A New Project To Share

So much for posting more frequently! :-( 

Honestly, I've not just been sitting around eating bon bons and twiddling my thumbs; but since I haven't been sharing anything here, it certainly feels like that's the case.

In the past two weeks, I have completed a couple of secret sewing project for Tammy Silvers that I can't show yet, but I can show snippets. The first quilt is a Christmas quilt, and it is adorable. 

Take a look at this block The quilt is fun and easy to put together and I think I am going to use the pattern to make a wall hanging and table runner. I may even make a few placemats to go along with it. It really is that adorable!

I completed another secret project for Tammy and it involves a lot (320!) flying geese units. 

Yikes! That was a lot of trimming! I used a Studio 180 Wing Clipper to trim everything, so that made it much easier and faster. 

I've made some samples for upcoming classes, but I haven't taken pictures yet. Maybe this week...

I recently taught a Granny Squares Quilt class that was fun. I made the original sample I use for class back in 2014 and it was made using very traditional/30's reproduction fabrics. (I made a second version of this quilt in late 2014 that is very different, but it was made using a specific fabric that is no longer available. Check that out HERE.) 

While I still like the original quilt (and second version), I decided I wanted an updated and larger version so I headed to my stash and pulled out an older Alison Glass Sun Prints 2.5" strip pack. I found a fabric that I liked for the background and made up some blocks and step-out samples. 

I needed to add a couple of fabrics to end up with the required number of blocks, so I pulled two from my stash that I felt blended well. I am happy with the choice. 

I sewed and trimmed 48 blocks and decided to put them up on the design wall right away, instead of putting them away and work on something "more pressing." That's just one of the many ways I end up with a bunch of UFOs and I was determined that would not happen with this quilt.

Here are the blocks, with no sashing added yet. I wanted to get an idea of the layout and be sure no two adjacent blocks had the same fabric. Until I put this on the wall, I didn't realize how many yellow fabrics I used in making the blocks.  hahaha

I have started to sew in the vertical sashing strips and then sew rows together. After that, I'll add the horizontal sashing and decide about a border. I have a fabric I am considering, but I'm not sure about it and won't be until that top is complete. 

I have projects on which I should be sewing, but I needed a break from "required" work and this is perfect! I am looking forward to seeing this updated version of a very traditional pattern. :-) 

Design Wall Monday

There are a couple of projects on my design wall today. They have been there for a couple of days and will remain there, exactly like this for a couple more. Who knows, they may be there all week!

These are half of the Granny Square blocks that I made using the strip piecing method. (The other eight have not been trimmed yet.) I will be adding black sashing between the blocks and adding some borders. I still have to play and decide how I want to do it.

All of these blocks, and the other eight came from this fabric. It is Rain, by Michael Miller. Isn't it beautiful?!? 

I cut strips of each of the colors and combined them with black to create the blocks. I have pieces of fabric left over that shows the gradation from color to color and I want to figure out a way to use them in at least one of the borders. 

Here's another project on the wall.

I was asked to make a queen size John Deere themed quilt and I sketched six options for the recipient. There were a couple of log cabin options, two star versions, a churn dash option and a scrappy version. To be honest, I was glad he chose this log cabin version. 

There are a lot of different John Deere fabrics out there, but many of them we simply not conducive to making this quilt. Since this is for an adult, I didn't want the quilt to scream John Deere by having the focus be the tractors. Instead, I found some fabric and fussy cut centers of the log cabin blocks. Here are the centers before they are all trimmed. Only the second one from the top left is trimmed.   

Since I have placed the centers in specific places, I took this picture so I could use it as a reference during construction. It has come in handy a couple of time already!

There is one more project that is being worked on during the construction of these two quilts but I don't have any pictures of it. it's being constructed from the Rain fabric also. 

And yesterday I worked on this umbrella. I still have to add the snap because I forgot to do it before waterproofing it. UHHHH!!

There's an awful lot on my plate this week so you may see these same things on my wall next week.

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

Design Wall Monday

Before you ask, no I did not finish my red and white Prairie Star quilt that I posted last week. I did work on it a little, but as you read on through this post, I think it will become apparent why I have decided that it's a good thing that I didn't work on it very much.

Instead of working on the Prairie Star quilt, I felt the need to finish up a few projects that I've had sitting around here for a while. I wanted to be productive, but not have to think too much. With that in mind, I pulled some quilt tops and prepared them for quilting and binding. 

Everything was going along swimmmingly until yesterday evening. I had finished two quilts - simple meander quilting and even finished the bindings, and I was feeling so good. Ok, I admit it, I was feeling a bit cocky. 

Since all was going well and I was being so productive, I decided to make the backing for my "dark" version of Zen Garden and get it ready for quilting. 

I really like this quilt  - and every other quilt designed by Little Louise Designs that I have made - so I knew that once I got started it would go quickly. (Click HERE to see the "light" version of the same quilt.)  

All was going well and I was even using up some stash to make the backing. I like this, don't you?

Well, I guess maybe I was tired or perhaps I was just not paying attention. I don't know, but I do know that my backing isn't wide enough! ARRGGHHH!!!  It's plenty long, but that doesn't help me. :-(

Can you see that the top left corner of the backing is shorter than the quilt top? The right side is lined up exactly, so there is no excess there from which to "borrow." I decided it was time to just put this away and try again later. I think I have some extra of the print fabric that I could piece together and make another strip. We'll see though....

Do you see why I have decided that it was a good thing I didn't work on the Prairie Star and have to think? That just might have been ugly!

Anyway, on a positive note I did completely finish two quilts. This first one was actually not a UFO, but I was so excited to try a strip piecing method for making Granny Squares that I spent part of last Wednesday pulling fabric and trying the technique. I loved it and this quilt is the result.

It's not too often that I begin and finish a quilt in such a short amount of time, but this was so easy and I was having fun. I still wasn't feeling well and did not want to have to think while sewing. This was perfect and I really like the end result!

The quilt below had been a quilt top just waiting to be finished for quite a while. I already had the backing and binding ready, but I just hadn't quilted it. It's done and I really like this too. (Quite a bit different than the Granny Squares now isn't it?) I've named this one Color Splash.

Anyway, I was productive and even though I am now faced with a backing challenge, I'm pretty happy with my progress. The Prairie Star quilt is not put away. It's just set aside for right now. It will be finished soon because I'm feeling much better and I really want to finish it!

Check out what other quilters have on their design walls today.
Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times and be prepared to be inspired.