Chipping Away

Posted on March 18, 2021 by prairiemoonquilts in Quilts, Studio News

Do you wanna see some of what I’ve been working on lately?

I’m a flitter by nature, so my projects are all over the place. Plus . . . I’ve been cleaning out a lot of long-forgotten spaces, and I’ve unearthed a lot of long-forgotten stuff! (If you read clear to the end, I’m sharing some of my goodies in a give-away.)

I just finished reorganizing all my pre-cut scraps, and I’m completely giddy about it. And now I want to start making umpteen more scrap quilts! But first, I need to finish a lot more things.

As I was cleaning, I found two UFOs I had completely forgotten about, and one finished quilt top that I don’t even remember having or making! So my list keeps getting bigger — haha! My to-be-quilted pile is growing, too.

But here’s some of the things I’m sewing on . . .

I’m slowly putting together my Limerick quilt, from the quilt-along @a.crafty.fox with Amanda. I’m reasonably certain I’ll be the last one done. But I did finish the book that went along with it, and it was really good! And I’m gonna love my quilt when it’s finished!

When I went through the pile at the end of my ironing board a few weeks ago, this UFO was in it, so close to finished. So I forced myself to sew the last few seams and put the borders on, and it’s now in the to-be-quilted pile. This is “Jared Takes a Wife”, started in a Bonnie Hunter workshop I went to when my guild hosted her a few years ago. You can get the free pattern HERE.

Also in that pile, was a bag of fabric I was gifted. I made this quilt top years ago from a jelly roll:

When I got it finished, I posted it on Instagram and whined about how I ran out of fabric and would have liked to make it wider. My friend, Emily, said she had some leftovers and would gladly send them to me, so I WAS able to make it wider! That’s the great thing about online quilty friends (altho I have met Emily in person, as well). Another kind soul also saw my post and said she had yardage that would work for backing, so I bought that from her so I would have matching backing — this is gonna be a great quilt, thanks to some generous online friends! I got those extra rows added on, so it’s now in the to-be-quilted pile as well — I’ll show you more photos of it when it’s completely done.

I’ve made some more Postage Stamp blocks. I counted up, and I have a long way to go on this! And I was thinking that by now, I’d have enough done to make two quilts — haha! I think my imagination is working overtime.

Some more tiny HST blocks. I got them separated by size and bagged up so they’re easier to work with. I’ve sewn together some more sections, so it’s slowly coming along. I’ll wager it’ll get done before the Postage Stamp quilt!

I’m working on scrappy Snowballs:

And I’m still sewing pinwheels together . . . slowly . . .

And as I was cleaning out a drawer, I found this UFO. I started this quilt in a workshop with Kelly Ashton, and I loved the quilt I was making . . . but . . . I’ve been shuffling it around for several years now, thinking I would finish it. I decided over the weekend that it just isn’t gonna happen. So I took the blocks I had done, turned them into a mini quilt, made a backing and binding for it, and put the rest of the fabric back in my stash. I feel so much better having made that decision. I think I need to do a lot more of that! The pattern is called “Opposing Viewpoints”, and it uses Triangles on a Roll paper. My little mini turned out 18″ x 24″.

In another drawer, I found this project. All it needed was the solid triangles added to the edges on two sides. I was working on it at a retreat, and ran out of time, and never pulled it back out to finish when I got home. It’s been in a drawer for probably 5 years, waiting on those silly little triangles! So I put it on the design wall, evaluated what I needed, and just got it done. It feels so good to have this one off my plate, too. It’s made completely from trimmings off of another project, and ended up 35″ square. I love the striking look of it.

See why my to-be-quilted pile is growing? Luckily, some of these are small, and won’t take long to quilt up, if I ever get a free weekend to quilt for myself.

I’m also working on two new Block-of-the-Month programs. You will see one of them in May. The other debuts in late July/early August, and will start in September. For that one, I always do the same quilt in two different colorways. Here are the choices for this year . . .

Traditional:

Modern:

I’m so excited about all of these!

And now, for that give-away, since I haven’t done one of those in quite awhile! Since I’m now finished with it, I’m giving away my “Opposing Viewpoints” pattern, along with three other new patterns I had in my pattern stash, but decided I will never end up making. All you have to do for a chance to win the bundle of four patterns is leave a comment on this post. I’ll draw for a winner on the 23rd.

UPDATE: The winner of the pattern bundle is Karen E. Thanks, everyone, for playing along!

What have YOU been working on?

50 responses to “Chipping Away”

  1. Barbara Wright says:

    You have made great progress, keep up the good work!

  2. Krista Baker says:

    You always challenge me! I’m working on a quilt inspired by a vintage tablecloth . Also just finished a wall hanging to hang about our fireplace until we can do something with it. Moving has given me a great opportunity to organize and take stock of all of my UFOs!

  3. Amanda M. says:

    Everything you have been working on is so pretty! Here lately I haven’t sewn much, just binding on a customer quilt. I have the rows of a Project Linus quilt pinned together and it wouldn’t take long to get it sewn together. I need to take time to list everything I have going on that I need to finish and work off of it.

  4. Pam Jones says:

    You inspire me to finish some of my UFOs. I now have 11 quilts, table toppers and other projects to be quilted.

  5. christopher thomas says:

    you have been busy……..I think i am almost done making house blocks so I will be moving on to something else…….i do have a tub of t-shirts a lady dropped off the other day and wants 2 quilts make so I will say this will be the next project…..

    i should be on the sewing machine but i have been lazy today….

    but i will be on the machine tomorrow….

    have a great day

  6. Sandy says:

    Shelly, the Flitterer? Lol. You are so talented at choosing colors and fabrics, not to mention your longarm skills! I think you are very industrious and ambitious, but maybe you do too much to stay focused on a project to the end. Believe me, I am familiar with the problem. But I don’t accomplish 5 percent of what you do!

  7. Mary Kolb says:

    Your fabric pull for your modern BOM is so good! Can’t wait to see more!

  8. Johnna Clarke says:

    Your quilts ate absolutely STUNNING!!!

  9. Angela Steiner says:

    You’ve been a busy bee this month! So many finished tops to add to your to-be-quilted pile. 😊

  10. Becky says:

    I picture you as a butterfly “flittering “ around your studio from project to project!!! That butterfly with your face on that butterfly is pretty entertaining! 🦋 I am a one project at a time kind of girl. No UFOS (except the quilting) for me.

  11. Judy Smith says:

    Just finished a fat quarter cat quilt from one of those post card patterns. Love it! Such a happy quilt.

  12. Kate says:

    Ha Ha, you will not be the last Limerick-er as I have only cut out my fabric and am struggling to find adequate time for myself let alone sewing. Work at school has been insanely crazy and while I did finish the Amy Harmon book over a few lunchtimes and loved it we are so jamming at school. I wish i could have uninterrupted time for sewing. I will def make time this weekend as sewing clears the cobwebs out of my busy brain. If only!

  13. Mabel says:

    Your work is beautiful and it has inspired me to plan quilting time again, get some UFOs finished and start the new projects that have been in my mind lately.

  14. Beverly says:

    I enjoy looking at your quilts. They are absolutely gorgeous. One of these days I will finish mine. I realized my stumbling block, as the piecing is a little tricky for me. I started working on that block the other day and I am going to finish it this month. That is my goal anyway. Once I get it I think the other two will go better.

  15. Ginabeth says:

    I’m trying to create more space on my bookcases to get the things off the floor. I have several years of magazines. Since our guild is not meeting in person, no free table. Do you have any ideas where I could pass them along too?

  16. Cynthia Crawford says:

    Bonnie Hunter’s Winter Blues.

  17. Rose Marie Smith says:

    I gave away Jared Takes A Wife a few years ago. It was fun to work on…………….at that workshop!! I am doing something similar to what you are doing. I am turning all the cut pieces into blocks – 4 patches and pinwheels. When that is done, I plan to put them together into community service quilts. They will not match……….the cut pieces are not from the same quilts. What a fiasco. That may become the name of such a quilt.

  18. Karen E. says:

    You and I must have the same taste in choosing quilting fabrics because I can see myself making almost every one of them. I signed up to finish 18-20 UFOs this year and I’ve been really focused on those. Your cleaning/neatening challenges have inspired me to get some areas cleared out too, and I thank you for that!

  19. T-shirt quilt is waiting for the binding, which I should be able to do tomorrow. Taking a day for computer work while I recoup from oral surgery. Also, have a snowball quilt in the making. Working on the UFO pile of tops to be quilted. And on the side, designing the borders for the panel. I don’t know if anyone else has quilts on their mind nearly 24/7, but while at the office for my minor oral surgery I fell in love with the upholstery fabric on their chairs in the room and trying my best to come up with a way to imitate it in a quilt – think the patterns in the sand as the surf moves out. And in my spare time, I’m busy with registrar/treasurer duties for a Girl Scout day camp in August. We just got clearance from the State and Girl Scout council to have an in person camp after no camp last year. We are very behind and things are a bit different (thank you COVID!), but no doubt the girls are going to have a fun time. Our volunteers who plan and execute the program are very committed to making sure it will be a wonderful week with fun projects and laughter that becomes contagious! So, I’m busy and love every minute. Like you, Shelly, as one pile gets worked, another grows! Keep up the production.

  20. Cindy W. says:

    Want to thank you for inspiring me to get those UFO listed and worked on, need to stop looking at new ideas or I know I will not finish what I have. I did piece the 2 panels for that challenge, now to quilt them and the others that are all together – backs, batting & tops.

  21. Lynn E. says:

    Sometimes I think we are all “too” busy. The comment quilters are very ambitious, even if their projects are unfinished or just need quilted. I love the idea of making an unfinished quilt into a smaller quilt and move it on to someone who will love it. Also you are a so busy with your home, cowboy, life and business. Take a breath and enjoy.

  22. Wow! What a lot of progress you’ve made. I don’t even know where all my UFO’s are – don’t get to sew much on my own stuff anymore. Been busy getting customer quilts done and out the door – more keep coming in. A good problem to have, eh?

  23. Pam Avara says:

    I snuck in this month’s guild BOM block and started a new quilt with a layer cake I won at Fabric Bingo while the computer was quilting the wedding quilt. Now I’m on to the hand guided quilting. I hope to have that done early next week.

  24. Pam Desilets says:

    Hi all, I love all your comments. But now for what I have been working on. I decided to open one the tubs hiding in the closet. I found an exchange of 2.5 blocks from 2000. Yes 2000 I now have sewed all the blocks(2000) together and working on it’s backing, also friendship block exchange(47)from 2002 sewing them together.
    A cardinal wall hanging to go. Also an other block exchange haven’t open that package. I had forgotten about all these projects. After I finish these I have four more tubs to go. Oh my why do we put things in the closet? Hope you all are working on getting your COVID vaccine shots

  25. Candice says:

    Reading about all you do just BLOWS MY MIND!!! I’m much too anal to allow myself to start that many projects without finishing others. So, I don’t have a lot of UFO’s.

  26. Stephanie says:

    Love the butterfly analogy. I am a flitterer too! Probably about the same amount of projects are spread out around here. I love the variety you show on this post. My fave is that jelly roll one you are making with extra fabric help from your friends.

  27. Mary Phillips says:

    Thanks for opening doors that I have closed. I too have many UFO’s but none so close to being done as you have found. It is so easy to work on older projects when inspired.
    Mary

  28. Kristen K Snapp says:

    I recently finished cleaning and re-arranging my sewing room. What a wonderful feeling! Now I am working on a 2 color challenge quilt for our guild.

  29. Ginny says:

    Packing to move is my main thing at the moment. Did finish& gift a 44” sq 50th anniversary gift last weekend. Waiting for a baby quilt to come back from being quilted to be gifted as soon as I bind it . Should be last project before I pack the last machine.

  30. clare says:

    I think I am a flitter too. Lots of starts and not so many finishes in my quilt world. I am glad I am not the only one who gets surprised by forgotten blocks and fabric.

  31. Mary Delia says:

    Working on my Missouri Bicentennial quilt that was a St Charles County library project. Also did a 12 month seasonal quilt. Both still need to be put together, etc.
    Shelly – all your projects are wonderful. You keep inspiring me to keep on keeping on!

  32. Suzette Harris says:

    WOW! Great finishes lady.

  33. Becky Cogan says:

    You are truly amazing. What pattern or shape is the one quilt out of the pinks, gold, teals etc? You said you posted it on Instagram and some people helped you out with more fabric. Love the pattern. Sometimes piles just get bigger and I get excited about more quilts I want to make. Happy Sewing

  34. Elna says:

    So many great ideas and photos in the ‘Chipping Away’ post today. Keep up the good work.

  35. Darlene Y. says:

    Congratulations on all your hard work in cleaning and organizing. Bonus is those beautiful projects you have to show for your hard work! I to have “Jared takes a wife” in a project box to finish thank you for the inspiration to pull it out of the box.
    Happy sewing today.

  36. Deanna says:

    WOW! That is an epic pile of success. Congratulations!

  37. Marlene Clausen says:

    Was determined to make nothing new until I had at least 5 of my UFO’s quilted. BUT temps dropped and my quilting room was too cold, so what is a quilter to do? Pull out the “makings” of a quilt I have wanted to make for YEARS. Newport Fantasy designed by my good friend Diana Beaubain at Pleasant Valley Creations. That one is pieced. Last night I pulled out Painted Ladies by Fig Tree & Co. Had all the blocks pieced for 2? 3? years. Just need to join them with sashing. Got all the rows pieced, will work on joining rows tonight. Next up, work for a customer.

  38. Wow!!! I love seeing all your projects. I was going through some UFO’s last evening and dreaming about which one I’ll work on. The one I zoomed in on is from the first BOM I joined at my favorite local shop…started it in 2006! I have older UFO’s than this one, but wanted to say that I still love most of these old projects. The fabrics are still relevant, and so many of my UFO’s have very little remaining to finish them.

  39. Sharon Gratz says:

    You are so getting organized and on a roll! I have been so inspired to work on and complete some UFOs that I started 2 more quilts! lol

  40. Wendy says:

    You have some pretty UFOs to play with, and some very pretty fabric pulls! Enjoy your weekend!

  41. Ceil Podzimek says:

    I wish I had my fabric stash more organized. I was dreaming about it last night. It did help to get 6 charity quilts made and finished – all from my stash! That’s a very satisfying feeling. I don’t know how you manage to get so many quilts started and worked on of your own, since you have so many customer quilts to do! I keep a WIP list (inspired by you many years ago, of course) and love checkmarking my way through all my projects.

  42. Marilyn Holder says:

    Thanks for the Bonnie Hunter pattern. If my daughter’s class ever gets back to regular kindergarten stuff, this will be the quilt blocks for her to give them to sign/draw. In the past, it became a fundraiser auction quilt along with things from all the other classes. Only time will tell about next school year. Gathering fabric from my stash will take time; I like the greens and reds and yellows; needs to be kid fabric.

  43. Judy Sovereign says:

    You have been a busy bee. Been working on a couple of three quilts. Have a scotty dog almost done and some more swoon blocks and then a dog panel for me. Keep up the good work and inspire us to do more.

  44. Sandi Scarlett says:

    I just finished my second Jared Takes A Wife quilt for Project Linus. I finished the 30 blocks but didn’t have enough of the points for the sashing so I split it into two quilts. I even machine sewed the binding on the one today. Next up is to put binding on a quilt for me. Your Jared Takes a Wife is wonderful. I did the four patches yellow & green. Stars were blues and the points were magenta.

  45. Jean says:

    I’ve been trying to do the same but have not been as successful as you have. I have many tops waiting to be quilted and a few more that need borders first. If only my long arm wasn’t so frustrating.

  46. Shelly it must be fun unearthing all those pretty UFO’s even if it does mean your To Be Quilted pile is growing! So many fun projects to keep working on or finish.
    I’m finishing making the blocks I had to design to finish a quilt my granddaughter requested additions being made to to enlarge the quilt. I did the last PQ challenge (and finished it) and started another scrappy project. I also sorted all of my bins of flimsies and made sure they have backing and bindings with them and sorted which ones I need to do first when I next get to go to the studio where my longarm lives.

  47. I wish I could say I have been sewing but no, instead I have been sorting and cleaning out fabrics that I wonder why I bought or have no interest in now. Most went to our Linus group this past Friday! Still more to go through but I need a break and will sew for day or two!

  48. Love your Limerick quilt. You have some cool things going on! I need to finish some UFOs but keep getting interrupted by new things I want to start.

  49. MICHELE Y BREAULT says:

    I have too many UFOs but one I’m going to work on soon is the Double Wedding Ring I started decades ago. I’ve been busy going through my fabric bins and projects trying to gt ready to move and I’ve found some fabrics I’ve long forgotten about. Some delight me all over again while others are more “what the heck was I thinking”.

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