Lovin' those Scrappy Blues

I got off to a slow start with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for 2015, but ended up being very productive for the month of January. Our color for the month was blue. Here are all the finished blocks for my new projects so far. On the left are the RSC Circles, my current hand stitching project. My leader-and-ender project, and one of my all-time favorite block patterns,  is the bowtie. I am hoping to make 30 - 40 each month. On the right is a collection of 4-patch blocks made from 2-1/2 inch squares. These will probably end up becoming 16-patch stars.

Seeing all of my scrappy blue blocks up on the design wall today really reminded me why I love scrap quilts. There's nothing better than seeing the variety of fabrics that have been collected through the years.

I have also been working on UFOs that feature blue. I finished the top of a QOV 1/4 Log Cabin quilt, and also pieced a back for it. I showed those in last week's post. This week I pulled out another old UFO, my Dutch Tiles quilt. My sister and I took a class together in 2002, and that is when I started this quilt. I finished making the last few blocks this week and have been joining blocks together into rows. Soon I will begin the slow, zig-zagging seams that join the rows into a quilt top. This photo shows 3 rows of blocks; there will be a total of 7 rows.

Our color for February is pink, and I have started cutting pink squares to become bowties, but haven't gotten any sewn up yet. I still need to cut some pink circles to applique, and I will also choose one or more UFOs in pink to work on after I finish the Dutch Tiles quilt.

Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. On Sunday I will also link up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than housework.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 1/26/15

My plan for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year is to focus on making progress on UFOs based on the monthly color.  I pulled out this set of blocks that was started in 2002 in a class that my sister and I took together. The pattern was called Dutch Tiles. I worked on the blocks occasionally over the years, but for some reason never managed to finish the quilt. I just need to finish making a few more blocks, then I can get them joined together.

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 1/25/15

This was a good week for turning my numbers around and getting back on the side of more fabric used than stashed for the year so far. I added borders to my blue & yellow QOV blocks, plus pieced a back for it. You can see photos of both the quilt top and the back in yesterday's post.

Used this week:                   6.375 yards     

Used year to date:                   9.5 yards

Stashed this week:                   0 yards

Stashed year to date:            6.25 yards 

Net year to date:                    3.25 yards used

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Another Scraphappy Saturday in Blue

Participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for the last couple of years has been such a treat for me. There are always so many creative ways that everyone uses the color of the month. I am constantly adding more great ideas and inspiration to my list of projects to make someday.

This year I have started two new projects for the RSC, one hand stitching and one that has become my leader and ender project. Instead of starting yet another new quilt, I am going to try to make progress on some of my UFOs based on the RSC color. 

The color for January is blue, so I pulled out this stack of blue and yellow 1/4 Log Cabin blocks that I started when Alycia hosted a block drive in 2013. Last weekend I got all the blocks joined together and added the borders.

Throughout the past week I have been piecing chunks of blue and yellow fabrics for the back of this quilt. I couldn't get the whole back in this photo, but you can get the idea. All that's left is to make a binding and a label.

Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. On Sunday I will also link up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than housework.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 1/19/15

It feels good to have something different up on my design wall, especially since I have a finished quilt top to show!

These blocks were started as part of a Quilts of Valor block drive hosted by Alycia back in 2013. I made about 20 blocks around Labor Day that year, then they got tucked away in my sewing room. Last October I pulled them out again, made some more blocks, played with different layouts, then put them away again. This month I am trying to clear out some of my UFOs, and this was the first project to be chosen.

I got all of the blocks joined together on Saturday, then added borders yesterday. There really are borders on the left side too--I couldn't get the whole quilt in my photo through the bathroom doorway. Next thing is to pull some fabrics for a backing.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! I am also linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict for more incredible quilt viewing.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 1/18/15

My stash-busting efforts took a detour this week, but the good news is that it was all free. I have been very lucky lately, winning two different giveaways.

My first win was a giveaway from McCall's Quilting. It is a fat quarter bundle of "Paisley Park" fabrics by Kansas Troubles for Moda. These aren't fabrics/colors I would generally choose, but I am liking the deep, rich colors. Plus I'm a sucker for those paisley prints!

My second win was the grand prize in the 350 Blocks Project over at Prairie Moon Quilts. Each month Shelly posts the goal number of blocks to make that month, with the total for the whole year being 350. At the end of the month, the participants all report their results. There is a prize drawing every month, and final prizes at the end of the year. Last year I made a total of 638 blocks. (pretty good, but one participant made almost 1400 blocks!) Anyway, my prize included this assortment of fabrics--talk about a contrast to the previous group!

These fabrics are from the line "Asbury" by Thomas Knauer for Andover. My favorites are the two stripey fabrics and the zigzaggy dots in the middle row. I also won two quilting books, two patterns, some thread, and TrueGrips adhesive rings for my rulers. What a great prize package this was!

I have been doing lots of cutting fabrics and prepping projects this week, but not a whole lot of sewing, so no fabric used to report. I will have to get to work stitching up some of my winnings!


Used this week:                                0 yards     

Used year to date:                       3.125 yards

Stashed this week:                      6.25 yards

Stashed year to date:                  6.25 yards 

Net year to date:                         3.125 yards stashed

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Singing the Scraphappy Blues

Actually, I am not singing the blues at all today. In fact I am almost giddy with excitement because I had expected to work this morning, but found out last night that the work call had been cancelled. Woohoo!! A free morning! Of course, there are plenty of things I should take care of around the house, but first I am going to take some time to catch up on blogging.

I have added more blocks to my appliqued circles project (True Colors from the book Simple Circles and Quick Curves by Nancy Mahoney.)  My new leader-and-ender project for this year is going to be a rainbow of bowties. I have been cutting a ton of light neutral background squares, and I will make bowties in the assigned color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge each month. So far I have 13 blocks done and another dozen or so partially made. I hope to make around 30 blocks each month and end up with enough for a good-sized throw.

I have continued working on an old Rainbow Scrap project, my Scrap Hexies. The pieces have become too large for me to keep stitching them on the train to work in the mornings, but I am getting some stitching time while watching TV at night. Background hexies have been added to the yellow star, which leaves only 3 more stars needing background. Then I can start joining everything together and come up with a plan for how to finish the outside edges.

Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I am also linking up with Help for Hexie-aholics at Sarah Did It! On Sunday I will also link up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than housework.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 1/12/15

My design wall has had one of my Rainbow LeMoyne quilt tops hanging up, while I kept hoping that I would come up with a great idea for a border. Unfortunately, inspiration did not strike and I got tired of looking at it, so it has come down for the time being.

I have started making blocks for a new project. I am working on the pattern "True Colors" by Nancy Mahoney from her book Simple Circles and Quick Curves. I began with blue, the color for January at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! I am also linking up with Scraptastic Tuesday at Mrs Sew and Sow.

Julie in GA

Scraphappy Saturday in Blue 1/10/15

I don't have a whole lot to show for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge today because most of my week was spent cutting and prepping fabrics for a couple of quilts.

I cut black and white print squares to use for the backgrounds on my version of "True Colors". You can see the original quilt in my post from last week. I see from the photo that I need to cut lots more dark squares. 

I also appliqued a few blue circles to those background blocks. I can get most of one circle stitched on my ride to work if I have it pinned to the background and ready to sew.

Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I'm sure we will have another amazing, colorful year!

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 1/4/15

It's time for the first Stash Report of 2015, back to having a clean slate. Maybe this year I can reach my goal of using more fabric than I add to my stash (but don't count on it!)

At least I made it through the first week by using some fabric and not buying any. I finished the sashing and pieced borders for my second LeMoyne Stars quilt, and I added the sashing to the third set of blocks. I thought I was done with that quilt top, but have decided to add a pieced border to it.

Rainbow LeMoyne #2
45" x 60"

Rainbow LeMoyne #3
46" x 60.5"

Used this week:                           3.125 yards     

Used year to date:                       3.125 yards

Stashed this week:                        0 yards

Stashed year to date:                    0 yards 

Net year to date:                         3.125 yards used

It's not a lot used, but it's a good start to the new year! Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

A New Year for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Hurray for another year of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge! I always look forward to getting up on Saturday and seeing the fabulous projects that everyone has linked up. Thanks to Angela for continuing to host, and also to Vicki Welsh for her sponsorship. 

My main RSC project last year was making LeMoyne Star blocks. Each month I made a batch of 6" stars and one 12" star. On New Years Eve, I managed to complete two more quilt tops from my blocks. I finished the pieced border on one top and decided not to add any more borders to the other. These two tops
join the baby quilt top that I showed last week. 

Rainbow LeMoyne #2
45" x 60"

Rainbow LeMoyne #3
46" x 60.5"

I have continued working on my Scrap Hexies project, which was begun in August, 2013. All of the stars and snowflakes are made, and I am adding background to the large stars. Before long I will be able to start joining the parts together!

I haven't completely decided on my new projects for the RSC this year. One that I am very excited about is a new hand applique project, which will become my handwork while riding the train to work since the hexie stars are getting too big to handle easily. The pattern is called "True Colors" and it is from the book Simple Circles and Quick Curves by Nancy Mahoney. I love the 3-D effect of the light and dark backgrounds.

"True Colors" by Nancy Mahoney

Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I'm sure we will have another amazing, colorful year!

Julie in GA

HAPPY 2015!

I've been seeing lots of quilt blog posts showing off their many finished quilts from 2014 and listing their goals for the year ahead. I am a little behind on reviewing the past year and making plans for 2015, but here goes!

I was feeling like I hadn't accomplished much with my quilting last year, even though I spent lots of time sewing. However, as I review my lists of quilts started and finished, I am happy with my results and have made good progress on several projects. 

My biggest finish of the year was the Scrappy Sampler quilt. This was begun in 2013 as a block-of-the-month project, and I was thrilled to complete it in the fall.

Scrappy Sampler

Most of my other finishes were baby quilts--one for a co-worker, one for friends, and one for our niece and her husband. 

Bowties baby quilt

Musical Stars baby quilt

Surrounded by Love baby quilt

I headed up a group at work to make a signature quilt when our boss retired at the end of July. It turned out great, and she was so surprised!

Signature Quilt

I also completed several quilt tops this year. One is for Quilts of Valor and will be submitted to them for quilting. Four were very simple pieced tops for the charity quilting at my mother's church. The rest are all at different stages of quilting/completion. At least a few of them should get finished this year.

QOV Bowties

One goal that I achieved this year was limiting my number of new projects. Of the dozen projects I started in 2014, all but four were either finished or at least became quilt tops.  Four other UFOs/WIPs were completed, so my number of UFOs should be the same at the end of 2014 as it was at the beginning of the year.

For 2015, I am keeping my goals rather vague instead of saying something like "I will finish 12 quilts this year." I hope to finish off some of those quilt tops that are so close to completion. I would like to make more Quilts of Valor and also some for children's charities. It would be great to finish up at least one of my old UFOs too.  I hope to be able to find time for quilting every day, even if it is only 15 minutes some days. Any time spent quilting is good for my sanity.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and HAPPY QUILTING!

Julie in GA