The Tradition of Dr. Suess Goes On!!!

     This weeks Challenge for Project Quilting is themed "Bigger then a Bread Box".  This actually almost game me freedom to do as I pleased!!  So lucky for me, a gift I needed to make matched this project!

     I had a few ideas on a theme, but once I saw my bin of Dr. Suess fabric, I knew what I was making!!!   Of course the theme also matches  the fact that Trisha who chooses the theme is s librarian!!   Plus,  this gift is for a special friend whose mom taught both my boys kindergarten!!

     The only thing left was choosing a pattern.  I wanted an easy pattern due to my time limit.  I also wanted one that had big blocks to show off the themed fabric!! I turned to Pinterest and found Fat Quarter Fizz.
 https://static.fatquartershop.com/media/wysiwyg/pdf/FQFizz.pdf

     The pattern was an easy cut and fast to sew!!  A perfect pattern to be done in one day!

     I almost went bold with Quilting.  I was going to use a red thread,  but with all the shades of red in the fabric,  I was worried it wouldn’t match.  So basic white loops and swirls led to a fast finish.
     The backing is a small chevron print that was the perfect height and width for this project.  I had trouble choosing the binding,  I went back to wanting to use a red,  but couldn’t find a pattern and shade that fit the quilt.  So the green dots appeared and I just went with it!!  Of course,  I went and ate dinner and came back.  I accidentally, not thinking cut the red dots.  So, instead of wasting fabric, I used it.  Turned out ok.

     Excited to finish another project!! So glad to mark another off my list!!! Now to projects at my sons house for the next week. And maybe a few minutes of sewing!!

Sometimes Someone’s Clothes Can Help Give You an Answer.

     A few years ago, one of the men who taught me a few of the greatest lessons of life passed away.  Then about 2 years ago, I made his daughter this quilt out of his clothes.
As you can tell, he was a very patriotic man.  Not just patriotic, but a true biblical follower of God.  Someone who you did not question his focus in life!

     For the last few weeks,  I have been questioning my patriotic stance.  At the same time though,  I wasn’t questioning its biblical stance.  The countries downfall I believe is due to a lack of Christianity and moral values. The United States has for year printed the words "In God We Trust".  Now many do not trust God.

    I entered my quilt room going to another project this week.  For some reason though, I went the other direction and pulled out a bin of the leftovers from Mr. Bobs quilt.  I knew that this was the project I needed to do.  Suddenly I was at peace with my current situation.

     I then cut the clothes using the largest possible square or rectangle I could cut out.  I then used graph paper to lay the quilt out.  I kinda like the “Plan to Quilt” book that I purchased from the fat quarter shop. It really gives an awesome space to develop a layout!  I was able to make the entire top out of parts of Mr Bob’s shirts!

     The backing I really liked was within inches of being big enough to be use for the quilt.  I couldn’t find anything else I really liked. Anything I felt compelled to use.  I did see another long piece of patriotic fabric I liked in the fabric I was given.  So the back has one small peicing.

     Then it’s quilted with just basic straight lines.  I could not decide what to do.  It’s for a boy,  actually his very sweet grandson! A young fella that always smiled when his grandpa was around!! It just didn’t seem fit for any decorative stitches. But of course, Mr. Bob was just plain and patriotic!
     My husband chose a simple red blender as the binding! Honestly,  a joyful finish.

     I struggled for over a month with the country we live in and not getting paid.  I struggled with how those we elected to make decisions for our country were acting like kids.  I then had issues believing in our country.  How could my country decide to not pay myself abs my coworkers?  How could they allow themselves to go on fully paid vacations, but I was stressing if my bills were going to get paid. Why should I have to go to work everyday and be told to rely on a food bank?  This is not what America was built on.
     The answer as I sewed this quilt was the prayer to God of what I should do.  I was stressed enough and did not want to pick up extra at the hospital.  Then the offer after offer of food or the job/opportunity of crafting for someone else.  My friends/aqaintances were stepping up to give the the sign I would survive.  I still haven’t gotten paid, but will this week, I have survived!!!
     As most know,  I like to take photos in special places.  These are taken at the Berkeley County YMCA.  Mr Bob made these fields used for Soccer accessible and also at one time paid for a major pool renovation.  If not for him,  our pool would have been close and we would still have massive rodent infested mountains of debris in our back fields!

   

Springs of Endless Scraps!!

     The first challenge of Project Quilting Season 10, led me on a search for a definition.  The nice librarian Trisha who is coming up with the weekly challenges of course had me looking up the definition of the challenge!  "Hope Springs Eternal".  The phrase thats familiar to many, was not as familiar to me.  My few minutes of reading led me to a better understanding and a definition.    Hope springs eternal means "the feeling of hopefulness endlessly renews itself".  Or "It is human nature always to find fresh cause for optimism".  After working 8 more hours in a shift, I knew what I was going to do. 

    For the first Challenge of the year and my first finished quilt in who knows when, I made a massive scrap quilt!! My issue, was for a few months of being overwhelmed each time I walked into my quilt room and became hopeless about the endless scraps that were everywhere!  I made a commitment while doing the Project Quilting Mystery that I was going to make 2019 the year of scraps!! 

     It took me a few to decide on a plan, but after thinking about the scraps I cut down over time, and a Pinterest search, I was ready.  I used up all the scraps I precut in 2.5 and 4.5 inch squares and then starting cutting away at the massive pile of scraps!   The more I cut, the better I felt, and the bigger the quilt got!  I am thinking that between the white on whites and patterned fabric that there’s at least 60 different fabrics in this quilt! 

     I used matching 2.5 inch pattern squares to make four patches, and added patterned 4.5 inch squares to make each block.    Truly, I did not do well at the direction I was placing 4 patches and flipped some the wrong direction.  But, lessons learned and I will remember next time.  63 blocks later and I am done.  The quilt measures 56x72 and is 100% scrap!! 

     I used some old fabric to back the quilt.  To get back into the rhythm of free motion Quilting,  I did a simple pattern.  I attempted to a simple up and down loop.  I then added a little squiggle periodically to the mix.  I think,  by the end, I finally got the rhythm of my stitch length and am ready for the next challenge!! 

     The binding, is another set of scraps.  Leftover binding pieces from a bunch of quilts that I finished over the years!  

     I still have a massive pile of scraps, but cutting them down and finishing thus top,  gave me a relief!!  A hope that the mess, may one day be gone.  Or at least manageable!! 

     When I sewed up each of the blocks,  I was hesitant about the random scrappiness.  When I laid the blocks out on the bed,  I did not like how the quilt looked.  I was suddenly disappointed.  Then I sewed the top up and the feeling of happiness returned! 

     When I woke up this morning,it was freezing and pouring down rain.  Not the best atmosphere for photography.  So I went to church.  As I sat in the little struggling church in the little struggling town, I knew where to take my photos. 

     A little group here has made resurrecting our town their goal in life.  To make the old hotel and Main Street, a place for others to return to.  They know the definition of "Hope Springs Eternal".  Just as I used theses scraps to build up this quilt!!

     My definition this year is: Hope Srings Eternal creativity and organization!! 

This is the old Keller Hotel in St Stephen, South Carolina. Not sure on the date.  I love the front door!  Like really love the glass! 

It’s A New Year and A Time To Get Back to Enjoying Life

     I started this post last year and never had time to finish and post it.  So here I am almost a week later and finally sitting down to finish writing this post.  

     As I sit here thinking about my goals for 2019, I keep looking back at the past and what occurred in 2018.  We each have rocking road and for some of, we know that the holidays are hard.  I think that the struggles of the last few years have me holding my head up and looking forward to 2019 just a little more.   

     Then I think of all I accomplished in 2018 and all I didn’t have a chance to do.  I finished school.  My baby graduated and my oldest bought a house.  The great accomplishments, make all the downfalls better and prepare us for the challenges and enjoyment ahead! 

     In 2019,  I am not just setting goals on here for my crafting and quilting life, I am setting goals for my marriage and spiritual life.   Next year, even with my work schedule,  I need to get back into church full time.  This ensuring I put God first and my daily life second. 

     With our boys growing up and leaving the nest, I know this is going to be another challenging time.  Added to the nightmare remodel that’s about to occur at my house.  My marriage will need a lot of work, praying God will lead us in the right direction.  

     I decided that I have one change in my life that I really need to work on, my house.  With the changes that will be occurring in it in the next year, I need to keep it cleaner and more organized.  So my resolution  for 2019, is to spend more time working on my house everyday! P

     Now,  to my aspirations of 2019!!! I have sooo many desires that it’s hard to set logical and realistic Goals! So hear are the ones I know I can attain! 

-Finish all the challenges of project quilt

-Make at least one wreath monthly

-Start no new quilts outside of project quilt without finishing one old one. 

-Make at least 6 scrap quilts this year. 

-Make at least 1 sign a month! 

-Paint my closet dressing table and finish the collage wall. 

-finish redoing Wades old Room to a comfortable guest room. 

Seems like a lot, but I am hoping to attain it!! Praying for a great year!!! 

100% Scrap Quilt

   

     A few years ago I fell in love with scrap quilting, mostly because I hate waste.  My issue though was my obsession with making things match.  As I have progressed in the world of quilting, the ability to let go in scrap quilts and allow them to form has become easier.  I have had to learn to separate my quilting into two forms, the beautiful matching blended creation and the random scrap quilt.   Since one of my goals AGAIN this year is to use up my ever building pile of scraps, the
Project Quilting Challenge fits me well.

     When I saw the challenge this week, I went thru my Pinterest Boards looking for a project I
could finish in a week.  I came across a blog called Heather Hales Designs where she change up a quilt called “Potluck” designed by Orange You Glad by adding another row of white.  I loved how the extra row made the diamond center really stand out.  I do though think I may make the original one day soon with more scraps.  So to pulling scraps and cutting I went.

     I decided to use the smaller scraps I had of fabric with designs. These pieces were of varied
shapes and sizes from several projects, along with some that were given to me. It took most of one of my days off, but all the 3.5 inch squares were cut out of scraps.  The White ones took forever and
ever I felt like.  I have been using the same bolt of white on white fabric for at least 3 years and was able to make them all out of the same fabric and still have plenty left…….

     The next step was laying them out. This took forever and ever but it looked good in the end.  Yes, a very random unmatched quilt. Then the sewing of the never ending rows commenced.  I actually felt like this bored me a bit.  Kinda an odd feeling, but maybe because I love the reward of finishing blocks and no reward came until the end of this quilt.  It’s not as stunning as a quilt made out of coordinating fabric, but it sure is a “Potluck” of a mix. 

     The backing is pieced out of bigger pieces out of my scrap bin. Yep, thinning the pile, but
you can barely tell. Actually my first back ever this scrappy.  To top it off I even pieced the batting,
helping to make this quilt 100% scrappy.

      I free motion
quilted the quilted it in a hurry.  My
regret, because it does not look as good as it should, but it is done.  And a little bunchy in the back.  I hate this. My goal for trying to do better
next time.  Then a finish with scrap
binding left over from other quilts.
Yep, totally scraptastic! 

     The quilt
finished at 63 x 57.  Big enough for the
scrap challenge also.  Really a big
project that did not take too ng to make after the cutting.  Have a few people that I need to send a quilt
to.  Maybe one of them can be blessed
with this!

A Mixed Up Stitch in Time

   

     My weeks started with an entirely different project.  One that was full of pure scraps that take forever to cut. So, with a sudden limited time, I decide to put a stitch in to some shirt sleeve scraps that have been around for a long time. My husbands grandfather wore these shirts for over 20 years.  Yep, a long time.  I saw these little envelopes that would be perfect for chapstick or money.  Something I can

Mini Pinwheel Runner

     I started this weeks Project Quilting challenge thinking about yellow.  As a young child, it once was one of my favorite colors.  Now it’s honestly one that I rarely use. 

     

     I went into my sewing room and took a hard look at my fabric cabinet.  I was lost at what to make and what to use.  My eyes wondered to the fabric yardage leftovers that used in last years Carolina Lily challenge.  I remembered I had a bag of matching scraps in my cabinet.  Going thru the bag I found a pile of triangles. 

     

     Finding the triangles started me sewing them into half square triangles.  They ended up squaring up to be 1 inch squares.  It then flowed into me trying out lots of layouts, all using more scraps.  It ended up looking best as a pinwheel layout with each pinwheel being a little 2 inch finished square! 

    

     The commencement to adding yellow in was easy with precut yellow strips that put the perfect inner boarder on my runner. I auditioned all the fabric and the peach fabric with yellow flowers looked the best! I added a nice wide outer boarder. 

    

     I backed it with plain yellow fabric to go with the theme.  I used yellow thread to do basic straight line  quilting on the runner. I was going to do an intricate pattern but instead opted for simplicity to complement the simple small blocks. 

     The binding was then done in a complementary yellow floral fabric, another scrap that ended up being just enough!! It finished out at 14x22. The perfect little spring runner! 

     I try so hard to make full sized quilts, but with the hours I’ve been working and school, it’s just not happening.  It is pleasant to make something for myself, since I really don’t ever do that!!