Work in Progress Wednesday: January 25, 2012

This last week was a very productive one, but I can’t show you most of what I did because it’s a present. After I finished the present, though, I worked on something for me!

Warm/Cool Quilt Along: Way back in June, I joined the Warm/Cool Quilt Along at In Color Order. Since I already had a long list of WIPs, I made a mini quilt. I loved how the top turned out, but sadly, this project got pushed aside in favor of quilts with deadlines. This past week, I was able to baste it. I can’t wait to finish it up! Wish me luck!

Stats:
New projects: 1
Completed projects: 1
Total projects: 11

Check out Freshly Pieced for more WIP Wednesday inspiration!

Purple Pearl Mini Quilt

For my grandmother’s birthday recently, I made her a mini quilt. When I first saw Lizzy House’s Pearl Bracelet fabric, I knew that I had to use it in a present for my grandma. You see, my late grandfather used to lovingly call her his “pearl of great price.” He passed away this last spring, and our family misses him very much.

Keeping the pearl theme in mind, I embroidered Proverbs 31:10 and then bordered the embroidery with two rows of 1” by 1” squares. I just made it up as I went along. It finished at about 9” by 10.5”.

Since this was a birthday present, I also made a coordinating gift bag. I used the same fabrics in a block from the book Modern Blocks. The block is Everything Equal by Louise Papas. Both the mini quilt and the gift bag were made entirely out of scraps.

Work in Progress Wednesday: January 18, 2012

Most of what I have been working on lately is destined to be gifts, so I don’t have much to share this week. I can tell you, though, that there has been a lot of handwork involved. I have enjoyed the slower pace, which fits in well with this season of sickness and snow.

2011 Memory Quilt: All the patchwork blocks are finished! Next is the embroidery block.

Valentine’s Day Quilt: I started this quilt last July and hoped to have it done by Valentine’s Day. I pulled out the completed blocks the other day and realized I need quite a bit more fabric to make the remaining blocks. Oh, well. Maybe I’ll finish it by next Valentine’s Day.

Stats:
New projects: 0
Completed projects: 2
Total projects: 11

Check out Freshly Pieced for more WIP Wednesday fun!

Cakespy’s Glazed Cinnamon Rolls Stuffed with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Last month, my mom gave me a signed copy of Cakespy Presents: Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life by Jessie Oleson. As soon as I opened it, I knew that it would be my kind of cookbook. This book is packed with cute illustrations, gorgeous photos and recipes so sweet you’ll get cavities just by reading them. Like I said, my kind of cookbook!

I decided to start off with the very first recipe in the book: Glazed Cinnamon Rolls Stuffed with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Although I love to bake, time has not been on my side lately. Luckily, these rolls can be made quickly with store bought ingredients and are super yummy.

Glazed Cinnamon Rolls Stuffed with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Ingredients:

1 package pop-and-bake cinnamon rolls with glaze (I used some from Trader Joe’s)

A heaping tablespoon of chocolate chip cookie dough for each cinnamon roll (I used Cougar Mountain Original Chocolate Chunk Cookie Dough)

Directions:

Roll each tablespoon of cookie dough into a log, roughly the same height as the cinnamon roll. Unroll each cinnamon roll and rewrap with the cookie dough inside. Bake and glaze according to package directions. Enjoy!

2012: Year of the Finish!

As I mentioned last week, one of my goals for 2012 is to finish all twelve of my Works in Progress leftover from 2011. In order to make it a bit more exciting, I’m joining up with the Finish-A-Long over at Quilter in the Gap. By the end of March 2012, I hope to have the following quilts completed:

2011 Memory Quilt: Now that 2011 is a thing of the past, I can catch up on making these blocks. I’m going to add some embroidery and some sashing. I haven’t the slightest idea what I’m doing for the backing.

Color Book: This was intended as a gift for my daughter’s birthday back in November, but I kept getting stuck. Now the plan is finalized and all I have to do is execute it.

Surprise table topper for my mom: My mom’s birthday is fast approaching, so I am on a definite deadline for this one. Luckily, all that’s left is sewing on the binding.

Surprise table topper for myself: I liked what I was making for my mom’s birthday so much that I’m making one for myself as well. It is also at the binding stage.

Stayed tuned to see if I meet my goal!

2011 In Review

2011 has been an amazing year in my crafting journey. I have considered myself a quilter since I finished my first quilt, but this past year, quilting has evolved from a fun hobby to a way to reduce stress, express my creativity and renew my spirit. Thank you for joining me as I continue to explore all that quilting has to offer.

Lessons Learned in 2011

·         I do not like working with templates.

·         When in doubt, start small.

·         Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

2011 Not Quite Quilts

·         Blue Pillows

·         Drawstring Bags

·         Mother’s Day Gift Bags

·         Veggie Goodie Bags

·         Floralgraphix Pillows

·         Unicorn Pillowcase

·         Forest Friends Embroidery

·         Hexagon Mug Rug

·         Christmas Gift Bags

2011 Quilts

·         Yellow Brick Road Baby Quilt #1

·         Yellow Brick Road Baby Quilt #2

·         Aqua and Red Table Topper

·         Batik Quilt

·         Evergreen Flurry Table Topper

·         Peppermint Flurry Table Topper

·         Candy Cane Flurry Table Topper

·         Buttermint Flurry Table Topper

·         Kitty Kaleidoscope Quilt

2012 Goals

·         Learn to free motion quilt

·         Finish this year’s Christmas gift bags before Christmas Eve

·         Finish WIPs from 2011

o   2011 Memory Quilt

o   2012 Memory Quilt

o   Between the Cats

o   Blueberry Pie

o   Call Me Crazy

o   Color Book

o   Scrappy Green

o   Scrappy Nine-Patch

o   Surprise table topper for my mom

o   Surprise table topper for myself

o   Valentine’s Day Quilt

o   Warm/Cool Quilt Along

Happy New Year!
UPDATE: Linking up with Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilts.