Bloom Project - Extension Date

Thank you to those who have already submitted their 2014 lists for unfinished and planned new quilting, knitting and other needlework projects for 2014. Given to a request I will be extending the due to date to February 28th, the last day in February. That gives you a bit more time to plan. Anyone wanting to add or subtract may do so. If you have already sent your list resend your new one letting me know it is an updated version one. Anyone wanting to join in click on the image and it will link you to the details of the challenge. Check out dq's list. My list here. 






So you have created your lists - now what?

There are several ways you can go about it. You can number each one in consecutive order or assign a month to the item on your list as to when you would like to finish it. Or if you prefer you can look at your list on a monthly basis and determine which will be your projects for the upcoming month.

I have chosen the latter approach  since it is less rigid and prevents me from having a sense of being overwhelmed. I have chosen my projects for February and since they happen to be unfinished ones I have placed pieces of them on my design board. If you want to work on a new project as listed maybe a picture taped on the wall or pinned to your design board. Now you have a fresh reminder every time you walk into your sewing/quilting or favorite area if it is knitting or other kind of needlework.

Here are my projects I am committing to finish in February, both well over due but not my oldest unfinished ones. The red work will be made into a quilt and the 2 - large nine blocks will be a tote bag, a small project to have the gratification of a quick finish.

Plan your supplies and fabric list.

In order to complete the tote bag I will need fleece and for the red work quilt fabric for the top and back, and batting. Knowing exactly want I need I will be looking out for sales.


The baseball t-shirt is also on my February list as well. Only one more section to free motion quilt. Last evening I hand sewed the back where the two sections come together. Being it was a cold day/evening the heavy quilt on my lap kept me nice and warm while I stitched away with heart content.


The two sections came to together well. First I used a 24" rotary cutter ruler to push the edge close to the seam and drew a line for accurate cutting with scissors. Next the batting from the opposite seam line was cut close to the seam line and the backing seam cut one inch from the seam line leaving enough to fold the edge 1/2 inch.  Instead of using pins to hold the seam in place I used glue and iron to the fold over seam and then hand stitched the seam closing.



Bloom Project Participants rev up your sewing machines or needles.

Anyone needing to contact me by email can at joaniestrendyquilts@aol.com.

I am linking up at: 

Progress and Follow Along

It is so nice to find a bit of time to blog and quilt! Miss all my blogging friends! Thank you to all who sent emails wondering if I was doing okay hoping that I wasn't sick.

January means meeting all those tax deadlines and closing the books for all my accounting clients. I am seeing the end of the rainbow of finishing these tasks. You know the old adage all work makes "Jack" a dull boy! Today Joanie needed to play!

Read to the bottom for learn more about the Bloom Project.





At Christmastime I had all the blocks made for the pictured baseball t-shirt quilt. Currently, they are in 3 sections for freemotion quilting with 2 sections having 2 rows sewn together and the center section being 1 row. I have two more blocks to quilt on the bottom section that will complete the first section with two more sections left to quilt.

As you can see I am not using pins to baste. I am having excellent results using basting spray.The difference this time around is using a lighter amount of spray which now my needle is not collecting sticky stuff and snapping my thread. This was taking a step of faith since I am meandering free motion quilting. If I had to rethread the needle and start again this would have created many beginning and ends and increase my frustration levels. So a big sigh of relief!

Take note that on the backside the backing is taunt with no creases. Admittedly this took several attempts to achieve which now I have a plan for the remaining sections on how to make it more efficient and quicker to sandwich the front, batting and backing.

When sandwiching the remaining sections I will begin with spray basting both sides of the batting. Next I will have my backing taped to the floor to assure that it is taunt and lay the batting over the backing or possibly get out my boards and sandwich it Sharon Schamber's tabletop method. Finally to complete the sandwich I will lay the top section on the batting.

After free motion quilting each section I will then sew the sections together. I am not quilting to the edge allowing enough room to seam the blocks together. I will hand sew the seams on the backside. I am thinking about using a light weight double side fusible Heat N Bond to secure the seams and for easier hand stitching.

The fun part to making this quilt thus far was showing a picture of it to my grandson at Christmastime. He wanted to know how long it would take me to finish in his quiet-like demeanor. I told him probably another month knowing January was a busy month for me. He seemed a bit disappointed that it would take a month. I mentioned it to my son that I showed a picture of the baseball t-shirt/jersey quilt to Tyler. Ty, my son, said he was quite excited about it! Okay we are talking about a teenage boy who typically doesn't say much who happened to mention this to his dad! This is amazing to me and I am quite delighted he is looking forward to receiving it with anticipation. - Isn't that the best part about making a quilt for someone?

2014 Project UFO and NewFo

Creative individuals love to create new projects! Common thread with most quilters, knitters and etc. is that we collect unfinished projects.  We want to finish them but easily we become enthusiastic about starting a new one.

Does this describe you? 

 

If so, here is a follow along to help you to bloom what you have started and and will begin!

 Interested?

Read more about here.

Grab the button here for the challenge here.

So come on and be encouraged and to do the same for others who want to complete those existing UFOs, and at the same time create new ones for 2014.


Linking up with:  

 
 




Thank you for visiting and wishing you a great sewing or quilting day!

Project UFO and NewFo 2014

Creative individuals love to create new projects! Common thread with most quilters, knitters and etc. is that we collect unfinished projects.  We want to finish them but easily we become enthusiastic about starting a new one.

Does this describe you? 

Well it most certainly does me! And I need help!

Several years ago I started a challenge with a private online group that worked. It was different because it was designed to complete not only UFOs (unfinished objects) but also NewFOs (Newly founded objects). The plan is to determine what your new projects will be for the upcoming year in addition to the unfinished ones.

So here is a project to bloom what you have started and and will begin!

Anyone interested in participating? If so this is how it will work.

1. Make a list of your UFOs that you desire to finish in 2014. Give your projects titles.
2. Make a list of your NewFOs that you want to complete in 2014. Give your projects titles.
3. Send me a copy of your lists by January 31 extended to February 28th. That will give you time to think and plan. I have created mine and it can be seen here. Yes my lists are quite long to assure anything I possibly would like to complete in the upcoming year is listed. I may complete all of them but then again I may not. I see this as goal setting! Anything that has been written down will most likely get completed because the list will become your primary focus without hindering your desire to create new. Having been following this challenge for several years it has also assisted in purchasing fabric for only my listed projects. In other words it saves on your budget!!
4. Comment below letting me know that you are interested.
5. At the end of each month create a post message of all projects completed and link up. When writing about your projects make sure you call it by the title you have given your project. I will send an email reminder monthly so please make sure I have yours. This email reminder will have a link to a blog post with the opportunity to link up or just to make comments on your progress. Linking up will serve to share and motivate each other. So make sure you comment on at least 2 individuals participating. It isn't a requirement to link up every month but every project completed must be shown on a post message sometime during the 11 months of the project. Ideally you will post monthly but sometimes life happens or other events prevents us to have a finish. I raise my hand here because I know this to be true for me.
6. At the beginning of 2015 there will be two giveaways. One will be for the most UFOs completed and the other for the most NewFOs completed.
7. The biggest prize will be all of our completions.

Is this your year to bloom?