Row by Row 2016 Day 1, Row 1

   

  After getting home from my adventure this evening, my goal was to finish 1 row. I decide to tackle the rows in the order of the  shops I went to. So here goes Row 1... Oh, and I also decide to tell you a little about each store I visited every day. 

    I was officially the first Rower of 2016 at Stitch N' Sew in Mt Pleasant, SC. The store owner was just inside at opening time and greeted me with a smile.  The store is tucked under some trees and you would almost miss it if it wasn't for its bright color and sign.  

     The store has a nice selection of kits, accessories and fabric.  There is something tucked in every corner.  Definitely a place you can find a project at. 

     As for the row, I thought it was probably the simplest of them all. It is just basic rectangles sewn into blocks.  I actually kind of thought it was simple until as I checked out I was told one of the ladies from the store did the artwork.  Yes, drew it themselves.  At that moment, I put a little more thought into the row and fell in love!  I was honestly wanting someone to do the rainbow row house when I thought of the theme, but these weren't colored.  Then I thought, the colors of the fabric were!!   The row then came together for me and I appreciated it more.  

     The only thing I did not like about this row kit was the printed fabric.  It was printed on a Dritz printable muslin.  The artwork was awesome.  Getting the backing off was not easy.  The instructions said if it was difficult to soak it.  But then I couldn't finish my block tonight. I ended up getting a little hole going and used a butter knife to slowly get under it to peel its.   This took forever to get it all the backing off.  

     Once the back was off it only took a few minutes to finish the block.  I love how it turned out!!

And here is the license plate.  

Row by Row 2016 Day 1

     I have been in a quilting slump for a while.  Haven't been able to get out.  Think it's mostly due to this building, moving, unpacking and house decorating adventure I have been on for too long!  But here it is row by row time and I am always excited to travel and visit the shops!! I am determined to finish in less then a week, maybe get out of this slump. 

     For day one I decided to visit as many stores  as possible in 1 trip. Yep, 9-10 stores in 1 day was my plan.  My other decision for this years quilt is for half of my rows to be from different stores then last year.  Staying local by keeping my favorite local stores in my quilt.  

     1000 AM and was the first quilter at Stitch N' Sew in Mt Pleasant, Sc.  A cute little shop hidden in the trees!  She told me I was this years first Rower!!  

     1040 and made it to one of my favorite places with the best fabric sisters!! Five Eighths Seams has a new store with lots of room this year!  Got a little behind here.  They were a little busy, then after I left I realized my row wasn't in my bag.  Back to the shop and on the road again!!

     1140, managed a brunch drive thru stop at one of my favorite places!!  Love the cow!!

     1145 down the road I walked into my true local quilt shop, People Places and Quilts!   The owner Diane met me at the door.  She told me that she was wondering were I was at!! Made my day.  She quickly explained her kits and got me on the road in a hurry!!  Just in time to sit in traffic on the interstate..... And ignore the bad photo. 

     105 PM after being stuck in interstate traffic forever and a detour,  I made it to Orangeburg.  My first ever visit to A Stitch  In Time, Again.  The store was truly full of fabric,  and shockingly it had some of my favorite old Jason Yenter! 

     220 Finally made it to Lexington!!  My first stop at Sew Suite Studio.  The smallest of the shops I visited, but full of up to date fabric and lots of machines. 

     255-  Across Lexington, or just down the road was the hardest store to find.  The store is tucked away, behind and below the strip mall.  No sign to be had to find it.   Pieces and patches,  full of awesome fabric, a neat clearance section and lots of machines. 

     330-  On to West Columbia,  watch out the GPS might take you out of your way and down the block to the "hood", but with some research I found Creative Sewing Machine Center.  Clearly the largest private sewing store in SC!! Awesome place to visit and would love to find time to go back!! 

     445- Since I was passing by I decided to stop!! I use to eat lunch here some while in Nursing school.  Sure miss the Oreo bars!! The place has grown.  Need to remember to go by again sometime soon!! 

     455- Made it to Sumter and another new Store,  Heirloom Child.  Another small store with lots of batiks!  I have probably passed this store several times in the past and never knew it was there, but new signage leads you right in! 

     515- My last stop and a place I actually felt comfortable to breath for a few minutes, Treadle Pushers.  Not sure, but I felt right at home there.   I love the owner and her "Quilt Bar" philosophy!!  I think this is truly a community shop! 

     645- I made it home with just enough time to start a row!! 

Thanks for following me today!   Stay tuned tomorrow for my finished rows! 

     

Scrappy Strips

  

   I was so unsure of what to do this challenge.  I really wanted to go and dig out one of my boys pieces of Art, but I have had no time.  Truly barely enough time to do the challenge.  So Thursday night I pulled up the challenge link and an idea popped in my head.  I saw this piece and knew that I could make a scrap runner for my tall dresser.  Here is the photo I used.


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6h72VC7EZOmutog_DieAsOgvE72RXh5Q_H_Vkol7nKPLF-7oInRCPPSjcD3fLwvTI3O7P6ooZv46w7awpL1F-AlLzOem7qEX5Z4FEEmVAb3Hb7kdovATCPLOTWVRsMfMU4PJo5hurVx0/s1600-h/IMG_5256%25255B6%25255D.jpg


     Out cam my scrap batik box and a bag of like fabric I collected from friends at a retreat 2 years ago.  I had previously cut pieces in 4 and 3.5 inch strips.  I sewed these strips together into 2 long rows.  I then cut the rows into 16.5 inch strips.

     I used a backing piece of old fabric as the base.  I sewed two pieces of batik strips on each side to make the lines on the outside.  These strips were uneven and I left them that way.  The art work lines were uneven also. 

    I then kept building until the piece was 28 inches. I sandwiched the quilt to do a reverse finished edge.  I sewed around the outside leaving an area to flip.

    I then flipped the piece inside out and sewed the edges to keep them pressed down.  I  FMQ it in an all over doodle like a child.  I made lots of circles and just swirled around.  I became upset though because the tension spring on my machine broke during this process. 

    My life has been an up and down roller coaster during the last few months.  This is the first thing I have stitched on my sewing machine in the 3 weeks I have been in my new house.  I am praying that I will have many more successful adventures in my sewing room once I get it set up!

My Mini Vacations!!

     So this quilt is totally out of my norm and so is the photo.   I have had a stressful last few weeks and can finally say I have moved into my new house!  Unfortunately,  My sewing room is not moved in.  That is the last thing I need to move out of the other house.  Then I unexpectedly had to work a 16 hour shift yesterday followed by a 12 today.  My sewing time for yesterday evening was officially shot. 

     At 1020 last night when I finally got home I went into what is going to be my sewing room, looked at the stuff I brought there to use to make this quilt and walked out to go to bed.  Yes, I was a little overwhelmed.  This morning I got up early and took the scraps I picked up and took them to work. 

     This is my little hand sewn piece I came up with.  No adhesive.  All done the old fashion way. It is a version of what I originally planned.  My Pink Kayak going down the river. 

   Its 12 x 14 and Made of all scrap strips.  I did a sew as you go method, quilting down each piece on top of each other.  I did fold over binding.

     No time for my usual photos, so here is one in the back seat of my car.

Spring Clovers

     

One of my favorite signs of spring is that the clovers start to turn a bright green in the yard.  Spring for me is a sign of warmth and summer to come.   Needless to say I am not a winter person. 

     My mother is Irish and her family loves Saint Patrick's Day.   Two years ago I cut out a bunch of squares and rectangles to do a Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt.  I started to mark them and got a call this week at that time.  My mother was dying.  I put these down and have not touched them since.  As I packed up my boxes at my old house I threw the pieces in a bin.  I was trying to take only unfinished pieces to my temporary house in hopes that I would find time to finish them.  As I went thru the boxes I found this bag and knew it was meant to be a project.

     I then Googled the internet to find Saint Patrick's Day patterns.  I came across this clover design and loved it. 

http://www.quiltingworks.com/howto/shamrock-block.htm

    These blocks were pretty easy and sewed up quickly.  I decided to make 4 of the blocks and then make a runner.  But then I thought of maybe making them as a square and using them as a table topper.

  I could not decide which so of course I used a quilting Facebook page to help me decide.  And the decision was this....

     But they liked the square also.  Might be a project for later.

     Bonnie's design for these made them equal a chevron type layout.  The scrap pieces went together well because I already had them marked.  if not I would not have finished this in a week.  I used the Chevron to make a border around the runner.


     I decided to leave the White inside to make it appear to be a continuation of the blocks.

     After I finished I could not decide if I needed to add a border or not.  The runner was already very wide and might actually work better as a wall hanging.  If I did not add a border, the binding  might cover the green points.   So again I asked the quilting group because I am indecisive and not good deciding in a hurry.

     The decision was made.  Thin yellow.  I cut 1.25 inch strips. Only a little scrappy this time.  

     To quilt it I did my favorite swirls in a pattern on the clovers in a branching pattern.

     In rows on the green border I did a continuous swirl. 

     In the white I did a swirl pattern as a filler.


    For the yellow I did a zig zag to match the points. 


    The backing is made of 2 scrap pieces.


    The binding is one of the green colors in the clovers and border.  I thing it helps to highlight the clovers.


     I finished this during one of our coldest days so far this year.  A day that we received Snow.  A rarity for our area.   So I am now screaming come on spring!!!


     This is actually on of my favorite pieces I have made in a while.  Not sure if its just a family thing, that I know my mother would be happy or that its full of bright spring colors!!! Already ready to enjoy it! 

     Another project finished that is made completely from my stash.  Now I am ready for my next adventure.!!

     

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!!