Butterfly Quilt

It's the end of the month, 

did I make my month two goal for

A lovely Year of Finishes?

Why YES!      Yes I did!      
Hurray for me! 

It was a lot to accomplish, so I wasn't sure if I could do it, 

but I pushed through, 

squeezed a few minutes here and there 

and finished!  

Month one was completing enough blocks for 

and constructing this butterfly quilt for my do. Good Stitches Cheer Group.

My month two was making a back, layering, basting, quilting
and binding the butterflies for a complete quilt.



I love these little butterflies!



Three blocks left over for the back, were a perfect fit. I've had this plaid in my stash for a long, long time. It was the right yardage and went really well with the little butterflies.  I really like how the backside turned out.



I stitched in the ditch between each butterfly
and  in both directions through the center of each one.
Next time I will add more quilting.
I'm pretty happy with my first finish for the Cheer Bee.



Quilt Info

SIZE : 48 by 60 before washing, 47 by 59 after wash

BLOCKS: butterflies from the members of the Cheer Group of do. Good Stitches

BACKING: unknown from stash

BATTING: Warm and White

A Year of Lovely Finishes month three goal will be coming soon. 

Happy Mail

I received happy mail this week!

 Its reveal time for the DQS13 flickr group. 

As I retrieved my package from the mailbox, I noticed who the sender was. 

I knew exactly which little mini was inside. I had kept my eye on this one. 

I really liked it and it was the mini my partner was making. 

That's right we were each others partner.

This is what she made for me.   

Isn't she a real beauty!?

I love the fabric choices and the colors are beautiful!

 Here's a corner close-up

And the quilting close-up

Aww, the quilting, just beautiful and so intricate!

  

This is the little mini I sent to  her

One of the reasons I  swap is to stretch myself, 

maybe try something new and hopefully make something my partner loves and 

I'm not embarrassed to say I made. 

With this one the only stretching I did, was working with white, which I'm not fond of. 

Toward the end of this mini making time, I almost scrapped it and 

went in another direction. I was disappointed in my pattern choice. 

I decided to finish it up before starting with the next and 

I'm so glad I did.

I fell in love with it in the end!

A little closer look. 

Thank you Norma, for a great swap!

I love my new little doll quilt! 

February Goal

It's time for my February Goal setting, 

as I continue on with A Lovely Year of Finishes. 

I'm going to keep going with the butterfly quilt from do. Good Stitches. 

Last month I completed my goal of making blocks and getting it into a top. 

For February I'm going to really stretch myself and get it

 layered, quilted and bound.  

YIKES!!! 

That's a lot for me. 

 I should pick something more doable,

 but I need to get it finished and move on.

My month is filled with other quilty projects. 

I will be finishing up on my DQS13 mini and get it sent to off my partner.

I'm hoping to get it finished this weekend

Currently I am getting ready to quilt it and 

make some final border width decisions.

I joined the Scrappy Trip craze. 

I was already getting ready to start a Scrap Vomit/Drano Quilt, 

so I just jumped on the Scrappy Trip wagon.

 I currently have 10 blocks done and a whole lot to go, 

but I've put them aside for now. 

I'm hoping to squeak out a few more blocks real soon. 

 

I'm thinking large, maybe a picnic quilt or queen size for a bed. 

I'm not sure yet, but I love making these trippy blocks.

I'm linking up for February goals at A Lovely Year of Finishes

Completed Goal

I'm back with the finished quilt top.

I'm playing along with A Lovely Year of Finishes

I met my first months goal and it feels great!

 I started with this

from my do. Good Stitches group. Added 13 more butterfly blocks.

Almost there, just one more to go. 

 I'm really loving how this top turned out. 

It's seems so large, but when removing blocks it seemed too small, 

so I stayed with the 4 X 5 layout. 

I finished it up just in time for the link up deadline. 

Woohoo!

Month one, goal met!

Linking up with

What a great way to start off the year! 

Uptown Girl

I'm finally sharing my very last finish of 2012.

A while back I bought a little pattern by Make It Perfect. 

The pattern is for the Little Uptown Girl jacket. 

It's so cute, I couldn't resist.

I went looking for fabric to make it with and ended up with this small, 

super soft corduroy and a pink lining.

The jacket went together very easily and was quick. 

The only problem I had was the button hole. 

My machine just doesn't do them well and protests every time.

 I think it turned out even more adorable than I thought it would. 

I found a little cutie to model it for me.
She's nineteen months old and I went with size two for the pattern.
Its lined with iron on fleece.
I love how the fleece gave it just the right
amount of body and thickness without being bulky. 

Since I joined up with A Lovely Year Of Finishes to tame my works in progress (WIP) this year, I've been working hard on my butterfly blocks for do. Good Stitches. I've been making some good progress, but we'll see if I make my goal.

Meanwhile, I did manage to finish a few bee blocks



These are the final blocks for Bee a {Modern} Swapper, as January completes our bee.
The tutorial for these can be found here.



These two are for do. Good Stitches, our January block.
They are called Starburst Cross block and the tutorial can be found here.

I'm also trying make a final decision on my
Doll Quilt Swap 13 mini for my partner.
I only have three weeks before mailing.
Yikes!

Happy Stitching : )

First Finishes and Accountability

I have one more week off work so I'm trying to get everything 

together/organized before heading back. I have so many projects at 

various stages of completion that I don't even count or consider some 

when taking inventory of my Works In Progress (WIP). 

Sad huh?  

In an effort to take back control I thought I would join in 

A lovely year of finishes. 

Each month I will attempt to complete one project or part of the project, 

post it and join their link up.

For January I will be working on my quilt for do. Good Stitches, Cheer Group. 

I need to make about 12 of these blocks to have a good size top. 

The actual goal is to make the blocks and complete the top. 

I wont be able to get it layered, basted and quilted this month,

but at least it will be on its way to done. 

Here's a few fluttering butterflies from the members of the Cheer Group

Head on over to the Link Up for A lovely Year of Finishes and
get inspired to work on some of your projects or just cheer us all on.

And now for my first few finishes of the year.



Two of my grandchildren got kitchens for Christmas so they needed a couple oven mitts.
This is my own pattern and my second attempt to get everything worked out how I wanted.
I'm happy with the way they turned out.
Now I just need to make about 4 more.





Then, I made these little pillows.
The adult pillows were just too large for the children's little necks.
I made the pillow insert and the cases. I actually made four pillows and eight cases.
I think they're cute, hopefully the children will love them.




I'll be back soon with the last finish of 2012.
I have photos, but my daughter has better ones.

Hope your New Year is off to a great start.

Happy Stitching

A Quick Look At 2012

Since this is the last day of the year I thought I would join 

others in blog land and take a look at what I've made this year.  

In looking over photos, I realized that I made many, many things 

that were never photographed.
I need to work on that for 2013. 

I have to say though that I am delightfully surprised 

that I finished seven quilts this year. 

Seven 

That's right, a big fat seven. 

Can you tell I'm thrilled?!

As our family says goodbye to 2012
We reflect on the precious times spent together with loved ones.
The wonderful day to day happenings filled with
little moments that matter most.
The highs and a few lows, that although difficult, have stretched us.
We rejoice in God's graciousness and love to us.

A special thank you to all who visit my little creative space here in blog land.
May your 2013 be one of overflowing
love, great health and joy.

Here's to 2013