Thursday, March 2, 2017

QAL's--Where Do I Stand


This past weekend was mostly a stay at home sew weekend for both me and Dave the Quilt Engineer.  I promise he is still alive and well and most importantly sewing.  He's just been (to quote Dave) "busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest."  Work has kept him quite busy and sometimes not even home.  So, hopefully, he will be back to writing about his adventures soon, until then you are all just stuck with me.

I think we have established I have a QAL problem.  I'm okay with that and I'm not looking to recover any time soon.  So how about an update on my progress and a reminder of two up coming QAL's this month.  I apologize in advance for repeating some of the information.  Just in case someone is new to my attempt to overdose with QAL's and might want to join in as well.

1) Pat Sloan's The Children's Library

     The patterns for this BOM are based on the titles of our beloved children's stories and are released on the first of the month.  I've decided I will create my color palette for each block based on each book's cover.  This month's block was The Pokey Little Puppy, one of my favorites as a child.  Maybe that's why I have three puppies who would definitely steal my deserts from me in a heart beat.



2) Pat Sloan's Aurifil Designer BOM

     So far I'm up to date on this one.  The new block will be released around the 15th of the month and will be a 12 block sampler quilt when it is finished.



3)  Sew Fresh Quilt's Jolly Christmas Quilt

     Lorna's festive Christmas QAL  is going on for the next couple months.  Every two weeks on a Saturday she releases a new holiday block for us to make.  So far there have been stockings, mittens and bows.  Last week she released the Poinsettia Block, it may be my favorite so far.


4)  Living Water Quilter's Star Cross QAL

     This QAL is actually a bit different because it is a real quilt along.  We are actually quilting together, not piecing.  Each Monday, Geraldine posts both written instructions and a video to show us how to quilt our Star Cross mini quilt.  This is my quilt with the first two weeks completed.  Hopefully, I will complete this week's instructions tonight.



5) Jen and Jan's Quilter's Laundry Day Mini Quilt

     Jen from A Dream and A Stitch and Jan from Color, Creating and Quilting are hosting this QAL/blog hop for this super cute block designed by Jen.  The block reveal hop will be March 10th and 11th.  I am almost completely finished with my version of this mini.  I'd love to show you the whole thing, but how about a teaser shot from the back instead?  You can see the block and find the instructions to make one of your very own here.


6) Stitchin At Home's Medallion Quilt  

     Cindy's releases the instructions for this QAL on the third Saturday of every month.  So far we have been working on the center block.  I need to add one more border strip to the bottom of mine, but other wise I'm all caught up.


7)  Pat Sloan's 182 Solstice Challenge

     I tried as hard as I could to resist these blocks.  I am human.  I am weak.  I finally Instagramed and blog read too much and caved.  Last week I showed you the first three blocks.  Today, I will show you the rest to date...Warning: Picture Overload Ahead.


Cobble Stone Block


The Crosswalk Block


Tidy Rows Block


Never Ending Love Block


Amoung The Stars Block


The Coffee Shop Block


Quilt Math Block

I actually have one more block to make.  I can alter the Grandma Anna's Basket block (I'm not in love with it's applique) or substitute in my single Aurifil block from last year.  Decisions...decisions.


     Mark your calendars for this one.  It is hosted by my QBFF, Sandra, and starts on the Spring Equinox, March 20th.  It is for a smaller version of her Windfall Quilt.


I am all ready to go!  I'm not quite ready to step back into a fall color palette so I'm going with more of a spring look.  I'll be pulling from my stash as well.






This little gem is going on right now (they are 5 blocks in) and is being hosted by Maureen Cracknell and Sharon Holland.  I just found out about it last night (thanks Sandra).  If you go to the link above and check it out...you'll know I'm gonna do it.  I can't say no, it's a sampler block quilt and I have a FQ Bundle of  Paradiso and I can hear it calling to me.  Like right now, I can hear it...I'm not crazy!  I'm going to wait till the weekend and see if I'm still feeling the same, but you know I'll do it, right?


     This one will start toward the end of March.  I love Shelly's designs and I really want to participate, but with so much going on already, we shall see if I start this one.  I made her Gypsy Queen Mystery Quilt two years ago and started last years.  She is a wonderful mystery quilt writer, I hope you will consider checking it out.  I might have to live this quilty dream through one of you.  

So have I completely went off the deep end?  Maybe a little.  But, not all the blocks come out at the same time and their finishes will be spaced out as well.  If I fall behind, that's okay, catching up shouldn't be that tricky.  As long as I'm having fun, that's all that matters.  Plus, I'm slowly seeing a dent in my stash and that feels good.  So are you joining me in any of the QAL madness?


Today I'm liking up with Fished or Not Friday.

15 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

You are staying so up to date with all of the QALs, that is awesome! I still need to piece my Meadow Mystery quilt. Hopefully I can get that done this month in time to submit it for the finish parade. :)

Jen said...

You are amazing! It is going to be so much fun for you when all of these come together and you will have so many new quilt tops!
I love that little bike fabric in the Crosswalk block. I have a scrap that someone gave me and I have been trying to figure out how to use it.
I just adore that intricate quilting on the back of your Quilter's Laundry Day! So pretty!

Nancy J said...

I would ignore meals, grocery shopping, housework and laundry and just sew those gorgeous blocks.What a great variety, and super fabrics. Maybe you could help Dave find another wooden leg somewhere!!!

Stitchin At Home said...

That's a lot of sew alongs, but looks like you have a firm handle on them. I like your center. I have resisted the Sewcial Bee so far.

helenjean@midgetgemquilts said...

Well .
That's a lot of quilting. At first I thought it was a pat Sloan love in then I realised yiu had a bigger problem . Now I have the song book of Oklahoma running in my ears again !

piecefulwendy said...

I'm far enough behind on the Solstice blocks that I'm not sure I'll continue (want my blocks? Hahahaha). You are one busy quilter! I'm impressed that you can keep up with all of them. Wendy at piecefulthoughts@gmail.com

Afton Warrick said...

What an inspirational listing! I may succumb to the temptation of one of more of these fun QAL.

KaHolly said...

I just don't know how you keep up!

Ruth said...

You are amazing! That never ending love block is calling to me and I'm looking forward to Sandra's QAL. Busy busy...lovely to see it all together!

Jayne said...

I knew you loved QAL's...I didn't know you had SO many going on! You are certainly a little off your rocker, but I know you enjoy them and know you'll finish too! I'm happy to live these QAL's through you!!

Puppilalla said...

Wow, Tish! Amazing - obviously. I have not touched a single QAL project up until now. Priorities seem to keep shifting and I guess I will have to roll them over again. =) Your's are coming along great though =)

Mari said...

Wow, that's a lot of quiltalongs! As long as you're enjoying them, you're not crazy. They all look great so far! Lorna's is my favorite, but the others look good too.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

That's a lot of QALs, but kudos for keeping up. There are too many to choose from. I started on, but I think I'm going to switch to a different one as I'm not enjoying it.

Emily said...

I love that you throw yourself into all the Quilt Alongs, Tish! I am finishing up my top for the Meadow Mystery, and I'm slowly working on a mystery QAL that started *last* January--I'm determined to finish it this summer. I'm trying not to join any this year, but I am checking out a few links you posted :)

Preeti said...

You are the Queen of the QAL. Power to you. You will never be bored with such a range of QALs to choose from. It was good to see David. I am unable to picture a one-legged man kicking ass in the literal sense :-D

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