Pieces of the Season!

It's getting to be the holiday season and

tonight it turned out to be like Christmas.

I was at a holiday wind up when guess what appeared? …

two big bags of scraps!

Some of them appear to be UFOs or  partially completed projects .

There are even some fat quarters but definitely

Lots of potential. Who knows!

This batch on the table could end up just like this one on the wall.

This scrap quilt in progress was made

by taking leftover bits that were

residing on my sewing table and

sewing them randomly together.

Then I took one of my favorite size rulers,

8 1/2 in and trim them all to size.

I have a spot where I store

in progress scrappy type units.

After I had accumulated enough squares

I started putting them together.

Joining them in a 4 patch first

gives a little structure to the quilt and

the narrow sashing

gives a nice design resting spot.

Definitely love having genrous Scrappy friends!

Sooo…. How do you store your scraps? Well, how many do you have! 

I started out with a small , clear baggie .

  I collected scraps from everyone at a retreat intending to put
them into a small, thimble ( tumbler pattern) memento hanging.

  I cut some strips and put them into a small clear plastic bin.

When quilters heard I was thinking of scraps, they just started cascading in.

  After 3 retreats I had bags of gifts from fellow quilters!

It was like becoming an orphanage for unwanted scraps.

I would find cut off triangles in my quilting bag, even in my coat pockets.

The fabric was too precious to discard, so I think they just wanted to pass

the responsibility for it along to someone else.

 Like a hand knit sweater you keep passing down to sibling.

I had to do something so..... they went into a large rubber tote.

Three bins later, I am building a wall. 

Log Cabins on the Way

Still working on the big log cabin quilt,

 and having some challenges with the quilting. 

 But in meantime , here are a few other log cabin quilts .

                                                    50th Birthday quilt for a Friend

Flowers for a friend who moved to BC,

 not her dog tho, that is the rent a  beagle Stella.

Flower detail,  I used left over Flying Geese for the borders!

Here is a nice bunch of blocks ready for joining.

Yellow Coins

Wow!  Life sure takes over sometimes!

 Vacation over,  back now , re-inspired, 

new computer, more family ( all furry ones) and

 lots of ideas. 

Always new techniques and ideas appearing

  so don't be afraid to jump in!

Take a chance and try something unexpected! 

This bright yellow coin quilt, made for an

 end of summer-fall wedding, and is a perfect uplifter!  

The dark sashing tones it down slightly .

Green log cabin

Always time to start new projects and

       some of my extended family and some are in need of a quilt restock . 

      So I found a great pile of greens.

       Then I did some planning

         Cut a whack (Quilter's equivalent of a lot) of strips  and.....

       Made a mountain of blocks and

   Beagle approved!

I have a great idea for the backing so stay tuned for details.

  Happy piecing!

Spring half square flowers.

Well with the weather warming up it is time

 for some flowers.  This quilt was made for a

 friend who moved out to BC. 

 She always has flowers first but 

I wanted her to have some from Alberta.

Flower Log Cabin

It obviously got approval from the resident beagle.

  I used a bunch of scrap flying geese around the borders.

                  I am starting another half square 

project to use up even more of my "square stash".

Rainbow Log Cabin Learning

Well there ya go, I finished the Rainbow Log Cabin! 

 Every quilt teaches and with this one I learned quite a bit!

 Item 1- Make good notes, or keep the pattern.

  I got the idea for this quilt from a magazine cover and

 then of course changed it to my liking. 

 I made it larger, changed the layout a bit

 and then added borders.  I lost track of the pattern

 along the way but remembered that the quilting 

contrasted with the direction of the stitching lines,

 so planned out a diagonal pattern using a variegated thread.

 I didn't stitch to the edge however,

 just to the edge of the central design. 

 Which created the next learning opportunity!

Item 2-Plan out your quilting.  

I wanted to carry out the diagonal 

design but found it very difficult 

to start and stop when changing 

colors from light to dark

 ( I was filling in the white borders) 

so  think carefully before 

choosing to change colors.

Item 3-Don't be afraid to be creative. 

Using a lock stitch was causing knots in the thread

 so I had to find a different way to lock the stitching.

 I added some additional quilting that 

crossed the un-knotted lines and 

that solved the problem.

This quilt now lives with one of the kids. 

It is definitely one of my favorite.

It also taught me a lot!!

Stay safe and sew on !

Linking up to;

The Inquiring Quilter

Oh Scrap!

Log Cabin Quilting

        

           So, big news, Big Red is complete and on the shelf waiting for its turn on the four poster! No more batting bits and safety pins turning up in weird places.

Here is what is in the works now.  I am putting the finishing quilting on a rainbow log cabin.  I saw this pattern on the cover of a magazine and although it is a classic I was taken in by the diagonal quilting contrasting so well with the squareness of the log cabin blocks. Of course I added borders and decided to carry the diagonal look through to the edges. 

.

 

Big Red

It is time for true confessions,

 I have been sleeping under a UFO for two years!  

This wonderful top is partially quilted and one day I just put it on the bed to see how it would look. 

The rest is history.  

Now , two years later, bits of batting

 are showing up everywhere! 

So for my next little while ,  I am trying to  finish it up. 

Just two borders to quilt  and two sides to bind!

Update!!!

Big Red is complete!!!

I caved under the looming task of hand quilting and 

finished it off by machine! 

Now this longtime friend is displayed 

all thru July ! ( a good color for both Canadian and 

the USA summer celebrations!