Wednesday, January 2, 2013

WIP Wednesday:Where I show a completed project and then ask for advice on a new one

Happy New Year! 2013? What happened to 2012?!
Mark and I went to our local dinner theater where they were doing Beehive, all-female music from the '60s. It was something we had never done before on New Year's Eve and it was a lot of fun. After the show ended, there was a great band playing Glen Miller-type music until midnight.

I have been away from the computer for the last few weeks. I think it helps to step back sometimes. At least for me, it helps to come back more refreshed and invigorated, and ready to start new projects in the new year.

But first, something completed:

The plan to make a card table playhouse (lots of close-up pictures on the link) for our youngest grandchild had been in my head since last May when I met the pattern designer, Shea Henderson, and then actually won a copy of the pattern! So why, oh why, did I put off actually starting it until two weeks before Christmas? That is a question that will probably never have an answer. I knew it was going to be time consuming. But it was time consuming in a very fun way. Shea gives instructions on making it with quilting cotton, and also has an addendum available in case you would prefer using felt. I used Kona cotton. And yards of Heat 'n Bond. Let's just say that fusibles and I are no longer strangers!

Everything was fused and then edged stitched. Every.single.thing. I decided to customize it by duplicating the colors of our son and daughter-in-law's actual house, including the house number. Their door isn't red, but Christa has always wanted a red door. The mailbox opens and I made a little postcard for all three grandkids.
Here it is from all angles (our card table is really old--the newer ones are a few inches taller because this fits much better on Aaron and Christa's card table--whew!)
The label on the back:
 (and yes, I did buy a half yard of Architextures because the label absolutely needed blueprint fabric!)
And one happy little boy (which made the project worth every.single.minute!)
After Christmas I returned to my Farmer's Wife quilt. All the blocks were put up on the design wall, moved around a little bit, and I had all the rows nearly sewed together when...

...I became distracted by something happening on Instagram: the scrappy trip along. I could not resist the temptation. Seriously. Are you on Instagram? All of a sudden everyone is posting these amazing pictures of their scrappy blocks. I pondered. I looked at my scrap bin. I looked at my stash. And then instead of busting scraps, I actually created more scraps by busting apart a Kona jelly roll.  What??

And now I need some advice. I'm only making nine blocks this time around. Believe me. I will be making this block again, in a scrappy version. But for now, here is Trip Around the Kona Color Card. With three setting options.

Setting 1:
Setting 2:
Setting 3:
I can't decide. I hope you will help me! I can tell you this much--the one I personally was leaning toward has gotten the fewest votes on Instagram...

What are you working on in this new year?

I'm linking up with Lee. It's good to get back into the groove.

66 comments:

05 08
Charlotte said... #

The first is my favourite!

Anonymous said... #

Without a doubt, #1

Joyce said... #

I say #2!

Holli said... #

#1 (and I love the card table house!)

FlourishingPalms said... #

That card table house is awesome, Cindy, but the picture of the little man inside, grinning behind his pacifier, is my favorite. You're quite an on-task quilter. Admirable! #3

Katy Cameron said... #

Happy new year! No idea what a card table is, but the house is cute, and you have a very satisfied customer there :oD I vote #1

Ellyn said... #

love the little house! I vote for number 2

B Greene said... #

I love #2, but it is pretty traditional. I would go with #1 as a second choice. You really can't go wrong, though - all are lovely.

pcquilter said... #

Hi Cindy and Mark,

Love the card table. I'm glad Grace is too big to enjoy it...but little miss Hannah is just about the right age. Oh, I hate fusibles!

I used a reducing lens to view the quilts and actually like them in the order you displayed them.

Happy new year!

Sue and Pete

Leanne said... #

I like the first one best, but the other two are also excellent. This looks great with the solids.

Sally said... #

This little card table house is awesome! I may have to contemplate it for some nieces and nephews.

My vote on the scrappy a long is for #1

DianeY said... #

I like #2 the best. Actually, I like your card table house the very best! All your little details on it are incredible!

Ginette said... #

That playhouse is adorable!! My girls would love it, and if they were younger I would tackle it.
I love setting #2 for your trip along!

Elizabeth Dackson said... #

I adore your Kona take on the Scrappy Trip Along, and I totally want to join in the fun!! I really love the third one, but then again, I do love all of them :) That card table house is just darling, especially the look on your grandson's face!! Happy New Year :)

Kris from Duke Says Sew What said... #

I voted for 2 on IG but now that I see them on my iPad and not my phone, I think I like 1 the best!
Honestly, does the "other" grandma envy you beyond belief? I bet so!!

Debbie said... #

#2 is my fav, though love them all! Great idea for using a jelly roll though & I love it in the solids!

Terriaw said... #

I love the pattern that choice number 2 creates. I haven't felt the bug yet to join in the scrappy party; seems like everyone is doing it! I love seeing the variety of creations in IG. Love that playhouse - how fun for the kids. We used to create those with extra sheets and blankets our mom would let us play with. But we didn't have doors and windows and trees and a mailbox!

Paulette said... #

I guess I'm the oddball because I like #3 best, although it sort of loses the "trip around" part with that setting. Second choice is #2.

Oh my gosh, that playhouse is nothing short of magnificent! What a wonderful world for a little kid to play in!

Ricky in Codman Square said... #

The movement in the first one is eye-catching. I vote for #1.

verpa said... #

For me,number 2. And I like the black and white squares in the block.

Sarah said... #

Your card table house is awesome! Your grandson is gorgeous and he looks very pleased with his present. I think setting 1.

Tina Craig said... #

I prefer setting 1 and I love the card table house!

Dee said... #

What a fun, fun way to play at Grandma's house! I love the postcards you made for them too!

Not helpful, but I like setting 2...lol...

Lisa said... #

I'm going to jump on this band wagon soon, but my choice is setting #3. BTW your farmers wife, oh please complete it, it is AWESOME!

Lee said... #

I think I like Setting #2. I'm just boring and basic like that. LOL.

OMG, your Farmer's Wife is amazing. AMAZING! That is my absolute favorite layout that I've seen, alternating the blocks between square and on-point. Love it!

And the card table thingy? Is brilliant. I may need to make one of those!

Thanks for linking up to WIP Wednesday, and happy 2013. : )

M-R Charbonneau said... #

Fabulous card table house, Cindy! I'm partial to #2. Happy New Year!

Carla said... #

Cindy, you are the third person in 24 hours to tempt me with the Trip Along...HELP! For just 9 blocks, I would go with setting #1 as it is the most interesting to me....different and traditional all at the same time. I like #3 the least...if you care! LOL. P.S. Your FW is looking good!!

Unknown said... #

I love the playhouse. :)

I hadn't commented on IG bc I was sort of stuck between setting 2 and setting 3. I think #2 is my fav, though. :) LOVE what you did with these!

artsycraftsyivy said... #

Great house! :)

Honestly, I can't see a pattern with most of these scrappy trip-alongs. It must be my eyes. The only one that works for me is #3, which I LOVE :)

Nancy@owensolivia said... #

I personally like #2 or #3 but I would love to see more of #1. i guess #1 throws me off by that one diamond. But overall, looking really good! :)

Tara Celeste said... #

The playhouse is adorable! My two year old son would love it, here's hoping my mom makes one for him :) I love your farmer's wife quilt, too!

Molly said... #

I like #2 and that card table house is AMAZING! What a lucky little guy to have a grandma like you!

Anne said... #

I vote for #1, I love the movement! Also, I need to find all the quilters on instagram! I just joined but it's lonely. :D

Susan said... #

Love the card table playhouse! Can't imagine how much fun that will be!!
You have had votes for all three options so I don't think you can go wrong with whichever one you choose!
FW is looking great too!

Barbie Mills said... #

I like both 1 and 2. The card table playhouse is just precious, that would be a perfect thing for a little guy.

Sabrina said... #

#1! Also, that card table playhouse is just incredible. Amazing job!

Steffi´s Candy Quilts said... #

Happy new year!
What a gorgeous playhouse and one happy owner! The Architextures fabric is perfect for the lable!
I absolutely love setting #1!

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

2 2 2 or maybe 3!

Mrs Flying Blind... said... #

PS. The playhouse is amazing!!

Anonymous said... #

I have to vote for setting 2. I love your colour choices... and the playhouse!

Marelize Ries said... #

I love setting no 1. Simply because there's no real set pattern, it breaks away a bit from the norm.......... love it!!

Nita said... #

OH my goodness, a card table play house! Brilliant! And I like setting #3 the best. It has order in the chaos. A metaphore of some sort, I suppose. Happy New Year!

Emily said... #

The play house is super adorable! As for the quilt I'd say #2! :)

Trudie said... #

Looking at all the suggestions, #3 is farrrr behind. I must say #2 is my favorite though. hugs

Quiltgal said... #

Love the Card table house. Setting #1 is my fave.

Allison said... #

I'd vote for #2 :)

CitricSugar said... #

I love that playhouse - totally awesome! The little builders' plaque is great, too. Such thoughtful details everywhere!

And Setting #2 is the best. :-)

Julia Graber said... #

My vote is #3. But really they all are really nice. And that playhouse is indeed totally awesome!

Karen@littlebirdiequilting said... #

I really like Number One, but then they all look good!

Mary said... #

Fantastic card table house! I like #2!

Terry Aske Art Quilts said... #

Love the card table house!

All the blocks look great, but number 1 is my favorite.

Myra @ Busy Hands Quilts said... #

I love your blocks. Setting #2 is my favorite!

Julia said... #

I like setting #1. It is good to have you blogging again. I missed you.

felicity said... #

Your grandchildren are so lucky to have you, Cindy! What a wonderful, wonderful gift!!

I vote #1 all the way.

Anonymous said... #

I think my vote is for #2. It just looks the most symmetrical to me, and that's the way I like things...balanced. 8-)

All of them are great, though. Keep up the good work, and Grandma makes a GREAT playhouse!!

Karin said... #

I like #3 the best. But seriously they are all very nice.

Susana Neiger said... #

I LOVE the card-table-playhouse! Brilliant. The Farmer's Wife quilt is going to be amazing. And, I think #2 is my favorite of the Scrappy Trip settings ... although, with the rainbowy-colors-in-order look, they're ALL great!

OPQuilt said... #

One. I vote for Setting One. But do the one you like best.

And soooo glad to get closeups of that terrific playhouse! You are an amazing grandma!

E.

ChristaQuilts said... #

What an adorable playhouse! For your colorful quilt, my vote is the top one - I like how the design is just a little bit random :-)

Archie The Wonder Dog said... #

Love the card table and option number three. Although options one and two are also great...not much help, am I?!

Margaret said... #

The card table house is awesome. I plan to make one for my grandson also. Scrappy trip number two is my choice. They all look great.

Emily H said... #

Thank you for being such an inspiration. I love your blog. It's my favorite,(other than my sisters':)
I like #3 the best. Let us know what you go with, I'm sure you will.
Also, the playhouse is fabulous. You are creating such wonderful memories for your family.

Melziebelle said... #

#2 :)
The playhouse is amazing!

Anonymous said... #

The playhouse is such a great idea -- I may have to consider that for my cousins' little girl, if she doesn't keep growing up so alarmingly fast!

I like layouts 2 and 3 the best. :)

Mama Pea said... #

I just got on instragram, but I don't attend to it much yet. Haven't quite figured it out. I like #1 the best and #2 is a close second.

I love the card table! Wow! I wish Elsa was little again so I could make it for her. It is just fantastic. It is no wonder he loves it!

Deb said... #

version #1~