Snow Days = Sew Days

This is what our front yard looked like yesterday morning, as we headed out to church. Beautiful!!

Once I saw this and heard the forecast, I knew that it would be a perfect day to sew. 

I pulled out the fabrics for the additional three blocks I decided to make for my toddler version of Disco Stars and I spent a little time working on those. 

I have all the sashing and small star units made and got excited to see how it was going to look, so I put everything up on the design wall. I really like the deep purple stars and background fabric (Kona Solid - Eggplant). 

On a side note...I am hosting a Disco Stars Sew Along for the members of the Friends of Chestnut Ridge Sewing Facebook group. I fell in love with this quilt when Modernly Morgan shared progress on her Facebook and Instagram pages at the end of last year, and then finally on her blog. I knew I wanted to make one of these quilts and decided to kill two birds with one stone when I chose that to be the long-awaited CRS Sew Along quilt. Toward the end of this post, you'll see a glimpse of my first Disco Stars quilt. This purple version is actually my fourth version. LOL I'll share pictures of the other two versions soon. 

Unfortunately, the machine sewing stopped at this point. I had to step away from the machine and for a variety of reasons, never got back to it. That will change today. My goal is to have this top sewn today and to start thinking about the quilting. Of course that means I have to think about the backing too. This is pretty small (40.5" x 54"), so I'm thinking that I will quilt this on my domestic machine and am pretty sure that I have fabric in my stash that will work for backing. We'll see...

Back to the snow...

We are fortunate to have double glass doors in our kitchen that look out to the back yard. Longtime blog readers know that I enjoy the view from those doors and have seen many pictures of wonderful green trees, lots of snow, and plenty of wildlife (deer, birds, etc.) Last night, I glanced out the door and noticed some snow that had "landed" on the door handle. I thought it was interesting and decided to see if I could get a picture of it. 

Don't ask me why, but I love how this looks. I love the layered look of the snow and the detail of both layers. I find the mirror-like effect of the handle both beautiful and intriguing. 

Jack suggested that I like it because it looks a bit like the front end of a ship and some of my friends just embarked on a week-long cruise. Maybe he's correct...LOL

While I didn't get back to the sewing machine, I did begin the hand-stitching on my first version of the Disco Stars quilt. I love everything about this quilt! 

I am thrilled with my binding choose. I don't usually choose binding until the quilting is complete, but I had chosen this binding even before I started piecing the blocks. I just knew it would work! 

Unlike the binding, I didn't know what I was going to use for the backing until I walked into a store one day as they were unwrapping a new bolt of wide backing. I saw it and just knew it would be perfect. I had only sewn a few blocks, but I just knew. :-)  

Maggie at Chestnut Ridge Sewing quilted this and while I don't remember the name of the quilting design, it is perfect! My other two completed versions of Disco Stars were quilted by Maggie and Linda at CRS, and they are perfect too. Maybe I should just have them quilt the purple version so it looks just as good as the others.  LOL

It's President's Day and we have no appointments. I've got a pot of soup cooking on the stove and Jack is working on a couple of projects at his radio desk. It's the perfect day to head back to the sewing machine and work on my goal. Tonight, you'll most likely find me on the couch hand-stitching while Jack is there reading a book. 

Sewing Again...

I finally did some sewing over the last few days, and it felt really good. 

I can't remember a time when I have gone this long without sewing, but I'm sure it has happened before. It had been quite some time since I sat at the sewing machine and did anything other than a quick mending job. I seriously think that I've done very little, if any since the end of July or beginning of August. I just wasn't feel "it," and there always seemed to be something else that needed my attention right away. 

I didn't abandon quilting/sewing all together. I was sketching projects in EQ, writing a few patterns, teaching some classes, and even pulling some fabrics. I just couldn't force myself to sit at the machine and sew. I think the fact that my sewing area is a mess and I've spent a lot of time running around for appointments and meetings had a lot to do with my "break." 

I didn't clean my sewing area, but I did take a look at some of those fabrics I pulled and cleaned up enough that I could do some sewing. I won't lie...it felt good to sew and I think I might even take a day and clean up my space so I can get some real work done. LOL

I didn't take pictures of most of what I've sewn, but I did take a picture of the plaid bias binding I'm attaching to the table runner I made today. Oh how I enjoy binding! 

I'll be back with more soon... 😊

Binding

It's been a while since I've had a quilt to bind and it felt so good! 

This is a rather small quilt (55" x 65") and it didn't take long to bind it, but it sure felt good to do that last night. I love it when a quilt gets to the binding stage. 

Maybe this is just what I needed to get focused on finishing projects. :-) 

I'm Baaaaack!

Whew! It's been a long minute since I've posted. I've been busy doing all kinds of things, but obviously blogging wasn't one of them. I'm breathing again, and I'm feeling the desire to blog. Yay!!

I'll be sharing quite a few things that have been happening over the past few months (ok - almost five months, but who's counting?), but I won't be sharing them in any particular order. 

I was happy to do some applique work for my daughter Lynn to include in a raffle for school. While I love the look of it, I don't love to applique. Honestly, I don't have the patience for it. I admire those of you who applique, but I can only seem to do it in small amounts of time. This project was very simple and it turned out ok. It's a simple applique on fleece, which was pretty darn easy and done on the machine. 

It's football season and I've offered to make at least one more of these for Lynn, if they have another raffle. I've also offered to make more for those chilly Friday nights when the family heads to the stadium to watch a school game. 

Speaking of taking a quilt with you when you go out...

Jack had a couple of outdoor singing gigs with the Symphony Chorale this summer and they were all wonderful. Since he always has to arrive early for practice, I took binding with me.

The quilt is called Ombre Ripple and the pattern is by Pine Tree Country Quilts.

For some reason I don't have a picture of the full and completed quilt. I'll have to try and rectify that as soon as I can. Right now, the quilt is hanging up at Chestnut Ridge Sewing because I'll be teaching a class in October. I used a variety of Pearlized Marble fabrics by Kanvas Studio for Benartex. They are perfect for this quilt and there are so many colors from which to choose! 

I'll be back soon with more eye candy. Even though school has started and I have been assigned some sub-teaching days (including today), I'll be spending time sewing and getting ready for a variety of upcoming classes.  :-)

I hope you get a chance to do what makes you happy. 💗

Catch Up Post

I've been a slacker when it comes to writing blog posts. It's always on my lists, but doesn't always make it to the top of the list.  I finally sat down at the computer and decided to write a few words and share a few pictures. 

Remember the black and red version of Mapleton Avenue that I shared last month? It has been gifted to Quinn and I even got a few pictures.  Yay!

I finished my two-color plus a background Atlantic Avenue quilt and LOVE it! Jack picked these colors and he is very pleased with results too.  

In case you can't see it in the picture above, I used the same black and white striped binding for this quilt. I think it is perfect for these quilts. I have at least one more project on which I plan to use it, so I guess it really was a good thing that I bought quite a large amount of it.  

I had some "sewing for others" to do and this big beauty is now complete. I did not get a picture of this after borders were added, as it was too big for my design wall. Plus, it was raining and pictures just weren't going to happen before it needed mailed. I'll share some of the pictures that I receive from the person who commissioned it. 

None of these pictures do the quilt justice. The fabrics are beautiful and it was a joy to make. After the borders were added, this beauty measured 93" x 107" The pattern is Sweet Caroline by Myra Barnes of Busy Hands Quilts.  

I have a couple of secret sewing projects on which I'm working and I'm enjoying them very much.  Here are the fabrics for one of the projects.  These just make me smile.  😊

I have a few other projects on which I've been working. I'll get some pictures of those to share too. That may happen this weekend, but I wouldn't hold my breath. 

Quilt Reveal - 2020 Color Challenge

 I love when it's time to reveal quilts!

I enjoyed making the blocks each month and learning about the birds that 

Jen - of Patterns by Jen used to introduce each month's color. 

I think that is such a fun way to choose colors!  

These fabrics...

have turned into these two quilts.

If you followed along each month of 2020, you know that I used a group of batiks that I purchased from Once Upon a Quilt in Ft. Lauderdale 

while I was there for a workshop in Dec. of 2019.

Like I had done the previous year, I decided to make two sets of blocks. This time one set would be made with a white background and one with black. 

After making the first couple of blocks, I started thinking about the quilt layout. I have to admit that when I work with batiks, I typically use either a black or white for the background. I think those two colors just make the batiks pop and look awesome. Here are a couple of examples of quilts that I've made that demonstrate what I mean.

Compass Points - Tamarinis

Bloom - Cut Loose Press pattern

Mandalynn - Busy Hands Quilts

Prairie Star - Judy Niemeyer

See what I mean? How could I go wrong with using black and white background fabric?

I was considering making one very large quilt (these two each measure 63" x 81") and incorporate both sets of blocks into one quilt. It didn't take long before I changed my mind and decided that I was going to go a different route.

Look closely at the two quilts and you will see that they are exactly the same, except for the background fabrics. 

Every block is in the same place, framed by the same fabric, sashing stars are identical, and even the scrappy flanged binding fabrics are placed in identical order. 

(Yep! I may be a little OCD.) 

I even made the backings identical, just changing the color/fabric. 

It's hard to see, but I quilted both of these the same way as well - with a free motion loopy design. You can really see it on the white quilt, but not so much on the black one.

Because the blocks were placed randomly and not according to the month they were completed, I decided to place the scrappy flange binding in the order the fabric was used. Realizing that didn't really tell me which fabric was used first, I decided to add a little reference guide in the binding. 

Since it's on top, I know that yellow was the January color and red was December. All the other months/fabric fall in the correct order in between those two. Just to be sure that I have it correct, the flange fabrics follow the same order as the fabrics in the guide. I think this is just plain fun and adds a bit of interest.  :-) 

I like this addition to the binding and have done it on some other quilts. 

On this one, I took the opportunity to add my label at the same place 

as the binding addition.

Even though I had lots of time to get pictures of this quilt, of course I waited until it was a windy day. It's always so much fun trying to take pictures when it's windy. Jack is feeling better, which is a good thing because and he and Lynn were pretty darn quick at stopping the rack from being blown over. 

I had a couple of other great helpers too! Whenever a big gust of wind would start, these two would run over and stand in front of the quilt, trying to hold it in place. 

Peyton even got down on the ground and held the bottom of the quilt so I could get a picture of the binding from the back.  :-) 

I am one lucky woman to have this much help. 

Not a single one of them mentioned the fact that I could have taken 

these pictures a month ago.  :-)

Let's see some other finished 2020 Monthly Challenge quilts!

This is just a handful of the many other quilters who met the challenge and created some amazing projects. 

Patterns by Jen

(Our amazing hostess for the challenge!)

Quilty Creations by Fawn

Home Sewn by Us

Sew Joy Creations

rainbows. bunnies. cupcakes

Pieceful Thoughts

Anja Quilts

I had a lot of fun making these blocks and quilts, and 

I'm already enjoying the 2021 blocks. 

There's still time to participate in for the 2021 Challenge. 

Simply go to Jen's blog and get the free pattern.

I hope you join the fun!

 

I already know how I'm going to finish my 2021 projects. 

Hopefully I won't wait until a windy, rainy, or snowy day to take pictures.  :-) 

Design Wall Monday

I've been able to get a bit of sewing done and that always makes me feel good. Besides some secret sewing, I actually took something from the "To Be Quilted" tub (AKA - Tub of Shame) and made the time to quilt it.

This is To The Point, a Tamarinis pattern. 

I pieced this quite some time ago (back in Dec. or January) but wasn't sure how I wanted to quilt it. Actually, about half way through piecing the diamonds, I realized that I didn't give any thought to the shadowing that would happen with the darker print fabrics. I decided that it was too late to turn back, so I just went ahead and finished the top. The quilting dilemma was really a question of whether or not I could do anything to help hide the shadowing. I couldn't decide what to do, so this top got set aside for another day. 

That day happened last week when I finally decided that I was just going to quilt the heck out of it with smallish meandering in the background (it's not plain white, but rather a white multi-color confetti) and an outline stitch close to the diamonds. This did not solve the shadowing issue, but the quilt is quilted and I'm happy.

I have no yardage of any of the print fabrics, so the next question is what to do about binding. I posed that questions to a group of people and was kind of surprised that many suggested using the background fabric. Their logic is that by using that, it would not distract from the diamonds. I have to admit that I'm not a huge fan of light binding, but I get what they are saying. There were a variety of other ideas - bright red, black, or anything dark. My husband suggested a fabric close to one of the light diamond fabrics. I'm still mulling this over and will check my stash. That will most likely be what makes the decision for me. :-) I'll post pictures when I've made my choice. I want to get this bound before Thursday, as I'll be meeting Tammy Silvers and would like to show her this quilt.

I recently shared my fabric choices and the beginnings of my Perpetual quilt. I will not have it completed by this weekend as I had hoped, but I do like what I have so far. All of the block quadrants are made and I just have to sew those together to complete the blocks, and then sew the blocks together. 

The pattern includes instructions for a bed runner, lap quilt, and bed quilt. I'm making the bed quilt, but I played around with some of the blocks so I could see what the runner would look like. I love this! This is made from just one of the two blocks. I REALLY like this and think I may have to see if I have enough extra fabric to make one.

Here is a very small version of the bed quilt. I know that I am going to love this quilt so it will not be put aside. That secondary design is pretty cool. 

I have some finishes to share - personal and secret sewing, but I'll wait until later this week. 

What are you working on today?

Check out the eye candy at 

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and 

Beth's Monday Making

Bindings

If you've been reading my blog for any real length of time, you know that I really like to do bindings - so much so that I offer to do them for friends. It's really not just because it means that the quilt is almost done (yes, that feels good too!), but it's because I love how a binding can make a so-so quilt look awesome.

I participated in the 2019 Color Challenge hosted by Jen over at Patterns by Jen  What's kind of funny to me is that I don't really like sampler quilts, and that is exactly what this is. So what did I do? I made two blocks each month. I made the original block provided by Jen; and in the second one, I reversed the fabric placement. Here are a few examples...     

Even though we didn't have to sign up to finish and blog about our completed quilt, I decided to do so simply to give me the push to get them done. It really would be easy for me to set the blocks aside and then have them get shoved into the UFO abyss - AKA the "tub of shame." 

Both quilts are done and I'm happy with the results. I have to get some pictures, but that won't happen today. Instead, I'm going to give you a sneak peek at the bindings.  :-)

One of the quilts has a scrappy binding that is sew the traditional way - sewn to the front by machine and hand stitched to the back.

I used a flange binding (machine sewn to the back and then machine sewn to the front) for the second one. 

I can't decide which quilt/binding I like best!  :-)