Table scraps & a road trip

 

This little mug rug was just one of many projects this month, and since it was a bird and it was purple it fit in very nicely with Joyful Quilter's Table Scraps challenge.  Check it out here:

https://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/2024/03/march-2024-table-scraps-challenge-link.html

My husband and I took a quick road trip this week.  We drove to Minneapolis (about 5 hours east of us) Wednesday morning and came home again on Friday afternoon. A lot of enjoyment was packed into those few days. 

The event that triggered the trip was attending Beautiful - The Carole King Musical at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater on Thursday evening. My cousin Julie had gotten tickets and invited me to attend with her as my 70th birthday celebration.  If you have the opportunity, this is a fabulous production!  It's a dinner theater, so we enjoyed an excellent meal before the musical began, and had dessert during the intermission.  The Chanhassen Dinner Theater was actually where my senior prom was held - back in 1972.  We saw Fiddler On the Roof at the prom.  This theater/event center is a gem.  

The husbands stayed home that evening and watched college basketball on TV while we enjoyed the dinner and music.   I'll share more in coming days about a couple of interesting stops that we ladies made on Thursday morning.

Too quickly it was Friday and time to head for home again.  We stopped for gas about halfway home, and I grabbed a couple of snacks.  Have you ever seen this flavor of almonds?  Blueberry roasted.  As soon as I opened the package in the car the blueberry smell was obvious.  And they tasted great.  Hmmm - something to keep my eye out for around here. Yum!

Stay tuned this coming week for more on my Twin Cities road trip!

RSC24 - week #13

 Yikes!  It's the end of March already!  Seems like a good time to look back and reflect on the fun I've had with purple this month.  It has been quite productive.

There is a lot of purple hanging up in the sewing room closet.  Chaser, Kitties, Brighten, Dutchman's Puzzle, 16-Patch Churn Dash, String Beads, Zipper, and Night Vision - all block sets that are growing each month with the new RSC colors.  And last but not least there is a lot of purple in the border and binding for an RSC quilt top that is now finished and ready to quilt. 

Binding was finished on 3 quilts in March.  The Small Hearts quilt and the Ohio Star quilt were both RSC projects made from sets of blocks sewn over time.  The Scrappiness Is Happiness quilt is a big one, and was from a challenge in the Sew Vintage group I'm in locally.  Elephants is now a completed top, and is also an RSC set of blocks.  

Seeing these quilts come alive makes me realize that sewing lots of different sets of blocks each month will ultimately result in a wonderful scrappy creation.  And every Saturday I get new inspiration from the folks who post their creative projects.   Thank you Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!

Let's see what else is happening in the RSC world . . .
https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

More grey tote finds

 I'm still on the road, but I scheduled this post before leaving.  Last Sunday I dug deeply into the "Big Grey Tote", and made more interesting discoveries.  

There were a couple of awesome chunks of fabric that demanded to be made into Kitty blocks right away, so I did just that.  There are now 22 kitties - a whole herd of them!  And another Zipper block was made too.  Every little piece out of the tote and used is a victory.

One more zip lock bag was pulled out of the tote.  Have you ever done any Seminole piecing?  Some years ago I began some project with what must have been a Seminole border. I have no idea where this project was headed. But I'm sure I can find some use for them. 

In the bag was one completed strip, and 19 more in various stages.  I pressed these and finished sewing the  last of the pieces together.  The strips are 2.5" wide after trimming the points off, so will finish at 2" width.  There are even 2" strips of the black already cut in that bag, most likely meant to be sewn on each side of those Seminole strips. 

I'm still not sure how I'll use these but the extra fabric is been pressed, folded neatly and is all tucked back into the bag with the 20 Seminole strips.  I have a stash drawer that has fabrics that are black with bright colors, and that seems like a good place for these until I decide what they'll become.

In the very bottom I found flannel yardage that was obviously purchased for self-binding baby blankets because there were 2 "sets".  That flannel was refolded and went directly into the canvas cube holding my other flannel yardage. Those self-binding baby blankets make awesome gifts.

On Monday we had a blizzard going on, and my monthly pinochle group postponed. So I dug back into that tote again and worked through another small batch of scraps.  A few Loose Goose blocks were added, along with a bunch more squares and rectangles added to the small bins.  The bin with the 2.5" x 4.5" bricks is getting full.  Time for more Potato Chip blocks using the bricks.  And more of the smaller Loose Goose (3-D) blocks like in the photo.

Two more purple Zipper blocks have been added to the mix too. The one on the left has 2 different lime green squares in it because I didn't have enough of either scrap piece for 6 alike.  And you know, it's not a problem as they are similar shades of green.  

I would estimate that the tote is now nearly half empty, which kind of amazes me.  But most of the easy things have been pulled out, and that leaves a LOT of small odds and ends yet. 

On a little road trip

It's only a short road trip!

Christmas tree skirt is finished

 I can check another finish off my UFO list.

My first Bargello project ever - this Christmas tree skirt - is all finished.  It was a kit.  Originally I had planned to buy just the pattern, but there is no way I could have chosen better fabrics myself.  I sewed the top for the skirt at the retreat back in late February.  I admit that I was very intimidated by this project, expecting it to be quite difficult.  Keeping the strips in the right order was the tricky part for me, but labeling them helped a lot. So it really wasn't that hard if I stayed organized.

The large corners that were trimmed off before binding were just too pretty to toss into the trash.  The backing fabric is so pretty, and the quilting extended into these corners.  So I sandwiched these ovals with Insulbrite and some green backing left over from another project - and voila!!  4 more hot pads. 

Hopefully the tree skirt won't be the last Bargello project for me.  This kit has been buried in my sewing room for far too long.  Guess where it had been hiding?  Yes - that Big Grey Tote!!!  Now it's back on my project radar and not going back into hiding.   

To Do list

 Most of the time, now that I'm semi-retired, my mornings begin with coffee and my laptop, reading my favorite quilt blogs - no negative world or local news allowed - and watching the birds at the feeder outside my home office window. It's a nice quiet time for reflection, and planning.  Yesterday there was a blizzard going on outside those windows, but the birds were still visiting the feeder.

This photo isn't a good one - zoomed in with my phone, through a window.  But there was a pair of cardinals visiting.  Usually they show up separately at the feeder.  But yesterday they hung out together for quite a while, swinging along on the feeder and the tree branch while that blizzard wind blew.  

And while reading blogs yesterday I saw a wonderful item on a To Do list on one of those blogs that I think needs to be on my list . . . 

Isn't that a wonderful To Do list item?  I'm going to adopt this one for my own.

This will be a short week in my sewing room as I plan to be away Wednesday through Friday, so there isn't much need for a To Do list.  But I've made a short one anyway.

• Organize & prep pattern/supplies for Olivia's costume
• Finish binding the Christmas tree skirt
• Cut and organize more scraps - and maybe sew some blocks from the scraps
• Binding on 2 or more hot pads
• Look for fabric to use in a graduation quilt
• And . . . Whatever suits my fancy!!  

Design Wall Monday - March 25

 Today is my 47th wedding anniversary, which means that yesterday was my 70th birthday. Where did the years go?  I've been having a hard time with that large number looming. 

Pretty flowers do help . . .

And more pretty flowers!! 

What's on the design wall this week?  Well, I'm trying to check off some small tasks from my To Do list, as well as playing with some fun things.  
https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/

The bias binding has been prepped for my Bargello Christmas tree skirt.  The kit came with a red star print for binding, but it is just too pretty to cut into narrow strips.  So I bought a red that looks like it was part of this fabric line - with a subtle stripe and gold metallic flecks just like all the other prints in the tree skirt.  I'll save that red star print for a future project where it can be seen. 

The backing on the tree skirt kit was also almost too pretty to use for a back where it will never be seen, but I did use it.  However - when I trimmed around the tree skirt I was left with big corners that were quilted.  I have a plan for those sections as well.  Stay tuned!

Some small projects need some quilting, and that is another task that I've been putting off.  I'm hoping to get something else accomplished yet this week.

Another finish & more organizing

Winter has returned, for the first time since mid-January. Bummer!  One forecast said we'll get over 20" of snow today and tomorrow, and another forecast says 6-8" of snow.  Guess we'll see what happens.  The plan for today was to get together with my daughter and granddaughter to work on Olivia's costume for her school musical.  We'll do some measuring via FaceTime instead.  

The binding is all done on another UFO quilt.  This is an Ohio Star quilt that was made a couple of years ago.  It’s scrappy, with white stars and colorful backgrounds.  There is another similar one still waiting to be quilted, with the blocks reversed - white backgrounds and colorful stars.  This will most likely be a donation quilt. 

Some progress has been made towards emptying that annoying tote full of "stuff" back in February, but it's not even close to empty yet. 

Mug rugs have been made using 5 of the Farmer's Wife 30s blocks I found in the "Big Grey Tote".  There were 7 blocks, but those last 2 had a very definite baby vibe to them, so they are in the 30s scrap basket waiting to be used for something - someday.  But these 5 made good mug rugs.

Two one-gallon zip lock bags of scraps from the Big Grey Tote have been "managed". Maybe that will be my key to dealing with those scraps - one small bag at a time.  Big chunks were ironed, folded neatly and placed into the appropriate stash drawer.  Most of it was smaller pieces and those have all been cut into my favorite size squares or rectangles. 

A lot of them are now small bricks - 2.5 x 4.5”.  I’ve been using that size in the scrappy Potato Chip blocks and in the Small Hearts.  All of the squares and rectangles are now in the appropriate bins.

I sewed some mug rugs and a couple of hot pads with scraps from those bags too.  The taco hot pads are kind of fun. These still need to be quilted and bound.  I had to buy more Insulbrite on Friday to put inside the hot pads. 

The churn dash block used up a piece of fabric with chocolate chip cookies on it.  A couple of little bricks were also cut with the remainder.  It might become a hot pad too but for now it's pinned to my bulletin board.  And finally a couple of random Zipper blocks came about using strips I found in one of the bags.  The really light colored Zipper block might stand out like a sore thumb with the others already made.  Hmmm . . .  And I saved a couple of the other strips to play with a totally different block idea I recently saw on Pinterest. More on that some other day. LOL  

Those gallon size bags are now empty and everything in them is either used, put away or thrown away.  Maybe every week I should scoop more loose scraps out of the bottom of the "Big Grey Tote" and put them into a zip lock bag and just work my way through it during the week - a much less overwhelming quantity to look at. 

RSC24 - week #12

 Some of my purple sewing this week has been planned and some has actually been spontaneous.  Without any work hours scheduled the past 2 weeks, I've gotten a lot of sewing time in and feel like I've accomplished a lot.

The spontaneous purple was this binding, cut from yardage found in my stash.  And it works so well with the purple elephants in that Laurel Burch border fabric. 

There was a lot of sewing this week as I didn't have any work hours scheduled.  Much of the planned sewing included purple.  Three more of the 16-patch Churn Dash blocks were sewn - 1 each of purple, green, and red.

While at the retreat in February, I made a big bunch of the 16-patch sections in many different colors.  They are collected in a bag clipped onto the back of the hanger with the completed blocks.  So, now each month as a new color is announced I can add them to the center of a churn dash block.  And I'll keep going back and making the previous month colors too.  I think I've used up the purple 16-patch sections now, but I see a couple more green and red ones waiting.  And there are orange, aqua, yellow, and pink in that bag. 

Last Saturday morning I saw the cat blocks on Treadlestitches blog in her RSC post.  Her kitties were so cute, and I just HAD to make a few.  OK - a few has turned into 16 of them so far. LOL  The first 4 I made were purple.  This is literally a 5 minute block!  I love them!

The next few can be described as multi-colored.  Maybe those are calico cats.  Here are a few of those multi-colored kitties.

One more purple cat appeared later in the week - made from some older batik from a Minnesota shop hop.  He's pretty cute too, but I still wasn't done.

I went back to January's color and made some green kitties too.  Now I need some red ones.  Thank you Sylvia at Treadlestitches for the fun inspiration this week. 

I've been keeping 5" squares of phone book pages next to my machine for string blocks.  A lighter purple version has now joined the collection.  These are basically just the Beads or Chandelier block, but with a string block center.  

I've now made new purple blocks to add to almost all of my current RSC projects, but there are a couple yet to add to the mix.  That will be on my list for next week.  If the weather cooperates, I'm headed to Minneapolis for a couple of days to attend a play with my cousin. I'm so looking forward to that.   

Let's check out more Rainbow fun . . .
https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Riley Blake Design Challenge - block #9

This is block #9 for the Riley Blake Designs block challenge.  Woven Together is by designer Sue Dailey.  These are all 10" finished blocks, so this one used a lot of 1.5" wide pieces.  I'm using my 30s stash and scraps for them this year.

Elephant quilt is a flimsy

I'm in love with this quilt, and may have to keep it for myself once it's done.

The border is on.  I used 6.5" strips of the Earth Song print by Laurel Burch.  The daylight in my family room sure doesn't do justice to the fun colors.  And my 6' tall husband couldn't stretch his arms wide enough or high enough.  It's 70 x 84.  

A deep purple Grunge has been cut for binding.  Since I already have a couple of quilts in the hands of a long arm artist, this one will hang in the closet with its binding for awhile.

When ideas collide

 Yesterday was a crazy day in my sewing room and in my brain.  I finished the applique on the Easter door hanger in the morning, and then checked my UFO list to see what I wanted to work on next.  From that point on it seemed like everything I touched connected in some way to some other project.  I'm kind of amazed. 

First of all, the border fabric I ordered last week to use with the Elephant quilt was delivered on Monday afternoon.  It's a Laurel Burch print called Earth Song.  Can you see those purple elephants?  I've always loved Laurel Burch designs, and when I searched online for something with elephants this popped up right away.  It's perfect I think.  All those rich colors with a touch of black - it plays very well with that black multi-color sashing, and the various bright colored elephant blocks.  

I've cut the 6" borders, and hope to get them sewn onto the quilt top today.  

That brings me to the first "connection" as I pulled another bag out of the Big Grey Tote.  This is a Laurel Burch panel.  It's gorgeous, and I even had 2 chunks of yardage tucked in with it.  There was an deep aqua marbled fabric and a purple grunge.  It was a buried treasure and something I want to keep and make fairly soon.  The panel is a horizontal one - which brings me to the next "connection".

With the Villa Rosa Blog Hop going on this week, the other day I pulled out the Villa Rosa patterns I've purchased just to see which ones I already have.  And this one was laying on top of the little stack.  Bingo!!  It uses a horizonal panel.  So I've put the pattern, the panel and the 2 fabrics into a project box ready to go.  I think it needs some gold and a dark red to go with the purple in the star points, and there is enough of the aqua for the background behind those points.

And there's one more "connection".  See that purple grunge?  There are 2 yards of it, which is way more than I'll need for the star points in that pattern, and . . .

That purple grunge is absolutely perfect for binding to go with that Laurel Burch print I'm using for the elephant quilt border.  Those binding strips are now cut and laying with the quilt and border fabrics.  What good fortune!!

A full circle.

To Do Tuesday

Monday morning I had some errands, including a pedicure, so by the time I got home it was time for some lunch.  And some sewing. 

 

I took my ham sandwich to the sewing room with me and got started.  Notice the parts and pieces laying on the table next to my lunch?  More kitties!!

I made a deal with myself, that I would only sew these 4 blocks together, and then put away the piecing until the blanket stitching was all done on the Easter door hanger.  Kitties made with lady bugs, fish, dragonflies, and big dots - were added to the first 8 hanging in the closet.  

Notice the "pattern" off to the right side?  I put my cutting instructions from the video tutorial on Missouri Star onto a Word document with a picture of the first block, and tucked the 1 page into a plastic document sleeve. Usually I make note of the source too.  That sleeve allows me to use one of the holes along the side to hang the pattern on the hook of the hanger along with the finished blocks.  That's how I store all of my block sets as I work on them. Once done with the blocks the pattern (in its sleeve) goes into the "favorites" binder on the shelf.

Once the kitties were finished, I rethreaded the machine with black thread and got to work on the blanket stitching.  All the colored pieces are done - bunny, Easter egg, flowers, grass.  Only 1 letter of the Happy Easter was actually done on Monday as they are very slow going.  So . . . finishing that blanket stitching is today's TO DO project.  

I've also dropped off 2 UFO quilts with the long armer.  So once I finish the current binding project there will be more waiting in the wings.  While working on the binding, I'm contemplating my next projects.  What will they be?

Design Wall Monday - March 17

The good news is . . . the binding is attached to another UFO quilt, and the hand stitching has begun.  The bad news is . . . I'm so easily distracted.  

I purchased a kit this past week for a small drawstring bag. I couldn't resist because it's so cute.  And as it turns out it was a very quick project.  I spent a little over an hour on this Sunday afternoon.  It is 100% finished and I think it will be a gift - filled with some goodies.

The kit included everything needed - the Tilda fabrics for outside, lining, and pocket, the pink drawstrings, and the little white ribbon tab.  Even the interfacing was included.  The instructions were very easy to follow.  

Here is the other distraction.  Kitty blocks!  On Saturday morning I saw the cat blocks on Treadlestitches blog in her RSC post.  Her kitties were so cute.  

I remembered that Missouri Star had a video tutorial of a similar block so I watched the tutorial and jotted down the cutting instructions.  Next thing I knew there were 8 of the blocks laying on my ironing board.  Honestly, these 9" finished blocks take only about 5 minutes to sew.  Jenny Doan at Missouri Star used a layer cake to make hers, but mine are scraps.
  

My favorite is the kitty with the colorful guitars, although the puzzle piece one is cute too.  I'm thinking more kitties will be born this week. LOL  Obviously, I've been inspired by Treadlestitches to add these blocks to my RSC collection, and eventually they make a good donation quilt.  I can imagine some little kiddo being thrilled to have a kitty quilt.

So, what's on my design wall for this week?  I really need to work on the applique stitching for the Easter door hanger project.  It has been too easy to play with other things, and not get back to that project the past couple of weeks.  It can't hang on the door if it isn't finished.

Time to focus again.

Check out more Monday design wall news . . .
https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

Weekly report on the Big Grey Tote

 I've been digging deeper into that Big Grey Tote that surfaced when I moved a table in my sewing room at the end of February.  Since then I've been dealing with some of the things hiding in that tote.  A few things have been thrown away, some have been given away.  Probably a lot of things will end up being repurposed, like this . . .

The surprising find this week was this book and the 7 random blocks I had made from the book.  Last year I used the first of these Farmer's Wife books and made a huge queen sized quilt with a friend.  We challenged ourselves to make 2 blocks a week until all 111 of the 6.5" blocks were done.  Both of us have completed quilts that wouldn't have happened without the accountability of doing them together.  My finished Farmer's Wife quilt is currently on my bed.  

I had totally forgotten that the 1930s version of the book was somewhere in my sewing room since it wasn't on a shelf with my other books.  Instead it was buried in that tote - with 7 random blocks from 30s reproduction prints.  If memory serves me correctly, I made these blocks when we lived in our previous house.  That makes these at least 18 years old.  I'm sure I didn't like them together, so that's probably why they ended up abandoned in the bottom of that tote when we moved.  My plan is to make mug rugs from those orphan blocks, and the book is back on the shelf.  

The green pepper hot pad pieces (also buried in that tote) are seeing daylight.  I actually have one of them totally done, quilted and bound.  A second one has been quilted, but not bound yet. So, 2 of them will be hot pads with Insulbrite inside.  I'm not sure if I'll do the Insulbrite in all of them, so some might become mug rugs with just batting inside.