Design Wall Monday

It has been a long time since I've participated in Design Wall Monday.  But I have 2 projects going on on right now, so I thought I'd post.  

On the left is the Pi quilt I'm making for my nephew's graduation. The Pi quilt is a pattern from Meadow Mist Designs.  I am making 5" x 7" number blocks, and I still have all of the number nines and most of the number eights to piece.   

On the right is part of  my 'shop challenge' quilt.  Everyone who works at the quilt shop was given the same fabric to work with.  We each made ten 6 1/2 blocks, and we swapped them about a week ago. The challenge is to make something from all of the blocks by April 1.  I am using mine to make a back for a quilt I've already pieced. 

Linking up:  http://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/2018/02/design-wall-monday-february-5-2018.html

Paris Panel OBW

Before Thanksgiving I was in an LQS and found a panel I thought would make a good OBW.  Bonnie Hunter's mystery pushed it aside until now.  Today I finished the top.

This is the back:

And a close up of the panel.  

I love the way this turned out!

Stash Report:
Used this week:  9.375 yards ( Paris OBW top and back)
Used year to date: 18.125 yards 
Added this week: 27.25 yards  (backing and jelly rolls for tuffet)
Added year to date: 31.75 yards
Net Added:  13.625 yards

Linking up:  http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2018/02/finish-it-up-friday-2-2-18.html

On Ringo Lake Top Finished

I worked most of the afternoon on On Ringo Lake and finished the top.  I added a  simple 3 1/2 inch border around the outside because there would be so many seams along the edge otherwise. Because of the border, my quilt finished at  82" x 97", a good size for a bed.

The men in my family all like this quilt.  I am less fond of it, probably because the piecing was so intense that I had problems getting all my seams to nest  and keeping all my points intact.  I did a ton of pressing, but there are still a lot of bulky intersections that I could have avoided if I had had a better idea of the finished quilt.  But that is the risk you take with a mystery!

My goal was to use up a lot of scraps:  mission accomplished!  I have really gone through my orange and green scraps and should be able to make a lot of string blocks now.  I still have a plenty of blue scraps.

Stash Report:
Used this week:  6.25 yards (On Ringo Lake top) 
Used year to date: 8.75 yards 
Added this week: 0 yards
Added year to date: 4.5 yards
Net Used: 4.25 yards

Take note that today I have net used yardage, not net added yardage.  I don't remember when the last time was that that happened.  And I just ordered backing, so those numbers won't last long!

Linking up: http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2018/01/arithmetic-quilt-complete.html

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/02/one-final-on-ringo-lake-link-up.html

It's A Mystery

I've been working on two mysteries this week.  Summer Stars on Fawn Lake (SSFL) started the tenth.  I had a difficult time working though the clues, and I'm not really sure why.  My prefered quilting instructions show pictures of blocks with dimensions (ala Bonnie Hunter).  This time the instructions were a lot of words with descriptions of the units, and I spent a lot of time figuring out exactly what to sew together.  Eventually, with the help of someone who posted their blocks online, I figured out what in the world I was supposed to make.  But by then I had made 7 extra blocks that may have to be taken apart.  I'll worry about the unsewing next month!

I have also been working on On Ringo Lake.  I am afraid to take it off my design wall because it would be so easy to mix up the direction of the sashing.  In fact, I found an error 2 days ago that I have decided to leave in.  I want this quilt done!!!!

It is snowing here now, and I'm going to spend the rest of the afternoon sewing.

Stash Report:
Used this week: 2.5 yards (given to Brenda)
Used year to date: 0 yards
Added this week: 4.5 ( 10 $1 FQs and 2 pillow case kits)
Added year to date: 2 yards
Net Added: 2 yards

On Ringo Lake, A Work in Progress

I've decided to quit whining about On Ringo Lake and just keep sewing.  Today I worked on it most of the afternoon and got this far:

This week I want to get the setting triangles made and sewn into the rows.  The week after that, I want to get the quilt sewn together.  I'm off from work tomorrow, but I also have to do mundane things like take the dog to the vet and clean the house.  I hope to finish the cutting for the setting triangles tomorrow too.  

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2018/01/mystery-monday-link-up-part-6-7-8-9.html

Christopher's Stocking, Cross Stitching Finish

In August I started working on a Christmas stocking for a friend of mine.  She had already made stockings for her oldest 2 children but had stalled on the one for her youngest.  I offered to finished the cross stitching. https://sewingoutofmycomfortzone.blogspot.com/2017/08/christophers-stocking.html

Last night I got all the stitching done:

This is Robert's Stocking by Shepherd's Bush.

I am waiting for the embellishments for it.  There are little charms on the santa and the deer and some silk ribbon, that I'm now comfortable working with thanks to the online class I took last year.  It didn't get done in time for Christmas, but at least he will have a stocking in 2018!

On Ringo Lake: After the Reveal

I really enjoy Bonnie Hunter's mysteries from the day after Thanksgiving until the reveal on New Year's Day.  After the reveal, the quilt feels like work.  So many clues so quickly, and it is hard to keep up.  I know it isn't a race, but after the reveal, I feel like I lose the connection to all the quilters working on the mystery, and it becomes a solo activity which isn't as much fun to me. 

So I've been WORKING on On Ringo Lake this week, not enjoying the process.  Here are my completed blocks:

I've also started putting the blocks together with sashing.  The quilt is set on point, but I am less likely to turn the sashing strips the wrong way if I set it on the straight right now.

With my bad attitude, it might be better for me to put On Ringo Lake away for a while! Luckily, Charlotte Hawke's mystery starts the 10th, so I'll get my fix of group sewing.