One Scrappy Finish

 If you read my last post, you know I spent a frenzied afternoon creating blocks and multiple quilt ideas from my overflowing stash bin.  I thought I would share my progress.

Here is the finished top on the first of the three scrap quilts!

While digging in some drawers looking for another piece of fabric, I came across this sage green linen that I have been toting around for at least 10 years and knew it would be the perfect sashing for these scrap blocks.









I wanted something subtle and calming.  I think it works really well with the many colors and prints in these scrappy blocks.





Now to get it quilted (always a hurdle for me!)  It is ready to go as I was able to rustle up a piece of fabric for the back so the entire quilt evolved from scraps and my stash.  Gotta love that!

Looking at my camera, I realized I am really into a "gradation" groove.  Here are the blocks I planned for this month's group sew project.

Hey...which is another great scrap project too!

Thanks for stopping by.  We finally got some rain here in western Oregon so I was unable to get photos of my Star Surround top today.  It turned out so fabulous, I want to get some great photos to share. So you should be seeing those soon!

Linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, Thursday Threads at 627handworks and Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts.

A Whole Lot of Scraps

I see you scrap bin...peeking out from below my cutting table. You think no one notices how you grow and overflow hidden way below eye level.  I know at times I seem to ignore you but I have my eye on you!  No longer will you languish in the shadows, I am determined to bring you out into the light and find the beauty in your depths!

You and scrap bins everywhere seem to have us quilters stymied over your crumpled mess. Your disarray has intimidated many and built up the reputation that scrap quilts have to be unseemly and disorganized.  

But sadly for you, you don't scare me.  I have found beauty before within your depths.  Patiently, I will listen to your contents and puzzle out the lovely quilts that are held hostage within you.

First up, a quick sort through you to eliminate solids, tone on tones and neutrals. Today I am looking for your difficult fabrics...the ones that never seem to find a home.  The ones that have lived in your deepness for years.

I will start by cutting squares from your shaggy pieces.  First 3 1/2" then 2 1/2".  I will gently let the quilts evolve.

TaDa - A quick grouping by color and from the larger squares easily comes these blocks.








I love how the colors gradate across the quilt.  A closeup reveals the lovliness that is evolving.  Mister bin, even at this stage, I believe the win goes to the quilter.







But I know total victory is not mine.  The challenge is still there to determine a use for all the bits of bright fabrics on black backgrounds that have collected in your darkest corners.

Stack after stack is cut....so much there to use.....

Wait...A quick sketch creates a block that not only uses theses squares but will create a home for some scrap solids.  Double bonus points!









Working a little further, I quickly realize if I sew a combination of these two blocks, I can fill a complete top with your pieces and add fun shades of different solids.

HaHa - challenge met!

 

And finally, what to do with the other 2 1/2" squares?  Luckily I saw something interesting the Corvallis Modern Quilt Guild was making and it inspired an idea. (I think they call them urban chicken blocks).








Once again, a quick grouping by color and the addition of some solid scraps and these blocks are created.  Before I  call a victory here, I will need to let this one continue to mature.  But even now, I am confident it will look great.

So take that scrap bin.  I will leave you to cower back in the shadows under the table.  I will let you be for a bit as you build your strength back up.  But know this...when you are ready, I will be here waiting to show you again who is boss!

And for my readers, I will continue to work on these quilts and post progress as it happens.  Feel free to use any of these ideas as inspiration for tackling your own scrap bin. Get creative and see what evolves!

Linking up with Fabric Tuesday at Quilt Story, Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River, Sew Cute Tuesday at Better Off Thread and Show and Tell Tuesday at I have to Say.

Keeping it all Straight - QAL

 Definitely starting to see stars!

Amazingly, I am still keeping up with the Star Surround Quilt A-Long.  This week's homework was to sew some of the components for the surrounding star.  With my stars being far scrappier than the pattern calls for, it has been interesting keeping all the fabrics straight.

I have finally just laid them out on a few of my design walls so there are lovely stars everywhere!  

(Sorry about the dark photos but I am feeling a little under the weather lately and I just don't have the energy to retake them.)

 Stars are even spilling out of my sewing room and into my quilting studio.  As you can see, I have started sewing them together so they are a little easier to move around.  

My oh my do I love this quilt!!

Be sure and check out all the other Star Surround quilts at the Happy Quilting linky party. There are some beautiful color combinations to see.  I promise to take better photos soon so you can see the yummy colors and fun fabrics in my own blocks. These pictures really don't do it justice. 

...and welcome to all the new followers.  Sorry to all about today's short post.  I have been working on some new projects which I will share in a couple of days.

And the Lucky Winner is...

Yes, it is time to pick the lucky winner for these four lovely fat quarters.  Thanks everyone who entered.  It is wonderful to see so many new followers!  

I was celebrating 100 followers and now I am well on my way to the 200 mark.

Looks like The Sassy Quilter wins the prize.  I have sent off an email Paula!  Hope to hear from you soon so I can send them off to you.  Thanks for participating!

If you missed out on this giveaway, I am planning another one soon.  So stay tuned!

A Little Disappointed - FAL

 The crazy fish quilt is done!  Mark another finish off my 3rd quarter goals.

I should be a little happier that I was able to get another quilt on my Finish -A Long list quilted and bound but I found myself feeling a little lackluster over the finish. Stepping back from the quilt and viewing it in its entirety, it is a whole lot of blue and very busy. 

However, I really do love all the prints I used in this project.  Some of my very favorite Brandon Mably prints are in here.  So I think when I get it out this winter on movie night and snuggle close, their whimsey will make me smile and I will appreciate it a little bit more.

If you haven't had a chance yet to enter my giveaway, there still might be time.  It closes Thursday the 22nd.  You can find out more about it here.

Also linking up with Needle and Threads Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation and Can I get a Whoop Whoop? Fridays at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Returning some Love with a Giveaway!

As I am fairly new to the blogging world, each new follower brings me so much joy.  I really do appreciate all of you who tune in to read about my quilting mania.  And I cherish all the new friendships I have made.

Recently, I surpassed the 100 follower mark on Bloglovin'.  Woo Hoo!  

Seems to me that this is a great excuse for having a giveaway and sharing some love.

 I have pulled this bundle of four fat quarters from my stash and it is all ready to send off to one lucky follower who would love to have them.  

 I think orange is my favorite color to work with as it is so bright and cheerful.  My goal was to put together a little package of sunshine!  I also thought I would include a piece of Robert Kaufman' Quilter's Linen in there.  It is one of my favorite fabrics to work with and think everyone should own some.

And I am not the only one having a giveaway this week.  Julie at 627Handworks is hosting 6 weeks of giveaways so once you have entered mine, be sure and head over to her site to see who else is celebrating.  It is a great opportunity to check out some new blogs and maybe win some great prizes!

Best of luck!!

Here's how to enter:

Entry 1.  Simply leave a comment letting me know how you follow me on my blog.  If this is the first time you have visited, new followers are welcome to enter. (When you leave your comment, please make sure I have your email address!  No email = Sorry, no entry!  So if you are a no-reply blogger, please include your e-mail in your post!)

Entry 2. For a second chance, like Cynthia Brunz Designs on Facebook and leave me a comment here on my blog letting me know.  On my facebook page, I try and show pictures of fun quilting designs so you might find it inspirational with your FMQ. (again, please make sure I have your contact info if it's not listed in your profile.) 

This giveaway will be open until Thursday August 22nd at 1 p.m. PST.  Please note, winners must respond within three days of notification. If any winner does not respond within that period, sorry but another winner will be chosen. 

***  Sorry, this giveaway is now closed.  If you missed out on this one, be sure to follow so you can be included in the next one!  ***

Also linking up with Quilt Story for Fabric Tuesday, Better off Thread for Sew Cute Tuesday, Show and Tell Tuesday at I have to Say and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced .

A Berry Starry Night - QAL

Finally seeing stars!   This week's assignment for the Star Surround Quilt-A-Long at Happy Quilting was to sew up the center star blocks.  After reading the tutorial, I was very anxious to begin piecing so I could start to see the quilt come together.  I am just so pleased with the way it is looking.

If you are following along with others, you might notice that I have decided to make my entire quilt very scrappy.  It is a bit of a nightmare to keep track of but I had so many great fabrics I wanted to include in the quilt.  I don't often make quilts for myself so I don't mind putting in the extra work.

I have also challenged myself on this quilt by using a number of directional prints.  Last week's assignment was to make some flying geese but after some test blocks, I decided to break them up into HSTs so I could create the pattern I wanted with the direction of the prints.  Yes...that meant I spent another week marking, sewing, cutting, trimming more tiny HSTs.  (sigh!)  

But I think in the end, it will be worth it.

 In case you haven't seen Melissa's sample, here it is.  I have definitely gone to the darker side!

 

On another note, I did mention in a previous post that I was going to sponsor a giveaway when I reached 100 followers on Bloglovin' and Facebook.  Well guess what...look for the giveaway to start this Sunday!  

And as a wonderful coincidence, Julie at 627Handworks is hosting 6 weeks of giveaways, so the timing is perfect to join in on the fun!  Not only will I be having a giveaway, there will be others linking up with giveaways of their own.  It will be one big party!  Be sure and put it on your calendar so you don't miss a chance at any of the goodies!

Linking up with Show and Tell Tuesday at I have to Say, Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River and WIP Wednesday at Freshly Pieced.

Hexies on my Mind

Back in July, I had mentioned this cute little pile of triangles that were gifted to me.  With so many other projects in the works, I said I was going to hide them away for a later date.

Well, the sad truth is I kept thinking about those little triangles...

...pondering, obsessing and designing in my head.

Inspiration struck late one night and they have now found their way into this adorable little hexagon quilt.

I truly did hop out of bed to race to the sewing room to see if I could match up enough prints to pull off this design. (shaking my head...)







I simply quilted some fun loops in a hot pink thread diagonally across the quilt.  I even had a fabric in the closet that worked great for the backing!

Whew!  Now, maybe I can sleep at night!

Linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation, TGIFF and Finish it up Fridays at Crazy Mom Quilts.  Head over and check out what everyone else has been working on.

Sharing some Love through Quilts

One good thing about a hot summer is I tend to stay inside and enjoy my air conditioning.  I also seem to spend quite a bit of time in my sewing room so I have another finish to share with you!

Finishing this quilt was on my  third quarter Finish A-Long goals with Leanne over at she can quilt.  I had 6 items on my list and to date, this is the second finish.  

Not bad for early August!

 Some of the fabrics in this quilt have a mid-century feel to them so I decided to quilt it with a fun boxy swirl. 

 

This quilt has no home so I thought I would add a cute yellow string from my Etsy shop and donate both of them to Bags of Love in support of 100 Quilts for Kids.

Katie sponsors this great quilt drive over at swim bike quilt.   (Thanks Katie!!)

Bags of Love is a local organization that provide bags filled with essentials to kids who are in crisis and are being removed from their environment.

Each bag also includes a quilt for comfort.  I tried to fill these two quilts with lots of hugs.






On another note, I have been watching my Bloglovin' and Facebook followers both get close to that 100 mark!  I plan on sponsoring a giveaway to celebrate so hopefully you will want to watch for it soon!!
(And if you don't already follow, you can easily join in on the fun and get us there sooner!!)

 

Also linking up with  Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River and Show and Tell Tuesday at I have to Say.

QAL Progress

It has certainly been a busy week of marking, cutting, pressing and trimming. Yep, this was the week to complete the HSTs for the Star Surround Quilt A-Long over at Happy Quilting.  

I am happy to report I finished them with a little time to spare.

Of course, I had to make it hard on myself by using a number of directional fabrics.  They are going to look fantastic in the quilt but I really had to pay attention when I was marking.










I haven't trimmed this many HSTs in a long time!  There was quite the pile of trimmings to toss when I was through!

Working with all the fabrics this week, I am still excited to see this quilt all put together.  Using so many different prints, it did get a little confusing but I have lots of extra fabric to remake blocks if need be.

...and speaking of remaking blocks, how about a few outtakes from the week...  

 Right sides together.....Right sides together...

 ...Really!?  I'd like to be able to say I only did this once....

(yes, I made HSTs out of the same fabric.  Grrrrr, where's my seam ripper!)

How about you, did you spend the week sewing HSTs for your Star Surround quilt?
Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you stay tuned to see this quilt progress.