Best of 2021--Year in Review

The last day of the year seems like a good time to join the "Best of 2021" linky party, hosted by Cheryl at Meadow Mist Designs. This is a great chance to look back at blog posts from the past year, reviewing which posts got the most views or the most comments, and which posts are personal favorites. 

 

1. Post with the most views: Spikey Rainbow Bowties

I was very surprised that this post had the most views because it is a very recent post (December 9th.) It also had the most comments of any post this year. I guess the unusual bowtie setting really grabbed people's attention.

Spikey Rainbow Bowties

60" x 75"

2. Favorite finished quilt top: Blooming Onion

This was a project early in the year, based on the pattern Blue Onion by Karla Alexander of Saginaw Street Quilts. The quilt was made entirely from batiks that were pulled from my stash, except for one non-batik print.

Blooming Onion, 60.5" x 80.5"

3.Favorite Quilt-Along: Positivity QAL, hosted by Preeti of Sew Preeti Quilts for Mercyful Quilts

This was a great quilt-along with a simple block pattern and plenty of time to make the quilt. I ended up making two quilt tops, one that I kept (at least for now) and one that was donated. I was so thankful that Rebecca Grace offered to do the quilting on my donation quilt. 

Positivity #1 (the one I kept)

60.5" x 80.5"

Positivity #2 (donated top)

60.5" x 80.5"

Positivity #2 (quilted by Rebecca Grace)

4. Favorite Rainbow Scrap Challenge project: Scrap Magnet quilt

I've been participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for several years, and this is one of my favorite rainbow quilts ever! I loved playing with the color combinations as I made each and every block.

Scrap Magnet

66" x 83"

pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts

5. Favorite mystery: Grassy Creek mystery (Bonnie Hunter)

I've followed along on several of Bonnie's previous mysteries and knew what to expect--very scrappy and lots of little pieces. I have learned to simplify a bit by making fewer parts for a smaller quilt. I also used a single grey fabric where Bonnie used grey strings. This is the first time I've made one of Bonnie's mystery quilts in the same colors as she used.

Grassy Creek mystery

64" x 79"

6. Favorite finished quilt: Volcano Nine-Patch baby quilt

This quilt was started after I found a baggie of leftover 9-patch blocks, strip sets, and fabric scraps from an earlier Blooming 9-Patch quilt. I was able to turn those bits and pieces into this wonderful baby quilt for my newest great niece, who is expected today!

Volcano Nine-Patch

42.25" x 52.75"

Life continues to be full of challenges, and I am always thankful to have quilting as a creative outlet. It keeps me sane and gives me great joy. Thanks to Cheryl for giving us all the opportunity to share our favorites from the past year. I'm linking up with her "Best of 2021" blog party.

Happy quilting and Happy New Year!

Julie in GA

Stitching and Stashing--Week 52, 2021

It's the last Sunday of the year, which means the last official Stash Report for 2021, although I expect to have a final update to my numbers next week. 

My usage last week includes 2.625 yards for the Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt top and back that I shared in yesterday's post. I also used 1 yard in yet another Dresden pillow, this one for my husband Ed, made from his father's ties. The fabric for the back of the pillow was a shirt that Ed was going to give away.

Posting these photos made me realize that I never shared any photos of the two pillows that I made for Amber, Ed's cousin's wife. Her father had a collection of very bold print ties which were lots of fun to combine in these pillows. They got a batik fabric for the pillow backs.

My last Black Friday fabric order finally arrived on December 23rd. I had gotten several wide backings from a fantastic sale at Keepsake Quilting.

I was especially excited to get the grey with bright dots fabric. I've been waiting for that to go on sale ever since I finished the top for my Scrap Magnet quilt. Won't they look great together?

Scrap Magnet pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts

I also have a few other rainbow quilts that include grey in the background and would work beautifully with the dotty backing fabric. Altogether, I added 22.5 yards to the stash this week, since I count the wide backings at 2.5 times the yardage length.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                           3.625 yards

Used year to date:                      180.50 yards

Added last week:                          22.50 yards

Added year to date:                    168.25 yards

Net used year to date               12.25 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. My stitching time over the past week was mostly spent on finishing the pillow for Ed and putting together the Rainbow LeMoyne quilt top and back.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

12/19 - 12/25            7 of 7 days

2021 Total          356 of 359 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 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

To-Do Tuesday 9/14/2021

Another Tuesday means it's time to update my to-do list for the week ahead and share how I did with last week's list. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

Last week's to-do list looks good, with check marks behind every item on the list! I'm hoping for similar results in the week ahead.

To-Do List for 9/7 - 9/13

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

I have made 15 orange Bowties so far this month.

2. Hearts Applique--pull orange squares, prep some blocks  ✔done

Two heart blocks are finished and more are ready to be stitched.

3. Scrap Magnet--make two orange blocks  ✔done

I finished these two blocks, plus made two Homespun blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  

Scrap Magnet blocks

Homespun blocks

4. Volcano 9-Patch--layer and pin baste, begin quilting  ✔done

The Volcano 9-Patch quilt is completely quilted and bound! No photos to share yet.

5. Scrooge coat--make progress  ✔done

Next week's list includes a different RSC project, the 30's Kaleidoscope blocks. I'm also hoping to put together a blog post for the finished Volcano quilt.

To-Do List for 9/14 - 9/20

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

2. Hearts Applique--pull orange squares, prep some blocks

3. 30's Kaleidoscope--make orange blocks 

4. Volcano 9-Patch--take photos, write blog post

5. Scrooge coat--make progress

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 37, 2021

My quilting time over the past week has been unusually focused and goal oriented, with very few distractions. My main project has been the machine quilting on the Volcano 9Patch quilt that I'm trying to get finished. I also made two sets of orange blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, Homespun on the left and Scrap Magnet on the right. The amount of fabric used in these blocks was 5/8 yard for the Homespun blocks, and 3/4 yard for the Scrap Magnet blocks. No new fabric was added to the stash this week.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          1.375 yards

Used year to date:                   145.125 yards

Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                   101.50 yards

Net used year to date            43.625 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 quilting time. There was no problem getting in plenty of quilting time this week, prepping and stitching RSC projects, plus quilting the Volcano quilt.

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

9/5 - 9/11                 7 of 7 days

2021 Total          251 of 254 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 37, 2021

As I was hoping, our September color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is orange. I've been looking forward to digging into my orange scraps and getting some more blocks made.

I've gotten into the habit of making my biggest blocks for the RSC first each month. I guess it's because it gives the most satisfaction to have these large (16 - 17") blocks up on the wall together. This month I started with the Scrap Magnet blocks. I made one with light/bright orange and one with darker and rusty orange. I am eager to make the last few blocks for this quilt and get them all joined together.

Scrap Magnet pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts

After the Scrap Magnet blocks were done, I turned to my Homespun blocks. I also made these in both light and dark orange versions. This is another project that has me really looking forward to seeing the finished quilt.

Homespun design by Modernly Morgan

They sure do make a pretty grouping 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 36, 2021

I've been feeling very unfocused in the quilting room this week, having a very hard time deciding what to do. One reason for that is because I finished off my August blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, but couldn't start the blocks for September because our assigned color hasn't been announced (but it has now--orange!) Our hostess, Angela, has been dealing with Covid challenges, both at home and at school, so she has plenty going on already. I hope she and the rest of her family are all healthy and safe.

Our color assignment for August was the blue-green family--teal, turquoise, aqua, etc. I finished off my Bowties for the month, ending up with a total of 40 blocks.

I also finished 8 hand appliqued heart blocks in teal and turquoise prints.

There were several bigger blocks made at the beginning of the month, so I put them all up on the wall together. All of these blocks will finish at 16" or 17".

Top left: Homespun  , top right: Sew Colorful Stars, bottom: Scrap Magnet

I decided it was time to catch up on some of the colors I had missed on my Glorified 9Patch blocks. I made the 9-patch parts in red, orange, teal/turquoise, and purple. The purples have been trimmed to their curvy shapes, and the two purple blocks at the bottom center have the background sections attached.

Now that we know we will be using our orange scraps for our RSC blocks in September, I will have plenty to keep me busy in the weeks ahead.

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 Rainbow Saturday--Week 32, 2021

I've been getting back to a semi-regular routine of quilting time every day since we got back from our trip to Wisconsin last week. I prepped the pieces for a couple of different Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, then started stitching up blocks. The first set to be done were the Scrap Magnet blocks. Since our RSC color for August is the whole blue-green family (aqua, teal, turquoise, etc.), I made one block in the teal/green family and one that is more turquoise/blue (at least, that's how I see them.)

Scrap Magnet pattern by Kirsty of Bonjour Quilts.

I also made a start on my Homespun blocks for the month. The first block features lighter aqua/teal fabrics, and the second has the darker shades.

Homespun design by Modernly Morgan

At one point while switching blocks on the design wall for photos, I ended up with one of each pattern up there. I decided to get a group shot of all four blocks. They are all almost the same size blocks and make a pretty grouping 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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 31, 2021

The last day of July is the perfect time to update the progress on my many quilts for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I added yet another project to the line up, bringing my total for the RSC to seven! Yikes! I'm not sure I will be able to keep up with that many sets of blocks every month, but I'm going to try.

The newest project is my hand appliqued hearts, which were started so that I would have a hand stitching project to take along on a recent trip. Here are my first few blocks.

The hearts are cut from 3.5" squares, and the backgrounds are 5" squares. They will eventually get trimmed down to 4.5" when I am ready to join them together.

Most of the other RSC projects were completed earlier in the month. I had to double check my list to make sure I didn't forget anything. Our color for the month of July was dark blue, with brown or black as alternate choices.

36 Bowtie blocks, 4" finished size

30 Kaleidoscope blocks, 6" finished size

Half of these were made in April when our color was light blue, the rest were made in July.

Sew Colorful Stars blocks, 16" finished size

pattern by Fat Quarter Shop

Glorified 9-Patch blocks, 6" finished size

Homespun blocks, 16" finished size for the blue block

black and brown 1/2 blocks finish at 8" x 16"

pattern by Modernly Morgan

The four Scrap Magnet blocks were all made in April for light blue.

These blocks finish at 16.5", and the pattern is from Bonjour Quilts.

That's a whole lot of blue scraps, plus some black and brown, that got used up this month. I'm looking forward to moving on to turquoise and teal for August, my favorite colors for quilting!

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