Scrapping and Stitching!

Sunday is the day I always enjoy sitting and stitching with my friends over at Kathy's Quilts.....

And today I'm still working on finishing up my Bertie's Year blocks.  Above is the November block - all ready for sandwiching and quilting.  And October is done too.....

I have to say, I'm not as happy with this one.  It just seems dull to me.  I looked at maybe using the orange fabrics for the border, but that was too much.  And with 3 more still waiting for their embroidery and embellishments, this one will just have to stay the way it is!

I'm currently working on the embellishments for July Bertie.....

All the stitching is done except for Bertie's claws in gold.  The seeds and fly stitch on the watermelon were a lot of fun!  If you look closely, you will see that I had already done a decorative fly stitch by machine, not realizing that the pattern would call for that in off-white by hand later.  After the hand work is done, I'll pull out that green machine stitching.  (And then again, maybe I won't *vbg*)

I also did a little touch up work on the berries.  The sample picture shows pretty blueberries in a nice blue-purple color......  you can see the original looks like actual wools, not flannels :)

Original sample quilt by Bonnie Sullivan

But the flannel they sent with the kit is a blah gray.  I really didn't want to have to take them off, find another fabric, trace ..... right - all that nonsense!  Then, last night I spied my colored pencils on my desk - the pencils I paid a fortune for last year because the teacher in one of my classes at Quiltfest required that we bring this exact brand of pencil, and we NEVER TOUCHED THEM! - yes, those pencils :)  And I thought, why not color them a brighter color?

I think it worked just fine!  You can see in the picture on the right where I had begun to color them, first with a bright blue, then a purple over that.  The bottom left berry just has the blue and is waiting for the purple top coat :)

I hope to get the hst borders on this one today, and that will leave only these two for me to embellish.

If I work quickly, I  may even get them done before I receive the last December kit!  Of course, they all still need to be sandwiched and quilted, but that really doesn't take very long.  One day ought to do it :)

I've also done some machine sewing!  I've joined in on the Scraptastic Tuesday fun with Nicky at Mrs. Sew and Sow and Leann at She Can Quilt  - here are the two blocks I made the other day out of my RED crumb jar....

Aren't they cute???

You can read HERE about my determination to empty out my crumb jars.  Since I've discovered that no project ever gets done unless I actually start the process of working on it, I thought it a good idea to pull out one of the jars and get to it .... amazing how that works, isn't it?  LOL!!!  

So I dumped out some crumbs....

..... and began haphazardly sewing a few pieces together - working two blocks at a time so I could chain piece of course :)

And before I knew it, I had sections big enough to trim down to a uniform 6-1/2 inches!

Wow - this was really, really fun!  So freeing!  No worrying about whether the fabrics "matched" or were the "right size" or even about having a perfect 1/4" seam!!!  Just put a couple of pieces together, sew, and repeat.  I loved it!!!

This is my November NewFO Challenge project - getting in there early, right?  For sure, this will be my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project to use up my crumbs next year!  I may even have to cheat and do a few more before then :)  They are like potato chips, you can't make just one... or two .... or .... well, you get the picture!  Be sure to check out the other projects linked up at Scraptastic Tuesday!  And don't forget the RSC at SoScrappy - November projects are going to be in Baby Blues - and you know I love me some BLUE!!!!

Linking up with:

Rainbow Scrap Challenge
November NewFO Challenge

Slow Sunday Stitching

Design Wall Monday

Tuesday Linky Party

Scraptastic Tuesday

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Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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September NewFO and Scraptastic Tuesday!

End of September already????  Not possible!  

But the slight nip in the morning air and sudden turning of the leaves outside tells me different.... methinks Fall is on its way, whether I'm ready or not. =^..^=

This summer has been like a blur for me!  So many great experiences - the best of course was the visit of our granddaughter Sara and the privilege of helping her begin her sewing journey :)

I did start one new project this month which qualifies for the Cat Patches' September NewFO.... My Patchwork of the Crosses blocks are so much fun - but then I've been telling you all that now for a month, haven't I? :*)

Here are two more I have in progress.... Yes, I kept my original fabrics in this one - thanks to all of you for helping me make up my mind :*)

I've wasted too much time  had tons of fun pinning a lot of beautiful POTC blocks by other quilters to my Pinterest board too - you can see it HERE if you are thinking about making some of these blocks yourself.  They are definitely like potato chips - there's no way you can make just one!  I dare you ... try it ... you'll see!!!

One thing I am committed to accomplishing in the coming year is reducing my overflowing scraps and crumbs.




I've been invited to give a talk and trunk show on Scrap Quilting next week, so scraps are on my mind a lot lately as I've been preparing for that.  I was actually kind of surprised at how many scrap quilts I have made over the last few years once I got down to listing them!  I've participated in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over at SoScrappy for 3 years now, and that has really helped to keep my scraps from taking over my world.  Now THAT is a fun linky party!!!

Blues Crumb Jar

However, since I still seem to have scraps of all colors and fabric types coming out the wazoo (don't ask me where that is - this is a CLEAN blog!), I am excited about joining Leanne at She Can Quilt and Nicky at Mrs. Sew and Sow for their new Scraptastic Tuesday series.  Starting today and then each Tuesday thereafter, they will share projects and ideas about scraps - how they store them, cut them up, use them.  And they would like us to join them by sharing our thoughts and scrappy projects each Tuesday, with a fun linky party on the second Tuesday of each month!  Check it out - you know you have something to share that we all need to learn, right?

I saw quite a few creative patterns for using scraps up while at Runaway Retreat, and I plan to try out a couple of them today.  My Scrappy Love Pinterest board is HERE if you would like to see some of the cute scrappy projects I've seen across the Web, as well as a few of my own.  I also have quite a few books in my personal library that I think may be super resourceful in my quest to turn my scraps into a beautiful work of art..... these are just a few ♥♥♥

What about you?  Care to join in the fun and move some of your scraps out of the scrap bin and into a few beautiful quilts in the process?  The more, the merrier!!!!

I'm off now to play in my scraps - yippee!!!!
Also linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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It's Party Time!!!!

My NewFO Challenge project for May was supposed to be a simple one.....

Bird on a Branch

I finally decided to make this small wall-hanging from this awesome Piece O' Cake book, Applique Outside the Lines, that I've been drooling over for several years now!

I love Sharon's Let's Book It party because it encourages me to get some of those dusty books off the shelf and make those quilts that I love so much!

This small wall-hanging can be used as part of a larger one that I also love.....

Can you see that the left side portion is Bird on a Branch?  I still need to decide whether mine will just be Bird on a Branch or if it wants to be part of this bigger wall-hanging called Tree O' Life.  I reeeeaaaallllly like this bigger one!!!!

In the meantime, I decided to go ahead and make the small portion and see how I like it before deciding whether to go for the whole shebang.  (Note:  I'm going to pull a 'Barbara' here and advise you that Miriam Webster Online states the definition of 'shebang' is, "everything involved in what is under consideration."  Just sayin'.....

So I pulled fabrics .....

........... and traced off the designs onto fusible.....

But then I realized it was going to be pretty darn small - a lot smaller than I thought it would be.  Looking back at the pattern to see why that might be, I realized they were supposed to be enlarged by 50% - yikes!!!  And of course since I was at retreat I didn't have access to a printer and had to stop working on it.  Basically I'm going to have to start over .....  but I did get started on it!  And that's all that's required to be eligible to join in the NewFO Challenge according to our NewFO Guru, Barbara.  

(Of course, if you ask me -- and you did, didn't you? -- I think Smitty and Gracie are really the ones pulling the strings over at Cat Patches blog *VBG*  They make Barbara say it is all her idea so they won't have to deal with any of the work.... cats are really, really smart that way!  =^..^=)

Linking up with these fun parties - Come on and join in the fun!!!!

Cat Patches' May NewFO Challenge party -

Vrooman's Let's Book It! party -

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Like a Little Kid with a New Toy!

I've got a new bag of "potato chips" to share with you my friends!  These blocks are irresistible and YUMMY!

My very first Japanese x&+ block!!!

Yep, I just started a new can't-make-just-one-block project!!!  Honestly, I couldn't help it.... It's all Mary at Needled Mom's fault LOL!!!!  I was totally focused on getting a good chunk of my Diamonds are Forever blocks done this week, and feeling very virtuous :)  Head down, knocking out those blocks.... oh yeah!  I'm in the Zone!!!

Then suddenly, out of the blue - BAM!!!  

I got totally knocked off the tracks!  I was very innocently reading a few blogs the other day with my morning cup of tea as usual, when I pulled up Mary's blog post and saw her AMAZING Japanese x&+ quilt ....

Photo courtesy of Needled Mom

INSTANT LOVE!!!

You can read more about Mary's quilt HERE.

Oh my gosh!!!  I could look at this quilt all day and not get tired of it!  Look at all that scrappy goodness :)  Bright colors everywhere - it's just awesome!!!  Mary joined a Japanese x&+ group swap - what a great way to get so much variety!  My first thought was, "I want one!!!"

I must admit that I've fallen in love with every Japanese x&+ quilt I've seen - something about this pattern really appeals to me.   The first one I saw was made by Carol Muse Skinner, and she used all Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  You can see it HERE at her blog, Postcards from Panama.  Seriously - go see it now!  You'll be glad you did!  Friends, it just about made my eyeballs pop out it was SO beautiful!!!!  I decided then that I really wanted to make one for myself, but I got sidetracked, and before long I had forgotten it.

Then a few weeks ago, the bug bit again when I saw Carla's in progress - you can read about her quilt's journey at her blog Grace and Favor HERE....

Photo courtesy of Grace and Favor

.................. Oh!  I wanted every single one of those blocks!  Yes, my friends, I coveted them!!!  Teals and grays and limes - Oooo-la-la!!!!  Carla did a swap with her friend Cindy to build up the scrappiness of their blocks - great idea right?  She encouraged me to get started on a Jx&+ of my own, maybe even start a swap, but there was too much going on in my life right then and again I let the idea slide.  I did however Pin a tutorial on how to make the blocks from Badskirt blog :)

Then I saw Mary's quilt and the longing returned, full force!  When I commented on how beautiful her quilt is, she replied with lots of encouragement to start my own.  And when I said, "I really want to - maybe I'll do some color planning today ...."  she came right back with, "I'm holding you to it!"  And even offered to make up a few and send them to me to get me started... Wow - Mary is clearly a gifted Encourager!  How could I resist that???

Now you all know how I get when I start thinking in terms of color, right?  It's like offering a dog a steak bone!  It's all I can think of.  There's a reason they call it "stash" - as in "addiction"!  Once I started thinking about what colors I'd like to play with in this quilt, I was off and running - there was no stopping me!

Hot pinks!

Hot oranges and yellows!

With Blacks and Whites to frame them....

I had to wash my orange and yellow stash before I could do anything, and a good part of yesterday was spent washing the rest of my black/white fabrics.  I couldn't resist putting together block combos as soon as they came out of the dryer!  They are truly just as irresistible as a fresh bag of chips!!!

And now there are Four!!!

Between this new project and the Diamonds are Forever blocks, I think I'm in heaven :*)
Thanks to Mary and Carla, I'm well on my way to having my own Japanese x&+ quilt!!!
I'm kinda glad you can't see me doing the Happy Dance right now :*)

I bet you want to start your own now, too, don't you?  LOL!!!

And for an added bonus, this is my NewFO Challenge project for April

I just love checking things off the To Do List so early in the month =^..^=

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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March NewFO Challenge

I finally had the pleasure of starting a new project this past week.  It's a cute little spring pattern called Cottontail by Jeri Kelly....

This is a tabletop pattern to fit in the Ackfield stand frame, about 14" square.  I bought the pattern last spring with every intention of doing it right away, and ..... ah well .... *sigh* ..... didn't happen!  So I decided that this year I would have this little gem finished so I can enjoy his cute little bunny cheer this Spring!

I have all the pieces fused and began stitching them down last night....

I absolutely LOVE this green - doesn't it just scream of Spring????  I decided to just do a straight stitch on these narrow stems, and of course I got a little close on some of the edges :*)  But it's just a hanging tabletopper and it will look a lot better after I trim off all the little stick-out threads on the edges.  Of course, it doesn't look bad at all unless you're looking at it magnified like this picture LOL!!!  I can't decide whether to do that or a buttonhole stitch on the blooms.... what do you think?  Maybe even a free-motion edge around them?  I'm hoping to try some interesting FMQ on the background of this one when it's time for quilting! :*)

I'm linking this project up with the NewFO Challenge for March over at Cat Patches here!

I also wanted to share my progress on a UFO from two years ago with you......

My Piecemakers guild enjoys year-long mystery quilt projects, and I used these pretty batik fabrics for our mystery in 2012 called Baubles and Beads.  I did pretty well keeping up with the clues each month for about six months and then got sidetracked - you know how that goes, don't you???  I picked it up occasionally and finished off most of the clues, but I still had to finish the last step in the alternate blocks and then assembling all the blocks together, which I accomplished at Quiltfest earlier this month.

It looks pretty sad just hanging there like that, doesn't it?  Poor thing really needs it's borders and a much better photographer!!!  Not to mention a nice spa visit with the iron and some Best Press LOL!!!

What are you working on today?  

Check out all the neat projects being shared at Patchwork Times today!!!
Also sharing at Connie's Tuesday Linky Party!!!!

Have a glorious week my friends!

I hope your weather is as beautiful as ours is today - YUM!!!!

Yes, I think Spring may finally be smiling on us :*)

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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The Rest of the Story - DWM 3/10/14

Are you ready to hear the rest of the story about Scheherazade?  If you're new to the blog, you can read my earlier post HERE where I began the story of my plans for this really old Dinosaur UFO.

So.......Once Upon a Time.......

Well, okay, this is a long story and you may not want to read it all (LOL!!!), so let me begin at the end ..... here is Scheherazade, all finished!

It's straight - I promise!

I have to say I'm fairly happy with it, but not thrilled like I hoped to be.  It's certainly better than just slapping on a few plain borders.  But I'm pretty disappointed because my plans for this quilt's border design were an epic FAIL :(

I had all kinds of ideas flowing about ways to dress up this quilt, and spent hours drawing possible designs that fit in with the Arabian Nights theme.

I worked in EQ7 for hours trying to figure out how to make custom borders - still haven't figured that one out!  But I do have a few books on the way to help me in the future - LOL!!!

My main thought was to try to soften all those sharp edges in the Buzzsaw design in the center, and I wanted to pull that wonderful print into the outer border somehow.  But I had to figure out a way to get good separation of the pieces.  So, I pulled out Susan Cleveland's book, Piping Hot Curves......

I'll link this book and project up with Sharon Vrooman's Let's Book It party!!!

Susan came to our Guild in 2009 and taught several classes.  She is an amazing quilter and such a nice person - we all loved her!  The class I took was about inserting piping in the seams of curves to dress up a quilt design.

I loved the class and totally LOVED the effect of the piping to give that extra little ZING!  I even got a little button to "officially" state that I am a Piping Hottie LOL!!!

Blocks made in class in 2009

I got busy working on a corner design using the piping technique to give the pieces definition, and I have to say I was very happy with the design itself and how it turned out.

But I was totally disappointed in the way it looked on the quilt.  Here it is just pinned on to test it out.....

It just seems to make the quilt too fussy.  Too much going on.  And I ended up liking it better without all the fussy corners.  I'm sure glad I only made up the one!  I'm happy with the stepped side borders design that I ended up with, and I'm sure I'll be happy with this quilt for many years.  But I'm also pretty sure I'll always look at it and think about what could have been if I had been a little more seasoned as a designer!

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As for the rest of my design wall, I saw Lesley, the Cuddle Quilter, making some really cool hexie braids on her blog HERE and was immediately smitten - actually I think most of the blog world was just as smitten!  But when I checked out the price of that ruler I decided it would have to wait a while :O

Then I got a bright idea!  I have several sets of Marti Michell templates, and the Large and Small Hexagons have been sitting in my templates box for ages - never used.  I thought, why not try it?  So I pulled out some of my 2-1/2" strips, lined them up with the largest hexagon template, cut, sewed..... and quick as a wink I had Scrappy Braids!!!!

Aren't these cool???  Super, super easy!!!

And I didn't have to buy anything - I love it!!!

I think these will make a wonderful Leader/Ender project for a scrappy quilt, so I've cut up a bunch of them and set them by my machine.  This also means I can mark off my NewFO Challenge project for March - yoohoo!!!!

And the April Bertie BOM package arrived Saturday!

Don't you just LOVE those cute little bunny ears on Bertie?  

Bless her heart, she really does get into the holidays, doesn't she?   

I got totally sidetracked from the March Bertie and hadn't touched it in quite a while, so I thought it might be just as easy to work on them both together.

Yesterday I finished up the buttonhole stitching on both, and got the HSTs ready for applying to the borders.   The hand stitched embellishments are going to be fun on both of these :*)

So what's on your Design Wall?  

Share with us at Judy's Patchwork Times!
Also linking up with Freemotion's Tuesday Linky Party!

Have a lovely week!!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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