Old UFOs finally finished in 2013 - Including my first quilt

Just like it took me forever to get around to getting these two quilted and bound, it took some time to get pictures and post them.  I don't know about you, but 2013 was pretty busy up in here.

This is a quilt that I got from the 2010 Spring Issue of Quilts & More.  So, it took me 3 full years from start to finish!  I chose colors that were a lot like the cover of the magazine, in part because it was my first finish and I wasn't really trusting in my ability to choose something else on my own.

I am thrilled with how it came out and it can now be used by my family.  Of course, it won't be white for long, but it will get used!

The second is a pattern called Off the Rail by Jaybird Quilts.  I used an Anna Griffin fat quarter bundle that I got a quilt market a few years ago and it's going to a new home.

This quilt is being donated to my cousin's auction, she is raising money for her first IronMan competition.

This was the first quilt that I pieced the back for instead of being all matchy-matchy and making the entire back out of one fabric.  I LOVE how it came out.

I'm finishing up my what I hope will be my first finish for 2014, a quilt I started a mere 9 months ago for our guest bedroom.

Off the Rail Top Finished! JayBird Pattern Review

I realized I never posted pictures of my finished Off the Rail quilt top. I know I showed you all pictures along the way as I cut and made the blocks. I am super happy with how the finished top looks. The sad part is that I have no idea when I will actually get to quilt it. I move so quickly onto the next project my "to quilt" pile is getting pretty tall.

Julie of JayBird Quilts makes absolutely fantastic patterns. Her directions are clear, and the pictures make it so that you see exactly how things are supposed to come together.

This however, did not stop me from getting some of the blocks sewn together backwards. Honestly, I cannot fathom how I did this...if you look at these two blocks, you can see they are headed in opposite directions. That's not how it's supposed to be. I did the blocks in groups of 5, and at least one of the groups, I managed to put the first set of rails on the wrong side of the center block and get them backwards. Can you say "duh"?

Thankfully though, I absolutely LOVE how it looks finished. This will for sure be a keeper when I do manage to quilt it. I originally was afraid of how the pink and orange would look together (along with green and brown). All that doubt is out the window now that it's together.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

My grandmother used to tell me that all the time. Don't worry about how fast you're getting something done, just keep working. Which is what I did this week. I didn't get a lot of sewing done, but I did manage to finish up all of my Off The Rail blocks, and they're ready to put into rows. I chose a few of my favorites...the colors of this line really speak to me. I can't wait to see the top all put together.

I really love this honeycomb pattern, it's so much more fun than a plain polka dot.

I'm finishing up my second tutorial this week! I can't wait to share it with you all. It's upcycled project, and uses an old sweater to make a little girl's purse. Come back next week and take a look!

Epic Fail Upcycling Project - Pet Mat

Working with upcycled fabrics, that used to have a former life as something else is one of my favorite ways to sew. The challenge with this, of course, is that it doesn't always work out too well. A lot of the time, I sort of make up the "pattern" as I go along. One of the first "fabrics" I upcycled was a vintage rain coat that had seen better days. It was stained, but it was also this great striped fabric. I made a tote bag with it, and it was the first project I ever blogged about. Kind of like this...

Since then, I've made a bunch of projects using old slickers. I made a fabulous art smock for my daughter, and I made a great lunch bag for myself. With those under my belt, I had this idea to make our cat a "placemat". She's a super sloppy eater, and there's always water and food on the floor when she's done. I have one I bought at Ikea, but I wanted a cool one that I had made. I cut out what would be an applique of her footprints and got to work. And that's where my troubles began. For some reason this jacket had a funky finish on it. When I was trying to sew layers together they literally wouldn't go under the foot...they just STUCK to the plate. The zigzag just would not zig. Or zag. Not. good. Three broken needles and MUCH cursing later, this is as far as I got, and I gave up.

I may try again if I can find another coat without that sticky coating on it. I usually find them at Goodwill for around $5. If I decide to try again, I'll be sure to let you know. What I did manager to do was get half of my rails made for my "Off the Rail" quilt. It's a Jaybird Quilts pattern, and I am using an Anna Griffin "Carmen" fat quarter bundle I got at Sample Spree in Houston the year before last. I had been saving it for something special, and I'm glad I dug into it. It really looks great so far and it's super preppy with all the pink and green.

Last but not least, I ran my second 5k today. It was on flat ground this time. THANK GOD. It was only 3.1 miles (a real 5k) instead of 3.25 miles. And I have to say, I felt like I rocked it. My pace was 10:56, the best pace I've ever ran for the full 5k. And I have this awesome husband who comes to cheer me on and take pictures of me.

That's me to the left in the grey, just about to go over the line in under 34 minutes. Not bad for someone who thought they could never run.