Tuesday To-Do List 7/28/2020

Once again, I am joining the To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne at Home Sewn By Us. It was another good week, with check marks for all three of my goals.

To-do list for 7/21 - 7/27:

1.  Dresden Stars--continue quilting and assembly ✔ done

2.  RSC Square Dance--finish blue/purple blocks    ✔ done

3.  Cleaning/organization--sort/trim triangles         ✔ done

Progress continues on the Dresden Stars quilt. All of the blocks have their echo quilting, and I have also quilted triangle frames in the setting and corner triangles. There will be more quilting inside those frames.

The Square Dance blocks were finished over the weekend, and they can be seen in yesterday's post. My triangle scraps have been trimmed to useful sizes and sorted out. My bonus project was to clean out and reorganize one of the closets in my sewing room. You can see a photo of that in my post from Sunday.

To-do list for 7/28 - 8/3:

1.  Dresden Stars--continue quilting, begin joining sections

2.  Orange Peel--choose fabrics for the last group of blocks

3.  Cleaning/organization--go through closet #2

The second closet in my sewing room is the next planned step in the clean-up. The shelf holds many empty shoe boxes and printer paper box tops (handy for holding project pieces), and who knows what's in the back corners of that shelf. There are some clothes in here because my bedroom closet is too small for them, but 2/3 of the hanging bar holds quilt tops, some of them with their backing and/or batting, and a few are already pinned for quilting or partially quilted. In the bottom are the rolling tote with my featherweight in it, a few boxes of specific types of fabrics like 30's reproductions or recycled shirts, plus other assorted treasures (or trash?)

Getting started on the clean-up has been the hardest part, but once I got going on the first closet, it was very exciting to see it come together. I hope to keep that momentum going for the weeks ahead.

That should be plenty to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us .

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 7/27/2020

After spending most of last week working on some major cleaning and organization in the sewing room, I took a break from that on Sunday and stitched up the last of my Stash Buster Square Dance blocks for July. Our color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is medium-dark blue, and I have combined that with purple for my blocks.

I might finally have enough different color combinations finished for this quilt that I can play with layout ideas. It will be so much fun to get more of the colors up on the wall together!

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Stitching, Stashing & Organizing--Week 30, 2020

It's hard to believe that it is week 30 for the year, and next weekend is the beginning of August. That's more than four months since we started staying at home. I try to keep busy to help the time pass, and goodness knows there is always plenty to do around the house. I'm enjoying being able to help more with the vegetable garden, and I've started to attack the reorganization of my sewing room.

As for the stash, I have no usage to report for the week, but my most recent fabric order arrived a few days ago. I discovered a $25 gift certificate that I had won in a giveaway a couple years back, and fortunately it was still valid. I used that to buy four yards of a Tula Pink fabric that I've been wanting for awhile. The plan is to use this as the background in a future project for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. My photo seems a little dark; the fabric is actually a paler cream than this looks.

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                                 0.0 yards

Used year to date:                       122.25 yards

Added last week:                               4.0 yards

Added year to date:                       38.75 yards

Net used year to date                83.50 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 uncertain how to count my days for last week. I did some cutting or stitching on five of the days, but I also spent several hours almost every day working on reorganizing my sewing room. This is something that has been needed for a long time, and it feels good to be making progress. It's slow going because I'm really trying to go through everything and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. So far I've managed to finish one closet. This is the "after" shot--I didn't think to take a "before" picture when I started.

Here's my dilemma--do I count the days that had no cutting/stitching time on current projects but I did spend hours on cleaning and organization. The clean-up isn't moving my current projects forward, but it should make my quilting more efficient in the long run. For now, I'm going to count only the five days that had cutting/stitching time. If there are enough opinions otherwise, I can change the numbers later. I would love to hear your thoughts!

15 Minute Challenge:  

7/19 - 7/25               5 of 7 days

2020 Total          196 of 207 days

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

Happy quilting and stay safe everyone!

Julie in GA

Tuesday To-Do List 7/21/2020

Once again, I am joining the To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne at Home Sewn By Us. I was successful with last week's list, completing all three of my goals on it.

To-do list for 7/14 - 7/20:

1.  RSC Stashbuster Square Dance--make at least 7 blocks in blue & purple  ✔ done

2.  Dresden Stars--decide on layout/setting, start assembly  ✔ done

3.  Clear away face mask leftovers                                      ✔ done

Most of my time last week was spent on the Dresden Stars quilt. I figured out a plan to join the blocks, sashing and setting triangles into 3 sections with the hope that it will be easier to quilt those smaller units than the whole quilt. You can read and see more about it in yesterday's post.

Here is one of the blocks that has been quilted. I did stitch-in-the-ditch around the Dresden edges and around the center circle, plus another line 1/4" from the edge of the circle. The echo quilting in the background was free-motion quilted. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you might be able to see little blue markings that are there to help keep my quilting evenly spaced. It's not perfect, but I'm okay with how it turned out.

To-do list for 7/21 - 7/27:

1.  Dresden Stars--continue quilting and assembly

2.  RSC Square Dance--finish blue/purple blocks

3.  Cleaning/organization--triangles

I was inspired to do a little cleaning up yesterday, and I'm hoping to keep the motivation going for many weeks to come. My sewing room certainly needs it! Anyway, I trimmed up and put away some piles of scraps from previous projects. My collection of pre-cut squares is now nice and neat. 

I have a small collection of triangles that have been trimmed and sorted by size...

but there are still many more triangles that need to be organized. I'm sure there are stray triangles tucked away in other places around the room too.

That should be plenty to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us .

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 7/20/2020

My main quilting project for the last week has been my Dresden Stars quilt. This quilt was started in a class with Edyta Sitar in the summer of 2013, so it has waited a long time to get finished.

I am constructing the quilt in sections, which I hope will simplify the quilting. I don't enjoy wrestling large pieces through my machine, especially when free-motion quilting. I joined the blocks, sashing and setting triangles into three units, two corners plus a diagonal center panel. Then I laid them out together on batting and backing fabric to make sure there was enough.

Dresden Stars, pattern by Edyta Sitar, Laundry Basket Quilts

You can see two of the three sections in this photo, plus a small corner of the third at the lower left. The white areas along the top and right edges of the photo are the batting that will extend into the borders. The backing fabric also extends along all the sides. The plan is that I will quilt the blocks and setting triangles in each section, then join the sections together, add the border strips, then quilt those. I'm not sure this will make the quilting any easier for me, but it's worth a try!

I've been working on the quilting, and it has been easier with the smaller sections. I haven't completely figured out how the separate sections will get joined together, but that's a challenge for another day. Today I will concentrate on finishing the block quilting and figuring out a quilting design for the setting triangles.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 29, 2020

After making a pillow from my father's ties for Mother's Day, I realized that there was plenty of fabric left in the ties for another pillow or two. What better reason to make one than my sister's 60th birthday. She received her gift a few days ago, so now I can share the pillow here. Happy birthday Karen!

That pillow accounted for my only fabric usage last week, 1-1/8 yards. There was no new fabric added for the week, but I got an email last night that a recent order was being shipped, so I'm expecting an addition next week.

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                            1.125 yards

Used year to date:                       122.25 yards

Added last week:                              0.0 yards

Added year to date:                       34.75 yards

Net used year to date                87.50 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 been a little obsessed with an old UFO that I pulled out last week, so I have been getting in plenty of quilting time every day.

15 Minute Challenge:  

7/12 - 7/18               7 of 7 days

2020 Total          191 of 200 days

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

Happy quilting and stay safe everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 29, 2020

In between working on other projects, I have been using my Stashbuster Square Dance blocks as leaders and enders. They are such simple blocks, making them perfect for this purpose. So far this month I have made 24 blocks in medium-dark blues and purples.

The pale lavender houndstooth fabric in the block near the center really jumps out at me as being too much lighter than everything else. I like having some variety of lighter to darker tones, but that might be going too far. We'll see how it looks when I get all the different colors on the wall together. It's easy enough to make a replacement for it.

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 hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!

Julie in GA

Star Cluster Baby Quilts

There are two wonderful new additions to our family! Two of our nieces had babies recently, which means I can finally share the baby quilts I made for them.

Both of the baby quilts were based on the Star Cluster block pattern by Judy Martin. Her pattern is written to make either a 12" or a 16" block, but I scaled it up to finish at 32". Then I added some borders so each quilt finished at 40" x 50".

The first quilt to be finished was made in turquoise/teal and golden yellow with added borders of flying geese. The second photo has light coming from the side, which lets the quilting stitching show up better.

Here is the flannel fabric that was used on the back.

The second quilt has even more colors, and the added border is pinwheels.

And another great flannel for the back.

Of course, the best thing about making baby quilts is seeing their new owners with the quilts. I received wonderful photos of them from their mothers. The quilts look very oversized with the newborns, but I know that won't last long. We can't wait to meet these little ones in person!

This is Mariella...

and this is Rolan.

 Linking up with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Let's Make Baby Quilts at Michelle's Romantic Tangle

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

To-Do Tuesday 7/14/2020

Once again, I am joining the To-Do Tuesday Weekly Progress Update and Link-up hosted by Roseanne at Home Sewn By Us. 

I did well with last week's to-do list, completing three of my four tasks, including one finished quilt top.

To-do list for 7/7 - 7/13:

1. Secret sewing project--finish                   ✔ done (but I can't show it yet)

2. Scrap Snap--join columns together          ✔ quilt top is finished!

3. RSC Stashbuster Square Dance--make at least 13 blocks in blue & purple  ✔ 16 blocks done 

4. Dresden Stars--start assembly of top     blocks are on design wall

Scrap Snap quilt top, 60.5" x 72.5"

Dresden Star blocks on design wall

with sashing/setting/border fabrics

To-do list for 7/14 - 7/20:

1.  RSC Stashbuster Square Dance--make at least 7 blocks in blue & purple 

2.  Dresden Stars--decide on layout/setting, start assembly

3.  Clear away face mask leftovers (until I need to make some more)

That should be plenty to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us .

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 28, 2020

It was a busy week for quilting, but there is very little to list for the stash report. I guess that is because my main project was assembling my Scrap Snap quilt top, which I shared in THIS POST. All of the fabrics used in this quilt top were counted when each set of blocks was completed, so there is nothing to report as used now. My only usage for the week was 1 yard for four more fabric napkins. We are trying to cut down on the number of paper napkins that we use. This fabric is an oldie that I was happy to use up.

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                                1.0 yards

Used year to date:                     121.125 yards

Added last week:                              0.0 yards

Added year to date:                       34.75 yards

Net used year to date              86.375 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 had no trouble getting in more than 15 minutes every day last week.

15 Minute Challenge:  

7/5 - 7/11                 7 of 7 days

2020 Total         184 of 193 days

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

Happy quilting and stay safe everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrap Snap Top--Rainbow Cascade

Some quilts have minds of their own and insist on your attention, don't they? That was the case with my Scrap Snap project. What was originally planned as a slow-paced monthly color progression quickly turned into an obsession where I couldn't wait to make my next set of blocks. 

Unfortunately, I don't remember where I first saw some blocks posted for the Scrap Snap Quilt-Along. The QAL had started in January and was set up as a monthly project with 10 blocks to be made each month. Kari, the hostess of the QAL, had shared several ideas for different ways to use the blocks. Her rainbow versions were very appealing as a possible project for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This was my favorite of her designs.

Scrap Snap layout idea by Kari

at Quilts for the Making

I started the Scrap Snap QAL around mid-May. That meant I was already four months behind! As a regular participant in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, I began with a set of blocks in greens, which was our assigned color for May. Here is my first set of ten blocks.

Scrap Snap blocks, 6" finished size

I decided to go back and make blocks in some of the RSC colors from earlier in the year. In less than a week I had four sets of blocks done (did I mention yet how super easy these blocks are to make?)

By the middle of June, I had finished blocks in nine different colors. My plan was to add black/grey blocks like Kari's design option at the top of this post, but to set my blocks in a stairstep layout like the above photo. I made 24 whole blocks in blacks and greys, plus 12 partial blocks. This photo gives a better idea of how I used the partial blocks.

Once all the blocks were made, they went up on the design wall. Then I started sewing them together into columns. After that, the long columns were all joined together to become this finished quilt top!

Rainbow Cascade quilt top

60.5" x 72.5"

When I shared an in-progress photo recently, Nann who blogs at With Strings Attached commented on my "cascade arrangement." I liked that so much that I've named the quilt Rainbow Cascade. Thanks for the idea Nann! Many, many thanks to Kari at Quilts for the Making for this wonderful QAL inspiration. I may not have stuck to the plan of quilting along all year, but I'm thrilled with the finished result!

Linking up with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Whoop Whoop Friday at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 7/7/2020

My main quilting project over the last week was quilting another baby quilt, and I was able to get it completely finished. I also completed one other goal from last weeks To-Do Tuesday list and made progress on the third.

To-do list for 6/30- 7/6:

1. 2nd baby quilt--layer, quilt and finish         ✔ FINISHED!

2. Scrap Snap--join blocks into columns         ✔ done  

3. Cleaning--clear away at least one pile            progress 

For the week ahead, I have a secret project to work on, plus two Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects to move ahead. I've also pulled out an older UFO for some attention.

To-do list for 7/7 - 7/13:

1. Secret sewing project--finish

2. Scrap Snap--join columns together

3. RSC Stashbuster Square Dance--make at least 13 blocks in blue & purple

4. Dresden Stars--start assembly of top

Dresden Star block

The Dresden Star quilt was a project started in a class with Edyta Sitar. While going through my photos, I discovered that the class happened way back in 2013! I think I have all of the blocks finished and just need to get them joined together with sashing, setting triangles and borders. It's long past time to get these blocks into a finished quilt top, so that is my One Monthly Goal (OMG) for July.

That should be plenty to keep me busy for the next week. I'll report on my progress and post a new set of goals next Tuesday. I'm linking up with other To-Do Tuesday lists at Home Sewn by Us and with One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts.

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 7/6/2020

After finishing off the second baby quilt over the weekend, I started working on joining my rainbow of Scrap Snap blocks together. The blocks get stitched together into vertical columns, with the colors shifting down by 1/3 of a block as they move from left to right. This photo show the upper half of the quilt, and there are five more rows to be added on the right side too.

It sounds like we are going to get a good bit of rainy weather over the next few days, so I hope to be able to have these all joined together into a finished top by the end of the week.

Linking up with:
Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts
Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 27, 2020

It was another good week for stash usage last week. I finished the second baby quilt, using 1.875 yards for the backing and binding. I made six fabric napkins from quilting cotton, using 1.5 yards, and I used .5 yards on two Scrappy Bear Paw blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Total usage for the week = 3.875 yards and no new fabric added.

Scrappy Bear Paws, 14" blocks

2020 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                            3.875 yards

Used year to date:                     120.125 yards

Added last week:                              0.0 yards

Added year to date:                       34.75 yards

Net used year to date              85.375 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 pushed through on finishing the second baby quilt, but also worked on a couple of other projects when I needed a break from machine quilting.

15 Minute Challenge:  

6/28 - 7/4                7 of 7 days

2020 Total         177 of 186 days

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

Happy quilting and stay safe everyone!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 27, 2020

The change-over from June to July meant a switch for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge from sewing with pink scraps to dark blue scraps. I made Scrappy Bear Paw blocks in both colors this week. These are 14" blocks and are made from 2.5" squares.

I love putting all the blocks up on the wall together! The on-point setting really appeals to me, but it means I would have to figure out a plan for the side triangles. I will have to play with some ideas for that as we get closer to the end of the year.

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 hope you are all staying well and getting lots of quilting done!

Julie in GA