Quilting is more fun than Housework...: November 2017

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Getting Unstuck

For months now I have been looking at these blocks up on my design wall. I want to work on this project but I finally figured out, the background fabric I was planning on using just didn't feel right....So I was stuck!

In my desire to use what I have, my plan was to go with the dark teal Kona in the above photo. The color is right, but I think there is going to be a lot of background in this quilt and my gut keeps telling me it might be too strong. I also believe that a solid background will feel a bit "flat" on this quilt.

As I was browsing some websites for deals over the holiday, I saw that Craftsy has their Boundless Blenders Aura on clearance. I have used this fabric on some other projects and really liked the soft marble look to it. So I ordered some 4 yard cuts of a soft aqua, gray and green.

Because they are on clearance, Craftsy may be discontinuing these so I thought I would pick them up while they are available. At this writing, I see they are still at a great price.

I auditioned the green and the aqua with some of my blocks and think I will move forward with the aqua. It is time to get back to this UFO!

In the package, there was also a free charm pack. Just for me!

And just like a kid, I had to immediately open the package.

The fabrics are from the Tailor's Tack Collection. It has a very early American feel to it.

I think some HSTs are in my future!

So not only did I become unstuck, it looks like I started another project!

How about you, do you get stuck when a project just doesn't feel right?

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Sunday, November 26, 2017

Oh Scrap! : A Few More Bowties

I hope everyone in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving - Filled with Family, Friends and lots of Food. With all the preparation and travel, I didn't find a lot of time to sew.

But as I was tidying up my sewing room, I did come across some nice chunks of Kaffe Fassett (and one old Martha Negley) scraps to make into some RSC Bowtie blocks. So four more blocks have been added to my growing collection. So far, I have not repeated any fabrics!

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Please share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

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So if you love scrappy projects, feel free to grab my button for your sidebar or posts and get ready to share all your wonderful projects from scraps. And if you have a great idea for using scraps and would like to be featured, feel free to contact me!

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Linking Up:

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So Scrappy

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Oh Scrap! : Siren Song

Last week I traveled down to southern Oregon to present a trunk show. I don't usually include quilts made from orphan blocks but this guild loves their scraps so I added them to the pile. I have to say, they were a big hit and seeing them again made me want to play with my box of orphans again.

My little suitcase of "spare parts" is filled to the brim and I have to say there was lots of quilty inspiration to get my creative juices running. While digging in there, I did come across a small stack of Kaffe snowball blocks that were gifted to me....

So I pulled out all of the other bits that contained Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

All of my design walls were filled with projects that I SHOULD have been working on so I opted to start a new quilt layout in the middle of my kitchen.

When the siren song plays, you have to follow! :)

By the next day, I had a finished quilt top.... And a couple dozen orphan blocks/spare parts found a new home! I love to challenge myself to find creative ways to use what I have hiding in my scrap bins.

Not sure when I will find time to quilt it up - I am busy quilting up client quilts right now that need to get under a tree. But I do get to enjoy this view as I quilt!

I hope in the holiday preparation rush, you are finding time to get creative with your own scraps.

Hope you share!

***********************************************

Please share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

An InLinkz Link-up

Great Deals!

This time of year is a super time to restock those stash favorites at some great prices. Here are some I have already identified and want to share....

Craftsy has their Boundless solids at half off right now. I have expressed before that I am really happy with the quality of these fabrics. At this price, it is a great time to buy larger cuts of the basic colors to have in your stash for backgrounds.

It also looks like they have their Blenders Aura on clearance. I have used this as a background and loved the soft marble effect.

Connecting Threads is also starting to put items on sale. This week they have their Stash Building Precuts on sale. They are a great way to enhance the stash in colors you are needing. And I always check out their clearance area for backing fabrics!

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

100 Blocks Vol. 16 Blog Tour

It is time again for another Quiltmaker 100 Block blog tour - Volume 16 is available in stores now and I am pleased to announce my Heart Chain block is included in the issue!

100 blocks day 1 cadillac convertible Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Blog Tour Road Rally: Volume 16, Day 1

Quiltmaker has put together a Road Rally tour highlighting a number of block designers. Check them all out on their Quilty Pleasures blog. They are hosting a fun souvenir hunt with some great prizes!

Here is the block I designed. It is called both Heart Chain (and Heart Beats) within the issue.

Can you tell I designed it way back in February?

Making my sample block required me to make my own road rally...

First stop was the mailbox and finding the instructions for block #1559.

There were lots of pieces to cut...

I used Robert Kaufman's Quilter's Linen in 4 colors.

A few half square triangles to mark...I love my Hera marker for that task.

Making these tiny hearts required lots of trips between my sewing machine and my ironing board.

But they are so adorable they are worth every step!

I soon had a finished block!

I wanted to turn it into a mini so I decided to frame it with some 2.5" strips.

...but it's travels were not over. Down the hallway and into my quilting studio it went.

Yep...I loaded my little 16" mini onto my big 12 foot longarm frame. It looked pretty ridiculous.

But when you are used to using a certain tool, you overlook the silliness of it!

Now my Heart Chain mini is ready for it's next road trip. I will be sending it off along with a copy of the magazine to one lucky reader. (US only please). All you need to do is leave me a comment on my blog telling me which state you are from and what state you would love to travel to. I will randomly draw a winner Monday the 20th after 9 am PST.

(Please be sure I can reach you if you win. There have been lots of "no-reply" commenters lately. Leave your email address if you are not sure. If I can't contact you, you can't win!)

The blog tour is going on all week over at Quilty Pleasures and you have until Sunday midnight to enter the grand prize giveaway. So head over to Quiltmaker's blog and check it out!

If you want to order yourself a copy of the magazine - you can do so here!

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

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Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

Crazy Mom Quilts (Finish it up Friday)

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Sunday, November 12, 2017

Oh Scrap! : RSC2018

Most of my week was spent teaching and performing trunk show presentations. So there was not much sewing going on at the home front.

But I sure had a ball sharing my passion with other quilters!

I did find a few fabric bits around my cutting table that fit the criteria for one of my next year's Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt blocks. I "sashed" a couple with white/black fabrics and am wondering if it might be better if I just stick with mostly black fabrics.

What do you think?

Oh....And sorry I didn't get a chance to leave comments on those of you who linked up last week. I updated my phone and now Blogger is no longer compatible so it won't let me leave a comment. I hope they release an update soon!

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Please share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

An InLinkz Link-up

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Oh Scrap! : This and That

Lately, I don't seem to have any real focus on any single project. I pull a stack of fabric, but never start cutting - I pull blocks out of a project box but they never make it onto a design wall. I have had a few simple finishes but I haven't made any big progress on the long list of finish hopefuls.

I did whip out ten brown bowtie blocks for one of my RSC quilts. The scrap fabrics were already pulled, I just needed to cut and sew them. They really take no time at all to finish up.

So I went in and added them to the growing collection on one of the design walls in my quilting studio. I enjoy looking at them as I quilt away on my longarm. I would guess at this point, I am about halfway done. It definitely needs more greens, blues and purples!

As I was admiring my blocks, I realized that of my 4 design walls (please don't hate me), this one is the only one with blocks on it. It occurred to me this might be why I was not feeling inspired!

Me being a very visual person...

So the Burgoyne Surround blocks went up on the second wall in my studio.
(I instantly wanted to make a fourth block!)

And in my sewing room, I put these long forgotten blocks back up on the smaller wall. I am so thankful for cameras so I could see what I had planned!

I love the bright colors in this one!!

I even put the "brown" blocks up on my fourth wall. I will say I am a bit more inspired to work on this after I saw Emily's very cool variation on her blog.

Maybe I just need a new layout to get me going!

Hopefully all this visual stimulation will inspire me to get moving on one of these!
Fingers crossed!

***********************************************

Now it is time for you to share your scrap projects. Here are the details for linking up:

This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do!

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday, November 3, 2017

A Tree Skirt Finish

A few Christmas's ago, I noticed one of my sisters wrapping a blanket around the base of her tree and decided she needed a quilty tree skirt. My plan was to have one made by the following year, but - well, that just didn't happen!

I decided to go with just a simple patchwork and keep it in a square shape. I used 4" pieces so the skirt measures 48" square. I sewed and quilted a BIG square patchwork piece. After it was trimmed, I cut into the center and used an 8" bowl to create the circle. I didn't want to mess with cutting a bunch of biased binding, so I cut just enough for the center AND used straight grain binding for the rest.

I used a low loft poly batting and just quilted some easy echo quilting. This created the look of little pillows for the gifts to rest on. My sis loves traditional and this piece really has a vintage vibe to it. I think she is going to really like it.

I used up a bunch of fat quarters on the back. I would have preferred one big piece but I didn't want to go buy any fabric. Besides, who notices the back of a tree skirt!

My sister has a birthday in November so I plan on sending this off to her soon. It is nice to finish something that has been on my list for a while!

I did use my AccuQuilt fabric cutter to cut all of these squares. I see they have some great deals on both Cutters and Dies through the weekend. It sure makes cutting so much faster!