Friday, January 17, 2014

January sewing with Sandy

In December, Sandy (no blog) and I got together to decide what we wanted to work on in 2014.   I always find myself feeling overwhelmed at the holidays because I want to make my gifts but by waiting so long, I  realize that I can’t get done all the projects that are on my list. 

Soooooo, I told Sandy that I really wanted to focus on smaller seasonal projects.  Maybe even work on a Christmas item each month.    She so sweetly agreed and off we went on our quest for projects.  But…how should it be handled?  Well, Sandy came up with the idea of doing a wool project, a stitchery project, the Buttermilk Basin mats, a little quilt from the book “101 Fabulous Small Quilts”, and then another little quilt of our choice.  

Big plans?   Yeah, seems like it, doesn’t it?  But, if you are only working on these small projects, they are quite do-able.   I picked the projects for January and she will pick February and so on.  Now, get this… we both actually got them all finished before the middle of the month.   Woo Hoo!  Here’s what we worked on.

These are the little mats I’ve been showing you.   We needed to get caught up on the December one.  The patterns are by Buttermilk Basin, called “By thy Hands”.  

This is Sandy’s December mat.   You’ll notice when you see them together that they are different.  That’s because Sandy finds it hard to follow a pattern.  LOL    She actually took the February pattern and made it for December.   She can do that?   The quilt police won’t come knocking on her door?  Who knew?  Hmmm.   

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This is mine and is the actual pattern for Dec.  
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This is Sandy’s January block.   She decided a snowflake was in order.

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And here’s mine.  Just like the pattern called for, except that somehow I got the middle points going the wrong direction.   It’s nothing I will change though.   Did I invent a new block?
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Our “little quilt” project was picked from the March/April 2005 issue of Fons and Porter’s “Love of Quilting” magazine.  It’s called Prairie Cabin mini.  
This time Sandy made it like the pattern.  It’s tiny.   Measures 13” x 18”
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I decided to make 2 of them, but when I got the blocks all made and laid them out, I fell in love with the look so made my quilt a bit bigger.   Mine measures 20” x 24”.    I am going to hand quilt it, so it’s technically not really finished.  
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The quilt chosen from the 101 quilts book is called  Civil War Scraps.   It measures 17” x 22”.     This is Sandy’s.
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Here’s mine.
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And together. 
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And where I put it in the house.  
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On to the stitchery project.    It’s in the book “Hollyberry Stitcheries” by Kindred Spirits.   

Sandy made 2 of them.
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I reduced mine by 50%.
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You can see the difference in the sizes.   
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And last…, the wool project.    The pattern is called “Sharing Christmas” and it can be found in the Special Winter issue of Quiltmania 2011.  
Sandy made hers into a pillow.  It’s pretty big but I didn’t get the measurements. 
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This one is mine.   
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We will put a few of the projects in our “Christmas box” so that we have gifts ready to go next Christmas.  See?  no stress!
Sandy is choosing the February projects and if you’ve followed her creations on my blog,  you’ll know that they are going to be wonderful.
And last, but not least, for those of you who asked about the pattern for the little mat I made for my friends with the candle holder that Mr CnW made, here it is.    I chose to use a different snowman and made the tree limbs a bit more wonky. It’s definitely a pattern to play with, and guess what?  You don’t have to follow the pattern exactly as designed.  Wow…what a concept.     
If you don’t ever hear from me when you ask a question, it’s because you are “no reply” and I don’t have your email address to respond.   Google how to fix that.  There are instructions all over blogland.  

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See ya soon.  Hugs, Anne

27 comments:

paulette said...

WOW!! That is a whole lot of FINISHED projects!! What a team you and your Sandy are!! And all of them are gorgeous and uniquely your own!
P

Janet O. said...

So many wonderful little quilts. I love each one!!

Karen said...

I've been following your blog for quite some time now but have never commented before. I found you through Bunny Hill. I just love your projects. You seem to get so much done in such a short amount of time and everything you do is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

Lesley said...

I love everything I see here! You and your friend do such excellent work...loved seeing all the projects!

Margs Primitive Quilts said...

I agree with Lesley 's comment .
LoVe your projects and finishes.
Key word here... Finishes :)
Marg

http://thankfullga447 said...

I love smaller projects and all of them are adorable.

Cathy said...

What wonderful projects. I want to make them all. You are 2 very talented quilters. Hugs

Karen said...

Yum yum yum those are all adorable projects - my favorite is the quilt from 101 - why because it's one I know I must make. You both do beautiful work and it's going to be fun to see your projects each month and getting inspired each month. That Sandy - she is such a rebel lol.
Hugs - Mrs. Farmhouse

Florida Farm Girl said...

What lovely little projects! I can't believe you've gotten all of them made already this month.

That Sandy girl is a true artist. Love how she mixes things up.

moosecraft said...

Awesome! You guys are rockin'! So many projects accomplished so early in the year! Keep going'! Your "blogland groupies" will be cheering you on! ;-)

Wendy said...

Hi Anne :)
I love all your little projects ...you got as many finished in one month than I do in a year ...lol!
Can't wait to see what you both do in February .. two very clever ladies :)
Hugs Wendy x x

Hogan's Adventure said...

Why oh why doesn't all this wonderful work surprise me...LOLOL..good job Annie, can't wait to see whats next!!!

Kindred Quilts said...

Goodness, this was like visiting a LQS full of new models!!! Wonderful projects, all of them. You two make a great team... can't wait to see the February projects!

Sandi said...

Great progress for only a month...you must be working in a sweat shop!

Love your wonky tree and snowman candle mat version better.

Have fun thru the year with your projects.

Gayle said...

Looks like you're both well on your way to a VERY productive year - great idea!

Wendy said...

All your projects are fabulous. I really love the little quilt on the table. Looking forward to the coming months projects.

Darlene said...

Awesome project, Anne. You and Sandy are going to have a terrific 2014.

I have lots of small projects planned for 2014. Most involve handwork - makes me smile. :-)

Jeanna said...

Oh my goodness!!! That is a whole bunch of wonderful finishes...and you did them all in the last couple of weeks!?! I'm amazed! Great job Ladies :)

Joan said...

You ladies are amazing! Beautiful stitchin'!

Lori said...

Wow! These are fantastic! So these are all 2013 projects?

Friendship Crossing said...

Holy cow ~what great incentive and wonderful that you have a buddy to choose patterns and stitch with! You all have gotten so much done already and it's only January!! LOL
Great job to both of you ~ love all your patterns you two picked.

Hugs,
Tanya

Ann in PA said...

So let me get this straight - Sandy doesn't have a blog but did someone mention "Sandy's Sweat Shop"? LOL You two are on a wonderful journey...if you don't do another thing, you have finished some very cute gifts for next Christmas.

Nadine said...

Amazing! I should belong to your little duo sew group!!!
Miss ya!

Nanna said...

wow what a great friend!send her to me please lol! everything looks fantastic!
Helen

Thimbleanna said...

Hey little girl....lots of fun projects going on here! But what I really came by to tell you is that you NEED to blog the same thing that Lori of Humble Quilts blogged -- YOU. I LOVE the quilts that she showed of yours -- especially that first one!!!

syed ali said...
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Ondrea said...

Such beautiful quilts! What a delight to look at them all. Thank you for sharing them. I love the little Civil War quilt. Infact, that one is on my list from The Civil War Sewing Circle book. I have handpieced and hand quilted 2 from that book and am currently making 2 more.