Two Quilt Finishes

In October I signed up with Finn for her New Year's Eve UFO Challenge with eight UFOs. I'm not sure if I'll make it but I do know that I probably wouldn't have finished these without that gentle push. 

First is a summer holiday table topper that I started back in May, pieced it then quit.  To finish it I quilted with white thread and kind of played around a bit.  I tried to think fireworks and bunting.  The quilting leaves a bit to be desired but that's ok - it's just for me. I now have it quilted and bound. Finish #1.

Next up, an appliqued wall hanging.  Straddling Snowboy is just one of the Straddling series by The Wooden Bear.  Same story here... the top was finished but needed to be quilted, bound and embellished.  Finish #2.

I like the way the little bird is pulling the boy's bootlace.

Binding has a little Christmas bell stitch.

Lazy Daisy Teapot

One more teapot finished!  And this went so much better.  No puckers! 
Thanks to Karen for suggesting stabilizer for the back.
Thanks to Pam (at the quilt shop) for pointing out the right products (I needed better fusible too).
And thanks to Sandy (at the quilt shop) for understanding that applique is a whole new world.
Quilting certainly isn't a solitary hobby!

Tea Party block

Tea Party BOM, Block 5

2 teapots down, 3 to go

I sure struggle with applique.  I love the way it looks when someone else does it. Mine always has puckers and I have trouble keeping track of all the little pieces and it takes sooooooo long to finish one block.  So many steps... the tracing, the cutting, the fusing, the cutting, finding the right thread color (and bobbin to match!) threading the machine and then changing colors . . . and on and on and on.  I have such a shortage of patience. 

But I'm learning with each block, and I think maybe there is a possibility that I might actually enjoy doing applique by the time I'm finished with this quilt.  Maybe the results are worth it.

The Plan: From UFO to DFO X 8 in 83 days

Finn at Pieces From My Scrapbag is hosting a New Years Eve UFO Challenge.  What a good idea.  Instead of making New Years resolutions we'll be enjoying accomplishments.  Then we can start all over again creating new UFOs for next year's challenge.  I selected eight of my UFOs to finish . . .

I need 9 more blocks and borders, then this will be a Quilt of Valor.

My Map Quilt still needs binding and embellishments.  I dream of pulling the quilting stitches and doing that over again, but I think it will stay a dream.

I came across all these little pieces that are from my start on Beth Ferrier's Ribbons & Blooms.  I never got any farther that this because the applique - which I hear is EASY with her method - just scared me thinking about it.  All this other fabric was to be used in the quilt so I need to design something with all of it.

Straddling Snowboy top was finished when we still lived at the farm.  It needs to be quilted, embellished, and bound.  It'll be nice to be able to hang it this year.

This simple patriotic table topper needs to be quilted & bound.

Birdie Baby Quilt needs to be quilted and bound.

I'm getting really ambitious with these last two!  Tea Party is a BOM with 5 teapots and only 1 is finished so far.

On Point BOM has 14 blocks and one LARGE center block.  I think 7 of the blocks are finished.

So that's 8 projects and 83 days.  Ready, Set, Go!