Batik Confetti Runner

     Will try to go into detail more later.  This is my first couchibg item and a lesson in the making!  

     This is a 14x90 runner for my new counter.  Inspired by a friend!  100% scraps from other projects! 

Happy New Year!!

     I haven't written a post in a while, but to start 2016 I need to change that!   A lot has changed in my life, from my job to my house and soon to change again. Good things have happened in 2015 but the roads been really rocky, mixed with steep hills and deep pot holes.  2016 is going to change that with a new house and new education on the way!!

     As far as quilting, I have been deep in a slump and have had a hard time digging out. So much to do and so little time.  Added to the fact that I have now realized I am less productive working 8 hours then 12.  It has been years since I have worked a 5 day work week and I am still not sure if it's completely for me, but we will see where 2016 takes me! 

     My resolution for this year is a simple but hard one for me!  I need to try to live an organized life with a clean house.  Hoping to start fresh in the new place and keep it that way!

    Happy new year to all!! Let's make 2016 the greatest!!

Midnight Snow!

     Better photos tomorrow!  And a blog. Mo haven't done one in a while...

Spinning 9's!!

  

 (More photos to come tomorrow)

  This months block for the Project Quilt   Focas Through the Prism Challenge is the "Nine Patch".  I knew just what I was going to do and it befit the Host of the Challenge; Kim!!

     Some months ago I bought a pattern called "Spinning Nines".  It was designed by Kim Lapeck from the Persimmon Dreams blog.   I used it once in another project and loved it!  So I decide to alter it to fit this challenge! 

     I have been using a tone on tone or a neutral in this challenge each month.  This time I reached out a bit and allowed just a hint of purple in it.   I vowed to use just the fabric I had, so it worked! 

     I cut all the original squares to 3 inches and made this base. 

     I then cut apart the pieces to make the second squares

     I then played with the different Layouts Kim put in her pattern and decided on this!! 

     I quilted the squares with curled.  In the half square triangles I did a feather type pattern. 

     To bind it I used the the batik fabric from the layout. 

     The backing I used a scrap peace that matched the colors. 

     This is one of my favorite ones yet!! 

Flying Geese In The Great Blue Sky

 

    This months Focus Through the Prism Challenge is Flying Geese.   I knew my color and knew I had a good selection of scraps in blue this month.  Just didn't have an idea of what to do except a basic set of flying geese.  But of course I wanted to go a little out of the box. 

     I decided to look on Pinterest and pinned lots and lots of flying geese ideas!  I found 2 videos I really liked.  One was on a quilt as you go method and the other was a Missouri star video.  I decided to go with the Missouri star video and to adapt it to fit my needs.   The pattern is "Flying Geese Log Cabin".

     The video made a small block.  The block is made of 2.5 inch strips and 2.5 inch squares.  The block finished at like 8 inches, but I continued to make a 20 inch block. 

     For the fabric I used all blue scraps and the hand dyed blue fabric. I tried not to be picky about what I choose to go out on a limb and make it more scrappy.

     The pattern is easy.  You start by cutting 2.5 inch squares of the color you are going to use as your "geese".  Draw a line from one corner across the square to the other corner of all of these.  Then you cut 2.5 inch strips of the background fabric. 

     The first square is 2.5 inches.  Lay the geese square on top.  Make a half square triangle with these 2 squares.   Then with the next row, start the next row on the upper side, like a log cabin.  You will build this one in just one direction.  When you finish the 2 sides of the block, add another geese block. Sewing on the line across the corner. This creates another geese. 

     Do this with every row sewing on just 2 sides and adding a geese to the corner until you get to the size you desire.   I added 10 sets until I reached 20 inches.  I made the last row the same color as my geese. 

     The backing is a big piece of blue dotted I used on the front.   The free motion quilting is a little messy.  I originally forgot to change the settings on my machine and the back stitches are a little loose. So I fixed the settings and continued to finish it in time.  I stitched triangles like geese for 3 rows then added curved lines in the other rows like clouds.  In the geese I made a 3 loop design.   

     For the binding, I made it scrappy.  I hand sewed it on.  I originally sewed it by machine to the wrong side.  I did not have time to take it off and resew it, so I went ahead and hand sewed it down to the front. 

     I hate when I have to rush to finish something.  Maybe this month,  I will start early and be able to take my time with the mini quilt. 

Never the wrong time of year for a Patriotic Wreath!!

     I couldn't sleep last night,  had the supplies, so I got creative. 

     I tried this wreath a few ways.  I did not have the right stuff to do it the way I wanted, but this is how it came about.  

     It's made of one roll of the burlap colored deco mesh,  one roll of striped burlap and one roll of star burlap. 

Sewing to keep from going crazy!

    

     Sometimes you have to find a distraction to cover up the fact that your nervous!!  And mine has been to get back to work on my Ahhhhs!  My younger son Waylon got his permit last month. That means he wants to drive home after school everyday.  As a semi experienced new driver he is doing well, but that doesn't keep me from being nervous!   So I am working on Ahhhh number 3 in the last month!! 

     Here is the finished Ahhhh from today.  It is called Diamond walls and was another simple one with only 16 pieces!  I hope to finish another one with weekend and possibly start a Mystery EPP quilt!