Improv blocks

When I laid out my red and white (and black) quilt I found I didn't have enough 4.5 inch blocks. I also happened to be out of red. So these 2 blocks were pieced randomly from the scraps I had leftover. They are a fun addition to my quilt and I know that no one else will have blocks exactly like these, which helps to unique-ify my quilt. It also helps me feel good about the fact that I am using what I have.

Red and white finish

Red and white quilt top. It is so big I couldn't get a full picture of it. I'm leaving the edge jagged. I loved the stark contrast in the blocks that we exchanged, but was having trouble with ideas for how to maintain that look without buying too much more fabric. (5 yards of white later...) The black was in my stash, and I still have strong feelings when I see red, white, and black color combinations because those were my high school colors. I love how colors play together, and work to both accent themselves and to draw attention to the other colors around them. A few of the 4.5 inch blocks had to be put on point within their on point block because they didn't look as good on point. I really love this quilt top. Now to get it quilted quickly because it needs to be done soon.

3.5 red and white

Here are 3.5 inch red and white friendship stars to join the big red ones in the border for my red and white quilt.

Matching pillow

This quilt needed a pillow to go with it. I wanted to make something simple and modern. This is what I came up with. I decided that a simple use of the "Bacon Stitch" was perfect to add a little extra spice. I stitched an even distance from each other (used the edge of my machine as a good guide) in black, and then found a yellow, orange, green, and pink thread I thought matched, and used my random number generator to figure out which columns got which colors. It is one of my favorite tools for randomizing.

I even made the pillow myself with some Poly-fil that I bought several years ago and a Polyester feeling fabric that I believe was the lining for curtains that I got in a random box of fabric.

Sew my stash Precuts Challenge

This was a fat quarter bundle that I picked up in Cincinnati, Ohio when I went to the International Quilt Festival there with my mom in April of 2012. It was the end of a grand trip that Nate, My Mom, and I took, that included visiting my Aunt and Cousin in Tennessee, and a Cousin and her family in Texas, and of course ended in Cincinnati. This line was Garden Strings by Kim Schaefer. I loved the vibrant colors. I finally found a pattern for it when Amy Smart decided to host The Virtual Quilting Bee on her blog during 2013. I then set aside the bundle for when I would have time to start the project, but as most quilters seem to know, there is always one more thing to do. That one more thing actually became the Christmas quilts that I made that year for my family. So into the pile of waiting projects it went.

This year I decided I was going to drastically cut down on my fabric buying. So when #SewMyStash2015 started taking over Instagram, I started following and lurking. I was still using my stash and only my stash because I wanted to see how long I could go without buying fabric just to buy fabric. I can say that I have only bought fleece after an incident at Joann's, white to finish 1 quilt, and, a clearanced fat quarter bundle that has been backordered, since October 10th.

Anyway, I continued to lurk, but had not really gotten the hang of hashtags, so didn't want to go overboard. Well, when she issued the first challenge I jumped right in. Then when this precuts challenge came up, I started looking through my precuts, since I keep them all together, and rediscovered this bundle. I hunted down the patterns for the squares and went to town. It was hard to motivate myself to start cutting into the fat quarters, but once I did, the blocks went together super quick and easy. Now I can proudly say that I have another finished top, completely out of my own stash (with backing and a scrappy binding all ready, too) ready for quilting. Now I am beginning to gladly use the #SewMyStash2015 hashtag. Thank you Leasa. To find more on this challenge and to see what others have completed go check it out here or on Instagram with #SewMyStash2015PrecutsParty

Konda's Hexagon Runner

This is a pattern by Konda Luckau, found in her book Simply Hexagons. She had me test the pattern and I loved it. She addresses the tricky subject of y-seams spectacularly. I was very impressed. Her method allows you to chain piece all of it. The only trouble I had with it, was when I accidently shifted a row and had to rip the seam. I then accidently turned a corner and ripped the wrong seam. Otherwise, it was fun and quick and used a precut hexagon pack.

Quilt along

My progress this week included starting on the applique for this block. For this week's blocks, go check out Marion's Blog and Ginny will walk you through them.

 I know it isn't my week for helps, but I just want to share just one little tool I've decided I love. It is a glue stick. When doing applique I find that a glue stick gives me the least amount of fabric bunching, with the least amount of prep work, which allows me to utilize more of my available time in getting a finished product. 

Cool Dudes

I love this picture of my boys from May 2014. Nate wanted to share his glasses with his little brother. I can't believe how little Kyle is here. Nate wanted Kyle to be a Cool Dude.

Celtic Solstice

Wow. I was just checking for blog post drafts and came across a couple of them from May 2014. This was my Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter getting laid out so I could get the backing ready. I may have even posted these pictures before, but they are some of the ones that make me smile.

Here nate is using the measuring tape to help with "Borders". He loves when mommy lets him help, Kyle was still small enough that he's over in the swing. Now if I lay a quilt top on the floor like this he goes and sits in the middle and giggles.

I love this backing. It is just so much fun to see the mixed up backings that come when you use what you have. This quilt has been put to use on our bed. It is way oversized, and should still be usable if/when we finally upgrade to a King Size bed.

One more Star in the Sky.

Sorry for the blurry picture (It looks like the boys have been playing with my phone and touching the camera lense again), but it's all I've got since this quilt has moved on to its new home. This is a quilt I put together for a lady from Church who had an angel baby. I wanted to do something for her. I am very grateful that I am able to make things like this to help others. It has given me some serious thinking time. I quilt to help fight some of my own demons, but it is nice that the results of my fights can go to help other to fight their own demons.

One of my son's favorite movies right now is Robots. It's animated film about the Robot who wants to be an inventor and comes to the big city to fulfill his goal of working as such. There are several good laughable quotes and several very good serious quotes. One of them that has been sticking with me as I try and use more of my stash is "See a Need, Fill a Need." I hope I can help others by trying to fill some of their needs.

For my records this is Finish #5 of 2015.

Friends

We've found we can all for in my blazer. These are my little boys and my best friends' little girl. When we get together to hang out we can just take my car now. It makes it much easier than trying to caravan. The quilt my Nate is using is one that I used for long arm practice at my parents' house before quilting my round robin. It is made out of some of the cheap fabrics I found. We have found that when Nate gets in the car, he can buckle himself if he doesn't have his coat on. So, he gets in the car takes his coat off and buckles, and then we throw the blanket on him. He loves it.

Hubby's hair

We chopped it all off. My hubby has been growing it out and mocking me that his has been longer than mine for some time. He also has thicker hair than I do, so it was fuller than my hair was too. When it got long enough, he decided to cut it all off and donate it. I love that he was willing to help others. I hate to admit it, but I actually enjoyed being able to put it all in the little rubber bands, so that we could salvage as much hair as possible. It was a little shocking to see it all gone.

Bftp Update

I actually managed to get some progress in this week. I decided that I needed to be putting in half an hour of prep time on this everyday to try and get going. I have managed to get these 2 blocks done and will talk about them here at a later date. Today you need to go check out Natalie's blog. So here is today's progress.

See you again soon.

Charity

Puss in the corner blocks with sashing. I have been following ProjectLeasa on Instagram as she has been encouraging us to Sew from our Stashes. The official hashtag is #sewmystash2015. I've not been using the hashtag, but it has been fun that she has been offering challenges with prizes. Her first challenge was to do something with hearts, either in the fabric or in the pattern and gave us about a week to do it. This is what I came up with. The red fabric has some cute hearts and bows. I love how this came out. It looks very traditional to me. I will made it to the size specifications to be a donation quilt for Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. Now to just get to quilting it. I'm just planning some simple straight lines. The gold plaid will be my backing and I'll be using the brown as binding.

Red friendship stars

I'm hard at work on my red and white swap quilt. These finish at 6.5 inches and are going to be part of my final border. I am really enjoying how this is coming out.

Zig zag

This was my sew day project for January. I went to Sew Day with a Layer Cake, Red Yardage, and a pattern. When I came home I had half of it sewn into rows. It was a real quick and easy pattern from Moda Bakeshop. I had gotten this April Showers layer cake when it was on sale and the proceeds went to a charitable cause, that I can't really remember what it was though. I love how it turned out. I have also pulled the fabrics for the backing and love that most of them come from one of my favorite designers.

Grand illusion Part 3

All of my Part 3's for all 3 of my Grand Illusions are done. Pictured here are the ones for my the one I'm labeling as my second one. These are some fun fabrics that I got for about 33 cents a pound. I had found them on Shopgoodwill and bought waaaaay too much. Unfortunately, they are the plastic prints like on t-shirts so I can't press them, but my seam roller and I have become very good friends. At the top of the picture, you can see just the edge of the part 3's for quilt number 3. They are all DS fabrics (Denyse Schmidt).

Finish #4 of 2015

This is for a family friend. It is a flannel quilt for her soon to be baby girl. I love how easy it is to make these. I think the most dangerous part for me was actually in the tying as I kept stabbing myself with the needle.

Dropping the Ball

I'm sure it surprises no one that it is now 10:14PM on TUESDAY, and I just realized that I have not posted the link for the Blocks from the Past Quilt Along. I still have no additional progress to post, but it is nearing the top of my list. I spent most of the last two weeks trying to complete a top faster than I should have because I wanted to be able to show it off at our Guild meeting last Saturday. I got it done, and it will show up on the blog a little later. However, that led to a slight burnout in the quilting realm, and a whole lot of "Well, now what?" Don't worry, now I know what's up on the docket, so progress can resume. But please go check out April's blog for the week 7 update for the Blocks from the Past Quilt Along.

Finish #3 of 2015

It's done. This is my round robin that I did with a few ladies between 2013-2014. I took it home with me when I went to my parents house for an extended Christmas and quilted it on my mom's long arm. I loved doing it. I tried to accent each row without going too elaborate on my quilting. I am very please with how it turned out. I even included each name into the quilting of the big outside border.