To-Do Tuesday 6/29/2021

Happy To-Do Tuesday once again! It's time to look back at my to-do list from last week, see how I did on accomplishing my goals, then post a new list for the week ahead. I'm linking up with the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Link-up hosted by Chris at Chris Knits. 

Much of my quilting time last week was spent catching up on my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (goals #1,4 & 5), but I also found time to keep my other projects moving forward.

To-Do List for 6/22 - 6/28

1. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block per day   ✔done 

I switched over from the 5" pastel bowties that I shared in last week's post to 4" bowties made with darker purples. 8 blocks done so far. 

2. Redwork embroidery--make progress     ✔done

Progress is slow, but I have moved forward from the last photo I shared three weeks ago.

3. Sewcialites QAL--start framing more blocks   ✔done

I have the framing done on three rows of blocks, and there are four rows left to do.

4. Sew Colorful Stars--make 1 purple block     ✔done

5. 30's Kaleidoscope--finish purple blocks      ✔done

6. Positivity QAL--make more blocks      ✔done

A total of thirty blocks are done for my tan and blue version of the Positivity quilt.

Over the next week, I hope to continue to move forward on a few projects, plus start making blocks with a new Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for July. Since we will be celebrating July 4th over the weekend, it also seems like a good time to finish the borders on my red, white & blue Moda Blockheads quilt

To-Do List for 6/29 - 7/5

1. Bowties 365--make one Bowtie block each day

2. Redwork embroidery--make progress

3. Sewcialites QAL--continue framing blocks

4. Positivity QAL--make last set of blocks for tan/blue version 

5. Homespun--make 2 blocks in new RSC color 

6. Moda Blockheads--add borders

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 Chris Knits.

Julie in GA  

Progress on Positivity

It's very unusual for me to have two blog posts in the same day, but this is the day to link up our progress on the Positivity Quilt Along. This quilt-along was started by Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts to benefit Mercyful Quilts, which is overseen by Bernie. Today's link-up is being hosted by Bernie at her website Needle and Foot.

My Positivity quilt got off to a very slow start, mostly because I was having a hard time deciding on a color scheme. I considered several options (which you can read about in this blog post), then chose to go with turquoise and green plus signs with scrappy grey backgrounds. I had so many grey fabrics that I decided to try making a gradation of lighter background at the center of the quilt, shifting to darker around the outside. I have finished 36 blocks so far and decided that I like the effect so much that I won't be able to give this quilt away. Time to go to Plan B!

My second version of Positivity has tan backgrounds with blue plus signs. I'm trying to avoid repeating any of the fabrics and have made 30 blocks so far.

The first photo shows the blocks arranged randomly on the design wall. Then I decided to try the gradation idea again. I shifted the blocks around, aiming to get the lightest ones in the center and the darker at the corners. I'm not sure it's any better than the previous layout,  but it is a possibility for my final setting. 

The biggest challenge I am facing with this QAL is going to be the finishing. As you can tell, I have no trouble cranking out piles of blocks. However, the final quilting is much more difficult and less enjoyable for me. That is especially true right now since our house is a disaster area with renovations going on. I have lost the use of the front room where I normally have a large table set up plus an extra sewing machine. 

If there is anyone out there who loves to do machine quilting, but hasn't the time to make a quilt top for this quilt-along, I would be very happy to collaborate on this quilt. I could supply the quilt top, a backing, binding, and batting if needed. It might even mean I would have the time to make one more version of this quilt. If anyone reading this is interested in a joint project, I would love to hear from you!

Thanks so much to Preeti for hosting the Positivity QAL. She has lots of info and inspiration on her blog--it's not too late to join the fun! Thanks also to Bernie at Needle and Foot for hosting today's link-up.

Linking up with:

Positivity QAL Progress at Needle and Foot

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Stitching and Destashing--Week 26, 2021

This week's stash report shows movement both in and out of the stash. I used just over 3 yards on three different projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. You can see all the blocks I made for these projects in yesterday's post.

30's Kaleidoscopes:  1.375 yards

Bowties 365   1.375 yards

Sew Colorful Stars   .375 yard

I wasn't expecting to have any new fabric to report, but an unplanned trip to the quilt shop led to two yards being added to the stash. My guy thought I needed to get out of the house and away from the renovation for an afternoon, and he knew just where to take me! I ended up with a strange mix of fabrics that make no sense together, but they were all things I liked. The two reds are options for the inner border on my Moda Blockheads quilt (see it here.)

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             3.125 yards

Used year to date:                      112.375 yards

Added last week:                               2.0 yards

Added year to date:                        58.25 yards

Net used year to date               54.125 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 have continued to spend large parts of my days hiding in the sewing room while work on the bathroom continues.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

6/20 - 6/26                7 of 7 days

2021 Total           176 of 177 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 26, 2021

It has been a very productive week for Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects here. Our assigned color for June has been purple, and I completed my blocks on three different RSC projects. I didn't think I was going to get all of them done before the end of the month, but here they are, with several days to spare!

I made 25 Kaleidoscope blocks using 30's fabrics, including several fabrics that my sister sent me recently. The blocks will finish at 6".

I also completed 40 Bowtie blocks. These are meant to be "pastel" colors, but I didn't really have enough lighter purples, so I used what I could find. These blocks finish at 5".

The last of my RSC stitching for the week was to make my purple Sew Colorful Stars block. This block will finish at 16".

Sew Colorful Stars, pattern by Fat Quarter Shop

I couldn't resist putting all six of these blocks up on the wall together. I'm planning to make twelve blocks total, and they will have sashing in between to separate all those triangle points.

The other blocks I made in purple earlier this month were the Homespun blocks and the Scrap Magnet blocks. Lots of purple and lavender scraps have been getting used up around here! I'm ready to find out what our color for July will be. My guess is either medium-dark blue or greenish blues (aqua/teal/turquoise). 

Homespun pattern by Modernly Morgan

Scrap Magnet pattern by Kirsty at Bonjour Quilts

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge every Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday.

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 6/22/2021

Happy To-Do Tuesday once again! It's time to look back at my to-do list from last week, see how I did on accomplishing my goals, then post a new list for the week ahead. I'm linking up with the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Link-up hosted by Chris at Chris Knits. 

I made good progress on several projects last week as I holed up in the sewing room while bathroom renovations are happening. There was only one goal on last week's list that didn't get completed. Five out of six is a successful week!

To-Do List for 6/15 - 6/21

1. Bowties 365--make at least 1 bowtie block every day   ✔done

I have made 40 purple/lavender bowtie blocks already this month, and I used all of the lavender and light to medium purple fabrics I could find. I will need to come up with something else to use as my leader/ender project until the end of June.

2. Sewcialites QAL--make block #36    ✔done

All the blocks are made for this project!

3. Sewcialites QAL--start framing more blocks      not done

4. Redwork embroidery--make progress     ✔done

There's not much to show, but I did work on this a couple times last week.

5. 30's Kaleidoscope--make purple blocks   ✔done

I finished half of my purple Kaleidoscope blocks.

6. Positivity QAL--make more blocks           ✔done

This project took up the majority of my time last week. I started by making 20 blocks with scrappy medium grey backgrounds.

I decided that I liked them so much that I don't want to give this quilt away, so I started a second version that is intended to be donated. Six blocks completed so far on Positivity #2.

The next week will find me attempting to finish off my purple June projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, plus moving forward on the Positivity and Sewcialites quilts.

To-Do List for 6/22 - 6/28

1. Bowties 365--come up with a new leader/ender project until the end of June  

2. Redwork embroidery--make progress

3. Sewcialites QAL--start framing more blocks

4. Sew Colorful Stars--make 1 purple block 

5. 30's Kaleidoscope--finish purple blocks

6. Positivity QAL--make more blocks

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 Chris Knits.

Julie in GA  

A Positivity Problem

The positivity problem is not a reference to my attitude. I am generally a pretty positive person, no problem there. The title of this post is referring to a problem with the quilt that I've been making as part of the Positivity quilt-along at Sew Preeti Quilts.

I shared the color options that I was considering for this quilt in my blog post two weeks ago. I decided to stick with the scrappy grey background, starting with very light greys in the center of the quilt and getting darker toward the outside. I've been making blocks since then, completing 16 light blocks and 20 medium blocks. I'm planning to make 12 darker blocks, which will be added to the top and bottom of the quilt, taking it from square to rectangular.

You may be asking "What's the problem?" I've been agonizing over color placement, trying to get the blend of background fabrics just right. I even laid out all the pieces for the outer ring of blocks on the wall before putting any of them together. Here's what it looked like before the outer blocks were stitched up.

The real problem is I don't know if I will be able to let this quilt go! After all the time and frustration over the past few weeks, I love the way it is turning out and want to keep it for myself. That feels selfish, so I think I need to make another Positivity quilt to give away. I started cutting background fabrics and made the first few blocks yesterday.

I'm going much simpler with this version--tan/beige backgrounds with blue plus signs. I might add corner triangles later, and I might also do darker blocks around the outside for a border effect. Those decisions will happen in the weeks ahead.

Thanks so much to Preeti for hosting the Positivity QAL. She has lots of info and inspiration on her blog--it's not too late to join the fun!

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 25, 2021

I have been spending lots of time hiding in my sewing room this week, trying to avoid the noise and the mess of our bathroom renovation. I can close the doors, turn on an audiobook or a baseball game, and stitch away. There has been good progress on my quilt projects and on the bathroom too.

For this week's stash report, I can count almost 2 yards in the outgoing column, with no new fabric added. I used .75 yards for the two Scrap Magnet blocks that were shared in yesterday's post. I am also reporting 1.125 yards as used over the past few months for blocks #20 - 36 of the Sewcialites Quilt Along. Here is block #36, which is the last of the weekly blocks. 

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             1.875 yards

Used year to date:                        109.25 yards

Added last week:                                0.0 yards

Added year to date:                        56.25 yards

Net used year to date                   53.0 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 sewing room has been my haven this week, and I have spent much more than 15 minutes quilting every day.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

6/13 - 6/19                7 of 7 days

2021 Total           169 of 170 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 25, 2021

It's hard to believe that we are getting close to the half-way point of the year! June is flying by, and I have fallen behind on my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I will need to buckle down over the next week and a half to get through the rest of my purple blocks.

I did finish one set of RSC blocks this week, my Scrap Magnet blocks. Instead of making one lighter and one darker block like some previous months, I made one block using purples that look more blue, and the other block has the purple fabrics that lean towards red. I'm thinking about making one more with truer purple fabrics if I can find enough choices.

Here they are together.

Scrap Magnet pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts

I have been making purple/lavender Bowtie blocks all month, and I have the pieces for my 30's Kaleidoscope blocks sitting next to the sewing machine. Those will be today's main project as I work on finishing off my RSC projects for June.

Be sure to check out all of the wonderful scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge every Saturday and at Oh Scrap! over at Quilting is more fun than Housework on Sunday.

Julie in GA

To-Do Tuesday 6/15/2021

Happy To-Do Tuesday once again! It's time to look back at my to-do list from last week, see how I did on accomplishing my goals, then post a new list for the week ahead. I'm linking up with the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Link-up hosted by Chris at Chris Knits. 

Life seems to be getting busier every week, and it has been harder to get through my to-do lists. I did reach most of my goals last week, and I also accomplished one thing that had been left off of the list.

To-Do List for 6/8 - 6/14

1. Bowties 365--make at least 1 bowtie block every day   ✔done

Nine bowtie blocks finished last week.

2. Sewcialites QAL--make blocks #33, #34 & #35    ✔done 

That sewing machine block is so cute! There's only one more block to make for this quilt-along.

3. Redwork embroidery--make progress    no progress

4. Sewcialites QAL--cut framing fabric    ✔done

5. Scrap Magnet--make two purple blocks    ✔done

I will share these blocks on Saturday.

6. Positivity QAL--make eight blocks    ✔done

Eight more light blocks finished.

7. Bonus--Make back for Scrappy Trips quilt top.  ✔done

I made the quilt backing last week and shipped two quilt tops and backs to Kat for Covered in Love yesterday. 

There is a lot going on around our house, but I hope to continue making progress on my current projects. I'm going to leave the numbers of blocks to make variable.

To-Do List for 6/15 - 6/21

1. Bowties 365--make at least 1 bowtie block every day   

2. Sewcialites QAL--make block #36

3. Sewcialites QAL--start framing more blocks

4. Redwork embroidery--make progress

5. 30's Kaleidoscope--make purple blocks

6. Positivity QAL--make more blocks

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 Chris Knits.

Julie in GA  

Design Wall Monday 6/14/2021

My stash report in yesterday's post included a photo of several new red, white & blue print fabrics that I bought recently to replenish my collection for patriotic quilts and Quilts of Valor. I was hoping that one of those new fabrics would work as the outer border on the Moda Blockheads quilt top I shared two weeks ago.

Here is what I'm considering for the borders. I would do a narrow (5/8 - 3/4") border in bright red, followed by a 3-4" border of the deep blue with stars print. I like the way they frame the quilt center. Maybe I can get those borders on the quilt this week.

I also pulled out a few RWB blocks that I've made in recent years for the regular summer block drive that Kat hosts at Covered in Love. These blocks will all finish at 12". I'm sending them along to Kat early for this summer's drive (although I did decide to hang on to the top right block for a future project of my own.)

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 Stashing--Week 24, 2021

My stash report for the past week shows fabric moving both in and out of my stash. The fabric going out was 5 yards for the backing of a Scrappy Trips top that is going to Kat for Covered in Love as part of the 2021 Hands 2 Help Challenge.

Here is a closer look at the fabrics in this backing. Both have been in my stash for many years, and it was time to move them out.

The additions to the stash have a definite red, white & blue theme. A recent burst of QOV quilt backs left my RWB stash greatly depleted. The mint green on the left end is for my 30's Kaleidoscope blocks.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                                 5.0 yards

Used year to date:                      107.375 yards

Added last week:                             8.25 yards

Added year to date:                        56.25 yards

Net used year to date              51.125 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. Our house is a bit chaotic with renovation work happening. I haven't been able to spend as much time quilting lately, but I have still managed at least 15 minutes every day.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

6/6 - 6/12                  7 of 7 days

2021 Total           162 of 163 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

To-Do Tuesday 6/8/2021

Happy To-Do Tuesday once again! It's time to look back at my to-do list from last week, see how I did on accomplishing my goals, then post a new list for the week ahead. I'm linking up with the  To-Do Tuesday Weekly Link-up hosted by Chris at Chris Knits. 

I wasn't feeling so good about last week's to-do list, mostly because I was having trouble with item #6, but it turned to be better than I thought. I checked off all the items from my list except one. I hope the next week goes just as well.

To-Do List for 6/1 - 6/7

1. Bowties 365--make at least 1 bowtie block every day   ✔done

14 Bowtie blocks done

2. Sewcialites QAL--make blocks #33 and #34.  not done

3. Redwork embroidery--make progress   ✔done

There hasn't been much change, but a little bit got done.

4. Sewcialites QAL--start framing blocks   ✔done

5. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--make one set of blocks   ✔done

Two Homespun blocks made. I love these blocks!!

6. Positivity QAL--choose fabrics   ✔done

Fabrics chosen and eight blocks made.

The focus for the next week will be on making blocks for multiple projects. I would especially like to get caught up again on the Sewcialites blocks.

To-Do List for 6/8 - 6/14

1. Bowties 365--make at least 1 bowtie block every day   

2. Sewcialites QAL--make blocks #33, #34 & #35. 

3. Redwork embroidery--make progress

4. Sewcialites QAL--cut framing fabric

5. Scrap Magnet--make two purple blocks

6. Positivity QAL--make eight blocks

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 Chris Knits.

Julie in GA