Stitching and DeStashing--Week 24, 2019

I have been working away on a few different scrappy quilt projects this week, moving them all forward and using up some stash fabrics in the process. I have mostly been making crumb blocks and string blocks, which make a terrible mess of the sewing room but use up plenty of scraps. If only I'd made one more blue crumb block to fill that empty spot!

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          1.50 yards

Used year to date:                     21.50 yards
Added last week:                          0.0 yards

Added year to date:                   27.75 yards
Net stashed year to date:        6.25 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 quilting time. I'm back to splitting my time between several different projects, which adds up to quilting time every single day!

15 Minute Challenge:  

6/9 - 6/15                7 of 7 days

2019 Total         154 of 166 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 24, 2019

The color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge is blue, especially the darker blues. I've had blue scraps scattered all over my machine cabinet, a little side table, and my cutting table. The mess was making me a little crazy, but I did manage to produce a bit of order from the chaos, making 4 blue string blocks and 7 blue crumb blocks. These will all finish at 6".

There are still plenty of blue bits and pieces hanging around, but it felt great to use up so many of them in these blocks!

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 13, 2019

It's hard to believe that March is nearly over! I've been stitching away with green scraps on my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects, and here is a selection of what has gotten done this month.

On the left are three 6" (finished size) string blocks, top center is the 12" Framed Crumb Star, and below that are twelve 3" Orange Peel blocks (Lime Peels?). On the right end are my Tiny Tuesday sampler blocks--an owl, a wonky log cabin, and four Multiply blocks.

The Tiny Tuesday owl block may be one of the cutest blocks ever! Sally's pattern was rather intimidating when I first read through it, but after following her step-by-step instructions, it was no problem to put together, and I love the way it turned out.

Here is a closer, rather crooked, look at my Orange Peel blocks. I can see that I need to be careful to keep my colors light and bright so they show up well against the black and grey background fabrics.

One set of blocks didn't make it into the group photo. Here are my green crumb blocks, which finish at 6". Unfortunately after I made them and went to put them away with the other crumb blocks, I discovered that my red blocks only measure 4" finished. I'm not sure how or if the two sets will be used together. 

It has been great fun playing with my green scraps all month. The only blocks that haven't been done yet are the Stair Steps blocks. Maybe I can get those done before we get to April (but probably not!)

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 5, 2019

Just as suspected last week, I have started far too many new projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over the past month. There's no way I can keep up with all of these. Let me show you what I'm talking about (regular RSC readers will have seen some of the following photos already.) All measurements listed are finished block sizes.

#1 & #2. String blocks (6") and crumb blocks (4")

#3. Rolling 9-Patch (5")

#4. 30's Pinwheels (4")

#5. Framed Crumb Star (12")

#6. Orange Peel (3")

#7. Stair Steps (6")

#8. Tiny Tuesday/RSC Sampler 2019 (4.5")

Here is a shot of most of these blocks together on the design wall. The missing blocks are the 30's Pinwheels and the Rolling 9-Patches, which I have already decided not to continue with as 2019 RSC projects.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks, January, 2019

Oh no! EIGHT PROJECTS?! How in the world did that happen? Here I thought I wasn't doing much quilting in January. Just shows how wrong you can be. I certainly won't be able to keep up with all of these for the rest of the year. The current plan is to keep going on the following:

1. Orange Peels

2. Tiny Tuesday sampler 

3. Stair Steps

4. Framed Crumb Star

5. Crumb blocks (tentative) 

Doing the Orange Peels provides my needed applique project for the train ride to work. I enjoy following along on the RSC sampler projects, and I can't wait to play with different layouts of those Stair Steps blocks. The Framed Crumb Star means I need to make at least one crumb block each month. Who knows how many more might happen. There, I guess I've settled on my RSC plan for 2019!

Don't worry about the projects that didn't make the cut; they will be delayed until another time. The red 30's Pinwheels will join the other finished pinwheel blocks in my box of 30's projects, and there may be other colors joining them occasionally but not every month. The Rolling 9Patch blocks may become a little wall-hanging or table topper, perhaps with some more red blocks added because I have extra 9-patches already made. The string blocks will join some others from the past and wait for the right time to be used.

It's time for me to make this week's Tiny Tuesday block, then start pulling out the yellow scraps for February. What are you making with your scraps?

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 De-Stashing: Week 2, 2019

It's a chilly, grey day in Georgia, perfect for staying inside and quilting. There are many chores to take care of today (laundry, cooking, cleaning), but I am determined to spend some serious time in the sewing room too!

Kate's 15 Minutes to Stitch challenge at Life in Pieces has us keep track of how many days each week we are able to spend at least 15 minutes quilting. Last week saw quilting time on 6 of the 7 days, almost all of it hand applique. Getting a project organized enough for machine work is more than I can handle right now, but it feels good to get in some hand stitching most days.

15 Minute Challenge:  
1/6 - 1/12            6 of 7 days
2019 Total        11 of 12 days

The stash report didn't see much of a change for the week. I used 1/2 yard for some green string blocks (easy, mindless piecing) plus the first batch of blocks for a new Rainbow Scrap Challenge project. I will share those next weekend. No new fabric was added.

2019 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                          .50 yards

Used year to date:                     1.25 yards
Added last week:                         0.0 yards

Added year to date:                     0.0 yards
Net used year to date:           1.25 yards

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

Getting Back to the Rainbow

It has been several weeks since I had anything to share for the weekly Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Looking back through past blog posts, I see that my first year of participating in the RSC was 2013, when I made my Dancing Stars quilt. The Dancing Stars quilt pattern was designed by Amy Ellis of Amy's Creative Side, and it is still available for free from her Craftsy store (although I know they are making many changes at Craftsy/Bluprint, so you might want to grab it while you can!)

Dancing Stars
60" x 77"

2013 was also when I started English paper piecing a rainbow hexagon quilt that is still in the works. Some quilts just can't be rushed, am I right?

My RSC projects for 2019 are still uncertain. I am planning to follow along on the RSC sampler blocks that Angela and others will be sharing. I've started a new hand applique project, but I haven't figured out what my main RSC piecing project will be. Too many wonderful options, and not enough brain power to make a decision lately.

My first few red blocks for 2019 are two 6.5" string blocks, one 5" string block, and two 4.5" crumb blocks. Those may later be used as the centers of some scrappy stars--time will tell.

Many thanks to Angela for continuing to host the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. This is my favorite linky party of any out there. I am constantly amazed by the creative scrappy genius of the participants, and I can't wait to see what each of them is planning for the new year!

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