Best of 2022--End of Year Review

The end of another year is upon us, making this the perfect time for Cheryl's Best of 2022 Linky Party at Meadow Mist Designs, a chance to link up our top blog posts from the past year. Cheryl suggested some ways to choose our best posts such as most views, most comments, best tutorials, and favorite finishes. I'm going to include several of those suggestions. Each listing has a link back to my original blog post.

1. Most views: Rainbow LeMoyne Row Quilt. 

The blocks for this quilt were left over from a Rainbow Scrap Challenge project in 2014. I joined them into a quilt top last December, started quilting in January, 2022, and finished the quilt in early August.

Rainbow LeMoyne Row Quilt

37.5" x 42.75"

2a. Most comments (tie): Charm Baskets

Charm Baskets was one of my 2022 projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, based on the pattern by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts. The finished size of each block is 4", and I made 15 - 25 blocks each month in the assigned RSC color, ending up with over 200 blocks total. 215 of those blocks were arranged in a wash of color, then joined together into this delightful quilt top.

Charm Baskets quilt top

52.75" x 69"

2b. Most comments (tie): Rainbow Accordion

The Rainbow Accordion quilt was my first entry in the Project Quilting Challenge, Season 13, hosted by Kim Lapacek at Persimon Dreams. The challenge involves making a project in a week to fit the assigned theme. The theme for this quilt was "All the Colors." I love the 3-D look of it.

Rainbow Accordion

21" x 29"

3. Oldest UFO: Snail's Trail

This project dates back to 2001, and it feels so good to finally have this little quilt top together. The blocks are tiny (3.5" finished size) and were foundation pieced.

Snail's Trail quilt top

31" square

4. Learning something new: Artful Improv

I joined two quilt guilds this year, and have been fortunate to take multiple quilt workshops through them. One of the most interesting (and most challenging) was the Artful Improv class with Cindy Grisdela in October. This project was way outside my comfort zone, but I was happy with the result and look forward to more improv play.

Artful Improv

26" x 31" 

5. Favorite finish: Boston Fiesta

This was another old UFO, started in 2005. The piecing was completed in 2015, but it was another few years before it got quilted. Then it hung around waiting for a binding, which finally happened this spring in order to enter it into a quilt show.

Boston Fiesta

60" x 74"

6. A new goal: more FMQ on Juki

I've been wanting to get serious about finishing more quilts myself, and this summer I took the first step by purchasing a new machine. I bought a Juki J-150QVP, a straight-stitch industrial machine that can also switch over to free-motion quilting. It has a very large throat space between the needle and the machine, plus there is an extension table behind the machine which is wonderful for supporting a quilt during FMQ. I'm still getting used to the machine, and even needed to have one problem fixed recently, but I'm so happy to have upgraded my machine for FMQ.

Juki J-150QVP

Those are some of my quilting highlights from the past year. I'm still thinking about plans and goals for 2023, and I look forward to sharing many projects in the coming year. 

Linking up with:

Best of 2022 Linky Party at Meadow Mist Designs

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

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

Happy New Year to all!

Julie in GA

Artful Improv quilt top done!

Cindy Grisdela is a quilt artist and teacher who has also written two books about improv quilting. She was the speaker at our recent guild meeting, and also taught two different workshops. I was lucky enough to take part in her "Artful Improv" class, and today I am happy to share my finished quilt top from that class.

We learned about several different improv techniques that Cindy uses regularly including improv blocks, angled stripes and improv curves. At the end of that first day, I had this collection on parts up on my design wall.

The next day I was very frustrated and unsure of how to proceed. I decided to keep making more parts, adding them to the wall and doing some rearranging. This was my design wall at the end of day 2.

After making one more set of angled stripe blocks, it was time to start puzzling everything together. I had to trim down some blocks to make them fit, and others got strips added to make them larger. Here's what I had at the end of day 3.

Artful Improv #1, 26" x 31"

I was happy with the piece so far, and could have stopped there and called it a finished top. Instead, I decided to add borders to two sides utilizing two more techniques from Cindy's class, inset strips and curved stripe borders. I like the way they make the quilt even more asymmetrical, but I'm not sure they fit in with the overall piece. They feel like unnecessary additions to the quilt rather than being fully integrated with the rest of the design.

Artful Improv #1A, 29" x 34"

I'm not sure if those two borders will stay on the quilt or not. There's a very good chance that I will take them off, but for now that decision is on hold.

I found this quote on Cindy's website about a 7-day workshop she took with Michael James: "Taking a class that pushes you out of your comfort zone is a great way to grow as an artist." This improv class was definitely way out of my comfort zone, and I struggled at times, but pushed through it and am happy with the result. I look forward to playing with Cindy's ideas even further in the near future.

A Little Citrus by Cindy Grisdela

The quilt above is one of my favorites that Cindy shared with us in her class. You can read more about Cindy Grisdela's quilts, books and classes at her website HERE. The Artful Improv class is available as either a workshop for a group (info HERE) or as an on-line class that you can take on your own time (HERE.) Either way, I encourage you to explore Cindy's techniques to make your own improv quilts.

Linking up with:

Needle and 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

Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More

Happy quilting!

Julie in GA

Improv Monday

I have a brand new project up on the design wall, and it is totally out of my comfort zone. I took part in a Zoom class on Saturday with Cindy Grisdela called Artful Improv. That is also the name of Cindy's first book. We tried out several different techniques for improv piecing, and this is what I had on the wall at the end of the day.

I have no plan for where I'm going with these blocks, and that's part of the fun with this kind of project. There are solid fabrics all over the sewing room and I plan to make some more blocks to go along with these. I will move blocks around, maybe even cut some of them up and add other pieces. There's no telling what they will turn into! It's all a big mystery, which is both exciting and rather uncomfortable for me.

Check out what other quilters are working on this week at Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 39, 2020

It's the last Saturday of our month of stitching up red scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I finished my red Scrappy Bear Paw block a couple days ago.

One of the best things about making scrappy blocks is reminiscing about the different fabrics. For this block I pulled out some very old pieces that had come from my mother's scrap bags. Five years ago this summer, my sister and I made three quilts with those old scraps, one for each of us and one for Mom. Some of the scraps date back decades from making clothing for the whole family. They are full of such wonderful fabric memories!

There were four of the old fabrics included in my Bear Paw block.

I don't remember what was originally made from every one of those old fabrics, but one in particular stands out for me. This print was a dress my mother made for me when I was very young, and I even had a matching dress for my doll! I've always loved this fabric, and I even have the original dress stashed away with some of Mom's scraps that I kept.

The dress is a little faded, but I'm still tickled every time I pull it out. I don't have any children or grandchildren to pass it on to, and it's unlikely I could ever bring myself to cut it up for the fabric. I'll just enjoy the memories when I see 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 

Bright Green Scrappy Treasures

My recent search for bright green and yellow-green scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge yielded a jackpot! I discovered a bag that contained scraps and leftovers from a costume project made two years ago, and many of the scraps were in the exact colors I needed.

We were working on a show based on the children's book Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and many others. The costume designs were intended to match the illustrations in the book, so the designer decided to have us piece together multiple fabrics, mostly batiks. Here is one panel that was made to become part of a pair of shorts. (Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the finished garment.)

Today I found some scraps from this project, including some chunks of the pieced sections that were left over after we cut out the shorts. The long section at the bottom center measures about 7.5" x 17".

Pieced sections 

Batik scraps

I'm planning to continue piecing more of these scraps together, probably with the addition of some more batik fabrics from my stash. There's no definite plan for what these pieces will become, but I can't wait to see where they take me!

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

From Purple to Teal

Let me begin by saying that improv piecing does not come naturally to me. I am much more comfortable when working with a definite plan. However, I have seen many people create beautiful rainbow quilts from scraps and crumbs. Our January color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge was purple, and when I found a pile of small purple scraps left from an earlier project, I decided to give improv another try.

Last Saturday I spent a large part of the day making these blocks. I used up most of the purple scraps that I showed last week plus a few pieces from my strip drawers. My blocks measure 6-1/2" unfinished.

The February color for the RSC is blue-green (teal, turquoise, aqua, etc.) I love these colors and have a sizable collection of scraps. I started the month by making Scrappy Trips blocks using 3" strips and Bonnie Hunter's instructions. I made 3 blocks to go with the one I'd made earlier. I'm including a close shot of each block so you can get a better look at the fabrics. Most of those fabrics are at least 12 - 15 years old!

Scrappy Trips Around the World
pattern by Bonnie Hunter

It isn't scrappy, but I recently finished this baby quilt that is mostly teal/turquoise fabrics. I wish we could have gotten to Wisconsin for the baby shower today, but no such luck. 

Star Cluster Baby Quilt
variation of a pattern by Judy Martin

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

Julie in GA

Scrappy Design Wall

My design wall is currently covered with the beginning of a back for the scrappy quilt top that I showed last week (see it HERE.) The back is made from bigger chunks of the old fabric scraps that Mom has been saving. I cut the fabrics into 6-1/2", 8-1/2", and 10-1/2" strips. They will be pieced together into columns, then the columns will be joined together. I need a back that measures about 67" x 80", and there should be more than enough here.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework. Check them all out for lots of amazing quilting inspiration!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Sunday/Monday 7/20/15

Yesterday I finished adding the final border to the third scrappy quilt top made from the collection of scraps my mother had saved for many years. Check out THIS POST to see the other two tops. For this one, I made the grey outer border wider than the sashing strips--the sashing is 1.5" and the border will finish at 2.5".

One of the best things about making these quilts has been playing with all the wonderful old fabrics. Some we remembered quite easily what was made from them, and others were long forgotten. Here are some close-up shots of a few blocks.

Check out the two matching prints in the above photo--the dark pink with lighter pink flowers and the light green right next to it. My sister and I had matching dresses out of those fabrics plus the reverse of each (light pink background with darker pink flowers, etc.) My dress had the pink fabrics and hers was green. It was such fun to make something with them again!

As you can tell from a closer look, many of the fabrics date back to the 1960s and 70s, some even earlier. Mom refers to the oldest ones as B.C. (before children.) So many fun fabrics and just as many wonderful memories all put together! It has been a special treat making these quilts, and I can't wait to get them finished. Thanks Mom for hanging on to all those fabric scraps. I promise we'll get the rest out of your house before too long!

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt and with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework. Check them all out for lots of amazing quilting inspiration!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 7/13/15

The Improv Scrappy blocks that my sister and I were making together last month have been joined together into a quilt top. We are planning to make a total of three throw quilts/wallhangings with our blocks.

Another group of blocks have been joined into this second top. This one includes a scrappy pieced border and will get a final wider border of the grey solid.

The fabrics in these blocks all came from many bags of scraps that date back several decades when our mother used to make clothing for all of us. We've had such a good time reminiscing about the garments that were made from these wonderful prints.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! I am also linking up to Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt and with Scraptastic Tuesday hosted by Nicky at Mrs Sew and Sow.

Julie in GA

WIP Wednesday--Improv Scrappy blocks

When visiting family in Wisconsin a few weeks ago, my sister and I started making scrappy blocks using some of the huge collection of scraps at our mother's house that had accumulated over the past several decades. You can read more about that visit and see plenty of photos of our project HERE.

We are hoping to have enough blocks made when I return there in a couple of weeks so that we can start putting them together into throw quilts. I finally started making some additional blocks this week. It's not as much fun making them by myself as it was working as a team, but I hope to have a dozen blocks done when I go back.

These blocks feature some old favorite friends--Holly Hobbie, Raggedy Andy, and the Cheshire Cat. None of us remembers what the piece of Alice in Wonderland fabric was used for, but it is adorable!

I am linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. Check it out for tons of amazing ideas and inspiration. 

Julie in GA

Improv Scrappy blocks

The past few days have been a wonderful scrappy quilt-a-thon. My sister and I have been sorting through a multitude of fabrics scraps accumulated over several decades of family garment sewing. We decided to use them in improvisationally-pieced blocks to make at least 3 throw quilts, one for each of us plus our mother.

We got together on Sunday and began working our way through a basket of scraps, cutting strips and piecing the first few blocks. We each continued working on more blocks the next day, then got together again today to join forces again. We decided to finish 36 blocks today, 12 for each quilt. Once we got them all done, we laid them all out on the floor to admire our work. 

We all agreed that we preferred the blocks with spacing between, and will probably go with a medium grey sashing similar to the color of the carpet. Unfortunately, when we reduced the layout to our planned 12 blocks, the effect was rather disappointing. However, when we switched to 20 blocks, the result was much more satisfying. That means more blocks to make, but it's worth the extra effort.

Most of the scraps and strips will remain at our mother's house, although my sister took some pieces home to continue making blocks. Our original plan of 36 blocks has now been bumped up to 60, which may require another trip to Wisconsin and mini quilting retreat. It's been a wonderful few days visiting with family and quilting together.

I am linking up to Scraptastic Tuesday at Mrs Sew and Sow and to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. Check them both out for tons of amazing ideas and inspiration. 

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 6/8/15

There's no design wall for me to show today, but I do have parts of a new project to show. My sister and I have been given the task of sorting through the many fabric scraps that have been accumulating at our mother's house for over 50 years. It has been so much fun looking at the many fabrics and trying to figure out what they were used for.

We looked around online for scrappy ideas, and decided to try a casual, improvisational style of piecing. We were especially inspired by Amanda Jean's "Scrap Vortex" quilt and by Kelly's Improv Piecing tutorial.

Yesterday we started with a laundry basket stuffed full of fabric scraps. Don't you love that 70's hot pink and bright green plaid (and it's a seersucker-like texture!) The fabrics had all been rolled up into little bundles, so it took lots of pressing to get rid of the wrinkles. Then we started slicing them into strips of a variety of widths ranging from about 1.5 to 3.5 inches. 

The strips got stitched together, trimmed down, more strips added, etc. Here are a few chunks of piecing, ready for the next strips to be added. We got a couple of blocks finished yesterday, but I didn't get a photo of them yet.

There's still a mountain of fabric that hasn't even been pressed or cut yet. It's time for me to get to work on making a dent in that pile of scraps!

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! I am also linking up to Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt.

Julie in GA