Design Wall Monday 12/6/2021

The weekend turned into a good time for finishing a new project. Yesterday's post included a photo of two fabrics that I bought last week to make a quilted cover for our KitchenAid mixer, and later in the day that cover was finished!

The pattern that I used to make this cover came from Caroline at Sew Can She. Check out her website for lots of fun, free sewing and quilting patterns.

The mixer cover can be made from home decor weight fabric, prequilted fabric, or you can quilt two fabrics together yourself, and that's what I did. I used a Kona solid for the inside and the binding. My quilting was done free motion, just wandering around the different shapes in the fabric print. The seam allowances on the inside were zigzagged together to finish them off.

There were a couple of changes I made to Caroline's pattern. One was to eliminate the pockets on the two ends. I was afraid my machine wouldn't want to stitch through all those layers. Instead I copied the large pocket on the front and did a second one on the back. I also made the whole cover smaller to better fit our mixer.

Thanks to Caroline for this great pattern! I'm thinking about adapting it for other appliances like our food processor.

Check out what other quilters are working on this week:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Stitching and Stashing--Week 49, 2021

It has been a busy week here with multiple appointments, and we even went out to a concert one night (our first time since Covid.) All of that cut into my time in the sewing room. However, I still ended the week with one Christmas finish (see it HERE) and good progress on a couple of other projects. 

My stash report includes both usage and additions. The usage was 1.125 yards for the back and binding of the little Christmas quilt. The additions were these two fabrics that I found at JoAnn when I stopped in while doing some Christmas shopping.

Not long ago, we moved our KitchenAid mixer out of a kitchen cabinet and onto an open shelf. I've been wanting to make a cover to keep it cleaner, and this is the perfect fabric! The tan fabric on the right will be the lining and the binding. 

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                           1.125 yards

Used year to date:                    173.125 yards

Added last week:                            2.75 yards

Added year to date:                     136.25 yards

Net used year to date              36.875 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. Because of our busier schedule last week, I ended up with stitching time on 6 out of 7 days for the week. It's only the third time all year that I have missed a day! 

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

11/28 - 12/4              6 of 7 days

2021 Total          335 of 338 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

One Monthly Goal (OMG) for December, 2021

There are plenty of quilting goals I would like to accomplish before the end of the year. One is to get the blocks for most of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge projects joined into tops. That way I can start new RSC quilts in January with a clear conscience.

I ended up working on eight (!) different projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year, which was definitely more than I had planned. A couple of them had been started in the fall of 2020. Three of the eight need more blocks and will carry over into 2022. The tops have been completed for two quilts, the Scrap Magnet quilt and the Sew Colorful Stars. That leaves three sets of blocks waiting to be stitched up into quilt tops.

I've been working on joining together the 5" pastel Bowtie blocks, and I shared my progress on those in last week's post. At this point, the 180 Bowties have all been turned into 20 big blocks, each made up of 9 Bowtie blocks. The last step is to get those big blocks stitched together. That seems quite manageable, once I get myself to sit down and do it!

The other set of blocks I would most like to put together are for the Homespun quilt. Once the Bowtie blocks are off the main design wall, I can decide on the layout for these blocks, then start stitching them together. Here is the plan for the center of my quilt.

Homespun design by Modernly Morgan

I love the way these blocks turned out and am very eager to get this quilt top finished! In fact, that is going to be my One Monthly Goal for the link-up at Elm Street Quilts.

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. You can see what other quilters are hoping to get done this month at the One Monthly Goal link-up at Elm Street Quilts.

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

A New Finished Christmas Quilt!

We've been getting all of our Christmas decorations up earlier than usual this year, and my main contribution was to switch out several quilts on the walls. While I was pulling all the Christmas quilts out of the closet, I ran across this small quilt top that was already layered and pinned for quilting. It seemed like a good time to go ahead and quilt it up. We now have one additional little quilt to put up for the holidays!

According to my old note cards, this quilt was started in 2001. As I remember it, there were several of us in a quilt guild that I belonged to at the time who all made this design together. That pattern is an old Thimbleberries design.

I made all the pieced blocks and added the applique in 2001. I believe the pattern called for wool applique, but I didn't have any and used solid flannels instead. All of the applique pieces have hand blanket stitching around the edges. Here's a closer look at the applique (and also a better view of some of the quilting.)

My little quilt finished at about 28.5" square after washing. We have the perfect spot to hang it in the living room and plan to put it up later today!

Linking up with:

Needle & 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

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

Favorite Finish at Meadow Mist Designs

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 48, 2021

It's time for my weekly stash report, but there haven't been any changes to the stash, either used or added. Some of my quilting time this week was spent joining bowtie blocks together (see the start in yesterday's post,) but I've already counted the yardage for those blocks. I also pulled out a very old mini quilt top that has been hanging around for many years and decided to finish it. The quilting on it is done, and I'm hoping to finish the binding later today. It will be a good addition to the Christmas decor, and we have figured out the perfect spot to hang it.

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                              0.0 yards

Used year to date:                      172.0 yards

Added last week:                            0.0 yards

Added year to date:                     133.5 yards

Net used year to date                38.5 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 stitching time. I definitely spent more than 15 minutes quilting every day, and I am very close to having the miniature quilt finished!

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

11/21 - 11/27            7 of 7 days

2021 Total          329 of 331 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 48, 2021

In between cooking sessions this week, I managed to get some time to work on the layout for my pastel bowtie blocks, one of my 2021 projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Here are some of the blocks up on the design wall.

I didn't get any photos of the complete layout of blocks before I started stitching them together. The bowtie blocks are being joined into bigger blocks of nine bowties, then the big blocks will get stitched together.

I'm hoping to have a finished quilt top soon!

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 11/23/2021

Welcome to Tuesday Wednesday and a new weekly to-do list. I started writing my post yesterday, but somehow the day got away from me and the post never got finished! Today we will review how I did with last week's to-do list. then come up with a new set of goals for the week ahead. The Tuesday To-Do List link-up is hosted by Linda at Texas Quilt Gal.

It was a mostly successful week for the last to-do list, with four out of five goals completed.

To-Do List for 11/16 - 11/22

1. Dresden Ties pillows--finish both pillows   ✔done

Both of the pillows are finished, but I'm not ready to share photos yet.

2. Redwork embroidery--finish                   not done

3. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block per day   ✔done

I made 16 more bowtie blocks for the pastel bowties quilt. You can see them HERE.

4. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week   ✔done

5. Sew Colorful Stars--take photos, write blog post   ✔done

See the photos and read about this quilt in this post.

The list for the coming week is really meant as suggestions more than firm goals (except for the first one.) My main focus will be Thanksgiving, then starting to get ready for Christmas.

To-Do List for 11/23 - 11/29

1. Have a happy Thanksgiving!

2. Redwork embroidery--finish

3. Santa tie--make into ornament

This tie was part of the group I recently used for the pillows. The design is too large for the Dresden wedges, so I am planning to back it and frame it as an ornament or small wallhanging. The section shown in the photo measures about 4" wide x 8.5" high.

4. Bowties 365--make one bowtie block per day

5. Hearts Applique--make at least one block per week

6. Pastel Bowties--start joining blocks together

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who celebrates the holiday. We are looking forward to smoked turkey breast and all the side dishes. May you have a safe, fun and delicious day!

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  

Design Wall Monday 11/22/2021

It's prime mystery season in quilt land, with Bonnie Hunter's annual mystery getting started on Friday. The mystery this year is called Rhododendron Trail, and Bonnie's color choices reflect the name--lots of pink, plus burgundy and yellow, with an accent of aqua.

I haven't decided yet about joining in with Bonnie's mystery this year. The colors aren't really speaking to me (especially the fact that it calls for over 6 yards of light/neutral for the background.) My default move if I'm having a hard time settling on a color palette is to figure out if there's a way to use red, white & blue and turn it into a Quilt of Valor. I'll try to pull out some options between cooking sessions this week, and that will help me decide whether to move forward.

Another mystery that I've been wanting to do this year is the Macaron Mystery over at Meadow Mist Designs. I've done a couple of Cheryl's mysteries before, and they are always well written and easy to follow. I also like the fact that the clues come out once a month, a much more manageable pace than Bonnie's weekly instructions. This mystery officially started in July with the fabric requirements, followed by cutting in August. The first stitching happened in September, so I am a few months behind, but I don't think it would be too hard to catch up. Here are some fabrics I have been considering.

These are all old Christmas fabrics that I've had around for quite awhile. I would need to add one more red or green print, and I don't think I have enough of either of the beige poinsettia prints on the left. I might need to shop for something to replace that, but I'm liking this grouping together. This might be my next new project!

Check out what other quilters are working on this week:

Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Monday Making at Love Laugh Quilt

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA 

Stitching and DeStashing--Week 47, 2021

It was another busy week, with plenty of fabric being used in the sewing room. My Sew Colorful Stars quilt top, which you can see HERE, was actually finished last week, but I didn't figure out the final numbers until now--2.25 yards used for the sashing and border. I also used 2 yards on the Dresden Ties pillows that I've been making as a Christmas gift (no photos of those yet) and 1/2 yard for more pink and yellow bowtie blocks.

There were some additions to the stash, 3 yards total, after a stop at a local fabric outlet. Here are the new additions:

One other piece was purchased that day, but it has already been used. This great Santa print was made into six new napkins for the holiday season. I don't know if I've ever had a piece of fabric make the stash report as both added and used in the same week before!

2021 STASH TOTALS

Used last week:                            6.25 yards

Used year to date:                      172.0 yards

Added last week:                            3.0 yards

Added year to date:                     133.5 yards

Net used year to date                38.5 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 stitching time. I had a productive week and definitely spent more than 15 minutes quilting every day. Now it's time for a little cleaning up in the sewing room!

15 Minute Challenge for 2021: 

11/14 - 11/20            7 of 7 days

2021 Total          322 of 324 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

Sew Colorful Stars--Quilt Top Finished!

It feels so good to have my Sew Colorful Stars quilt top finished! This quilt was started in January and has been one of my 2021 projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Sew Colorful Stars, pattern by Fat Quarter Shop

60" x 78"

I made one block each month as part of the RSC, plus a couple of extras when we had a month for dark neutrals. The blocks for this quilt were challenging to make with all those triangles, especially getting the seam allowances to nest together and lay flat. My photos show me some spots that really need some more pressing. 

As you can see in the closer photos, my background fabric does have some color in it, although it looks solid white at a distance. The background is Pin Drop by Christopher Thompson for Riley Blake, and it is still available at Fat Quarter Shop (and probably at other stores too.) 

The original pattern for this did not include the smaller stars with the sashing, but I wanted to add a little something to break up all that white background. That proved to be the most difficult part of the whole project, as I considered several options before coming up with the little pinwheel stars. I'm very happy with the way they echo the design of the large stars and tie it all together. I used more pastel versions of my rainbow of colors for the small stars in order to keep the focus on the big stars.

This is my second rainbow quilt top assembled from the blocks I've been making all year. It's time for me to decide which one to put together next! This was also my One Monthly Goal for November, and I will be linking up there at the end of the month.

Linking up with:

Needle & 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

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at soscrappy

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework

One Monthly Goal at Elm Creek Quilts

Happy quilting everyone!

Julie in GA