Fun Fabric Buckets

 

On this last day of the year, I thought I would push to get one more project off my To-Do list.  Back in October, as part of my 4th quarter goals for the 2013 Finish A Long with she can quilt, I was hoping to finish a bunch of fabric buckets for my sewing room and studio.

I am happy to report that I have finished about a dozen now in varying sizes.  I had a bunch of denim I had been stashing away for years and I thought it would look cute with the colorful chevron fabrics I was wanting for the linings.

 

 As the denim varied greatly in stiffness and stretch, I think I used about 6 different interfacing to get the finished look I wanted. Each one had to have just the right amount of slouch but they also needed to have enough form to keep the bucket shape.  

My favorite is the big red one.  The blue and white striped material reminds me of my grandfather's striped overalls.





 I am hoping to get one more item on my Q4 list completed before the link up closes on January 8th.  The final quilt is on my longarm now so I hope to be sharing some pictures soon. Thanks Leanne for hosting this event and helping me to get these items finished!

 Linking up with Freemotion by the River for Linky Tuesday and Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social.

And the Packages Keep Coming!

Yesterday there was a wonderful package left in my mail box!  Stephaine at Quarter Incher held a contest on her blog to guess the gender of her 2nd baby and I was the lucky winner!  I guessed it would be a boy, her adorable daughter picked my number and I was sent these fun "boy" fabrics and some yummy 50 wt Aurifil thread.

Lucky, lucky me!

I received two fat quarters from Heather Ross' line Briar Rose and two half yard cuts of some jeweled toned Art Gallery Pure Element solids.  The giveaway was sponsored by Cucire.  I was instantly inspired to put the fabrics into a quilt and quickly had everything cut into 4.5" squares. (BTW - Thanks Cucire for your generous cuts on your FQs.)

I am still playing with the pieces on my design wall but hope to share a finished quilt top soon. 

(In fact, I have lots of things to share as soon as I get pictures taken.  Let's just say I spent most of the holiday sewing!)

Linking up with Blossom Heart Quilts for Sunday Stash, Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch, andPatchwork Times for Design Wall Monday.

Working with Scraps

Can you believe this year is almost coming to a close?!  It was a pretty good year for me and I am anticipating even more quilty fun in the coming year!  I don't know about you, but I always seem to spend the month of December reflecting on the previous year and identifying things I wish to accomplish in the future.  Usually by New Years, I have a pretty good idea of what I hope to accomplish.

So how about you, do you have any sewing plans or resolutions for 2014? Do they involve addressing all those scraps you have lying around your sewing area? Are you wanting to sew with the fabrics you already have? 

If so, we can definitely help each other out.  As I have shared with you, I want to really focus on scraps in the coming year.    I hope you join me and we can support each other!







I thought I would start by sharing some of the things I will be writing about so everyone gets thinking about dealing with their own scraps that have been hiding out in your sewing area.  Starting in January, I will be sharing in more detail my own journey with scrap quilts.  Rather than just briefly sharing pictures of the quilts as I make them, I will be spending more time discussing the process of determining my pattern choice, where my inspiration comes from, choosing fabrics and colors, determining best cutting sizes, choosing layouts and even sharing some quilting ideas for each project.

 There will even be some tutorials showing how to accomplish various steps.






Learning how to make beautiful quilts from your scraps (and existing stash) just takes a little practice and planning.   I am hoping the information I'm about to share in the coming year will provide a little guidance that will allow you to create some beautiful scrap quilts of your own.




I want to remind everyone that when looking at these ideas or examples I present, try and focus on the lessons and realize that your quilt will be made from your scraps and will look very different. Each scrap quilt I make will have about 4 posts sharing information to allow each of you (should you so choose) to sew along.  Sewing along will allow each quilter to problem solve using their own scraps and make their own unique but similar quilt.





I think many have the perception that scrap quilts are disordered, dated and not the most attractive of quilts.  I hope I can change that perception.  Mastering how to make fun quilts from your scraps (and existing stash) keeps the sewing room tidy and is definitely easier on the pocketbook.

As you are working with leftover scraps, I find quilters have less fear and start to build more confidence in putting colors and fabrics together. They begin to play more with design elements and are far more willing to practice more FMQ patterns.









As I have written this, I have shared some photos of some scrap quilts I have made recently.  As you can see, they are pretty easy piecing but have produced some great quilts.  They all came out of my scraps with maybe some rounding out of my stash.  I rarely purchase fabric for a scrap quilt - to me it defeats the purpose of getting fabric out of my stash.

I hope you stay tuned and maybe even join in on the fun.  I am always available if you get stuck or need help in any part of the process.  As I hope this becomes an all-out crazy party with a ton of quilters joining in, I have decided to call the series Scrap-A-Palooza.  I have created a little button if you want to post it to your site to share with your readers.  Who knows, maybe they want to join in on the fun, too!

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjl-ZgzJ55jRKwQPawzgdAmpsJ7szfSNzI2RRMocZd_hYYVeUyBf9pv8KpH-i7Rfezc9zAERDgfS-XUlDwJnTx4vVOF_o0fhCUZdgyj-fIhnKoEgze75WPi3It9BO4n3hZXF4dnkctu7U/s1600/Publication2.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Houseowrk" width="125" height="125" /></a>

(Be gentle...it was my first try at making a button.  I obviously need a lot more practice!)

Linking up with Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch and Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.

Log Cabin Quilt Top - Finished!

In my effort to sew up all the 30's reproduction fabrics that have been languishing in my stash for years, I thought I would whip out another quilt top after finishing the Churn Dash quilt.  I decided to keep with a traditional block and settled on the Log Cabin. 

A log cabin trick I learned from pattern designer Terry Atkinson is to sew your background fabrics as the last two "logs" for instant sashing.










Now all I have to do with these 12 1/2" blocks is decide on a layout and fill in any missing sashing.

Here is a picture of the finished top.  As you can see, I laid the blocks out on point and filled the inset triangle area with a smaller block.  This entire quilt idea came from Terry Atkinson and I think the pattern is in her My Red Sofa pattern book.

Not sure how close I came to her original design as I couldn't find my copy of the book and just made this from memory.  It is similar to a quilt I made years ago and have always wanted to make a second one.

The background is Kona Eggshell.  I have been storing this in my stash for quite some time.  It is a bit brown for my tastes and has been previously rejected on numerous quilts...but I do like how it worked in this project.  Now the task will be to find an appropriate backing.  

Hmmmm....I might have to do some fabric trading with a friend.

 Amazingly, I STILL have more of these fabrics to work through.  I am waiting for inspiration to see what I do with them next.  Hope you have enjoyed what I have done so far.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Friday, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I get a Whoop! Whoop! and Show off Saturday at Sew Can She.

SMS Giveaway Winner

I am completely overwhelmed by all of the wonderful comments left on my SMS Giveaway Day post.  They were great fun to read and all the support and anticipation expressed for my 2014 scrap plans were so appreciated!  Thank you all for visiting my blog and following along.  

I truly am so grateful for each and every of you! 

Looks like this fun little bundle will be going to Diana of Red Delicious Life.  She has already been contacted and is looking forward to their arrival.

Thanks again everyone!  

I really did enjoy reading your comments on your favorite season.  I found myself thinking quite often, "oh, yeah, I love that too!"  Thanks for reminding me how lucky I am living in an area where we get to enjoy them all.

Snow Happens!

Snow in Eugene Oregon is not a good thing.  It has been almost a week since the snow storm, and we still have school closures and bad roads.  What about snow plows you ask?  I heard there are one or two running around the city but I sure haven't seen any signs of them.  It's pretty crazy!

The good news is I have just chosen to stay home and keep warm.  

Lots of time spent in the sewing room!

I quilted up my Churn Dash quilt.  I used Amy Smart's Easy Churn Dash pattern for sewing up the blocks.  My finished quilt measures 50" x 60" and I added some smaller scale blocks for some additional interest.  I decided to quilt a simple meandering feather in a cream colored thread so the quilting really doesn't show.

As my goal was to make this quilt entirely from my stash, I ended up piecing in some prints on the back.

You would have thought this quilt made a dent in my 30's fabric but I still have quite a pile of them left.

Not wanting to put them back in my stash, I decided to cut a bunch of strips and make up these fun log cabin blocks.  I need to find some background fabrics so I can finish up the top.

I think there are 30 12.5" blocks all finished up.

The biggest project I have been working on has been the kitchen remodel.  I am happy to say all the construction is finally finished.  (WooHoo!!)

Now I just need to sew up some curtains, paint some furniture, finish up some wall art, make potholders and recover some chairs. (sigh)







Hopefully Santa brings me some new dishes because all of my old ones went to Goodwill and I am almost out of paper plates!

If you are wondering, the cabinets came from Ikea (purchased sight unseen) and I am really happy with them.  They worked great for my 1940's home where nothing is level.

Hope all of you are staying warm and getting all those handmade gifts finished up.  I finished up my last one this morning and will be sharing pictures after Christmas.

A reminder:  If you haven't entered my fabric giveaway yet, you can go here for the details (You have until the 13th to do so).  Once you enter, be sure and visit Sew Mama Sew to check out all the other blogs taking part this year.

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Linking up with Freshly Pieced for WIP Wednesday, Sew Much Ado for We Did It Wednesday, My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday and Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday.

Giveaway Day!

It is finally here!  The big biannual event we all look forward to.  So many blogs to check out, giveaways to enter, and projects to be inspired by.  Yep, it is Giveaway Day hosted by Sew Mama Sew.

If this is your first visit here, welcome.  If you are already a reader, I have some news to share!  Many of you have expressed you enjoy seeing what I do with scraps. So for 2014, I will be sharing all sorts of tips for scrap storage, quilt inspiration, tutorials for scrap quilts and hopefully a Scrap-A-Long or two.  Whew...Now that it is in writing, I'm committed!  We will be starting slow but if the support is there, I'm ready to help you work through your scrap bins and make some beautiful projects.  

 Here are a few examples of some recent quilts to come out of my scrap bin.  But with so many of you following along, I will be pushing myself to step it up a notch and get even more creative.

But that's not why many of you are stopping by.  I know, just get to the giveaway!  I decided to share some frosty blues and purples with a lucky reader.  Lots of fun designers in this pick.  There are five fat quarters and a regular quarter cut (Kate Spain) in this fun fabric bundle. 

To enter, just leave me a comment letting me know your favorite season.  I love Spring, Fall, Winter, then lastly, Summer.  Even with the below zero temperatures we have been having, I will still take Winter over Summer any day.  Oh, and followers of my blog get a second entry.  Just leave an additional entry letting me know how you follow.  Please make sure you’re not a no-reply blogger (or leave an email address in your comment if you’re not sure). I may not be able to reply to all comments left during the giveaway as it gets a bit overwhelming!  But I certainly will try.

The giveaway is open until December 13th, 5pm PST. International guests are always welcome!  

***Sorry, this giveaway is now closed!  Best of luck to all that entered!*** 

The giveaway winner is Diana of Red Delicious Life.

 Good luck everyone!  And if you have those pesky scraps piling up, you are going to want to hit this Bloglovin' button to help inspire you to give them some attention in the coming year!

Dashing through the Snow!

We woke up to a bunch of snow this morning in Eugene. This was the view outside my studio window this morning (Yes, that is my 6 x 12 ruler...Use what is available, right?)  This fairly protected area was at 5" and it has since snowed all day!  We just don't get snow like this in western Oregon!

My little neighbors started giving me the stink eye pretty early in the day looking for food they could get to.  Not much will get me out in this stuff but I did get out to clear off and fill all the feeders.

It is on days like this that I am especially glad I work at home!  My commute is just down the hallway.

I did spend a little time sewing up the top to my Churn Dash quilt.  I was even able to find enough fabric to piece up a backing so now it is residing on the "Gotta Quilt" pile.

Maybe I can get to it next week.

 

Even though 1930's reproductions aren't my favorite fabrics, I have to say this top really turned out nice.  I am looking forward to getting it on the frame and quilted.

Unfortunately, this quilt top barely made a dent in the 30's fabric I inherited.  I also spent part of today cutting more fabric into strips for another project.  I'll be sharing some of those blocks with you soon. 








Be sure and check back on the 9th.  I will be posting a fun little FQ bundle I will be putting up for grabs for Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day.  Hope to see you again for that!

 

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday and Celebrating this finish with Confessions of a Fabric Addict. I think I will also join in the fun at TGIFF and Link a Finish Fridays at Richard and Tanya Quilts.

WIP Wednesday

It is Work In Progress Wednesday so I thought I would share the headway I have been making on my Churn Dash quilt.  Its low volume color density is a real reversal for me but I do like the vintage feel to it.

Almost all of the blocks are done and I have been playing with layouts.  I quickly decided the quilt was a bit boring and wanted something to break up the monotony. 

Whenever I find this happening, I just change the scale of the blocks in a few areas to break up the pattern and add some interest.  As I am using up some scraps I have, I couldn't go with a few giant blocks so I had to settle on some tiny ones.  

The math was a little challenging but I did get it right the first time!

(sigh) So now rather than having a few blocks to finish, I have almost as many as I have made so far.   Guess I won't be finishing this top today!

Linking up with Lee at Freshly Pieced, Cindy at Live a Colorful Life and Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation.

Sunday Stash Addition

Even though I have placed myself on a fabric diet, fabric still seems to be arriving on my doorstep.  Here are the pretties that came this week.

The Simply Style layer cake I won in a giveaway at She Can Quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop. Yep...I won again!  It was part of their Layer Cake Lemonade quilt pattern promotion.  They included a copy of the free pattern so I might have to give it a try.  The yardage I bought from their sale section.  It is always amazing how many great pieces make their way into the deep discount bin.  I always try and snatch them up when I see them!  These 4 yard pieces will come in handy in the future.

Off to get some projects done so I can start something new!!

Linking up with Sunday Stash at Finding Fifth Molli Sparkles, Fresh Sewing Day at Lily's Quilt and Anything Goes Monday at Stitch by Stitch.

Double Crossed Finish

I hope all of my US friends are enjoying the holiday weekend!  The weather has been quite cold here for Oregon so I have been more than happy to stay indoors and finish up a few projects.  

Here is what I am sharing today!

I finally finished up sewing on the binding on my Double Crossed quilt.  I made it a bit larger than the pattern called out  (64" x 80") as I really wanted a nice size for napping.

I used Amy Smart's Double Crossed pattern as a guideline but as I was using up some leftover fabrics, I made some variations.  I used two different fabrics in her white spaces and also made the inner diamonds two different colors.

When I laid out the blocks on my design wall, I only made about 5 block changes.  I rarely worry about the same fabrics near or even touching.  This is something I learned from some of my quilting friends who are masters at scrap quilts.  I find this recklessness makes the quilts more interesting (Or it could be I'm just lazy.).  I like to just ensure a balance of color placement throughout the quilt.

I also think this recklessness helps to hide your secrets.  I was short a couple pieces of the grayish purple and just used pieces of the brighter purple.  I simply hid them out on the border.  

(Did you notice it on the first picture?)

For the quilting, I went with a simple swirl.  As this quilt may be one of my TV quilts (my closest friends knows this means my big dinner napkin), I knew it would be washed alot so I wanted it to be durable.

On the back, I just added one large inset as the backing fabric I had wasn't quite big enough.  I was even able to work in some pieces from the top I had cut incorrectly, which saved them from ending up in the scrap bin.  Any time I can do that is another added bonus.

I had challenged myself to make this quilt entirely from fabrics I had in my stash and I am happy to say I accomplished it!  And to like the finished quilt so much is certainly something to celebrate!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish It Up Fridays, Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I get a Whoop Whoop Friday and Sew Can She for Show Off Saturday.  How about you.  Are you celebrating a finish?