Playing with Fabric - Lots of Pictures

I've been a little lax in my blogging lately, and I hope that one thing that comes out of this stay at home order is that I get back on track with regular postings.
Like many of you, I've been sewing masks, working on UFOs, and basically just playing with my fabric and creating new quilts and other projects. What I have not done, and should do, is clean up my sewing area. I'll do that eventually, but not quite yet. 

For a little while at the beginning of this whole virus mess, I found myself spending a lot of time on the internet. I have made the conscious decision to step back, plan regular computer times for news updates, and use the other time to do things that are productive. 

So, to that end I decided to join a few classes and quilt alongs, learn some new techniques, and really learn to use the new ruler I bought.  

The first thing I did was take Tammy Silvers' Scrap Bracelet class. I pattern test for Tammy and will have the opportunity to meet her face to face in September when she teaches at the Ohio's Amish Country Quilt Festival. I'm really looking forward to that!

I was starting to clean up my sewing area when I happened upon 12 -  2 1/2" strips that were left over from a project I made a while back. I didn't put these away because I just knew that I would make something to coordinate with the original project. (As we can see, that did not happen!) The bracelet pattern calls for 12 strips of fabric, and they can be of varying widths and lengths. I took the fact that 12 strips are called for in the pattern and that is exactly what I have, as a sign that I needed to learn to make these bracelets. (12 strips makes many more than one bracelet, and that's what I wanted to do.)  

The class was fun and productive. I learned a lot and completely finished two bracelets. I have completed six others since the class ended, but I didn't take pictures of those. FYI - my fabrics are all from a specific collection. That is not a requirement. These were leftovers and therefore, scraps to me. I have true scraps ready to use to make more of these. As you can see, I have some fun buttons to use too.  :-) 

Tammy has hosted a couple of free Facebook Live classes that have been very informative and fun - learning how to create fabric gradations from your stash and auditioning fabrics. (You can see those videos by clicking the link above, or by going to Tammy's Facebook page and clicking on her videos.) This coming Saturday (4/11), Tammy is offering an online class for her Peaks and Valley quilt, which is a wonderful way to put into practice what I learned about gradations and auditioning fabrics. The quilt is an awesome baby quilt, but I'm making mine larger, of course.  :-) 

I joined Gudrun Erla's Elvira Quarantine Quilt Along and had a fun time with that too. There were so many people joining along that day, it was crazy! The pattern has multiple size options and is fat quarter friendly. While Gudrun uses the Stripology ruler, she also provided information on how to make this quilt with a variety of other rulers. I can't believe that there was anyone who didn't have their questions answered, and didn't learn how to make this project using the tools they had on hand. (The pattern includes all the same information.) Like Tammy, Gudrun has all of the videos available on her GE Designs Facebook page. 

While many people finished their quilts in one day, I had to take a break and do some other things. Instead, my quilt top was done the next day. I made the lap size, which measures 63" x 84". I have not quilted this yet, but hope to soon. I used a set of Fusion Illusion fat quarters that I won a few years back from Blank Quilting. I am very happy with this quilt! 

Gudrun just posted another QAL Friday - her Strip to Shore quilt. It is nice and I have fabric and the pattern to make this. But, I have a few other things to work on first. :-)  

I bought a new ruler recently (Creative Grids 2 Peaks in 1), and decided that I wanted to learn how to use it. To that end, I have completed a table runner and wall hanging using patterns from Sassafras Lane Designs. 

Fleet Street - 16" x 64" - This is bright, colorful, and fun. I think it's perfect for Easter/Spring and I love it!

I quilted this with very basic straight lines and like the results.

Tall Tree Lane - 20" x 54" - I used a gradation fabric for the tree and really love how it looks. I like that I have one Christmas project done so early. :-) 

For the quilting, I sewed some straight lines in the tree, using the ruler as a guide. I then dropped my feed dogs and quilted swirls in the background. That was fun! 

And finally, to use the ruler one more time, I made Wing and a Prayer's Christmas Cactus Table Topper. 

I liked the block (24" x 24") and decided that since I have the fabric, I might as well make more blocks and make a quilt. You know, get another Christmas project complete. I sewed four additional blocks, played around with sashing and border ideas and will have an 86" x 86" quilt top sewn by the end of today. (I just have to add the final border.) I'll post pictures of that tomorrow. I decided to make four blocks for the quilt and keep one block for the table topper. I can put that on the dresser or night stand. 

I think I have mastered the ruler!  lol

I've been playing around with some other designing too. I worked out these two versions of a table runner. I've sewn the tops, but have not quilted them yet.

I'll get to quilting those soon, but for now I have a few other secret sewing projects on which I'm working. I'll share those as soon as I am allowed.

Enough computer time - I'm heading to the sewing machine. 

Be safe!

Design Wall Monday

I have two things on the wall today and both of them are so very near completion that I think I may be able to finish them this week. At the risk of jinxing myself, finishing includes the  quilting and binding. WooHoo!!

First up is the new version of the Star Parade table runner. I finished piecing this Saturday afternoon and now it's ready for the quilting. I'm going to trim the corners and bind this one like the patterns. I should finish it tonight and I'll post pictures. 

Here's the original one that I made, before it was quilted. It's quilted and bound but I don't have any pictures of that yet. I will do that today and post both pictures. I did not trim this one, so you'll be able to see how each version looks.  

And I only have two more borders to add to this - Midnight Blue Star by Karen Combs.

I was asked to make this for someone and I like how it's turned out. It's pretty small, 48" x 48" so quilting it shouldn't take too long and I'll just do it on my domestic. (Well, that's also because my HQ16 is at the "spa" getting some rehab work done.  :-(

What are you working on today?

Check out what others are up to today

I'll be hooking up to these two sites later today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

and

Monday Makings

Design Wall Monday

I have been quite lazy with my blog postings lately so it's been quite a long time since I've posted for a Design Wall Monday. Really, I have been busy but the timing just hasn't been right to post something in progress on a Monday. 

Well, today is different and I have something on the wall on which I'm still working. I should be happy that I've been completing things and don't have them "in progress." Yep, that's the story I'm sticking with. :-)

Hopefully the next time you see this it will be a completed table runner. Done, done and done (pieced, quilted and bound)!

I like how this is turning out. The pattern calls for this to more scrappy but I wanted to use up the left over four red and blue fabrics from a previous project. As a matter of fact, the gold and white are left-overs as well and I'm hoping to have enough of scraps for the binding as well. I think I'll go for the gold and piece the backing totally from scraps; and I am positive that I have a big enough batting scrap to use too. :-)

What's on your design wall today?

Check out what other quilters are creating today.

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times

and

Monday Making

Snow for Easter?

I made this Easter carrot table runner  and needed to move it from the table last night when Nikki's kids were here because I knew they were going to color. I wasn't sure if the kids had seen the "giant carrot" yet, so I wanted to put it up someplace that was out of the way, but where they could still see it. I thought this was the perfect solution.

Sadie was the first to see it and her expression was like, "What the heck is that giant carrot doing hanging on the wall?" 

Then I lifted up the carrot to show them this.

I wish you could have heard them laugh!

Unfortunately it's not too big of a stretch to think we could have snow on Easter. 

Design Wall Monday

This past week has been very busy! 

Jack was in DC for five days singing and I hosted an Old Bags' Day Sew-In while he was gone. Because it was a holiday, Ann and Jerry were both able to stay an extra day, which was a lot of fun. 

I had to pick Jack up in Fremont at 4:30 in the morning and we spent most of Tuesday catching up with each other and the events of those five days, so I didn't get much quilting accomplished that day. It was worth it, though!

On Wednesday, Lynn and I drove to Columbus to pick up Sadie and Ronan so Nikki and Zach could spend some quality time packing without two youngsters vying for attention. Quinn was still in school, so she had to stay with them, but I'm guessing she may have been able to help a little. By the way, the final move was made on Saturday and all went well. I know Nikki and Zach are both very tired, but I'm thrilled that they are back living in this neck of the woods. :-)

I often forget how much energy two little ones have. It was tiring, but fun having them here. Unfortunately, Jack was not feeling well (respiratory issues from the trip) so he couldn't enjoy them as much as me. He did read a little to them and meal time is always hilarious. 

I think the funniest thing was when Sadie asked if Grandpa Jack was going to get a "bananabiotic" to make him feel better. Then she asked the pharmacist if his medicine tastes like bubble gum because her's does and that will make him "be not sick" faster. When the pharmacist said it didn't, Sadie asked if she could make it taste better, or maybe he should just chew gum while he took it. It still makes me grin just thinking about it and everyone, including the ever-so-professional pharmacist couldn't contain their laughter. Out of the mouths of babes, right?  

Anyway, back to Design Wall Monday. here's what's really on my wall right now. What a mess, right? This is the layering of the projects that I finished up yesterday and need quilted ASAP.

I'll un-layer everything for you. Here's the Jewel Box wall hanging that I showed last week. I love how this looks and can't wait to quilt it! 

I'll be teaching a series of table runner classes (all using a 60 degree ruler), starting in July and here are the new samples. The one on the left is fun vegetable fabric and it was made using the Easy Strip Table Runner pattern. 

I love the effect of the runner on the right. It was made using the Triangle Frenzy Runner pattern. by Bunnie Cleland. This is easy to make and I can see so many possibilities here! 

It gets better! Here's my short version of the Triangle Frenzy Swirl, also by Bunnie Cleland.

And a longer version of the same pattern.

And last but not least, my version of the Bunnie's Triangle Frenzy Hexagon. I love this one! 

I am so excited for these classes and can't wait to see what fabrics everyone has chosen. With patterns like these, there is no need to be worried about using striped fabrics or "odd" angle rulers.  :-)

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

Go to Judy L's Patchwork Times