Sapphire Stars Progress

Today was such a beautiful day in South Carolina!  Is it still winter? Well yeah, because there is supposed to be at least one more cold blast coming next week. But in the meantime I got to fly!  This afternoon I piloted my trusty taildragger in big circles over the airport doing some landing practice. It's amazing how flying always lifts my mood (literally I guess). I feel more balanced and ready to conquer the world.

At least I am conquering my UFO backlog. This past week I prepped the backing for Big Star County quilt. The Magnolia Mystery quilt is assembled, but there is not enough background fabric left to use as a backing. Oh wait, I just discovered SEVEN yards of turquoise fabric I had set aside after selecting an alternative backing on another quilt. Yes!  Two UFOs will soon go to the longarmer and will be quickly bound and finished.  One more UFO to go then I will let myself start another project. <squealing in delight>

And that one UFO will be Sapphire Stars. This week I cut the final neutral triangles and began assembling the blocks. Today I attached the sashing.  Check this out:

Kevin, you came up with a really fun pattern! The blocks are big which makes it a breeze to ease some of the triangle-angley-issues I tend to have. One of the ladies who made this quilt in time for Kevin's gallery had opted to group the reds and yellows which inspired me to do the same. Next step is to assemble the borders and I can check off a third UFO finish. Oops, gotta find a backing for this one, too.

Little Fox Patch Pal from Quiltmaker magazine of July/August 2014 also came out of the closet.

The borders were sewn on years ago, but I didn't get another picture. After assembling enough leftover batting to use for this little guy and a little touch-up with the iron, he is ready to be sandwiched for free motion quilting. And BAM! another UFO will be done.

Up next will likely be assembly of Grand Illusion and Colorado Sunshine (also known as Floribunda), both of which are Bonnie Hunter designs.  Or maybe 1860's Revival with its zig-zag sashing will come out of hiding.

Hopefully I can keep up the UFO-busting burst of energy. Then maybe I will be able to admit how many UFO projects I really have left.  It's kind of like not wanting to admit my age.  Do you find yourself hesitant to disclose your UFO count?

Also, at what point does a few orphan blocks become a UFO?  Do we count a pile of fabrics set aside for a project?  And is there a statute of limitations?  I have a UFO from 25 years ago that is still folded up waiting for a border fix and longarming; should it count?  Inquiring minds want to know!

Happy 2018

My word for this year is Appreciate. The word Appreciate can mean growth or it could mean being thankful for what you have. Sounds like a great idea!

Blueberry Hill / Jamestown Landing arrived back from my Pennsylvania longarmer right after Christmas. I'm so excited that this 2013 project will finally be done! Anyone who has made this Bonnie Hunter design knows the amount of effort that has gone into it.

So, what are your new year resolutions?  I've been able to accomplish most of my resolutions in years past, so I am continuing the practice.

My quilting goals for this year are to 
(1) cut my UFO list in half (pretty ambitious), 
(2) clean up my sewing room / office, 
(3) enter one quilt and one small project in a quilt show, 
(4) blog at least twice a month, and 
(5) continue building new friendships in my local quilt guilds.

I decided to break down the first resolution into quarterly plans.  Here is my UFO plan for 1Q 2018:

1. Blueberry Hill a/k/a Jamestown Landing - binding in January.
2. Big Star County - longarming in January, binding in February.
3. Meadow Mist Magnolia Mystery - longarming in January, binding in February.
4. In the 'Hood - design how to quilt in January, begin FMQ in February.
5. Grand Illusion - assemble flimsy by March.
6. Colorado Sunshine a/k/a Floribunda - assemble flimsy by April.
7. Red Cross - finish up the FMQ (finally!) in March.


Please encourage me to stick with this plan. I will not let myself begin a new project until at least three of these are completed. Do you know how hard it is to resist all those wonderful projects calling my name??!!

For the second, I've already begun working on my sewing room, but it is still too "ugh" to even show a picture.  

The third resolution will require me to finish binding Blueberry Hill and make a wall hanging to enter in the fall quilt show.

This post helps me achieve the fourth resolution.

Tonight is the weekly quilt guild "bee" and I'm bringing a few items found in my room cleanup to give to my friends.

My personal non-quilting goals for this year are to fly to local airports and explore more, focus on healthy exercise to lose weight and feel better, improve my vegetable garden results, and strengthen friendships within my church family.

Happy New Year!  

P.S. My daughter and her boyfriend were in New York City Times Square with millions of other people last night. Way Cool - literally!