Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Scrappy Wednesday


I know September is on the horizon - boy the year is going by fast.  So I need to get a start on my project for the new HOP - My Favorite Quilt Block.


Since we will be heading into Fall, I thought it would be a good idea to finally use some of my collected homespuns, shirts, cotton and wool plaids.    I probably have enough for three or four quilts, but getting this one done for the hop is my mission. (do you see the toesies?)


Moe is really an outdoor kitty during the Summer, but he LOVES those wools and homespuns.  I convinced him to nap on the tote out of the way - I didn't want to bob a tail or trim some toes.


Tonight I teach a class on making Button Boats which should be fun.  All the class supplies have been packed for a while as we had to reschedule with my Mom's trip to the hospital and this guild lost a long time member at the same time.  I need to remember to take my camera.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Monday, July 29, 2019

Monday Making


The 'Twinkle Tree' was sandwiched, quilted and bound.  BUT, I think it looks a little blah so I will add some buttons and beads to liven it up.


The 'Lost Socks' has been put into a flimsy and needs to be sandwiched for some quilting.  Maybe this one will be a finish by the end of the month.


And I breezed thru the #2 Clue over the weekend for Kevin's two color mystery quilt along (button on the side bar).  The 4-patches need to be pressed, but not until it cools down.  I just pulled a lot of 1.5" white and w/w strips from that yellow bag and made strattas.  With  a new blade in the rotary, I stacked those 6 deep and sub-cut units that then were chained thru the machine lickety split.  I actually made too many strattas and too many 4-patches - I'll use them in something.  The 164 single 1.5" squares I just had to pull from my barrel system - no cutting.

Some handwork and simple quilting - an easy day,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Winner & New Hops


It's time to announce the winner of my FQ Christmas Bundle of 'WinterTidings' by Timeless Treasures.

Great idea - your grandchildren will have such fun decorating their own tree!
Congratulations Cathy - will send you an e-mail for info to get this right out!  And thank you all for visiting and the lovely comments. 


I will be busy working on a project for the Favorite Quilt Block HOP.  I make so many blocks, but I do have a favorite.


And you just can't pass this one up!  Another seasonal print I don't collect or use, but I have a project in mind using just a single block unit.  Should be wickedly fun.

Sewingly YOurs,
Sharon

The Color PINK


It's the last RSC19 link up up for the monthly color - PINK.   I needed to catch up on the sampler blocks.  So when I was gleening thru the newly gifted scraps for RED, I pulled the PINKs as well.  I have a range from 'mellon' to 'magenta' in all of these pinks.


An array of pinks used in these blocks.  I now have 16 straight set blocks and 16 diagonal blocks.  I loved SALLY's  tiny piglet, but then I remembered that I had used her large piggy pattern for one of last year's RSC projects.



They even have their own quilt barn.  There are pieces cut (with pattern) for a tractor.  I think I need to get this one put into a quilt top. 

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

Friday, July 26, 2019

Whooping it Up on Friday


I happily have all my Red scraps pieced for the "Simply Sensational Summer Scrap Quilt" by KEVIN (button on side bar).  All those 4-patches need pressing and trimming, but that is something to do at night as it is too hot to be over an iron for any length of time.  I pulled a lot of lite scraps from the gifted bags, totes, and boxes - plus to mix my own - to be ready for clue #2 which came out today.  That will be my weeekend stitching. 


I was going to add to my Temecula QUilt Co. button blocks as long as I had those scraps going, but once I laid them all out - counted - I have more than enough.


Of course, the helper is in the mix of trying to put these into rows.  She is my shadow while trying to adjust to the new 'norm' around here.  I need to catch Moe in some photos, but with Summer he is constantly outside roaming the property, visiting neighbors, hunting birds, and helping my brother with any outside work.


There!!!  Set 13 across and 15 down with several twosie rows and one single row - this one is almost a flimsy.  This is one of those old patterns that you wouldn't add borders to - but who knows.  It may get a skinny stop border and then a final scrappy border.

Remember the 12 Days of Christmas is still open with SARAH until the 30th, so you still have time to visit links and sign into the FIGO fabric give away.  Sarah will keep all the links up under her tab for the year so you can always go back to a favorite pattern and create for your holiday season.  I bookmarked a few that I hope to get to later in the year.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Still Christmas in July


I found this little piece when rummaging thru the tote of 'to be quilted' items.  I made this during last year's 12 days of Christmas.  It's a single tree from Kim Deihl's "Twinkle Trees" pattern.  I think it needs to be finished up this year and today is a good day for that.

Tomorrow is the last day of the HOP and here is the list of bloggers:

Sunday, July 14th
Monday, July 15th
Tuesday, July 16th
Wednesday, July 17th
Thursday, July 18th
Friday, July 19th
Saturday, July 20th
Sunday, July 21st
Monday, July 22nd
Tuesday, July 23rd
Wednesday, July 24th
Thursday, July 25th
Remember each blogger has the entry for the FIGO giveaway bundle as well as our Hostess SARAH has each day.  That's a lot of chances to win some very pretty Christmas fabric.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon






Sunday, July 21, 2019

Monday Making


I finally found time to see what scrappy goodness was stuffed into the back of my car while at the Hall of Fame Picnic.  Some of these items were from the family of one of our inductees that passed last Fall and I am honored to have some of her love of quilting.


Another inductee doing some de-stashing asked me if I was still taking scraps.  I told her to share first with her guild and friends and I would take the smallest bits and uglies.  She stuffed this box!!


The first thing I do when I receive goodies like this is pull the largest pieces out first - makes those piles go down.  I noticed a lot of reds in almost every bag, box, and tote.  I use very little red other than a bit of 'pop' to some projects.   I have the theory of if you can't use it in two years - pass it on.  There is so much that I would never use it up as pop pieces over two years.  OH - I have a plan for these.


I have been debating over which 'color' to use with Kevin's two color quilt along mystery (button on the side bar).  I have a LOT of blue, but I've made so many blue quilts.  And then I thought blacks/greys, but I've made a lot of black quilts lately.  BAM - I'm going to use up the reds.

First I dumped my 1.5" barrel (you can chose what size square you want) and pulled all my reds  and made a lot of 4-patches.  Those shared reds are now being put into strattas to make up the 184 four-patches needed.  And there are so many twosies and so many singles.  It will be fun to have a quilt made from so many quilters' shared bits. 

The heat wave has broken - a good day to spend with my treasures and machine humming away.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

You Scream - I Scream

With most everyone still in a heat wave, this is the perfect excuse to enoy some ice cream today.  Although I think I could go for a Root Beer Float instead of a cone.


Confessions Of A Fabric Addict

I would like to remind you that the Christmas in July Hop is still in progress.  I am going to ask you to go directly to SARAH's to see what she is so graciously offering and to lend her some much needed support.  She puts a lot of work into hosting various HOPS and EVENTS and I feel very badly that some people have not followed thru with their commitments during this HOP.

Since she's had a few MIAs, I would like to offer a couple of past posts/tutorials for some quick projects:





Stay safe, stay cool, keep stitching - and have some ice cream
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Still Christmas in July


Remember that the Hop organized by the Amazing Sarah is still going on.  A lot of great projects, patterns, and tutorials have already been offered.  And don't forget there is that give away:


A fat quarter bundle of Wintertide by Figo Fabrics.  Lots of ways to enter with each host blog having the entry form as well as Sarah has it each day.   AND be nice and leave every one a comment as a lot of work went into this Hop.  Here is the list of the first six days:

Sunday, July 14th

Monday, July 15th

Tuesday, July 16th

Wednesday, July 17th

Thursday, July 18th

Friday, July 19th

My Mom is back home, so I am being kept busy.


I am finishing up the quilting on this sweet baby quilt  made by one of Mom's stitching buddies.  You can look closer - cute 1930's sailboat print.


Even Bella has calmed down.  She still wants to be close to me, so I set up stacked totes next to the quilting table and put my old 'house sweater" on top.  She stays off the commission quilt, is close to me, and certainly - relaxed. 

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Christmas in July

                                         
I was so happy when SARAH put the call out for interested hosts for the Christmas in July Blog Hop.  I've participated each year and it was a push to make a project that has been saved for years.

This is my inspiration to make an Advent Tree for my grandchildren.


I confess that I don't own the pattern, but mathed out my own plan.  I planned the center size and then figured how many patches I would need for the borders.  I don't particularly like to work with seasonal fabric, but this is simply some scrappy Christmas print reds with a white snowflake print background - that I can handle.  Strattas became twosies and twosies became 4-patches that then became borders.


Pulled some homespuns for the tree trunk and the limbs.  Add some fusible and then cut to the sizes I needed.


I just folded the ends and did a rough rounding cut.  This helped to loosen the fusable paper to make for easy removal.


Hey, I even put another border on!  You all know how I hate borders.  This pretty much used up that white snowflake fabric that has sat so long.  Now the original pattern I liked with the stockings and was thinking homespun would be cute, but this is for my grands and not me.


This is fun stuff to play with - Bosal.  It comes plain, fusible on one side, or fusible on both sides.  I had some scraps left (fusible both sides) from cutting out kits for a class I am teaching later this month - time to use them up.


I pulled the tote with the Christmas fabrics knowing I had baggies filled with cut down scraps in different sizes.  I went thru the 3.5" and 4.5" baggies and pulled out some prints I thought would work nicely for this next step.  And my neat pile of Bosal 3.5" squares cut from those scraps.


I like to use household items for templates when I can and that silver tin lid was the perfect size I needed and traced a circle on a square.  Simply press the Bosal between two squares, cut out, and then finish the edges with a zig-zag stitch - easy peasy.  A long sharp needle and some skinny ribbon made for quick hanging loops.

  
Next the some of the button boxes came out and I was looking for shank buttons.  You noticed I said 'some' - there are lots more.


Ooops - have to quilt and bind before I can add those buttons.  I was happy to use up that tree fabric for the backing and that was the last of my favorite stripe for bindings.


The buttons are all added and with the shanks it will make for easier hanging for small fingers.


As you can see, I didn't add the star.  This reminds me of my great Grandmother's feather tree and she never put a star on it.  I didn't number anything as I want the grands to enjoy their own creativity by being able to put any ornament chosen for the day where they want.  Since they have dietary allegies I didn't make pockets for candies, but you could (the stockies could be stuffed) so I plan on packaging each ornament with a little gift.  A little surprise each day. 


A close up of some of the 'ornaments'.  A very easy and quick project - and I have a start on the season!  I hope this encourages you to take that step outside of the box and go with the flow.  Imagine it and create it.


I have a give away as well, be sure to leave a comment on my blog post and that I have a way to contact you - shipping in the US only.  (will pull the winner on July 27th) This is 'Winter Tidings' w/ Timeless Treasures.  Some pretty metalic for your next project that might just be inspired by one of the hosts during this hop. ** this give away is now closed **

SARAH has found a wonderful company to sponsor a HOP give away:



A Fat Quarter bundle of 'Wintertide' by ' by FIGO.  She will have the entry form each day on her blog as well as each host for the day.  So many chance to win this lovely fabric.  *be sure you hit the submit button on the form or it won't process*




  





Merry Christmas in July,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Saturday, July 13, 2019

Coming Soon


I'm happy to once again participate with SARAH and the gang for 12 inspiring days of Christmas projects.   AND FIgo Fabrics is sposoring a give away bundle of WinterTide.  Perhaps a few of the hosts will have some offerings as well.


Sunday, July 14th

Monday, July 15th


Tuesday, July 16th

Wednesday, July 17th

Thursday, July 18th

Friday, July 19th


Saturday, July 20th

Sunday, July 21st

Monday, July 22nd

Tuesday, July 23rd

Wednesday, July 24th

Thursday, July 25th

SARAH with a quilt along thru the two weeks