Using my stash

I needed and went looking for some mindless piecing over the weekend, making some more blue (January) Rainbow Scrap Challenge four patches.

Plus lots and lots of purple four patches for Febuary,  I managed to use up all the pre cut purple triangles, with three stars and one HST block.

I spent most of my sewing time quilting.  There is a limit to how much quilting my shoulder will handle.  So in stops and starts I free motioned quilted this cot quilt.  It started life as a panel, a friend had the perfect shade of blue for the border and then I had some digger & truck fabric for the border.  

Its a good feeling to be using up the stash. 

Its a fantastic, enlightening feeling to be writing my first post without any photo hassles!  I followed  Chooky Blue instructions posted on her blog, and emailed the photos off my phone to my blog - where they became this post :) .  That makes me so happy, you cannot imagine.  

My second source of joy over the weekend was buying myself a second hand desk, I have been using an old laminated table for years.  I had looked, but came to the conclusion needed to look second hand because I have a desktop PC, with a tower, so old fashion, and all the new desks are tiny little things (presumably for people with iPads or laptops) without any drawers to keep things in, so impractical!  So I can now blog in comfort, instead of being surrounded by piles of stuff, that did not have a home.  There was another purchase, from the local op shop - a little chest of draws, perfect for my sewing corner, but it needs sanding back.  A project for later....hubby is still working on the desk I brought our son. So he was relieved my desk didn't need any work on it ;) and so was I!

Happy quilting Sue.

Rainbow Scrappy Challenge Nine Patch Quilt

I assembled my assorted Rainbow Scrappy Challenge nine patches into a top in July 2017.  I then pinned it ready for quilting some months ago.  I had good intentions, but summer has been hotter then usual and the thought of quilting was not appealing.  However yesterday I wanted to sew, but it wasn't too hot and I thought "what the heck, just do it!"

Here is the finished quilt (60" x 60")with the scrappy binding machined on, ready to hand sew last night. I did hand stitch most of the binding, but not all last night.

I am normally really organized with pre loading my blog posts, but my computer is objecting to downloading photos off my digital camera....so I started using my phone.  Now it is playing funny #@#@ with downloading photos from my phone.  I have resorted to emailing photos to myself!

Hence my lack of  enthusiasm for blogging - just been too time consuming and Instagram is way easier!  

Still I wanted to link up to Rainbow Scrappy Chanelleng, because a scrappy rainbow finish is always worth celebrating...even if there is another hour of binding sewing left!

Happy quilting Sue.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge for January was Light Blue

The Rainbow Scrap Challenge colour for January is light blue and I have been snatching small amounts of RSC sewing time here and there.  I had a small amount of pre cut scrap, but fortunately after visiting my uncle and aunt, I acquired a bag of my aunts scrap and there was oodles of light blue!  I have cut the pieces up and been mainly chain piecing half square triangles, as I was completely out.

This is a relatively new block for me, one I have resorted to as I have more half square triangles then I do 2.5" squares.

I cobbled together enough squares for these stars.  And then I ran out of light blue half square triangles!  I have to  keep reminding myself that the idea is to use it up!

 So then I went  to making four patches. I already have a good collection of these, but not decided what to make with them yet.  Looking at this picture I am tempted to make 16 patch blocks.

 And last but not least I have a flimsy finish. 

 

I found all the four patches already made during a clean up of my stash. I like colour coordinating my eye spy fabrics, it makes the overall quilt less "busy", especially with the white polka dot sashing breaking it all up.  I have made a quilt in the same design previously (see here), but I think this one is going to remain borderless as it is already a good size.  I have made a backing for it, and its going into the pile to be quilted - when winter comes, far too hot here to contemplate quilting!
Happy quilting Sue.

First finish for the year!

I have been plugging away at the Warm Regards quilt, making the background blocks, here is my progress so far.

I have also started the applique in the centre block.  Just made the berries (took most of a day!) and have tried their placement here...which I haven't finalised,  I think I need to buy some applique glue, as an alternative to pins.  I am normally happy with pinning, but there are too many berries here that will move when I go to pin them one at a time.  

And after all that teasing, finally the reveal of my first finish for 2018!

I love a cheats finish...this was quilted by Vicki Jenkin, long arm quilter and she finished it after Christmas.  But then I had to put the binding on and to be really honest, the label is stitched down, but not written on!  I needed to find the name of the fabric line as well - so I could write the label!

But I though I wanted to use fabric line name, so I can give this quilt a name!  However it was a "Collection with a Cause Historical Blender" jelly roll from Moda, so not inspiring me at all.  The pattern is Vivid Grid by Sharon McConnell and was published in Quilts and More Spring 2017 edition, which I have made before, from my bright 2.5" scraps.  Think that I used a whole jelly roll and yardage of background fabric - a tan check.  I like the muted soft colours, but not sure who I am going to gift it to yet.

So quilt without a name, you are my first finish for 2018, lets hope there are more to come!

Happy quilting Sue.

Good bye 2017, welcome 2018!

I don't do New Years resolutions anymore, I dont allocate a word for the year coming and I don't pick a colour.  But I do make lists.  

Lists of quilts I would love to make and lists of what I have completed.  Then more lists, of projects half done and what I have to do to finish them.  I love lists so much, a friend gifted me a beautiful weekly organiser and to do list in matching stationary!

So here we go, the wish list for 2018; 

• A Plus quilt - I took a photo of at our quilt show last May.  As much as I would like to make it in scrappy backgrounds, I am lacking modern neutrals so I was going to make it in three colours, using the flannel I have in my stash. BUT I am hoping to get a roadtrip in to some patchwork shops soon, so I might come home with some modern prints that would suit this pattern.  We will see what takes my fancy!

• I have oodles of novelty fabric which I would like to use up.  I would like to buy a gender neutral bright print to use as the corners, like this photo I pinched off the web.

• I recently downloaded this pattern Moda Love LayerCake quilt.  A friend gave me a layer cake (partially used) which would make a nice bright quilt for a child/teenager and I like this easy but interesting pattern. 

• Tic Tac Toe quilt was on the list to make for 2017 and never got a look in.  Be nice to start it this year...finishing is another thing! 

• Sew Kind of Wonderful's pattern Urban Abacus was also on last years list to make, because I want to use my curved ruler again.  But again I would like to make this in modern prints, not my beloved reproductions.  So that shopping trip list is getting longer and longer!  

• Simply Friendships quilt book by Jo Morton and Kim Diehl was one of my birthday gifts and I have already started this quilt!  So it needs to go on the wish list - because I wanted to make it as soon as I saw it....and the starting happened before this post, so it still deserves to be on the list!

So that is plenty of dreaming about NEW projects I would like to start making, if I get just one started in 2018 I will be really happy! I know that I am setting the bar very low, but I do have two exciting holidays coming up this year, and it will impact my time for sewing.  So going to keep the list long, to give myself interesting options to choose from, but being realistic at the same time!

Happy quilting Sue. 

UFO list

I have Un Finshed Objects that were only started last year and others that are more than ten years old!

1. Jungle quilt top (9 patch) made in 2017 -  needs a backing, pinning and quilting.

2. Churn Dash novelty quilt made in 2017- needs a backing, pinning and quilting.

3. Cot quilt panel - also made in 2017, think this has a back but needs pinning and quilting!

4. Jo Morton Beths baskets (mini) - needs a final border, cannot make up my mind!

5. Autumn log cabin blocks started 2017.  Not in a hurry, just using up scraps as I go. 

6. Rainbow Scrap challenge 9 patch quilt - pinned, ready for quilting.

7. String pieced Lone star - waiting on a border.

8. Churn dash and flying geese - stuck, not sure if to finish it as is, or attempt another border?  It is an odd size currently (big wall hanging/too small to be a lap quilt), but I love this top, so would like to  finish it this year.

9. Temecula Circa 2016 - really need to work on this, as it is close to being a finished flimsy, but I cannot get it to sit flat and have unpicked several times.  Staying in the naughty corner for now!

10. Seven Sisters.  All the sisters are made in their colour ways, but I need to make an executive decision about how to join them together in the final layout.  The sad reality is that this is a very small quilt, but my enthusiasm for EPP is lacking, so could stay unfinished for another year.

11. Eastwood challenge.  This is my oldest UFO.  I think I started this the year we got married, so 12 years old?  I don't do quilt math, which is the stumbling block for this quilt.  However it would be nice to finish it, we will see.

12. Sugar Bag Blocks.  I dug these Sugar Bag blocks out last year (all different) and from memory I think I only need to make one more block.  The fabrics are lovely and would be nice to get it to flimsy stage.  There is sufficient interest for me to tackle this project!

So there we go.  I am tempted to follow along with the once a month UFO tackle idea, based on a allocated number, but in reality I know that I only work on things that I can find inspiration for.  And with several new quilts already planned for this year, my spare time will be limited.  I have a quilt camp coming up in March and that is my best bet for progressing along one of the projects I am stuck on, fingers crossed!

Happy quilting Sue.

Round up of my finishes for 2017

Finishes for 2017 = 10 quilts, 1 wall hanging, 9 mini quilts, 2 table runners and 2 bags!

 Red and white pieced Dresden (double bed)

Midwinter churn dash (double bed)

 Meet me in Barcelona (single bed)

 Scrappy red/green Log Cabin (single bed)

  Vivid Grid (single bed)

Snowball quilt

Photo quilt (commission)

 

I Spy kids quilt

 Cot quilt

Log cabin neonatal quilt

Wool wall hanging (Linen Closet design)

Star mini quilt (x 3)

Mini churn dash by Red Button Quilt Co.

Jo Morton mini (nine patch)

Jo Morton mini (framed toile)

Jo Morton mini (cabin corners)

Spools mini (Thimble Blossom pattern)

Mini rainbow repro Dresden

Spring table runner (Jacquelynne Steves pattern)

Applique table runner (Norma Whaley pattern)

Green sheep cot quilt

Makers tote bag

Sew Together bag