Finished both tops of Amy's Quilt-Along.....Finally!

Once upon a time, a long, long, long time ago, I joined a Quilt-Along, decided to do two quilts and finished the first one.

Jump to present...

I just finished the second top of the sampler blocks Amy hosted.....same blocks, different arrangement and fabric(Kaffe design, I think)..... One more thing to mark off my list!

This was the one that was sort of out of my comfort zone.  I had never worked with these designs before in this scale.... but I had bought oodles of fqs....It is really striking.. I like both tops, but the second one is my favorite....

Probably because it surprised me and it has more contrast and bright colors than the other one....however, I am really satisfied with both.

Now they are officially UFOs....for awhile..

Down Memory Lane - in more ways than one

Ya'll think back.....way back......

'Member when I was working on the Quilt-Along with Amy at Amy's Creative Side this last summer? If not, you can quickly scroll down the page at the left to refresh your memory....

  At the time I started, I found myself at a point (very seldom) where we have finished several items (or goals) at once and are casting around looking for something else to do.

I decided this quilt-along was a good thing, so why not double the fun?  I was foolish brave enough to try to work on two quilts at once.  It was a good thing.  I really tried (after starting 3 weeks late) and caught up, and stayed up with the group until.....the last couple of weeks.  I did finish one of the quilt tops (Quilt B), but lacked 2 blocks in Quilt A. 

All this background laid so that I can tell you one simple thing......

I finished ONE of the two blocks in Quilt A.  Yea!  Hurray!

  I am ready to work on the second block, but Christmas, etc, keeps getting in the way.  Just a couple of days alone with nothing else to do and I could get the top finished....

But then my grandkids wouldn't get their Christmas box before Christmas, and my DH wouldn't have dinner a couple of times (hurts especially since we just spent a wad for groceries!), and I wouldn't get a batch of plum jam made (plum makings in the freezer since the first of the summer).

Now to the other trip down memory lane....or lack of memory. 

I mentioned in making DHs Crazy Quilt that I had some muslin for the backing of the blocks, but would need to buy more (which I did,,,,about $40 or $50 worth!). 

Weeeellllllllll,,,,,, I was rummaging around for fabric for my Giveaway (see last post).........and looked in a plastic container, which happened to be.....on the floor behind me next to my table where I work......yep....

There is a LOT there!  It's in a 'wad" because it was the remainder of a bolt I bought a long time ago.  I groan every time I think of what that $40 or $50 could have bought! 

Do you see why I need to continue working on my sewing room???? 

So now it looks like this......

Still stuffed, but at least in it's own apartment.....with label (index card). 

No telling how much I am going to save next year as I continue to work on my stash!

A "learning" top is finished.

I finished one of my tops in Amy's quilt along.  I read once that you should never point out your mistakes, so I won't.  Suffice it to say I will be reminded of the things I learned every time I look at it.  It still turned out pretty and I may keep it for myself when it is quilted...I don't know yet.   The top will be put aside in a nice stack for now so that I can start another project I have in mind.  I will not forget it and will start handquilting it eventually.  I've come this far on this top and I am not about to abandon it now!!!

Mystery Quilt Challenge

One of the members of the quilting forum on About.com is challenging us to do a mystery quilt.  It is called The DaChintzy Code.  I am having trouble today getting the link for ya'll,  but if you are interested, google About.com, quilting, you will get into the site.  Go to the advanced search on the same site as the list of messages, search for a specific message, and type in 60574.1 , hopefully you should come up with the first message that will give you the specifications for the quilt.  It is evidently a simple mystery, it only has four fabrics to work with.

The 13 clues start on September 1, and will be given in a separate post every two weeks (on a Wednesday).  That may seem like a long time between clues, but people requested it because of the time of year.

 

I have never tried a mystery quilt and this seemed to be a good one to start on.  The cutting directions are given first so that all the pieces of the puzzle/mystery are ready to go and the time frame between clues are great for a beginner mystery buff  like me. These were my choices, based on the description of the fabric.  The light colored fabric is actually more yellow/cream than it is shown in the picture.  I am finishing the cutting today. 

BTW, if any of you get to these directions, I would appreciate it if you would attach the link to a comment at the end of this post.  Thanks. 

Catching up , Finishing Quilt B blocks

OK..In week 7, I got behind working on two quilts.  Something had to give, temporarily.  I lacked only one block to finish that week.

During the last two weeks, I have still fallen behind, so I decided to finish the blocks for week 7, which this block does....This is for Quilt A.

 I am now working in week 9 on week 8, which should finish the blocks needed for the quilt.  Because of extenuating circumstances, I was still behind at the end of the week...So I decided to finish all the blocks for one quilt (B) and see if I could at least start the sashing for it.  Quilt A will be done in the near future, I just didn't want to be in a rush and I needed to show everyone what I have been doing.  So here are the last remaining blocks of Quilt B.

Finally, I can show you all the completed blocks for Quilt B, which are not in the order I have decided upon.  They are ready for the sashing, which I hope to work on this week. 

Now, is everyone confused? 

I am anxious to work on Quilt A, because that is the one that I labeled, "out of my comfort zone".  Please keep checking back because it will get done! 

week seven quilt along, half finished

Only finished one of the blocks last week..one for each quilt.  I hope to finish the rest of the blocks this week.  My points are not chopped off, but a couple of them are hanging out in the breeze.  I had fun positioning the "A" block. I decided that since the design was so big and shows really two different colors, that I would just make the inside HSTs the same color.  It worked out well.

Week six - coming down to the wire - Quilt-Along

I am so antsy, wanting to get these finished and put together.  Don't know in what order yet, every week I create new surprises in blocks.

This week is no different.  I am pleased with the blocks.  I had very little trouble with them...a little trouble with 'New Album".  I had to put together the top and bottom rows first to be sure of my measurement on the middle one.  I need more practice, but as a whole everything turned out okay.

Week six, blocks 11a and 12a

Week 6, blocks 11b and 12b

I got tired of the wooden background behind the blocks, so I got a neutral fabric and laid it out.  No as much contrast on some of the blocks, but it got rid of some of the yellowish in the photos.

Completed blocks, Quilt A

Completed blocks, Quilt B

Week 5 of Quilt-Along Gang

Well, what do you know...it's not even late Sunday evening and I have finished with the assigned blocks for this week.  I am learning values and color combos, even if it is in the "don't do this category".  I have all the blocks in front of me at various times during the week and even I don't know how the quilts will turn out!

Anyway, here they are in all their glory....

Week 5, blocks 9a and 10a

Week 5 blocks 9b and 10b

Completed blocks, Quilt A

Completed blocks, Quilt B

BTW, I picked out the color sashing for both quilts,,,that you will have to wait and see later. 

Now to add the link at Amy's and look at the other quilters' blocks......

Amy's Quilt-Along, Weeks 3 AND 4....I'm caught up!!!!!

The title says it all.  I have caught up with the crowd and am riding high!

Without further ado, may I present.....Quilt A progress:

Week 3, Blocks 5a and 6a

Week 4, Blocks 7a and 8a

As of Week 4, Completed blocks, Quilt A

Now onto Quilt B.....

Week 3, blocks 5b and 6b

Week 4, blocks 7b and 8b

As of Week 4, completed blocks, Quilt B

Amy's Quilt Along, week 2 blocks

Well, this has been an experience.  If one learns by mistakes and goofs, then my learning curve is off the chart.  I measured, remeasured, and still cut wrong; I sewed the wrong side to the wrong side even after Amy warned me about doing wonky things and to recheck positions, and went through about 3 or 4 choices (with cutting) before I was semi-satisfied.

BTW HINT: Did you know that if you are undecided about combination of fabrics and already have one cut, that you can lay the cut pieces down on an uncut fabric and see what it will look like?? I positioned the two 6 1/2" pieces on several fabrics and it worked like a charm.

Also, as noted before, I am making two quilts, one of which is sorta, kinda, really out of my comfort zone.  But I had bought a lot of fat quarters of this series and wanted to see how I would handle it.  I am finding out.  It is kinda fun, but I don't know where it will lead...(quilt A, if you haven't already guessed).

Anyway, here are the pictures:  have fun! Yes, you can click on the pictures and get the full effect.

Blocks 3 and 4, quilt A

Blocks 3 and 4, quilt B

Sewn blocks, Quilt A

Sewn blocks, Quilt B

Quilt Along Blocks 2A and 2B

Here is my second set of blocks for Week One in Amy's Quilt-Along:

Block 2, quilt A

Block 2, quilt B

Quilt Along with Amy

Better late than never!  I found Amy's Creative Side and decided to join Quilt Along group.  It is the first time I have ever interacted with anyone in Blogland, and even though I am 3 weeks behind at the start, it looks like fun and her instructions/tutorials look easy, even for me!

So, being the glutton for punishment that I am, and not having anything else to do (see further down in post), I challenged myself to try two at the same time.  I couldn't decide on the two different types of fabrics that I liked and had available, so decided to give both a whirl.  They are going to be Quilt A and Quilt B, for further reference...

Quilt A

Quilt B

Now, understand that we are supposed to make 2 blocks per week.  The above is only the first block, so hopefully, I will be adding another post shortly.  I will try to catch up...eventually.

Now, why I am joining this quilt-along....   I have so many other ideas and want-to-do items that I first felt that I did not have to do this.  I have pillowcases to make, quilts to finish, self taught lessons on quilt-as-you-go to learn, patterns to organize,,,etc., etc., etc.

But you know what?  Everything I mentioned above is slotted for someone.  I have nothing going on just for the fun of quilting......so there you go.  This may not be just for me, I don't know what I am going to do with the results, but it just sounded like fun.  So I am in for the long haul..twice!!

Those of you who are interested, check on my Pages listed...I plan to start one on this project.