Finishing Up Pink

It's the last day of February, which means the last day for pink on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I have been focused on a non-RSC project this week, but I did manage to finish up a couple more of my appliqued circles. Here are all the pink and blue ones together (including two not-quite-finished pink blocks in the bottom row.) I see in the photo that a couple of the blocks need to be rotated, but otherwise I am loving the way they look!

"True Colors" by Nancy Mahoney
from the book Simple Circles and Quick Curves

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 2/23/15

I started a new quilt over the weekend for a musician friend who has colon cancer. It is going to be a very simple rail fence pattern, and I am making it as a quilt-as-you-go project in an attempt to save time.

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 2/22/15

Last weekend my husband was telling me about a friend who is undergoing chemo for colon cancer. He has been commenting that he is cold all the time, especially his hands and feet. Naturally, my first thought was "I should make him a quilt!" I wanted to back it with flannel to make the quilt extra cuddly, and I didn't have enough of anything here, so we headed off to the quilt shop.

The red fabric will be the backing. Both my husband and the quilt recipient are musicians, and I already have a good stash of music-themed prints, but we found a couple more to add to the collection. The two red, white & blue stripes are options for sashing on my current Quilt of Valor. You can see the first few blocks for that quilt HERE.

On the usage side, I finished the last of my pink bowtie blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, using 1.25 yards of fabric. I showed the blocks in yesterday's post.

Used this week:                    1.25 yards     

Used year to date:            13.375 yards

Stashed this week:             7.375  yards

Stashed year to date:        19.125 yards 

Net year to date:               5.75 yards added

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Pink Saturday

I finished up another batch of pink bowtie blocks this week. I love making bowtie blocks because they are quick and easy to make, plus there are infinite ways to put them together in a quilt. My blocks will finish at 4".

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 2/16/15

My design wall has seen very little change over the past week. At the top I have three rows of my Dutch Tiles quilt, two of them stitched together and a third waiting to be attached. There are four more rows elsewhere that will also get joined up.

At the bottom are my 16-patch Stars that will become a Quilt of Valor. Still trying to figure out how many more blocks I will need for that 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

Stash Report Sunday 2/15/15

I have no fabric usage or additions to report this week. It was a very busy week with little time left for quilting. I hope to get more done next week.


Used this week:                          0 yards     

Used year to date:            12.125 yards

Stashed this week:                    0  yards

Stashed year to date:           11.75 yards 

Net year to date:                   .375 yards used

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Pink Scraps for Valentine's Day

I haven't had much time to play with my pink scraps this week. I did finish up a few more applique circle blocks, and I have several more ready to stitch. Like many applique projects, the prep work can take just as long as the stitching.

"True Colors" by Nancy Mahoney
from the book Simple Circles and Quick Curves

Since I don't have much new to show this week, I am sharing a recent finish that is appropriate for Valentine's Day. I made this baby quilt for my niece and her husband's little girl. Rebecca Marie was born in January. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have any photos of the finished quilt, just of the top.

Surrounded by Love baby 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. 

Happy Valentine's Day and happy quilting!
Julie in GA

16-Patch Stars

Saturday was National Sewing Day for Quilts of Valor, so I decided it was time to do something with the blue and white 16-patch blocks I made last month as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. My plan was to use the 16-patches as the center of large Sawtooth Stars, also known as Scrap Jar Stars. I got the first four stars done over the weekend.

I haven't figured out my layout for this quilt yet. I have six more 16-patch centers already made, but could easily make more from my scraps if I need more than 10 blocks.

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 to Sarah's Sweet Sixteen Quilt Along at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 2/8/15

Somedays my willpower is very weak, especially when it involves either chocolate or a good deal on quilt fabric! This week was the latter. The Fat Quarter Shop had bundles of the Gallery in Red and Gallery in Blue lines for half price. I just could not resist ordering them both. I have already cut into them for my latest Quilt of Valor.

Used this week:                          0 yards     

Used year to date:            12.125 yards

Stashed this week:                 5.5  yards

Stashed year to date:           11.75 yards 

Net year to date:                   .375 yards used

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Pink Scrappiness

Our color for February at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is pink. This week I made 30 pink bowtie blocks. I also finished 3 pink appliqued circle blocks, plus two blue blocks left over from January. 

For the next week I need to prepare some more circles to applique. I am still working on my blue Dutch Tiles UFO and won't choose a pink UFO until I get that one together.

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. Then it is Scraptastic Tuesday with Leanne and Nicky.

Julie in GA

Tuesday Archives--Nine-Patch Quilts

Val is hosting the Tuesday Archives posts over at Val's Quilting Studio, and this week's theme is nine-patch quilts. The idea is to link up an old blog post that fits the theme. I love nine-patch quilts, and I have made quite a few of them over the years. Since I don't really have any blog posts featuring them, I searched through my photos to find a few to share with you.

Nine-patch quilts are a favorite of mine because of the beautiful effects that can be made with this very simple unit. As you can see, I love making quilts with gradations of color and/or value. I agonize over my fabric selections until I am happy with the blend of colors. Enjoy the mini quilt show!

Volcano Island 2001
pattern is "Blooming Nine-Patch" from the book
Tradition with a Twist by Blanche Young and Dalene Young Stone

Evergreen 2009
variation on the pattern "Trip Squared"
from the book Batik Beauties by Laurie Shifrin

Over the Rainbow Disappearing Nine-Patch 2011

Radiant Sunshine and Shadow quilt for Mom 2011
from the book by the same name
by Helen Frost and Catherine Skow

"Blazing Hidden Nine-Patch"
top made 2001, quilt finished 2012
pattern is "Atlanta Commons" from the book
101 Nine-Patch Quilts by Marti Michell

I can't even begin to choose a favorite of these quilts. Each one is very special to me. I look forward to checking out all the other nine-patch quilt posts at Val's Quilting Studio. 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 2/2/15

My design wall is still covered with the Dutch Tiles blocks. I finished making the last few blocks and have started stitching them together. Six rows are done, just one more group of blocks to join into a row. Then I begin the slow process of stitching those zig-zagging seams together. I can't wait to see this as a finished quilt top! There are 46 whole blocks and 6 half blocks, but I can't get them all in a photo on the design wall.

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 2/1/15

I had another good week of using my stash. Most of what I am counting today is yardage used for the projects I am making as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I finished 48 Bowtie blocks, 9 RSC Circles blocks, and 10 16-patch blocks, all using my blue scraps. No fabric added for the week.

I am participating in the 350 Blocks Challenge again. My total for January was 85, a good start to the year.

Used this week:                   2.625 yards     

Used year to date:             12.125 yards

Stashed this week:                    0  yards

Stashed year to date:            6.25 yards 

Net year to date:                   5.875 yards used

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA