This and that

Isn't it fun to get squishy mail?  

This beautiful fat quarter bundle arrived this week.  My name was drawn for a prize for SAHRR, and it's fabric.  The bundle contains 20 batik fat quarters by Island Batik, full of purples, pinks, and golds. I have no idea yet what these will become but it will be fun to choose just the right project to showcase such pretty colors. Thank you to those who host the SAHRR each year and to the vendors providing prizes.

The summer banner is assembled, quilted, and has a binding attached.  I'm hoping to get that binding hand stitched today so I can check off another finish.

These kits always contain backing too, and often it's just too pretty to use on the back of something where no one will ever see it.  This went into the stash, and I used a leftover piece of light grey for the actual back of the banner. 

The binding is also attached to the next UFO project.  I will get this one trimmed today, and it will be next after the banner.  

At least 1 more drawer in my sewing room is on my agenda today for decluttering.  I'm sure there is more "stuff" that can go into the rummage sale boxes yet. 

Sewing and purging

Tuesday was a pretty good day in my sewing room.  

The sections for the final block in the little summer banner are sewn.  I'll get the paper foundations removed and the 4 sections sewn together this morning.  Then I can get it all assembled . . . and quilted . . . and bound.  I'm glad I made copies of the foundation paper units for the butterflies because I have this urge to make more of them.  

That was the only sewing I did, but I spent a couple of hours going through quilting stuff to donate to the guild rummage sale next week.  This basket on a bookcase shelf was stuffed to the max with patterns.  Now it's only about half full.  I also purged 6 quilt pattern books from that shelf.  

 

I've organized everything purged so far - 1 small box of notions and knick knacks, 1 medium box of patterns and books, plus 1 bigger box of kits and yardage.  This was the pile at noon when I stopped to eat some lunch and then go get a haircut.  

I feel lighter already, and my sewing room is still full to overflowing. I'll tackle another area of my sewing room today . . . after I work on that little banner.  Will it become a flimsy by tomorrow? 

Pizza box challenge

I think I mentioned the pizza box challenge our Sew Vintage group is doing.  We have just 12 ladies in the group, and it's one of my favorite things to do each month.

So, back in February we each received a pizza box from Louise, with a vintage Valentine and a pattern for the first star block of the challenge.  Each month a different member will provide a new star block pattern, and we're all making the blocks (if we want to) in red, white, blue to make a couple of quilts to celebrate the 250th birthday of the USA.  The quilt tops will be donated to Quilts of Valor.

The first month's block was a free pattern from the QOV website that we've actually used in previous quilts.  It's a Floating Star.  The group was encouraged to make the center of the star either white or add in a patriotic print.  Here are the 2 blocks I made - because I couldn't stop with just 1 block.  LOL

In March we received the Ohio Star block from Pam.  BTW - these will all be 12" finished.  I really love all star blocks, but have to admit Ohio Star is a long time favorite.  Again, I made 2 blocks, just because I could use up more RWB scraps.

April brings us to the Lemoyne Star block, shared by Sandy.   One of my goals for this week was to get these blocks done in the RWB, and I can check that off the list.  

I should also admit here that I'm also making the block each month in 30s reproduction prints, so eventually I'll have blocks for another quilt.  Again - because I have so many scraps to use up and because they are fun to make.  The Ohio Star one turned out so cute.

The Floating Star that I had made first has the red floral background with white star points.  It's OK, but just not my favorite, so yesterday I did a second one.  This time I kept that background white.  The center "fruit" print makes me think of a tablecloth my mom had when I was a kid.  I like this second block much better.  

And I got the 30s version of the Lemoyne Star done too.  Now all these blocks are back in the pizza box until next month's Sew Vintage meeting. 

Design Wall Monday - April 13

Monday the 13th!  At least it isn't Friday the 13th, but it is almost midway through another month.  Yikes!!  Wish I could slow down time!  I have some goals for this week, and we'll see how far I get with them.

**  bind at least 1 quilt

** finish the summer banner
** finish 2 blocks for pizza box challenge
**  make some RSC blocks
** cut out this month's Saturday Sampler pieces
** choose next UFO to tackle

There is plenty of binding that should keep me busy in the evenings for more than this week. First up will be the pink Snail Trail quilt, but then these 2 are next. 

I'm nearly done with the paper pieced sections for the 3 blocks in the summer banner.  That is the time consuming part of these kits. Hopefully the banner will be a completed project by the end of this week.  

Once the little banner is done, I'll be ready to choose another UFO from my long list.  What will it be?  I'm kind of leaning toward a wall hanging rather than another big quilt right now.  And there are 3 wall hangings on that UFO list to choose from.  Two have a summer theme and the other has a winter theme.  Two have lots of applique, so they'll be a lot of work, but one is all pieced so maybe I'll start with that one.

The parts have been cut for some of the next RSC blocks.  This will be the "catnip" block, but parts are ready to sew for the reversed Buckeye blocks, and for more of the Vintage Spools blocks too.

Speaking of those Vintage Spools - I was merrily going along with the plan to lay them out just like the pattern in the book.  That's the top layout in this picture.  But then I saw the same basic blocks in a different layout on Pinterest.  HMMMM . . .  I like both options.  Since I'm not even close to having enough blocks yet for a whole quilt, I guess there will be plenty of time later in the year to make a decision on the layouts.   

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog

RSC26 - Week #15

 It has looked like spring in my sewing room this week with all the pink laying around and under my needle.

The pink Honey Bee blocks are done.  I've been making 2 in each color as they are 12" finished blocks.  Another fun Lori Holt pattern!!  Maybe I'll do the bee hive block when yellow pops up as our RSC color.    

The pink string blocks are all done and you can see from this really bad photo how this will be coming together eventually.  

Pink star blocks were fun.  This block pattern is so easy with the Tri Recs rulers to make the star point units.  One ruler cuts the triangle and the other cuts the wings - both from strips cut in whatever size you want. 

I used up quite a few of the RSC Hollow-9 blocks, along with a remnant of black print to make this lap quilt top for donation.  The blue is the backing I'm using but would look OK as a border too wouldn't it?  There are still quite a few of the Hollow-9 blocks in the basket to be "seed" for another future quilt.

I also finished a UFO quilt top with lots of pink this week, and picked up another pink UFO from the long arm quilter Wednesday.  And I'm working on a small paper pieced project that also has lots of pink.

Let's go check out more Rainbow fun . . .

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Friday check-in

Happy 13th birthday today to our twin grandkids!!!  We hope to get to see them either this weekend or next to celebrate a whole bunch of April birthdays. 

 

Binding has been prepped for 2 smallish UFO projects that are all trimmed and ready.  I'll finish the binding on a Quilt of Valor before attaching either of these. But it's nice to have the binding ready. 

The pink will go onto the pink Snail Trail quilt, and the green stripe is for a baby quilt.

My reward for finishing some tasks this week is . . . a NEW project.  This fabric is the kit for the summer mini banner.  

And this is how I have it organized.  The 3 blocks are paper pieced, and the kit included the foundation paper for each section plus stick on labels to identify each piece.

The first block I'm working on is the pink butterfly.  It's divided into 3 separate sections plus the units above with the brown body.  I got a start on this one yesterday, and will keep plugging away on each section.  

The kits from Shabby Fabrics are so well put together, and well organized.  

The Hollow-9s

Another flimsy is done. Yay!!

This is the Hollow-9 quilt, that uses some of the blocks in that collection.  The top is 36 x 42, which should be a pretty good size for a lap quilt.

The blue laying underneath is the backing I had in the stash that fits.  And I found a batting piece that is also large enough.  I'm going to sandwich this today and see if I can quilt it myself without messing it up. 

There is still a nice stack of the Hollow-9 blocks, and I'll just keep making them because they are great for using up scraps.  Another quilt will happen with them eventually.