Wednesday, June 29, 2016

I May Have a Scrap Problem - June

Confessions Of A Fabric Addict

Although having a lot of scraps is not a problem for me, I joined Sarah's scrap busting monthly program because I love playing in scraps.  Pull them out and USE THEM!



My Let's Book It project is technically a scrap buster as all those rails are coming from scraps.  Either from the string box, pre-cut 3.5" squares from the barrel, pieces gifted in baggies, or odd balls in the FQ totes (no they are never full FQs).

 

Play time with the over stuffed 2.5" square barrel produced......


a 40" x 48" postage stamp quilt.  I will add a couple of borders to bring this one up in size.  This will be added to the charity drive for our quilt guild.


Although my background is new fabric, all the circles for the '365' are coming from the scraps I play with.  This really is a 'fabric' diary for the year.
** link up with Quilty Folk **


And this cute project with Podunk Pretties was completed with scraps.


Some found pinwheels played nicely with scrap solids and left over JR strips for a colorful charity quilt for quilt guild.


I saw this little "Freedom FLag" banner over at Temecula Quilt Co.  I just happened to have the red/white/gold strips on my sewing table at the time.  Pulled some blue squares from the barrel and a left over binding from the drawer.  Finished 5.'5" x 18"

What plans are there for July?  I don't know - it will be what ever strikes my fancy.  Sometimes I just get those days that need play time.

Now go play,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Let's Book It - June 2016

Dust Off Those Books
I am a day late - gosh, I had two weeks til' the end of the month and suddenly it was two days!  Hope you all enjoyed the book, magazine, saved file, or hidden resource this month.  I will be rolling mine into July as it took longer than expected.  You don't need a finish, just enjoy your project.  But if you have a project that is going to take a few months, please just do the same - roll it on until you are finished.

 

My project was this lovely rail fence colorwash in Marti Mitchell's "Quilting for People Who Still Don't Have Time to Quilt".


I managed to get the center done, but in order to progress I needed the setting fabric which I had to purchase - I don't have yardage in my stash.


I went on that lovely shopping trip for my setting fabric and have pulled some things off the shelf for the other border and for binding.  As I looked more and more at this center, things weren't right.  I was missing a row.  I need a 9 by 9 row piece to turn on point and it was 8 by 9.


And each of those corners needs 17 rail block units - I have a lot of rails to make yet!!  That is why I am rolling this one into July.  Plus, my July is rather booked, so I don't want to add a new project - rather concentrate on a finish.

This month's charm will be the PatchWork Heart - mine is the special edition pink that is no longer available:

     

Now it's your turn to share: 


Monday, June 27, 2016

Monday Making 6/27/16


I had a point in my various projects where I just needed some mindless play.  My scrap barrel storage is right near the little table where I have my Juki set up right now - so grab a barrel that is 'over-stuffed'!


I keep several Kona black, white, and snow JRs on the shelf, too.  So with those 2.5" scrap squares paired with some Kona snow - quick 16-patches that will need pressing and then assembly into a postage stamp quilt today.


And with the circles for the '365' caught up (actually the total to the end of June so ahead), I need to pull the second Zen Chic 'Modern Background-Paper' Jelly Roll and make up the next batch of rails.

** linking up with Monday MakingPatchwork Times and Oh, Scrap **

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Slow Sunday Stitching 6/26/16

Slow Sunday Stitching

I will be joining Kathy today and helping her celebrate the 4th Anniversary of Slow Sunday Stitching (and there is a give away).  I think we all need to take that time to just slow down - be it any part of our journey in our life.


I have some catching up on my circles for the '365'.  Once those two stacks of 2-rails are used, I have to make new ones - my Monday schedule.  They remind me that I am half way with this project - I am enjoying this one.

And then I have my bits of Hexie fun.  I am not rushing these even though they don't take long to do.  It will give me the opportunity to slowly collect the 30's fabrics for the setting blocks for this quilt.  Yes, I could buy a FQ bundle, but I want to enjoy the full journey with this.

How do you slow down?
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon  

Friday, June 24, 2016

Fabric Fabulous


I must say that our fabric acquisition trip was just fabulous!  We each filled out list first and then if something really called out - we treated ourselves.  My main goal was to get four extra wide backings.  Three traditional quilts and the lime green - Hillside Houses of course.


The dark print is my setting fabric for the rail/colorwash project and the three 30's 1 yard cuts are going into my tote for the Hexie flower project.  Fabulous buy on those.


And my treat - oh my gosh, I have wanted this since it first came out and I saw an original Palampore quilt.  If you know what the price of these were originally, you know I got a fabulous buy at $22.50  If you are not familiar with Palampore, HERE is the history.  Now to start collecting the special fabric bits for the borders that I want to set this in.  And I better learn to use a thimble, because I am hand quiting this baby.

We had a lovely lunch and then wander thru the quaint little town of Windham, NY.  Lovely weather, lovely trip with some fabulous people.

Have a fabulous weekend,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Road Trip


I know there are a few gals that travel as Lucy and Ethel - and Laverne and Shirley - and Thelma and Louise BUT there are three of us heading out.  Are we the 3 Amigos?  Or maybe the 3 Stooges?  A road trip is needed........


I need some setting fabric for my rail/watercolor and 4 extra wides for backing.  My SIL needs some fabrics for a new project she wants to start and a backing.  And we tweeted up a travel/quilty buddy if she was interested in joining us - YES!!  So we are off to The Patch Work Co quilt shop in Windham, NY.  We've got our lists, set out limits, and plan a lunch out as well.  A good day is ahead!!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon   

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Under the Strawberry Moon



A phenom that has taken 70 years to occur - the Summer Solstace and the Full Moon - the Strawberry Moon.  June’s Full Strawberry Moon got its name because the Algonquin tribes knew it as a signal to gather ripening fruit. It was often known as the Rose Moon in Europe and the Honey Moon.

This photo is from the NASA site because when I went out on the porch to try and photo the moon over the back of our mountain a freak lightening/thunder/torrential rain storm went thru.  The furkids sat on the porch thru it all while I hid inside.


It's taken me a day to recover from the weekend.  I did get my circles done and two full hexie flowers.  I make them individual and then sew the parts together - so there are actually a lot of parts made, just need to sit and put them into flowers now.  These were great projects to take on the road - easy to travel with, easy to set down to tend to business, and then easy to pick back up and go again.


After tackling the laundry, dishes, and some dusting/vacumming - I prepped fabrics for this project.  It is the Fold'n Stitch Wreath by Poor Hourse Quilt Designs.  It's the first time I have used the Bosal fuse foam.  I have some super heavy weight Peltex too - going to try this pattern using both mediums and see which works better.

And some luck and wins to share - with thank yous.  My luck was winning the 50-50 at the car show I vended at - yeah, I know.



I received this lovely package from K's Quilting Korner for the Hands2Help.  The candy is long gone (gave it to my brother) - the little bag is full of the small clover clips which I use for a lot of things.  Just love the coneflower fabric and plan to make myself a zip wristlet bag.


And this package came from Podunk Pretties for the random draw from the link up for the Back Porch Bloom sew along.  Everything useful and who doesn't just love fabric

 

Of course in the middle of a heat wave, I am getting ready for Christmas.  I have the opening day, so best be on time.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Friday, June 17, 2016

Help for Feline Friday


This is my first time joining Sarah with the Help for Hexies.  Yup, I am tackling a hexie project.  I will need 32 flowers for this quilt - it's a start.  This link up will help me stay on track with this project.


Since I have to pack up my sewing station, I prepped some handwork to take with me as well as to work on at home at night.  My next two rows of circles for the '365' quilt and enough pieces for 4 more flowers.


I was trying to wrap up the last bit of sewing before the pack up and do you see the 'blockage' behind my machine?


My washclothe and towel to clean up my tables became the purrfect spot for a Moe nap.  I think the hum and vibration of the machine lulled him right off because he was 'gone'.


But I managed to get the last few rail blocks finished for the center of my Let's Book It project.  All the rows together as well.  Now it will wait as I have to find (or shop for) the border/setting triangle fabric before I can continue with the rest.  A good place to end my sewing - things are packed.

Enjoy your weekend,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon


Whoop Whoop Friday 6/17/16


I will be joining Sarah today to celebrate with a Whoop!  A Finish! (or two)


I made the center of this quilt back in February(?) and then it sat waiting for borders - because I hate borders.


It got added to the pile of 'waiting to be quilted'.  It was further down the pile, but while digging for backing fabrics for the top two quilts - I found something for this one.  So it moved up in the quilt Q.


I didn't have enough of just the Japanese cat print so pieced some yardage of that funny yellowie-green (that photo's so wrong in color).  Off set that strip which makes it easier to back without stressing is that strip dead on center.


And as long as the machine was set up for quilting, I finished up the Back Porch Bloom project.

I did quilting on a couple of small projects for my SIL, but she took them home to hand stitch the bindings.

Today is a clean-up/re-organize day.  I am vending at a local event this weekend and need my tables.  Yup, the machines will be un-plugged and put away.  They will be getting a good 'spa' cleaning, so they will be ready for some power sewing once they go back in action.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Scraptatstic Tuesday


I am linking up with June's Scraptastic Tuesday over at She Can Quilt.  Take a visit and maybe you will get some inspiration for those never ending scraps.

 

My project started with the 'found' 2.5" pinwheels.  Then I pulled out the left over solid skinnies from two prior projects.


To make them larger and more colorful, I pulled the left over 'dottie' strips.


I have a fun new baby quilt to add to the quilt guild charity box.  Finished at 40" x 48".  Batting was a cut off from a large quilt .  I buy my batt on a roll - king size, so there is frequantly a cut off at the ready for baby or lap size.


The backing was the last of an extra wide that I think has seen 6 quilts now.  And the end of one of my favorite stripe binding fabrics.


A 'freebie' quilt that cleared a lot of scraps from the various tubs.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Monday Making 6/13/16

Grab button Monday Making

I will be joining Beth today with some fabric play.  I feel the need to rev that machine and get that rotary cutter in action (first, a new blade).


This tub needs taming.  I see possibilities for a new quilt, but I am searching for items for............


more strips for my Let's Book It project.  Hey, maybe I'll work two projects at once.

What will you be making on this Monday?

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon