It's a mystery quilt, so I can't show you much. But I should have the store sample quilt top assembled sometime today.
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Store sample progress
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Another squirrel
Yes - I promise that I'm still working diligently on the store sample project. I have the blocks all done, and the border parts are cut out. So I'm hopeful of getting it done before the deadline next week. However . . . there is a squirrel teasing me this week as well. SIDE NOTE: Thankfully I have a backup sewing machine, because my main machine has begun making that awful squeaking noise again.
Last weekend I made 4 Jewel Box blocks to send off for a donation block drive. Making these was a great reminder of how much I love these blocks. They are quick and very easy to make. For the block drive the request was black and white for the 4-patches and purple/blue/green for the HSTs.
And if you reverse the layout (HSTs pointing OUT) these blocks become Buckeye Beauty. I'm blaming Alycia because her post was the inspiration for making these for Rainbow Scrap Challenge going forward. Because I've been finishing up some block sets for RSC the past couple of month, I've been looking for new blocks to replace them. I think the Buckeye Beauty is definitely going on that list.
There is a whole shoebox size bin full of colorful 5" squares that will be perfect for making the HSTs, and I always have lots of black and white around. It's good to have a plan. And it's wonderful to have made so many blogging friends that I can gather inspiration from whenever needed.
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Riley Blake Design challenge 2024
Another finish for September! And this one isn't even a UFO. The binding for this was finished last Friday.
Monday, September 16, 2024
Design Wall Monday - September 16
And here we are . . . another Monday rolling around. It's that interesting time of year in this part of the country when we have a touch of summer and a touch of fall. The days are still warm (or hot) and the evenings are almost chilly. The trees are beginning to show some hints of fall colors to come, and that makes me itching to pull out the fall fabrics to sew.
Do you ever wonder about the idea of coincidence? A week or so ago I ordered a kit for an autumn themed table runner, and the ruler that would make it easier - a large 60 degree diamond ruler. The kit and ruler arrived in the mail on Thursday. And on Friday one of my daughters texted me about making a Native American star quilt for her husband for his next birthday (June 2025). That new ruler will really come in handy for that project. Is that a coincidence? It was obviously meant to be.
I have a basic pattern for the star quilt already, but I think we'll have fun planning the colors and shopping together for the fabrics to make that special quilt. So - it's not on my Design Wall right now, but it's going to be in the planning stages.
Saturday, September 14, 2024
RSC24 - Week #37
It's my very favorite Saturday of every month - Saturday Sampler in the morning and Sew Vintage in the afternoon. With both of those fun in-person activities mixed in with the weekly Rainbow Scrap Challenge postings, my brain is going to be spinning with quilting ideas by the end of the day.
I wasn't sure that brown was going to work very well with the black and white in the Night Vision blocks, but I dug in and tried to choose "warm" tones of brown. And I'm pleasantly surprised.
Another RSC block set from previous years has come back out of the closet too. Bonnie Hunter has released the pattern for Diamond Tiles just this week. It was a block she originally released in her Addicted to Scraps column in Quiltmaker magazine, which I immediately tore out of the magazine. I made some (about 20) blocks, but then hung the pattern and more pieces in the sewing room closet. The blocks are so cute and finish at 7". My original plan had been making a baby quilt so I used a lot of bright colors and kid prints for the centers. My brain says "do something with these", so as I finish up the store sample quilt top and the Kitty quilt top as a current RSC project, I might go back to making these going forward.
Friday, September 13, 2024
Store sample
Thursday, September 12, 2024
Yesterday was The Day!
Yesterday was a long-anticipated date for my husband. It was season ticket selection day for Jackrabbit basketball at South Dakota State University.
This morning I'm headed to a local elementary school with the DAR group to talk to 3rd-4th graders about the Constitution. Should be fun!!!
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Chubby Charmer bag
The Chubby Charmer tote bag is done. I used a charm pack purchased on the bus trip in July - and it was on clearance. The lining is that pink batik from my stash. The navy blue in the handles was also found in the stash. Other than buying the fusible batting, this was a VERY inexpensive bag.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Tranquility is caught up
So far it hasn't been too difficult to keep up with the Tranquility mystery BOM (Bear Creek Quilting). Yesterday I finished this month's clue.
These are the 4 different blocks we've made - one block design per month. The top left block has the largest quantity, with 12 of those made. There are only 4 of the top right block. We made 8 of each of those bottom blocks.
So far I have absolutely no idea how these will go together - so the mystery aspect is alive and well for me.
The other sewing that happened yesterday was to make the rest of the scrappy Kitty blocks needed for those final rows. So the next step will be to lay out those rows and get this one to the flimsy stage - hopefully this week.
Monday, September 9, 2024
Design Wall Monday - Sept 9
Here we are on a Monday again. It was guild weekend, and as always the Show n Tell was SEW inspirational. I must show the one that was my favorite.
Hopefully Karen won't mind that I'm sharing this picture. This large wall hanging was amazing and my photo does not do it justice. Each block is a mix of applique and embroidery. Her embroidery was exquisite, and then the applique . . . wowza! She even put in bits and pieces of lace on those cabin roofs and in the sashing blocks. I will never make something this beautiful but can sure enjoy seeing it. I predict this one could be the Viewer's Choice winner at our next quilt show.
I have 4 done, with the remaining 4 blocks partially done. The units are all sewn, but need pressing and squaring up. My goal this week is to finish them all so that I stay caught up with this mystery.
The Chubby Charmer tote bag is also coming along. There is some handwork to finish up, and then the handles can be attached. Again - one of my goals for this week.
Making a few additional blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is always on my To Do list for each week. And then . . . you know I'm likely to play with something else that wasn't even on the radar yet, because that seems to be my pattern.
Saturday, September 7, 2024
RSC24 - Week #36
This week I've spent significant time trying to clear up a backlog of UFO / WIP tasks taking up space. They take up space in my sewing room and also in my brain. So . . . my brown and black sewing is focused on moving those projects forward.
https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/
Friday, September 6, 2024
Small projects
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Shibori Blues
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Paper piecing & pillowcases
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Kitting up QOV blocks and projects
Monday, September 2, 2024
Design Wall Monday - Sept goals
What is on YOUR design wall this week? I'm linking up with Design Wall Monday at https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/
My design wall is FULL of projects started and not finished - so, just like every week of every month! I always have multiple projects going at once. Sometimes that's a good thing and then periodically it overwhelms me. I'm on the verge of being overwhelmed right now I think.
Over the weekend, I sewed the Shooting Star blocks into pairs - one star block plus one alternate block. These are a Rainbow Scrap Challenge set of blocks this year, but there are not nearly enough yet for a good size quilt. So I'll continue making these, however, in the meantime, there is actually some progress. And they are easier to clip to the hanger in the closet now.
More goals for September
- Personal goals
- Walk at least 1 mile at least 5 days a week
- Continue decluttering
- Binding & other hand stitching
- Shibori Blues
- work on hand quilting projects (either Seasonal Cats or Vintage Stars)
- Block of the Month piecing
- Saturday Sampler - month #6 blocks
- RSC blocks in new color - brown/black
- Tranquility mystery quilt clue #4
- Carol Doak paper pieced stars - block #3
- Rainbow Scrap Challenge - progress on ANY of these
- Kitty blocks
- Dutchman's Puzzle
- Shooting Stars
- UFO / WIP projects - at least 1 of these
- quilt Bright Happy Blocks
- batik Hunter's Star quilt
- Chubby Charmer bag
- Quilts of Valor - blocks, kits, etc.
- PIG (new projects) at least 1 of these
- set of pillowcases (cowboy boots) for a gift
- Hemingway Pouch
- fall door hanger
- Whatever else I want to play with!!