The Library Project - Sew much more productive Edition!

After last month's true confessions edition, I have upped my game in The Library Project department. I swore that I would NOT begin my top secret, yet-to-be-shared project before making some progress on my current project, Good Old Hockey Game.

And I haven't! I've been dedicated to getting some WiPs off the Gotta do list and onto the Yippee!!! It's done list (okay, I don't really have that list... I just cross them off... but that makes me pretty danged happy!)

Long story short - I've finished the top!

It took a couple sessions of appliqué to get this done. If you're a regular reader, you'll know that I am not the biggest fan of this technique.... probably because I've never really been happy with the results in the past. But I've recently done a block for my Skill Builder BOM that taught me lots of tricks for appliqué. The right needle, the right size stitches - it made a huge difference. Go figure!

Today, I even got that bad boy layered and ready to quilt. I love extra wide backings and Spot On from Robert Kaufman fit the bill perfectly for this one!

I went outside my comfort zone in prepping this quilt. Normally, I layer my quilts on the art room tables at work. I use binder clips to attach the backing to the edge of the table, then smooth and stretch (just a little) the batting, then smooth the top. Then there's (seemingly) hours of pinning. Not this time! I opted to lay my layers out on the floor in the family room. I taped the batting to the floor (just a little) and used spray adhesive. I usually only use it for smaller projects (placemats, baby quilts), but I'm planning to FMQ this quilt and I don't want to mess about pins in my work area.

Since the last link-up, I also sent my first Library Project Oh Deer! to it's forever home. More progress!

But that's not all... I decided to throw in another TLP pattern this week. I've had this pattern....

on the shelf for a while now. It uses the same ruler as Toes in the Sand. It's the Hex n' More from Jaybird Quilts. I kept looking at this itty bitty pattern and wanting to make it. And since I've been feeling the pull of practicality lately, the finished product will be a present!

If you caught a peek of my Christmas fabric stash, you wouldn't necessarily think "practical". But I have a tough time resisting those 30% off post-Christmas sales.

The other nice thing about this pattern is that the cutting instructions are for two co-ordinating pillows. Who only wants one pillow anyway? The pattern calls for a charm pack, but I opted to make my own from my (substantial) Christmas stash! The fabrics I've selected are mostly from the Holiday Flourish line. They're a little more bling-y than I'd pick for myself... but then again, these pillows aren't for me!

I've said it before I'm sure, but that Hex n' More sure does make cutting triangles a breeze!

My latest trick is to use a piece of batting as a portable design wall. I'm able to put it beside my sewing area and grab pieces to sew without getting up. That was important with this one since I planned the fabric distribution pretty carefully.

To be fair, I'm only counting this as ½ a Library Project. It's pretty small... I'll need to find another small project in my collection to round things out!

Now to tuck them away as a Christmas present. I suspect it's going to be a little tricky getting much sewing done close to Christmas this year!

All in all, not too shabby this month! One and ½ projects done of four and still 6 months to go! I'm linking up with Chezzetcook Modern Quilts for the monthly Library Project Link-up. Can't wait to see what everyone else has gotten up to this month.

J