More Retreat Fun I Spy

 Always more to show so here is 

another I Spy from this lovely fall retreat!

Remember the piles of 79 feature fabric squares?

Well, the basic sew everything together is great,

but I wanted something a bit larger with adding borders.

First I made four patches out of the 5" feature squares.

I laid them out on a portable design wall,

and started adding frames.

The process of choosing the strips and making the 

frames was oddly satisfying.  

My Consulting Group, (other attendees)

suggest making it bigger so I added more.

I found the frames from the massive pile of scraps that we

built from all the attendees.

The organizer planted some starters and  

the rest of us just piled things on. It was awesome. 

After all the frame squares were complete

rearrange them to spread out the colors. 

Then they were joined up  and  

finished into a lovely 55" x 66" top.

We even had time to start another by raiding the other 

bundles to make a 16 frame baby quilt ( still in progress).

Have fun with the I Spy!

Sew Away Preparation

 Yes,I'm getting ready for the 

first sew away of the season.

Most of you know it as Retreat 

but I think sew away is similar to  

sail away and sounds like fun!

I love boating (really large boats),

so it makes it even more exciting.

It's time to dig out the UFOs and

organize the projects for easy sewing at Retreat!

The first one I found was a rainbow scrap project 

made  of color family blocks of two rows of coins.

I have a top waiting on the rack, 

made out of three 4 1/2" columns.

I'm calling this one a twosy.

There are lots of blocks ready

So up they go on the design wall!

Here are the nice bright colors of the first five rows.

My favorite size of 84" by 84" requires 

7 rows down in 11 blocks across.

A simalar top was  on a blog a few weeks ago , 

but the credit remains elusive! 

 I will update the post 

when it surfaces. 

So this lovely is now all clipped into rows and

packed up for transport! 

I have a few more projects packed up so now I am:

sorting threads,

winding bobbins, 

prepping my featherweight sewing box, 

and oiling the featherweight!

Now it is just coordinating travel and loading the cars!

Stay Safe and Sew on!

Linking up with :

Sew & Tell

Monday Musing

Design Wall Monday

SrSPS

To Do Tuesday

Wednesday Wait Loss

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Patchwork & Quilts

Still Finding More (pun intended)

 Well the hits just keep on coming.

I've done quite a few I Spy quilts and 

I still have fabric remaining!

So I'm continuing to do the simple pattern 

of putting rows of blocks together.

There are five sets of blocks ready for retreat.

They are turning out a nice size.

The 7 x 9 block tops finish out at 32" x 41".

Here is a comparison between 

just the blocks sewn together,

and a top with a border added.

I like the look of both. The border does 

increase the size a few inches.

The tops will be stitched together at retreat. 

I can make a decision on adding borders to

enlarge them or to just quilt them as is.

A dive into the depths of Pintrest has 

given me more options.  I will pack up some solids or reads as 

and possibly change up a few of the layouts to add interest!

A brightly colored binding might spice them up enough.

Here is a little one my GS laid out.

Lots of bunnies and even a happy little yellow fella!

This one was made with leftovers

 from the 5 and 1/2 in blocks.

There 4" x 6" bricks

with a sashing between.

The binding along the top and bottom 

will frame it nicely.

Still more fabrics to use!

Sorting out the leftovers made even more squares! 

Lots  of stripes and chunks too. Yikes!

I'm excited to see how they will all turnout.

Stay safe and so on!

Linking up with :

Sew & Tell

Monday Musing

Design Wall Monday

SrSPS

To Do Tuesday

Wait Loss Wednesday

Finished or Not Friday

Put Your Foot Down

I Quilted This

Off the Wall Friday

Back in Action!

 Fall is almost upon us and it's time to

 get back into the sewing room.

The design wall was home to an unfinished I Spy

for a bit of time over the summer.

Now it's time to get moving.

First is changing orientations of a few blocks. 

Some of the teddy bears were standing on their heads!

                                                         

Then it needs sashing.

Lots of decisions available,

and of course, I went with blue.

For a quick pull off the shelf, it was perfect.

There's even enough to do the binding.

It's going to be left open-ended with 

no sashings on the top or bottom. 

The binding will close off the rows  

to make it look finished.

I should finish 48"x 58".

The work room is fully loaded with things to do. 

Two little cats are waiting to be paired with our mates,

and stitched together into a smalltop.

There are 23 of these legacy cat blocks so maybe 

sashing or some alternate blocks may join them.  

Another duo is waiting for binding.

Both bindings are ready and 

will probably be finished up an upcoming Zoom .

Stay Safe and Sew on!

Linking up with :

Monday Musings

Design Wall Monday

Sew & Tell

Handmade Monday

To Do Tuesday

Wednesday Wait Loss

Put Your Foot Down

I Made This

Finished or Not Friday

Design Wall Friday

Home Matters

Beauty Pagaent

Oh Scrap!

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Stitching Stuff

Back from Away

 Well, I have definitely been away for a while,

Here are a few hints on where I've been!

Yes, it was amazing an amazing trip.

Definitely a sampler of all" over the ocean" has to offer,

We are still a little bit jet lagged 

but back to basics and everyday life.

On with the quilting! 

Today, after finishing up the mending,

I'm starting to quilt the little "Eye spy" top and 

 the goods are waiting in the to be quilted pile.

As my walking buddy said,

That will give me the bes feeling of progress

to get me back in the flow of quilting.

Here is the pile.

And here's the quilt first quilt going under the needle.

It is already have completed . 

I ran out of time pretrip.

Lots of packing and luggage weighing was happening.

The back is pieced

and used up more of the flannel basket.  

Have a great week sewing!

( Did you figure out where we went?

The statue on the right in the fourth

picture is Amerigo Vespussi. 

I think he looks concerned?!)

Whupside Down I Spy

Yes, there are still loads of I Spy 

blocks kicking around my sewing room.

The first brick one is up on the wall after

a brief hiatus to make room for

the GK's 5 " block I Spy projects. 

Unfortunately, a few of the bricks are upside down.

A quick pick out with my handy mini rotary cutter

and I was back in business.

Now it's time to audition some sashing.

Putting in some lighter colors as sashing 

is always unsuccessful but

 like a bad movie plot, I try it again

and it always does not work.

Here is the second go round, 

The last one to chose from, 

and finally a pile of the winners. 

One winner turned out to be precut pieces 

for backing so they were sent down to the 

backing bin. 

The cutting was all 2 1/2" strips which

will also double as binding. 

The first top measures 42" x 58" 

but the subsequent ones will be 

a bit shorter at 42" x 52"

Nice pile of strips here and 

minimal leftovers too. 

Enough to do 4 quilts!

Have a great week sewing !

Stay Safe and Sew On!

Linking up with :

Sew & Tell

Monday Musing

Design Wall Monday

SrSPS

Handmade Monday 

To Do Tuesday

Wait Loss Wednesday

Put Your Foot Down

I Quilted This 

Finished or Not Friday

Off the Wall Friday