When Fabric Speaks to You

I love it when fabric speaks to me! 

Just to be clear, it doesn't actually talk, but it does touch me in a way that helps me determine how to use it. 

I think we've all been there. We buy a piece of fabric without a plan for it. We just fall in love with it and have to have it. That has happened to me many times, which is why I have a substantial stash. 

There are also times that while it is not verbal, the fabric actually does send me a message. That's what I'm talking about today. 

I was working on my Homespun quilts and was surprised at how many times it looks like I fussy cut pieces. I did NOT fussy cut anything. As a matter of fact, I was using a pre-cut so these "messages" simply appeared. The fabric is Keep Shining Bright, by Anne Rowan for Wilmington Fabrics. 

I love what I'm reading and choose to believe that there was some divine intervention involved here.   

My tops are complete, but I don't have pictures yet. But...I will show them up on the design wall before blocks were sewn together. This quilt has two layout options and here's a picture from the designer (Modernly Morgan) that shows both of them - side by side. 

Here are my versions. I used the same fabrics for both, but simply laid them out differently. I seriously did not mess with this at all and randomly placed blocks. (Yes, these are really bad pictures, but I took them to help me keep track of the layout when I was moving blocks from the design wall to the sewing machine. If I don't do that, I always seem to sew at least one thing wrong.) 

I don't know when, but I will get better pictures and share them here. I seriously loved making these quilts! I toyed with the idea of adding borders but changed my mind once I started looking at my options. I did however, create my own size for this quilt because I wanted a somewhat small rectangular quilt rather than a square one. My quilts measure 48" x 64", which is just what I wanted. 

What are you working on today?

Check out some eye candy at 

Monday Making 

and

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

Happy Monday!

It's a new week and there's lots of good stuff happening and fun stuff to show.

The black and red Mapleton Avenue quilt that I showed the other day is now complete and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. 

I love the black and white binding!  

And yes, just like my label says, I really do believe that everyone deserves a quilt.  :-)

When I showed the red and black quilt the other day, I also shared a glimpse of another version of the Mapleton Avenue quilt. 

I love these fabrics, but I wasn't thrilled with how it looked in the original layout. One of the participants in the Sew Along laid her blocks out following a diagonal pattern and I loved it. I decided to turn a few blocks and see if I liked it. 

I loved the new look and got out my seam ripper yesterday morning. Some times you use a seam ripper because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to. Because of that, it didn't take long to un-sew the rows, rearrange them, and then sew the top together again. (Truthfully, I didn't have the top all sewn together, but I did have just under half of it done.) 

Here's the new layout. I love it and was so excited that I went ahead and quilted it too. 

I will get to the binding later today and post another (and better!) picture tomorrow.

So, what am I going to do with these quilts or the next couple that I'll be making? The red and black quilt has a dedicated recipient and I have a thought about the second one. But, if that changes I'm going to donate it to a couple of the 2021 Hands2Help Challenge. 

I've participated in this Challenge for a number of years and think it's great. The challenge is organized by Sarah over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and she does a great job with it. There are always options of to where to send your quilts and this year includes a special challenge. Please take a few minutes to read about this and consider joining me for the 2021 Hands2Help Challenge. 

What are you working on this week? 

For inspiration, check out Judy's Design Wall Monday post or Beth's Monday Making.

Design Wall Monday

I had a project on the design wall this weekend, but a conversation with my husband resulted in that quilt being taken down and a very old project of his being put up there.  

We are scheduled to go on a trip in May and we were discussing that. Jack really wants to do some hiking, but has admitted that might not happen because of health issues. We were talking about things he could do and I mentioned that he could work on the quilt he started quite some time ago. He said he would think. We wrapped up that discussion and each got busy with other things.

About an hour later, I went to the kitchen to do a few things and when I returned, I found this on the cutting table.

This tub has been packed away and stored on a shelf under my pressing table for quite some time. It was put there after Jack last worked on his quilt. He had spent quite a bit of time playing around with the fabrics and making the blocks. He had started to sew the rows together and was excited to get it ready for the quilting. I remember him putting it up on the design wall to talk about it with my brother Jerry, only to find a mistake in the bottom row. 

Do you see the mistake? Right there in the middle of the bottom row. He had even started playing with border options. (Ok, what was I thinking to have dyed that design wall fabric that color???)

Fast forward to yesterday... 

While I was preparing dinner, the quilt top that I finished sewing together Saturday (I can't show it because it's a pattern test), was taken down and this replaced it. 

The mistake has been taken apart and placed correctly. Jack inventoried the contents of the storage container, typed out the hand-written notes, and has once again started thinking about border and quilting options. :-) The quilt is being removed from the wall as I type up this post, and all of the rows are being labeled and organized. I don't think he plans on working on this until our trip, but he is excited to finish this. I am excited for him!

Maybe it's the new year, but the idea of finishing a project that has been put away for so long is really appealing to me. This got set aside because it needed "fixed" and other things took precedence. (Most likely those other things included me reclaiming the design wall and rarely having it empty. But that's another story...)

The reemergence of this project has me thinking. I have A LOT of UFOs and I think it is high time that I pull them out and evaluate them. I need to be honest with myself and prioritize these projects. Who knows; I might fall in love with a project that found it's way into storage and move it to the front of the "to do" list. 

But in reality, I am sure that will not happen to most of the projects and I'm ok with that. It's ok to decide that it's not perfect, but that doesn't mean that I can't finish it and give it to someone who can use it and maybe even love it. It's also ok to decide that I no longer have a desire to work on something. If that is the case, I then need figure out how to give it a new home and a possible new life.

I will do this slowly, as I know myself well enough to know that I will fret about how much money I have tied up in each of these projects. But, it needs done and I know that I will feel better after having done this. It's a way to clear my sewing space and my head. After that, I can proceed with what gives me pleasure.  

Design Wall Monday

I'm still working on secret sewing projects, but I do take some time to sneak in a few of my own projects every once in a while.

A while back, I bought a couple of the 3 Yard Quilts books by Donna Robertson.  My intention was to make a number of these projects and use them for donation quilts. I also figured that since I would have made the quilts, I could use my experience to help new quilters make fun, attractive, and easy quilts. It sounds like a great plan, right?

Before I even picked out my first project, "the virus" hit and things got a little crazy. Since we were staying home, you'd think that would have been a perfect time to pick up these books and put my plan into action. Did I do that? Nope! Instead, I worked on a few UFOs, started (and even finished) some new projects, and worked on variety of pattern tests and commission works. These books get set aside and pushed to the back burner.

They finally made their way to the front of the line last week while I was at Chestnut Ridge. My friend Ellen and I pulled fabric for one project from each of three books I own and I got started cutting and sewing. Seriously, these projects take 3 yards of fabric - 1 yard of 3 different fabrics, and that even includes the binding. Yes, they will be small quilts; but there are instructions on how to enlarge each of the quilts to twin size or queen/king. Easy, peasy!

I have one top complete, but don't have a good picture. I'll get that later today and share that tomorrow. Here is my progress on the second quilt - Rickrack, from Quick as a Wink 3-Yard Quilts.

These quilts really are quick and easy to make. I made the first one in just a few hours and this one will be the same. I'll make the third top later this week and then look for backing. I'd love to get these quilted and bound quickly so they don't get put into the "tub of shame" AKA - "to be quilted tub." 

What are you working on today?

Check out the quilters eye candy at

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making 

Design Wall Monday

 I have the Rockn' Roller Coaster quilt top completed and am contemplating the quilting and binding options.

While I am not thrilled with my fabric choices for the top row, I don't dislike it enough to take it out and change it. :)  

What's kind of interesting though, is that it doesn't bother me very much at all when I rotate the quilt. It sure does give this a different look, doesn't it? Jack says he likes it better this way; and since it will be here for kids to use, I think it could be fun for them to decide which way they like it best.  

I may have to give some extra thought to the quilting, if it's rotated. Hmmmm What are your thoughts?

And while I'm asking, what are your thoughts about binding? 

I have been working on a few secret sewing projects, so not much more has been done with my Ava's Garden blocks. I look forward to working on those again because I just love churn dash blocks.

What are you working on today?

Check out some Quilters' Eye Candy at

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts 

and 

Beth's Monday Making

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

School Colors - Secret Sewing Reveal

 This isn't on my design wall right now, but it was recently one of my secret sewing projects that is now complete. The timing of the reveal is perfect, as it's that time of year that kids are headed back to the classroom.

Introducing...

School Colors

This pattern is now available in both 

print and pdf version at 
Busy Hands Quilts.

Just like every other quilt I've made using one of Myra's pattern, this was so easy to follow and her illustrations are wonderful. The pattern includes two sizes (throw and twin); and they both perfect for kids going off to college or when you want to show your school spirit and stay warm at the same time. Unlike many patterns that require more blocks to be made to increase the size, the twin size is made using the same number of blocks, just a larger size. How cool is that? 

Here are a few pictures of Myra's completed quilt. 
 

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

Check out that quilting! 

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

As you know, I always like to take pictures of the quilts I make from side angles. 

And a look from the other side...

One of the coolest things about this quilt is that the blue stars are not pieced as star blocks. They are created with some awesome pieced sashing. WooHoo!

You all know that I am a sucker for a good red, white, and blue quilt, so I'll be making my own version of this soon because it will make a great Quilt of Valor. But, I am also thinking that this would be a great quilt to make for a school fundraiser. All you need are the two school colors and a background/accent, and you are good to go. If you are having a difficult time visualizing this, Myra has provided some samples in a variety of colors. Check it out HERE.

School Colors - Image from Busy Hands Quilts

You can get your own copy of School Colors at Busy Hands Quilts.

While you're there, sign up for her newsletter. 

Check out Myra's Facebook page for more pictures of this beautiful quilt. 

You won't be sorry you did! 

So, what IS on my design wall today?

I finished Peyton's elephant quilt top. I'm got the back ready to sew and then it's time to quilt this puppy elephant. :-)

I've been playing around with a small project that I can use for teaching a very basic paper piecing class, and this is what I've come up with. After I took this picture, I layered it, quilted it, and have the binding sewn on. I'll hand stitch that down later today. 

 

I did finish the Picket Fence quilt top that I showed last week. Since I was using up leftover pieces of a layer cake (10" squares), my quilt is smaller than the pattern size. I was toying with the idea of adding a border, but I opted against that and am happy with my choice. Without thinking, I took it off the wall before I remembered to get a picture.  I hope to get this quilted and bound by mid-week, so I'll get some pictures then.

What are you working on today?

Check out the Quilters Eye Candy at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Love Laugh Quilt

Design Wall Monday

 I've been working on a couple of secret sewing projects that I can't show, but I can show you this...

This package of goodies arrived last week and I was excited to get sewing. Can you tell that the pieces were already cut for me? WooHoo!

The first thing I did was sew a bunch of half square triangles. It was easy and fast because the triangles were already cut.

I can't show you anything else, but the top is done and I love it! It will be heading back to the designer later today and I can't wait for the pattern to be released. 

I had to put Layne's quilt aside because I decided to make a change in the design and I need to make a fabric change. I think I have what I need in my stash, but I haven't looked yet. 

Instead, I started working on Peyton's elephant quilt. The final quilt will be a combination of three different patterns, mixed in with a little of my own design. The solid yellow will be a frame around what you see here and then I'll add at least one border after that. I'll have to see it and make decisions as I go. 

While I have gotten a chance to do some sewing lately, it's not as much as I'd hoped. Two weeks ago, Jack picked a fight with a wasp, and lost big time. Not only did he get stung, but swatting at it, he lost his balance, fell, and broke his left ankle. He is home with a pretty titanium plate in his ankle, along with seven shiny screws. He is "enjoying" life using a walker and wheelchair and the frequent visits from a nurse and physical therapist. He will continue to be non-weight bearing for at least two more weeks, so life has been interesting. The good news is that he's been able to catch up on his Spanish novel reading. He's on his third book already and his reading skills and vocabulary have really improved.  

While getting the house ready for his return, I swapped out a wall hanging and put up the LOVE quilt I made a year or so ago. I've pinned a couple of love notes and pictures from the grandkids to the quilt. This is hanging next to the bed that was moved downstairs for Jack. I smile every time I look at this!

Lynn and family stopped over the other day so I could run a couple of errands. Ty mowed the lawn and the three older kids spent some time in the back yard playing, but came in the house to do some crafts when Ty was ready to mow there. I snapped this picture right before I left. 

Avery made this "little piece of art" (that's what she called it) out of an old embroidery hoop, some rubber bands, yarn, and scraps of paper. It looks great hanging in the kitchen window. 

What are you working on this week?

Check out the quilters' eye candy at

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making

Design Wall Monday

It's been a while since I've written a Design Wall Monday post. It's not because I haven't been doing anything, but rather because most of what I've been doing is secret sewing and can't be shared yet.  I'm caught up on those projects (for the moment) and have a couple of personal quilts on which I'm working.

This tiger fabric and the coordinating ones in the second picture, have been sitting around far too long, waiting for me to make Layne a quilt. It's up on the wall where I have to look at it whenever I walk into the room. My goal is to have a plan by the end of this afternoon and to actually start cutting and sewing tonight.  I do have a few thoughts, but I need to do some sketching and playing around.

I have completed sewing the first units of my Perpetual quilt (a Tamarinis quilt pattern) and am very happy with how they look. 

I am making the bed size quilt (73" x 97"), so I have to make 72 of these units. They will be made into 18 blocks, once I complete the next two small sections that get sewn to the sides of this unit. 

Tammy Silvers (Tamarinis) will be teaching this quilt at the Ohio's Amish Quilt Festival; but since I will be working at the Festival, I can't take the class. Instead, I decided to make my own so I can show it at the Festival. (No pressure to get this done in a timely manner, right?  lol) 

When I showed the pattern to Jack, he said that he really liked it. It is quite intriguing, isn't it?

While talking about the pattern, Jack said that he would love to see this done in red and black. I agreed with him that that would be striking. So... I started the search for fabrics. This picture do NOT do these fabrics justice, but this is what I'm using.

The pattern includes instructions for three sizes - bed quilt, lap quilt, and table runner. Of course I decided that if I'm going to do it, I might as well go big - so the bed quilt it is!

I'll update as I work on this, but it's a busy week for me so it might be just like this next week. 

By them, I hope to be able to share some of my secret sewing projects.  

What are you working on this week?

Check out the eye candy at 

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts

and

Beth's Monday Making

Design Wall Monday

Since this whole Covid-19 deal started, I've been working on a lot of different projects, including hosting a Table Runner Sew Along for Chestnut Ridge Sewing. I enjoyed that and decided that I really wanted to host another Sew Along, so I got busy on samples of Bloom, a Cut Loose Press pattern. This is the quilt on the pattern and for some reason it just caught my eye. I love all the colors and hexagons. 

Here's my version...

I used the same fabric for the background, setting triangles, and borders, and I'm very happy with how this turned out. This entire quilt top was made from stash fabrics and that makes me very happy. I did have to purchase backing, but I found the perfect fabric very quickly. As a bonus, after I quilted and trimmed this, I realized that the backing fabric was also the perfect binding fabric. Yay!

Of course I can't just make one sample when I'm going to be teaching a project, so I made a smaller version of the quilt too. (Stash fabric again!)

I used the backing fabric for the binding on this quilt too.  It has all the colors from the fat quarters I used and I'm thrilled that I didn't have to buy anything. :-) 

A 60 degree triangle ruler is required to make this quilt, but I didn't mind. I've used the ruler a lot; but I know many people have not. As a matter of fact, I know at least four people that have yet to remove the plastic. That was kind of the catalyst for me to use the pattern for the Sew Along. I really want people to use what they have and not be afraid to learn something new.

With that in mind, I figure there might be some participants who don't want to commit to a large quilt. So, for them, I created a couple of table runners. 

They will learn to use the ruler and have a usable product when they are done. 

After I made the red and white runner, I played around with some layout options and threw together this version of the quilt.

This measures the same as the original quilt, 64" x 80", but it looks so different and only uses 24 blocks. I'm pleased with this and will get it quilted soon. 

We pulled some fabrics, in case any of the Sew Along people want to buy a kit. Aren't these beautiful?

I have a strip of each of these fabrics so I can use them for my demos. I'm happy that will result in another quilt because I know it will be very pretty and I have just the person in mind who would love this. 

What are you working on today?

Check out the quilters' eye candy at 

Beth's Monday Making

and

Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts