Setting the QOV Stars

After the positive responses to last week's post about the idea of setting my QOV blocks on point, I searched my stash for a fabric to use for the setting and corner triangles around the outside. There wasn't anything that was working for me, so I decided to finish it off with half blocks along the sides and quarter blocks for the corners. I have been working on making all of those parts. You can see some of the partial blocks along the top of the first photo and the left side and bottom of the second shot.

Double Delight Stars, pattern by Lynne Hagmeier
(I changed her block size from 6" to 12")

Once I finish making all of the half and quarter blocks, it will be time to play with the arrangement of colors on the design wall. After that they can all get joined together. I hope to have a finished quilt top in time for the next Design Wall Monday post!

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.  Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

July 2018 OMG: Red Scrappy Trips Top is Complete!

July has been a big month for quilting in red around here. It is the color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and it is also the color of my One Monthly Goal project. My goal for the month was to take the 20 Scrappy Trip Around the World blocks shown here...

and get them joined into a quilt top before the end of the month. Not a difficult task, and I did reach my goal, but it took a slightly different turn than originally planned.

Red Scrappy Trips, 60" x 75"

As you can see in comparing the two photos, the layout of my blocks changed by the time they all got stitched together. Somehow I zigged a little earlier than planned. It's not better or worse, just different. The best part is that the blocks are all together and I have a completed quilt top!

My blocks were made as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2017, using Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trip Around the World pattern. Her pattern is made with 2.5" strips, but I used 3" strips for my version. My blocks finish at 15".

Just for fun, here are a couple of close shots of some favorite fabrics.

I am linking up with Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts, the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I'm also sharing my One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Even More QOV Stars

The number of QOV Stars blocks has increased from 11 to 17 in the past week. Yesterday I decided to see what they might look like set on point. I haven't decided if I like this or not. I also haven't looked through the stash to see if I have enough of anything that would work for the setting triangles and/or a border. 

Double Delight Stars, pattern by Lynne Hagmeier 
(I changed her block size from 6" to 12")

I will need to figure out a plan before I make any more blocks for this quilt. The on-point setting would change the number of blocks needed. This is the point when I tend to get stuck on some projects--unable to make a decision, so the whole thing just gets stashed away. Hopefully that won't happen this time around! 

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.  Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report and 15 Minutes to Stitch 7/22/18

This is a two-week report because I missed posting anything last Sunday. I keep on cutting and stitching, but finally took the time to calculate some of the usage numbers. One of my primary projects over the past few weeks has been a new QOV quilt that I am calling Musical Stars because of the music designs in the white fabric. I have completed 15 blocks, which is probably half of the total to be made for this quilt. Here are the most recent blocks, and you can see the rest in Monday's post.

Double Delight Stars, pattern by Lynne Hagmeier
(I changed her pattern size from 6" to 12" blocks)

I have used 2.5 yards for the 15 star blocks made, plus 1/2 yard on my Scraptastic Stars (see them in yesterday's post) for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. No new fabric added in the last two weeks!

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last two weeks:             3.0 yards

Used year to date:               45.0 yards

Added last two weeks:            0.0 yards
Added year to date:              24.5 yards
Net used year to date:      20.5 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 keep stitching away every single day on a variety of projects!

15 Minute Challenge:  
7/8 - 7/21         14 of 14 days
2018 Total      196 of 202 days

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

Julie in GA

Red Scraptastic Stars

It took most of today, but I was determined to finish my two red Scraptastic Star blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Up first is the 16" block, followed by the 12" block.

I know they look like the same size blocks in the individual photos, so I always like to include a shot of the two blocks together to show the difference in size.

Scraptastic Stars, pattern by Melissa Corry

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

More QOV Stars

The newest QOV blocks from the past week have been added to the design wall. There are eleven finished blocks, and there are at least nine, but probably 19, still to be made. I have the pieces for several more blocks cut and waiting to be stitched up.

Double Delight Stars, pattern by Lynne Hagmeier

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.  Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Squared Away in Reds

For some reason, there didn't seem to be much time or energy for quilting this week. I didn't get around to working on my Squared Away sampler blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge until today, but I managed to complete three of the Round the Corner blocks (pattern available at The Academic Quilter.) Edited Sunday morning, 7/15/18--I completed a 4th block last night and switched the photo to include all four blocks.

Unfortunately, my design walls both have too much on them for me to put up all of my Squared Away blocks--maybe next month!

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

Moda Blockheads and a QOV Project

The recent July 4th holiday inspired me to pull out my red, white & blue Moda Blockheads blocks. I began making these blocks over a year ago, but they get pulled out only occasionally. Last week I was able to piece five new blocks, bringing my total to about 30. These blocks will finish at 6".

Moda Blockheads blocks, patterns available at the Moda blog

This was the most challenging block of the group. Keep in mind that the block finishes at 6"--that light blue star at the center measures only 2" square, and the points of the star are 1/2" triangles. The block is called Winged Star, and it was designed by Lisa Bongean. 

One design that I especially liked from the new batch was the block at the center in the first photo. It is called Double Delight Star, designed by Lynne Hagmeier of Kansas Troubles Quilters. I liked it so much that I decided to make a larger version, scaling the block up to 12" finished. Here you can see how the two different sizes look together.

I love the double star block, and my musician husband liked the white fabric with red and blue music designs. He suggested that this fabric would make a perfect Quilt of Valor for a veteran who is also a musician. That was all the push I needed to get started on a new project!

Eight blocks have been completed so far. My plan is to make blocks with red stars and blue around the outside, and an equal number of blue stars with red frames. I will alternate the two different color versions of the blocks. 30 blocks should be enough for a good size QOV, even without sashing or borders.

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.  Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report and 15 Minutes to Stitch 7/8/18

The July 4th holiday meant extra time for quilting during the week, and I took full advantage of it. What I can't figure out is why I have so little to count for my stash report. I keep cutting and sewing fabric, but don't have much to show for it this week. I did make two red Spinning Boxes blocks and one in purples for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and I have finished several more green 30's Pinwheels to go with the blocks I showed last week. Total stash used: 5/8 yard.

I didn't plan to buy any fabric last week, and I certainly don't need any more. The English paper piecing group had it's monthly gathering at the quilt shop yesterday, and they were having a sale. It's hard to resist 30% off, and I do want to support the shop so they can stay in business. I got a couple of spools of Aurifil thread plus this fat 1/8ths pack of black-on-white prints (can never have too many!)

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                  .625 yards

Used year to date:               42.0 yards

Added last week:                   1.5 yards
Added year to date:              24.5 yards
Net used year to date:      17.5 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. Having an extra day off in the middle of the week meant even more time in the sewing room!

15 Minute Challenge:  
7/1 - 7/7               7 of 7 days
2018 Total      182 of 188 days

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

Julie in GA

Red Blocks and One Monthly Goal

Today's post combines the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and my One Monthly Goal for July. I have a set of 20 Scrappy Trip Around the World blocks in reds that I made last year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Since red is our color of the month for July, it seems like the right time to pull these blocks back out.

Here are my 20 blocks up on the design wall together. I will play with the arrangement of the blocks some more, but this is the planned design. My One Monthly Goal for July is to get the 20 blocks joined together into a top. I may or may not decide to add a border too. I will report on my progress at the end of the month.

One of my 2018 projects for the RSC is Spinning Boxes blocks. They seem to be the first RSC blocks I make every month, probably because they are the easiest. Here are my red Spinning Boxes for July. These blocks finish at 10".

Spinning Boxes, tutorial HERE

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 sharing my One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Hexie Project

I try to always keep a hand-stitching project ready to grab and go for moments when I have a chance to relax with some stitching. Favorite times for my stitching are in the car on long trips and on the morning train to work. Sometimes I stitch in the evening while "watching" TV.

I recently finished the applique on some Dresden-type blocks (must pull them out and see what needs to happen next!) I knew we were going to be doing some traveling in June, so I searched the sewing room for another hand project. I discovered this hexie medallion that I started several years ago. I was about to stitch the medallion down to the background, but decided to add to the design instead.

The above photo is the current piece. Below is my new plan for the design. The hexies around the outside look like different sizes because most of them are just fabric without the EPP papers inside. I am currently making the six rust points, then will work on the blue/grey 3-hexie sets. Who knows how much this piece might continue to grow after that?

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.  Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report and 15 Minute Challenge 7/1/18

Even though I returned to work last week after two weeks of vacation, I still had a productive week of quilting. I finished a baby quilt in time for the shower on Friday (see it in THIS POST) and completed my Scraptastic Star blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Yesterday while attempting to tidy up a bit in the sewing room, I discovered a stack of pinwheel blocks made from 30's reproduction fabrics. These had been my leader/ender blocks in the recent past, but all the blocks that were cut out have been stitched and trimmed. These blocks finish at 4". I will probably turn them into a baby quilt, but need to make some more green and blue blocks to balance out all the warm colors. 

For the stash report,  3/8 yard was used for the baby quilt binding, 1/2 yard for the Scraptastic Stars, and 1 yard for the pinwheel blocks. No new fabric was added to the stash.

2018 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                  1.875 yards

Used year to date:             41.375 yards

Added last week:                    0.0 yards
Added year to date:              23.0 yards
Net used year to date:      18.375 yards

My fabric stash goals for the year were to use at least 100 yards and to use more fabric than I add. Despite some recent purchases, I have kept my additions well below the amount used. I will need to increase my usage each month in order to reach the 100 yards used goal--maybe by making a back or two for the quilt tops that are hanging around. The goals are still well within reach!

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. Returning to work after two weeks off limited my time for quilting, but I was able to get some time every single day, especially since I am back to stitching hexies on my morning commute most days.

15 Minute Challenge:  
6/24 - 6/30              7 of 7 days
2018 Total         175 of 181 days

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

Julie in GA