The Last Scrappy Rainbow Saturday of 2019

It's the last Saturday of the year, which makes it the perfect time to review my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects from 2019. I had four different RSC quilts in process this year--let's check out my process on all of them.

One of my 2019 RSC projects was started last December with some test blocks of hand appliqued Orange Peels. I decided to make 3" finished size blocks using assorted black/dark grey backgrounds with the RSC color of the month for the peels. The last time I showed my completed blocks was in October, and there hasn't been a lot of progress since then. This project will carry over into 2020.

Orange Peels, 3" blocks

One of my self-designed RSC projects was the Framed Crumb Stars. Each block started with a 4" crumb block at the center. Star points were added to that, then a frame made from 2.5" squares. As of late October I had all of my 12" blocks made and need to figure out how I want to put them together.

Framed Crumb Stars, 12" blocks

Angela, our hostess for the RSC, was the leader for the Tiny Tuesday sampler, and there were block designs shared by many other participants too. Every week we got a pattern for a 4.5" finished size block. Occasionally there were two block patterns. I had a great time making these blocks each week, frequently making more than one of the assigned block. I ended up with around 60 blocks, which have been joined together into this fun quilt top.

Tiny Tuesday sampler, 52.5" x 60"

My favorite RSC project of 2019 was my Rainbow Stairsteps quilt. Each month I made 12 blocks in the color of the month. There were quite a few questions about the block, and I included cutting directions for one block in THIS POST. These directions make a 6" block, but it would be easy to scale it up to a larger size.

The Stairsteps quilt top was completed in November, and I am thrilled with the way it turned out! The finished size is 60" x 72".

Rainbow Stairsteps, 60" x 72"

The grand total for 2019--two finished quilt tops, one complete set of blocks, and one on-going project. That's a pretty productive year for me! Other than continuing my Orange Peel blocks, I have not decided on my RSC projects for 2020. There are so many wonderful possibilities, many inspired by fellow RSC participants. I guess it's time to come up with a plan for the year ahead!

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

Rainbow Stairsteps Quilt Top Finished!

November and December are the months set aside for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as our time to finish making blocks and get our quilts assembled. I have been making Stairsteps blocks since January, and recently got all of my blocks joined together into a finished quilt top!

We were having lots of rainy weather when I finished this top, so I took my first photos indoors. Last weekend the weather improved and I was able to get better photos outdoors. It's amazing the difference in the colors.  

outdoors, no flash

indoors with flash

outdoors with flash

The finished size of my quilt top is 60" x 72". I played with several possible layouts of the blocks throughout the year, but decided on this one a few months ago. This layout required 12 blocks of each color. My blocks finish at 6", and you can find cutting directions for a block HERE.

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'm also linking up with Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Moving it Forward at Em's Scrapbag and Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt. Check them out for lots of great inspiration. Be sure to check out all of the wonderful projects that everyone is sharing! 

Julie in GA

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 40, 2019

Our assigned colors for October at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge are brown, black and grey. I've been eagerly waiting for these colors so I could make my last sets of blocks for my Stairsteps quilt, and here they are. They may not be the most exciting colors, but they will be the perfect addition to my quilt.

Now that the last blocks are made, I can finalize the layout and get this quilt put together. I can hardly wait! I might start as soon as I finish this post.

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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 39, 2019

It's almost the end of our month of playing with purple scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I made good progress on all of my different RSC projects.

Here we have a Framed Crumb Star (12" block") surrounded by twelve Stairsteps blocks. On the right are eight Orange Peel blocks, plus five Tiny Tuesday blocks.

I also made some Quarter Log Cabin blocks as a sample for a possible RSC project next year.

It seems like we will probably have black and grey or brown as our assigned colors for October. It's almost time to finish making blocks and start getting these quilt tops put together!

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

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 38, 2019

It's time for the weekly stash report again, and I am happy to say that there was no new fabric added to the stash last week! There were an awful lot of additions in August, but maybe I can make it through the whole month of September without buying any fabric. It's good to have a goal, right? And it's only a little over a week until October (how did that happen?!)

On the usage side, there was 1.25 yards used to make two sets of Stairsteps blocks for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. I showed the purple blocks in yesterday's post. Here is my set of grey/black blocks.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                           1.25 yards

Used year to date:                    42.125 yards
Added last week:                           0.0 yards

Added year to date:                    50.75 yards
Net stashed year to date:        8.625 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. I missed one day last week for the first time in several weeks, but I keep moving my projects forward (and sometimes getting distracted by possible new projects!)

15 Minute Challenge:  

9/15 - 9/21              6 of 7 days

2019 Total         247 of 264 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 38, 2019

I didn't make any Stairsteps blocks last month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Our color of the month for August was light/bright blues, and I had already used all different shades of blue for my blocks in June. When it came time to make a set of blocks in purples for September, it took me awhile to work up some enthusiasm for the job. However, once I got going on the purple blocks, it all went smoothly and I am very happy with the results.

This project has now reached the point where I just want to keep going and make the rest of the blocks needed. There are 8 colors done, and I still need to add brown and grey/black blocks. Then it will be assembly time! There's a 50/50 chance I will make the rest of the blocks yet this month and get this beauty put together in October.

I've had some questions throughout the year about a pattern for these blocks. I don't have an official pattern to share, but I did post a set of cutting instructions in an earlier post HERE. I also found a link to a similar pattern called Vortex from Wilmington Prints that is available for free at the Fat Quarter Shop. Here are several different color combinations and an interesting layout for inspiration.

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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 30, 2019

It is the last pink Saturday of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I managed to keep up with all of my RSC projects except one--not bad for a busy month with lots of travel. Here are all of my pink blocks.

Framed Crumb Star, 12" finished size

12 Stairsteps blocks, each finishes at 6"

8 Orange Peels, 3" finished size
I still have 8 more of these to make in pinks

6 Tiny Tuesday blocks, 4.5" each

the adorable piglet block
designed by Sally Trude

Here is the entire collection together.

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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 28, 2019

I managed to find a little time this week to pull out my pink scraps and work up a batch of Stairsteps blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. These blocks have been coming together more quickly because I have all of the white and black/grey fabrics cut in advance and just need to add my color of the month.

Another set of 12 blocks completed! I'm very anxious to start putting the different colors together, but we still have a few more months left to add. We must still have three colors to go--I am expecting purple, light blue, and probably brown/black

While I had a week off recently, I spent a couple days obsessed by a new project, a Rainbow Gradation Disappearing 9Patch. This was inspired by a D9P QAL hosted by Julie Cefalu at The Crafty Quilter. It isn't scrappy, but I know that the Rainbow Scrap Challenge crowd will enjoy the rainbow. You can read more about this top and see in-process photos in yesterday's post HERE.

Rainbow Gradation Disappearing 9Patch
39.5" x 48"

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

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 25, 2019

My destashing efforts this week ended up with decent progress, 3/4 yard used for the week. I made 12 blue Stairsteps blocks for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge project, plus 4 additional red blocks to finish out that color. I've had so much fun playing with different layouts for these blocks, similar to the variations for log cabin blocks. Here are a few possibilities, all using the same 16 blocks.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                            .75 yards

Used year to date:                     22.25 yards
Added last week:                          0.0 yards

Added year to date:                   27.75 yards
Net stashed year to date:          5.5 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. For the first time in many weeks, I didn't end up with a 7-for-7 week, having missed one day midway through. I don't even remember why I didn't do any quilting that day. My totals are still looking great--a 92.4% success rate!

15 Minute Challenge:  

6/16 - 6/22                6 of 7 days

2019 Total         160 of 173 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 25, 2019

There has been great forward progress on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects over the last week. I started by making one dark blue Framed Crumb Star block.

 Here are all of my crumb stars in their different colors.

After that I made my blue Stairsteps blocks. I couldn't resist putting them up on the wall with the star block. If these blocks were all stitched together, this would measure 24". I'm trying to decide if that is a useful size for me, because I do love how they look together.

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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 22, 2019

The beginning of a new month also means the beginning of a new color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. We spent May playing with our orange scraps, and for June we are moving on to deep blues and navy. For now, I can share my collection of orange blocks from May until I dig out some blue scraps and get started on some new blocks.

I made four Tiny Tuesday blocks (4.5" finished size) and have one butterfly block still to finish.

The rest of my orange blocks make a lovely medallion layout together on the design wall. There is a Framed Crumb Star block at the center, surrounded by 12 Stairsteps blocks, and Orange Peels along both ends. So much orange goodness!

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

Scrappy Rainbow Saturday--Week 21, 2019

We are nearing the end of our month of orange scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Last week I spent lots of time cutting more black, grey and white prints for my Stairsteps blocks. I'm hoping that I now have enough pieces cut for all the blocks I will make, but won't be sure until much later in the year.

 I also made my twelve orange blocks for the month. Bright and cheery!

The layout plan for combining all the colors keeps changing. Here is my current favorite idea with four colors; it would probably require 9 or 10 different colors.

Once I make four more red blocks, I will be halfway done making blocks for this quilt. I can't wait to see what color we get to work with in June!

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

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 17, 2019

Tap, tap, tap--can you hear that? That's the sound of me with a tiny little mining hammer chipping away at the mountains of fabric in my sewing room. Just when I think I am making progress, something (more fabric) comes along to fill the space that was just cleared away. Don't get me wrong, I love having a sizable fabric stash. It's just a horrible mess right now, which makes it very hard to be productive. Time for a serious clean-up session!

There was a little progress on stash reduction over the past weeks. It's time to count the fabric used for more Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects. One yard was used for 5 crumb blocks, 4 Tiny Tuesday sampler blocks, and 12 Stairsteps blocks, all made from my aqua/teal/turquoise scraps. I'm loving the Stairsteps right now!

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                           1.0 yards

Used year to date:                    12.75 yards
Added last week:                          0.0 yards

Added year to date:                    26.0 yards
Net stashed year to date:      13.25 yards

I'm back in the groove on getting in some quilting time every day. Whether I'm hand stitching on the train to work in the morning, cutting and marking pieces during lunch, or stitching at my machine in the evening, it all helps keep me sane and happy. Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge keeps me motivated to really make the effort to squeeze in a little stitching time every single day.

15 Minute Challenge:  

4/21 - 4/27             7 of 7 days

2019 Total        105 of 117 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 17, 2019

It's nearly the end of the month of using our aqua/teal/turquoise scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I've got plenty of blocks to share because those are some of my favorite colors for quilting. Up first are the Tiny Tuesday sampler blocks, which finish at 4.5". It is so much fun waiting to see what the weekly pattern will be, then choosing fabrics and making each block.

Next are some crumb blocks that combine many old favorite fabrics. 6" finished blocks.

My favorites this month are probably the Stair Steps blocks. I've shown different layout options in previous months, and this is a new possibility.

All of the aqua/teal/turquoise blocks on the wall together make quite a lovely display! The Orange Peel blocks on the left and the Framed Crumb Star at upper right were featured in previous RSC posts. There is also a stray block at the upper left of the Stair Steps that was made from leftover units from a previous quilt project.

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

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 15, 2019

My stash reduction efforts kept heading in the right direction this week with 3/4 yard used on two sets of blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I made 12 Stair Steps blocks in greens, our color from March. This is a new layout idea that I am considering for these blocks.

I have a set of six crumb blocks in reds that I made in January. They were meant to finish at 4", but all the other crumb blocks have finished at 6". I decided to add on to the red blocks and bring them up to the same size.

4" crumb blocks...

turned into 6" crumb blocks

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                           .75 yards

Used year to date:                    11.25 yards
Added last week:                          0.0 yards

Added year to date:                    26.0 yards
Net stashed year to date:      14.75 yards

My numbers for Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge have been steadily going up over the past month. Once again, I was able to spend at least 15 minutes quilting every single day that week. I'm in the zone and enjoying the process!

15 Minute Challenge:  

4/7 - 4/13          7 of 7 days

2019 Total        91 of 103 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 15, 2019

Time keeps flying by, and I have been scrambling to finish the last of my green blocks from March for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The only green blocks that weren't done by the end of the month were the Stair Steps blocks, and I completed them yesterday. Now I can get started on making more of these in aqua, teal and turquoise for April. 

My blocks will finish at 6", and I am making 8 - 12 blocks each month. My goal is to make some of the blocks to transition from one color to the next. You might be able to see that the blocks in the bottom row are tending more towards yellowish greens. 

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