To Do Tuesday: Catching Up Before the Month Ends

I had started writing a post last week, got it almost completed then got the "hanging circle of death" when Blogger wouldn't save my edits.  As the day came to a close I shut I down hoping that at least some of what I had recorded were kept but nope!  

So this week you'll see what projects moved forward over the last two weeks as I link up with this week's "To Do Tuesday" being hosted by Carol at Quilt Schmilt.  

Here was my list from two weeks ago:

1.  Continue quilting "Modern Twist" as this month's UFO Challenge finish.  

Two weeks ago I did finally sit down and start a little more of the quilting.

The vertical strip was the first pass but after stitching another section just like it,  I felt it wasn't exactly the look I wanted.  I tried again in the horizontal strip on the left.  Okay, done a little looser, it was closer to how I wanted it to look.  

However,  since I was still a little unsure about my approach to this I admit I let it sit last week in favor of focusing on the other projects on the list instead.

2.  Piece another "Alaska" BOM block.  

I had gotten one done the first week so then had two blocks.   Last week I decided that since the month was fast coming to a close,  I sewed up the last two that I needed to complete for this month.

3.  Finish piecing the center of  the "Freedom Stars" QOV top and possibly add the borders to complete it as well.

I did get the center all together (leader/endered with the "Alaska" blocks)....

....and in the week that just passed have also put on the borders so can now call the top done! 

It will sit awhile as I work on the other projects that I hope to send down to North Carolina with it in May. 

4.  If  the "Freedom Stars" top has been finished, re-start the layout of the "Picture That" QOV top with the new fabrics for it that I picked up in NC.

I still haven't gotten to this one since "Stars" was still in progress these past two weeks.  

5.  Do the finishing work on the completed "Year of the Horse" cross stitch.  

Two weeks ago,  I had started setting it up having decided to only use one fabric in the finishing and frame it by reverse appliqueing the fabric around it.  Here it was pinned:  

 Ready to stitch it,  I then decided it needed a little "something more".  I settled on adding beads around the frame which is now finished.  

6.  Finish stitching the second "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.

Yes!  After that last post, I was thrilled to get Block #2 done and Block #3 started. 

As of today, #3 is almost done!

I should be able to complete the last of it while watching the news shows tonight.

7.  Continue making blocks for the "Sparkle & Shine" Log Cabin project as leader/ender piecing.

I've managed to keep up on these blocks by also using them  as "leader/enders" and now have four done.  

For this project that means I have five more to make.  Although I was hoping to continue these as I work on piecing other projects, that may not happen for the rest of this week.  

There's been a lot of new "squirrels" coming into my space so there are test blocks I'd like to make up.  Also I got word recently that our community garden will be opening up for the season in mid April.  So this one may have to sit for a while until I clear some project space.   

So my plans for this week are to:

1.  Go back to "Modern Twist" and try to complete it for this month's UFO Challenge finish.  

2.  (Finally) work on the "Picture That" QOV top. 

3.  Start stitching the fourth (and last) "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.

4.  "Fully finish" the "Year of the Horse" cross stitch.

With such a short list, I should be able to finish up March with a bang!  This should also give me plenty of time to check out everyone else that has linked up for "To Do Tuesday" this week at Carol's "Quilt Schmilt".