Jamestown Landing Officially Begun

I inadvertently started Jamestown Landing this weekend.  I knew I wanted to make this quilt someday, so several months ago I started making neutral 4 1/2" string blocks. This weekend I realized I had over 100 neutral string blocks!

I was also making 5 1/2" blue string blocks this month for RSC.  Then I realized that Bonnie Hunter's Jamestown Landing quilt has a string border, and I could start the string border instead of making the  5 1/2" blocks that I have no concrete plans for.  So my Jamestown Landing will be blue and white instead of the green and white I was thinking of.

Yesterday I finished the blue string border pieces.

I also sorted and counted my neutral sting blocks.

I have 130 made and need 168.  Now I need  to make 840 blue and white half square triangles.  That will take a while!  But since this quilt has its own project box now, it is officially a work in progress.

Linking up:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/ufo-challenge-update-2/

Stash Report, Birds in the Air

I've decided to count my exchanges as fabric used when they get sent and fabric in when they arrive.  So I have some used yardage to report this week!

Used this week: 5 yards ( Birds in the Air and I Spy sent out)
Used Year to Date: 51.625 yards
Added this week: 0
Added Year to Date:48.375  yards
Net Used:  3.25 yards

Here are my Birds In the Air blocks:

I had to buy some white fabric, but the rest is from my stash.

Linking up:http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/06/12/stash-report-june-12-2016/

Is it Frameworthy?

When people come to my house for the first time, they sometimes comment on all the needlework I have hanging in my house.  The official count is 5 pieces in the foyer/hallway, 4 in the dining room, 4 in the kitchen, 9 in the family room, one in the bathroom, and one in the living room.  Two of them were stitched by my mother-in-law:  our wedding announcement and a clock face.  Seven of them are round robins, and one of them is an antique perforated paper bookmark.  In spite of the large number of pieces, I have tried to use a little restraint.  Not every wall in my house is covered in cross stitch, and I can think of five framed pieces that aren't even hanging right now.

I am the only one who knows the extent of the unframed.  Today I took all unframed pieces that I have out of the drawer where they wait and pinned them on my design wall.

I only hung up things bigger than an ornament since my unfinished ornaments are stashed all over the house.

Why do I have 20 unframed cross stitch pieces?  Lack of wall space and, more importantly, cost. Custom framing costs as much or more than having a quilt longarmed.   There are a couple of these that I don't really want to hang in my house, but I would like to have them framed.  I think framing would be a good way to preserve them.

I don't want my kids saddled with trying to deal with my cross stitch after I'm gone (not that I'm planning to go anytime soon).  I don't want my kids to feel like they have to keep it all.  I would like them to each keep a couple of pieces, but I hope my friends, siblings and their kids will take some of it.  I joke with my  oldest son that he is going to inherit my pincushion/needleroll/scissor fob collection, but I really just hope it goes to someone who will love it.

I think it is much easier to get rid of quilts than needlework.  Plenty of charities accept quilts.  I don't know of any that accept cross stitch!

Linking up:  http://www.supermomnocape.com/2016/06/13/vintage-embroidery-monday-stitchery-link-party-62/

Stash Report

It was a big yards added week for me.  I found the One Block Wonder fabric I've been wanting on sale, so I bought six yards of  it.  I also got fabric for the I Spy block exchange.  Last I checked, there were still 6 spots open in this exchange.  Here are my fabric squares:

I haven't decide to how to count this fabric.  Is it used when I send it away?  If so, I need to add it back in when I get my exchange squares. Same problem for my Birds In the Air exchange blocks.  I haven't done many  quilt exchanges, so this is new territory for me.

Used this week: 3.25 (backing, binding, sleeve Ohio star quilt)
Used Year to Date: 46.625 yards
Added this week: 10.0 (I spy swap, new OBW)
Added Year to Date:48.375  yards
Net added:  1.75 yards

Linking up: http://www.patchworktimes.com/2016/06/05/stash-report-june-5-2016/

Red and White Ohio Star

Way back in July of 2015, I won a gift certificate for $50 custom quilting from Christa Smith of Cotton Berry Quilts.  It took me a long time to decide which of my tops would benefit from custom quilting. The tops I had already completed were very scrappy, so that custom quilting wouldn't have shown up. In the end, I decided to make a new quilt and sent it off to Christa in April.  It came home last Tuesday, and I'm so happy with it!

I send 90% of my tops out to a local longarmer that only does pantographs.  This was my first experience with a custom quilter, and the first time I'd ever sent a quilt top to a quilter I didn't know. I was a little anxious that something bad would happen to it in the mail, but Christa was good at communicating with me.  She let me know when my top arrived.   She wanted my input on the quilting, the type and color of batting and thread.  I asked for something curvy on the white blocks, and she came up with feathered wreaths.  They are just beautiful!  I was so eager to get this quilt on the wall, I hung it up without washing it.  I would use Christa's services again for a special quilt.

I hope you can see the quilting in these pictures.  Even my husband who barely notices my quilts, commented on how nice it turned out.

Linking up:  http://confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com/2016/06/can-i-get-whoop-whoop-everyones-winner.html

http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2016/06/sunnys-quilt.html

May Goals/June Goals

Time to review my May goals and set April goals.

In May, I wanted to:

1. Bind Amanda's quilt.  Not done, but Amanda has pushed graduation to December, so I'm not late either.

2. Finish Daybreak top  DONE!

3. Evaluate rulers, books and think about a plan for them    A little thinking but no plan yet.

4. Finish Stars Around the Corner top.  DONE!

5. Continue to participate in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge  DONE!

6. Pull out a UFO and make some progress.  DONE!

7. Keep up with crazy quilting classes. Not even close!  I'm behind on them both.


In June, I'd like to:
1. Bind and hang red and white Ohio Star.
2.  Cut and send out I Spy squares for exchange.
3. Make and sign 40 Bird In the Air blocks for exchange.
4. Bind Amanda's quilt.  Been meaning to do this for 3 months now.
5. Complete one Crazy Quilting class or make substantial progress on both.
6. Continue to participate in RSC.
7. Evaluate rulers, books and think about a plan for them 

Talkin' Turkey Progress

I focused on Talkin' Turkey this week.  I got a lot of the various units done , four more blocks and the sashing for in between the rows.  Only 30 blocks to go now.

Yesterday I cleaned my sewing room and packed up the pieces. 

I have some obligation sewing to get done this week:  40 birds in the air blocks to get done for an exchange.  Frances Dowell, a quilting podcaster and children's book author, has written a new quilting novel for adults.  It comes out in September, and a bunch of her listeners are making Birds In the Air signature quilts to celebrate.  If you haven't discovered her podcast, The Off Kilter Quilt, give it a try!  She is very fun to listen to.  You can find the podcast on iTunes.

I also have a quilt to bind.  It is the first quilt I've made for a wall hanging, and I know just where I want it.  I hope it looks as good in that actual place as it does in my head.

Linking up:  http://www.joscountryjunction.com/ufo-challenge-progress/#more-29152