I Haz a Job!!!

On August 2nd, I was offered a job and started on the 8th. This means I have a lot less time to quilt. For the first 4 weeks of my job, I didn't quilt at all. The sewing machine never came out. However, the guilt has gotten to me for a certain project and I started up again this week.

In May, I agreed to make 2 lap quilts for a new Ravelry-based crafting group that donates their projects to the VA Hospital in Palo Alto. The first quilt I finished quickly, having to only buy some off-white fabric and the batting. This 2nd quilt, however, is proving to be quite the challenge. I've never done a Log Cabin Quilt so I thought this would be a good excuse to give it a shot. Well, not only does it take much more work than I had thought, but I didn't have enough red, white, and blue scraps to give it a very scrappy feel. I turned to Ravelry and about a dozen people sent me scraps. Then I cut up most of them into strips and started piecing.


Then I got a job.

So I'm working on finishing the top- I just took my machine out for the first time in over a month- and TODAY I find out about a surprise baby shower for my boss in 2 weeks. Que the crazy quilt design wheels to turn in my head. So I think I'm going to make her a Disappearing 9 Patch (my all-time favorite baby quilt design) and I think I might be able to do it out of the fabric I originally bought for Mike's Baby (see Irish Chain quilt below.)

So, without further adieu, I present my progress with 11 in '11:

Just to update you on my 11 Quilts in '11 goal:
1. Gram's Quilt- DONE
2. Joe's Quilt- DONE
3. Wedding Quilt- DONE
4. Sophia's Quilt- DONE
5. Raj's Baby Quilt- DONE6. Veteren Quilt (Ribbon Star)- DONE
7. Veteren Quilt (Log Cabin)- In progress
8. Project Linus Quilt- DONE
9. Abigails' Quilt- Planning
10. Jason's Parent's Quilt- No idea
11. ???


And pics of my 2 most recent finished quilts-



A Project Linus Quilt (http://www.sjlinus.org/) in a 4-patch pattern:

And this is Veteren's Quilt #1. The pattern is called Ribbon Star: 

Another quilt finished!

We just got home from vacation and I just now have time to post some pics of the last quilt I finished before we left. The couple that owns the scuba dive shop Jason and I use are having a baby later this summer. Seeing as they own 3 boats and a dive shop, I felt an "under the sea" quilt was most appropriate. While they are having a girl, I snuck a peek at their Babies R Us registry and saw they are doing an blue/ocean theme baby quilt so I didn't feel bad making a blue quilt. I did add the purple for the borders to make it more gender neutral :)

The pattern is called Arcadia and the fabric is from the Bernatex like called Go Fishing.

I have enough fabric left over for a quick charity quilt for Project Linus  ... if you want to get involved let me know... quilters, knitters, crocheters and people who want to learn are welcome! 

And since I'm on the topic of charity quilting, I'm also going to be quilting for the Palo Alto Veteren's Hospital this year. If you'd like to get involved with that project, let me know! 

PICTURES!

As promised, here are some pictures of the last 2 quilts I've finished.

Sophia's quilt, my first Double Irish Chain. It's done, it only needs to be washed before I send it out:

My wedding quilt top. I am going to have this professionally quilted because it's really too big to quilt it well on my home machine, so for the time being, it's done, but not a full quilt just yet:

Here is a picture of our close friends making their squares!

I'm currently working on a quilted ABC book. It's been a huge help to my applique skills. I've also committed to at least one lap quilt for a veteran at the Palo Alto VA hospital and want to do some Project Linus Quilts as well.

Quick update on my 11 in 2011:

Just to update you on my 11 Quilts in '11 goal:
1. Gram's Quilt- DONE
2. Joe's Quilt- DONE
3. Wedding Quilt- DONE
4. Sophia's Quilt- DONE
5. Raj's Baby Quilt- Ready to start!
6. Mystery Quilt- Asleep
7. Connor's Quilt ABC Book- In Progress
8. Quilt for Jason's Parents- Pattern chosen!
9. Veteren Quilt
10. Project Linus Quilt
11. ???

2 New Quilt Projects !!!

Well my wedding quilt top is done. I just need to figure out where I'm getting it professionally quilted. The quilter I was hoping for is not taking new projects :(

Last week I started on Sophia's quilt. It's coming along great. I'm planning to have a picture of it in my next post.

Today I ordered the quilt for Raj's Baby quilt. I wanted to a beach or boat theme because they own 2 boats and a scuba shop, but I wasn't sure if a gender-neutral-leaning-toward-boy quilt would be appropriate as they are having a girl. Well, I did a little snooping and found their Baby's R Us baby registry and what do you know- they are doing a blue and green sea theme! So I went out and bought fabric from the Bernartex Gone Fishing line and am going to do a new pattern with it! So excited!

Just to update you on my 11 Quilts in '11 goal:
1. Gram's Quilt- DONE
2. Joe's Quilt- DONE
3. Wedding Quilt- DONE
4. Sophia's Quilt- In Progress
5. Raj's Baby Quilt- Fabric Ordered
6. Mystery Quilt- Asleep
7. Connor's Quilt ABC Book- Planned
8. Quilt for Jason's Parents- ???
9. ???
10. ???
11. ???

Wedding Quilt - Top Almost Done!

I'm so happy to have pretty much finished the Wedding Quilt top. It only needs borders and I'm planning to do those tomorrow. My favorite thing about the quilt has been that as I've been working on it, I get to read the amazing messages people wrote to us on the squares. I'm planning to put a sleeve in it so we can hang it up, but we'll also be able to use it if we want :)

I just bought the fabric for Sophia's quilt. Sophia was born in January to my husband's best man and good friend of mine, Mike. He's been friends with Jason since sometime in the 1990's and I met him early in our relationship. He let us borrow one of his cars for weeks when Jason's was in the shop after I banged it up a bit. Mike and his wife have requested pink and purple, so I'm going to a double Irish chain in those colors with a yellow background and a great purple flower border I found. It's my first Irish chain quilt, so I'm excited to try something new :)

Grams Quilt

Finished! I actually slept with it last night :)

Progress...

Wow, I can't believe it's been over 2 months since I've updated. I wish I had a lot of quilts to show for it, but really life has just gotten away from me. I've been working, fighting my evil ex-employer over unemployment benefits, traveling, going out more with my dog, and seeing a lot of Sharks games! Jason and I have even decided to up our half-season tickets to full season tickets next year! 43 games! How crazy is that?!

I just finished Gram's quilt. Well, it still needs to be unpinned and needs a label, but all of the constuction is done. It looks great. There were some issues with wavy borders due to all the bias edges on the blocks, but I think I got them ironed out (pun intended!)

I put the Mystery Quilt to sleep. It's ugly. I don't think I'll ever do a mystery quilt again. I don't want to keep it or give it to someone. I don't even want to donate it to charity. It's not worth the batting and backing it would take to assemble it. I'll try to post a (hideous) picture at some point.

With Gram's quilt being done tomorrow, and my last wedding quilt squares having arrived, I can work on that. I also have 2 baby quilts that need to get done sometime soon- one for Mike (Jason's best man at our wedding) and one for the couple that runs the scuba dive shop we use. We are pretty close to them as customers so it's my pleasure to welcome their first baby with a quilt!

Other than that, I'm just trying to stay sane. Still looking for a new job and have submitted a countless number of resumes. The Sharks start their playoff run in 2 weeks. I'm going to Hawaii for 2 weeks in May, the Chanel Islands for 4 days in June, and the Jersey Shore for a week in July. Of course if I get a new job, the plans might change, but for now it's good to know that I'll either be traveling or better employed in the future- either is good :)