Monday, April 1, 2013

DWM: first quarter review; boats and birds


Melanie posted a link to her "first quarter roundup" blog post here which prompted me to do the same.  On January 1 I stated these goals for 2013: 
* End the year with 10 or fewer flimsies
* Buy less and use more
* Improve proficiency at a minimum of two techniques (e.g. y-seams or a specialty ruler)
[Objective: by January 15 determine what those two techniques are.]

How am I doing?  As of March 31 I have
* Not chosen two techniques to work on.
* Finished 7 flimsies (begun 2012 or earlier)
* Started and finished 3 quilts (2013)
* Created 3 flimsies (including the sailboats in this post -- and I'll have the quilt finished this week)
* Used 63-7/8 yards
* Acquired 68 yards (of which 17 yards were gifts)     
There are 15 flimsies in the box
I obsessed way more over this quilt than I needed to.  If I used the red sashing then a red border wouldn't work. I auditioned three different blue fabrics and they didn't work.  Well, of course they would have worked, but not to my satisfaction.  The border fabric left over from this project would have been ideal but I was short 20", so back in the stash it went.  I finally went out and bought the bright yellow polka dot (at Joann's).  I think it's a cheerful solution.

The sails on each boat are made from "I Spy" novelty fabrics.  The blocks are 10" and the flimsy is 45 x 45.  I've nearly finished quilting it. ("Mr. Selfridge" on Masterpiece Classic ended just as I finished quilting the sashing.)
I joked to Sophie, the coordinator of Block Lotto , that it could be called Block Yoga instead.  Her monthly blocks are sometimes a challenge that STRETCHES me....and it feels good when I'm done.  We can make 9 of these bright bird blocks (6 x 9) for the April lotto. Here's my first.

See what other quiltmakers have on their design walls at Judy's Patchwork Times.

4 comments:

  1. I like your sailboats. I got some of that JoAnn's Polka dot gifted to me by my Secret Pal. I'm not a fan of Paper-piecing so I'd go with the description of quilt yoga too. They are precise though and I like that part. Cute bird blocks to swap out for Spring.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Although you have a stash, it's worth giving yourself permission to buy more fabric from time to time to create a quilt that you're really pleased with. I know that 'making do' with something from stash can often lead to great outcomes, but equally, we all want to spend time making quilts that we like, not just quilts that use up fabric. Your choice of the yellow spot fabric was inspired and it looks wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really like your sailboats and that border fabric is just perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  4. nann, such an adorable sailboat quilt...hope you are feeling better soon...

    ReplyDelete

I have turned on comment moderation so be patient if you don't see it right away. If you are no-reply or anonymous I will not reply.