Monday, March 4, 2013

Progress Check for March

The theme for this month is "itchy." As in, I am itching to start new quilts, but I really need to focus on finishing my UFOs. A couple weeks ago my friend Cindy asked me whether I had Quilter's ADD, if I had trouble concentrating on finishing a quilt without starting three other projects along the way. I laughed and said I'd have to get back to her, as I have only ever finished three quilts in my life. Now at least the number is four, but I am very tempted to start other quilts (such as the recent Moda Friendship Quilt-along). Have you ever seen the Coen Brothers movie Raising Arizona? I keep thinking of the scene where Nicholas Cage's character, a reformed robber, gets itchy of living life on the proper side of the law, and says, "I found myself driving past convenience stores that weren't on my way home."

My friend loves the baby quilt! I am so happy. The quilt went right down to the wire to the baby's due date. I was terrified that the parcel service would try to deliver the package, but that they would be at the hospital having the baby. Apparently I checked the tracking information a little too compulsively, because on the second or third time, the website asked me whether I would like an email notification the minute my friend signed for it. Oh dear! [blushes]

By the way, in news of quilt exhibitions, I saw this very interesting Tweet this afternoon:



There is going to be an exhibit of Civil War quilts at the McLoughlin House in Oregon City, Oregon, which is part of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The quilts are from the collection of Eileen Jahnke Trestain. (In case her name is familiar, she is the author of "Dating Fabrics, A Color Guide: 1800-1960.")* The full exhibit opens on March 15th, but there is a preview on March 9th. I have been to Fort Vancouver and the McLoughlin House before; I just wish I could make it back for the quilt exhibit!

*I like to call this book along with "Textiles for Regency Clothing" and "Textiles for Early Victorian Clothing" the "Pat the Bunny Books for Quilters and Costumers."

Quilts in Progress, as of March 4, 2013
1.  Very Hungry Caterpillar baby quilt (Finished!)
2. Teal Single Irish Chain (hand quilting)
3. Champions of the West (blocks finished, but not stitched together- I got creative block when it came to the border)
4. Civil War Sampler "cot" quilt by Karen Witt (haven't finished all the blocks yet)
5. Liberty of Londons sampler quilt (I honestly can't remember where this is in the process, but I definitely haven't got the quilt top finished)
6. Golden's Journal quilt (haven't finished all the blocks yet)
7. Peggy Martin-technique sampler quilt (ditto)
8. Crazy quilt (not your usual crazy quilt, but it is crazy! Quilt top finished, but needs sandwiching/quilting/binding)
9. Roses for Shiloh quilt by Painted Pony 'n Quilts (haven't finished all the blocks yet)
10. Amish with a Twist (haven't finished all the blocks yet)
11. Space left here in case I've forgotten something, kinda like setting an empty chair at dinner for a possible stranger to show up. It's possible as I excavate down through my stash, that I may find more quilts I didn't know about. We are proud members of Old Salem, and one of the side benefits of membership is getting a new tote bag each year. The past few years they've been marvelous gigantic bags, perfect for filling with accumulated projects. A new year, another Old Salem bag with an unfinished quilt!
12. Not quilting, but alter my dirndl to fit my new, smaller, self, and finish the heart-ruching trim for it.

Quilts in the "Some Day" Stage, as of March 4, 2013
1. Olivia the piglet quilt
2. A Baltimore Album quilt
3. A hexagon quilt
4. A chintz panel quilt
5. A quilt with the Metro Blues fabrics that I got in New Braunfels and Belleville
6. Various Rosemary Youngs Civil War Diary and Civil War Anniversary quilts
7. Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler
8. Barbara Brackman's Grandmother's Choice women's suffrage sampler
9. A botanical album quilt that I've had designed in my head for a long time
10. Mill Girls by Nancy Rink
10b. Away from Home by Nancy Rink (postponed indefinitely)
11. Mimi's Bloomers quilt by Erin Russek
12. Just Takes Two quilt by Sentimental Stitches
13. The Hazel Ilene quilts by Prairie Moon Quilts
14. Path to the Civil War: Aurelia's Journey Quilt
15. A Dear Jane quilt
16. A bed-runner designed by one of my kids
17. Miscellaneous quilts that I've downloaded from quilt-alongs and free patterns from textile companies.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)