To-Do Tuesday 2/22/2022

I'm back for another Tuesday To-Do List! I was shocked to discover that it has been four weeks since I last posted a to-do list. I know these lists help me stay focused, and it's time to get back in that habit. Today we will review how I did on my previous list. then come up with a new set of goals for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

I completed all of the tasks but one from my previous list, posted in late January.

To-Do List for 1/25/22 - 1/31/22

1. Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt--finish quilting and bind    not done

This quilt has been set aside for now, in favor of a different baby quilt.

2. Bowties 365--continue joining blocks together   ✔done

The Rainbow Bowtie blocks have been joined together into 4 sections, ready to be quilted.

3. Hearts Applique--stitch at least one red block    ✔done

I think I ended up with eight red hearts appliqued at the end of January, and two of them have been framed.

4. Storm at Sea Heart--add outer border               ✔done

I finished the border on this little quilt, and it is ready to be layered and quilted.

5. Feathered Star SAHRR--add diamonds to border    ✔done

I've added multiple borders to this quilt since my last to-do list. You can see the latest photos in THIS POST.

My list for the next week has a couple of the same projects as my previous list, but also some new entries. It's an ambitious list for one week. I'm just hoping to move these projects forward.

 

To-Do List for 2/22/22 - 2/28/22

1. Fishies baby quilt--finish top, prep for quilting

2. Secret project--begin quilting

3. Hearts Applique--finish one red block

4. Rail Fence--finish making teal/turquoise blocks for RSC

5. Feathered Star SAHRR--finish hand stitching applique

6. Feathered Star SAHRR--start making Shoo Fly 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 

Stash Report and Stitching Time 1/30/2022

There is much to share in the stash report this week, most of it used in my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Fabric used this week included 3/4 yard for the Charm Baskets, 1/2 yard for the Rail Fence blocks, and 1/2 yard for the borders on my Storm at Sea Heart. You can see all of these projects in yesterday's post.

I also used 1 yard for the spacer rectangles with my Bowties blocks. The blocks and spacers have all been joined together into four sections, each measuring 20-24" wide and 28-30" high. The sections will get quilted separately, then joined together.

2022 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:           2.75 yards

Used year to date:     7.625 yards

Added last week:         0.00 yards

Added year to date:     2.75 yards

Net used in 2022       4.875 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 plugging away at several projects and spending multiple hours in the sewing room most days. Even the shorter sewing days have been well over 15 minutes.

15 Minute Challenge for 2022: 

1/23 - 1/29         7 of 7 days

2022 Total       29 of 29 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 1/25/2022

Welcome to another Tuesday To-Do List! Today we will review how I did on my previous list. then come up with a new set of goals for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

The past week included time spent on machine quilting, hand applique, joining blocks and adapting a border. I am very pleased to have gotten through my entire list.

To-Do List for 1/18/22 - 1/24/22

1. Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt--continue quilting       ✔done

All the stars have been quilted, and I've made a start on the background around them. Here's one star from both the front and the back (it's easier to see the quilting on the back.)

2. Bowties 365--cut setting fabric, begin joining blocks together  ✔done

The setting fabric is cut and I have started stitching blocks together into sections. 

3. Hearts Applique--stitch at least one red block   ✔done

Two more hearts blocks are done.

4. Storm at Sea Heart--add neutral border   ✔done

The first border is done, and you can read more about it in yesterday's post.

5. Feathered Star SAHRR--add curves to border   ✔done

You can see my progress in this post.

My list for the next week has all of the same projects on it. I'm hoping to continue moving forward on each of these quilts.

 

To-Do List for 1/25/22 - 1/31/22

1. Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt--finish quilting and bind (my OMG for January)

2. Bowties 365--continue joining blocks together

3. Hearts Applique--stitch at least one red block

4. Storm at Sea Heart--add outer border

5. Feathered Star SAHRR--add diamonds to border

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 

Cascading Bowties

While making the last batches of bowtie blocks recently, I've also been spending plenty of time playing with layouts on the design wall. I ended up with more than 350 bowtie blocks altogether, which will probably become two or three small quilts. They were mostly made last year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

I decided on the plan for the first quilt last weekend and got ready to start joining the blocks together. Here's what I was planning.

The design changed once I got the spacer rectangles cut and ready to sew to the blocks. I realized that the seams would nest together better if my bowties were mostly pointing downhill from left to right instead of uphill. That meant switching everything around on the wall and also remaking the half blocks that finish off the tops and bottoms of a few columns.

This is how far I got on joining blocks and spacers together yesterday. The blocks are sewn into columns, but the columns aren't joined together yet. Right now I'm planning to construct this quilt in four sections, quilt each section, then join them together. Machine quilting is difficult for me, and I'm hoping that this method will make it easier to handle and help me finish more quilts.

The full photo shows the blocks that have been joined into columns at the top left. The blocks for the lower left are next to the sewing machine, waiting to be stitched together. After that, the other two sections will be constructed. You might notice that one of the orange blocks over toward the right end of the center horizontal space has been split into two halves. There's also one green block that got divided. All of the empty spaces between blocks will be filled with rectangles of the same background fabric.

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.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Back to the Bowties

After sharing one possible arrangement of my collection of bowtie blocks last week, I've continued playing with some other options. Here's the layout I showed in last Monday's post.

Thanks to the viewers who suggested filling the blank areas with background fabrics for a modern type quilt. I hadn't planned to do that, but I am intrigued by the idea.

I did a partial layout of this design with the colors in rainbow order and filled in the top corner. I didn't put enough blocks on the wall for the whole quilt, but I do like it better than the random arrangement of colors.

My next idea was to separate each color from the next with a little spacer of background fabric. The close-up photo shows a gap of about 1" between the blocks. I liked the idea, but the full layout makes me feel a little off balance with the way the blocks seem to lean from the offsetting.

The next variation on that idea was to offset the blocks even more. This time they have 2" gaps in between, which is half the size of each block. That will give me seams to match up and nest together when joining the columns. The close-up photo shows rectangles of background fabric laid over the spaces between the blocks.

I'm planning to go ahead with this design for the bowties layout. I like the airiness that separating the colors brings to the quilt. I might decide to leave off the half blocks in the top and bottom rows and just fill in with more background. 

This quilt layout as shown will use 110 of my bowtie blocks, and the quilt should measure 44" x 58". That will leave about 250 more bowtie blocks still to be used in other quilts. Stay tuned for further design ideas!

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 

Stash Report and Stitching Time 1/16/2022

The first part of the week was spent making the last sets of 4" blocks for my Bowties 365 quilt, one of my 2021 projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. My goal last year was to make an average of one block every day of the year. I ended up making 245 of the more pastel 5" blocks, and 180 of them were used in the Spikey Rainbow Bowtie quilt (see it HERE.)

My other set of bowties are 4" blocks with scrappy cream backgrounds. If I counted correctly, the total number of blocks made for that set is 364, with 88 of them having been made since the beginning of this year. You can see the latest additions in yesterday's post. I used almost 2 yards of fabric for the recent blocks. 

2022 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:         1.875 yards

Used year to date:     4.875 yards

Added last week:         0.00 yards

Added year to date:     2.75 yards

Net used in 2022       2.125 yards

I have been trying out some layout ideas for these bowtie blocks--here is one option. Not very interesting I'm afraid. More ideas coming tomorrow.

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 bowtie blocks, I've also been making little basket blocks (shown in yesterday's post.) I spent much more than 15 minutes quilting every day last week.

15 Minute Challenge for 2022: 

1/9 - 1/15          7 of 7 days

2022 Total       15 of 15 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

Bowties and Baskets for the RSC

My plans for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge in 2022 seem to be focused on small blocks so far this year. I've been making more 4" bowtie blocks to finish out the collection from 2021. This week I made 48 teal/turquoise blocks, plus 12 blue and 16 green. 

The addition of these blocks brings my total number of bowtie blocks up to about 360. I'm planning to make at least two smallish quilts with them, maybe three. I've been playing with some layout designs (see one option HERE), but none are really exciting me yet. I will continue to try out different ideas on the design wall.

The other small blocks that I've been making this week are my Charm Baskets. This project was inspired by a pattern by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts. I'm not usually a big fan of basket quilts, but I couldn't resist over 200 little 4" basket blocks in a rainbow of colors. They are just too cute!

Charm Baskets, pattern by Laundry Basket Quilts

I've been making basket blocks in reds, our color of the month for the RSC, with scrappy light backgrounds. I've finished 15 basket blocks, and included one heart block that conveniently happened to be the same size. The appliqued hearts are another RSC project for 2022 (carried over from last year) that feature 4" blocks, but I've only finished the single red heart so far this month; hoping to make more before the end of January.

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.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Playing with Bowties

After finishing my Project Quilting entry over the weekend, I've had some trouble settling on what my next project will be. I have plenty of UFOs I could pull out, or I could  work on one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts.

I got out the box of Bowtie blocks that I started making last year. I've been considering different layout options and decided it was time to give one of them a try.

The dark and shadowy photo doesn't help any, but I'm not loving this arrangement as much as I'd hoped. Maybe it would be better with the colors arranged in rainbow order. I still have a set of teal/turquoise blocks to make that will be added to the collection, and this is only a small number of the total set of blocks. I'm headed back to the sewing machine, and I'll look at some other layout ideas later.

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 

First To-Do Tuesday of 2022

A new year means a new start on Tuesday To-Do lists. Today we will review how I did on my previous list. then come up with a new set of goals for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

The goals on my last to-do list were mostly completed, except for the last which is half done. I'm hoping to continue the productivity this week.

To-Do List for 12/28/21 - 1/3/2022

1. Homespun--photos, blog post ✔done

You can see the finished quilt top in my post HERE.

2. Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt--continue quilting  ✔done 

I finished stitching in the ditch around the blocks and sashing. Up next is quilting the stars and the background.

3. Bowties 365--continue making 4" blocks   ✔done

I made 32 purple and 40 pink Bowtie blocks last week.

4. Blog posts--Best of 2021, 2022 Planning Party  did the 1st, not the 2nd

I haven't really figured out an overall plan for the year.

My main focus for the next few days will be my Project Quilting entry, which is due on Sunday (read more about that HERE.) I have a few other projects that I hope to squeeze in before next Tuesday rolls around.

 

To-Do List for 1/4/22 - 1/10/22

1. Project Quilting 13.1--piece, quilt and finish my little project by Sunday. Here's one of the ideas I was considering for it.

2. Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt--continue quilting

3. Bowties 365--continue making 4" blocks

4. Charm Baskets--start making red 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  

Stitching and Stash Report--Final Numbers for 2021

Even though we are into the second day of 2022, today's post lists my final stash report numbers for 2021. Much of my quilting time over the last few days of 2021 was spent making over 120 more bowtie blocks for my Bright Bowties collection. I used 2.75 yards for all of those bowties in yellows, oranges, pinks and purples. All that's left is to make a set using teal and turquoise, and maybe some in browns or greys and blacks. The majority of the blocks is this photo were made last week.

I am very happy to report that no new fabric was added last week! I ended the year with my second highest total usage of any year since I started tracking back in 2012. My highest usage came in 2020, when I used just over 188 yards. Unfortunately, the amount of fabric added in 2021 was also my second highest ever, just 1 yard behind the 169.25 added in 2016. I hope to keep that number much lower in 2022.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                             2.75 yards

Used year to date:                      183.25 yards

Added last week:                              0.0 yards

Added year to date:                    168.25 yards

Net used in 2021                           15 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 did some machine quilting last week, plus spent many hours making bowtie blocks. I even started one new project on New Year's Eve! I'll be sharing that tomorrow.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

12/26 - 12/31            6 of 6 days

2021 Total          362 of 365 days

I couldn't hope for any better on my numbers for the 15 Minutes Challenge. Of the three days that I missed, two were while I was away from home, one in May and one in July. The other was at the end of November, and I have no idea why I missed that day. I'll be very lucky if I can get similar numbers this year.

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 12/28/2021

It's the last Tuesday of the year, time for another Tuesday To-Do list. Today we will review how I did on my previous list. then come up with a new set of goals for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

The last time I posted a to-do list was two weeks ago. Even with the extra time, I didn't accomplish all of my goals, but I did finish the two most important ones (and enjoyed a really lovely Christmas weekend!)

To-Do List for 12/14 - 12/20

1. Homespun--start joining blocks together  ✔done

This quilt top is done! 

2. Secret sewing--work on gift for Ed           ✔done

My secret project was another pillow made from old ties, and I shared it in Sunday's post.

3. Redwork embroidery--finish small piece   not done

4. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--plan projects for 2022   working on it

My list for the next week includes a few end-of-year blog posts, plus continuing to work on a couple of current projects.

To-Do List for 12/28/21 - 1/3/2022

1. Homespun--photos, blog post (before end of December for One Monthly Goal)

2. Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt--continue quilting

I made this little quilt top last weekend from some old blocks that were stashed away. I also made a back right away and have started the quilting on it.

 

3. Bowties 365--continue making 4" blocks

I finished making the yellow and orange blocks yesterday. I think purple is up next.

4. Blog posts--Best of 2021, 2022 Planning Party

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  

To-Do Tuesday 12/14/2021

Welcome to Tuesday and another Tuesday To-Do list. Today we will review how I did with last week's list. then come up with a new set of goals for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

My list for the past week was a short one, yet I still didn't get through everything on it. I completed two goals, made progress on one, and totally ignored the last one.

To-Do List for 12/7 - 12/13

1. Pastel Bowties--photos and blog post    ✔done

You can read more about this quilt HERE.

2. Homespun--decide on layout, start joining blocks together   not done

I got the blocks for Homespun arranged on the design wall, but haven't started sewing them together yet.

3. Secret sewing--work on gift for Ed    ✔done

I did the cutting for this project and am ready to start sewing.

4. Redwork embroidery--finish small piece   not done

Once again, I didn't even touch this piece.

It is looking like another fairly busy week, with medical appointments plus an early Christmas gathering with Ed's family over the weekend. I'm keeping my list short once again.

To-Do List for12/14 - 12/20

1. Homespun--start joining blocks together

2. Secret sewing--work on gift for Ed 

3. Redwork embroidery--finish small piece

4. Rainbow Scrap Challenge--plan projects for 2022

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  

Spikey Rainbow Bowties--a finished top!

My continuing quest to put together my 2021 Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks has produced another quilt top! This is my Spikey Rainbow Bowties quilt.

Spikey Rainbow Bowties

60" x 75"

One of my plans for 2021 was to choose an easy block that I could make as a leader and ender project for the entire year. The idea was to average one block every day, therefore I called the project Bowties 365. I wasn't strict about making a block every single day, just trying to end up with that many over time. There were some days when I was doing lots of piecing, which led to multiple bowtie blocks on those days. At other times I was more focused on quilting or hand applique, and ended up not making any bowties on those days. 

These 5" bowtie blocks started with  many pieces left from a couple of bowtie baby quilts I had made in 2014 and 2015. I added this pretty creamy background fabric with splotches of pink, blue, yellow and lavender. I followed the monthly color prompts for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

The unusual layout for my bowtie blocks was inspired by a quilt I had seen on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville page (you have to scroll down the page to find it.) I figured out that the way to put it all together and not have to sew a ton of long rows was to join the bowtie blocks into big blocks of nine.

My quilt top is made from 180 bowtie blocks set 12 across by 15 high. These blocks were joined into 20 big blocks. 

That's another RSC quilt top together! Time to pull out the next set of blocks!

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

TGIFF (Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday) at Rebecca Grace Quilting

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 48, 2021

In between cooking sessions this week, I managed to get some time to work on the layout for my pastel bowtie blocks, one of my 2021 projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Here are some of the blocks up on the design wall.

I didn't get any photos of the complete layout of blocks before I started stitching them together. The bowtie blocks are being joined into bigger blocks of nine bowties, then the big blocks will get stitched together.

I'm hoping to have a finished quilt top soon!

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