Spring to Finish

Back at the beginning of April, Jacquie at Tallgrass Prairie Studio proposed a "spring to finish" idea.  She was inviting others to join her in finishing up some of her unfinished projects during the month of April.  I decided I'd join in and had grand ideas of what I'd finish.  I often thought, "I should make a list", but did not.  And now that it is the end of April, I have only finished one project and made zero progress on the rest!  Oops! 

Last night I went to a project night with several women from my church and working on stitching the binding onto my Mod Sampler quilt.  I finished it up today after I returned from work.  So my quilt is DONE!  Yay! 

I decided to go with a pieced binding.  It is my first pieced binding actually.    I thought the solid brown with a few of the patterns from the top would tie things together and finish it nicely.  I love how it turned out!  I'm a fan.  :)

Since I made such little progress on my unfinished projects, I think I am going to actually make the list to make some goals to make more progress in May.  So here we go:

• Black & White & Yellow all over - finish the quilt
• Chantilly Quilt - finish the top
• Christmas Quilt:  Start piecing the top, possibly finish making the rest of the blocks for the top
• New Placemats
• Finish curtains
  

I'm hoping to have at least one of these quilts have the binding ready to stitch down for next month's project night.  Since sewing is really my only craft, I need to make sure I have things ready that don't require a sewing machine.  My machine is way too loud to take to a night where chatting is one of the goals of the night.

What I've been up to

While you wouldn't know it by this blog, I have actually been busy sewing quite a bit.  I don't, however, have a lot to show for it.  It's quite unfortunate really.  About a month ago I had this grand idea that I would try sewing some clothes again.  A couple years ago I attempted to make a skirt.  It felt like it took forever and it turned out quite terribly.  After that, I swore off sewing clothes.  Well, that was along enough ago that I have sufficiently forgotten how frustrating it was.  I decided I'd give it another try after seeing all of the great projects people have been making from Weekend Sewing.  It hasn't gone well so far.  The biggest problem I have had as been having the proper amount of fabric!  I have found her estimates to be on the low side.  Quite frustrating.

So, I chucked it and moved on to something foolproof- napkins.  I used this tutorial.

I love them!  I'm planning to make some new placemats as well.  Those will come at a later date. What color would be best?  I was thinking a dark brown, but my dishes are dark brown.  I think it wouldn't be enough contrast.  Maybe ivory-ish instead?


I have also been working on finishing up my Mod Sampler quilt.  I quilted it this past week- in one night!  It went so quickly!  I was pretty excited.  I'm looking forward to showing it off.  I really like it a lot!


Now I'm off for a bike ride to take some pictures and enjoy this BEAUTIFUL weather we've been having!

Easter Greetings

 

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  Hebrews 10:19-23

Happy Easter!  I hope you have a wonderful day full of celebrating Christ's resurrection.  

Mod Sampler Top

I finished my top for the Mod Sampler quilt-along. I meant to take pictures of blocks D, E, and F alone, but I forgot until I was halfway through piecing the top together. Oops. Seeing the entire top complete is probably more interesting anyway.

Not too shabby. Here's a close up.