Design Wall Monday

It's time for the last Design Wall Monday of 2014! I have been putting together my LeMoyne Star quilts from the blocks I made as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge all year. I got this batch of six-inch blocks joined together and started to add the borders, but then decided that the black print border was too dark. I am now working on a pieced border, but don't have any photos of it yet.

I also joined my twelve-inch stars together with the sashing and cornerstones. I still need to figure out a plan for the border on this quilt. Maybe I will have a photo of that project to show next time.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! 
Happy New Year to all and happy quilting!

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 12/28/14

Here we are at the last Stash Report Sunday for 2014. My fabric goals for the year were to use at least 100 yards this year, and to use at least as much as I added to my stash. I was successful on the first goal, but not the second. I have been buying fabric like crazy lately, and that killed my stash reduction efforts.

I received gift certificates for two local quilt shops as Christmas gifts (my husband knows what I like!) One of the shops was having a sale all weekend, so I used my gift there already. I got a couple of pieces to use for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge next year, plus a piece to make into pj pants for my favorite Santa collector.

The only usage for the week was 1/2 yard for the border on my Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt.

Rainbow LeMoyne #1
40.5" x 48.5"

Used this week:                           .5 yards     

Used year to date:                  124.875 yards

Stashed this week:                      6 yards

Stashed year to date:              150.625 yards 

Net year to date:                 25.75 yards stashed

Maybe I can end up in the black next year! Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2014

The Christmas break has finally given me some time to work on my Rainbow LeMoyne quilts. I have been making LeMoyne Star blocks all year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I ended up with 77 stars that finish at six inches and 12 stars that finish at twelve inches.

I have been trying out a few different sashing options. I started with 20 of the six-inch blocks and ended up with this little top for a baby quilt.

Rainbow LeMoyne #1
40" x 48"

The next group of blocks got a different setting. The final border just needs to be stitched on, although I am having doubts about that black print. Maybe a pieced border of the black and white prints would look better. Any suggestions?

I am still working on putting together the twelve-inch blocks, and there are about 20 of the six-inch stars left over. I have also been trying to decide on my rainbow project for next year. 

It has been a great year for using up a rainbow of scraps (although I still have plenty more to use next year!) I am joining the linky party for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 12/22/14

Two weeks ago I showed these blocks and the beginning of my sashing on my design wall post. This has been one of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year. I started out strong on getting them all joined together, but then life intervened and put progress on hold. Yesterday I finally managed to finish joining all the blocks and sashing units together.

All that's left is adding the black and white check as a border. Right now the center of the quilt is pinned up to the design wall on top of the check to make sure I like them together. I should be able to get the borders done later in the week, and maybe even get the quilt pinned for quilting.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 12/21/14

I have fallen terribly far behind on blog posts lately. Between preparing for Christmas, a five-day business trip to New York, and a crazy schedule at work, quilting has been pushed to the back burner. 

My stash report has taken quite a hit recently. I had been doing well at limiting my purchases all year, but for some reason my will power seems to have totally disappeared. I couldn't resist the amazing Black Friday sale prices at Connecting Threads, and I stocked up on some of my favorites. Mostly lots of reds and blues, plus some neutrals, so I foresee some great Quilts of Valor from this group.

I also had a gift certificate from one of my favorite local quilt shops, Intown Quilters in Decatur. The expiration date was the end of the year, so I used it to get some lovely batiks on clearance. No idea what these will become.

My recent trip to New York ended up being mostly work and not much time to play. However, a co-worker and I did find time one afternoon to visit Mood Fabrics of Project Runway fame. I also made it to the City Quilter, one of very few quilt shops in NYC. They have many wonderful New York themed fabrics, but I limited myself to a few black & white prints.

My only fabric used in the last two weeks was 1 yard for the sashing on my Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt, and that just happened today. I will have four days off for Christmas, and I am counting on spending some serious time at my sewing machine. Unfortunately, I am unlikely to meet my goal of using more fabric than I add for the year.

Used this week:                           1.0 yards     

Used year to date:                  124.375 yards

Stashed this week:                   34.625 yards

Stashed year to date:              144.625 yards 

Net year to date:                 20.25 yards stashed

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Saturday

I had hoped to make more  progress this week on my Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt, but I only managed to get three rows of blocks and sashing joined together. Hopefully I can finish the quilt top next week.

I am joining the linky party for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Check out the terrific scrappy projects!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 12/8/14

One of my quilting goals for the month of December is to put together at least one quilt top from my Rainbow LeMoyne Stars blocks. I have been making these blocks in both 6" and 12" sizes all year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I was considering several options for setting my blocks, and over the weekend I decided to dive in and give one idea a try. This first attempt will become a baby quilt, using 20 of my 75 or so 6" stars.

I am making sashing from the two background fabrics, plus 4-patch units for cornerstones. The sashing units switch back and forth so each block ends up framed with the opposite background fabric, light blocks with a dark frame and vice versa. I would love to get the rest of these units made in the next couple of days and get the blocks all joined together.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! On Tuesday I will also link up to Scraptastic Tuesday, hosted by Leanne at she can quilt and by Nicky at Mrs. Sew and Sow. Check out all the scrappy goodness!

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 12/7/14

The Christmas sewing deadlines are looming, and I have been busy busting through some of my stash to finish gifts. This week I made a pair of pajama pants (that also accounts for the fabric added for the week) and a tote bag. Over the last several weeks I have also stitched background hexies to three of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Hexie Stars.
                           

Used this week:                           5.25 yards     

Used year to date:                  123.375 yards

Stashed this week:                       3.0 yards

Stashed year to date:               110.0 yards 

Net year to date:                     13.375 yards used  


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Rainbow Scrap Finishing Month

Time at the sewing machine has been in short supply lately, but I have continued hand stitching background hexies to my rainbow stars. This was the perfect project to have with me for our Thanksgiving travels, so easy to pick it up and do some stitching while hanging out at Mom's house.

I have finished adding the backgrounds to five out of ten large stars--halfway done! Before long I should be able to start joining the stars and snowflakes together. I began this project in August of 2013, and I would love to get the top done by August, 2015.

Thanks to all who commented last week with opinions for sashing/borders on my Rainbow LeMoyne Star quilt. I am planning to either use the black and white check that I showed as sashing or to frame the blocks with the two background fabrics if I have enough. Here are the two different options drawn up in EQ7.

Check out this week's Rainbow Scrap Challenge posts--lots of incredibly beautiful rainbow projects to inspire you!  I am also linking up to Hexie Weekend over at A Quilting Reader's Garden.

Julie in GA

Quilting goals and 15 Minutes to Stitch

Travel over the Thanksgiving weekend has put me behind on my monthly blog posts. It has been tougher than usual to find time for quilting, but I did manage to do at least a little bit every day this month except for one day over the holiday weekend. I will be linking up with Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch post over at Life in Pieces.

November wasn't my best month when it came to meeting the quilting goals I had set at the beginning of the month. However, I did complete the most important goal of finishing the hearts baby quilt in time to give it to my niece at Thanksgiving.

NOVEMBER GOALS
1. Quilt and bind the "Surrounded  by Love" baby quilt. DONE 11/23/14 and presented to the mother-to-be!

2.  Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make 6-8 LeMoyne Stars in November's color.  Made 12" stars in beige and white.

3.  Scrap Hexies--continue adding background to hexie stars & snowflakes.              Finished the background on blue and black stars.

4.  Tell It to the Stars--make 32 blocks for the pieced border  18 blocks done
5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project  23 blocks done
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.

     29 out of 30 days. I am linking up to Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch



December goals:
1.  Complete 3 Christmas gifts 

2.  Rainbow LeMoyne--assemble at least one quilt top

3.  Scrap Hexies--continue adding background to hexie stars & snowflakes. 

4.  Tell It to the Stars--finish making blocks for the pieced border

5.  Make at least 30 blocks as part of the 350 Blocks Project  
6.  Spend at least 15 minutes each day quilting--cutting, sewing, designing, etc.

There you have it, my quilting plans and goals for December and my results from November. Watch for the next update at the beginning of January.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday

It has been three weeks since my last Design Wall Monday post. I have spent time quilting almost every day, but never seemed to have anything worth showing these past couple of weeks.

On my design wall at the moment are the scrappy LeMoyne Star blocks that I have been making for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I am debating what to use for sashing and borders. The original plan was to use the black and white check shown in the first photo, either with or without one of the rainbow prints for a border. Option 2 is just the rainbow print, probably the wavy stripes. I don't want to distract too much from the stars though. I would love to hear any opinions you wish to share. Anyone who saw my Rainbow Scrap Challenge post on Saturday has already seen these same two photos.

I am very happy to also have a finish to show. A week ago I completed the quilting and binding on the hearts baby quilt that I made for my niece's baby girl who is due to arrive in January. I was so happy to be able to give the quilt to the mother-to-be in person on Saturday. The fabric line is called "Surrounded by Love" and that is the perfect sentiment for this quilt.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA