Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Playing with Charms, Fat 8's and Up-Cycling


I remember as a young girl, just thrilled with my first charm bracelet. Then passing it to my daughter thinking that 'charming phase' was gone. Now a new obsession with charms - a different kind of charm - precuts! So fun to play with, but when you don't use all of the pack - or if you are like me, you pull from this one and that one - you end up with a box of orphans that begin to look like your scrap bin.


I have been following the Farmer's Wife in your Life and finding some use for those orphan charms. This time two 3.5" squares and two 1.5" squares. Those scrap bits feed my box to use for those little houses so no waste there.


Yes, some pretty little bow tie blocks are growing. My always faithful tub of muslin scraps comes in so handy and for these 'heritage' blocks, muslin is perfect.


I finished the zig zag quilt using the winnings from Let Me See Your Jelly Roll. The box was crammed with cut jelly roll pieces and I pulled 2 Bella White charm packs. Sliced them in half and paired up to make a 2-rail block that is set to make the zig zag. So quick to make! The last of my Moda 'Chocolat' for the back and found an old Bernetex 'Circles' in the stash for the binding.


The NYB block using my fat 8 bundle. I had just enough of these lines to make this block - just widgets and smidgets left! I think I said before, I am really measuring and mathing on these to get the most from the fabrics - no room for error.


I am so happy to say that my Fat Quarter Star Quilt Along quilt is finished. Although no fat quarter was used - up-cycled men's shirts, some shot cotton left overs, sashing from the sale room ($2.50 yrd), pieced batt, and a yard sale cotton charcoal grey sheet for the back (10 cents) - you can't beat it!

Only project left for the month is this month's Schnibbles. And that is ready for quilting tomorrow. I am in the 'Spring Cleaning' mode and want the final week of March for total clean out - Mr Clean better look out!


CLOSING THOUGHT

Erma Bombeck said it with laughter:

My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.
My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I've ever seen that I didn't have to clean.
My theory on housework is, if the item doesn't multiply, smell, catch fire, or block the refrigerator door, let it be. No one else cares. Why should you?

I prefer:

I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.... I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby. ~Nancie J. Carmody

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

32 comments:

Pat V. said...

I just love your FQ Stars quilt! Somehow I hadn't realized you were using shirts -- what a fabulous idea!

Sheila said...

I love the charm bracelet with CAT charms!! I love cats.
Nice fat quarter star quilt for a song!
Funny and thoughtful closing thoughts.
Hope your spring cleaning mode is catching. I sure need to catch it :D

Quiet Quilter said...

Humm, wonder where my charm bracelet is?

Your finishes and work always look good!

Anonymous said...

whow Sharon that orange block is awesome,well done.xx

Lesley said...

Love your Fat Quarter Stars Quilt...you must be so happy and proud to have it completed. Well done!

QuiltSue said...

I love your zigzag quilt. The colours are just so cheerful.

Teresa in Music City said...

Oh your zigzag quilt looks fun!!! I've done one like that but with different color placements so it looks like an entirely different quilt. Your NYB is also pretty cute! Love your choice of fabrics and the way they work in the block!

Belinda said...

Wow! I love your quilts Sharon! You are just awesome. And I love your quotes!

Marcia - Crafty Sewing and Quilting said...

Love your fat quarter star quilt made from shirt scraps and fabric scraps! and cool 10 cents for the backing fabric! That is so cool! I love upcycled and recycled ideas!
Enjoy your day!

Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting said...

I loved Erma, unfortunately, the dog fur multiplies at my house. I hate cleaning.

Needled Mom said...

I LOVE the orange zig zag quilt!!!

My charm bracelet was my pride and joy too. Maybe that's why I still love charms!!

Your stars is really lovely as well as the NY Beauty!

Denise :) said...

I love charms...every time I went on a trip with my grandparents when I was a child, my grandma would give me a charm (or charms) from that place for my birthday or Christmas. I still have all of them and have thought about doing a crazy quilt that incorporates them. Thanks for reminding me about that!! Hugs! :)

Mrs.Pickles said...

great work!!

Createology said...

Your quilting is beautiful. I too love charm bracelets and had one in high school. I should find where I put it for safe keeping. Blissful quilting...

Pattilou said...

The NYB block is just breathtaking! Great work there! And I love the FQ quilt! I just love scrappy quilts, but no need to tell you that! LOL!

Snoodles said...

It always inspires me to see what you can do with those scraps! Lovely! I, too, prefer that second quote - thanks for sharing that.

Diane E W said...

Don't know which one I like the most, they are all so pretty. I am working on a zig zag quilt for a baby girl. Hope mine is as wonderful as yours.

Kat said...

All of your work is beautiful, but I especially love the NYB block. I have "zig zag quilt" on my wish list so I enjoyed seeing your version of it. Every one I see gets me a little closer to (maybe) starting mine.

Alison V. said...

I love the citrus zig zag! I love greens and orange together.

Anonymous said...

Charming in on the charmed kitties! So cute!!!! My son was sweet and bought me a kitty charm for a necklace...they did razz me about becoming a cat lady!

Your blocks are super..always a joy to visit here!

Miss Hillbilly said...

I remember my charm bracelet. I just loved it. My grandparents traveled the world and would bring me back charms for it. Sure wish I knew what happened to it. I actually am sure I probably know so I will just have to let that thought go now...

You have had a good month. Have fun cleaning. I like to do as you. Wrap up some work, clean all up, then buckle down to work again.

Alycia~Quiltygirl said...

Oh my gosh!! The eye candy!! I love them all, but I fell in love with the zig zag quilt!!!! Is that your design??

StitchinByTheLake said...

Sharon I love that zigzag quilt - a great use for a jelly roll! blessings, marlene

Sarah Craig said...

So many pretty things to see in your post today! But I especially love the zig zag quilt!! Whoop whoop!!

JanetK said...

I remember some Erma quote to the effect of "Any self-respecting woman knows how to gain 5 pounds over the weekend" - I loved reading her column so much!

Great NYB block - I've been lurking around watching that QAL but haven't made any myself.

Connie Kresin Campbell said...

Beautiful quilt and how neat that you used all shirtings and things from your stash!!

Megan said...

Oh my goodness, your zig zag quilt is so beautiful! That whimsical pattern is perfect for that fabric. The pattern's definitely on my bucket list. It looks like it goes together fairly quickly.

Val's Quilting Studio said...

I prefer the last quote too....also I really had to comment that I especially like the color combination of your sampler quilt!!!

Vivian said...

Love how you sourced the fabric for your sampler. Make Do and Use it Up! It created a wonderful quilt!

Val's Quilting Studio said...

Thanks for sharing your zig zag quilt this week. I like the orange contrast with the white. :)

Nancy said...

I like the oh, so easy block that makes the zig zag quilt.

JanineMarie said...

I really like your zig zags--the stripes and plaids add even more fun movement.