Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry, Merry Christmas!!

 I wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!  December has disappeared in a blur of work, more work, and more work!  But!!  I have made some progress on the postage stamp quilt.  It will have 8000 pieces when completed.  Here are some of the "twosies" put together.   This is all the pieces I have for it, until I get more scraps cut up.
 I put all the units in the brown bag and shook it all up!  Then I pick a couple out at random and zip them together.
So now I am making "foursies!)  A very wise woman asked me why I didn't strip piece this quilt...well duh!  I didn't think of that!  So I am just sewing all these little one inch squares together, one...by one...by one!!

And I am loving it!!  Yes, I sew at the old kitchen table.  Probably 40 years old at least.


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Just thinking here!!  How many quilts do you have to bind?  I am thinking of having a BINDING BLITZ!!

Now 'fess up...is it just me, or do you have a pile of quilts that need BINDING??  Let's have a binding blitz in 2015!  How about each month, we work on binding one (or more) of those quilts, in our stolen moments, maybe at night or whenever we get a moment. I will create a linky thing (help, someone show me how), and at the end of the month we can show our finished, bound quilts.  ( and label at the same time!)    We can enjoy each other's quilts and maybe encourage each other to finish up those bindings!  Bonus!!  Each month you link up, you will be put in a drawing for a prize!  How's that for fun?  So GET READY for the BINDING BLITZ!!!

Blitz = a sudden, energetic, and concerted effort, typically on a specific task




There are so many quilts out there I am itching to make...but finishing the ones in progress is important too.  So here we go!!  Pick out some of those quilts just crying out for binding and start!!!

Now...if you are one of those born organized people who just finish each quilt, one at a time...please disregard.  WISH I WERE JUST LIKE YOU!  But for the rest of us...let's BIND!!!


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I am also thinking of other things in the NEW YEAR...but my plans usually are run off the tracks by scraps, calling my name, to come and play and make scrap quilts!!  Stay tuned, though...you never know what will come across my little brain!



Hugs to all, and I hope you all had a wonderful day today.



Julie

30 comments:

Terry said...

Merry Christmas! :0)

Quiltdivajulie said...

8,000 pieces!

Wow...

Tspoon said...

8000 pieces. Bold lady.

Karen said...

Are you pieces cut one inch or finishing at one inch?

Vicki W said...

I'm going to be making blog buttons next week and will be happy to create one for you and show you how to do a link up.
Merry Christmas!

AnnieO said...

Merry Christmas! You didn't strip piece because these are scraps, right? Lol
I have unquilted tops but they already have the binding made and ready to sew on--it's the quilting part that stops me! I machine bind so it's a lot faster than hand finishing. Happy New Year!

Nancy said...

Merry Christmas!

When I use scraps, I don't strip piece either. I don't mind sewing twosies and foursies.

Anonymous said...

Your postage stamp quilt looks like a lot of fun. I can't imagine doing a quilt with that many pieces!

I absolutely will join you on a binding blitz. I currently have 2 things needing binding, but will probably have two more before the year ends. Not to mention 2 quilts that will be quilted once the batting arrives..I love the quilting part so it gets done far more quickly than the binding!

helen said...

My problem is not the binding, but the quilting of these quilt-tops before...
Merry Christmas and best wishes!

Michele Bilyeu said...

Belated Merry, Merrys Julie K!
It all goes so quickly now. More and more quickly..have you noticed! But I am taking a moment to smell the holly and visit today's 25 bloggers. And as one of my favorite people in vicarious friends land. Here I am to give you a big, big hug!!!

Material Girl said...

I wish that I had quilts to bind. My problem is all the tops waiting to become quilts! Have you tried binding by machine. There are some awesome tutorials and the look quite nice!

Helen in the UK said...

Glad you are finding SOME time for a little stitching. Did you decide on whether to take the new job offered to you a while ago? Maybe that's why you are super-busy at work right now! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :)

Lois Arnold said...

Merry day after Christmas, Julie! We have too many people at our house on Christmas day to even think about the computer, so no contact on Christmas Day. Blessings to you and yours for a happy, healthy and wonderful new year!

Rebecca in AK said...

I think your Postage Stamp quilt is going be complete scrappy awesomeness! I think your Binding Blitz is a great idea, I just went through my own binding blitz with my Christmas gift quilts. I have no quilts to bind now and it is not because I am organized! I need to get organized!

Chookyblue...... said...

A merry scrappy christmas to you miss julie............

I have 3 quilts to bind........

Rosa said...

I wish you a fabulous Merry Christmas and fabulous New Year!!

8000 pieces?wow I`m stunning

Megan said...

Postage stamp quilts are my favourite, Julie, and sewing them together square by square is the only way to go! I've got so many quilts that I don't need any more, but I enjoy the process. Strip piecing would be faster but not nearly as much fun.

I don't typically have a problem getting the binding done, but I've just realised that I've had one quilt back from the long-armer for about 12 months. My husband has been using it, and I'd forgotten that it still needed binding, so I'm going to commit to getting it done in the next couple of weeks.

Megan
Sydney, Australia

Quilter Kathy said...

That sounds like a fun idea... although I do my bindings right away because I enjoy it so much!

Michelle said...

Can't wait to see your postage stamp quilt come together! I tend to have unquilted tops waiting...I'm pretty good getting the binding done once the top is finally quilted! LOL

Lori said...

YAY! For making such good progress on your postage stamp quilt.
Bindings? Nope, quilting? Yep. Just found a simple little holiday quilt I could have easily finished had I remembered it was in the stack! Aargh!

Missy Shay said...

At least by sewing the blocks one at a time all of your foursies are different! I always bind my quilt after I quilt it, although I do have two quilts waiting to be quilted and three other quilts in the process of being made.

audrey said...

Sometimes when we're playing with scraps, it's hard to think logically.:)

quiltcat said...

merry christmas und ein tolles jahr 2015. der quilt wird sicher toll mit 8.000 scraps. habe gerade ein top mit 2000 dreiecken fertig gemacht. binding eines pro monat da bin ich dabei.
eine wunderschöne zeit
lg elfriede

Nann said...

I wouldn't be strip-piecing, either. I have a box full of 1.5" squares, both from the Postage Stamp Swap and those I generate as I go. I look forward to seeing the results of your sewing!

I hope your binding blitz is successful. I would not be able to rest if I didn't bind a quilt immediately after I finished quilting it. I machine-bind everything so it doesn't take much time at all.

Ruth said...

Hate to say it, but I always bind them as soon as they are quilted. I do have one flimsy that needs a little adjustment before I can quilt it, but lots of UFOs that are still in the piecing stage. Hoping to get some of those finished. I just decided I'm NOT making Bonnie's mystery quilt. I need to finish things!

Kristie said...

WOW!!! Wonderful job! I probably don't even have enough fabric to even sew half that many! That is a bunch of pieces!
Kristie

Linda O said...

Look at all those twosies!! So fun! Bindings aren't my sticking point. I guess if I actually manage to get something to that stage I'm so excited I do the binding right away. The pile of various works in process is another story! :)

KaHolly said...

You're a brave soul with a very large task ahead of you, and oh, what fun!! I can't wait to watch your progress. Happy New Year!

Angie said...

Hope you had a wonderful CHRISTMAS, sweet Julie. Sending wishes for a bright and happy new year.

Sherrill said...

Wasn't sure I had any for binding but I've actually found FIVE! Where do we sign up/register/post photos or whatever we need to do. I'm IN!!

Puffins and purples!!

I was tempted by Puffins...a squirrelly breed!!  LOL!  This fabric was shared with me, and I have been loved these bright, candy corn colors...