Red White and Blue Finish

It is no secret I love to make string quilts.  In fact, no sooner than I start one, it seems I am ready to share it as a finished quilt.

Late in January, I shared these long rectangular string blocks I was starting to make. I started out with the color red and then added in some low volumes.

Since then some blue was added and before I knew it, a quilt was finished!

(I thought I would take advantage of our bright sunshine but it sure made it difficult to photograph this quilt.)

In the white area, I added in some blue improv stars.  The fabric for each star came out of the trash heap.  The blocks are 5" so they required just small bits.

On the back, I used one of my recently acquired fabrics from Connecting Threads.  It is a Navy and White Sketch fabric that I am in love with.  I pretty much used all I had on this quilt so I will definitely be buying more.  In fact, it comes in other colors so I might have to pick up a few.

I used a pantograph for the quilting.  It is a star and ribbon pattern that I ran vertically on the quilt.

When I make string quilts, I do use a fabric foundation.  In fact, I recently cleaned out my clothes closet and quite a few of my old cotton shirts were used in this quilt.

This will not be the last time I play with narrow string blocks.  After the completion of this design, my mind filled with lots of other patterns and color combinations that would be fun.

I could make string quilts for years and never get bored!

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My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

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Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

So Scrappy for RSC19 

Humble Quilts

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Scrappy Gray

I decided to start something new!

A few months back, I was going to make a quilt using green/brown staggered 16 patch block.  Well, the design changed and the idea was scrapped.

A few of you requested that I didn't give up on the idea...

So I am ready to give it another chance.

My gray color bin was stuffed to the gills, so I pulled out my AccuQuilt 2.5" multiple square die and started stacking on the scraps.

In no time at all, I had just under 500 squares ready for assembly.  I think I will need closer to 600 squares for the quilt but I will start here to see what shades I need for the last few blocks.

Sorry my squares are so shaggy - I didn't take the time to clean them up a bit for the photo.

I also really need to break out another plastic cover...as you can see, I use this die A LOT!  Cuts would be a lot more crisper with a less worn plastic.

For those of you who already use this cutter, I have added lines on my dies with a white gel pen along the sides showing me the locations of the blades.  This really helps as you stack up fabric.

Now that I have lots of squares cut, I can start sewing them into the 16 patches.  I will be laying out the squares next to my sewing machine - making sure I have lights and darks, solids and prints.

Time to start sewing!

For those of you who are curious about my fabric cutter, I have the AccuQuilt Studio 2.  I love that it cuts up to 10 layers at a time.  Since I bought it, the pain in my hands has lessened greatly.  I find I mostly use the standard dies and rarely find the need for anything fancy.

It sure makes cutting up scraps quick and easy!

I was happy to see when I went out to the AccuQuilt website that they are currently running a sale on the very machine I have. If you use the code STUDIOBOGO, you can buy a Studio die and get a second one of equal or lesser value free.

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Oh Scrap! : Corn

Most of this week was spent working on other people's quilt.  So I didn't get a lot of sewing done.

I did get a yellow corn block completed for my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Garden quilt.

It will finish at 8 x 10"

I am still trying to decide what other yellow blocks I need for my quilt.  Even though the pineapple blocks are cute, that is not a fruit you see in my garden.  But you do see bees and sunflowers, so I think I will maybe add those.

I think the quilt is going to be a lot of fun!

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It is now your turn to share what you are making with scraps.  Here are the details for linking up: 

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow Me on Bloglovin'          Follow me thru Email          Follow me on Feedly

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)

Cooking Up Quilts (Main Crush Mondays)

Em's ScrapBag (Moving it Forward)

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)

So Scrappy for RSC19 

A Scrappy Kaffe Finish

And the finishes keep coming!

I needed my design wall cleared for another quilt, so I finished up my Kaffe Scrap quilt.

I tried to get some indoor photos but I don't have a space big enough in my house to get the whole quilt in one photo.  So here is the top half...

And here is the bottom half.

I ended up using a faded chambray fabric I had picked up at Connecting Threads on sale.  It was an extra wide backing so I didn't need to piece the long strips.

I quilted vertical squiggly lines and swirls. Fast and Simple - especially on a longarm.

I used up some older stash pieces on the back.  The purple and brown floral is across the center with the giant swirls at the top and bottom of the quilt.

That big floral has been cherished for a long time but it was just too perfect for this quilt.  

And...I am determined to use the fabric I have!

 One of my friends showed up so I was able to snap a quick outdoor photo.

It is really rainy and blustery today so we had to be quick!

This design is one of my Scrap-A-Palooza designs and I have to say, it is one of my favorites.

It sure looks pretty made from these Kaffe Fassett scraps.

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Linking Up:

My Quilt Infatuation (Needle & Thread)

Confessions of a Fabric Addict (Can I get a Whoop! Whoop!)

From Bolt to Beauty (Brag about your Beauties)

Busy Hands Quilts (Finished or not Friday)

***This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may make a small commission, which I appreciate so much!***

Constant Temptation

I love being a longarm quilter.

Every day I am working with beautiful fabrics and lovely designs.  And I get to be a part of hundreds of quilts every year.

But there is one challenging thing about being around that many quilts - the constant temptations!

I recently worked on a client quilt and fell hard for a fabric.  It is the circle fabric in the upper part of this HST.  I can't say why I love this fabric but I had to find some for myself.

Funny story - that same day, I received the Connecting Thread catalog in the mail and realized this quilt is made from one of their kits.  Boy did that save me a bunch of search time!

It is the Wayfarer Quilt if you are curious.

I had some fun quilting this one - rather than quilt to the block, I used the piecing of the block to use as markings and created a kind of propeller design.

 In the framed square, I spiraled in a square.

 Here is how it looks from the back!

Pretty fun huh?!

And the fabric that started this whole story is happily waiting in my cart for me to put together an order.  Connecting Threads still has a lot of good fabrics in their clearance section, plus, all of their reds are on sale until Valentine's day!

Oh - Decisions!

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Oh Scrap! : Yellow

A new month means a new Rainbow Scrap Challenge color.

February is the color Yellow!

First up, I made two quarter log cabin blocks.  I decided to use mostly golds as they looked best with the more muted blocks I have finished to date.

And I also sewed up two of my zigzag blocks - one in golds and one in bright yellow.

I need only six more blocks to have enough for this donation quilt.  I have identified which colors I still need so its completion just depends on the when the appropriate colors are called. (Or I may just sew them up just so I can start something new!)

I still have my garden quilt blocks to finish this month but I just didn't find time tis week to work on them.  Hopefully by next Sunday they will be finished.

*********************************************

It is now your turn to share what you are making with scraps.  Here are the details for linking up: 

• This linky party is for any scrappy project - It can be in-process or a finished piece.
• You can link up your blog post (not your homepage please) or Instagram photo from the past week that features your use of scraps.
• If you are linking to a blog post, I ask that you link back to my blog somewhere in your post. So if you are writing about scraps, just get into the habit of including a link as there will be a linky party available every week!
• If you are using Instagram, please use the hashtag #ohscrap.
• This is a party so remember to socialize and comment on the posts of others.
• Following my blog is not necessary but it sure would be great if you do! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Follow Me on Bloglovin'          Follow me thru Email          Follow me on Feedly

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)

Cooking Up Quilts (Main Crush Mondays)

Em's ScrapBag (Moving it Forward)

Freemotion by the River (Linky Tuesday)

So Scrappy for RSC19