Halloween 60 degree runners

This border print was so fun to use for these table runners and toppers. The dancing skeletons and mummies in the purple section just make me smile every time I look at them. 

Obviously I ordered too much of this fabric when I wanted it for the border on the Saturday Sampler, but it's OK because I've used up all but some scraps for these.  I had enough for 3 of the 60 degree runners, 2 of which are identical.  I think I like the purple on the outside the best but all of them are cute.  Then I used leftover triangles to make these hexie table toppers.  The one with the purple outside is slightly smaller because the white ghosts were a bit distracting in the center. 

Now I need to get these quilted and bound.  They should make good gifts.  And I shouldn't admit this but I did find another Halloween border print plus a couple of other border prints in my stash.  I may have a problem.  LOL  So there are probably more 60 degree runners in my future -including the red geranium ones made with the fabric I just bought.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge - dark blue

The 6 inch flower blocks are from Lori Holt's book Spelling Bee.  They are so cute.  And now I have a dark blue one to add to the garden.  So I'm caught up with the blocks I've been making for RSC this year - flower, cat, and star blocks. 

I actually have more than these 6 blocks - see the other peeking out from under the red one? But these are the ones made following the RSC colors so far.  I definitely may make more of each color of these since they are small.  And I have no idea what they will become yet, although they would make a fun outer border to a quilt. 

My cat block was made at the beginning of the month as soon as I knew the color.  I used a beautiful blue batik for his body.  And the Ohio Star that I made yesterday has the same dark blue dot that I used in the flower block.  I keep thinking that I need to make a black and white cat block to look like our cat Sammy (nearly 18 years old).

RSC - dark blue

A little early morning sewing (highly unusual) gave me a chance to finally get a little fabric therapy in.  I'm not sure why I was awake that early, but for once I decided to make use of the time.  First I made a dark blue Ohio Star block to join the others in my Rainbow Scrap Challenge collection.  The Ohio Star blocks are so clean and crisp looking, and of course I love star blocks of all kinds.  

There are now 6 of them clipped to a skirt hanger in my sewing room closet.  They join the 6 rainbow cat blocks.  And I have the dark blue flower block to make yet, which may happen over my lunch break from work.  Dark blue was the color for June and the month is almost over so I wanted to make sure I had all 3 of my chosen blocks finished before a new color is announced next week. 

I also sewed one of the remaining 2 Halloween 60 degree runners and one of the 2 hexie Halloween runners made with leftover border fabric from my Saturday Sampler.  More about those another day. 

Shop hop purchasing

The past couple of years I've been trying to use what I have and not make so many random fabric purchases. It's not easy sometimes, but I think I've done pretty well. That being said, I was just on a 3 day "shop hop" - so yes, I did buy fabric. But I think I was pretty conservative for the most part. 

This quilt was displayed in one of the shops and was so beautiful that I couldn't resist buying the pattern.  And I bought enough of the fabric to make a small version with half the blocks.  

Quite a few fat quarters came home with me - with a focus on patriotic and neutral pieces. I also picked up a few that just appealed to me because of the print or colors.  I can picture a couple more Sew Together bags made with the 2 florals. 

Four patterns were purchased (without corresponding fabrics) and they were all for small or even miniature quilts. These 2 are my favorites. The one on the right has cats and tulips - and finishes at 13" x 18".  Too cute!  And the one on the left is a 24" table topper or wall hanging. But it might make a good center for a Quilt of Valor.

And one of the shops had TONS of border prints.  You all have probably figured out already that I love the 60 degree table runners made with border prints. So I purchased this roll that has enough to make 2 of the runners plus 1 of the hexie shaped toppers, and it has backing in the roll.  Who can resist red geraniums this time of year? 

So - other than Row by Row license plates and some Iowa Shop Hop block kits - this is pretty much it.  Oh - and I bought enough of the Iowa Shop Hop fabric with the bicycles to make another pillowcase and a pot holder for my daughter who does the distance bike rides.  All-in-all I feel like I kept my spending on the conservative side considering I visited 11 shops. 

Road trip by the numbers

One bus, 3 days, 43 ladies, 1170 miles, 9 quilt shops - and lots of fun. Our guild-sponsored bus trip shop hop is now in the rear view mirror.  We made a circuit from Mitchell, SD to the Amana Colonies in Iowa and back again.  I actually visited 11 shops because my dear friend Sylvia is currently living in the area and picked me up for a quick side trip and lunch on Saturday afternoon. 

I've been collecting Row by Row license plates for several years, and picked them up in the shops that had them.  Some plates are from previous years but that's OK as long as the plate was one I didn't already have.  The Iowa state-wide shop hop was also going on so there were block patterns to collect at each stop.  More on that another time. 

Our Iowa shop hop stops included:

1. Sioux City - Heart 'n Hand

2.  Ames - Quilting Connections

3.  Cedar Rapids - Inspired to Sew

4-5.  Williamsburg - Woolen Needle + Rainbows and Calico

6-7. Amana Colonies - Fern Hill + Heritage Quilt Shop

8.  West DesMoines - The Quilt Block

9.  Clive - Creekside Quilting

And my bonus shops were in Kalona, Iowa:

10.  Willow Creek

11.  Stitch n Sew

We left at 7 am Friday and returned at 8 pm Sunday.  Now - I haven't even unpacked yet this morning.  I overslept and was late for my 8 am hair appointment today, and now I need to sit down in my office and catch up on work that piled up while I was gone.  Time for sewing - and admiring my purchases - this evening, maybe. 

Design Wall Monday posts can be found at: https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/

Check out what other quilters are up to this Monday.

Interesting side trips

Just south a bit from Iowa City is the small town of Kalona, Iowa.  The town is “decorated” with a quilty theme all over. Large quilt blocks appear on over 40 street corners along with plaques explains the block name. Quilt block banners hang on every light pole and there are 2 fun quilt shops within a block of each other. What a fun little detour from the bus trip shop hop today. My friend Sylvia picked me up for a local side trip. Google “street quilt blocks in Kalona Iowa” for more information.

Halloween 60 degree runner

Here is runner #1 made from the leftovers of the border print on my Saturday Sampler.  Judging by what is left I think there is enough for 2 more of these. They should make good gifts next fall.  I may have to play with the next ones a bit and maybe reverse the colors so the dancing skeletons are going around the outside.