Let's Talk about Scraps

I love scraps...well some of them.   I mean, I still don't understand how folks can save the little dog ears cut from triangle squares or the real tiny pieces that are sized an inch or less.  I like scraps that are functional and that are big enough to cut into.  I enjoy making scrappy quilts. Putting one together stretches my imagination.   I am a huge Bonnie Hunter devotee.  I don't always complete her quilts, but I love them all anyway.  I don't really have a scrap stash.  I usually cut from yardage or use the fqs, jelly rolls and charm squares.  So when someone says use your scrap stash, I can't because I don't have one.   And, however much I enjoy scrappy quilts, I am not the dig in the bag and sew together whatever comes out type of scrappy quilter.  I have purchased bags of scraps.  Many of them have nice-sized pieces of fabric in them.  And my generous friends usually gift me with fabric scraps, but most are at least 5 inches or bigger.   So, the little pieces are not for me. They make me crazy!  I catch myself sometimes holding onto them because I feel guilty throwing them away.   But I am not going to do that any more.  On the other hand,  I am a very "controlled-scrappy" quilter.  What does that mean?  Well I like using lots of different fabrics in my quilts.  But I kinda control the color combinations, the placement, and types of fabrics used.  Does that still qualify me as a scrappy quilter?   I hope so...I have used as many as 100 different fabrics in one quilt.  I think that is pretty scrappy.  I like a lot of variation and texture and using multiple fabrics helps me to accomplish that quality and look.  I purchased this of bag scraps at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show this past February.  Aren't the colors wonderful and the pieces are pretty sizable?

So for the last 3 weeks, I have been piecing a quilt made with four patches.  The four patches are made with African fabrics, batiks and some coordinating fabrics, many of them made with scraps.  It is very scrappy and colourful, but I also made sure the blocks were placed in a recognizable pattern throughout the quilt top. I have 2 more rows to add.  I love how it is coming together and I think I have enough four patch blocks as a result of this block swap, to make another top. This one is not destined to be a flimsy for long.

By the way, I found some scraps in a few bins that are going to a good and loving home.  Linda, they will be on their way soon.  I have photos of a few more "modern" quilt top flimsies to share with you.  I am still trying to work my way through this phenomenon :0). 

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Checking in....

Time really flies when you have so much to do.  I have had a full plate at work since February and the arrival of our new CEO.  And things are changing...a lot of which I have been tasked to be involved in.  We even had a week long staff retreat in Monterey, California at Asilomar.   But, I have been sewing and trying new techniques.   I have always considered myself a traditional quilter with a slant toward using non-traditional fabrics. I like reproduction fabrics and the 1930s fabrics, but I enjoy using batiks, Aboriginal and African fabrics more. I also love the Japanese taupe fabrics. But lately I have become fascinated with the modern quilt craze. I can't even remember where it started... Most of the colors are so basic, grays, whites, blacks, lots of solids and bright color patterns - all of which I love and use a lot. I am not sure I want to be categorized as a modern quilter, but I have to admit that I am kinda liking some of their stuff. I have been flipping through a few books (I know I shouldn't be doing that, but hang in there with me) and I have noticed that a lot of their patterns use big blocks. Big blocks are great for fabrics with large prints and for those fabrics that you just hate to cut. So, I am thinking that maybe I could convert the fabrics that I love over to the more modern genre to see how they will look. Well, I have been experimenting a little to see what I could come up with. Here are a few photos of a series of quilt tops (soon to be flimsies) that I have completed over the last couple of months. The first one is a flimsy from several years ago and the other 2 are my interpretation of modern quilts.   I am not in a rush to quilt them. I just wanted to see how they would turn out and to experience the "modern quilt-making craze" a little. I did enjoy the almost instant gratification and fun of making them so quickly (3 in one week -- that is a record for me) but I am definitely going back to what I love with some modifications.

This one is called Tropical Vacation.  Started it about 3 years ago.  Made with batiks and I
free-hand cut the curvy blocks.  It is now a flimsy.

 

I made this top with a variety of Aborignal prints. Lots of bold color. After taking the picture,
I realized that I need to add another border on the left side.  I don't know how I missed that.  It will be a flimsy too.

Is it obvious that I am a lover of all things lime green?  I named this one "Everything Looks Better with Lime Green."
 It too will become a flimsy until I find the right backing and time to get it quilted.



I took the last 2 pictures at Asilomar in Monterey, CA.  I wanted to pitch a tent with a sign saying I will work for food.  The first photo was taken at Point Lobos Natural Reserve in Monterey.

The 2nd photo was snapped at Asilomar Beach.   This is why I Live Blue...

Traveling Stash Box #2 -- We Have A Winner!!

After being on the west coast for the last week, I am back and trying to play catch up.  The first thing I did was to have the random generator selection thing pick the next recipient of the Traveling Stash box.  Shauna is the lucky winner of the box.  I have contacted her via email for her mailing address and will mail the box as soon as she checks in.  Thanks to everyone who left comments and for those who did not win the box this time...keep your fingers crossed!  Again, here is what will be in the box that Shauna receives:

ENJOY!!!

Traveling Stash #2

  

Last week, I received a second traveling stash box.  The box was sent to me by Barb at  stitchxstitch.  Barb added some really nice items and thanks to her for doing that.  This box is loaded with really nice fabrics, notions, patterns and a magazine or two.  The lucky recipient will be quite pleased and hopefully find something that they would love to trade for.  If you are interested in trying for the box, please leave me a comment by Friday, March 22nd. at 9pm (eastern)  I will randomly select the lucky winner on Saturday, March 23rd at 10am (eastern).  Please make sure that I have your email so that I can contact you.




Lots of patterns and some magazines...

 

Some notions...



 



Tons of Fabrics...



These are my fabric selections...




And this is what I added to the Traveling Stash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I add a couple of patterns, a wall hanging quilt kit with the pattern and 5 fat quarters in luscious tropical color, a heart shaped yo-yo maker and some additional fat quarters and yardage.

 

If you are interested in trying for the traveling stash,  there are few simple rules:

RULES

 

1. Be an active blogger. Post about receiving and the box and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.
2. There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been. Please add you info and place the note back in the box.
3. There is a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box. Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
4. You may take anything you like from the box. Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken.
5. Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.
6. Due to the amount of postage, shipping is only within the USA.

 Remember, leave a comment by 9pm on Friday, March 22nd.  I will contact the winner via email on Saturday, March 23rd and mail the box to you on Monday, March 25th.  Good luck!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST CALL: The Traveling Stash has Landed!

If you want to be the next winner of the traveling stash box, please leave me a comment by 7pm (eastern) today.  I will notify the winner by email on Friday morning. 


I have been trying with no success to become the recipient of one of the Traveling Stash boxes making their way around the country.  Well, over the weekend, I became the selected stash receiver of not one but two boxes from different locations.  The boxes are loaded with all kinds of goodies, quilt shop quality fabric, notions, magazines, books, etc.  The rule is that you can help yourself to any of the items in the box and then you replace the items with stuff from your stash.  So, yesterday, I received the box from Katie over at Snuggle Up with a Dish from Karma.  The box was loaded with fabric, fabric panels, notions, like buttons, pre-packaged quilt binding, a small embroidery hoop with floss, a really cute pincushion, and lots of patterns, etc.  There is even a pair of chop sticks???? 

Here is the box and its contents!

I looked through and found a few pieces of novelty fabric (I don't have much in my stash) and will make pillowcases for a challenge.  There was also a little light for a rotary cutter.  I could always use that.  As much as I would love to have them, I don't need another pattern and I definitely don't need any gadgets or notions.

Here is what I chose from the box.

 

...and here is what I added for the next lucky recipient!!

Some Asian-inspired blender fabrics with a couple of focus pieces,  a couple of patterns, 2 skeins of boa yarn (I had a project in mind when I bought this but you know what happens) needles, bias binding and some Thangles.

If you would like the traveling stash to visit you, please leave me a comment by Thursday at 7:00pm (eastern).  I will select a winner on about 9;m on Thursday night and contact you via email.  The box will be mailed by Friday afternoon.  I will be traveling next week, and do not want to hold things up.

Of course as with every challenge, there are rules...a few really simple rules.   Please check them out and if want to participate, then leave a comment for me. 

RULES

1. Be an active blogger.  Post about receiving and the box and the giveaway on your blog in a timely manner.
2. There is a note in the box that logs where the box has been.  Please add you info and place the note back in the box.
3. There is a list of Rules and Guidelines in the box.  Please read and follow these and return the list to the box.
4. You may take anything you like from the box.  Just replace every item with comparable quilt shop quality items equal to the amount taken.
5. Ship the box to the next person in a reasonable amount of time.
6. Due to the amount of postage, shipping is only within the USA.

Remember, that I expect another box today or tomorrow and will post it about when I receive it.  So everyone has 2 chances!  Good luck!

Dare to Dresden Blog Hop

I signed up for this blog hop because I love the Dresden block...It is a first time for me and it was a little bit of a challenge but it was fun.  If you have had the opportunity to stop by the other blogs to see their Dresden entries, they are all absolutely stunning.  Thanks to our cheerleader Christine of Quilt Monster in My Closet for all she has done to make this blog hop a success.  And thanks to Madam Samm at Sew We Quilt for providing us with the opportunity to strut our stuff.  Today, I am debuting my Dresden blocks along with the blogs listed below.  I decided to make a traditional Dresden and I used fabrics from my stash of African fabrics and batiks.  Why lime green...just love it as a background and it really brightens up the black and white.   Grab a cup of tea or whatever is your pleasure and sit back and enjoy!

January 30^th, 2013

Charlotte H @ “that Other Blog”

It Seams to be Sew

Merry Gay in Stitches

Water Penny

Granny Good Stuff

Under the Presser Foot

More Stars in Comanche

Sew Me Something Good

The Day Before This Day

Farm Road

Livin' Blue Quilter

I Piece 2 Mary
Kwilty Pleasures
Espritpatch
Nutz4Redwork

Serious Gadget Love…

Is it too late to still say “Happy New Year?” Oh well, too bad…I just did. I have almost completely recovered from the holidays with family and friends and I am trying to get my quilt life back on track.

But before I update you later about what I have been up to, I have a confession to make…I have a serious gadget love thing going on…all of my friends know that I am sucker for a good reliable gadget because not only do I buy them for myself, I buy for them too. It's crazy...you know, you can only have so many rotary cutters (I have way too many, because I am in search of the perfect rotary cutter) and I haven’t found it yet, seam rippers, snippers, and Ginghers (all types and sizes), rulers, specialized templates, marking pencils, automatic pin dispensers, etc. If you need it, then I probably have it. To make my love affair with gadgets even sweeter, I love hand crafted items, which led me to my new indulgence. While searching Etsy shops for gifts, I came across the Psychedelic Frog Etsy shop. The shop owner, John Fawcett creates beautiful hand-turned wooden seam rippers, stilettos, writing instruments and other items from wonderful exotic woods. He also makes wooden irons for quilters. Paper-piecers will love this gadget. It feels good in the hand; the flat end of the iron is wider than most hand pressers so you don’t have to press as hard to get a good flat seam.   And of course they are also made from beautiful woods.

I purchased the large seam ripper in the Ocean Mist. It has detachable seam rippers at both ends (large and small) and comes with an attachable stiletto. It also came with a beautiful leather case. I absolutely love it!

So my motto is “You can never have too many.” Gadgets…that is!

For the new year I decided to challenge myself and sign up for a blog hop.  I joined the Dare to Dresden Blog Hop posting January 24-31.  I post my Dresden on January 30.  This is a first-time block for me.   It should be fun!




Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Holidays!!!

I am wishing everyone a very happy and joyous Holiday season.  Enjoy your family and friends and hold those that you love close!

I am sewing and making gifts for family and friends.  Just haven't had time to post.  Maybe by the end of the week, I can provide you with an update.

Happy Holidays!!!

Weathering the Storm

Sandy has come and gone, but there are so many people who have been affected by this storm.  Erin who writes the blog "My Patchwork Life" has sent out a call for blocks to make quilts for those in need.  If you would like to help, please go over to Erin's blog.  She has posted a short tutorial and instructions for mailing the blocks.  The quilt block is the Disappearing 4-patch.  It was my first time making this block and it was very easy.  I am contributing the 2 blocks pictured here. Thanks Erin for coordinating this effort.  I know many people will be very appreciative.

I am a Winner - Part Two

I received this package in the mail containing 2 really great items from Laundry Basket Quilts.  Edyta Sitar's 2013 Journal -- too beautiful to write in and a pack of her Paint Box charm squares.  I am a happy quilter.

I am a Winner!!!

I usually do not enter giveaways.  When I have entered them in the past, my number just never comes up.  However, I think the dry season is over for me...I have won three giveaways on three different blogs in the last month.  Yep, I am a winner.   I don't spend a lot of time reading blogs.  Especially those announcing "Giveaways."  Usually you have to leave a comment and when I scroll down to the bottom of the comment section and see that 1,256 comments have been left for one prize...well....let's just say that those odds are not in my favor.  I usually power through them and keep moving, but it started with Debby Kratovil's new blog.  She is a local quilt star and I was excited to see that she had started a blog.  She had a giveaway, I left a comment for Debby and I won a beautiful set of fat quarters in browns and pinks.  I  am using them in a new quilt...more about that later.  Love them...

So my winning streak continued a few weeks later, when I was reading Mary Elizabeth Kinch's new blog (maybe it's a new blog thing...) and I left a comment on one of her entries.  And guess what?  Yep... the random number picker was kind to me and I won again!  How awesome is that? If you have not experienced Mary Elizabeth's quilts, please visit her website gallery and blog.  You will be amazed.  She is a small pieces enthusiast and so am I.  I absolutely love her quilts.  She didn't pay me to say that...I was hooked way before I won the giveaway.  This is my prize...  I can't figure out why blogger rotates the photos, but you get a good picture.

Soooo...(who says lightning never strikes in the same place twice or even 3 times) this morning I had an email from Edyta Sitar .  Congratulations to me for winning yet another giveaway.  I didn't even remember leaving a comment on her site, but I love her quilt designs, so I am quite happy.  I don't know what I've  won, but I will post a picture asap.

This winning thing is fun and I could get quite used to it.  Well, I mean I would have to start reading the whole blog post and then I would have to leave a comment...sometimes you have to be more specific with your comments, so you have to think about a witty response, etc., etc., etc.   But I think I  like this winner stuff even though I know all good things eventually come to an end! 

Trinity Celtic Knot & Architectural Gems

The weather has finally turned to comfortably cool temperatures and it is just right to finish up some long standing projects.  Jennifer's wedding quilt is finally complete and I am sending it to her this week.  This week is her one year anniversary, so I made my self-imposed deadline to have her Trinity Celtic Knot quilt all done by her first anniversary.

I found this quilt pattern in a McCalls magazine.  It went together really fast and I used assorted bali pops and Michael Miller black, both staples in my stash.  I would make it again because it was an easy quilt to create.  My friend Carrie quilted it for me on her Tin Lizzie and we used a King Tut variegated thread.  I think it turned out quite nice.  The quilt pattern name is Architectural Gems and I can now cross this one off my every increasing in length WIPs list.  Sorry about the lighting in the pictures.  I really need to take a class on taking pictures :0)  Hope to have another quilt top completed by the end of the week.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

A little bit of this...A little bit of that!

So, I haven't posted in quite a while.  I wanted to, but this past summer has been the summer from H@#$L literally and temperature wise.  I am not a lover of all things hot, especially the swamp hot days in the Washington, DC area, so...so long summer, hello autumn.  The temperatures are a perfect 75 to 80 degrees during the day and cool 50s at night.  Just perfect.  So now I am trying to get back in the swing of things. Here is a short update on a little of this and that...

The ocean waves quilt has moved up to the fore front again and I am trying to complete the top and be done.  I have been working on this way too long and everyone keeps asking for the status of the ocean waves quilt. I need one full uninterrupted day and it should be done.  You can see a photo here.

So lately I have become intrigued with English paper-piecing and Hexies.  I have been following Bonnie Hunter's progress with her hexagon quilt and Kelly Jackson over at I Have a Notion posted a tutorial on her blog on how to do hexies.  I am hooked...  Not worried about when a quilt gets made.  This is a long term project and who knows...I may tire of it, but right now, it fills in available time.  So here is a little stack of hexies and I keep everything in a ziploc baggie.  Who knew???

I am still making blocks for the Farmer's Wife Sampler in the Japanese taupes.  This is block #16.  I only have 109 more to make. 

Out of the blue, my four year old granddaughter asked me to make her an owl pillow.  I have never made anything like this ever, pillows and stuff like that, but her request was so sincere, I felt I needed to do this.  So I made Hootie for Niani.  She loves it...even got into a tussle with her Mom (my daughter) because she wanted to take it to school and mean ole Mom said "No."  I think he is kinda cute.  And my granddaughters think that GiGi can make anything:0)

My watching TV project is putting the binding on this quilt that I made over a year ago.  I think I found the pattern in one of the McCalls magazines.  It is named Architectural Gems and I used bali pops.  It was easy to put together, just big.  My friend Carrie quilted it for me.  I don't think I have ever posted a picture, but it is on my WIPs list and it will soon come off. I will post a photo when the binding is done.

And lastly, I have been kitting up a couple of quilts that will fill in the void when I get bored.  The first is a pattern from Fons and Porter magazine in all pink and brown reproduction fabrics.  I had a lot of them on hand and I even won a giveaway on Debby Kratovil's blog for a new line of pinks and browns.  It is named Rootbeer and Bubblegum. 

Then I am having a new love affair with Mary Elizabeth Kinch and her small pieces.  So with more repro fabrics I am cutting up the pieces for one of the quilts in her book "Small Blocks, Stunning Quilts," called "Leap of Faith."  Both contain lots of small pieces and HSTs.

Thanks for stopping by...

I Love a Challenge...Jennifer's Quilt

Especially when it turns out looking like this!.   If you have been following my blog while I was working on this quilt, you know that I ran up against a few little obstacles...sewed a block upside down...sewed a block together in the wrong direction,,,didn't make enough blocks of one group, stuff like that.  But the top is completed and it will be soon on its way to be quilted.  It is a wedding gift for Jennifer who has been very patient since she got married last October.  Would I make this quilt again...probably, I think.  It really is not that hard to put together except that there is a lot of precutting and sewing and you really, REALLY have to be organized and have your blocks sorted as outlined in the pattern.  All of the blocks are 9 patch blocks in various sizes.  I used 2.5 inch strips (mostly bali pops) and everything came from my stash.  I did purchase the wide backing and it was on sale.  The second time around, I would use smaller strips, maybe 2 inch so that it would not turn out so big, but that is the only change I would make.  Maybe I would not make it so scrappy.  Just 3 or 4 solid colors or prints that read as solid.  Anyway, it was a blast.  Now I can move onto my other long-suffering projects.  We had a sew-in yesterday with my friends and I finished 2 sets of pillow cases that I promised my daughter's college room-mate back in October.  Brynna has also been very patient with me, but that doesn't keep her from asking about the pillow cases every time she speaks with Rayna.  So I can scratch them off as well.  It feels good to complete something and move on!  Thanks for stopping by! and enjoy your week!

Trying to catch up...

I have been off the radar for a while.  I had to put the ocean waves quilt on the back burner to work on the wedding gift quilt for a family friend.  It has been an ambitious undertaking but I am almost there.  I think it will finish as a king sized quilt with the last 2 rows that I need to add.  The pattern is named Trinity Celtic Knot.  It looks hard, but it was quite easy once you got started.  The trick is organization of the 9 patch blocks.  So this will be off to the quilter soon.