Libra block - Saturday Sampler

It's always interesting to see how different blocks and quilts look when the fabrics are totally different. This month's Saturday Sampler block has a simple elegance to it, just like the other blocks have been so far.

But when the same block is made with totally different fabrics it has a much more playful look. Our bonus block this month is a 30s reproduction theme. 

Now that I'm caught up with Saturday Sampler and Farm Girl Vintage it's time to get back to working on a UFO or a WIP this week. It's going to be HOT, HOT, HOT and very humid this week so I'll be staying indoors a lot and sewing when I'm not at my desk working.

Farm Girl Vintage weekend

This weekend was a good time for working hard on my Farm Girl Vintage blocks. First of all it was really humid outside so that keeps me indoors. And second, my husband was playing in a 2-day golf tournament - which occupied most of the approx 36 hours he was even home this weekend. 

With the help of my chief quilt inspector, I made 5 blocks this weekend: the bumble bee, baby chick, apron strings, summer star, and corn & tomatoes. The corn & tomatoes block is the one from the book, but I've also downloaded the block with an ear of corn and 2 tomatoes. Maybe I'll get that block made this week along with the kitty block I also downloaded. 

Both sizes of every single block are done. 29 of each size!  I'm impressed that I've managed to stay focused on that. 

Friday finish

Another 60 degree table runner is made - this one with a coffee theme.  Now I need to figure out a plan for the scraps. They would make good hot pads maybe.

I can't seem to resist these border prints and making this runner pattern, but in reality I have more table runners than I will ever use. So why do I keep making them? Because I like them I guess. I should keep finishing some of these and then gift them.  Or even donate them.

I sorted through some fabrics on Wednesday and realized that I have way too many panels and border prints.  And the overall clutter in my sewing room is weighing me down right now.

Yellow Brick Road

The Yellow Brick Road pattern is one of my favorite "go to" quick quilts.  This one will join the DONE list this afternoon when I finish the binding. 

The fabrics are pretty old and all out of my stash, including the backing. I love all the different bug prints. I did buy the orange binding fabric however because I just didn't have enough of anything suitable. My LAQ used bright variegated thread and a stitching design with ants in it, although they are hard to see in this photo. 

By supper time today I hope to have that binding 100% done. I'm halfway around now so that shouldn't be too difficult of a goal to meet. Then I can cut and prep another binding for another quilt.

 

Plenty of binding to do

I picked up 2 quilts from the long arm quilter at The Pin Cushion and now I have some binding to do in order to finish these.  I also bought binding fabric for the bindings because I didn't have anything appropriate in the stash for either of them. 

The orange binding will go on the Bugs Yellow Brick Road kid quilt and the purple is the same as the border on the elephant quilt. The brown is actually for a coffee themed table runner that still needs quilting before binding.  

It will be good to add these to the "done" list and find them a home.

Hexie Sew Along bag

The Sew Along bag is finished and I must say it makes me smile because it is kind of crazy looking with the hexies appliqued and the multi-color checked edges.  

All of this came from my stash - the black outside, the hexies, the lime green lining and the checkered bindings.  I used a lighter weight interfacing on this one and those side panels were a bit easier to handle than the first one I made.  Lesson learned.

This bag is only about 9 inches wide but it uses almost a yard of fabric. There are 3 zippered pockets inside plus a longer zipper closes the whole bag and becomes the handles. Such a clever design.

I have another set of zippers and some fabric from the stash set aside to make one more of these. I found myself looking through my fat quarter "collection" for ideas and must admit I found several possibilities.

Design Wall Monday - a little bag

Only one step left and that is putting the top zipper and handles onto this little bag. I even used a strip of tiny hexies that had been just sitting in my sewing room.  A bit of simple hand quilting gives it some texture. This pattern is the Sew Along Bag and the pattern can be found at Craftsy.com or at your local quilt shops.

Check out more quilters' design wall at: http://www.patchworktimes.com