Scraptastic Stars in Green

Thanks goodness for an extra Saturday this month! That is the only reason I was able to finish my last blocks in lime/light greens for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Here are my Scraptastic Stars blocks for March.

I love making these blocks every month! It is so much fun to see if I have enough squares in the color of the month for each block. As usual, this month I made one block from 2.5" squares, and the other block is from 2" squares.

16" block from 2.5" squares

12" blocks from 2" squares

I couldn't resist putting my different color blocks up on the wall together. There are a few extras because I made some as samples last fall to be sure I liked making this block pattern. I'm already starting to think about setting/sashing options!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

On Ringo Lake--A Finished Top!

My One Monthly Goal for the month of February was to finish assembling the top for my "On Ringo Lake" quilt. I was barely able to meet that goal, but unfortunately did not have a chance to get photos of the top and write a blog post about it in time to link up at the end of February. Since I missed that deadline, there didn't seem to be a reason to rush into the reveal post, but today is finally the day!

I started this project in November, 2017, as part of Bonnie Hunter's annual Thanksgiving to New Year's mystery quilt. I liked Bonnie's color scheme very much, but felt the need to go my own direction. I replaced her colors of aqua/turquoise, chocolate brown, and salmon/coral with red, black and grey, plus black-on-white for the backgrounds. My choices were inspired by several of my sewing-themed fabrics.

The prints in the first photo were too large for all the little pieces we used in our quilts, but you can definitely see my color inspiration. The fabrics in the next photo were all included in the quilt piecing.

As usual, Bonnie's design included many units made from lots of little pieces--we made 9-patches, flying geese, chevrons, and other parts. It seemed like I kept needing to cut more background pieces every few days! Eventually I had all the parts needed and it was time to join them all together.

Here is a close shot showing off some of my fabrics. I can see a few sewing prints with needles, pins, zippers, scissors, etc. There are also some music-themed fabrics, which I have been collecting to make a quilt for my musician husband.

Bonnie's quilt was designed to finish at 75" x 90". I made about 2/3 of all the different units for a finished size of 60" x 75", good for a throw quilt. Here is my version of On Ringo Lake. The red, black and grey fabrics inspired the name for my quilt--Fire and Smoke (On Ringo Lake.) It feels so wonderful to have this one completed!

Fire and Smoke (On Ringo Lake)
60" x 75"

Linking up to:

Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Julie in GA

A Mysterious Monday Design Wall

Libby at Life on the Hill has been hosting the Magical Mystery QAL since late February. I joined in on the action a few weeks late, but had no trouble catching up.

Libby had us start with two fat quarters, one light and one dark, which will make four blocks, two each of two different blocks. I started with four fat quarters in red, white & blue, with the idea that I might make enough blocks for a Quilt of Valor

We have made all the various units that will get joined together into blocks, and Libby's reveal happens today. Here's my guess for the final blocks.

I couldn't resist trying out my idea in a couple different layouts. These blocks will be fun to play with (if this is indeed the right block arrangement.)

I can't wait to see Libby's block reveal. She is also going to share some setting options. It's almost time to solve the mystery! Here's the link for the block reveal.

I'm linking up with Libby's Magical Mystery at Life on the Hill. I'm also linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Check out all of them for tons of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 3/25/18

There were no changes to my stash totals last week. I've started two new projects recently, but neither one is at the point where I can count anything as used. I've been staying away from the quilt shops and have managed to resist the on-line deals too.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                 0.0 yards

Used year to date:            17.0 yards

Added last week:                0.0 yards
Added year to date:         2.125 yards
Net used year to date:   14.875 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I'm back on track with quilting every single day. I have spent a chunk of the weekend prepping a hand applique project to take along on an upcoming trip, so I hope to continue with my daily stitching time.

15 Minute Challenge:  
3/18 - 3/24           7 of 7 days
2018 Total          82 of 83 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces.

Julie in GA

Ribbon Stars Quilt Top!

My One Monthly Goal for the month of March has been to join all of my Ribbon Star blocks into a quilt top. I started out making these blocks as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge last year, but I ended up making blocks from only four colors instead of the whole rainbow. 

I made 20 stars in each of my colors, then joined the stars into groups of four by color. The four-star blocks were arranged in bands of color running diagonally through the quilt.

Ribbon Stars, 60" x 75"

My only uncertainty at the moment is whether or not to add any borders. My original plan did not include borders, and the current size works well for a throw quilt. However, once all the blocks were joined together, I started thinking that the quilt might look better with a narrow border of the white-on-white prints, and maybe even a scrappy border of all the bright colors combined. No decision yet, and for now I'm going to call it done.

Here are some close-up shots showing off some favorite fabrics.

I love the veggie prints and the green diamonds!

I've always thought of this print as the french fry fabric!

The fabrics in these blocks hold special memories--the dark leafy print was used in a wedding quilt for a niece, and the light leafy print was combined with an old Hoffman challenge fabric many years ago. The polka dot fabric was from a maternity dress made as a costume for a production of Steel Magnolias.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I'm also joining the One Monthly Goal link-up at Elm Street Quilts. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 3/19/18

In honor of National Quilting Day on Saturday, I decided to start a new project. Libby at Life on the Hill is hosting the Magical Mystery QAL. I'm making a late start (the first clue was posted on Feb. 23rd), but I managed to catch up quite easily. 

Libby's instructions call for two fat quarters, one light and one dark, which will end up becoming four blocks, two each of two different blocks. I started with four fat quarters, making HSTs and rail units. I also played around with some ways these different parts might be arranged into blocks.

This is my first guess at a possible arrangement, a positive and negative version of the same block. I have no idea if that's right, but we will all have to wait until Friday to find out more!

I'm linking up with Libby's Magical Mystery at Life on the Hill. I'm also linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Check out all of them for tons of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 3/18/18

I hope everyone had a wonderful St. Pat's/National Quilting Day yesterday. I had the luxury of spending almost the entire day in my sewing room. I came out for meals and to exercise, but not much more than that. I did some tidying up, some cutting and stitching, and I even started a new project!

My stash usage for the week consisted of several blocks for the RSC Squared Away sampler, plus my first four Spinning Boxes blocks. You can find a tutorial for the Spinning Boxes in yesterday's post. It's fun to see all the colors together up on the design wall.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                 1.0 yards

Used year to date:            17.0 yards

Added last week:                0.0 yards
Added year to date:         2.125 yards
Net used year to date:   14.875 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. My perfect streak for the year has come to an end because I missed one day this week. Time to get started on a new streak!

15 Minute Challenge:  
3/11 - 3/17            6 of 7 days
2018 Total          75 of 76 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces.

Julie in GA

Spinning Boxes tutorial

Today is one of my favorite days of the year, National (or Worldwide) Quilting Day. I have very little planned for today other than spending as much time as possible playing with fabric in my sewing room!

Besides that, it is also St. Patrick's Day. That works out perfectly with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, where our March color assignment is light/ bright greens. Last Saturday I shared my two bright green Spinning Boxes blocks, along with the Squared Away sampler blocks. This week I have more of the Spinning Boxes together up on the design wall. I'm loving these blocks set on point!

Spinning Boxes, 10" blocks

Last week Paula B. asked about a pattern for the Spinning Boxes block. There isn't really a pattern, but I can share enough information for you to get started on making these fun and easy blocks.

Peaches and Dreams, 12" block

My block design was originally inspired by Judy Laquidara's pattern Peaches and Dreams, which is still available for free on her website. I made one block from her pattern (shown above), but didn't like the way it looked in my fabrics. I ended up eliminating the largest unit and combining the other units in a different layout for the Spinning Boxes block.

Spinning Boxes, 10" block

To make the Spinning Boxes block, you will make two each of two different rectangular units. The next photo shows two of Unit A at the top, and two of Unit B at the bottom.

Cutting for each Unit A:

Center: cut 1 rectangle @ 1.5" x 3.5"

Sides: cut 2 @ 2" x 3.5"

Ends: cut 2 @ 2" x 4.5"

Cutting for each Unit B:

Center: cut 1 rectangle @ 2.5" x 4.5"

Sides and ends: cut 4 @ 1.5" x 4.5"

Block center:  cut 1 square @ 2.5"

Piece the A and B rectangle units, pressing all seams away from the centers.

Units should measure 4.5" x 6.5" including seam allowances.

Lay out your four rectangular units around the center square, alternating A's and B's. They will be joined together starting with a partial seam.

Partial seam

Place the center square at the upper right  corner of any of the rectangular units as shown above. Stitch 2/3 - 3/4 of the way down the side of the square.

Finger press seam away from center square. Lay the next unit to the left and stitch to the previous parts.

Continue to add the rectangular units around the center square, being sure to alternate A and B units. 

After all of the A and B units have been stitched to the center square, the only remaining stitching is to finish the rest of the original partial seam. Press all seams away from the center square.

Wrong side showing direction for pressing seams

You have completed your first Spinning Boxes block! Your block should measure 10.5" including seam allowances, and will finish at 10".

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I'm also linking up to share this tutorial with the Hands2Help quilters. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 3/12/18

My main quilting project over the weekend was joining together some of my Ribbon Star blocks. I made these blocks as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2017, although I didn't end up making them in all the colors of the rainbow. My blocks are in greens, yellows, blues and oranges.

I am in the process of joining the yellow and green blocks into groups of four. The blue and orange blocks have already been done. Next I will be able to join all of the groups together into  a completed quilt top!

I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Check out all of them for tons of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

15 Minutes and Stash Report Sunday 3/11/18

Finally, a major change to my stash report! That's because I finished a quilt top--my version of Bonnie Hunter's 2017 mystery quilt "On Ringo Lake" is a completed top!! Too bad I haven't been able to get any photos of the whole top yet, but I promise to share it very soon. Here is a shot of a small portion of the quilt.

My quilt finishes at about 2/3 of Bonnie's original size. I haven't measured it yet, but I believe mine should be around 60" x 75". My calculation of the amount of fabric used came to 9 yards (as compared to the 16 yards listed for the full pattern.)

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                 9.0 yards

Used year to date:            16.0 yards

Added last week:                0.0 yards
Added year to date:         2.125 yards
Net used year to date:   13.875 yards

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us tracking how many days each week we get in at least 15 minutes of quilting time. I'm struggling to figure out what to do next after such a major finish, but I have pulled out a couple of projects that were ignored while the mystery quilt was filling my time. I'm still holding steady at finding time to quilt every single day! I missed posting last week, so this covers a two-week period.

15 Minute Challenge:  
2/25 - 3/10        14 of 14 days
2018 Total          69 of 69 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate, and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces.

Julie in GA

Sampling the Bright Greens

This week's scrappy stitching for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge was focused on my blocks for the Squared Away sampler. I have been making the blocks to finish at 7.5". I also made a couple of Spinning Boxes blocks.

At the top in this photo are two Box-in-a-Box blocks from the Fat Quarter Shop's 2017 Patchwork Quilt Along (find the pattern HERE, but their pattern is for a 5" block.) My three Squared Away blocks are across the center (pattern available at The Academic Quilter), and at the bottom are two Spinning Boxes blocks, which will finish at 10". This whole grouping makes me feel like spring has come!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Design Wall and One Monthly Goal

It's a new month, which means time for a new One Monthly Goal. I'm really trying to meet these goals each month, and have been successful for the first two months so far this year (although I didn't post my completion in time for the end of February link-up.)

Throughout most of 2017, I was making Ribbon Star blocks as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I ended up making blocks in greens, yellows, blues and oranges, and have at least 20 blocks of each color. 

I've started joining the blocks into groups of four by color. So far I have done the blue and orange blocks, with the green and yellow blocks still to go. My goal for the month of March is to get all of the blocks joined together into a finished quilt top.

I am joining the One Monthly Goal link-up for March at Elm Street Quilts. I'm also linking up to Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Check out all of them for tons of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

Bright Green Scrappy Treasures

My recent search for bright green and yellow-green scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge yielded a jackpot! I discovered a bag that contained scraps and leftovers from a costume project made two years ago, and many of the scraps were in the exact colors I needed.

We were working on a show based on the children's book Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and many others. The costume designs were intended to match the illustrations in the book, so the designer decided to have us piece together multiple fabrics, mostly batiks. Here is one panel that was made to become part of a pair of shorts. (Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the finished garment.)

Today I found some scraps from this project, including some chunks of the pieced sections that were left over after we cut out the shorts. The long section at the bottom center measures about 7.5" x 17".

Pieced sections 

Batik scraps

I'm planning to continue piecing more of these scraps together, probably with the addition of some more batik fabrics from my stash. There's no definite plan for what these pieces will become, but I can't wait to see where they take me!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA