A TINY SCRAP FINISH

During the winter, a former member of my southern quilting group called to ask if I would like some of her quilting scraps.  She and her husband were selling their home, and returning north permanently.  Of course, I said yes!

She loved making flannel quilts, so there were lots of various size strips and pieces in lots of different colours and prints.  There were also some cotton scraps.  I found some odd shaped triangles in gold and burgundy, along with some dark print pieces.   I decided the largest cut I could make from all the pieces, and ended up with some flying geese, squares and half square triangle pieces.  After a little playing with various arrangements, I was able to piece a small table runner.

I pieced the dark print triangles and stitched them together to make bias binding.  Amazingly, I had exactly 2 inches of binding left over after joining the ends.  I machine quilted the gold parts with gold cotton thread, and then used a variegated thread to stitch tiny flowers in all the burgundy pieces.

The shiny polyester thread makes a simple project sparkle!
I'll have to send a picture of the finished project to thank her for the gift!

SEWING IN CIRCLES!

Our time in our southern home is coming to an end.  Our final visitors have departed, and the guest room has become a space for staging all things that need to be packed for the trek north.

While we had visitors, we stashed items in every nook and cranny, to make their visit more enjoyable.  Now, we are getting everything out of hiding, and checking our lists of things that we need to take along.   There has been some shopping for small items, and even a couple of parcels shipped to us to bring home for family and friends.

I always find it difficult to work on a project at this time, but I still need some sewing time.  I looked at the past and current leader and ender challenges at Quiltville, and decided to give one or two a try.
Part of my shopping lately was to buy some Kona black and white fabric for Checkerboard Rails.  I cut rail pieces from some scraps that I had been given, along with some leftover 1 1/2 inch strips, and made a couple of sample blocks.
Then, I thought of Jewel Box Stars, the challenge for this year, so back to some scrap triangles etc., for a few block parts. 

Then, I remembered admiring the basket blocks that Bonnie had worked on during her last teaching trip.  I made a drawing on graph paper, and figured out what size I wanted to make, and thanks to the Essential Triangle Tool, I have 8 blocks completed!

I also decided to try the Canadian Quilters Association challenge - 
52 Blocks in 52 Weeks.  I had picked up fabric for project as well, this during my last shopping trip, and have the first 12 blocks completed.

Tomorrow is the last day my quilting group meets, and then I plan to clean and oil my sewing machine, and pack it into its case, so there will be no more distractions and I can get organizing!  DH and I are looking forward to the trip north, with a few side trips planned, and getting some grandchildren hugs too!

I'M SUPPOSED TO BE PACKING!

I've been doing some sorting in my sewing room, in preparations for packing some projects to take south.  Of course, I've stopped and stitched along the way!

Several years ago, a member of my southern quilt group gave me a bag of fabric, and cut wedges.  I started to sew the wedges into rings a while ago, but the project was pushed aside.  The wedges were cut from voile, and had almost see-through areas in the print.  Instead of pushing them aside again, I stitched all the wedges and was able to make 3 rings.   Since one of the fabrics was white, and any background would have shaded the fabric, I cut 3 white on white fabric squares. Included in the bag was a large piece of a funky stripe, so I used that to make the setting triangles, and binding.

The runner is completed, but needs more quilting.  I hope to get that done today, and then maybe I can concentrate on packing.  I think the only way to get that done is to pack up my sewing machine!!!!!

MORE LOST AND FOUND BLOCKS

When sorting through my "lost" fabric strips, I also found six red and white 9Patch blocks.  I decided to make 2 table runners - they will be donated for my guild's boutique at our show next June.

Either one would be cute for Valentine's Day.  I managed to use the last of my "heart" fabric on these.  I think the blocks are over 15 years old!
 

STASH REPORT SUNDAY 7 MAY 2017

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  69.625 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  51 yards

Net used 2017  18.625 yards

We've been home for a month, and my report hasn't changed at all!

We seem to take longer each year to get back into the groove.....

We've had lots of rain since we returned, and there is some localized flooding, but not near our home, so far.  Lake Ontario has an extremely high water level, and many docks and waterside properties are flooded as well.  The damp weather, along with our return to a home with stairs has been playing havoc with my knee.

We've had 2 trips to spend time with our grandson, and will be returning next weekend again - our younger son and daughter-in-law are celebrating their 5th anniversary.  We plan to send them out for some together time.  They had a huge fir tree uprooted in their yard during a late winter storm.  Most of it fell into the neighbour's yard, but the uprooted stump remained in theirs.  DH has been trying to dig it out, and cut off as many parts as he could, but finally had to give up - it is just too large.  Our son had a company come and give him an estimate for grinding the stump, and since the 5th anniversary is "wood", we offered to pay for the work....

I attended my guild meeting on Wednesday - great to see lots of familiar faces.  I sat with 2 newish members and told them about several of the fun activities coming up.  We played "strip bingo" - the cost was 8 fabric strips @ 2 1/2 inches by WOF.  I was relieved when I didn't win - I have every inch of storage space packed, so I better get using some fabric!  I was handed two small quilts to complete for our community quilts project, and spent the last 2 days machine quilting, and attaching the binding and sewing on the label.  It gave me time to catch up on some of my favourite TV shows that have been waiting.

I've been working on a super scrappy quilt top, using lots of orphan blocks and small bonus half square triangle units.  It is super scrappy, even for me, but I'm sure it will keep someone warm when it is finished.

Check out all the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  0 yards

Fabric added this week  12 yards

Fabric added year to date 12 yards

Net used 2017  -12 yards

 Most of my purchases this week were backing fabrics.

Now I just have to find time to get them pin-basted.  They are all pressed and starched ready to go, and the binding is prepared as well.

My group wanted to work on a "row quilt" this winter.  I hunted through my files to find one that I liked and that could be made from scraps!  Back in 2012, Lori Holt offered a "row along" on her blog, a Bee in my Bonnet.  I had saved all the instructions for future use.  I've been busy sewing a row or two each day, enjoying the challenge of using my scraps before cutting into new fabric.  The pattern has 13 rows, consisting of 7 wider rows and 6 narrower rows.  

Since I wanted to use more scraps, I decided to change the final borders.  I hunted through my favourite resource - 60 Pieced Quilt Borders - Mix & Match by Judy Laquidara, and decided on border option #35.

I was able to dig into my 1 1/2 inch strips to make these cute 3 inch blocks.  All the neutrals in the quilt are cut from leftover strips, or from small pieces of fabric that have been in my stash for a long time.



Check out everyone's progress at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

No design wall in my southern home, but I took a picture of my latest scrap project.  I had stitched the blocks together in one direction, and the seams are pressed, and it is pinned, ready to sew the remaining seams in the top together.

The pattern is called Pinwheels on Parade, and found in one of the Nickle Quilt books.  My plan was to sew from my bins of precuts.  The centre of this quilt was made from 5 inch squares.  I had separated all the batik squares, and had enough for the dark blocks, but not enough for the light ones.  I had packed lots of "neutral" prints to help use up the scraps, so I cut 5 inch squares, after I took all the neutral ones from my "light" stack of 5 inch squares.

My next decision will be what to use for the borders.....

DH and I finally made it to the clubhouse on Sunday afternoon and pin-basted my autumn leaf quilt!  I'm anxious to start quilting, but I ordered a few spools of thread from Superior Threads, and I plan on using one or two of them in this quilt.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

OUT OF THE BOX QUILTS

During the past year, the volunteers who meet once a month to work on my guild's community quilt projects, spent time to sort all the donated orphan blocks and pre-made parts.  Each group of similar size and or shape were placed in a raspberry box.  (These boxes were salvaged from a local supermarket, and are cardboard, built to stack while holding quarts or pints of raspberries).

At our last get-together, our fearless leader asked if everyone would take a box home and figure out how to use the contents for a quilt.

My first box held 60 9-patch blocks that were 3 1/2 inches, and I made this quilt top.

I wrote about it on Design Wall Monday.  I had difficulty getting the true colours to show in the pictures.  The light borders are really a darker beige, the blue-ish border is much darker, and the final border is a deeper rust colour.

 Box number 2 held 29 pinwheel blocks that had been squared up to 8.25 inches.  I made one more block, then set them with sashing and cornerstones.
I decided to make a strippy border, so I sorted through my 1.5 and 2 inch strip bins and pulled all the strips that had colours found in the blocks.

I made binding for each quilt top, but don't have fabric for backing.  I'll take them to our next community quilts workshop, and hopefully I'll find backing fabric for each of them, then after pin-basting both, I'll bring them home to machine quilt.  This is a win-win - I get to use some of my fabric scraps, and there are 2 less boxes full of parts waiting to be used, and soon 2 more quilts ready to donate.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I'm still quilting my latest project, but I took some time off this afternoon.  After teaching a workshop on clothesline baskets, I came home and started wrapping some for myself.

I was inspired to try a new edging after watching a tutorial at Ami Simms website.  She made hers with cotton clothesline that was dyed, but I used the regular wrapped clothesline. 
The edging takes way more line that you might think, but it creates an interesting edge.

I also had a shorter piece of clothesline, so I kept wrapping.....

This used some leftover fabric from my grandson's quilt, along with the selvedge and some narrow strips of a multicoloured stripe that I used for the sashing in another project.  I decided to finish with some swirls on the outside this time.

Now back to quilting.

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL (MONDAY) - WEDNESDAY

Sometimes I wonder where the time goes..... 
 It was Victoria Day weekend in Canada, and we spent a couple of days with our son, daughter-in-law and grandson.  I was busy doing this.....  He is a bit too small to reach the pedals, but he loves to walk and steer.

I have this completed top on my new design wall.  My sewing room is in the basement of our townhouse, and there is a long, narrow hall leading to the room.  I needed a larger design wall, so DH and I put this up.  My other "wall" is an old pin board that we rescued from a garbage pile.
The pinwheels were made from the bonus pieces while making the pieced border for my guild BOM quilt.  The setting triangle were all cut from my 2 1/2 inch strip bin.  The light and dark blues were leftover from the BOM quilt.  I pulled a funky strip for sashing and thought that the black cornerstones helped to pull it all together.  My only difficulty with the design wall, is taking pictures from an extreme angle, but I'll take a full picture once the quilt is completed.
I'll be teaching a workshop on making clothesline coiled baskets all day tomorrow - looking forward to a fun day!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY - WEEK 46

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  135 yards

Fabric added this week 2.625 yards

Fabric added year to date  93.875 yards

Net used 2015  41.125 yards

My numbers aren't looking good, especially since I picked up all the fabric for my son and daughter-in-law's new king size quilt!  I've finished one quilt top, but it is waiting on the backing fabric that should arrive next week....

 
I also started a new scrappy quilt that will use the braid strips, made from a box of pre-cut pieces that a friend gave me, along with some 9-patch blocks made from "leader and ender" scrap 2 inch squares.  I have 2 rows stitched, and I'm working on the 3rd, now that the weather is back to more normal temperatures. 

We've been dog-sitting this week for friends who travelled north to attend their granddaughter's college graduation.  She's been good company, but is getting anxious for their return later today.  We take more walks when she is here, and fortunately, we had no rain to deal with, as she hates getting wet!

Check out all the stash reports shared and Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, and all the scrappy quilt projects at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  0 yards

Fabric used year to date  120.75 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  63.75 yards

Net used 2015  57 yards

Nothing to report as far as fabric usage goes.....  I've been working on another scrap quilt, this time I'm using Bonnie Hunter's "Kiss in the Corner" pattern.  This uses almost all 2 inch strips, so I've been digging into my 2 inch bin for yellows, lights and darks, with a few 1 1/2 inch squares of darks thrown into the mix.

Thursday afternoon, I laid out all the blocks, sashings, corner squares and setting triangles on the living room rug (my design wall is too small).  I have a picture to add here, but Blogger isn't cooperating today......
I started to sew the top together Friday morning, and worked on it today, in between doing 5 loads of laundry.

Last weekend we went to Toronto to celebrate our August birthdays (3 this month).  We all met at a lovely park and had a picknic lunch under the shade of a tree.  Lots of time to chat, and enjoy the fresh air with our family.  

After lunch we headed to DS2's home in Kitchener.  We had fun playing with our grandson, and we helped them with a few jobs around the house and yard, returning home on Tuesday morning.

DH had a practice with his music partner, and they entertained at a local seniors' residence on Wednesday afternoon.  Home for a quick dinner, then off to the second last "Music in the Park" for the summer season.

Friday we headed up to Baptiste Lake.  A cousin of DH's, who lives in British Columbia, was visiting, and trying to see as many relatives as possible during his visit.  We met and spent an afternoon getting caught up on all the news, and DH and cousin told stories of their time together when they were young.  Our hosts provided a great BBQ steak dinner, and after watching a great sunset, we hit the road and arrived home by 11p.m.

I'm sure I'll catch up on my sleep soon, but I'm anxious to get my quilt top completed!

Check out all the progress shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times. 

A BUSY WEEK

I've spent lots of time sewing log cabin blocks, hunting for strips the right colours, then finding fabric for borders - all from my stash!  While I was rummaging through my brown/rust pile, I decided to re-fold the fabrics, and I also took the time to organize them by value, from darkest at the bottom to the lightest at the top.  Since I had them all out to find pieces large enough for the borders, it seemed to make sense to reorganize it.

Tuesday was spent at the community quilts workshop.  One of the members is lucky enough to dedicate the entire basement of her bungalow to quilting, so there was lots of room for 12 quilters to work.  She also stores all our donated supplies, and her DH makes a pot of soup for each monthly work day, to add to all the pot luck goodies that everyone brings.  Three of us pin-basted 9 quilts, trying to make a dent in the many tops that are completed by our guild members.  We had a visit from the organizer of the "Hugs" program at our local hospital, and she left with a huge bag of baby quilts for the program, and some to be sold in the gift shop, with the money going to the program for other items.  I brought home 3 basted quilts to finish in time for next month's meeting. 

Wednesday there was a food bank drive, so I dropped DH off at our friend's home, and they went door-to-door, collecting donations.  Then I headed off to the monthly meeting for our next quilt show.
Quilts Kingston 2015 is next June - Friday to Sunday, 12th-14.  Our show is hosted by both guilds in Kingston, so we have a fairly large committee!  We had some lively discussions, but things are moving along nicely.  The above link will take you to our official website, and our publicity convener will also be providing updates on the Quilts Kingston 2015 blog.

 Weekends mean laundry and baking - since we are charged different rates for electricity at different times of day, most of my dryer and oven use is saved for weekend, which are charged at the lower rate.  DH started the laundry, and I'm getting some "oven" style meals planned, and I have to bake so I have some goodies for friends dropping by for tea, and to take to they guild executive meeting this week (we take turns bringing refreshments).  I've also started machine quilting the first quilt from Tuesday's outing. This one has some large, plain blocks - perfect for some quilting opportunities!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I've been promising myself that I'd use some more of my scraps before beginning anything new.  I had planned to make a quilt for my DDIL2's nephew, and had asked what his favourite colour was, or what colour was in his room.  Of course, the anwer was brown and beige!

I dug into my orphan blocks and units bin, and found a collection of half-square triangle units in two shades of brown, so I decided to make some log cabin blocks, using the units as the centre of each block.  I am using scrap 1 1/2 inch strips in brown, rust, and a few green, along with light beige, tan and cream.

So far, I have completed 3 rounds, and the blocks are 8 inches unfinished.  I plan to add 2 or 3 more rounds before decided on a block setting.

 This is a closer look at four of the blocks.  I'm trying to make some creative choices that will hopefully suit a young man!

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

Nothing on my wall - just finished the last 3 projects I had been working on, but......

I have been staring at these two piles of flannel scraps, trying to decide what kind of quilt top I can make.  Sometimes having too many scrappy choices make the decision more difficult!


There are lots of pastels, and a few bright colours as well.  Should I mix them all together?  Should I make a pastel quilt and a bright quilt?  What to do, what to do?

Check out all the creativity shared at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.  I'm sure I'll find some inspiration there.....

FLANNEL SCRAP QUILT NUMBER 1 FINISHED!

I completed the quilting and hand stitched the binding yesterday, while waiting for my family's arrival!

The backing was made from leftover pieced backing from a quilt made for our friends' granddaughter.  I had to add a bit more to make it the correct size, so I added the green zig-zag, to complement the green fabrics in the top.  The binding is cotton, in a pale yellow with pale pink "splotches".

I kept the quilting simple - just diagonal lines through the squares.  I use King Tut thread from Superior in a colour called "Tiny Tuts" number 937.  It is a lovely variegated pastel thread, and I use it often on baby quilts.

The quilt is resting on the top of the pile headed to my guild's community quilts program, to be donated in our area.

SCRAPS AND MORE SCRAPS!

I've been trying to tidy my sewing room, and manage an ever-growing pile of flannel scraps.  I love using flannel on the backs of baby and kids quilts, so I've collected lots of leftovers over the past few years.

This was my first quilt top, using 5 inch squares and 2 1/2 inch strips and cornerstones.  The colour choices were determined by the size of the scraps available.

 This is the second top, made with 2 1/2 inch strips.  I used Bonnie Hunter's scrappy Bargello pattern, but only sewing 3 strip sets, with 23 strips in each.  My pile didn't shrink much, but I'll keep working on it .....

My guild needs more baby quilts for our community quilts program, so I better get them finished soon.

DS2 and wife, and DS1 are arriving tonight for a visit!  I'll be making a pot of chili today, along with some French bread to feed them when they arrive this evening.  They are having clear weather for their drive, so that is always a bonus.  They should arrive around 6pm, depending on the traffic leaving Toronto.  I'm looking forward to lots of hugs - always welcome after a winter spent in the south!

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

I'm working on a scrappy quilt again.  The blocks are Quiltville's Boxy Star pattern.  Some parts were leftover from a previous group project, so I decided to make more for a small quilt.

 The nine-patches for the border were made from my "leader and ender" squares, stitched while making other quilts this winter.  I added triangle corners to each, using 2 alternating prints - the light wouldn't have been my first choice, but I have very little stash in my southern location.  Sorry for the poor perspective on the photo - I placed it on my driveway, and that was the best I could do to capture the whole quilt top.

 My finish for this week is a small wall hanging that will eventually be given to my SDIL2.  I plan to show it in my guild's next show in 2015, but I will let her see it when we return north. 

 Dragonflies are her favourite, and my son found a wonderful picture of one, that he printed poster size so I could use it for a pattern.  It took me a while to figure out how to transfer the pattern to the dark fabric.  My first thought was to use golden tracing paper, but since the wings are thread-painted with metallic thread, I was dreading the chore of removing all the bits of paper.  When having a tidy session in my sewing room, I found an old package of water soluble stabilizer.  I used a hot pink Frixion pen to draw all the tiny lines, then pinned the stabilizer in place over the appliqued body.  I stitched the wings with Superior's gold thread.

Visit Judy at Patchwork Times to see all the creativity this week!

STASH REPORT SUNDAY

Fabric used this week  14 yards

Fabric used year to date  175 yards

Fabric added this week  0 yards

Fabric added year to date  50.375 yards

Net used 2013  124.325 yards

 I finally finished my scrappy split 9-patch quilt!  It was sprinkling outside, so DH held the quilt while standing on the sofa - the problems of living in a home with small rooms!  It really finished straight and square!  It is 68 x 80, so should fit a single bed easily!  I love the graphic lines and I always make mine with a centre square, which I also used as the final border and binding.  I think scrappy quilts need a fabric that consistent throughout the quilt.  

Check out all the stash reports at Judy's blog, Patchwork Times.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

My wall is empty!  Here is a picture of the completed Noah's Ark kit...

It was good practice to get the feel of my new machine for free-motion quilting.

Now I am quilting the scrappy split 9-patch quilt that I made a while ago.   I'm stitching feathers in all the pinwheels that form the border.  I got about half of the border done before my back screamed at me for a rest.  Hopefully I'll get more completed today.

Check out all the creativity linked to  Judy's blog, Patchwork Times .