Only One Way For This Year to go!!

If you know me, you know I have a love for scraps and selvedges.  Well, that leads me to my ONE.  There is only one way I want this year to go, the one year of scraps!! So I created this bag, the front is made of selvedges, one block, that can be read one way!! 

I pulled out the one bag of scraps from my last selvedge quilt to use one focus fabric.  But then I thought it needed a little more.  Next up, came the One box of Kaffe Scraps that I knew would blend right in! 

I quilted up a panel made from scraps with the same color as the focus fabric. Then used some scrap batting to sandwich it and quilt it with straight lines.  Added a vinyl pocket to one side with a zipper. 

Then a big pocket on the other for the pattern or pricked to go in.  I kinda now regret I didn't add a closer, but now that's a lesson for the next one!  My big one project done and on to the next one!!  Made for project quilting challenge one, 2023! 

Kaleidoscope Scrap Pillow

I started this week with another quilt and what is going to turn into a big project. I had a few bins full of scraps I used the accuquilt to cut up from a quilt last year.  I knew there were pieces I could turn into flying geese.  Well, I liked what I was doing soo much that now it’s going to be a big project and I had to find a new one.  So that turned into me seeing a book I had on the counter by Lori Holt.  Kaleidoscope Quilt.  

     The Kaleidoscope block has 12 flying Geese, so it fits this weeks Project Quilting Challenge. I went to my scrap pack cabinet and saw a bag of old Lori Holt Fabric from 2011.  So I knew it would be perfect for this! 

I used the big block that came out as 16.5 inches.  Then added a 2.5 inch strip around.  After sewing it up and making a false binding, it comes out to fit a 20 inch pillow perfectly! 

Quilted it with a plain wavy line pattern.  Then backed it with a dot variety from the collection.  I think it’s called Daisy Cottage. 

Took the photo on my front porch where of course it’s covered in the spring pollen.  But it kinda matches the mustard in the center.  Now it has me wanting to finish using up this collection I held onto.

Project Quilting Challenges done for the year. Already can’t wait til next year!! 

Scrappy Repetitive Star

I had 2 goals this week and they kinda  took every moment I had.  The first was to make a quilt for a coworker who is moving and second was to use up scraps.  This weeks challenge for Project quilting is repetitive.  

The Swirling Star Quilt pattern from Fat Quarter Shop was on my bucket list of quilts to do.  Yes, to also use scraps.  The pattern is a repetitive scrappy star in 2 sizes.  So of course it was perfect.  

I decided to use the Accuquilt to cut it.  So instead of the pattern sizes, I used the 6 and 12 inch Qubes.  The only bad thing is this quilt ended up huge. 72x72, but the accuquilt made cutting fast and easy. 

The quilt is made of 18 blocks.  12 small, 6 large. Honestly a fast chain stitch quilt. I went outside my box again and used pattern fabric in a lot of my whites. 

To finish it, I pulled out my big piece fabric bin. My eyes were drawn to this black and gray checkered fabric.  Since it’s black and some of the fabric on the front is white, it gave me the perfect chance to use my black, gray and white Aurifil thread. 

I straight stitched it and put this cute sweetwater label on the back.  This quilt is going to a friend who I work with who is moving back home.  I am kinda glad it ended up big, it will be sooo useful!! 

Looking at this quilt. I love seeing all the fabric that I used in other quilt.  Add the old fabric others toss away and don’t want anymore.  The ugly ones that others don’t want. They each make a scrap quilt perfect!! 

We took these photos at the Brewington Church outside of Manning. On a little road trip with my friend Teri. Her Aunt and uncle were married there years ago. The church when we looked inside had an old buck stove.  Such an awesome part of history being kept up!! 

The Basset Bag

I started out not knowing what I wanted to do and knowing I needed something small and fast! I currently don’t have a working printer at home, so that made this challenge a little more difficult.  Well, I ended up remembering about a big basset stencil I had. So we all know I love Bassett's!! 

I found a blackish gray big scrap from a piece I used for a backing. I traced the bassett outline on a piece of Steam to seam.  Putting a large piece on the back of the material. Cutting this out carefully so I could create 2 pieces. 

Then I put the middle silhouette onto a dog material and the outline on a white pieces with silver stars.  I have sewed the edges down, then freemotion quilted around the design mimicking the silhouette.  

Then came bag construction.  It took me a few to find a scrap piece of top to Match.  But luckily I had enough of the blackish gray to also do the back.  Add a black zipper and the deer scraps to the inside, this piece is done!! I really wanted to finish the other silhouette project, but time was not on my side. But watch out!! 

Another finish of completely scraps!!! Getting excited a piece at a time!! 

Scrappy Timber Trees

It’s another finish, just in time to enter the Persimmon dreams, monthly Scrap Quilt Challenge!! The June theme, was trees!!  This quilt is like usual, a design of  my own! 

This quilt top is made completely out of scraps!! All of the triangles are cut offs from multiple things, but mostly binding.  They are seen together using a flip and stitch method then squaring up. 

Each tree triangle section ranges from 1 inch to 3 inches high, by 3.5 to 4.5 inches wide. The trunks are honestly about the same dimensions. 

The trees each have 5 sections and each row is 5 trees wide! I kinda love the odd number in most things.  The rows are stacked from the shortest tree to the tallest tree. I then added a section to even each row out to match the tallest tree. 

The quilt seemed to need something else.  So the star was introduced. Honestly they added width to the quilt and the perfect finishing touch!! The star centers are 3. 5 inch squares. The points are also made with the flip method. 

The rows were then trimmed for all to have matching widths.  To finish it off, I added a 2 inch strip of white to the top and bottom. 

I quilted it with grass like rows across the bottom of all the trees.  Then swirls around each tree. 

The binding, is made out of leftover binding pieces from other quilts. 

Then there is this cute little tag!! It was part of my Christmas collection.  It matched perfectly!! 

Then look at this cute family of bassets!! On some if our recently cut trees! 

May Finishes

I did not hit my May Goals, but I sure did get a bunch done!! Most of my May sewing Occurred at the Quilters Of SC Spring Retreat at Camp Kinard. 4 nights away with lots of Sewing!! 

Sooo excited to get away and sew!! I finished my Guilds Quilt Block for the month! 

The Harvest Road top.  Excited to really finish this one, as it will go in my spare bedroom! 

Then another leader and Ender brick block quilt. 

I sandwiched these 3 sister quilts from last months retreat.  Then I quilted and bond them this week to finish!! 

Then I finished the top for the tree block challenge!! 

June Goals—-

So I did not meet my block goals for last months Sewcialites.  That means I am further behind, so this month, that is one of my top Goals.  The last blocks come out this month, so I want to try and catch up and finish! 

My others goals are to finish the tree top to enter into this months challenge.  Work on the string blocks for next month and to finish some pillow covers for a paid job I took.  If I do all of that, then I can start on a patriotic quilt I really want to do!! 

Goals of 2021!!——

1- House quilt- lots of pieces and few rows. Finished!!

2- Small old antique embroidery quilt- only the original blob lock and fabric pulled.  Plan to box the blocks in, maybe like a log cabin. FINISHED!!!!!

3-Harvest Road Quilt- blocks cut, a few pieces sewn together Top finished, needs borders

4-Debbie row by row- omg, so much to do

5-Rooster on board- one section done.  I think this will be a retreat quilt for this year

6- Pumpkin quilt-  fabrics pulled and all in a box

7- Pineapple place mat- needs to be put together and quilted

8- Jelly roll quilt-  undid it for a race demo in class.  Sewed a few corners and now it’s sittin a box. 

9- Moma quilt- I need to make several of these, but for 2 years,  I’ve had fabric pulled for at least one and sitting in a box. 

10- Sunflower quilt- made with my friends daughters clothes for her kids finished

11- Sunflower 2- same as above finished 

12-Sunflower 3- yep, same finished

13- Bow tie quilt-  I cut a bunch of scrap squared to make this and never did it. 

14- Bea Lea Jumbled Sampler-  Accuquilt quilt fit the year

15- Sewcialites- 17 blocks out of 36 blocks done

16- Ultimate beginner Sampler- FINISHED 

17- T quilt from years ago-  at least 2 blocks done.

18- Stained glass window-  lots of blocks done years old

19- animal embroidery-  needs just a few blocks. 

20- Kaffe embroidery quilt- needs borders.  Top done,  at least 2 years old

21- Yenter embroidery-  needs a few blocks finished

22- batik embroidery-  needs a few blocks finished

23- crown of thorns.  Has a few blocks cut out. Several sewn together 

24- Tree quilt- not started  Top Finished!!! 

25- Scrap log cabin quilt- not started

26- Selvedge aqua quilt-  some selvedge blocks done

27- string block quilt-  random sized string blocks 

28- pineapple sampler quilt- 3 blocks started. 

29- batik HST quilt- lesson from class

30- persimmon dreams block of the month

31- Pat Sloan star quilt

New 2021 desires- 

1- Liberty box quilt

2- cider quilt

3- pine cone quilt

4- chicken quilt

5- bee fabric quilt 

Free Motion Quilting Academy

At the beginning of 2020 I started a program called Free Motion Quilting academy Thru the String and Story blog.  Holly, a young quilter who I follow is the blogger.   Well, in the last year she has become very popular! She has had a big, successful program and now has a large following.  

 Me, on the other hand, I have felt less success from her program.  Mostly, because the entire COVID year of 2020 took over this nurses life.  I am a self-taught free motion quilter and a little experienced.  I took this class to improve and expand my skills.   I started off well.  Not at the pace I wanted, because it started during my project quilting time, but that did give me a jump start at completing a few quilts and modules.

Jump forward a little over a year and the worst of the COVID nightmare I hope.  Things are starting to flow for me and work is slowing down.  So I made myself a goal and project list for 2021.  I initially did not put finishing this class on it, but now, I am.  So along with one of those goals here I am.  This quilt is the Ultimate beginner quilt by fat quarter shop.  

I am going to go thru the blocks on the quilt, one by one to show what designs I did in the program and my current feeling.

This first block highlights the pattern “Ripply River” in the points and Woodgrain between. The sashing highlights continuous loops and some swirls at intersections. 

The inner block is a “swirl”, then “ribbon candy”, followed by “spiral chains”. 

This shows an entire block of “embellished squares”.  I soo like this design but need to get a Rythm, that I don’t have.. 

The center of this block was done in “Filled Swirls” and the outer in “hooked swirls”

This is another “embellished squares” with “double curves”. The sashing is a basic loop and swirls.

In this one you can see the “paisleys” down the Arrows and “pebbles” in the center and outer. 

The center is imitating ruler work, but free handed instead 

The rows in this block rotate from switch back to basic loops aka telephone cord loops. 

So this block contains the stitch I struggle most with the most, embellished continuous curves in the 4 patches.  I just can’t get my rhythm.  Then I did the loops in the triangles. 

In this block I filled it with lots and lots of hooked swirls.  I think I’m pretty decent at these. 

And for the last of 12 blocks, we have a block full of wishbones!! I sooo love how these look and honestly use them a lot!! 

I still have a lot to do and really, a lot to prefect in FMQ, but the more I do it, the better I get!! 

All of these photos were taken at Mepkin Abbey,  it’s sooo peaceful and I love the many spaces that complement quilts.