Saturday, December 8, 2018

UFO Busting #39


It's been a week of nose to the grind stone-ness over here.  I decided this year to throw my hat in the quilting ring with the good folks over at Island Batik for a spot as a 2019 ambassador.  I've drooled over their fabrics for years so why not try to play with them as part of their team?  One of our tasks for first year applicants was to make a 12" block and send to them.  Above is my entry made with batik fabrics that were gifted to me back in the fall.

The rest of the focus this week has been on my second Fireburst Mystery Quilt and the quilting there of (a post of the first one is to come on Monday).  It always amazes me how many hours of quilting can go into a small quilt...needless to say I'm quilting the snot out of life into it.



With this version I am playing with secondary designs that are hiding in the background fabric, just waiting for you to see them.  I'm down to stitching black thread on black fabric, hopefully I'm not blind from eye strain when I'm done. #quiltersproblems.

Earlier this week, I shared my recent Americana Flag finishes.  If you missed them you can check them out here (there also may be a link to a free tutorial).


These flags lived in UFO land for way to long!  Now they just wait for loving homes.

Let's take a look from last week's party.  Gail from Quilting Gail had a cute little wine bag finish!


You have to love those super quick finishes right before the holidays.  Little gifts to show our loved ones how much they mean to us.  Gail also talks about her PhD program, designed to motivate us to finish UFO's.  It sounds like the program will continue on to next year and I'm thinking I just might have to join in.

Kathleen McMusing had a sweet little finish this week as well.


Her husband requested an iPhone mat and she delivered...two to be exact.  Kathleen has been joining in on the #slashthatstash movement I'm trying to start and found some fabrics she forgot how much she loved, and boom, iPhone mats.  Lot's of other fun stuff going on over there too.  I think I may have read there might be an upcoming give away and she could use some advice on picking fabrics for her Island Batik challenge, so make sure you go show Kathleen some love.

So what have you been up to this week?  Are you in the middle of the Christmas UFO or Squirrel shuffle?  You know that dance where you think you can make all the Christmas presents you need in the count down hours of the holiday??  Link up below and tell us all about it.



I leave you with this picture.  My mother and other neighbor are really into decorating the outside of their houses for Christmas.  It's just never been my thing...never enough hours to get stuff up and then there is the whole take it back down thing.  I just want to quilt.  When I came home earlier this week, I found these little guys dancing in my yard and flapping in the wind.  My sweet neighbor couldn't take my lack of cheer anymore and decorated for me.  How sweet is that?!?  Wonder if she will take it down too??  Just kidding...kinda.



12 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

I know what you mean about decorating for the holidays. I do love to go and see what other people do. Putting it up (and taking it down myself)... not so much. Maybe I'll throw a strand of lights in my front window. Ha - that almost seems worse!

I hope the black on black quilting goes well for you. I mean, I know the quilting will be delicious; it can really be hard on the eyes for sure!

chrisknits said...

What a sweet neighbor. Now, maybe you should let her know you aren't really into Christmas baking and maybe she'll provide cookies? Good luck with your Batik goal!

Emily said...

I love that your neighbor decorated for you!!! Too funny! (And nice neighbor!) We went very minimal this year, because I also hate cleaning up the decorations. Tree is up with lights but no ornaments. Stockings are hung, plus the quilted advent calendar I made my son last year. And that is it! Super simple but the 5-year-old thinks the tree is the best, so that's all that matters.

Emily said...

Oh, and I meant to say good luck with the Island Batik Ambassador application!!!!!! I also applied, but I know they are looking for "more than hobbyist" and I'm the exact definition of a hobbyist, no desire for pattern design or publication or trying to make money from the industry. You've done a lot lately and would be an excellent choice!!! I love the fabrics in your block.

Home Sewn By Us said...

Good Afternoon! Tish, I can't think of a better for you than as an IB Ambassador. I love your block - they will too. I think being one sounds stressful - I am sure I wouldn't be able to come up with something unique enough for each month. When will you find out? That will be a Merry Christmas gift for you! And those boxes of cool stuff they send - sweet! Next week I'm coming back to link up my Fireburst - it will be all finished. And pulling out the secondary design! How cool is that?!! Love this - good luck with the black on black stitching. Happy Happy Saturday to you. ~smile~ Roseanne

Vicki in MN said...

Awesome Tish I hope you get in!! I reapplied too of course;) They haven't said when they will notify everyone, can't wait!! We used to have fun putting outside decorations/lights up. But as we get older we don't enjoy it as much(not that we are ancient!). I just don't have the energy left this year to do anything!!!!

Susan said...

Your block is great! I really like that batik. Best of luck on becoming an ambassador.

Stitchin At Home said...

I love that your neighbor did some decorating for you. Good luck on becoming an ambassador.

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

I'm hoping to get my Fireburst quilts finished over the Christmas break. Cutting it close for the deadline though....

Kathleen said...

Good luck with the IB application. I love that block. I did some more die cutting/stash busting. Kind of loving the reduction in space and usefulness of haivng things chopped and ready to go.

Sandy Panagos said...

Good luck with your Ambassador application! What a fun neighbor you have.

piecefulwendy said...

I hope you get in with Island Batik. I can see you thoroughly enjoying that! It's fun to see what you have been up to. I'm buried in scraps, not working on them - ha! Just creating more and my bin is growing rather than disappearing. I think I finally have an idea of how I want to quilt Fireburst.

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