Three Hundred Four Patches: The EASY Clue

I have 257 four patches complete.

 I have 50 more sewn, but they still need to be pressed.  I just got tired of standing up, so I'll do them tomorrow. Some of my oranges lean toward coral or gold, but it was raining all day yesterday and today too, and I didn't feel like going to the quilt shop, so I used them.

This is all the orange fabric I have left.

I have a few decent sized pieces to cut strips from, but  a lot of my orange is trash scraps:  crumpled up, odd shades of orange and/or too small to use.  If  there is more orange in this quilt, I will need to buy more.

To see more Celtic Solstice progress:  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/mystery-monday-link-up-part-4.html

Celtic Solstice Caught Up

I completed my pinwheels for Celtic Solstice just 5 minutes ago, so I am caught up with the clues for about another 10 hours.  Then the next clue comes out, and all bets are off!  This is a hard time of year to drop it all and sew.

I was supposed to make 61 of these, but I got carried away and made 75.  Someday I'm going to make a kitchen sink quilt and these extra pinwheels will be in that quilt. I like the orange and yellow combination!

Reflections on Quilting Resolutions for 2013

I played along with Sandy at Quilting for the Rest of Us and made some quilting resolutions last year  for 2013.

She asked what each of us  wanted to accomplish.

1. One Block Wonder Quilt:  The top is done.

2. Kathryn's graduation quilt:  Done, quilted and gifted!

 

3. Using more stash than I buy. As of last Sunday, here's where I stand.  I didn't succeed here.

Used this week: 2.5 yards
Used Year to Date:  91.125 yards
Added this week: 1.5 yards
Added year to date:  100.625 yards
Net Added:  9.5 yards

BUT I made 3 quilts using only scraps in my stash:

 

 

 

 

She asked what each of us wanted to learn.  I said:
I want to learn how to paper piece well. (And I want to learn to like paper piecing)

Mission accomplished in learning to paper piece well.  The Harry Potter quilt was a crash course in paper piecing.  I found that I do like to paper piece too!

She asked what I want to experience through quilting. I said:
I want to experience 'green' quilting.  I want to make a quilt from recycled clothing or some other kind of repurposed fabric. I want to be more mindful of waste in my quilting and waste in other aspects of my life.

In response to this goal, I made 3 quilt tops out of men's shirts.  I really enjoyed this process and plan to make more recycled fabric quilts in the future.

 

 

My guiding word for my quilting life in 2013: focus.  I feel like I did focus on my quilting in 2013.  Maybe my word for 2014 should be 'balance'. With all the quilting, I didn't have time to  get the cross stitching and knitting done that I wanted to in 2013.  But overall, I am pleased that I met most of my goals.  Linking up with Patchwork Times:  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/31/get-it-done/

Celtic Solstice, Behind Already

I finished step 2 this weekend. Step 3 was released last Friday, so I'm already officially behind.

 Several times while I was working on this step, I found myself wondering if I really wanted to make the king sized version or do the small one.  The small version only needs 100 chevron units.  The king size needs 244.  I persevered and made 250.  I like to have extras just in case I miscount or have a quality control issue.

 

I am glad I bought those extra yellow fat quarters early this fall, or I wouldn't have had enough to do this step.  I may have to go out and buy a few more, but I'm hoping I have enough. 

 

Step 3 looks easier than the first 2. Maybe I can catch up this week. To see more CS progress:

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up_4572.html

Stash Report

I finished one pillowcase and 9 rice bags this week.  I think my Christmas sewing is done. 

 

Used this week: 2.5 yards
Used Year to Date:  91.125 yards
Added this week: 1.5 yards
Added year to date:  100.625 yards
Net Added:  9.5 yards

To see more stash reports: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2013/12/15/stash-report-week-50-2013/

Celtic Solstice, Step 3

I sighed with relief when I saw step 3 of Celtic Solstice:  half square triangles!  A unit I can make easily and accurately.  I'm still working on step 2.  I thought I was done, but then I realized I was ONE HUNDRED units short. I worked last night on it, but I still have a long way to go.

I'm also working on rice bags for a friend's family for Christmas.  They all need one, including the two boyfriends, so I've got 9 rice bags to make plus one pillow case, 4 dozen cookies for the cookie exchange and 3-4 batches of caramel corn for the neighbors. 

My oldest son graduates this week from college too.  He isn't interested in attending the ceremony.  I am not sure if they even have a ceremony for kids who graduate in December.  After 5 1/2 years of college, I am  just ready for him to graduate.  He has amassed 225 1/5 credits ( instead of the usual 120 credits needed to graduate). So if anyone is looking for an over-educated mechanical engineer with math minor,  and a BIS in set design and technical theater, email me!  He would love to work as an Imagineer at Disney but realizes his first job might not be his dream job.

Celtic Solstice, Sweet Potato Pie

I've made a big dent in Celtic Solstice, Part 2.  Almost all my uphill units are done as well as about 1/3 of my down hills.  I put one unit all the way together to make sure everything would line up and nest well.  I think I could have finished the whole step this weekend, but I wanted to spend a bit of time with my DH and son.

 

Here is my pile of waste triangles.  Bonnie said they would be good for her pineapple paper pieced quilt, but I have no plans to make that one, so if you want them, let me know

 

To see more Celtic Solstice progress: http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up.html

 I also took time to make a sweet potato pie with pecan pie topping this weekend.  YUM!  This recipe is a keeper!

Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Pie Topping

Topping:
1 egg
3 Tbsp. dark corn syrup
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
1 tsp. maple flavoring
1 cup chopped pecans

Pie:
2 medium sweet potatoes, baked, pealed and kept warm
1/4 cup butter
1 14 oz. can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. each cinnamon, nutmeg, grated orange zest
1/4 tsp. salt
2 eggs

1 9-inch pie crust  (The recipe didn't say to do this, but I pre-baked my pie shell, so it wouldn't get soggy.  Worked great!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Topping: Combine egg, corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter and maple flavoring.  Mix well.  Add pecans and set aside.

Pie:  In large mixing bowl, beat warm sweet potatoes with butter until smooth.  Add condensed milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, orange zest, salt and eggs. Mix well.  Pour into pastry shell. Bake 30 minutes.

Remove from oven and spoon topping carefully over the pie.  Bake an additional 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Stash Report

My LQS was having a fat quarter sale (10 for $15).  The plan was to go with a friend, and we would each buy 5 FQs since neither of us really NEEDED more fabric.  I ended up buying 15 FQs instead of 5.  I was low on yellows, oranges and pinks, so  got a few of them.  Then I got several neutrals and greens for my Celtic Solstice and finally 3 purples because I really liked them. 

Earlier in the week, I also bought fabric for one more pillow case.  I know I'll finish this one soon because it is a Christmas gift.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used Year to Date:  88.625 yards
Added this week: 5.25 yards
Added year to date:  99.125 yards
Net Added:  10.5 yards

The bad news is I only see my self using 1-1.5 yards before the end of December, so I don't anticipate reaching my goal of using more than I added this year. I have 2 mystery scrap quilts in the works, though, and a one block wonder cut out and ready to sew.  I should have some quick finishes in 2014.  To see more stash reports:
http://www.patchworktimes.com/

Celtic Solstice: Part 1 Complete!

I am thrilled to have finally completed part 1 of Celtic Solstice.  I had forgotten how long each step of a Bonnie Hunter mystery takes.   I made 240 blue/white units and 140 blue/orange units because I'm making the king sized quilt.

 

I'm very happy with the quality of my units.  I have used the Tri-Recs tool before, and was not happy that many of the block I made with this tool were a little warped, not quite square.  This wasn't the fault of the tool but of my technique.  For Celtic Solstice, I used Deb Tucker's V-Block ruler instead of Tri-Recs.  With this ruler, the blocks are made a little over-sized and then trimmed down. In my mind, this extra step was worth the time.

 

 

I've also completed the next step in Scrapitude, but I need to trim the dog ears.

 

 

 

Celtic Solstice, Part 1

I've worked on Celtic Solstice this weekend.  All of my part one pieces are cut.  I am using Deb Tucker's V-Block ruler for this step.  I've used the Tri Recs in the past, and I haven't been happy with my accuracy using it.  The V-Block ruler is very forgiving in your cutting and sewing, but you have to trim down at the end. I am willing to do that trimming for the sake of accuracy.

Here's a real life picture of my blocks in progress.  It looks chaotic, but I have a system.

 Some of my blocks are sewn but not trimmed.

 

I should have most of these units complete by the time the next clue comes out, but I do have a little bit of Christmas sewing to do too.

 

Linking up with Bonnie Hunter this week:  http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2013/12/celtic-solstice-mystery-monday-link-up-1.html