Sew Along Update - Week 12

 

Checking in here this morning with another quilt to share! I've made another quilt top!

Repeated quite a number of times here on these updates, I tell you this quilt is absolutely the easiest quilt in the world to make. Of course, we have also been touting the idea of working at your leisure to make your quilt, but if you need a quilt as fast as possible, a simple quilt like Spring Dreams is the quilt for you!

This is my Sanctuary Spring Dreams, made with the luscious 3 Sisters/Moda fabric called Sanctuary. Perhaps you recall the small bit of shopping I did while on retreat? I bought a jelly roll and some carefully selected bits of yardage. The result is the quilt above.

I cannot honestly say that I have never made a quilt within the same month as buying the fabric. I am generally more of the type of quilter who allows the fabric to age for awhile before cutting into it. With this fabric, though, I bought it with Spring Dreams in mind. I could barely contain myself for wanting to start it straight away.

The jelly roll was entirely used for the 9-patch blocks. These are a breeze to make if you don't overthink it. I try to be very casual about the combinations, exerting as little serious planning as possible.

Pictured below are my four Spring Dreams big quilts and the scrappy table topper all made for this sew along. Sanctuary is the one on the far right - it shows up even softer and dreamier hanging there than it does in the previous pictures on the bed. 

All of them please me, and yes, I would make another one in a heartbeat. I am using fabric from my stash with the exception, of course, of Sanctuary. This is a great way to work through those fabrics you love. Get that gorgeous stuff out of the closets or storage bins and make a Spring Dreams of your own!

Remember, I invite you share your quilts on Instagram and use the  #springdreamssewalong - we can see what all the quilts look like there. Another option is to send pictures of your quilts to me through email. I can then use them here for a future update.

Have a great Monday, Dear Readers!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Binding Work and Art Show Recap

Seems like I've done quite a lot of binding lately, and that must mean I've been getting things done! Yeah! I like that. The quilt I was binding last month at the quilt retreat is a surprise, therefore you've not seen much of anything on that; and I won't be able to say or show anything until this surprise is gifted. *zip it!*

One project you have seen is the little topper for my mantle. Click here if you missed it. Binding that was super-fast. 

Today, I find myself binding a quilt that is a long-overdue wedding gift.

This quilt will be going to a young man and his bride who have been married a year and a half already. Yes, I am that tardy! My reluctance with the Tin Lizzie machine prevented me from getting this done, and now at last I feel confident in my skills to do a job worthy of a wedding quilt.

Seth and Liz, married in November of 2019, are the son and daughter-in-law of good friends Bob and Vickie. Seth and our son were best buds all through elementary and high school. I've tried to stay caught up with all the friends of our children - their weddings and babies, specifically - alas, I still have some gifting to do, I admit. 

The quilt is one I made in 2019 - a weather vane pattern. It had been on my to-do wish list for quite awhile prior to that. Here's the post with all the background explained.

So, last night we attended the Wine Walk and Art Show in Greenfield. It was fun. I had no idea what to expect, but I really enjoyed it. As intended, it did bring people downtown and gave folks an opportunity to visit shops we might not otherwise ever visit. 

Coffee shop where my mini quilts were displayed.

 

And, circling back to friends of our kids, my quilts were displayed in a coffee shop, Cream n' Sugar, which is owned by Heather and her husband Lee. Heather was a classmate/friend of our older daughter. Heather's brother was another classmate/friend of our son. I love small towns - everyone is so connected.

The mini quilt display.

As we walked we passed murals and sidewalk art.

I am linking up today with Kathy over at her Slow Sunday Stitching party. Coincidentally, she is binding today, too. You should stop by!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

Local Art Show

Concerned citizens of our little town are trying their darnedest to revitalize a decaying historic downtown. Determined to save old buildings and attract new business,  new life is slowly returning to this formerly bustling town. 3G hosts several events throughout the year to boost Greenfield's comeback.

Tonight the 3G organization is sponsoring a Wine Walk and Art Show. Sounds like a good time, right? I have entered three little quilts as "art" - yes, I think they qualify. I wanted to show you what I've entered, and while we walk this evening (and sip our wine), I will take some photos and share those later.

 All three of these little gems have been hanging on various walls in the sewing area. I've described them in previous posts, but this post will provide a little recap.

Tossing a few little quilts around on the kitchen table makes for a festive look. I did a whole post on some of my little creations awhile back. Click to revisit here.

Pink Lemonade

Scrappy Stars (it's real name is Pincushion Stars)

4-Patch Scrappy

All were machine pieced and machine quilted. I would venture to say that all were made on more of a whim than on any specific plan or goal. All were made from existing stash fabrics, often scraps that were just left out on the table from the last thing I made. Don't judge! *grin*

When I filled out the paperwork to enter these little quilts in the 3G event, there was a space on the form for indicating if the pieces were for sale. I considered this momentarily, but I don't think so. While I wouldn't mind making money on my quilts, I really like these three little creations. I wouldn't even know what kind of price to put on them, actually.

Scrappy Stars, aka Pincushion Stars, is especially dear. If you read this post, you will see that it provided me my one big claim to fame at that 2016 Ross County Fair. 

Click on the links under each individual quilt to read odd bits and details on when/how the quilts were constructed. 

That's all for today, Peeps! Come on back to see pics of the Wine Walk and Art Show!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

A Quick Little Mantle Runner

You may have seen that I made a random Ohio Star block based on a quilt that my friend Sheryll made and shared a couple of weeks ago. Here's the post to explain. I then promptly made a second block.

Well, it took far too long for me to realize that I'd not made my blocks like Sheryll's at all! Total opposite, actually.

So I made two blocks the correct way. 

 

However that left me wondering what to do with them. I decided I needed a mantle runner, so I made a 5th block and whipped up this little darling a couple of days ago. 

 

 

Simple quilting is all that it needed, and I used a piece of scrap batting, so it is totally like it's a bonus project. The fabrics came from the existing stash, so - freebie all the way around.

The dark fabric is a very deep navy from some vintage Thimbleberries fabric I have had for ages. The runner looks black in some views, but it is definitely dark navy. The blocks are 6" and with five of them, the length is (hopefully) 30". I didn't measure it, but it can't be far off.

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

A Scrappy Finish

After the busy stuff of last week preparing to host two different "events," I find myself this week with tons of free time for sewing. 

Yay!

It helps when I have a good audiobook, too. This week I have been sewing in the court of the York King Edward IV, at the beginning of the War of the Roses. His sons were the famous "lost princes in the tower." What fascinating, yet tragic history. The book is The White Queen by Philippa Gregory, and the story is told from his wife's point of view. Elizabeth Woodville saw much tragedy in her life.

from Goodreads.com

 

All that listening has provided me time for finishing my long-term WIP, the 4-patch scrappy quilt top. Over a year ago I was gung-ho on this quilt, and worked furiously to make these blocks and stitch them into a quilt top. I didn't have a pattern, and had no ideas sketched out for how many I would need, but I felt confident that 80 blocks would be plenty.

Ahem.

Thirty-five blocks cover about a quarter of the bed.

 

If I wanted a bed quilt, eighty blocks would not be nearly enough! Why, I needed at least 80 more!  Goodness gracious; that really demoralized me. So I put it aside and worked on other things. A whole year's worth of other things, actually. (Have you seen previous examples of my skill with avoidance??)

Blocks made at quilt retreat.

As I prepared for the Quilt Retreat last month, this came out of its year-long 'time out,' and ever since, I have been steadily whittling away on the additional blocks, and finally, this week have completing a full quilt top.

I call my scrappy quilt an example of "controlled scrappy." The 4-patches are 100% from my scrap baskets. I pretty much pieced them as randomly as possible. The shirtings (white) are not necessarily scraps, although some are. I used fat quarters from my stash and tried to keep them all as consistent in their coloration as possible. The red started out as scrap red and was intended to be consistently one particular fabric. But I needed a lot and I forbid myself from buying more, so I searched the stash for a suitable matching red. As I look at this quilt on the bed, I have a hard time finding differences, although they are quite evident, if one studies it.

I had a helper when I laid the quilt top out on the bed; Rocky is here for a visit.

Now I am pondering whether to add borders or not. I suppose what I will do is check the stash for ample reds that would suit. If I don't find anything, I will just leave it borderless. I am ready to move on to the next quilt!

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

Sew Along Update - Week 11

 

Did everyone have a happy Mother's Day? It was a busy week here and we ended up hosting 16 here yesterday to celebrate. Consequently, I am later than usual in getting today's post up and out. (I was a pooped Mom!)

In Week 9, we featured a found poem by fellow Sew Along founder, Dee. The treat for today is a poem penned by Sew Along founder, Sharon. When she sent this early last week, she warned that it was quite sentimental and that she "really laid it on." Yes, it certainly sings with sentimentality - all the alliteration and imagery make it a joy to read. See if you don't agree.

Moondance Dream

It all begins
With a dream
of roses and ribbons,
sallows and swirls,
 bouquets and beauty;
of gardens in Paris,
watercolors in Giverny,
lavender in Provence;
of pale pinks of daybreak,
soft yellows of sun rays,
new greens of Spring. 

Then, the dance—
a soft embrace,
a slow waltz swirling
like moon beams
dotting the sky,
illuminating,
fulfilling the dream
to the end.

Doesn't Sharon's poem take the celebrating of spring to a whole new level?! She may be right that she "laid it on," but if famous poets can be inspired by daffodils, nightingales, and Grecian urns, then by gosh, we quilting English teachers can be inspired by gorgeous fabrics and pleasing designs. 

Now I know you are thinking that a poem must surely be forthcoming from yours truly - well, we shall see. I won't make any promises, but I do see where that gauntlet has been thrown. *smiles*

Want some quilt pictures before I close? I can certainly manage that. Dee sent a progress picture this week. Her blocks are finished and she is ready to begin construction of the quilt top. Oh, her fabrics are so rich and vibrant! This flower garden will be brimming with intense colors.

I had the bright idea to hang my quilts together for a quick photo. It is fun to see them lined up together like this. The 4 on hangers are larger. The little quilt pinned to the front is the only one completely finished. I may put it on the dining table for the duration of spring.

My names for each: Spring Dreams (green), Lulu Lane Dreams (yellow), Patriotic Dreams (obvious), Sanctuary Dreams (blue), and Scrappy Dreams (small one in front). I have an idea for one more, but I can't decide if I should do it. Maybe I'd be smarter to put one of these on the quilting frame and get it quilted up before our sew along ends. We shall see. If I get my act together, maybe I can do both.

Here's hoping you are making some beautiful spring dreams come true! 

Happy Quilting, Friends!

 

 

Returning To Scrappy Work

 I took a lot of time off from working on this quilt. Click here to see the previous effort, from way back in March of last year. At that point, I thought I was so close to having a finish, yet when I laid it out and saw that it barely covered half of the bed, I was a bit crestfallen. I promptly put that bad boy aside and began working on other projects.

Lately, the urge to return to this scrappy 4-patch has been niggling at me. So here are some snippets of recent process.

From the Nelsonville retreat.

From Wednesday; sewing with Sharon.

A plentiful supply of triangles.

Today I am sewing over at Terry's with some of the Frankfort Girls. I will take my Scrappy 4-Patch and all the parts to see what sort of progress I can make. I figure I need at least 70-80 more blocks, so I have a stretch of work ahead of me.

I should mention that with each stage of triangles, I am trimming to size. This has proved time-consuming, yet very necessary. It is surprising that even when you think you are sewing everything exactly the same, the edges are off, almost every time. The nature of triangles, I suppose. Plus, I think my triangles start out a fraction larger than necessary, which is another consideration. I know every block must be trimmed. I've resigned myself to it, and it's really not so bad.

I need to be getting out of here!

Happy Quilting, Friends!