Slow Sunday Stitching

While I've been slow stitching today and for the past several days, I find myself thinking about the scraps I am using to make these hexie flowers for an eventual Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. 

One appealing aspect of making these flowers is that I am using lots of scraps. From just a two-inch square of fabric, I can make one hexagon. Once center piece; six center surround pieces; 12 outer surround pieces. Period. Not much required to make one flower; and perfect for using scraps.

This particular flower has an added bonus in that the outer print is a scrap from my grandmother's fabrics. Isn't it great? Grandma has been gone nearly 8 years now, yet I still am so frequently reminded of her as I work on various projects. I have no idea what quilt she made using this fabric, but I do know that she was exceedingly partial to blue. It's a sweet memory of Grandma when I come across pieces from her stash.

That pink center fabric is a leftover from a 2019 make I called Memoire a Paris, the same name as the line of fabric. Here is my introductory post. The fabric was rather pricey, and even though I took advantage of a sale I am glad not to waste this usable bit of it.

These two flowers have a very special pink fabric that I am pleased to be using in this quilt. When we learned that we'd be grandparents to a little girl, I went wild for buying pink fabric. I made our darling Cate a simple 9-patch quilt using this pink as the darker fabric. (see pic below) Matching the fabric with other colors has been sorta' fun, and I love seeing how the total effect works.

I am currently working on another flower in which I am using both of these fabrics. Fun! Someday years from now, I can tell Cate that her little 9-patch quilt has bits of leftovers sprinkled through the GFG quilt.

Each flower has the potential for another stroll down memory lane with whatever various remnant I happen to use next. 

Making hexie quilts obviously isn't the fastest way to use all the scraps, but it is one slow and enjoyable way to make them work. Like so many quilters, I have more scraps that I will ever be able to use, so you can be sure I employ some faster methods for using them. A balance of fast and slow sewing works; those gals at Slow Sunday Stitching see the value in slowing down every once in awhile, right? Go have a look at what everyone is working on this week. Thanks to Kathy for her weekly link-up!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Looking Ahead

Maybe it' a bit too early to being thinking about July's activities, but because I have decisions to make and need to have a plan in place, I am looking ahead.

For Sharon and me, July is Roman Holiday Month! We both have remnants and some new (to us) jelly rolls in our Roman Holiday stashes, and we want to use this beautiful fabric! Through text messages, I know that she, too, is looking ahead and trying to establish a plan so that when July arrives we can go-go-go.

One type of quilt I've never made is a basket quilt, so I think that I would like to pair my Roman Holiday fabric with a basket pattern. This idea has fairly consumed me the past few days, and I have browsed through dozens of books, magazines and internet sites for inspiration.

Many fabric shops, fabric companies and pattern designers offer free patterns, which I have also perused. Moda's blog has a lengthy selection of freebies, and Picnic at Daybreak is one that I particularly like.

I spilled out the content of my Roman Holiday stash and added in the new charm packs and the jelly roll. This picture indicates that most of my quilt will be red, which I wouldn't mind in the least. The collection contains a good bit of brown and green and yellow and blue, believe it or not. I have a bit of yellow yardage which you see in the picture, but I only have the other colors in the precut forms. This definitely limits my options, so I must be deliberate in choosing a basket pattern.

While my brain works this all out, I have been stitching on Lake Effect, watching Cleveland Indians baseball and enjoying a lot of down time. Life is good here!

I've joined Confessions of a Fabric Addict and her weekly party Can I Get a Whoop Whoop!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

The Baby Quilt

Last evening when I finally got around to posting for the day, I looked for the pic/post about the baby quilt I worked on last week. Guess what? I never posted it. Today, I shall remedy that little oversight. Click here to get the backstory (insignificant as it is).

I thought it was finished on Wednesday or Thursday, whatever day it was. Then as I began dealing with what remained of the remnants on Saturday, I had enough fabric to complete one more row - so I did. It was 8x9 rows; now it is 9x9 rows. The great thing about doing this is that I have virtually NO remnants left of this quilt, and what I do have has been used in 4-patch blocks that I will eventually use - someday.

I guess there's one more great thing - my backing still fits. The quilt top measures 41" square. The backing measures 60" x 44". I will have to be cautious about that short side, but I think I can do it. I will be getting some 505 Spray Baste, and there won't be any shifting as I quilt. Plus, the extra on the 60" side will become my binding. *grin*

This quilt is significantly smaller than the first one I made of these fabrics; I hope new baby brother won't be too disappointed. Having "the same, but different" quilts is pretty cool, and I hope the recipients think so, too. I hope to quilt it ASAP.

Linking up with Monday Making!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

The Value of Remnants

It is a well-known fact that sewing rooms become quite a repository for leftovers and scraps and whatnot; over time space is at a premium. But we quilters rarely discard these leftovers, for we know that someday there might be a use for them.

I can attest to this, first hand. I dug out some remnants a few days ago for the purpose of making one of two baby quilts on my list. I discovered that I had enough in that neatly-wrapped bundle to make an entire quilt.

This is cause for a happy dance.

If only I'd thought to take a picture of that little bundle of remnants. You'll have to just trust me that they were folded and stacked and tied together. It was like I knew I'd eventually want them. All the fabrics were the leftovers of a baby quilt I made about 2 years ago. That baby, now 2, has a new brother and he will be getting a quilt made of his sister's scraps. Below is Jackie's quilt.

Yesterday while Sharon was here to sew, I made quite a great amount of progress. Even though it was on my list, I really didn't have a clue that this is what I'd accomplish, but I am very happy that I did.

There was a significant amount of trimming and cutting to be done. Then I made as many 4-patches as I could. (Some are pieced to make them work.) My layout creates diagonal rows of color. I am currently chain-piecing the rows. and I hope that this will be a finish very soon. Hooray!

I'm linking up with Let's Bee Social.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Porch Beautification Project

I have a lovely screened-in porch which is a very inviting place on breezy afternoons. We have pleasant songbirds who provide just the right amount of accompaniment; the woods which surround us offers up wonderful rustling leaves. It's an all-around idyllic setting, if I do say so myself.

But, every couple of years the cushions and pillows need to be updated. Sunshine and weather conditions can take their toll on the crispness and color. I have been to the stores checking out potential options. I'm not really liking what I'm seeing out there. And the prices I've seen on these less-than-exciting possibilities are beyond what I feel like paying.

Soooo...

I think I will make slipcovers for the cushions I already have. I did that the last time I redid the porch, which was the summer of 2008. I found some fabulous sturdy fabric in the remnant area of Jo-ann Fabrics in Chillicothe. It was 54" wide, and a scrumptious shade of yellow with a light blue flower motif. The remnant had enough fabric to cover a settee cushion, a chair cushion, a bench pad and to make a tablecloth! It all looked great, and I wish I had a picture of it to show. Alas, I do not. All I've got is a naked porch in need of some bling!

The aforementioned settee, chair, bench and table minus their finery. They look so bare! I am looking for enough fabric this time to also make some chair pads for the chairs that go with the table.

I need to get in gear! Some nice days will surely be here soon, and it'd be nice to be ready for them! A big glass of iced tea, a hefty summer read, the ceiling fan circulating all the fresh air, the fountains peacefully trickling water -- want to join me?