Monday, November 30, 2015

What I Am Working On......

Karen showed me this blog post and I have to admit that I was intrigued with the concept. Of course I misunderstood the idea, I thought that each day you pick a fabric that reflects how you feel about the day, or what you did.  Though I knew I didn't want to make mine with circles as it would take too long, I don't enjoy handwork, and I would soon quit making them. 

I decided to make mine using the Road to Tennessee block. Ever since we moved to TN twenty years ago I have been wanting to make a TN quilt.  I am using a five inch square for the main block and scrappy 2.5 inch squares for the corners. The block goes together in under one minute, cutting included. I am going to try to make my blocks all from the scraps I have been saving. If I need to I will cut into larger pieces of fabric. Wish I had a fun novelty fabric for each day.  The blocks will be sewn in calendar order. I started this on November 10th.
 The day I started was foggy - the gray fabric, the next was Veteran's Day, next day I worked on my hexie flowers, got new glasses, started my Bargello quilt, etc...
 dreaded ladybugs arrived, finished Christmas Stack n Whack, love the color red, beautiful sunset, ...
canned some leg of lamb, family history, - you get the idea.

I have also decided to keep a small journal with just a word or two about why I chose the fabric for that day. 

I might try to incorporate this list on the back of the quilt. I am surprised at how much I am enjoying making these blocks.

As you probably know I like to make quilts to fit my bed - 100 inches square. I am going to have to do this for 400 days to make it big enough. Just might have to put borders on this one!

 My hexie flowers are getting done, been averaging about 5 a week, just have about 100 left to go. If I knew just how much time it takes for me to make one flower I would never have started this quilt. It takes about one hour for me to make one flower. I thought I would have gotten faster over time. Guess I need to watch more TV!

Stacks of 10.

I am making Lori Holt's barn blocks - one a week - All my barns will be red. She also has a 12 inch barn block that I have enlarged to make it as big as the others and this will give me three different barns in my quilt.



 Amish Twist is also being made.  I am making one set of blocks each week. I have 25 finished. 



I am struggling with paper piecing these tree blocks. My mind has a hard time grasping that you have to sew the pieces upside down. I am going to have to find someone in my guild that knows about paper piecing. I won't work on these again until next year.



A Bargello quilt has also been started. Being taught this by a quilter in my guild.
There are only four rows so far. All the strips and strip sets have been cut out.


I just might have too many projects going all at once - though none of them actually take a lot of time. Once the Christmas quilts are finished - have two more to make - then I will be able to concentrate more on the Bargello and barn quilts. 

Been thinking about my quilting goals for 2016...

Linking up with Quilty 365.... Linking up with JudyL's Design Wall.

24 comments:

Ramona said...

Wow! So many wonderful blocks are being made at your house! I just love your barn blocks! And I really like the idea of making one block a day with fabric that fits your mood or thoughts. Great things going on here!

Charlene S said...

There is nothing wrong with having lots of projects going at one time as long as you work on each a little bit each week.

Shannon said...

Yes you do have a lot going on! I love that you chose TN quilting pattern for your quilt. Just yesterday I chose the Road to OK pattern for a quilt I will be making. It's good to start early thinking about the projects for next year. I have been getting mine started too!

Kat Scribner said...

Love, Love Love the barns!

The Colorful Fabriholic said...

Wow, you do have lots of projects going! Good luck with them all. I really like the block you're using for your Fabric-a-Day project. To a piecer like me, it seems much more do-able than appliqueing circles every day for a year!

Marti said...

You are one busy lady! I like your idea of the 365 blocks much better. Every time you look at the quilt, you'll be reminded of how you felt when you made each block. I love your quilt studio too. Drool.

Monica said...

I love Lori's barns -- they caught my eye right away in the link up! That's going to be an awesome quilt.

I think you understood Audrey's idea perfectly, and the journal is a great idea too. Happy stitching!

AnnieO said...

Wow, that is a great deal to keep up with. Seems you're enjoying it all!

Nann said...

Oh, *all* your projects look so wonderful! The barns caught my eye (in the DWM thumbnail photo. Neat idea to choose fabrics based on the day -- my challenge would be to limit myself to a day at a time. I get impatient! I've downloaded the tutorial for those pieced trees . . . one of these days.

Kaja said...

You certainly are juggling a lot of balls, but it looks like you are pretty successful. I too love the barns, and like your take on Audrey's circles. I think the idea of the journal is great, especially if you come up with a way of using the words on the back.

Karen said...

I like the colors in the Bargello. The road to Tennessee blocks are looking great. You are making good progress on the Amish quilt. I am hoping soon to work on my blocks again, I love the barn blocks. I don't know how you get so much done.

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

I had to smile at the ladybugs day! I like to see the variety of how different ones are choosing to do this project ! :)

SandraC said...

I like your idea for the Quilty365, it's going to be beautiful! I understand your problem with paper-piecing....some days it's hard to wrap my head around it so I put it aside. I do it when I have to, but only because some blocks need it!

audrey said...

What a great idea for Quilty 365! Your fabrics are a wonderful pick for each day.:) I like that Amish Twist quilt too. Someday I'm going to make one similar to that!

Quilting Babcia said...

A unique twist on the Quilty 365 concept. I love everyone's originality with this project. Your barn blocks are coming along beautifully too. I copied off the directions for all the barn blocks a long time ago but have yet to make them. Please keep showing yours and inspiring me to start one too!

Julierose said...

Love yout TN blocks for 365 group! It is amazing how everyone's take on this project is so individual..Just adorable fabric choices you've made--this will be a lovely piece hugs, Julierose

Gisele said...

A great personal take on the 365 day quilt along with Audrey, boy are you busy with all your different projects :) I have to confess I have many on the go too but tend to switch to a different one every two weeks, that way I don't get bored.

Jennifer said...

That is a lot of projects, but it is good to have variety so you won't get bored! For paper piecing, I highly recommend Carol Doak's method - she has a Crafty class and a DVD. I took a workshop from her years ago and she was an excellent teacher!

Kate said...

Lots of fun projects in your queue. I really like the barns, that's going to be a fun quilt. I always end up working on 4 or 5 quilts at a time. I don't get bored that way.

Cathy said...

Oh, what a fun idea you had for Quilty 365 with the TN block. I love your fun fabric choices.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

interesting twist on the circles project! love what you are doing

Heather said...

What a great idea using that block - people have taken so much different inspiration from QuiltyFolk's original idea

Helen Howes said...

I don't understand why you are paper-piecing the trees? Free, free-cut tutorial here
http://www.helenhowestextiles.co.uk/kitsandpatterns/treetutorial.html
and each one is then different..

Denise :) said...

I like your Road to Tennessee blocks -- and the scrappiness will be wonderful! How's it coming along?! :)