Small projects

Now that I've finished a couple of large projects, it's time to tackle a couple of small projects from my UFO list. 

Raspberry Cocoa is a Kim Diehl Simple Whatnots project from last year that I'm hand quilting. I'm very slow at hand quilting but it's almost half done.  Since it's only about 30" square it shouldn't take too long.  But I tend to work on it for awhile and then set it aside.

Another small project waiting for me is Lukas' pillow cover, which is also about 30" square. My plan is to do a diagonal grid of simple machine quilting on this front section.  Then I can put the envelope back pieces on and mail it off.  I added this to my UFO list because even though it isn't an old project, it had been set aside with no progress for weeks. And it needs to be finished and gifted soon.

Another UFO to check off the list

Yay!  I can check off another large UFO quilt from my challenge list.  That makes 2 big quilts and 2 small ones completed so far in 2019.  This one is 80" by 96".  And I'll be quick to admit that I like this quilt much better in person than I do when looking at the photo. The colors get a little lost in the photo, probably due to the continuous grey skies and light. 

This was the Saturday Sampler we began in October 2017, finishing in summer of 2018.  Summer Watermelon Sampler was the pattern name and we did 2 variations of the same block each month. I really love some of these blocks  and will probably make some again.  We were encouraged to "shop our stash" to make this one so I dug into what I have a LOT of: brights and black/white prints. 

I decided that I liked that swirly backing so much that I used it for the borders too.  The narrow inner border was a lime green with tiny dots, and the binding is a solid lime green - except for about 18" of the green dot.  That's what happens when you run short of binding just before turning the final corner.  I had no more of the solid left, but there were some scraps of the dot, and they are basically the same color, so I made it work. 

Fat Quarter Frenzy

I have a fondness for fat quarters.  OK, maybe it's more like an obsession.  But I do have a difficult time resisting them. And The Pin Cushion had an event last Friday showcasing them called Fat Quarter Frenzy.  Fat quarters for $1.50 each. Who could resist?  Not me!

Some neutrals always fit into the stash so there are 5 of them. I found some reds and blues for future Quilts of Valor blocks.  And then the rest were just pretty and called my name. 

How do you store your fat quarters?  I have a big flat tub that is just the right depth for me to line up the fat quarters on end and be able to see the colors easily.  But with this little purchase my tub is now packed quite full.  

Is there a rule that says I have to quit buying them until I use up a few more?  I hope not. 

Design Wall Monday: Squared Away

The hard part of my RSC18 Squared Away quilt is done - all of the sashing and cornerstones. This center section is currently 60” x 72”.  I have enough of the white jelly roll left to add a narrow inner border, but I feel like it needs an outer border too.  But what color do I choose?  Or maybe I can find a great print with lots of these colors in it.

Check out Design Wall Monday: http://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/

Group projects

I love making blocks for group projects because it gives me the chance to just do a little sewing with no pressure to finish something.  Sometimes that is all we have time for, right?

Our local guild has several fun group projects going right now and we have a sewing "morning" planned before our next meeting.  We need some baby quilts made for the New Years baby gifts we give. Another smaller area hospital will receive a quilt this year too, rather than just the big local one. So we are thinking we may need at least 3 on hand - in case of a set of twins being the first babies of the New Year.

I think these blocks will be cute for a baby quilt - owls, butterflies, cats, farm scenes, and dots in happy colors.  I've made 9 so far for the group project and another half dozen for myself. These Ritzy Cracker blocks from Moda Bake Shop are so fast to make and lend themselves to scraps very nicely.

We  also have a set of beautiful embroidered blocks that were donated by a member. Those blocks will be set together and then possibly hand quilted to stay with the vintage vibe of the blocks.  That quilt may be donated for a local fund raiser.

And many of our guild members have joined our new Quilts of Valor group and we have a lot of blocks ready to set into tops for that too.  These are just the ones I've been given already and I expect there will be lots more brought to the sewing session and to the guild meeting.

These look great no matter which way we turn them.  I can't wait to see what the rest of the ladies bring to add to the variety.  Even members who didn't join the QOV group want to make blocks for the quilts and we will appreciate getting them.   

The morning after

We got 5 or 6" of fresh snow last night.  The sky was still very grey when I took this photo, but now the sun is trying to come out. The snowplow has just come through our street and my husband is out with the snowblower opening up our driveway and sidewalks. It's pretty, but I'm really sick of winter this year. Like everyone.  We've had such bitter cold this year.  We better enjoy the sunshine today because it sounds like another system is coming through Friday-Sunday.  

Do you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder?  I do and really struggled with it last winter and am  struggling again this winter.  Sunshine definitely helps even when it's very very cold outside. Maybe that is why I like bright colors so much when I'm sewing.

Working towards another finish

I'm busy binding - slowly.  This quilt was our Saturday Sampler from 2018, actually began in 2017.  I can't remember exactly how many months this one extended over but we ended up with a lot of beautiful blocks.  We were encouraged to "shop our stash" for this one so I did that for the blocks themselves.  I pulled black and whites and lots of brights.  

Once I decided to set the blocks on point I did have to buy a few new prints for those alternating blocks because I didn't have enough large enough pieces.  And I bought the border and backing fabric too.  But the blocks were from stash.  I have one whole drawer full of black and white prints. And you know I tend to gravitate toward bright colors, so this one was easy to shop the stash.

It will feel good to knock another UFO off the list.  This is a large quilt and I'm a slow binder so it will take me several evenings of TV watching and stitching to get this one done.