Wednesday, July 8, 2009

WIP Wednesday

OK, folks ... you heard it here first. I am officially on a self-imposed mini quilt hiatus.

As you all know (and many have commented! : ), I've been on a bit of a mini quilt bender for the past year or so. I wouldn't have done it any differently -- I really credit all of those swaps with helping me to learn both basic and new techniques, build my confidence (thanks to all of the help and support of fellow swapees), and meet a whole bunch of really, really great people -- but it's time to face facts.

I have a whole slew of larger projects in various stages of completion. And I've been avoiding basting, quilting, and binding full-sized quilts. I've got to start clearing some of these projects out!

I believe I've seen "WIP Wednesday" posts around the blogiverse and thought it would be a great way to track my progress on these projects ... and to keep me honest! My WIP Wednesday posts will be devoted to my larger quilts only.

First up, do any of you remember my very first Doll Quilt Swap? Well, as soon as I finished up that little quilt I decided to use the remainder of my "Wee Play" charm pack to make a larger sized version of it. I've had the middle (pinwheel) part of this quilt done for, oh, almost a year now. All I had to do was add the two borders. Why did it take me so long??


In retrospect, I wish I had made the inner border a bit thinner.

Placement
Another quilt top done. Moved to the "to be quilted" pile.

Up next, piecing this Amy Butler "Midwest Modern" quilt. I bought these fabrics and picked the pattern to make as a wedding gift for an MBA classmate's August wedding. Ummm, no ... not next month. August 2008. Yes, last year. Does Miss Manners still give us 12 months to give a wedding gift??


Blocks are done. Layout is final. Now I just have to piece it all together.

I will say this about mini quilts -- they spoil you rotten. The thought of piecing together 63 blocks -- when I'm used to more like 9 -- is numbing my brain. I just have to soldier on ...


My goal is to have this top pieced by next week's WIP Wednesday.

Finally, my quilt for Dana's Old Red Barn Company quilt-along. Here are all of the strips, cut and ready to go:


I would say I am about halfway done with piecing the strip sets ... and what I've pieced has already been cut into blocks. I still have a bunch more strip sets to sew together. Maybe I'll shoot for July 22nd to show this one off?

(P.S. Not sure what happened here, but the pictures below are TERRIBLE -- those are not the colors of these blocks AT ALL!)


And then the next few projects in the hopper for WIP Wednesday:
- Remember this? My Full Moon Forest quilt that I made as part of Amanda Jean's quilt-along (embarassingly, I haven't touched this one since October 2008).
- My Amy Butler quilt with blocks from my Craftster group.
- My SewConnected, Buzz Cuts, and Cottage Quilting Bee quilts ... some straggler blocks are still rolling in.
- ... and some others that I can't think of right now.

P.S. I reserve the right to change my mind and break the hiatus any time I want!! ; )
Posted by at 6:00 AM
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46 comments:

  1. I'm pleased that you have moved back to these quilts I would love to see how these quilts end up.
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  2. I've often thought that a "Finished quilts 200?" list with mostly baby /mini quilts is kinda cheating.
    Glad you're back to the big stuff.
    So far, a couple of beautiful quilts to be getting on with.
    Enjoy!!
    Andi :-)
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  3. I just love the Joel Dewberry fabrics you chose for the QAL. Great palette!
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  4. These are going to look great. You'll be so pleased to have them complete. I especially like the Joel Dewberry quilt.
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  5. Hi John,

    I just found your blog yesterday and thought, "A guy who quilts AND blogs about it. Score!"

    I love the Wee Play quilt top. Good idea to use the ruler fabric for the outer border. I think I may have to steal that idea for my WIP, lol.

    Love the blog,
    Asiyah
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  6. Found you from the Old Red Barn Quilt-a-Long :) Miss Manners-shmaners. Your MBA friend will love it even if it is "late". I was late on a wedding quilt as well. They didn't blink at the lateness factor :)

    Oh, and I am as far as you are with the Old Red Barn Quilt. It will be on further hold until I finish another one that is due this August.

    I love the pinwheels and the Amy Butler. I don't think the borders are too large on the Wee Play one. It looks just right! Your Joel Dewberry (sp?) were awesome! I like the triangle corners in the log cabinish block design.
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  7. Yay for finishing! So proud you're working through the tedious stuff to get to the best part -- a quilt! Those swaps are fun, but really can get in the way of actually doing quilts for yourself, can't they?
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  8. wow...all I can say is DUDE! you have got a lot going on! I can't wait to see them all.
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  9. Hey - I remember your first doll swap quilt!!! I don't feel bad now about having so many wips although
    I'm not doing well on them - the kids need to go back to school for me to get some real sewing done - although our tennis game is improving. Acutally I'm working on some minis now so I can feel a sense of accomplishment.
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  10. I just admire you that you have time to do so many projects at all! Good Job! I love all your work. Jenn
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  11. such a great use of the rulers on the Wee Play quilt :)
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  12. Yay!
    Can I bring my "to be quilted" pile over there to be quilted?
    I'm not allowed to start another quilt until I've sorted through that one.
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  13. HA! Welcome to the real quilting world....*L*

    I'm so happy to hear you have a good backlog of UFO's too. You were making me antsy - all that finished stuff you kept showing.
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  14. i ♥ that you reserve the right to veto your hiatus at any time.
    that's SO pulling a page out of this gal's book.
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  15. I saw you volunteer to Victoria's call and I was curious. I love your quilts. Your choice of fabrics and placement in outstanding. You're about the age of my sons and your kids are darling. Come visit me.
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  16. ha! that's what i was doing to day, looking at how many projects I' have started and deserted! I figured it was good for wordless wed. Everyone knows how they can stack up.

    I LovE the rulers for the border!!! FAB!~
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  17. Love the quilt tops that you are set to finish. The Old Red Barn quilt will be a nice size quilt too. Love the fabrics and colors you picked. I have too many UFOs and quilt tops that need quilted. I have been trying to work on finishing things this summer. It feels so good to stitch that last bit of binding and have a complete quilt.
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  18. Good for you John! I love all the projects you have in progress! Finishing up a big one is very satisfying - you can do it!! :)
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  19. Holy Smack! That ruler border is FABULOUS! I have some of that fabric that I was going to trade. I think I now have to hoard it so that I can make a border like that one.
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  20. When I read your first sentence my immediate thought was "Say it isn't so!" And it was for selfish reasons because I was hoping that sometime we'd be partnered up for a mini swap:) But I'm OK now--all of the WIP's are gorgeous and I'm excited to see them completed. It appears you already have a great start!
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  21. Yes you really should get these beautiful quilts finished so they can be enjoyed. The one at the top is so lovely, the border is so perfect for it! I'm up to that stage with my first quilt now and I'm going to go for it - I hope! It's a bit scary all right, but it will be so worth it in the end.
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  22. Hey John - You must have laid those amy butler blocks out in your sitting area AFTER the kiddos retired for the night. There's no way I would have been able to do it otherwise.. Our sitting area is always a bustling area of activity!!

    Don't feel alone, I'm sure everyone elses WIP pile is just a tall as yours. I know mine is!!
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  23. My oldest sister who "knows those sorts of things" says you still have a year for wedding gifts...as a quilter I think as long as you show them the fabric within the year and tell them they will someday get that fabric as a quilt then you're good!

    Good luck on the larger quilts.
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  24. Hi. I coming over from the Red Barn Quilt Along. I really love your Wee Play quilt. I like the border as is and I just love all the triangle of fabric. I would love to make one like it sometime. I kept reading and reading through your blog looking through your work. You are a wonderful quilter and very inspiring. Such variety. It was lovely spending some time at your blog today. I'll be back again for a visit soon... :)
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  25. I love the outer border on your Wee Play quilt. But if you are working on larger projects, you'll have fewer new things to show us all the time, right? I love always seeing new things over here. I'm going to start to think you are mortal, like me, and don't actually quilt at the speed of light.
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  26. I actually liked the width of the inner boarder! I noticed it before I read that you didn't care for it. I think it sets off the blocks nicely from the busier outer boarder.
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  27. I usually just lurk but thought I'd send some encouragement your way. I, too, love smaller projects - easier to manage both time-wise and physically. But those bigger projects are percolating in the background and eventually demand attention. You have a great style and a fresh eye and I just love all you create - and so appreciate how much you share - thank you! So here's to WIP Wednesdays and lots of progress! (Real life permitting... LOL)
    Cheers - Shari
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  28. I've followed your blog for a while now and not being a quilter myself, have been inspired by your many designs. So much so that I have recently booked into a quilting class beginning in a few weeks time. I only hope that the quilts that I eventually produce will be half as inspiring and fun as the ones that you show here on your blog.

    You are so very talented. Thanks for sharing so much with everyone.
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  29. Wow, your quilts are amazing. Love your fabric combinations.
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  30. Hi John, Love the border on the pinwheel quilt. The colors are great. I am a Brooklyn girl also. Live on Long Island now. Just found your blog. Colleen
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  31. Pretty quilts! Hey, just wanted to tell you -- if you bought that Kindle II within the last 60 days, wander on over to Amazon. They've reduced the price on Kindle II to $299 and you can get a refund on the difference if bought within the last 60 days! :D I'm thinking of getting one for my b'day/anniversary/mother's day etc present. Which is why I noticed. (I'm usually a lurker. I enjoy your blog.)
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  32. I HAVE JUST FOUND YOUR BLOG AND ENJOYED TAKING A LOOK
    yOUR QUILTS ARE LOVELY
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  33. Love the wee play quilt, and the borders just look fabulous on it! I also love your "right to change your mind" at the end.... LOL!
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  34. good idea... i may try this wednesday gig... i got on a table runner kick for a while because they were so much easier... and as for the wedding quilt... i just finished one four years laster!! so you have no worries... can i have your full moon forest blocks? i'll trade you some quilting services... seriously.
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  35. I feel your pain. I have many quilts calling me as well - mini quilts, UFOs, WIPs, oh my.
    One thing you could do for the quilt that you wished you had put in a narrower border, is to add some embellishment, or even quilting lines, maybe some ric rac down the center to break it up a bit.
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  36. I love all your projects, but especially the Mid Mod quilt!

    You should check out my contest/giveaway today, it's "name that designer fabric" - you'd be great at it.
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  37. I was super excited you commented :) You are like a quilt rockstar! I always feel so inpired with your blocks etc. Thanks for the props on the TShirt... it's stolen from the husband but I do love it. Have a great weekend!
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  38. Where do you find all the time to do what all you do...your quilts are amazing....
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  39. I love, love, love Wee Play. Your quilt is awesome.
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  40. You're not alone on the WIP's!

    I love the borders, from where I sit they look great! I look forward to seeing your quilt top next Wednesday!
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  41. I have just found your blog :) Beautiful work!!!
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  42. The bright colours in your pinwheel quilt are fabulous! I love it!
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  43. All of this quilts look like beautiful gifts for a new niece or nephew ....hmmmm! Now just another month and you get to find out if its pink or blue!! Those are all so beautiful!
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  44. who knew you had all those skeletons in your closet. good for you letting them see the light of day again! good luck with all of them!
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  45. it's fun to see your wip line up!
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  46. Have you finished that Joel Dewberry quilt? I loved the Chestnut Hill range.
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