I'm Back...really!

Well, here is is a year and ten months since the last post. I really haven't been doing much creatively since March, but I will slowly catch up with posting about other projects. I failed miserably at doing 12 in 12, in fact i've finished ONE quilt so far in 2013 and most of the ufo's on the list are still unfinished. So I renamed my blog, and i'm starting fresh. For those of you who don't know, Minion is my family nickname!

My first goal is to get a crafting space that is usable cleaned out and kept that way. I need to be able to FIND what I want to work on when I want to work on it. I search and then give up, and the projects keep piling up.

Next, I have a top that needs to get done and to the quilter, one that I need to quilt, and 5 that I need to get quilted or finish the top or both. So one at a time, that's going to happen.

This winter, i'm going to piece as many scrap quilts as I can and make a bunch of small things - I need to clear out the scraps. Bought a new scrap quilting book yesterday. I love all of Alex Anderson's books, so i'm hoping that I will love the scrap quilt one, too!

What HAVE I been doing? A lot of swapping with the ladies on the Quiltingboard, working in arts administration, and dealing with a lot of things that have sapped my creative energy. But i'm beginning to be able to see the sun again after a long, hard year, and my creative energy is coming back. I can't wait!

12 for 2012 UFO Challenge

I'm joining Jen of  Sewhooked in her challenge to finish 12 UFOs -for you non quilters that is Un Finished Objects

1) Quilt for Dad's boss's daughter (2011) - I need to extend the back width, then I can sandwich and  quilt. It's a ladybug quilt fourpatch.

2) Charity Quilt for Guild, to go to STL chapter of Quilts For Kids - DONE January 2012

3)Christmas Stars (2011)

4) Kaleidoscope (2011-12) This is the 2012 retreat quilt, but i've started it since I am on the committee.
     I want to get it done and hanging this year!

5) Baby quilt for my Friend Jen's son Lachlan, due in March. I have it cut out but not sewn.

6) Quilt for my mom (2009) couldn't get the last fabric I wanted, so most of it is cut.

7) Lap quilt for my neighbor Dee (2009) Cut, needs piecing.

8) Finish Christy's top, needs borders. Her mom is going to hand quilt it.

9) Finish Jamie's purple waste not want not. (2011, promised to make in 2006)

10) My 30th birthday rainbow quilt. (2011)

11) My Rainbow Bed Quilt (2011)

12) My Project of DOOM Harry Potter Paper Piecing Quilt (2011)


I also have a few UFO's that have no home, I'd like to at least get the tops or all the pieces together and pass them on to the guild charity people.
   1) applique hearts
   2) Frogs Yellow Brick Road
   3) bright YBR
   4) pink frogs
   5) I spy packs

Recent stuff

These are just some things I've finished in the past six months or so that haven't made it onto the blog as yet!

I decided when I started quilting that I was going to make each of my small circle of best friends a special quilt when they turned 30. I was not smart enough to think that 3 of the six would do so within six months of each other. Kelly M, being first, is the only one who has gotten hers so far. I still owe Jamie K, and Christy as their special day had passed before I started quilting,  Ali C. and Marci Z. for this year, they are in the works. Next year is Katie J, then a year later the baby of the group, me! So i'm trying to get at least one done by Christmas and then two of them have early birthdays next year! This one is Kelly's "Starflies." There are butterflies on the black, plus the double meaning of flying time. I can't believe it has been 16 years since those of us who are the core of the group met in middle school!


This one was gifted to Lauren S. for baby Jack at her shower in March. I called it "Sock Monkey it to Me". With enough fabric left from the two monkey quilts (this one and one in the girly colorway for Whitney B.
's Olivia) to make two more quilts, I'll have to get creative with names...

This quilt was designed by myself and my Bestie Ali C. for her nephew. I asked her what she wanted for Christmas last year, and she told me a quilt for her new nephew! So I let her pick the fabric, which is Moda's Animal Alphabet line. Then I put the quilt together and quilted it! Gifted at the belated shower in May as baby Evan decided to arrive early.

Starting this blog up again!

I decided that I either needed to delete this blog or actually do something with it, and I chose the latter.  So, what have I been up to lately, craft wise?


* baby quilts for: Jamie's nephew, the Parker Twins! and one or more tops to put in stash for quick shower  
   gifts
* various quilts for friends
* quilt kit for quilts for kids and the companion quilt
* tissue covers for SAI girls - they asked for them again this year!
* Mom's quilt from last Christmas
* retreat quilt from last year
* a quilt for myself!

Pictures coming soon, and I'm also signing up for design wall Monday. Plus I hope to figure out how to link this to livejournal.

I have a lot of catching up to do....

I made a decision that I really needed to get back to blogging my crafts. Lots of backlog!

"Robot 4-Patch" Quilts for Kids Kit, 2010.
Fabric is Nuts and Robolts collection.

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"Monkeys for Linus", made for the Linus Connection, 2010

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Quilts

I don't have a really good photo of this one - tip. If someone volunteers to hold the quilt up when they aren't all the way dressed, make sure you can't see them in the mirror. The quilt is a Patience corners block, in the chinese puzzle variation. The blue fabric has tiny frogs on it, and the green has bubbles. They are from a collection by Oakhurt Textiles. I bought a whole bunch of this in several colorways, so you'll see a few more soon. It's a toddler size(52x52) as I knew my friend ting ting would get some small blankets from others. Baby Ethan was born in March, so it won't be too long before he can play on it with his baby toys. Given to Ting Ting and Tzu-Wai Lau for Ethan Lau at the baby shower, February 2009.

This quilt was made out of stash on commission for a coworker. She couldn't afford that much, so in return for selling it to her at a good price, I got to pick the color, pattern, and fabrics. All she asked for was lots of pink as we knew it was a girl. Pattern is an Antique Tile, and all the fabrics are tone on tones or white on tones, so there are a lot of tiny details .40x 52. Given to the purchaser, Jessie G. April 2009. Held up in photo by coworker kelly, who is also a quilter.

Easter Cookies

I made some fondant -iced easter cookies to give to friends for the season. I'll have to ask the family of the person who gave me the recipe if they mind my sharing that, just pics until then! You can use any sugar cookie recipe, but the trick is the marshmallow fondant. I used two bags of the Kraft easter marshmallows, separated into the five colors they come in- each had a color and a flavor! I made five batches of marshmallow fondant from a recipe I found on the internet. Put some buttercream icing on the cookie, use the same shape to cut out the base as you used for the cookie, put that piece of fondant on, then use piping gel do attach cut bits of fondant to decorate - I used the circles and small flowers from the Wilton set.