I always start out the year with the best of intentions to finish up some of the UFOs sitting in my closet. The new year seems like such a fresh slate to start working on them. Then someone comes out with an amazing quilt that I can't wait to start. Then there are the quiltalongs where it is so much fun to see what fabrics and colors others are using. Oh....did I mention all the swaps too? Oh my!!!! One could really be in over their head - quickly.
Several years ago Melissa had a signature swap. I was new to the blogging world and thought it would be fun. It really was, but my wonderful blocks have sat in a box for all this time. 2012 was my year to get those out and put them together. Ta da......
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| To this.... |
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| I added a little of this..... |
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| to create these........ |
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| Quilted the sandwich and |
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| Even added a label! Yeah, a UFO finished!!!! |
From there I went to my yellow and blue blocks that Emily and I swapped last year. I added a few more blocks to make it a little larger and will add a scrappy border on it to finish it off.
Each year we attend a Valentine's dinner dance with an auction. I have started a heart quilt to donate for the auction. This is an easy Moda Bake Shop pattern.
I managed to finish up the last of my Civil War blocks. The year is now finished and I can start to put those together. I think this will be a really nice finish. I love the colors.
A lesson that I learned while sewing this week......NEVER leave your camera on your cutting table!!!! Live and learn, as they say.
I received a wonderful package of hand dyed fabrics from Deborah in the UK. This was a win from the Sew Mama Sew giveaway. The fabrics are absolutely gorgeous and are so soft. They will be so much fun to sew and I know they will work up beautifully. Deborah does some amazing work and you should check it out.
Like many of you, we have been having some gorgeous weather lately. I had a yellow cymbidium orchid that was blooming in the yard and brought it inside to enjoy it even more. There are six stalks of flowers on this plant and these are the first two to bloom.
That was my first week in 2012. I hope that I can continue to finish off some of the other UFOs I have sitting around AND work on some new ones.
You're making me jealous. Those quilt are gorgeous. Congrats on all your finishes and your win.
ReplyDeleteYou're moving right along and have already accomplished so much in 2012. The quilts are absolutely stunning, as is that gorgeous flower. Happy 2012!
ReplyDeleteWOW! YOu're sure accomplishing a LOT!
ReplyDeleteOh my! you have certainly had a busy first week of January, haven't you? Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteLove your finished quilt. Yes, where do we have time to take all these wonderful New Year projects. You do a lot Mary - Love Nat
ReplyDeleteWay to sew! I love your finishes, and your orchid is gorgeous! Sorry about the camera strap. :-/ oops. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWow! you have been busy. I really like your alternate block on your signature quilt. Have you decided on a layout for your civil war blocks?
ReplyDeleteI for one, can't figure out when you DO sleep! I love, love, love the quilts! I'm always jealous of those of you who have the gift of sewing! I didn't get it. But you certainly have a double portion!
ReplyDeleteHOLY MOLY! You are a UFO machine! What a start to the year. Just picking my jaw up from the floor...
ReplyDeleteYou are really back at it!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know any orchid had more than one flower on a stem. I have never grown them and don't know much about them.
What a lot of beautiful finishes and only 9 days into the year. Well done that girl. Thanks for sharing. I did have a laugh at your expense when I saw the camera strap. It is just like something I would do. Hope your year continues well.
ReplyDeleteOh WOW what a wonderful start to 2012. I surpose you have a lot of sewing time to catch up on after your broken arm.
ReplyDeleteLOVE all the quilts but as Blue/Yellow is my of my fav colours the Swap Block one is my favorite.
Keep it up !!!
Beautiful orchids.
Like you I'm working hard on UFOs but then you go and show that heart quilt and I don't have a Valentine quilt and I really shouldn't start anything new but that looks like it would be easy and fun and I really need a Valentine quilt and I know I shouldn't but maybe if I work really hard and fast...... :) blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteBTW, could you possibly send me the link to the heart quilt - seriously? I can't find it on their site. blessings, marlene
ReplyDeleteYour signature quilt is just beautiful! Congratulations on getting it finished! :0)
ReplyDeleteNo doubt it's a wonderful feeling finishing off those UFO's and I must say you did a fabulous job on them:-) So, have you decided which challenges you'll accept this year?? hehe Who needs sleep anyway, right?!! lol
ReplyDeleteOops on the camera strap! I've done things like that before as well so don't feel bad:-)
Your flowers are absolutely stunning. No flowers blooming here, it's 20F out right now and snow is in the forecast for this afternoon. I need to move to a warmer part of the world! lol xoxo
Good grief, it is only the 10th of January and you are flying along! I am so impressed,and I am also now feeling like slug in comparison. This has to be a stash busting year. I can't even see what fabric I have on the shelves. As soon as I get home, I need to sort out the entire sewing room. It is a disaster.
ReplyDeleteI LOVe your quilts. And what a clever heart pattern the moda one is. How on earth do people dream up such stunning ideas?
Have a great dey and Happy Sewing!
DAY! I can spell. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteAll I could think as I was reading was "wow.. look at you go. I need to get in gear and finish some of my UFO's".. then I saw your camera strap and laughed out loud!!
ReplyDeleteThat's something I would do.
I feel some inspiration now to work on some UFO's... maybe I'll go eat some cake until the feeling goes away. LOL
Congratulations on the pretty finish and all your other awesome work! You are off like six guns!!!
ReplyDeleteLook how busy you've been~! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your signature quilt. Isn't it fun to have all those quilters in your quilt? I cherish mine. =)
ReplyDeleter.i.p. camera cord. LOL
Your quilts are beautiful. I wish I had the talent to do that kind of work.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day.
I LOVE your quilts! GORGEOUS!!! You have been so busy!
ReplyDeleteMary... You are definitely on a roll!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd your quilt finish is the first one shown eligible to win the 50.00 Fat Quarter Shop gift certificate!
I hope several of your friends will come over and join too!
What a beautiful signature quilt, congrats on the finish! Your other quilt tops are neat too and what a great win! I always worry about cutting my strap, sorry that you did!
ReplyDeleteYour UFO/swap quilt that is no longer a UFO is absolutely adorable! I hope mine gets to that stage by the end of the month.
ReplyDeleteI hope we can round up some more participants for the swap party.
Love your signature quilt! Everything else you are working on is gorgeous too! I am super partial to blues and yellows so I really love that one. :)
ReplyDeleteI was in the middle of a cut one time when my cat jumped up and plonked his huge, fluffy orange tail across where I was cutting. He's lucky I have good reflexes or he'd be a half bob tail now. :)
I LOVE the layout of your signature block quilt. Beautiful! Ypu are doing great for the new year.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the signature quilt! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou are on a roll...everything looks great!!!
ReplyDeleteI duunno. From the looks of things (GREAT/wonderful, beautiful) that you've finished...you don't look even a teensy bit behind.
ReplyDelete...if you ever do find a way to have energy and NOT sleep...please, would you share it with us? I just don't think my lifetime holds the number of hours left...to finish all my WIPs. The sad thing (well, it's actually is fun when I'm starting) is, I just keep adding more to my list. UGH!
It's the journey that counts right?
hugZ,
annie
anniesrubyslipperz.com
Oh my gosh, that's a lot of progress! Every one of those quilts is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOh My goodness! You definitely have been productive and 2012 has barely started! I LOVE the colors you chose and the blocks you made to accent your signature quilt. The Civil War Blocks are Fab and I hope that was only the camera strap and nothing important like a cable! And glad it wasn't a finger!
ReplyDeleteYou are putting the rest of us to shame!!Ha! I thought I had caught up on my UFO's in 2011 and discovered two more in my sewing room. Sigh....All your projects are gorgeous my friend!
ReplyDeleteThose flowers are just spectacular! Do you have them in different colors? They make me smile just looking at them. Our growing season is just so darned short. I may have to try some flowering plants in my sunroom.
OOPS! If that doesn't look like something I would do!!!! I have to be careful that I don't cut off a cat paw!! They love to sit up there and watch me work.
Won't be long now before OR! Even though we have had a mild winter so far I look forward to the warmth of the sunshine on my face and arms. If the Pats are in the Super Bowl we are going to hate leaving at half time!!!!
We are supposed to get some snow today, maybe up to 8 inches which really isn't that much. Miss T stayed here last night and was so hoping school would be canceled but no luck. I'm supposed to go out to lunch with some horsey friends so we are watching the sky as Ann has to travel and we don't want her on the road if it gets bad. The other gal lives right here in the neighborhood so I will pick her up as I have 4 wheel drive.
Guess I'll try to get something done before it's time to go. See you soon! xoxoxox
Wow what a busy and fruitful week! Love the signature quilt a lot.
ReplyDeleteWOW. I'm really inspired by your productivity!! You're putting the rest of us to shame. Your finishes look wonderful! I especially love what you did with the signature quilt. What a special group of blocks.
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy all day long if I was looking at a yellow flower like that. Give it a smile for me. Happy UFOing!
I love your quilts!!!
ReplyDeleteGood to see you working on your quilts again. You do such beautiful work.
ReplyDeleteI guess you must get some of your quilting done on your early morning rises!
ReplyDeleteThat was a great 'word vierification' for that post ' nonfat' !
Well you are putting me to shame. I haven't sewed any! I am still straightening up my sewing room! lol Seems like that is all I do. You have sure motivated me with this post!
ReplyDeleteWoW! You've been busy! Goodness you have accomplished a lot! Your projects all look lovely. Love the fabrics you used on the signature quilt! What a wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteI'm totally commiserating with you on cutting your camera strap because I did that too, only with the lanyard on my retractable measuring tape. So sorry about the mishap!
ReplyDeleteAnd WOW! What a lot of lovely projects! I love the blue and yellow blocks, the heart strip quilt is really cute and your Civil War blocks are amazing!
I absolutely love your signature quilt. The fabrics are beautiful and I love the colors you used! Congrats on a really great finish and a great start to the year! Thank you for linking up and for the shout-out1
xo -E
Stains..your quilts are so pretty! :)
ReplyDeleteWOW!! That signature swap quilt is GORGEOUS!!! Major kudos for that UFO finish. :D
ReplyDeleteCongratulation on all the great finishes on your UFOs! This is wonderful progress - good for you! I love what you did with the signature blocks too!
ReplyDeleteI have two ufo's.....I am going to get them done soon....I guess I have been intentionally saving them in case I run out of fabric and projects.....
ReplyDeleteMorning Mary... Just a heads up the swap party is going to go live again on March 1st!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to be getting back to my normal postings. :)
I will also announce Januarys winner some time today with a shout out for the swap party to resume.