Scrappy Saturday 11/30/13

I have been making Dancing Stars blocks all year as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I just checked Angela's blog post for this week and discovered that there will not be a new color assigned for December. It is our chance to catch up on any colors that fell behind or to start putting our blocks together. That is just the news I was hoping for--I don't think I could wait much longer to join these blocks into a quilt! Here are all the colors together, sparkling against the black background.

At last count, I had a total of 135 star blocks made for this quilt, averaging about a dozen of each color. The pattern calls for 98 blocks to make a throw quilt, which finishes at 60" x 68". I might opt to add an extra row of blocks in each direction to make it into a larger quilt, or else the extra blocks could become a kid's quilt or wallhanging. For anyone interested, the Dancing Stars pattern is a free download from Amy's Creative Side.

My carryover project will be to finish up my brown hexie star and snowflakes. One snowflake is finished, and all the hexies for the star have been sewn into rows that need to be joined together.

I am linking up to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--check it out every Saturday to see many great projects and ideas. 

Julie in GA

Hexie Friday 11/29/13

I thought I would get lots of hand stitching done on my hexie project this weekend, but it hasn't happened so far. My hexie star still looks the same as it did a couple days ago. There is still lots of weekend left, and I have no interest in joining the craziness of Black Friday shopping, so maybe I will make some progress today. Linking up to Hexie Friday at A Quilting Reader's Garden.

Julie in GA

WIP Wednesday--Bonus Day Off! 11/27/13

Today was originally scheduled to be a work day, but my wonderful boss announced yesterday afternoon that she was giving us an extra day off for the Thanksgiving weekend. What a wonderful treat!

We were surprised to discover a sprinkling of snow on the back deck and around the yard when we got up this morning. I realize it is nothing compared to many areas of the country. Such things aren't unusual where I grew up in Wisconsin, but snow is big news in the Atlanta area, especially before Thanksgiving. I hope the thousands of travelers at the nearby Atlanta airport all make it to their Thanksgiving destinations safely.

I hope to have plenty of quilting time throughout the weekend. I have been sewing together my brown hexies into a star for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. So far I have two rows made and several to go, then the rows get joined together.

I am linking up to WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced. There is so much to see there! Last time I checked, there were over 100 blogs linked up.

Happy Thanksgiving to friends and family everywhere!

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 11/26/13

I have continued to juggle multiple projects most days. There were a few days where I stitched hexies on the morning train, cut pieces for border-stripe placemats during lunch, then pieced blocks for the Scrappy Sampler quilt in the evening. Altogether, another 7 for 7 week. I hope to have lots of extra time for quilting over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

11/19 - 11/25
Tuesday--Scrappy Sampler, Scrap Hexies, placemats
Wednesday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler, placemats
Thursday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler, placemats
Friday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler
Saturday--Scrap Hexies, Scrappy Sampler
Sunday--Scrappy Sampler
Monday--placemats


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. 


Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 11/25/13

Over the weekend I finished making the last of the 10" blocks for my Scrappy Sampler quilt, and then I started joining those blocks together. I got three sides done; one more to go, then they can get sewn to the center of the quilt. By the end of Thanksgiving weekend, I hope to have a finished quilt top, and I can hardly wait!

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for great ideas and inspiration.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 11/24/13

Once again, no fabric added and a little bit used this week. I used 1.5 yards making blocks and bowties for my Scrappy Sampler quilt. It's a good thing that I like making bowtie blocks because I still need to make another 40 or so of them for the borders, then I can assemble this quilt top!

Here is the latest batch of bowtie blocks, plus a pile of squares for making more. These blocks measure 4" finished. I need to get some more background squares cut for the remaining blocks.

Used this week:          1.5  yards
Used year to date:     77.75 yards

Added this week:          0   yards  

Added year to date:  73.5 yards

Net year to date:         4.25 yards used


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA

Chocolate Scrappiness 11/23/13

My brown Dancing Stars blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge were finished up last weekend. I hope to have a chance over the long Thanksgiving weekend to put some of them up on the design wall along with the colors from previous months. I can't wait to start joining them all together! 

I have also been joining together my brown hexies. The first "snowflake" is nearly complete, and next I will get going on making the big star.

I am linking up to the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--check it out every Saturday to see many great projects and ideas. I am also linking up to Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts to share hand stitched projects. I'm a day late for Hexie Friday at A Quilting Reader's Garden, but I will link up there too.

Julie in GA

15 Minute Challenge 11/19/13

It was another week with little chunks of time for quilting most days, but a good long stretch on Sunday afternoon. I finished my Dancing Stars blocks for the month, ending up with 12 in browns. December will be the last month to make blocks for that project, then they get joined together!

11/12 - 11/18
Tuesday--Dancing Stars, Scrap Hexies
Wednesday--Dancing Stars
Thursday--Dancing Stars, Scrap Hexies
Friday--Scrap Hexies, Dancing Stars
Saturday--Dancing Stars
Sunday--Scrappy Sampler
Monday--Scrap Hexies


Check out the 15 Minute Challenge posts at Life in Pieces to see how others are finding time for their creative pursuits. 


Julie in GA

Design Wall Monday 11/18/13

Once again, my very large Scrappy Sampler is up on the wall. I spent most of yesterday afternoon pulling fabrics for the last batch of blocks and auditioning them on the wall. Only seven more 10" blocks to make, plus about 60 or 70 bowties for the borders.

I am linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times. Check it out for great ideas and inspiration.

Julie in GA

Stash Report Sunday 11/17/13

There was no fabric added to my stash this week, thank goodness! It is time to get the numbers moving back in the other direction again. I used 1-1/8 yard to make 12 Dancing Stars blocks in browns for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Used this week:          1.125  yards
Used year to date:     76.25 yards

Added this week:          0   yards  

Added year to date:  73.5 yards

Net year to date:         2.75 yards used


Check out more stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Julie in GA