Stitching and DeStashing--Week 52, 2019

I'm later than usual in posting my Sunday Stash Report for the week. That is because Ed and I spent the last few days at the beach. We went to St. George Island, which is just off the panhandle of Florida near Apalachicola. The beaches were gorgeous, and there were very few people there--perfection! We spent lots of time walking the beaches, ate plenty of delicious seafood, and had a very relaxing vacation.

Because we rented a house at the beach, I was able to take a sewing machine along and spent some of my time quilting. Most of that was cutting pieces for Bonnie Hunter's Frolic mystery, plus I did a little bit of stitching too. I also finished a couple more Orange Peel blocks during the drives down and back. 

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. Because I was able to quilt at the beach, my total for the week was 7 for 7. I will post my final numbers for the year next week.

15 Minute Challenge:  

12/22 - 12/28           7 of 7 days

2019 Total         342 of 362 days

Before we left on our trip, I finished joining all the blocks together from Alycia's 2019 Winter Quilt-Along. I haven't been able to get any complete photos of the finished top yet, but here  is the center of the quilt. Yardage used for this quilt was 5 yards. No new fabric added last week.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             5.0 yards

Used year to date:                        63.0 yards
Added last week:                            0.0 yards
Added year to date:                    71.75 yards

Net added year to date:            8.75 yards

I will update my final totals for 2019 next week. There's still a chance I might be able to use some more fabric in the remaining 2+ days!

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

The Last Scrappy Rainbow Saturday of 2019

It's the last Saturday of the year, which makes it the perfect time to review my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects from 2019. I had four different RSC quilts in process this year--let's check out my process on all of them.

One of my 2019 RSC projects was started last December with some test blocks of hand appliqued Orange Peels. I decided to make 3" finished size blocks using assorted black/dark grey backgrounds with the RSC color of the month for the peels. The last time I showed my completed blocks was in October, and there hasn't been a lot of progress since then. This project will carry over into 2020.

Orange Peels, 3" blocks

One of my self-designed RSC projects was the Framed Crumb Stars. Each block started with a 4" crumb block at the center. Star points were added to that, then a frame made from 2.5" squares. As of late October I had all of my 12" blocks made and need to figure out how I want to put them together.

Framed Crumb Stars, 12" blocks

Angela, our hostess for the RSC, was the leader for the Tiny Tuesday sampler, and there were block designs shared by many other participants too. Every week we got a pattern for a 4.5" finished size block. Occasionally there were two block patterns. I had a great time making these blocks each week, frequently making more than one of the assigned block. I ended up with around 60 blocks, which have been joined together into this fun quilt top.

Tiny Tuesday sampler, 52.5" x 60"

My favorite RSC project of 2019 was my Rainbow Stairsteps quilt. Each month I made 12 blocks in the color of the month. There were quite a few questions about the block, and I included cutting directions for one block in THIS POST. These directions make a 6" block, but it would be easy to scale it up to a larger size.

The Stairsteps quilt top was completed in November, and I am thrilled with the way it turned out! The finished size is 60" x 72".

Rainbow Stairsteps, 60" x 72"

The grand total for 2019--two finished quilt tops, one complete set of blocks, and one on-going project. That's a pretty productive year for me! Other than continuing my Orange Peel blocks, I have not decided on my RSC projects for 2020. There are so many wonderful possibilities, many inspired by fellow RSC participants. I guess it's time to come up with a plan for the year ahead!

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 51, 2019

Like most of us, this time of year can become very busy and stressful for me. Quilting is my favorite way to relax and decompress. It is also my favorite solution for gifting challenges. Early in the week, I realized that the gift I had ordered for my sister-in-law Jane wasn't going to arrive in time for our gift exchange on Saturday. Beginning Tuesday evening, almost every free minute was spent working on this gift for her.

I used 3/4 yard of fabric from my stash, plus parts of a dozen old ties to make this pillow for Jane. The ties had all belonged to her father, and there may have been a tear or two when she opened her gift.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             .75 yards

Used year to date:                        58.0 yards
Added last week:                            0.0 yards
Added year to date:                    71.75 yards

Net added year to date:          13.75 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. The tie pillow totally filled my free time this week, the only way to get it done in time!

15 Minute Challenge:  

12/15 - 12/21           7 of 7 days

2019 Total         335 of 355 days

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Stitching and Stashing--Week 50, 2019

This week's Stash Report includes both additions and subtractions. Those darned Black Friday sales got me again--another 9.5 yards added. They were all turquoises/teals or yellows to add to the collection for Bonnie Hunter's "Frolic" mystery. These will join the blacks, greys and lights that were shared last week.

It was a good week for fabric usage. 2.5 yards was used for the block framing and the border on my RSC Tiny Tuesday sampler quilt.

I also used 3 yards for a quick baby quilt, but I don't have any photos of it to share just yet.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             5.5 yards

Used year to date:                      57.25 yards
Added last week:                            9.5 yards
Added year to date:                    71.75 yards

Net added year to date:            14.5 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 was able to spend more time than usual quilting last week, and it shows in my stash report usage numbers.

15 Minute Challenge:  

12/8 - 12/14             7 of 7 days

2019 Total         328 of 348 days

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 50, 2019

One of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year has been the Tiny Tuesday sampler. Each week we made a 4.5" block in the featured color. There were several weeks that I made more than one of the assigned block.

All along, I've been planning to surround my blocks in grey. I finally got my grey fabric about ten days ago, and I have been getting all of the blocks framed out and joined together. Here is my first version of the quilt top.

Once the blocks were all joined together and up on the wall, it seemed to need a little breathing room around the outside edges. I had some extra pieces of the grey from framing the blocks and laid them along the left side and part of the top. I like the look with that addition. Time to cut some more of that grey fabric!

Updated late Saturday, 12/14/19--the border has been added. I like this so much better! Quilt top is finished!!

Tiny Tuesday sampler
52.5" x 60"

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! 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

Stitching and Stashing--Week 49, 2019

It was fun having my stash totals sitting at zero (yards used vs. yards added) for the past few weeks, but that's all over now. I added 10.5 yards to the stash last week, and there will be more added next week. I just can't resist those Black Friday deals!

Black and grey were my main selections in this batch. I wanted some new black/dark grey prints to use as the background for my Orange Peel blocks, plus I am also using those colors in Bonnie Hunter's "Frolic" mystery.

The light grey at the left end in the above photo is a fabric that I've been waiting to go on sale before I bought it. That fabric is becoming the framing on my Tiny Tuesday sampler blocks for the 2019 Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I've made a good start on getting the blocks framed out, and before long they can get joined together into rows. I would love to have a finished quilt top before the end of the year.

Tiny Tuesday blocks

The other fabrics I got are intended for the Frolic mystery. The three on the left are all from the Captiva line by Connecting Threads. That is the line of fabrics that became my color palette for the mystery. The two fabrics on the right are additions to my light/background choices.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             0.0 yards

Used year to date:                      51.75 yards
Added last week:                          10.5 yards
Added year to date:                    62.25 yards

Net used year to date:              10.5 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've gotten in my 15 minutes every day and hope to continue that streak through the end of the year!

15 Minute Challenge:  

12/1 - 12/7              7 of 7 days

2019 Total         321 of 341 days

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday--12/2/2019

The week after Thanksgiving means that Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery quilt is up and running, a time that many quilters wait for anxiously each year. This year's mystery is named "Frolic" and features the colors from a field of Texas bluebonnets. 

Frolic! mystery by Bonnie Hunter

The colors Bonnie is using include two shades of blue with accents in raspberry and green. Always feeling the need to make every quilt my own, I debated for quite awhile about my color palette. My final choice was inspired by this layer cake from the line "Captiva" by Connecting Threads.

Where Bonnie is using dark and medium blues, I will substitute black and grey prints. My turquoise will replace her raspberry/fuschia, and I will use the golden yellows instead of green.

Our first assignment is making 4-patches. I've got these 20 units made plus plenty more waiting to be pressed. So far I'm happy with my color choices, and I'm glad we started with an easy clue.

I'm linking up with Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt. Check them out for lots of great inspiration.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 48, 2019

This is the time of year when the stash report tends to get rather lopsided, mostly due to my inability to resist splurging on new fabrics at the Black Friday sales. That was true again this year, but none of the fabric has arrived yet, so I can continue to enjoy my balanced totals for one more week. Next week, it will look very different!

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             0.0 yards

Used year to date:                      51.75 yards
Added last week:                            0.0 yards
Added year to date:                    51.75 yards

Net used year to date:                0.0 yards

Soon I will be able to include the yardage for Alycia's mystery in my usage total. All the blocks are made (easy half-square triangles) and this week's clue was to start joining them into rows. Here's a photo of my blocks on the wall waiting to be joined together. This will be 1/3 of the finished quilt, and I hope to get them stitched into rows before the next clue is posted on Wednesday.

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 missed one day early in the week, but I still got in at least 15 minutes on all the other days.

15 Minute Challenge:  

11/24 - 11/30           6 of 7 days

2019 Total         314 of 334 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. I'm also linking up to Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Rainbow Disappearing 9-Patch Quilt Finished!

While sorting through quilt photos recently, I discovered that I had not shared a recent finish. This is my Rainbow Gradations Disappearing 9-Patch baby quilt!

The top for this quilt was made as part of the Disappearing 9-Patch quilt-along at The Crafty Quilter back in June. The fabrics I used were the "Inner Light Gradations" line by Debra Lunn & Michael Mrowka for Timeless Treasures. I've had this collection of fabrics sitting on my shelf for many years--time to use some of it up!

The quilt top came together very quickly. I love using a simple pattern that really shows off the beautiful fabric. I found the perfect tie-dye flannel to use for the backing. Flannel is always my first choice for backing a baby quilt.

I kept the quilting very simple, just stitch-in-the-ditch along all the seams. It was bound in the same black fabric as the contrast in the piecing. The quilt measured 39.5" x 48" before washing, then shrank up to 38.75" x 46.5" after it was washed and dried.

The reason I hadn't shared photos of the quilt earlier is because it was a gift for my niece's new baby boy, and I wanted to wait until they had received the quilt before posting. Here is Lucas enjoying his new quilt!

I'm  linking up with Let's Make Baby Quilts at Michelle's Romantic Tangle, Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts, and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy (even though this quilt isn't scrappy.)

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 47, 2019

It is another quiet week for the stash report with no fabric used or added. Unlike many people, I don't wait until a quilt is completely finished to count the fabric as used. I generally consider fabrics as used once they have been cut and pieced into blocks. That gives me the satisfaction of fabric used each week rather than a large number at the end of a project. Right now I am at the point of joining blocks together for a couple of quilts, which means the usage numbers are not changing. I'm happy to keep my net usage/additions total at zero for another week. 

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             0.0 yards

Used year to date:                      51.75 yards
Added last week:                            0.0 yards
Added year to date:                    51.75 yards

Net used year to date:                0.0 yards

One of my current projects is finishing up the quilting on a Christmas wallhanging. I've completed stitching in the ditch around the piecing, and now I'm doing free-motion quilting in the background. It's adding so much texture to those areas.

This is a view of an unquilted piece of the background fabric. My quilting is following the designs in the print. It's a little tricky to figure out my path, especially when shapes get cut off by the piecing seams, but it is getting easier as I go along. I hope to have this quilt finished by next weekend.

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. There weren't any huge chunks of time for quilting this week, but I still got in at least 15 minutes every day.

15 Minute Challenge:  

11/17 - 11/23           7 of 7 days

2019 Total         308 of 327 days

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Rainbow Stairsteps Quilt Top Finished!

November and December are the months set aside for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as our time to finish making blocks and get our quilts assembled. I have been making Stairsteps blocks since January, and recently got all of my blocks joined together into a finished quilt top!

We were having lots of rainy weather when I finished this top, so I took my first photos indoors. Last weekend the weather improved and I was able to get better photos outdoors. It's amazing the difference in the colors.  

outdoors, no flash

indoors with flash

outdoors with flash

The finished size of my quilt top is 60" x 72". I played with several possible layouts of the blocks throughout the year, but decided on this one a few months ago. This layout required 12 blocks of each color. My blocks finish at 6", and you can find cutting directions for a block HERE.

I am linking up with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge on Saturday and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday. I'm also linking up with Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt. Check them out for lots of great inspiration. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 46, 2019

I'm off to a slow start today, but that's okay because there really isn't much to report. Many of my quilt projects have reached the point of needing blocks joined together or final quilting to be done. That means no changes to the stash for the past week. I'm happy to continue with my usage vs. additions at zero for the year.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             0.0 yards

Used year to date:                      51.75 yards
Added last week:                            0.0 yards
Added year to date:                    51.75 yards

Net used year to date:                0.0 yards

I did start a new project yesterday, Alycia's Winter Quilt Along 2019, but it hasn't yet reached the point where I can count anything as used. Here's what is done so far--lots of half-square triangles, with the ones on the left waiting to be trimmed to size. They measure 6.5" after trimming; those big pieces show off the background print beautifully.

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 did get in my 15 minutes every day, either applique stitching on the train in the morning or machine quilting in the evening, sometimes both in the same day.

15 Minute Challenge:  

11/10 - 11/16           7 of 7 days

2019 Total         301 of 320 days

Check out more stash reports at quiltpaintcreate and join the 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces. I'm also linking up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 45, 2019

I didn't post a stash report last Sunday because we were in Wisconsin for our niece's wedding. It was a great weekend complete with lots of wonderful family time. There was even a surprise guest at the wedding reception, Bucky Badger, for the many University of Wisconsin alumni.

Bucky Badger

The stash report has finally reached a major goal for the year. My number of yards used finally caught up to the number of yards added. My net total is zero! It's like starting the year all over again.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                           2.50 yards

Used year to date:                      51.75 yards
Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                    51.75 yards
Net used year to date:                0.0 yards

Most of the 2.5 yards used went to my most recent finish--2.25 yards on this Santa wallhanging for my Santa-collecting husband. This will fit perfectly over the living room mantel. I've had this panel since 2015, so it's way past time for it to be finished!

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 missed one day over the past two weeks, but it was for a very good reason (my niece's wedding day in Wisconsin.) I did manage to get at least 15 minutes on all the other days, even the rest of the visit in Wisconsin. Thank goodness for a portable project!

15 Minute Challenge:  

10/27 - 11/9         13 of 14 days

2019 Total         294 of 313 days

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA