Downsizing the "stuff"

Our guild is having a rummage sale - quilt related items only - at the end of this month as a fundraiser.  I've been going through some things to donate.

Patterns and books, notions, some kits, and some fabrics - all are collecting into a couple of boxes for the rummage sale.  I need to dig deeper into my sewing room because I've hardly made a dent in the amount of stuff  that isn't getting used in my sewing room.

Back in April 2022 I finished the top to a baby quilt, and it has been hanging in the closet ever since just waiting.  This could be a nice lap quilt too.

This was the Snail Trail pattern, and according to that 2022 blog post I had been inspired by variations that I saw online.  Imagine that - inspired by social media!!  That is still happening!!  Anyway, it's time to get this one finished, so I pieced a backing for it.

Three tops went into that stack, matched with backings.  And I dropped them off with a long arm quilter yesterday.  Four kid size (or lap size) flimsies have been removed from the closet to donate as is.  There are still about 15 flimsies hanging in that closet waiting to be quilted.  But since I'm clearing out some things to go to a rummage sale I decided it was time to finish some - and also to donate ones I've lost interest in finishing.  It's a start, a small start.     

Design Wall Monday - April 6

Last week I posted some goals that involved getting borders onto 3 nearly finished projects, and I'm happy to say that definitely happened.  Yay!!

I took the advice from readers who reaffirmed my feeling that the Farm Girl sampler (Lori Holt) really needed a border.  I didn't have enough of any one thing that worked for that outer border, so on Friday morning I went shopping.  This grey reproduction print is what I chose.

That reddish orange inner border was not what I was originally thinking, but . . . it was in the stash and I had enough.  It is kind of a hand dyed marbled fabric, so definitely NOT the same as all those 30s reproduction prints.  However, I've decided I really like it anyway.  With the borders this quilt is now 75 by 87.  And it's hanging in the closet, waiting it's turn to be quilted.

Another goal involved working on the Snowdrift UFO.  Half the blocks are done so far, and hopefully I will finish the other 6 today or tomorrow.  Then it will get borders.  It's not terribly large, so I'm optimistic about getting the top done.

Sometimes a project inserts itself into the middle of plans.  That happened TWICE over the weekend.  First of all, our QOV state coordinator had 4 of our quilts to be quilted, and she dropped them off on Saturday morning on her way to a family Easter.  Thank you Gail!!  I spent a little time trimming them yesterday, and will dig into our QOV bin for binding options.  That first one (left photo) is one I'll bind, and other ladies will most likely do the 3 others.

The second thing that happened was hearing at guild that some lap quilts are needed for a local facility for handicapped adults.  That made me think of the Hollow-9 blocks that have been adding up around here for the past year or 2 from Rainbow Scrap Challenge sewing.  So Saturday evening I layed out some of those blocks along with squares cut from a remnant of "dog paw" print.  I think this could make a great lap quilt.  And I might even be able to quilt it myself. At the very least I plan to get the top assembled. 

Of course there will be some pink blocks sewn for RSC as well this week. 

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog

RSC26 - Week #14

 Pink has come out to play this week.

This color change began with making the 4 Snail Trail blocks (12") that I cut out early in the week.  There are now 20 total, and I've actually begun to think maybe these could be split into 2 smaller quilts (kid sized) with the pastels in 1 and the bolder colors in the other.   

I had a fat quarter of this cute pink chicken print and couldn't resist using it in a Snail Trail block because it has somewhat larger pieces, allowing those chickens to show up.  

String blocks in pink are under way. Once I pull enough strips for a couple of blocks, these make great Leaders/Enders in between other sewing.  I still need a couple more of the half pink half neutral blocks, and 1 more of the all pink version.  

Two more Give It a Whirl blocks are done too.  There are 38 of these in a whole rainbow of colors, so far.  They're only 8" finished, so I'll be continuing with these. 

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

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Finished (or not) Friday

There is a big important finish - the Jackrabbit Stars quilt.  And it was done in time to give my husband for his April birthday.  Actually I gave it to him - before binding - on our anniversary last week as a joint anniversary/birthday gift.  I think he likes it but it's hard to tell as he never gets exuberant about anything.  

Trying to get a good photo this week has been an issue with the grey sky and drizzly wet days.  I did finally get him to hold it up out on the front porch yesterday.  I flipped that bottom corner over to show the yellow gold backing, which has stars.  It's 76 x 90. 

Progress is happening with the Snowdrift (UFO) project too.  Because I had the block parts all cut out earlier in the week, I could dive into sewing those blocks. I did decide to make one change to the pattern - eliminating the corner triangles on the blocks.  I think the snowflake effect will show up better without that extra pinwheel showing up where the blocks meet.  It was just a bit too chaotic to my eye.    

The 2 peach colored blocks are done - and I like the look much better without the corner triangles, so I'll continue with that plan with the other 10 blocks.  

Plenty of pink Rainbow Scrap Challenge sewing has happened this week too.  I had cut the parts for a few blocks, and have been using them as Leaders/Enders in between the other sewing all week. 

Check out more Finishes (or Not) today . . .

https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/   

This and that

UPS delivered a big soft package Tuesday afternoon that was very exciting.  Quilters are the most generous people!!  Alycia sent 2 Quilts of Valor (quilted, bound, and labeled) for our little local group to use for upcoming presentations.  I just can't thank her enough!!  We've had an increase in the number of nominations lately, so this will be a big help to fulfill those requests. Thank you, thank you!!! 

So, what else have I been working on in the sewing room?  I finally stopped procrastinating on the Farm Girl Vintage project.  I used 30 of the 12" blocks in this particular project.  As is, it's 60 x 72.  Adding borders is still an option, but I haven't decided yet - leave it as is, add 1 border, add 2 borders.  I would love some feedback.  For now it's hanging in the closet. 

I had been trying to decide whether or not to add an outer border to the Shadow Star QOV.  The border I added is only 2" all around, but it does add a little something to it.  Now, to find a backing for this one so we can get it quilted. 

All of the pieces for a new project have been cut.  This is Snowdrift, probably because the blocks have a snowflake look to them.  The pattern and fat quarters came in a Sew Sampler box from Fat Quarter Shop.  I subscribed to the monthly boxes in the past but cancelled when it was obvious I wasn't keeping up.  At some point I added the background fabric to the bag, and then it just lay in a drawer - forgotten.  This year I added it to my UFO list.  And this week I hope to start working on the blocks.

Ready or not - April is here

It's that time of year when the critters around here turn to romance.  There is a an abundance of wildlife that passes through our yard daily, including turkeys.  There are 4 big tom turkeys in this group, and holy cow, can they strut their stuff.  This one was really trying to impress the ladies.  I'm always amazed at how they can puff up to almost twice their original size. 

I've been working on some goals for April, both sewing and non-sewing . . . 

• Keep up or catch up with some on-going projects
• Move more - renew a walking habit
• declutter at least 1 closet
• declutter my home office
• Saturday Sampler
• RSC blocks in PINK
• Sewcialites3 blocks (weekly) - I've fallen behind

• Finish some UFOs and WIPs
• Bind the Jackrabbit Stars quilt
• Bind at least 1 Quilt of Valor
• add outer borders to Shadow Stars QOV (above photo)
• finish assembly of Farm Girl Vintage and choose backing
• take 2 quilts to long arm quilter
• quilt and bind at least 1 doll quilt
• quilt and bind at least 1 placemat
• finish zipper bag (from Lori Holt panel)
• finish Sashiko piece from workshop
  
  

• Start something new!!!!
• Snowdrift quilt (on the UFO list) - fabric gathered with pattern  
• summer mini banner
• Year of Spools mini for May

A QOV flimsy

I had 2 main goals for this week, and the first one is already checked off - this Quilt of Valor flimsy.  Both side borders were sewn onto it early on Sunday afternoon, and the strips for the top and bottom were ready.  I actually wrote my Monday post on Sunday about supper time, which way ahead of time.   

But then my husband decided to go to a movie that I didn't care to see - leaving me with a whole evening to myself.  I don't often go back to the sewing room in the evenings, but I knew that in less than an hour I could have this top all finished.  I probably should have updated that Monday post, but I didn't remember to do that.  Oops!! 

And I was right - in less than an hour I had it all assembled.  Check this off my list.  The pattern was for a QOV sew-along hosted by Alycia at Quilty Girl.  

This is the second pattern of hers that I've made recently.  Last fall I joined in on the sew-along she hosted over the summer. She does beautiful QOV designs. 

* * * * * * * 

On a side note - I've been tracking fabric (in and out) this year with a goal of using up more of what is already in the stash.  However, in January and February I purchased backing fabric for several projects so the total for that IN column was really scary.  But now I've gradually been able to check off some finishes so I'm feeling better about the numbers. 

Fabric IN = 102.75 yds  - YIKES!!!

Fabric OUT = 68.75 yds

34 yards on the plus side yet, but getting better!!  The only QOV yardage I'm going to count  as "out" will be when it comes directly from my stash, like these 2 quilts.