Design Wall Monday 04/09/12

This is the latest Just Takes 2 block that I made.  I'm still working on the feathered star block, but wanted to do a quick one to keep me motivated!  This one was foundation pieced and took no time at all.  Next, back to the feathered star.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's Design Walls today!

Design Wall Monday 04/02/12

I've been working on a class project that is not ready for the reveal quite yet - still needs borders.  In the meantime, I'll show the other project on my Design Wall - bits and pieces from the Just Takes 2 project.  Still working on my feathered star.  I'm using a foundation piecing pattern that I already had.  It is very slightly different from what we were given.  This one has more "feathers", which I didn't realize until I had already started.  I'm falling behind.  I still have the compass and as of yesterday, another whole set of blocks to make.  After that I'll be able to assemble a quarter of the quilt.  Once my class starts I'll be able to focus on this quilt again.  If I fall too far behind I'll never be able to catch up!

Check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's Design Walls!

Design Wall Monday 03/19/12

I'm plugging away at the Just Takes 2 project.  Two more blocks done this week.  Now I'm knee deep in the feathered star block.  I was concerned about all of the pieces in the feathered star, so I found a foundation pattern for the same block.  It's still a lot of pieces, but I feel much more comfortable with this piecing method.  This one will take a while.  The next block that was just released is a compass block that is supposed to be hand pieced.  I'm on the fence about hand piecing, so I may change out that block entirely.  I've been struggling to keep up, and I'm not sure that I have time to learn a new technique and still keep up.

Not shown on my Design Wall/Table is my almost-complete Mystery Mondays project.  Today is another clue, and I believe it is the last, since we only have borders left to add.  Maybe one more after today.  It's super cute and my friend Lori is working on the same project.  The two quilts look so different in the completely different colors!  I'll try to grab a picture of both tonight in class and post soon.

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone's Design Walls!

Design Wall Monday - 03/12/12

Two more blocks finished for the Just Takes 2 project.  I'm not crazy about how they came out, but they'll be fine in the end.  Sometimes I'm overly critical of my work.  Now, looking at the picture, I'm liking them both a little more.  I have another block that is about half way finished.  I didn't realize how much work this project was going to be when I first started.  When I do get caught up, we'll be 22 blocks into the quilt.  I think I read that we'll be putting together a quarter of the quilt later this month.  But first I'll need to takle the feathered star block.  One step at a time!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is working on!

Design Wall Monday 02/27/12

Two more blocks for the Just Takes 2 project on my Design Wall today.  I did a lot of sewing yesterday, but nothing I can show yet.  I think I worked on three different projects, and none of them was a finish.  Oh well, they are all closer to being done.  I am now four blocks behind on the JT2 project, and more blocks will be released on Thursday.  I'm really trying to keep up with it, but it's going at quite a quick pace, and I have other projects in the works at the same time.  They say we'll be assembling a quarter of the quilt soon.  That will be fun - if I can get the blocks finished!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone's Design Walls!

Design Wall Monday - 02/20/12

Two more blocks finished for the Just Takes 2 project.  I'm still behind, though.  I have one more block to make from one of the previous pattern releases, but then I have all of the patterns for the latest release to make.  These new ones that were released on Feb 15th seem pretty challenging, but I'm up for it!  I'm very pleased with the larger block in the picture above.  It took me a while to make it, but it's pretty cool looking and most of the points match!  I guess I better get busy and start working on the next ones.

Sorry about the smudge in the pictures lately - I'll fix that today.

Check out Judy L's blog what is on everyone else's Design Walls today.

Design Wall Monday 02/13/12

I finally did some sewing this weekend!  However, not much got done during the sewing day with my Mom and sister.  More talking than sewing on my part!  I did get some cutting done, so I am ready to roll on that project next time I sit down to work on it.  Sunday I decided I wanted to do some actual sewing.  I pulled out my Just Takes 2 project and got a couple of blocks finished.  I just have two more blocks and a strip of flying geese to make to be caught up.  Of course, the next set of patterns will be released on Wednesday, and I'm pretty sure I won't have the blocks done before then.  That's okay, I'm close enough to being caught up that I don't feel overwhelmed (yet).  I decided to make the house block above using foundation piecing, which means I had to add a couple of seams.  The instructions that were given used templates and freezer paper.  I have used that method before, but I knew I could foundation piece much faster (and probably more accurately).  I'm happy with how it turned out!

Check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's Design Walls today!

Design Wall Monday - 02/06/12

I have one meager 6" block on my design wall today.  It's part of the Just Takes 2 quilt along, and this simple block took me hours to make.  Of course I kept getting interrupted and also I had to keep stopping to watch the Super Bowl ads!  I've done very little sewing the past few weeks.  But my quilting class has started up again, and hopefully I'll get motivated to sew more, and even get a little sewing done during class.  I did pull fabrics for the Mystery Mondays quilt along, and got myself a little more organized in general.  Now I should be able to get right to it when I have a few moments to sew.  Also, I'm looking forward to a Sewing Day with my Mom and Sister next weekend.  My only dilemma will be deciding which project to work on!  I seem to have more projects in progress than I ever have had before.  Maybe I should have signed on to Judy's UFO Challenge!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what's on everyone's Design Walls today!

Just Takes 2 Quilt Along

There's a great quilt along that has just started at the beginning of this year.  It is being organized by Gay Bomers of Sentimental Stitches and Brenda Papadakis of Dear Jane fame.  They were inspired by the red and white quilts from the Infinite Variety quilt exhibit last year in New York.  They have created a free quilt along using blocks featured in some of the quilts from that exhibit.  Gay will offer a set of block patterns on her website on the first of the month, and Brenda will offer the next set of patterns on her website on the 15th of each month.  The patterns will remain free on their sites for a month, then they will charge a small fee for them after that.  So it pays to get in early!  They have all the basic information and FAQ's you need on the main Just Takes 2 website.

I've already finished the first set of blocks (posted here) and I can't wait for the next set to become available.  I decided to do mine in blue and white instead of red and white.  My plan is to make this entire quilt from my stash, and not buy anything for it.  We'll see how I do!

Join me - it'll be fun!

Design Wall Monday 01/09/12

Sorry this picture is a little dark!  Today my blocks are on an actual design board instead of my ironing board and there's not a lot of natural light where I have it.  I might have to switch back to my ironing board for pictures!  I'm working on the Just Takes 2 quilt along, and I now have all six blocks finished from the first set posted.  I decided to make mine in blue and white instead of the traditional red and white color scheme.  I have tons of blues and a lot of them were still pulled out of my stash from a previously finished project.  I'll post more about the quilt along a little later today.  I'm really motivated to stay up with this project and get the blocks done as they are posted.  So far, so good!

Be sure to check out Judy L's blog to see what is on everyone else's design walls!