Multicolor Madness

The assignment for April at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is to use our multicolored scraps. Last week I showed piles of multicolored 2" fabric strips left over from a couple of old watercolor quilts, all of them sorted from light to dark. I considered many design options for how to use those strips in an RSC quilt. I was very excited to begin on my chosen project. This is a pattern I have been wanting to make for several years, and now seemed like the perfect time!

Tranquil Treasures by Evelyn Sloppy
from her book Strips and Strings - 16 Sparkling Quilts

I started with the center blocks, using the lightest of my watercolor fabrics. The blocks are made in pairs, so I ended up with four, but only need three for the quilt.

The next group of blocks combine the lightest lights (Group #6) with the next slightly darker lights (Group #5.) There are eight blocks with this combination, followed by twelve blocks using Groups #5 & #4. 

It was at this point that I started having serious doubts about how this was all coming together. To tell the truth, I seriously hated it! My multicolored fabrics are a widely varied collection. There are bright, primary-color prints, softer jewel tones, and muddier earthy tones. In my opinion, getting them all to play together nicely wasn't working out so well.

Watercolor Fabrics, Group #3 Dark Medium

The watercolor quilts that I showed in last week's post are completely made up of 1.5" finished squares. The largest pieces in these blocks will finish at 1.5" x 7.5". It's much harder to hide the fabrics that don't blend in as well.

I continued on, hoping that adding some darker colors would help pull it all together. I like it a little better with the new batch of blocks added, but not enough to keep going with this. I'm contemplating throwing in the towel on this project. I'm not very happy with the results, and I'm not willing to put in any more time on it right now. 

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 scrappy projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

OMG January Goal Success!

One of my 2016 projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge was making 3D Folded Box blocks, following this tutorial by Donna Lynn Thomas. One change that I made was to scale my blocks down to 9" finished, rather than the 12" blocks in the tutorial. I made 6 - 8 blocks each month following the RSC colors, and I ended the year with just over 60 blocks.

My One Monthly Goal (OMG!) for January was to finish assembling the first quilt top from my blocks. I used 30 of the 60+ blocks that I'd made, joining them with sashing and cornerstones, then adding a piano key border. My quilt top finished at 60.5" x 71".

3D Folded Boxes quilt top, 60.5" x 71"
Tutorial by Donna Lynn Thomas

Here is a closeup shot of a few blocks. These blocks are a good illustration of the importance of selecting fabrics with value contrast in order to get the 3-D effect. It worked out especially well in these blocks.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Check out all of them for tons of amazing quilting inspiration! I am also joining the January link up at Elm Street Quilts for meeting my One Monthly Goal and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge finishing link-up at soscrappy. I'm so happy to have gotten the year off to a successful start!

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbows for the New Year

My goal for the week was to get one quilt top assembled from my 2016 Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. Unfortunately, that did not happen. It was partly lack of time, but mostly because I decided to complicate the finishing plan by adding a scrappy piano key border to the top.

Here you can see some partial rows of blocks with sashing, plus a line of bricks across the top that will become part of the border. The border pieces are not stitched together yet. Right now the border is looking a little dark to me; I will have to work in some more light scrap fabrics.

3D Folded Box Blocks tutorial by Donna Lynn Thomas

I have no idea what blocks I will make for the RSC next year. Actually, a more accurate statement might be that I have way too many ideas and can't make up my mind which ones to make. For now I will concentrate on getting this quilt top done and wait for inspiration to strike. I didn't start making these blocks until late April of this year, so I'm not going to stress over choosing a new pattern for next year.

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. 

WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Julie in GA

Rainbow Scraps on Christmas Eve

Let's just get the true confessions part of the blog post over with--I was wrong and the Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilters were right! Last week I posted photos of my 2016 RSC blocks along with fabrics I was considering for sashing those blocks. Several readers left comments suggesting that scrappy sashing might be a better option, especially on such a scrappy quilt. YOU WERE RIGHT!! I guess I was just trying to take the easier way out, but once I started cutting 2" strips of assorted backgrounds and putting them on the wall, I could see that it was the right choice.

All my blocks for this quilt are joined into rows along with the sashing strips. The sashing and cornerstones rows are not sewn together yet, they are just placed on the design wall to check the spacing of colors. There are two more rows of blocks below these that you can't see in the photo.

I would love to get this quilt top finished by the end of the year. We aren't travelling for Christmas, so there should be some stretches of time for quilting. This quilt will end up using 30 blocks, and I have enough blocks left for one or two smaller quilts too. Who knows how much might get done before the end of 2016!

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. 

WISHING EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 12/19/16

After sharing photos of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks along with sashing options a few days ago, I was persuaded by comments from the other RSC quilters that the best choice for sashing is to keep it scrappy, just like the rest of the quilt.

Folded Box blocks, tutorial by Donna Lynn Thomas

My blocks are now joined into rows with scrappy sashing strips between. Next I will make rows of sashing strips with colored squares in between. After that, I need to figure a plan for the border.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times, Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt, and Moving It Forward at Em's Scrapbag. Check out all of them for tons of amazing quilting inspiration!

Julie in GA

Sashing for Rainbow Blocks

I've been MIA on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge link-ups for the last few weeks. Too many other things going on and not enough time for quilting. This week I decided it was time to make an attempt to get my 2016 rainbow blocks joined together.

Folded Box blocks, tutorial by Donna Lynn Thomas

As usual, my photo through the bathroom doorway has some of the blocks cut off along the sides. I have about 60 of the 3D Folded Box blocks, enough to make a throw quilt and two baby quilts. There are chunks of several different fabrics that are being considered for the sashing up on the wall behind the blocks. It's difficult to see much difference between them in this photo, so here are a few close-ups.

I'm pretty sure I will use the fabrics from the first two close-up shots as sashing, but I don't think I have enough of either one for the throw-size quilt. There are two different fabrics with the blocks in the last photo, and either one would be enough for the bigger 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

2016 Rainbow Scrap Sampler

There hasn't been much time for quilting recently, mostly due to the Thanksgiving holiday and family visiting from out of town. I wouldn't give up any of the time we've been able to spend together, and the quilting will happen soon enough.

I did find a little time over the past couple weeks to finish assembling my 2016 Rainbow Scrap Challenge Sampler quilt top. All year Angela has chosen our monthly color and shared a block pattern. We made 10 sets of blocks, but I have included only 9 of them in my quilt. The last set may make it into the back.

2016 RSC Sampler
64.5" x 76.5"

Our block sizes varied from 3" to 9" finished sizes. I joined my columns of blocks with 3/4" wide strips of background to separate them. The outer border is more of the same background fabric, and the quilt will get finished with a scrappy binding. That's my sister Joan and her husband David in the shadows holding up the quilt for photos.

It's exciting to have the top completed for the RSC project, especially with more than a month left in the year! Up next is assembling my 3D Folded Box blocks into one or more tops.

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

3D Rainbow Blocks

This is the first time I have put all the colors of my 3D Folded Box blocks up on the wall together. I have been making these blocks all year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, and it is so exciting to see the combination of all the different colors together!

Folded Box blocks, tutorial by Donna Lynn Thomas

My blocks will finish at 9". The squares in the corners of the blocks will finish at 1.5" each, and I am planning to set the blocks together with light background sashing and squares of assorted colors, making nine-patches where they all meet. I have enough blocks to make two smallish throw quilts, or I could use them for one larger quilt and one baby quilt. I don't know if I will add a border or not. I probaby won't have much time to get these put together anytime soon, but it sure is fun to see them all up on the wall!

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. I'm also linking up with Scraptastic Tuesday (several days late!) over at Mrs. Sew and Sow.

Julie in GA

Finishing Up the Yellow Blocks

The color for October at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge has been yellow, and I just managed to finish up my yellow blocks yesterday. Here are three more of the Folded Box blocks in yellow.

Folded Box blocks, tutorial by Donna Lynn Thomas

This wonderful pattern is from Donna Lynn Thomas, and you can find a tutorial for it on her blog HERE. I believe this pattern is also included in her Craftsy class Piece Like a Pro (and the class is on sale this weekend for only $19.99!)

The next time my design wall is cleared off, I will put my whole rainbow of these blocks up. I can't wait to see them all together and figure out a plan for joining them into a quilt or two.

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

Rainbow Scrap Sampler Columns

All year long I have been following along with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2016 Sampler. Each month we have made a set of blocks in that month's chosen color, and the blocks get joined together into columns to make the quilt.

I have most of my groups of blocks stitched together into columns. I switched the September blocks to yellows instead of reds, and I am using my red scraps to make a different set of blocks than Angela chose. I still need to make four more of the red Ohio Star blocks.

The only blocks that I'm not sure I will include in the quilt are the grey blocks on the left side--they don't include any background fabric, and they seem too solid and square to me. It's possible I will remake them into another design, or I might just leave them out completely. I am also considering adding narrow background strips between the columns in order to make joining them together easier (less bulk and no seam matching!)

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

Rainbow Stars backing

I didn't get any new blocks made for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this week, but I did manage to finish piecing the back for one of my rainbow quilt tops. I made scrappy 12" LeMoyne Star blocks each month throughout 2014. Half the blocks got light background and half are dark, like the two stars below.

Scrappy Rainbow LeMoyne, 12" blocks

The blocks got joined together and bordered in June of 2015, and this quilt top has been hanging in my quilt closet ever since.

I bought a piece of fabric that seemed like a great choice to back this quilt. Black and white with stars and bright colors--it's perfect! Unfortunately, the amount I had was just a little bit short. Time for a creative way to make it work!

I chose fabrics that matched the colored stripes in the backing fabric and pieced long strips approximately 4-5" wide. These were inserted to replace some of the original color stripes in the backing, bringing it up to the width needed for this quilt.

Here you can get a better look at the fabrics that were inserted as the wide stripes. 

This quilt is now ready to be quilted and finished. I don't have any immediate plans to do that, but it feels good to have everything prepared.

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

Glowing Golden Blocks

I'm getting very excited to be making my last group of 3D Folded Box blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Our color assignment for October is yellow and orange, like the morning sunrise. I hope everyone along the southeast coast of the US has survived the hurricane and will be seeing some sunshine soon.

Folded Box blocks, pattern by Donna Lynn Thomas

Here are my first few yellow blocks together. I have pieces cut for three more blocks, then I can put all the colors up on the wall and decide if I need any more. I can't wait to see all the rainbow goodness together!!

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. I'm also linking up with Scraptastic Tuesday at Mrs. Sew & Sow.

Julie in GA

Sunny Scraps

It's so nice when things work out the way you had hoped! I took a chance this week and got a jump on cutting pieces for some yellow and gold 3D Folded Corners blocks. Checked the new Rainbow Scrap Challenge post this morning, and our October color assignment is yellow and orange, the colors of a sunrise. Perfect! 

I love using yellow in my rainbow quilts; it is so bright and cheery. Here are my little stacks of light, medium and dark yellow pieces, just waiting to be turned into blocks over the next couple of weeks.

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

Scrappy 3D Blocks

Despite another work trip to Chicago this week, I have been fairly productive on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. There were pieces for several blocks already cut out, and I kept plugging away at them all week. I ended up with 4 more red blocks, 2 grey, and 1 pink. If my math is correct, that brings me up to a total of 55 blocks so far. I got carried away on the red and ended up with 10 blocks, but I have 6 - 8 of the other colors.

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

Playing Catch-Up with the RSC

Quilting time continues to be almost non-existent, but I did manage to pull some red scraps and strips for my 3-D Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. I'm not sure these are the final choices, but they are a good start. I hope to find time to begin cutting and piecing the blocks this week.

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

A Few Grey Scraps

I'm sure some of you have been wondering if I had given up blogging or if something had gone terribly wrong in my life. I have not given up blogging, and the biggest thing that's wrong is too many hours of work = not enough time to quilt. No time to quilt also means nothing to share on this quilting blog. Thanks for hanging in there while I try to get back to a regular schedule of posts.

Last weekend I spent three nights in Chicago for work. I optimistically took my Singer Featherweight along, plus a couple of quilt projects, thinking I could get lots of sewing done in the evenings after working during the days. It was harder than I expected to work up any energy for quilting at night, but I did manage to make a few 3D Folded Box blocks for my current Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. One of our color options for August was shades of grey. 

Folded Box blocks, pattern by Donna Lynn Thomas

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

Progress in Purples

For the first time in a month, I have both days off this weekend! It feels so luxurious to be off for two days in a row. I hope to get plenty of time for quilting.

Last week I had pulled out my purple scraps, looking for hazy purples with green accents to use for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2016 Sampler blocks. I found several good prints, some of them very old, that combine purple and green, and today I managed to finish stitching up my bullseye blocks. I am especially fond of the paisley in the top right block, and also the mostly green spotty print at the center of the middle row.

As usual, I ended up with an extra block (but that's better than being short by one!) I hope to find enough time between today and tomorrow to cut pieces for my other RSC project, the 3-D blocks. I also need to cut some more parts for my hand-stitched hexagon blocks.

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

Playing Catch-Up

It is hard to believe that it is almost 3 weeks since my last blog post, mostly due to an insanely busy schedule at work. I've been grabbing a few minutes here and there for quilting, but haven't accomplished much, and I find it easier to stitch than to write coherent sentences in a blog post.

I did get a day off in the middle of the week, and that was my first chance to pull out some fabric options for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge sampler blocks. Our color assignment this month is "the hazy purple of a dawn sky with hints of evergreens." The alternate color choice is to work with greys. I actually have a decent collection of prints that combine purple and green, so I pulled out strips of all those fabrics, plus some other purples, trying to stay away from the pinky purples.

Then I rearranged all my strips, matching them up in pairs as they will be used in the bullseye blocks for the sampler. I'm planning to use the fabrics that run across the top of this photo as the center squares, and the lower strips to surround them.

Here is Angela's sample of the bullseye block that we will be making. Fortunately, it is a very easy block. I hope to have some time over the next week to start cutting for my sampler blocks, and maybe I can even get a few stitched together!

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

Playing in the Pink Scraps

One of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year has been the 2016 RSC Sampler. I have been following along each month, making the blocks Angela has chosen in the assigned colors. It's fun to stitch along with everyone else, but not have to decide what blocks to make or what colors to use. Even though we are all making the same blocks, the results can turn out so differently.

This month our block was the easiest one yet, the Indian Hatchet block. I have also seen this pattern called Half Snowballs or Kansas Dugout.

I enjoyed digging through my pink scraps for a variety of watermelon colored fabrics. These blocks were the perfect leader and ender project to have sitting next to my machine while I worked through other quilt projects. The blocks will finish at 3". As usual, I made a few extra blocks so I can choose my favorites.

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

Pink UFO Sighting

It's pink month over at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, the weekly color-themed, scrap-busting link up. Besides making the blocks for my ongoing RSC projects, I have been spending some time on a pink UFO. Last weekend I made four more of the pink and brown Shooting Stars blocks, bringing my total number of blocks up to 12, enough for a throw quilt. Here are two of the newest blocks. You can find a tutorial for this pattern at Anyone Can Quilt.

The next step is framing the blocks. I am alternating pink and brown tilted frames on each block. Half of them have been finished so far, and I hope to get the rest done this weekend.

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