A Party

When life gets really crazy with a variety of activities and obligations what's the best thing to do? Schedule one more thing, right? Then, at the last minute, doesn't it make sense to decide that you need a new table runner to accent your décor? So, you go to your stash and make one?

Yeah, that's what I'd do.

For about 6 weeks, I have known that I had a party coming up. Norwex - are you familiar? It's a company that sells environmentally friendly cleaning products through home parties (a lot like Tupperware from the 80s). As I prepared for my party, I brought out my fall quilts, table toppers and wall hangings. I didn't have very many. So I decided on Saturday to make a long table runner for a Tuesday night party.

Crazy, I know, but I was not to be deterred. I planned to keep it very simple, and be very casual about using stash fabrics in all the colors associated with fall. Below is a representative picture of my fabric pull.

Most of the fabrics started out as fat quarters, and most had been cut into for various scrappy quilts over the years - and I'm talking years. Like more than 30 for a few of these.

I cut 3.5-inch squares and stitched randomly. I tried not to overthink anything, as time was of the essence.

I pulled the fabric, cut and sewed the 5 rows x 15 rows together on Saturday. Sunday evening I selected the backing, sandwiched the layers, and quilted it. And late that same night, I put on the binding. Ta-da! Finished in no time!

My original thought was that I would use this runner on my kitchen table, but it looked so good down the length of my counter top (which serves as a bar on the other side) that I changed my plan.

And for the Norwex party, which was last night, here's how it looked covered up with appetizers.

My party was well-attended with 20 guests. They were generous with their orders, which means I earn lots of free products, so that makes me happy. And after all the clean-up, I am left with a new table runner for my fall décor. Below is the crowd smooshed into my family room and dining area.

I had quite a lot of leftover goodies. I sent DH off on his bus route this morning with two boxes of cupcakes to share with the teachers and children in the Mennonite school. I am anxious to hear how that was received.

Making a table runner was not even on my radar for this month, but I am glad to have deviated from that to-do list. Now, I must get back on task and finish a few of those WIPs (works in progress) that have been gathering dust.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Fall Table Topper Surprise

A week ago while my sister Sandy was here visiting, she admired my fall table topper. This is one I made several years ago; if I remember, I bring it out each fall for the center of the kitchen table.

It is nothing special; just 4 star blocks set with surrounds of brown and cheddar/orange borders. I serves its purpose, that is all.

So when Sandy admired it and said that she needed to get some fall going in her house, I had the idea that I could easily help in that effort by making a topper for her.

You read all about the one I made earlier this week - click here, if you didn't. And on Wednesday evening, I had plans for being in Hillsboro, so I popped by her place and plunked her new topper onto her kitchen table/bar.

After she discovered it, I asked her to gussy it up a bit and send me pics so I could share here. And that is what you are seeing next...

I think she likes it! When such a small effort can put a smile on someone's face, it's totally worth it, right??

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Free 18" Block Pattern

Yesterday, I came across something kinda' cool as I surfed Instagram. Apparently, "Moda All-stars," aka several top fabric designers, each have created an 18" block in which they feature their newest line of fabrics. Here is what I saw on IG.

And the cool part?? They are free!! Here is a link to Moda's blog. Moda is doing a whole series of these 18-inch blocks, calling it ICMT - I Can Make That! Clever. Click this link for the first post of the series.

I have followed Sherri McConnell at her blog A Quilting Life for many years - almost since I first discovered quilting blogs. Here is the link to her post about this free 18" block and the fabric line she is featuring.

Always on the lookout for free patterns, I clicked right away to check 'em out. The block by Sherri and her daughter Chelsi Stratton is called Harper's Garden. I have been interested in adding to my fall décor, and while the original is in spring-themed colors, I could easily see a fall version.

So I zipped up to the quilting room and got started straight away. In less than an hour, I had the block finished - and that includes the time I mulled over fabric options! I'm notoriously slow in this process, and selecting from the stash just the right grouping of fabrics takes some time!

Since the time for fall décor is NOW, I figured I ought to keep going and quilt this little darling. So I dug around in the stash for a suitable backing, and also for some scraps of batting. Before long I had the block sandwiched, then quilted, then bound! That binding was in my scrap box of leftover bindings. It was as if this table topper was meant to be!

It was too dark last night to take decent pictures of it on my kitchen table, so here are some morning shots of it. Looks pretty spiffy, right?

I know I have two other recent starts cluttering up the workspace. Why do you start on yet another project? I can hear some of you asking me that. Well, like I said in the last post, I love - LOVE - new projects. The finishing can be dicey, but starting new things, oh, that is wonderful! Crazy, yes, but that's how I roll.

Those two other projects - the Kaffe Fassett Diagonal Madness and the French General Jelly Roll - are still very much on the immediate agenda. Additionally, I am spending time dismantling the center bedroom to make way for the long arm. A lot going on around here!

Hope you all are enjoying your last few days of September! These days have been beautiful here in my southern Ohio world.

Happy Quilting, Friends!