane.) I particularly love the border on this one.

Me, too, Susan!

Read more about Susan's quilts are her blog, Susan's Sewing Space.

Melissa has two quilts and a unique finish to share this month. First, her quilts. The first is a scrap quilt made with Hawi'ian fabrics Melissa's folks brought her about 10 years ago. She says, "They found bags of cotton scraps for $10 a bag and when I said that was a good price they bought me 4! This is my 5th quilt from those scraps and I'm almost at the end."

"The other is a baby quilt with more scraps. I love using them up and making something useful out of them." 

I love love love the next finish! So fun, and I think the first finish by a man I've featured on the blog! It's not a quilt, but it's really cool!

Melissa tells me:

The big accomplishment this month belongs to my Dear Husband.  He makes models and this year I encouraged him to follow your monthly UFO picks into order to get some of his WIPs completed. And this month he did! It's the USS Buckley. 

I did a little research on the USS Buckley, and found it was a WWII destroyer with a storied history. Click on this link to the US Militaria Forum to learn more.

Speaking of the US Navy, My Little Sailor and 52 Quilts co-author re-enlisted for six more years of Navy life this week. I'm so proud he has chosen to continue his military career -- and delighted that his next assignment will be in San Diego!

We're coming up on a three day weekend in the US -- it's Labor Day. My sister Julia convinced her boys that Labor Day meant you had to finish all the projects you started over the summer.

Here's to finishing those UFOs!



From the desk of your

March UFO Parade

It's been a hard month chez Aunt Marti, but Spring is coming (or Autumn, if you're in Australia!).  If you're ready to get started on your April challenge, pull out UFO

With the best of intentions, I started out the month working on my Downton Abbey Mystery from LoveBug Studios. I got all the blocks finished, and about half sewn together. Then Jelly Roll Party samples and shop samples and well, life, intervened! I haven't decided whether to keep on plugging away at it in March, or return it to its pizza box (unused pizza box!) and try again next year. What do you do with unfinished UFOs?

Lucky for us, UFO Challengers did better than me finishing up their projects!

Nancy sent these three photos after I had gone to bed January 31 -- so I'm including them in the March Parade.  (It's OK to send your photos early in the month, I'll save them in the folder for next month's Parade.)

Look at this pile of quilts Nancy's daughter quilted for her in January! Nancy, does she accept quilts from others, or do you keep her too busy?

Nancy calls this one "Reflections." She says it's for her oldest daughter -- doesn't it remind you of sea glass?

And she made these cute coasters for a friend "who was having a bad day." How thoughtful! The tutorial came from It's Just Sewing, 'Binding Free' coasters and hot pads.

Another Nancy -- Nancy A -- is another multiple-finisher. This one is a flannel baby quilt, all pieced and ready to quilt and bind. Love that border fabric, Nancy!

Here are the pillowcases Nancy made for her grandchildren. They're addictive, aren't they? (The pillowcases, I mean!)

Nancy made this beauty for her niece. She also made a set of matching pillowcases.  I'd love it if you'd tell us the pattern name in the comments, Nancy!

And here is another baby quilt, ready to "hand off!"

Sue has me all inspired to make a sewing machine cover! Isn't her's pretty?

Hey, I have some of that fabric! It's Lark, by Amy Butler!

Sue also made a great laptop bag -- very clever, Sue!

You can read all about these projects on Sue's Quilty Bits and Bobs, here.

I always look forward to Sandi's "kwilts" each month. This month, it's Konstellation and Krown.

Here's what Sandi tells us about this bright beauty:

Konstellation and Krown is my 2016 February UFO.  It is from the pattern Star and Crown that is by Path Speth.  Pat is known for her use of 5" squares.  From the pattern one could make any of the four sizes ranging from Wall to Queen.  I chose to make it five sizes by eliminating the outside border on the Wall size.  My finished project is 32 1/2" square.  I plan to bind it with a solid blue fabric, probably on the darker side of the scrappy blues that are in the project.  Konstellation and Krown is ALL from my stash...a wonderful project!  You can read more about Konstellation and Krown in my blog, KwiltnKats, here. If you go to the right side bar and select the label Konstellation and Krown you can read all about the making of the project.
Nothing like a patriotic quilt!

And Sandi, I'm looking forward to meeting you "in person" when My Little Sailor transfers from Japan to San Diego this Fall!

Kerry used a tool I own but have never used (don't we all do that?), the "Five and Dime" ruler from Kansas Troubles Quilters.

This design uses a charm pack (5" squares) and a layer cake (10" squares). She reports the "nifty" ruler makes centering and cutting "a breeze." Kerry won the kit at her Guild's holiday party! You can read all about it at Kerry's Quilting, here.

Susan-from-Australia sent us her photo of this gorgeous (incredibly gorgeous!) quilt.

Be sure to click on the photo to enlarge -- you'll want to see all the detail! Susan hasn't blogged about her quilt yet, she wants to show it to members of her guild first. But you'll be able to read all about it on her blog, Susan's Sewing Space, later this month.  

Goriajean wins the "oldest UFO" this month! These blocks are from the Western Washington Shop Hop 2005!  I shouldn't laugh, because I have some of these blocks, too!

Thirty blocks is a lot of shops, Gloriajean!

Jennifer B is a newcomer to the UFO Challenge, but she is off with a bang! She tells me:

I'm using this whole year as "the year of the stash".  As in, I'm not purchasing fabric, not even for borders or backing.  The only purchases I'm allowing myself are batting (if my huge roll runs out) and thread. Everything else I have to make do. 2 months down so far and I'm feeling great about it.

#1 - Darth Vader.  I outline quilted his mask in glow in the dark thread and did a stipple in the rest. It looks really neat at night.

#2 - Snowpeople Love: I've had this top for about a year, and finally, around to quilting and binding.  I quilted snowflakes all around the snowmen and loose loops.

#3 - Hello Kitty: I put this top away right after my mother in law passed away 2 years ago Christmas Eve, and only just could work on it again.  I was working on it when I got the phone call about her, and I had to tell my husband about his mom.  So, this one had a lot of sadness for me.  It took a while, but I finally realized that she'd want me to associate her with the laughter and awesome times we had. I finished it up right before Valentine's Day.

#4 - Bubbly: This one just sat as a top because I couldn't think of how to quilt it.  The kiddo helped me quilt this one as well.  It's backed with a bright green. Not a favorite color of mine, but kiddo picked it out, so we used it. It's bound in white.

On a sad note, the reason February was such a hard month. Elder Son's corgi, Oliver, died last weekend. Olly was a 4-H project and always a big hit with the show judges. In this 2002 photo, Justin is signalling "sit." 

Oliver was the "worry corgi." After Justin left home, Olly stuck close to me. While I was gone to Texas last year, he could no longer climb the stairs, so he hung out in my basement sewing room. 

He was a good dog.

Good work, everyone! I can't wait to see what you finish during March!


From the desk of your

February 1 UFO Parade

UFO challengers did so well finishing their favorite UFOs in January! The year is off to a great start, with 19 finishes.

If you're ready to start your next UFO, the number is:

And now, on to the parade!

A new challenger, Erin, sent this photo of her gorgeous scrappy Log Cabin. She writes:

I’m so excited to participate in your UFO challenge this year.  I made a list at the beginning of the year, and I had 28 UFOs.  Yikes!  But I finished one today (to Flimsy stage).  It will be a quilt for my new niece, born just before Christmas.  I blogged about it today at My Patchwork Life.

Welcome to the challenge, Erin, and I hope you get those UFOs pared down to a reasonable number this year!

Friend Martha and her daughter, Shannon, have had a busy January. I love the story behind this quilt:

My daughter made a quilt of over 100 leaves and a tree trunk she designed for a woman in her on-line mommy's group. The woman's one year old had died and the group wanted to do something for her. Most sent in signed leaves and Shannon appliquéd them. I quilted it and the woman loved it!  There is nothing like a quilt for comfort!

The Boise Modern Quilt Guild had a "tote exchange," and here is the tote Martha made. What a great idea for a swap!

Here are some more bags from the swap. I spy a "Sew Everything" bag there!

This pattern is from Quilt Expressions in Boise, and is called "Last Dance." I'll be shopping for this pattern next time I'm in Idaho!

Martha's DH calls this quilt her "circus quilt," but she says the real name is "Fair and Square." Love these colors!

You're right, Martha -- it's been a busy month in your household!

Joy certainly earns "a jewel in her crown" for this project. Here's what she told me about it:

Whew!  It is finally finished!
I went back and checked...my very first submission of a UFO was a t-shirt quilt for a friend in January 2014. When she gave me that quilt to reconstruct, she also gave me this quilt to repair. It needed many new diamonds, repairs to seams, a new border, new batting, and a new back.
We would have just made a new quilt, but this was sentimental to her, and she wanted it repaired. When I unquilted it, I found more repairs were needed than I originally thought. At that point, the task seemed impossible, and I set it aside to work on other projects. And I kept putting it off...for two more years. I finally decided to just get it finished. I spent my days of being snowed in to complete it. She was glad to have it back. Now I'm spending more time in my sewing room because I can sew whatever I want...Guilt Free!
Thanks so much for the "free" month!  I think it was just the motivation I needed to prioritize what really needed to be done.

Sue's "favorite UFO" is not a quilt but a group of blocks. She says she doesn't want to sew them together until she has them made in all the colors. This may result in multiple quilts! Read all about it on her blog, Quilty Bits and Bobs, here.

Oh, look, here's another one from Martha and Quilt Expressions!

Martha made this quilt from a set of 10" squares. No waste with this clever pattern!

Deb's submission this month is the "Zipper Quilt" from Missouri Star Quilt Company. She says a sewing buddy taught her friends to make this quilt, and Debra just had to make her's in red. 

So cheery, Deb, your photo really brightens my grey, snowy day!

Betsy received a Kaffe Fassett kit from a fellow quilter, and made this beauty for her brother. Lucky guy!

She practiced her long-arm quilting -- here's a closeup -- and I think she did a great job!

Susan sent a funny story with her finish:

This is my oldest UFO - Back in 1988, I went to the first NSW Quilt Guild's Quilt Symposium. One of the classes I did was machine quilting - using a walking foot - we had to pre-prepare a panel and in the class we quilted.  This was all before fabric markers that vanished, so it seems we marked in pencil.  I finished the panel at the time and it has been sitting / hiding ever since.(One interstate move and one house move)
It was meant to be a finish in my first (?) year of your challenge but couldn’t find it when the time came - so had to do another project. Finally, it's a cushion!

And a lovely cushion, too, Susan. Thanks for the chuckle!

Ohmigosh, that Martha! Here is her 5th finish for the month, a cute baby quilt called Fancy Foxes.

 Kerry has two lovely finishes for January. The first is in one of my favorite color combinations, blue and cheddar. It's called "Survivor," and Kerry started it in a class with Joyce Weeks at the San Diego quilt show two years ago. She says the class sample was pink and blue, but Kerry and I both love the cheddar and blue combination.

Next is Woodland Wildlife and is a leftover UFO from 2015. It is for Kerry's Granddaughter.

So cute, Kerry, she will love this!

Another new UFO challenger, Jennifer, is off to a good start for the new year.

She sent in photos of two finishes for this month.  First, Jennifer's "coffee quilt." she says she started it in 2004 or so with swap blocks. More blocks were added in 2009 or 2001, and now it's a lovely finish!

  

Jennifer's second quilt has a touching story:

The second one is one for my mom.  She was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer in September, and we were told to brace ourselves for the new year.  I've had the top done for a a year or so, but never quilted it because I was afraid. It's done now. I just finished the binding.

Irene finished two quilts for others this month. The first is lap quilt for a friend battling ovarian cancer. The pillow shows the backing that she used.

Irene's second  quilt is so clever!

The second one is from an old pattern book I have had in my UFOs for over a year. It will be in a silent auction fund raiser for  our church’s Child Development Center next month. It is a wall hanging organizer for papers, pencils and notes, etc.

Sandi sent the first finished "Aliietare" from Bonnie Hunter's newest mystery. Here's what she told me about it:

Each Black Friday now for six years I've been looking forward to Part 1 of Bonnie Hunter's Winter Mystery.  Bonnie is so gracious every year with all her followers providing a FREE design.  For me she's never disappointed in the reveal that takes place right at the New Year.  This year, as she has done previously, is a design in the colors of one of the many trips she takes while lecturing and presenting workshops.  The 2015 Mystery was Allietare created to commemorate her visit to Tuscany.  I coined my project Kontentment inspired by the meaning of Allietare...to GLADDEN, to REJOICE, to become CHEERFUL.  I love the colors of gold, red, black, a constant gray and the very necessary neutrals.  So without further ado here is my Kontentment.
You can also read a bit more about putting it together on my blog:
http://kwiltnkats.blogspot.com/2016/01/sunday-stash-report-january-10-2016.html  under the heading LABELS on the right side bar select Kontentment to get every post from the first part.

You make me wish I had done this mystery, Sandi!

My #9 UFO is the Downton Abbey mystery from year-before-last. What's yours?

From the desk of your