40 Paper Pieced Blocks Done

I'm working on making 4 different Harry Potter quilts.  You've seen the blocks for the full Harry Potter: Project of Doom bookcase quilts that I've been working on.  I just finished paper piecing the last 4 blocks for the bookcase portion of those quilts.  Woohoo!  I do still have LOTS of embroidery left to do on those quilt blocks (lots of book titles).  

Week #27  Teacup

both blocks

Week # 28  Trevor the Toad

both blocks

Week #29  Cauldron

both blocks

Week #30  Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans

both blocks

I've been asked why I'm making 2 quilts.  Well, I have 2 son's.  One will get one of these quilts, but I want one quilt for myself.  The 2nd son will have to wait to inherit the other quilt ; )

While making these 8 blocks, I started making blocks for our next grandbaby's quilt.  Yes, I'm making 2 quilts again, since the baby will get one, and I'll have a 'spare' one to show in my quilt guild's quilt show (whenever we actually get to have quilt shows again).  I've done this for the first two grandkids, so I need to keep it up for the next one.  Since I was already making 2 of each of the last blocks, I decided to just make them all at the same time.  The only difference is the background fabric.

The new baby will be getting a different layout.  I'm going to use a Castle layout, and I'll only need 20 blocks to make a quilt.  

While I was making those 16 blocks, I was also making more blocks for my large quilt guild's next Opportunity quilt.  I signed up for 2 sets of blocks (2 Log Cabin blocks and 4 Flying Geese per set).  

Log Cabin blocks

Flying Geese blocks

To top it off, I was also making my January (Pink) Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  I made 12 blocks (6 blocks going one way and 6 blocks going the other way).

Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks

I can make all of these blocks at the same time due to simple organization.  Each 'pattern' has it's own container.  I prep all the blocks, one container at at time, then I sew all the blocks, again, one container at at time.  I sew Leader & Enders between each container so that the parts don't get mixed up by accident.  

my stack of containers

fabric in one container

detailed list of fabrics, colors, etc for one container

While making all of these 40 blocks, I also stitched lots of Leaders & Enders.  First, I stitched 116 HST's for another baby quilt.  I still have to iron these open and pull out the papers.

116 HST's

When I finished those Leaders & Enders, I started on another set for my granddaughter's birthday quilt.  She loves Emma and the Wiggles.  I still have more of these to stitch.

Wiggles HST's

Now to start prepping for the next sets of Harry Potter Castle and RSC blocks.  At least the Harry Potter Castle blocks won't have any embroidered titles on the books. 

10th Anniversary Blogging Giveaway Winner!

 I just drew for the winner of my 10th Anniversary of Blogging giveaway.  Here are the prizes.

Fabric bundle

Door mini kit

I pulled out my trusty Bingo set and assigned each comment a Bingo number.  

Bingo cage with assigned numbers

Lucky Bingo number

Bingo number winner!

Congratulations to Alycia!  If you've never checked out Alycia's blog, you really should.  Alycia designs patterns for Quilts of Valor and has mysteries using the patterns.  She has a new mystery starting in February.

Harry Potter embroidery

I finished the embroidery on 2 more Harry Potter: Project of Doom blocks.  I'm making 2 of each block.

Beating the Bludgers: A Study of Defensive Strategies

 in Quidditch by Kennilworthy Whisp

A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry

Blood Borthers: My Life Amongst the Vampires by Eldred Worple

Dreadful Denizens of the Deep

both blocks

Fandom in Stitches (where these blocks came from) is having a 10th Anniversary Multi-Fandom Bookcase Quilt Along. Unfortunately, they are doing all of the participation on Facebook, not on the blog.  I'm not on Facebook (and won't be).  

If you decide to join in, please let me know.  

If  you haven't entered my 10th Anniversary of Blogging Giveaway, then head to this post.  Entries will be accepted until January 25th (for followers only).

10th Blog Anniversary & Giveaway!

10 Years ago I started blogging, thanks to Michelle at Life with Lou.  Here is the first quilt I ever posted.  Since then I've posted 612 times.  I think we should celebrate with a Giveaway!  

Fabric bundle from Quilting Treasures

March A-Door-naments kit from Shabby Fabrics

back of kit

Ok, so  here are the rules:  

First, you have to be in the USA (mailing internationally during the pandemic is difficult at best).

Second, you need to be a follower of my blog.  Just let me know how you follow my blog.

Third, you MUST include your email address. Any no-reply commentors will not qualify (and no, I won't be chasing you down to find your email address).  If I don't reply to your blog comment within 48 hours, then you didn't include your email address.

Ok, so tell me something that you are celebrating this year (NOT Covid related).  

I'll draw the winner's name on Monday, January 25th.  That will give everyone plenty of time to get caught up on their blog reading (I'm usually several days behind).

(More) Harry Potter: Project of Doom blocks

I finished more Harry Potter: Project of Doom blocks.   These are weeks 23 thru 26.  There are 30 blocks in the bookcase quilt.  I'm making 2 of each block.

Week #23

Week#23 both blocks

Week #24

Week #24 both blocks

Week #25 Quaffle

Week #25 both blocks

Week #26

Week #26 both blocks

I have 4 more blocks to paper piece.  All of these blocks will have book titles embroidered on them.  That will give me hand work for a while.

As leaders and enders, I've been piecing HST's using Triangulations.  I have quite a few pieced now.  I still have to trim them and cut them apart.  The HST's are for a baby quilt for my newest grandbaby, due in April. 

2021 Word of the Year

I'm using a word I used back in 2013. Progress.  You can read about my reasons for choosing that word at that time here.

prog·ress

noun

/ˈpräɡres/

1. forward or onward movement toward a destination.

   "the darkness did not stop my progress"

   Similar:

   forward movement

   onward movement

   progression

   advance

   advancement

   headway

   passage

   going

verb

/prəˈɡres/

1. move forward or onward in space or time.

   "as the century progressed, the quality of telescopes improved"

   Similar:

   go

   make one's way

   move

   move forward

   go forward

   proceed

This time, I'm choosing Progress for different reasons.  Hubby was without a job for 9.5 months in 2018-2019. He found a great job in July 2019 (thank you God). I started working in January 2019. I hadn't worked outside the home in many years. 

Many things had been put on hold after October 2018 (when hubby's job was lost). Then 2020 hit and the basket was upended again in different ways.

Now I need Progress to be made in different areas.  In quilting: I have many UFO's that need to be completed.  I have projects that have due dates. I need things to get done, or at least moved forward a good deal.

Also, with my weight and health.  I've added too many pounds,  especially in the last 5+ years.  I struggle to climb stairs (I live in a 2 story house). The weight has added to other problems (feet, legs, knees). This last year,  due to Covid restrictions,  I haven't even been able to walk with any regularity.  I'm not very steady on my feet,  so walking outside really isn't an option (trip hazard). The gym that my client (I'm a home health care worker) and I were walking at, has closed several times this past year (Covid restrictions). Progress needs to be made in these areas. 

I'm also hopeful for Progress in every area that Covid has harmed, such as being with friends and family (in person,  not on Zoom, etc.). Seeing people behind the masks. Progress towards a return to normalcy. 

Have you chosen a word for 2021? What is it?

Here is just part of my Quilt list for 2021:

Granddaughters Birthday quilt, due March 1st

2 Harry Potter Castle quilts, due by mid-April 

Baby quilt, due by mid-April 

2 Family Reunion quilts, due in September 

5 block exchanges in 2021

Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks each month 

Several UFO's

Etc. 

So far, I haven't stitched any in 2021, other than a few embroidery stitches.  Other things have gotten in the way. I'm hoping to have stitchy things to show soon.  As you can see from my partial list above, Progress needs to be made soon.