Stitching and DeStashing--Week 44, 2021

There is only one item to count for this week's stash report--I used 3 yards of fabric to make twelve new fall napkins. These two fabrics had been hanging around my stash for many years. The selvage of one of the fabrics said 1996! No new fabric was added to the stash this week.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                            3.00 yards

Used year to date:                     161.25 yards

Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                   130.50 yards

Net used year to date              30.75 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 stitching time. We had several grey, rainy days this week which were perfect for staying in and quilting. I've been working on hand and machine stitching projects, getting in plenty of quilting time each day.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

10/24 - 10/30            7 of 7 days

2021 Total          301 of 303 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 44, 2021

The last of my Sew Colorful Stars blocks, one of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, were made last week, and now I am trying to figure out how I want to put them together. Here is the design from the pattern cover, which uses the background fabric for sashing and a wider border.

Sew Colorful Stars, pattern by Fat Quarter Shop

My background fabric has a little bit of a pattern on it, but it's still mostly white. This is Pin Drop by Christopher Thompson for Riley Blake.

My concern is whether the quilt will be too much white. I've been considering some options for adding some color in the sashing/cornerstones. My first idea was little shoo-fly corners between the blocks.

Noooo! That is just way too bright and distracts from the stars. Maybe a paler color?

Maybe...That's definitely better. I could use a different color at each intersection. Should I go even lighter?

This one blends in so well that it makes me wonder "why bother?" What about that fabric as the sashing?

That's okay, but it's not telling me "Yes, yes, I'm the perfect choice!" (Don't your quilts talk to you like that?) Of all the options I've considered, my favorite is the pale aqua shoo-fly. However, as I look at all these options for adding a little something extra to the setting, I keep thinking they all distract from the blocks. After piecing all of those many triangles, the blocks need to be the "stars" in this quilt. I'm leaning toward following the pattern and using the same background fabric for the sashing and borders. 

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 10/26/2021

It is Tuesday and time for another Tuesday To-Do list. Today we will review how I did with my last to-do list. then come up with a new list for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

Last week was very productive, and I managed to complete all the tasks on my to-do list!

To-Do List for 10/19 - 10/25

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

I finished off my bowtie blocks for the month, ending up with a total of 39 light green bowties. You can see them in Sunday's post.

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week    ✔done

I finished two orange heart blocks last week.

3. RWB Rectangles--join blocks    ✔done

I got all of these blocks joined together into a quilt top, but I don't have any photos of the top yet.

4. Sew Colorful Stars--make one orange and one light green block   ✔done

These were the last two blocks needed for this quilt. See them in this post.

5. Scrooge coat--begin the finishing work   ✔done

I am making good progress on the finishing of this costume project.

Most of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge have all of their blocks made. It's time to start getting those blocks joined together into quilt tops!

To-Do List for 10/26 - 11/1

1. RWB Rectangles--take photos of quilt top, write blog post    

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week   

3. Bowties 365 (or maybe one of my other RSC projects)--start joining blocks together   

4. Scrooge coat--FINISH! I need to have this done by the end of the week

5. Figure out a new leader/ender project (to replace the bowties)

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 Texas Quilt Gal.

Julie in GA  

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 43, 2021

The stash report for the last week shows just over 2 yards of fabric used and none added to the stash. I used 3/4 yard for the Sew Colorful Stars blocks that were shared in yesterday's post. I finished my light green bowtie blocks for the month, ending up with 39 of them, which used 1.375 yards.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          2.125 yards

Used year to date:                     158.25 yards

Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                   130.50 yards

Net used year to date              27.75 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 stitching time. Besides the two projects mentioned in the stash report numbers, I've mostly been trying to do some tidying up of my cutting table. It has gotten totally out of control and needs to be cleared off. I did spend at least 15 minutes quilting every day last week.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

10/17 - 10/23            7 of 7 days

2021 Total          294 of 296 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 43, 2021

Another set of blocks for the 2021 Rainbow Scrap Challenge has been completed! Yesterday I finished making the last of my Sew Colorful Stars blocks. I didn't get a block made last month, so I have two to share now, an orange block for September and a light green block for October.

I couldn't wait to put all the blocks up on the design wall together. Here is a shadowy nighttime photo of them. They will get sashing and borders of the background fabric. I am considering adding a little something at the sashing intersections like friendship stars or shoo-fly corners.

Sew Colorful Stars, pattern by Fat Quarter Shop

I will spend some time playing with setting options for these blocks before I join them all together. For now, they will hang out on the design wall, waiting for a decision to be made (which is always a challenge for me!)

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 10/19/2021

It is Tuesday and time for another Tuesday To-Do list. Today we will review how I did with my last to-do list. then come up with a new list for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

I've had a busier week than usual with errands and appointments, which meant completing only three of my five goals from last week's list. Maybe this week will be more productive.

To-Do List for 10/12 - 10/18

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

I'm up to a total of 28 blocks done for October.

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week    not done

I didn't touch this hand applique project last week.

3. RWB Rectangles--make more blocks           ✔done

I finished making all the rest of the blocks for this quilt! There are 63 blocks total, and they are ready to be stitched together. Sorry, no photos yet.

4. Sew Colorful Stars--make one orange and one light green block  not done

I've started cutting pieces for these blocks, but they still have a long way to go.

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

I finished the last two blocks in light green and tan/light brown, then joined all of my blocks together. I'm in love with this quilt top!

Scrap Magnet pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts

Most of the same projects are staying on the list for next week. The coat for Scrooge has also reappeared on the list. We had a fitting with the actor a few days ago, and now it's time to get that garment finished!

To-Do List for 10/19 - 10/25

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

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week    

3. RWB Rectangles--join blocks    

4. Sew Colorful Stars--make one orange and one light green block

5. Scrooge coat--begin the finishing work

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 Texas Quilt Gal.

Julie in GA  

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 42, 2021

This has been a good week for the stash report, with the construction of a small quilt top and back included in my stash usage. I used 2.75 yards for the top of my Wiggle Time quilt and 2.375 yards for the back. You can see them both in THIS POST. I also used .75 yards for the last two Scrap Magnet blocks, one of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. See that quilt top HERE. This is one of my favorite Scrap Magnet blocks.

Scrap Magnet, pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts

There was also some fabric added to the stash: 3 yards of flannel for the backing of the Wiggle Time quilt. 

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          5.875 yards

Used year to date:                   156.125 yards

Added last week:                            3.0 yards

Added year to date:                   130.50 yards

Net used year to date           25.625 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 stitching time. I've been working on multiple projects this week, getting at least 15 minutes every day. I also spent the afternoon doing some badly-needed cleaning of my sewing room yesterday.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

10/10 - 10/16            7 of 7 days

2021 Total          287 of 289 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 42, 2021

Some of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge are close to having all of their blocks finished. Last week I made the final two blocks for my Scrap Magnet quilt, using light/bright greens for one and light brown/tan for the other.

Scrap Magnet pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts

I was so excited to have the last blocks made that I put them all up on the design wall together. After some rearranging of colors, I started sewing them together and ended up with a finished quilt top! 

Scrap Magnet quilt top, approximately 66" x 83"

Here's a closer look at the center of the quilt, where I tried to concentrate all the lighter blocks.

I'm over the moon happy with the way this quilt top turned out! I enjoyed choosing the fabrics for these blocks each month, then stitching them up to see how well my color combos worked. The blocks were not difficult to make, although I did have to be precise in order to get all those squares to line up properly. I've even seen the perfect backing fabric to get for my quilt--it has a grey background with large dots of many colors.

Many thanks to Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts for this wonderful pattern! I'm thinking about making the pattern again, but scaling down the blocks. The pattern also includes instructions for a super-sized single block, which would make a great baby quilt.

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

Wiggle Time Quilt Top & Back

It doesn't happen to me very often, but every once in a while, a new fabric provides the immediate inspiration for a quilt. That was the case this time around. It started with this fabric that I got at Hancock's of Paducah in late July. It is from the "Wildflowers" line by Debbie Beaves for Robert Kaufman fabrics.

I have been wanting to make the pattern "Wiggle Time" by Cynthia Brunz for quite a while, and this was the perfect background fabric for it. Here is the photo from Cynthia's pattern page. 

Wiggle Time pattern by Cynthia Brunz

The first step was choosing fabrics from my stash for the squares that step up and down across the quilt. Because a couple of my fabrics were already cut strips, I needed to reduce the scale of those squares, which made it possible to include more fabrics. 

The pattern is very well written and went together quickly. In a very short time, I had this wonderful finished quilt top.

Wiggle Time quilt top, 45" x 57"

I found this adorable flannel fabric that includes all the colors of the quilt top to use for the backing. 

The flannel piece wasn't quite big enough, so I added a couple strips of orange polka dot flannel to extend it.

I had a great time making this little quilt and look forward to using the Wiggle Time pattern again soon. If you aren't familiar with Cynthia's patterns and quilts, check out her blog Quilting is more fun than Housework (one of the best blog names ever!)

Linking up with:

Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

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

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

To-Do Tuesday 10/12/2021

It is Tuesday and time for another Tuesday To-Do list. I was away from home last Tuesday and didn't update my list, so today's post covers the last two week. It's time to see how I did with my last to-do list. then come up with a new list for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

Keeping my last list short was the right thing to do since we were going out of town. I didn't get much done while we were away, and I am still catching up now.

To-Do List for 9/28 - 10/4 10/11

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

I've gotten ahead on my daily Bowtie blocks and have 16 light green blocks done. You can see the layout I'm considering in yesterday's post.

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block/week    ✔done

My applique project didn't receive much attention over the last two weeks. I completed two heart blocks.

3. RWB Rectangles--make more blocks     ✔done

I had a stack of red blocks already cut out and got a few of them stitched up yesterday.

I'm mostly focusing on catching up on some of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects this week.

To-Do List for 10/12 - 10/18

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

2. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week    

3. RWB Rectangles--make more blocks    

4. Sew Colorful Stars--make one orange and one light green block

5. Scrap Magnet--make last two 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 Texas Quilt Gal.

Julie in GA  

Design Wall Monday 10/11/2021

As we get into the last few months of the year, some of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge are approaching the end. Yesterday I decided to play with a possible layout for some of the bowtie blocks that I have been making all year.

I have been making two different sets of bowtie blocks this year, with the goal of making an average of one block every day of 2021. This set consists of 5" finished size blocks that all have the same background fabric. I've tried to use mostly "pastel" prints, but have needed to go into darker shades of some colors, especially purple. 

This very unusual layout for the bowtie blocks is one I've been wanting to use for quite awhile. I had originally seen it on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog, although it is not one of Bonnie's patterns.

Bowtie quilt top shared on Quiltville blog

I'm still working on more green bowtie blocks for this quilt, but I am eager to get them made and start putting them all together. My quilt won't have all the colors of the rainbow, just the ones you see in the top photo.

Check out what other quilters are working on this week:

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 41, 2021

A week away from home has meant a serious slowdown in stash usage. However, another visit to Hancock's of Paducah led to an enormous addition to my stash. It's time for me to do some serious stashbusting!

My stash usage for the past two weeks was 2.25 yards for blue striped shirt (shown in this blog post) and 7/8 yard for Homespun blocks (shown in yesterday's post.)

The additions: 26 yards from Hancock's. I had intended to be more restrained on this visit, but Ed urged me to get whatever I wanted as an early birthday gift. Who was I to say no to that?! My main goals were to get some new turquoise prints and also some light/background fabrics. I was successful on both fronts, plus got several other pieces.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          3.125 yards

Used year to date:                    150.25 yards

Added last week:                          26.0 yards

Added year to date:                   127.50 yards

Net used year to date             22.75 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 stitching time. I took a hand stitching project along on our trip, and I did spend 15 minutes on it every day, but rarely more than that. Progress has been very slow, but my numbers look good.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

9/26 - 10/9           14 of 14 days

2021 Total          280 of 282 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 41, 202

I've been absent from blogging for over a week because we made another trip back to Wisconsin, this time for a family wedding. Sometimes I am organized enough to have some blog posts prepared in advance, but that didn't happen this time. We had a great trip, both at the wedding and spending a couple days hanging out with family, including several great nieces and great nephews, ages 1 to 8. It was so much fun to see them all again!

After we got back, there was the usual day or two of laundry, grocery shopping, and getting back into the usual routine. I didn't get any quilting done until Thursday, but I have now completed the last blocks for one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, the Homespun quilt.

Homespun design by Modernly Morgan

As you can see, the tan and grey blocks are divided into half blocks. That is because my planned layout needs some half blocks, and I think I will probably use the neutral colors there. I did the same thing when I made brown and black blocks in July. You can see those blocks HERE.

I have made all the blocks I need for this quilt and am very eager to get them up on the wall and consider different arrangements. I'm hoping to get caught up on other RSC projects first, then I can reward myself with some layout playtime.

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