Design Wall Monday 1/12/15

My design wall has had one of my Rainbow LeMoyne quilt tops hanging up, while I kept hoping that I would come up with a great idea for a border. Unfortunately, inspiration did not strike and I got tired of looking at it, so it has come down for the time being.

I have started making blocks for a new project. I am working on the pattern "True Colors" by Nancy Mahoney from her book Simple Circles and Quick Curves. I began with blue, the color for January at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! I am also linking up with Scraptastic Tuesday at Mrs Sew and Sow.

Julie in GA

Scraphappy Saturday in Blue 1/10/15

I don't have a whole lot to show for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge today because most of my week was spent cutting and prepping fabrics for a couple of quilts.

I cut black and white print squares to use for the backgrounds on my version of "True Colors". You can see the original quilt in my post from last week. I see from the photo that I need to cut lots more dark squares. 

I also appliqued a few blue circles to those background blocks. I can get most of one circle stitched on my ride to work if I have it pinned to the background and ready to sew.

Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I'm sure we will have another amazing, colorful year!

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 1/4/15

It's time for the first Stash Report of 2015, back to having a clean slate. Maybe this year I can reach my goal of using more fabric than I add to my stash (but don't count on it!)

At least I made it through the first week by using some fabric and not buying any. I finished the sashing and pieced borders for my second LeMoyne Stars quilt, and I added the sashing to the third set of blocks. I thought I was done with that quilt top, but have decided to add a pieced border to it.

Rainbow LeMoyne #2
45" x 60"

Rainbow LeMoyne #3
46" x 60.5"

Used this week:                           3.125 yards     

Used year to date:                       3.125 yards

Stashed this week:                        0 yards

Stashed year to date:                    0 yards 

Net year to date:                         3.125 yards used

It's not a lot used, but it's a good start to the new year! Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

A New Year for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Hurray for another year of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge! I always look forward to getting up on Saturday and seeing the fabulous projects that everyone has linked up. Thanks to Angela for continuing to host, and also to Vicki Welsh for her sponsorship. 

My main RSC project last year was making LeMoyne Star blocks. Each month I made a batch of 6" stars and one 12" star. On New Years Eve, I managed to complete two more quilt tops from my blocks. I finished the pieced border on one top and decided not to add any more borders to the other. These two tops
join the baby quilt top that I showed last week. 

Rainbow LeMoyne #2
45" x 60"

Rainbow LeMoyne #3
46" x 60.5"

I have continued working on my Scrap Hexies project, which was begun in August, 2013. All of the stars and snowflakes are made, and I am adding background to the large stars. Before long I will be able to start joining the parts together!

I haven't completely decided on my new projects for the RSC this year. One that I am very excited about is a new hand applique project, which will become my handwork while riding the train to work since the hexie stars are getting too big to handle easily. The pattern is called "True Colors" and it is from the book Simple Circles and Quick Curves by Nancy Mahoney. I love the 3-D effect of the light and dark backgrounds.

"True Colors" by Nancy Mahoney

Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I'm sure we will have another amazing, colorful year!

Julie in GA

HAPPY 2015!

I've been seeing lots of quilt blog posts showing off their many finished quilts from 2014 and listing their goals for the year ahead. I am a little behind on reviewing the past year and making plans for 2015, but here goes!

I was feeling like I hadn't accomplished much with my quilting last year, even though I spent lots of time sewing. However, as I review my lists of quilts started and finished, I am happy with my results and have made good progress on several projects. 

My biggest finish of the year was the Scrappy Sampler quilt. This was begun in 2013 as a block-of-the-month project, and I was thrilled to complete it in the fall.

Scrappy Sampler

Most of my other finishes were baby quilts--one for a co-worker, one for friends, and one for our niece and her husband. 

Bowties baby quilt

Musical Stars baby quilt

Surrounded by Love baby quilt

I headed up a group at work to make a signature quilt when our boss retired at the end of July. It turned out great, and she was so surprised!

Signature Quilt

I also completed several quilt tops this year. One is for Quilts of Valor and will be submitted to them for quilting. Four were very simple pieced tops for the charity quilting at my mother's church. The rest are all at different stages of quilting/completion. At least a few of them should get finished this year.

QOV Bowties

One goal that I achieved this year was limiting my number of new projects. Of the dozen projects I started in 2014, all but four were either finished or at least became quilt tops.  Four other UFOs/WIPs were completed, so my number of UFOs should be the same at the end of 2014 as it was at the beginning of the year.

For 2015, I am keeping my goals rather vague instead of saying something like "I will finish 12 quilts this year." I hope to finish off some of those quilt tops that are so close to completion. I would like to make more Quilts of Valor and also some for children's charities. It would be great to finish up at least one of my old UFOs too.  I hope to be able to find time for quilting every day, even if it is only 15 minutes some days. Any time spent quilting is good for my sanity.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and HAPPY QUILTING!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday

It's time for the last Design Wall Monday of 2014! I have been putting together my LeMoyne Star quilts from the blocks I made as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge all year. I got this batch of six-inch blocks joined together and started to add the borders, but then decided that the black print border was too dark. I am now working on a pieced border, but don't have any photos of it yet.

I also joined my twelve-inch stars together with the sashing and cornerstones. I still need to figure out a plan for the border on this quilt. Maybe I will have a photo of that project to show next time.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! 
Happy New Year to all and happy quilting!

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 12/28/14

Here we are at the last Stash Report Sunday for 2014. My fabric goals for the year were to use at least 100 yards this year, and to use at least as much as I added to my stash. I was successful on the first goal, but not the second. I have been buying fabric like crazy lately, and that killed my stash reduction efforts.

I received gift certificates for two local quilt shops as Christmas gifts (my husband knows what I like!) One of the shops was having a sale all weekend, so I used my gift there already. I got a couple of pieces to use for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge next year, plus a piece to make into pj pants for my favorite Santa collector.

The only usage for the week was 1/2 yard for the border on my Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt.

Rainbow LeMoyne #1
40.5" x 48.5"

Used this week:                           .5 yards     

Used year to date:                  124.875 yards

Stashed this week:                      6 yards

Stashed year to date:              150.625 yards 

Net year to date:                 25.75 yards stashed

Maybe I can end up in the black next year! Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2014

The Christmas break has finally given me some time to work on my Rainbow LeMoyne quilts. I have been making LeMoyne Star blocks all year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I ended up with 77 stars that finish at six inches and 12 stars that finish at twelve inches.

I have been trying out a few different sashing options. I started with 20 of the six-inch blocks and ended up with this little top for a baby quilt.

Rainbow LeMoyne #1
40" x 48"

The next group of blocks got a different setting. The final border just needs to be stitched on, although I am having doubts about that black print. Maybe a pieced border of the black and white prints would look better. Any suggestions?

I am still working on putting together the twelve-inch blocks, and there are about 20 of the six-inch stars left over. I have also been trying to decide on my rainbow project for next year. 

It has been a great year for using up a rainbow of scraps (although I still have plenty more to use next year!) I am joining the linky party for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Check out all of the terrific scrappy projects!

Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 12/22/14

Two weeks ago I showed these blocks and the beginning of my sashing on my design wall post. This has been one of my projects for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year. I started out strong on getting them all joined together, but then life intervened and put progress on hold. Yesterday I finally managed to finish joining all the blocks and sashing units together.

All that's left is adding the black and white check as a border. Right now the center of the quilt is pinned up to the design wall on top of the check to make sure I like them together. I should be able to get the borders done later in the week, and maybe even get the quilt pinned for quilting.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times where you can see all sorts of amazing quilting inspiration! 

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 12/21/14

I have fallen terribly far behind on blog posts lately. Between preparing for Christmas, a five-day business trip to New York, and a crazy schedule at work, quilting has been pushed to the back burner. 

My stash report has taken quite a hit recently. I had been doing well at limiting my purchases all year, but for some reason my will power seems to have totally disappeared. I couldn't resist the amazing Black Friday sale prices at Connecting Threads, and I stocked up on some of my favorites. Mostly lots of reds and blues, plus some neutrals, so I foresee some great Quilts of Valor from this group.

I also had a gift certificate from one of my favorite local quilt shops, Intown Quilters in Decatur. The expiration date was the end of the year, so I used it to get some lovely batiks on clearance. No idea what these will become.

My recent trip to New York ended up being mostly work and not much time to play. However, a co-worker and I did find time one afternoon to visit Mood Fabrics of Project Runway fame. I also made it to the City Quilter, one of very few quilt shops in NYC. They have many wonderful New York themed fabrics, but I limited myself to a few black & white prints.

My only fabric used in the last two weeks was 1 yard for the sashing on my Rainbow LeMoyne baby quilt, and that just happened today. I will have four days off for Christmas, and I am counting on spending some serious time at my sewing machine. Unfortunately, I am unlikely to meet my goal of using more fabric than I add for the year.

Used this week:                           1.0 yards     

Used year to date:                  124.375 yards

Stashed this week:                   34.625 yards

Stashed year to date:              144.625 yards 

Net year to date:                 20.25 yards stashed

Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times. 

Julie in GA