Making your Positivity Blocks Scrappy

 When I shared my first Positivity Blocks last Sunday, I said I would share how I make my blocks look scrappy.  It is really easy to do.

You can go to the Sew Preeti Blog to get the cut sizes and the block assembly instructions.  

You can find that tutorial here.

I am only making my background scrappy (but you could make all of it scrappy if you want -I was a bit worried it would chaotic.)

When you cut the light parts for your two blocks, make each piece a different low volume print (including the center square of the dark block).

Once you cut them and reassemble per Preeti's instructions, you can see that they create a really fun background for your "twist".

Here are a few blocks all together so you can see the effect.

Easy Peasy!!

(If you want to learn more about the Positivity QAL, you can follow this link.) 

I hope you join in - it is for a great cause!

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Oh Scrap! : Finally some Progress

 I finally found some time to get caught up on a few of my scrap projects. 

 In fact, I even started a new one!

I finished my last green letter B for my booth banner.  This was the RSC color for May.  Now I have THREE to make in Blue for June.  Yikes!!

(One lonely switchplate block was sewn this week too.  I need to cut some yellow centers for all the green strips I cut so I will just finish them this month.)

I finally got to my little pile of previously cut squares for my Bloom Mixology blocks.  (I still adore this little "basket" block.)  Here are the four all completed.  The other needed four are a little bit different hue and do you think I can find the pieces?  I have looked everywhere - I know I cut them.  In fact, when I just recut all the pieces, many of the prints looked familiar.  

Sigh...I know they will show up any day now.

Here is that project up on the wall.  It is almost finished!

Here is my newest scrap project.  While I had my green scrap bin out, I started cutting for my Positivity quilt.  Sewing up these 8 blocks took no time at all.  You can find the pattern here on Sew Pretti's blog. The only change I made is I want my background to be scrappy.  I will try and share how I do that in a future post.  It is really simple to do!

Today I will be trimming all my Bloom HSTs so I should finish up those blocks soon.  Then I can get cutting some blue scraps for some future blocks!

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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! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

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Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt (Monday Making)

What a Hoot (BOM Mondays)

So Scrappy for RSC22 

Right now AccuQuilt has some great sales on both the Studio and Go! cutting machines and dies.  If you have been thinking about purchasing, now is the time.

Scrap Vortex Progress

Amanda Jean over at crazy mom quilts has been hosting an informal QAL for her scrap vortex quilt. I decided to join in and I have been having a ball sewing up my tiny scraps into larger and larger irregular shaped blocks.

It was time to put them up on my design wall so I could see how it looked. I was planning on sewing up a kid-sized quilt but as you can see I got a bit out of control with my sewing. Even after filling the wall space, I still have a large stack of blocks.

I thought this quilt would be a great opportunity to get rid of my black and multi-colors scraps. My initial thought was to use all sorts of colors but settled on keeping in the hot colors - red, pink, orange and yellow. As you can see, I also included a bit if turquoise and lime bits just for fun.

This quilt has been a great leaders/enders project so it has come together really quickly. I look forward to reading the next steps which should come out this week.  If you are participating in the Scrap Vortex QAL, I would love for you to link up pictures this Sunday on Oh Scrap!  

Amazingly, I STILL have a lot of scraps left!

Linking Up:

Sew Fresh Quilts
Freshly Pieced  

My Quilt Infatuation

Crazy Mom Quilts
A Quilting Chick

Oh Scrap! : Scrap Vortex QAL

Just when I thought I was getting a handle on all the projects in my sewing room, I have fallen into a scrap vortex!

One of my favorite scrap bloggers is Amanda Jean over at Crazy Mom Quilts and she is hosting an informal quilt along based on her scrap vortex quilt.  Of course I had to join in!

I have been searching for inspiration on how to use my multi-colored scraps and I thought this might be a perfect fit.  (Or...it could be a big train wreck!)

  So just what is my plan?

I have a number of scraps that have bright colors with a black background.  So my plans are to start by sewing one of these fabrics to a bright colored scrap.  I will also be adding some solid black and maybe a few black and white (but I really want to minimize the white on this quilt).  I am working through my color bins and sewing up the smaller bits.  I will probably have to go back through the colors and make more by cutting my scraps.

It is certainly going to be colorful!

In no time at all, I had quite a number of fabric pairs sewn up.  I am going to have to find a much bigger box. though - I need to sew up hundreds of these!

What are you doing with your scraps this week?  Be sure and share!

Here are the details for linking up with Oh Scrap!:

• 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!

<a href="http://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54Z8EyMCoCg0j1sBoz_APBotiRQveh32vQoL2dCSO4nQFAi8du60IuUCQp3Hb18vGD8IrM0W6_vmuufImGcr4Pf2Ve2dNIWd5LbQJfyDTRjtcekT6coT7c2nSCOG_9dvjiKGVAnuTN70/s1600/Oh+Scrap+Button.jpg" alt="Quilting is more fun than Housework" width="125" height="125" /></a>

So if you love scrappy projects, feel free to grab my button for your sidebar or posts and get ready to share all your wonderful projects from scraps.  And if you have a great idea for using scraps and would like to be featured, feel free to contact me!

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Linking Up:

Love Laugh Quilt
Patchwork Times
Cooking Up Quilts

Freemotion by the River

Crazy Mom Quilts
She Can Quilt

Irish Chain Twist Finish

My initial plan was to wait until later in the month to share this Irish Chain Twist but...well, things in my world change.  Plus, many of you thought the middle of April was too long to have to wait to see the finished quilt.  So when I woke up this morning, I decided rather than go quilt the enormous custom quilt on my longarm frame, I thought I would procrastinate a bit and write up this post.

Melissa over at Happy Quilting shares a Quilt Along about once a year and I have become a bit addicted to them.  Her patterns are usually more star based but this year to celebrate the release of her upcoming book on Irish Chain quilts, she went with a chain pattern.

Here is the Star Surround I did in 2013.  It is still one of my favorite quilts.

And the Star Light Star Bright I did in 2014.

The tutorials for all of these quilts are still available on Melissa's blog.  I highly recommend them!

 As you can see, this quilt is a lot more subdued than my usual quilts.  When I saw Melissa's pattern, I decided to use this Quilt Along as an opportunity to pair a few 1930 scraps I still had in my stash with some Kona Snow.  In fact I struggled a bit stretching those scraps to make the quilt.  I was determined not to go buy fabric!

 In order to finish the quilt, I did end up buying some backing material.  I just did not have anything in my stash that would work.  Luckily I found a great piece in the sale section at my favorite LQS.  I even used the same fabric for the binding.

It is difficult to see, but I just quilted it in an allover popcorn design.  It has no home so it will probably make its way into my Etsy shop.

Do you enjoy quilt alongs?  I think they are a great opportunity to try new things and discover new methods for constructing blocks.  I wish I had time to participate in more!

On April 23rd, Melissa will be sharing pictures of all the finished quilts made using her Irish Chain Twist tutorial.  I have been following along on all the great fabrics and colors others are using and I am excited to see how each turned out.  It should be a wonderful quilt parade!





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Linking up:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Richard and Tanya Quilts
TGIFF

Crazy Mom Quilts

A Speedy Quilt Top Finish

Just a few days ago I shared my last completed blocks for Happy Quilting's Irish Chain Twist Quilt Along.  Finding myself with some time in my sewing room, I have already sewn up all the blocks into a flimsy.  Yay for a finished quilt top!

 I always enjoy Melissa's Quilt-Alongs.  This is my third one.  As usual, her instructions were great and the steps were broken down so the work for each week was very achievable.

 This quilt did cause me to work a bit out of my comfort zone.  I am not a big fan of a lot of white space.  But the 1930's fabric I wanted to use up needed a white background.  I was also a bit challenged with the wonky lines.  But I trusted the process and explored something I wouldn't normally do and the quilt turned out fine.

Here is a view of it pinned on one of my design walls.  I am happy to say this quilt has FINALLY depleted all of my reproduction prints.  There still might be a small scrap or two but all of the bigger pieces are now gone.












Here is a shot of the fabric for the backing.  I was even able to find it on discount at a recent quilt store visit.  I think it looks like it was made for this quilt!


Can you see the seam I put in?  I love to always try and match up the print on my backing.  This one was an easy one.






I actually finished up the quilting already - can you believe it!?!.  I will be revealing the finished quilt later in April.  Melissa will be putting together a quilt parade showing all of the finished quilts on April 23rd.  You definitely won't want to miss it!






If you are interested in more ways to follow me, you can find me on Craftsy, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', Feedly, Instagram, Google +, or get my blog sent right to your email inbox by entering your email address on the right sidebar!  

  

Linking up:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Fabric Frenzy Friday

Richard and Tanya Quilts

Happy Quilting

Final Irish Chain Twist Blocks

It is hard to believe that we are already finishing up our last blocks on Happy Quilting's Irish Chain Twist Quilt Along.  It seems like we just got started!

Here are all five of my appliqued chain blocks.  Rather than follow the instructions for a raw edged applique, I decided to needle turn my seed shapes. It probably took a lot more time but hand sewing is something I really enjoy.

With all the blocks finished, I am assuming this week we will be sewing up the quilt top.  I searched my fabric for a backing and didn't come up with anything I liked.  But I did make a trip to my favorite LQS shop today and found that fun dark pumpkin printed with green Xs.  I think it will be perfect for the back - this quilt needs some color! 

 

 To see the blocks made by other quilters, you can go here.  There really some fun, bright fabrics being used!

If you are interested in more ways to follow me, you can find me on Craftsy,  Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', Feedly, Instagram, Google +, or get my blog sent right to your email inbox by entering your email address on the right sidebar!

  

Linking up:

Freshly Pieced

Sew Fresh Quilts

My Quilt Infatuation

Happy Quilting 

Appliqued Chain Blocks

I have still been working diligently each week on my blocks for Happy Quilting's Irish Chain Twist Quilt Along. This week we started working on the final block which according to Melissa's instructions is raw edged appliqued. Being a fan of needle turn applique, I decided break from the group and use that technique to make my blocks.

Of course there were some challenges I had to overcome right off the bat. First, we cut our fabrics weeks ago so my squares for this block did not contain adequate allowances for me to properly needle turn the edge. So I had to slightly adjust the template.  I also have small gaps between the shapes, which I would not normally have.  In looking at the final layout, this shouldn't have any negative impact on the layout.

With all of my shapes now cut, I am working on getting my blocks hand appliqued. I have two blocks done this week with three more to go for next - which will still work with the schedule Melissa has planned.

Now to try and find something interesting on TV to keep me company while I hand sew.

If you are interested in more ways to follow me, you can find me on Craftsy, Facebook, Pinterest,Bloglovin', Feedly, Instagram, Google +, or get my blog sent right to your email inbox by entering your email address on the right sidebar!

  

Linking up:

Freshly Pieced

Sew Fresh Quilts

My Quilt Infatuation

Happy Quilting  

Irish Chain Twist - Modern Patchwork

I have been in a bit of a sewing funk lately.  I have not been inspired to work on any of the projects I currently have up on my design wall and I am trying very hard to resist the urge to start something new.  

So the mindless chain piecing for this week's Irish Chain Twist homework was perfect for the little bit of time I had to sew.

 This week we finished up the Modern Patchwork blocks.  For these blocks, I used up a bunch of purple 30's scraps so it took me a bit to balance out the fabrics prints over the eight blocks I needed.  Once I finished these blocks, I sliced up the rest of the fabrics for a string quilt so I sure hope I don't mess any of them up!

I have now finished two out of the three different block designs used in the quilt.  The next block has applique so I am expecting to be pushed for time to complete them.  I like to do needle turn applique by hand - the actual sewing I can finish pretty quickly but the prep work I tend to procrastinate on.  I am happy there are only 5 blocks to do.  Soon all these blocks will be a completed quilt!

If you are interested in more ways to follow me, you can find me on Craftsy, Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin', Feedly, Instagram, Google +, or get my blog sent right to your email inbox by entering your email address on the right sidebar! 
 

  

Linking up:

Freshly Pieced

Sew Fresh Quilts

My Quilt Infatuation

Happy Quilting