2018 Finish-Along: Quarter 4 Goals {2018 FAL Q4}

How are we onto the last 3 months of the year 2018!?! Did you accomplish sewing last quarter?

Guess What?! I Didn't!

I have been so busy with having and taking care of a baby that I did no sewing what-so-ever last quarter. 

That's a pretty decent excuse, right?

I wanted to have Samara's Quilt done by the time she turned 5 (didn't happen) and then I wanted to have done before the baby was born (I was trying to get things ready for his arrival), and my sewing machine just did not come out of it's case. I have Halloween I need to do, so the machine is going to have to grace us with it's space it takes up for the next 2 weeks. Eeek! Thank goodness I am not going to sew 6 people's costumes this year.

On to my wish-to-complete list!

Samara's Quilt

This is my main priority. Gosh Golly, Gee Whiz. It needs to get done. I am such a sewing slacker!

Maybe I can have it done for her for Christmas? Though not as a present since she has watched this long drawn out process. And if I finish it sooner rather than later, I am not holding on to it until then. Maybe it might be nice as a Christmas Eve gift, but I won't wait. Ha! If it is done!

What still needs to be done:

• finish the last border (green fabric)
• baste (the backing is a pink minky she had picked out)
• quilt
• bind (in a gray and white striped fabric)
• label

Abacus Quilt

I have not the expectation to get to this. But, just in case.

I need to:

• cut pieces
• sew remaining blocks
• assemble to top
• border if necessary 
• baste
• quilt
• bind
• label

Band Shirt Memory Quilt

I am adding this in, though I am sure that I will not complete it (let alone even get to it!) this quarter. I'm debating another border or calling it good (I'm leaning towards calling it good!). The black large notes is a flannel and have since decided against that. The backing will be Jazz Jam from Andover Fabrics. The colors and notes are perfect for this quilt!

I need to:

• baste
• quilt
• bind
• label

First and foremost is Samara's quilt, since I haven't made her one in her 5 years of life. Poor Thing. Though I have made her more clothes than any of the other children. 

What do you have to finish?

Linking-up!

2018 Finish-A-Long: Quarter 3 Goals {2018 FAL Q3}

Motivation is a good thing to have but so hard to come by! My motivation to do anything is extremely limited.

Having accountability through friends, link-ups, you, my readers, is great too. On something like the Finish-A-Long, it is very one-sided. We, the crafters and bloggers, post and share what we are working on, making, sewing, creating and that's it. We hope for comments and responses but those are not all guaranteed to take place.

So, here I am hoping to keep my motivation up to complete at least 1 more quilt this quarter during the finish-along!

Samara's Quilt

I got the grey border added during the last quarter. I just need to:

• finish the last border (green fabric)
• baste
• quilt
• bind
• label

abacus quilt

I did not do anything with this one last quarter. I am really hoping I can get more of my craft space cleaned and organized. In my daydreams, it makes it easier to work on a project at this stage.

I need to:

• cut pieces
• sew remaining blocks
• assemble to top
• border if necessary 
• baste
• quilt
• bind
• label

Band Shirt Memory Quilt

I am adding this in, though I am sure that I will not complete it this quarter. I'm debating another border or calling it good. The black large notes is a flannel and have since decided against that. The backing will be Jazz Jam from Andover Fabrics. The colors and notes are perfect for this quilt!

I need to:

• baste
• quilt
• bind
• label

First and foremost is Samara's quilt, since I haven't made her one in her *almosr* 5 years of life. My time is quickly running down since the baby is due in about 7.5 weeks! fingers crossed! 

I'm hoping I can keep up the momentum with even 1 finish a quarter!

What do you have to finish? how do you keep the momentum going and the motivation when your discussing them others is extremely limited?

Linking-up!

2018 Finish Along: Finishes {18 FAL Q2)

Can you believe the year is halfway through already? The kids start school in about a week and a half!

This summer has been crazy with the kids losing their minds inside because it's just too darn hot to play outside and the only time it's cooled off is ... never! Usually, by now we have had a monsoon storm or two, but not this year. So we have not even gotten the respite from heat a storm gives.

I have managed a finish this quarter! (yay!) I only listed three in my FAL goals for this quarter.

Labyrinth Lap Quilt

You can check out the details here.

One is better than nothing! yay!

I added in the project planner from Sew Of Course into my bullet journal to keep track of all the finishes I have and what I have left to do for them. She has a pretty neat printable. I like the accessibility of having it in my bullet journal. Which I will have to move soon since I'm running out of pages in this one. LOL, but that's ok!

I am color coding by quarter what I have completed. orange was prior to joining back in, the pink was quarter 2, blue will be quarter 3. I've only listed 3 projects since those are all I can think of at the moment. I'm sure once I go through my craft space and organize it some (one of many nesting projects in the works as well), I will find more and write them down as I come across them.

How'd you do this last quarter?

Linking up to the Finish A Long! 

Labyrinth Lap Quilt: Finally Finished {Quilting}

I have about 4-5 posts scheduled to go live on this blog. The only thing those posts are missing is the pictures to go along with the writing. Sadly, my little boy is not cooperative after pick-up from school. I am assuming he's just overtired. After all, it's been a long time since they got a break even with the recent teacher strike that went on. And some of the things I have to share are dependant upon the one post with the kids! I might need to rearrange the posts!

I realized after the kids were making a fort because they used it, that I finished one of the quilts I set out to finish this quarter as part of the Finish-a-long! You can check out the goals I posted here. And I needed to take some pictures of it to share it with you! The camera was charged and ready to go! Pictures are going to happen!

This pattern is called Labyrinth (not to be confused with Labyrinth Walk) and you can find it here. My mom picked it up to sew my brother a queen sized for his bed. I decided to give the lap size a try since it was simple. A selling point to this pattern was no y-seams or diamonds. At the time (over 5 years ago now!) I had not known how to do y seams. Yes. This has sat unfinished that long...

It's a great easy sew. All half square triangles.

I attempted to get some up close of the quilting. I used it to practice my free motion quilting. I am going to have to practice more than once every few years if I plan or hope to make any improvements! Ha, but my writing is shaky enough as it is, there is probably not a ton of chance my movements with the machine will smoothen out!

My favorite quilting was in the gold square surrounding the star and the purple parts to the star.

The back shows the quilting a little bit better than the dark purple thread on purple...

I did not originally plan on using this fabric for the back of this quilt. It really didn't have a purpose when I bought it, but I was not a fan of the two patterns together. For the sake of completion. I decided to go with it anyway. It's interesting. It's growing on me.

But I think it contrasts well with the front even if I would rather not have used it as a backing.

I hand stitched the binding too! Something I have practiced more than FMQ and it is so hard not to hand stitch a binding down. I think the finished look is just so much nicer! At least for me! Ha, squiggly binding anyone? No?

The next morning (since I finished it after midnight) the kids had commandeered the quilt and promptly put it to use making forts. That tells me it's a win!

What finishes do you have so far this quarter?

2018 Finish Along: Quarter 2 Goals {2018 FAL Q2}

The first thing I see when I walk into my craft space/office is the unfinished projects cluttering the top of my table. Those things are like the bane of every crafter's existence.

Unfinished objects. works in progress. projects half done.

Whatever you want to call them, they take up space, brain power, and clog those creative juices once they start piling up too high.

I'm going to try to jump on Finish Along Train again this year to get those pieces completed, off of my table, and onto a lap or bed. I took about a year hiatus from even thinking of completing projects and getting those things finished. But I am back and ready to try again.

Here is the list of unfinished projects I will be working on these next few months.

1. labyrinth lap quilt.
all it needs is the binding! ok. and to bury threads.

2. Samara's quilt.
It needs borders finished, pink minky backing, quilted and bound. A side effect of a middle child... Poor thing hasn't had a mommy made quilt and that needs to be rectified quickly.

3. Abacus Quilt
This has been in a partially started phase for forever. I don't think I will be able to get to it, let alone finish it. But just in case I am adding it here.

That's all I am adding to this list. No need to put all the projects down and have myself overwhelmed!  They will clear off a bunch of space from my table, especially with the labyrinth quilt!

How many half-finished projects do you have taking up space in your crafting area?

2017 Finish A Long: Quarter 1: Goals {2017 FAL Q3}

I sat and contemplated up until the last minute whether or not to try the finish a long at all this year. I did not complete anything from this list last year and I have since just removed items because I am never going to get to them! Ha at this point those things I had planned are no longer going to work for the recipient! Too much time has passed! I need to get my sewing space in order first! Nothing has happened since moving everything out to create the baby's space about 6 months ago... Goodness me...

Here are my goals for this quarter!

1. Labyrinth Lap Quilt... 

Coming along... #quilting #sewing #isew #fmq #freemotionquilting #2016fal #finishalong

A photo posted by JessiBerry (@jessiberry09) on Jul 6, 2016 at 2:02pm PDT

2.  My band shirt memory quilt... 

Another on the #2016fal #finishalong list that probably won't get done for a while... but I finally got a picture of the backing! #memoryquilt #isew #tshirtquilt

A photo posted by JessiBerry (@jessiberry09) on Jul 6, 2016 at 2:32pm PDT

3. This is little lady's baby shower quilt. From 2013...

4. This circle quilt. 

5. Peasant Tops pattern by Tie Dye Diva Patterns they are a 12 month and 18 month size, half sewn up

Wish me good luck! ;) It's so hard to sew with the toddler who gets into EVERYTHING and a DEMANDING preschooler. I'm lucky to get anything done during the day!

Linking up!

2016 Finish Along: Quarter 3: Goals {2016 FAL Q3}

Here are my goals for this quarter!

1. Labyrinth Lap Quilt... If you've been following me on Instagram, you've seen some slow progress! I've been working on this one! Just needs to finish the quilting then, bind! :)

Coming along... #quilting #sewing #isew #fmq #freemotionquilting #2016fal #finishalong

A photo posted by JessiBerry (@jessiberry09) on Jul 6, 2016 at 2:02pm PDT

2.  My band shirt memory quilt... I found a backing by andover fabrics! It's perfect! There is no reason for this not to get done now! Ha! Well, aside from time that is! 

Another on the #2016fal #finishalong list that probably won't get done for a while... but I finally got a picture of the backing! #memoryquilt #isew #tshirtquilt

A photo posted by JessiBerry (@jessiberry09) on Jul 6, 2016 at 2:32pm PDT

3. This is little lady's baby shower quilt. From 2013... Poor thing is still waiting on a quilt from mommy. She has since laid claim to the labyrinth lap quilt. LOL

4. This circle quilt. It was supposed to be for a MQG fabric challenge... It has sat in my sewing bag for.ev.er... I love it and should really get it finished, but it's not first on the list. Eventually...

5. These were supposed to be some Peasant Tops pattern by Tie Dye Diva Patterns for little lady. I know they are now too small for her now, but I could still use them for baby 3, they are a 12 month and 18 month size so I now have some time. 

6. This was supposed to be Little Man's Going to Grandma's/&or/Grandpa's over night bag. It is supposed to be the Dorothy Day Tripper by Swoon Sewing Patterns (affiliate links) ... 

&

7. If I have enough left over I also wanted to make a Tiny Explorer Backpack by Diedelbug Handmade for him when we go to MOPs meetings, the Zoo, and anything else that seems to fit with learning and fun. ;) Only problem is, he doesn't stay over anywhere and we no longer go to the zoo (I haven't renewed our membership). I still want to do them, and we miss the zoo. After all, he is going to be starting school in a couple weeks! Eek, Kindergarten!

I've carried over this list since 2013! Don't believe me? check it out! Finish-Along
Sad, right? I know! same things over and over. At least this time I have the excuse of a little baby to take care of! Right?!? No? Ha! At least I haven't really added to it!

Wish me good luck! ;)

Linking up!

2016 Finish Along: Quarter 2: Goals {2016 FAL Q2}

Here are my goals for this quarter!

1. Labyrinth Lap Quilt... I was debating on the backing, but it works and it needs to be done.

2.  My band shirt memory quilt... I found a backing by andover fabrics! It's perfect! There is no reason for this not to get done now! Ha!

3. This is little lady's baby shower quilt. From 2013...

4. This circle quilt. It was supposed to be for a MQG fabric challenge... It has sat in my sewing bag for.ev.er... 

5. These are supposed to be some Peasant Tops pattern by Tie Dye Diva Patterns for little lady. I know they are now too small for her, but I could still use them for this next little one coming, even if they are a 12 month and 18 month size!! 

6. This was supposed to be Little Man's Going to Grandma's/&or/Grandpa's over night bag. It is supposed to be the Dorothy Day Tripper by Swoon Sewing Patterns (affiliate links) ... 

&

7. If I have enough left over I also want to make a Tiny Explorer Backpack by Diedelbug Handmade for him when we go to MOPs meetings, the Zoo, and anything else that seems to fit with learning and fun. ;) Only problem is, he doesn't stay over anywhere and we no longer go to the zoo (I haven't renewed our membership). I still want to do them, and we miss the zoo.

I've carried over this list since 2013! Don't believe me? check it out! Finish-Along
Sad, right? I know! same things over and over. At least this time I have the excuse of a little baby to take care of! Right?!? No?

Wish me good luck! ;)

Linking up!

Improv-Pieced Baby Quilt

I had a massive case of nesting the other day and accomplished a ton! Cleaning, sewing, organizing... All some much needed things to get done. Out of the sewing I had accomplished a baby quilt for the baby due any day now. Sad because Little Lady does not have one that I have made for her yet. But she does have some handmade quilts of her own from others. It lets me off the hook right? The quilt... I'm just calling it improv piecing at this point...

I had picked up this fabric about the time that Little Lady S was born with the intention of making her a quilt. But that never happened. It was actually a cheap kit from Walmart and just wasn't in love with it as much as I had thought when I first bought it. But for baby girl K, it's perfect!

We are using owls for her theme... well, any raptor/bird of prey really. Owls just happens to be popular. And I prefer pinks and teal and a neutral... But this works.

I just started cutting the pieces and sewing as I went. Towards the end I was second guessing my cutting choices because things started not fitting together very well... I suggest to cut all in increments and ratios of each other instead of whatever number pops into your head like I did...

The binding is the backing wrapped around to the front, a piece of flannel that came with the kit. And I did not use any batting.

Looking at the tiny image on the screen, I feel kind of happy how it turned out! It's just different, for me. I haven't done anything like this before. I really suggest you try it! I might want to again, but with more meaning to the size of the strips I cut from the fabric...

for fun... Baby girl due in few days! (40 weeks on the 28th!). Don't mind my wet hair. ;)

And, the quilt with her very own Lambie (each kid has their own lambie)

I'm excited that I had energy to do a ton of stuff! This quilt I managed to finish in two days! Yay for nesting! But now, I need to sleep for a day! LOL!

Happy Sewing!

2016 Finish Along: Quarter 1: Goals {2016 FAL Q1}

Another Year, a new start, and a new quarter for the Finish-Along!

Part of my Goals and Resolutions for this year is to work through the WIPs (Work in Progress) and UFOs (unfinished objects) to get them done, usable and no longer taking up space in the craft space. I really wanted to finish these last year in prepping for baby. But it is hard to sew when your tired! And I know this year I am going to be tired too! But, at least a few of them the tops are pretty much done! :)

And, here is my list for this quarter.

1. Labyrinth Lap Quilt... I was debating on the backing, but it works and it needs to be done.

2.  My band shirt memory quilt... I found a backing by andover fabrics! It's perfect! There is no reason for this not to get done now! Ha!

3. This is little lady's baby shower quilt. From 2013...

4. This circle quilt. It was supposed to be for a MQG fabric challenge... It has sat in my sewing bag for.ev.er... 

5. These are supposed to be some Peasant Tops pattern by Tie Dye Diva Patterns for little lady. I know they are now too small for her, but I could still use them for this next little one coming, even if they are a 12 month and 18 month size!! 

6. This was supposed to be Little Man's Going to Grandma's/&or/Grandpa's over night bag. It is supposed to be the Dorothy Day Tripper by Swoon Sewing Patterns (affiliate links) ... 

&

7. If I have enough left over I also want to make a Tiny Explorer Backpack by Diedelbug Handmade for him when we go to MOPs meetings, the Zoo, and anything else that seems to fit with learning and fun. ;) Only problem is, he doesn't stay over anywhere and we no longer go to the zoo (I haven't renewed our membership). I still want to do them, and we miss the zoo.

I've carried over this list since 2013! Don't believe me? check it out! Finish-Along
Sad, right? I know! same things over and over. Wish me good luck! ;)

Linking up!

Happy Sewing!