Bonus Quilt

Sometimes I just can't explain why I do the things I do. Case in point, yesterday I made a mini-quilt that I had absolutely no plan or idea or inkling of making as the day began.

Yesterday was a sewing day with Sharon, and I had in mind that I'd work on finishing that baby quilt I wrote about some time back. It was still spread out on my table, and truly, I just needed to finish it.

But . . .

Also spread out on the table was a partial charm pack of an old Sentimental Studios fabric line called Pashmina. At one point years ago, I took a few pieces out for a project, but the remainder was still hanging around with no foreseeable project awaiting it.

So I began sewing. First I made half-square triangles. Then I decided to make quarter-square triangles out of them. After about 24 made, I stopped and sewed them into a 4x6 grid. Then I went digging for a border. The "blue drawer" contained a bit of an old floral from Blackbird Designs called Garden Magic that matched the colors adequately, and so without giving it too much thought, I cut some and applied borders and corner QSTs. I love it!

I am so pleased with this unexpected little quilt, one that was not even on this gal's radar. After finishing this, I did move on to the baby quilt, and will need to find some suitable border fabric before I can claim a finish on it.

More pics to come on the baby quilt, as well as pictures of what Sharon worked on. She is getting a jump start on our project of the month - the July Roman Holiday quilt.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Freshening Up

Never in the nearly 38 years of house-keeping have I been accused of being a fussy decorator. My style is more in line with getting something together that works and then leaving it for a time - like maybe 20 years?

Well, with big stuff, yes, maybe. But as for smaller decorating touches, I do like to occasionally freshen up the decor and change out some of my little quilts to reflect the current season. Since we are quickly coming up on the Fourth, it seemed a good time to retire some quilts to storage while bringing out those reflective of summer and patriotism.

The door exiting our main living area into the garage is metal, so I have two magnetic clips there for hanging little quilts to fill the space. This red, white and blue star is one I made at quilt camp in 2012 and perfectly suits this space on the door. It also perfectly suits me in that it is not fussy, is quite understated and subdued. I enjoy putting it out each year. The pattern is by Thimbleberries, although I think I modified it somewhat.

For our kitchen table, (which is in the same room as the door, above) I have placed Pink Lemonade, a little quilt also made in 2012, with one of Lori's little quilt alongs. (I have searched my archives for this quilt, but have found few informative posts; perhaps you can search Lori's.)

This is such a happy little quilt. I like it so much that I have even considered making another one in some different colors. This pink and cheddar one is aptly named Pink Lemonade, and it perfectly exemplifies summertime.

I need to get busy! Many things remain on my to-do list!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Quite Possibly, I've Lost My Mind

After four days of dithering about what to work on in the sewing room, I decided to make a little quilt that has been on my to-do list for several years.

This is a 2010 pattern by Country Threads called Pincushion Stars. I've seen a couple of these made up and they are wonderful, but oh-my-gosh! The entire quilt is less than 12 or 14 inches. (As I finish this, I will look up the precise size and provide it - promise!)

So here we go . . .

The parts in the photo above are the necessary pieces to make one star. They look normal enough, and wouldn't intimidate the average quilter at all. Until . . .

 . . . you see the size of these parts. With the penny as a reference, the dimensions of the pieces become evident. The small squares are 1 inch. Yeah, I know. Ridiculously small.

My first successful star is shown above (after throwing out a really horrible first effort). I learned a few things:
1. before cutting, starch the fabric stiff
2. take one backstitch to lock thread at the beginning and end of each unit
3. be precise; there is absolutely no room for 'fudging" when working with such a small star
4. press after each sub-unit is made and starch again when finished.

 Now I have two and need a total of 32; I've got a bit more of this madness ahead of me.

The only way to cross an item off a to-do list is to actually begin working on said item. Now, to get it finished. Stay tuned!

Happy Quilting, Friends!