Year-end reckoning....

I keep a file on my computer with pictures of quilts that I'm actively working on -  ones that are cut up, in progress, a b.o.m.,or kitted from my stash.  I counted these yesterday - I have twelve picturesof these, three should be finished tops probably by the end of February.

So I then started to count what I got done this year - besides a scary amount of experimental blocks, half finished and hidden quilts, and miscellaneous false starts - I've got nine finished quilts (two or three are wallhangings or smaller); and three finished tops ready to be quilted.  So I guess that *if* I don't add anymore to my current list (ha ha) then really my pile of want-to-do's this year isn't too bad.

I did go backing crazy yesterday, and pieced a backing for the egg money quilts (kind of ugly as it turned out); and two more backings from stash for the buckeye beauty and the border creek mystery.  As soon as New Year's is over, I'll get to quilting the buckeye beauty (third from the left); then wait for a batting sale for the other two.  I'm in no hurry to quilt these - and a couple of quilt tops I'm soon finishing are meant for gifts to be given in late spring so they'll get priority.

This past year my health has definitely affected my quilting activities.  Things I could do fairly well in times past were a real struggle this year.  Hand applique goes very slowly - and I have a constant argument with myself about why do I feel the need to pursue this when machine applique can be just as pretty?  I've got back into hand stitching redwork - something I used to do, as well as cross stitch, in my 20s.  And I've signed on to a Dear Jane b.o.m. so I can pursue hand piecing.  All of this because I need more time on the couch, but at the same time these activities go slowly.  My ability to quilt has been affected due to loss of strength to manipulate the quilt and sew a straight line (!) but I'm in the midst of solving this by upgrading my Designer 1 sewing/embroidery machine to accept a 6" spring hoop, and hope to get much of my quilting done by embroidery machine designs.

I'm going into my 10th year of quilting as my full time outlet for busy-ness, productivty, and creativity.  That's a lot of time playing with a craft/hobby/art!    That's why I'm looking at new challenges - such as hand piecing the Dear Jane and perhaps attempting the very-scary-difficult-to-me Moonglow quilt by Jinny Beyer (youngest son saw this quilt and couldn't stop talking about it - so he'll get it as a graduation gift in a couple of years) or a paper pieced quilt top. 

So on to 2010 - Happy New Year and my wish to all is for a happy, healthy and creative year ahead.

The quilt that won't behave - update

If you can see in the picture the simple squares on point I quilted in the border - well, that's it for border quilting.  I'm pretty sure I'm breaking the rules here, the rule being that the amount of quilting in the border should be similar to that in the centre - and these squares are pretty light on quilting - but for several days I've been thinking about how to add to these, after sewing one border length a week ago.  I like it like this, so its staying like this.  I like the simplicity, and I don't think this quilt deserves any more work!  I also didn't do any quilting lines in the little two patch scrappy inner border.

The good news is that the quilt was square when I trimmed off the excess batting and backing.  Now that's a sign of a successful quilt - if despite all that goes wrong or might cause grief, if the quilt turns out square - its not bad at all.  On goes the binding, into the wash, folded and tied with selvedge fabric, and it will be put away for when I see my sister next.

The quilt that won't behave

I have been making a quilt for my sister.  I think I now hate this quilt....not because I don't like the top's design, in fact I think its quite nice.  But I hate it for a bunch of reasons - if this quilt was not supposed to be done for Carolyn, I would put it in quilt detention - those dark sealed tupperwares underneath my table, down in the basement, stashed around the house.  There it would stay, until it learned to shape up.

The quilt centre started out as some orphan blocks from another quilt.  Then many hours went into playing on EQ to figure out setting blocks and borders.   When I had it sewn with the first pieced border, I decided that this would a great quilt for Carolyn - but she wanted it bigger.  So more time spent figuring out a second border with the fabric I had - at this point the intent was to give it to her at Thanksgiving along with my other sister's quilt.  I do enjoy this process of designing a quilt and I enjoy seeing the finished result.

When it came time to quilt it - well, lets just say the quilt fought back every step of the way.  I have done so much sewing and so much ripping on this quilt.  I don't remember the last time I had a quilt that created ripples, pleats, and wobbles as much as this one.  I discovered poorly pieced pinwheel blocks hiding in the quilt (who made those? lol).

And now I have no love for it - I just want it gone - I have so many other tops I want to have fun with - including a winter/holiday wallhanging that I made that I wish I could be quilting.  But this sister just won't understand if I don't hurry up and give her this quilt - no substitutions allowed at this point!  (Because she knows that older sister already got hers, and she has seen it).

I think this darn quilt is part of the reason my get up and sew has gone - I haven't done any handwork - embrodery or applique - in the past few weeks, and in the past week I haven't even turned on a machine.  I think today is the day I have to conquer this quilt once and for all.