An Empty Tub & A Winner

Not an interesting photo - but it makes me happy.  With the last snow-in, I decided that I would tackle that tub of baggies and see what was there.

Lots of HSTs - some sewn and some not - none trimmed.  So to work.

Here they are.  A container of 2.5" HSTs that I think I will use with a Sweet16 project.  A container of 3.5" HSTs with some 4-patches for another project.  And the ones 'down under' haven't been trimmed yet, but they are going to be used together with another project.  I have three quilts semi kitted up for some quick play.

And I found this in another baggy - a few bits of my Morris Apprentice - thought that was all gone - with some other bits.  After sorting thru 3 boxes and 3 large bags of scraps plus the HST trimming, I thought I needed to play for the afternoon.

A few small log cabin blocks - pulled some old left over bindings for sashing and border.  It is sandwiched and ready for quilting - the batting was even two small pieces that I stitched together to use up.  An afternoon of play.

                                               

It was so lovely to see all the 'Let's Book It' link ups and I do hope that by having the photos up with links brought more visitors to you.  Our first winner for 2015 is lucky #13 - Deb@A Simple Life Quilts.  I will be in contact for mailing information so these can head right out.

We are in for another snow storm, so I may just get a start on February's 'Let's Book It' project.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

February 2015 Goals

Today is Ground Hogs Day here in the states - we are expecting another major snow storm (15-18" for us) so I don't think any ground hogs are going to even peek out in our area.

I picked up a few supplies while we had sunshine althought still freezing.  And I got my Valentine's Cards for the grands with the hopes that sometime before the day we are plowed out so I can mail my little package off to them.

Being a short month, I am keeping my goals short. 

 

February's color is PINK and I will get my houses, stars, and heart blocks done up in time.

I had a pulled a bag pattern, but then changed my mind - February just isn't a bag making month.

With all this cold, wind, and snow I am longing for the sunny outdoors and flowers.  So I pulled this book instead.  I will need to re-study the techniques and suggestions, gather a few supplies I am lacking, and pull some fabrics.

There is a lovely section on flowers growing on gates and fences - and this is something I want to explore.  I know I have the background fabrics, lots of large, medium, and small flower prints, grasses, and 'wood' grain fabrics.  Sounds like a great playground right now.

In clearing out/organizing some of my cross-stitch supplies and bits, I stumbled across this.  I designed this pattern l-o-n-g ago and used it in many quilts, wallhangings, and mandelas for Boy Scouts earning their Eagle Badge.  I must have made this base piece ahead for a pending call to do one up.  I have been out of the Scouting program for 12 years now, so I don't think anyone will be calling for this.  It needs to be removed from it's Willow frame for a good washing and then I will play with finishing it off. 

This is just bonus play depending on my day, mood, weather, and family.  Maybe I'll get those Sew Sweet blocks into a runner, maybe I'll get my Sweet16 blocks into a flimsy, maybe I'll pull out my OMG to finish the last few blocks, maybe I'll just play in that tub full of little baggies (I have no idea what's in there).  Or maybe I'll just pull everything off my shelving units and flip those boards over so they warp back to 'flat' - geesh!  

Just Keeping it Simple,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Finishing Up January 2015

The first month of the new year is coming to a close.  A long month that seemed to just fly by.  Like most in the NorEast, we have had our share of cold, snow, and winds.  It made for lots of indoor time - time to spend with fabric.

I am playing again with the Rainbow Scrapt Challenge and in keeping my year simple I have just 3 projects going with the colors chosen for each month.  This project will see two houses each month.....

  

and two Sawtooth Stars.  These blocks don't take much time to make so I can easily do them up and then get to play with something else.

The woven heart - another simple block - this is going to look so cute when it is put together.

Bricks for the Now & Later quilt.  I need 40 of each, but since I have these units in my fabric food chain it doesn't take long to feed them thru the machine.  I even did up the pink for next month.

I thought the RSC15 would also be a good incentive to go thru my HSTs and be sure they are all sewn, trimmed, and in order.  Doing a color for the month is much easier than trying to go thru who knows how many all at once - yuk!  Yes, I have different sizes of these - these are just the 2.5" units.

I made a small dent in that barrel using the 2.5" squares to make the 16-patches for the Sweet16 Challenge.  I know there will be more of these as I see what Sarah has in store for us.

And I decided to go with the double 4-patch for the alternating blocks with them.  Again, these pieces all came from my fabric food chain so a quick sew.

I have three of the Sew Sweet Simplicity blocks done.  There is one more block  plus 2 bonus blocks were offered, but I am thinking of just putting these three into a table runner.

My 'Let's Book It' project is at the flimsie stage and I am still thinking on whether to add borders or buy another layer cake for more blocks.

And I did have some finishes for the month.  The first being the Little Letters quilt.  This was such a fun and easy quilt and I am thinking of doing another one.

I finished up the Charming Stars quilt.  I even tried a new to me FMQ motif - paisley flower - and it went rather well, so I can see using it again.

YES - the grape vine cross stitch got finished.  I used reverse applique to circle the piece.  I used 'grape' colored thread and the stretch stitch on my machine with my walking foot to quilt it. I used one layer of wool batt and one cotton which gave it a bit of puff to it.

It was a good first month,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Scraps, Scraps, Scraps

This has been the month for scraps.  They are coming in large boxes, medium boxes, and baggies of all sizes.  AND I AM LOVING IT!!  So are the furkins - do you see Bella in the middle of this glorious pile?  This became scattered all over with great delight - by both her and me.

Moe loves the boxes - yup, that was one huge box!!

And I can't believe how neatly this pile is stacked when I pulled it out of the box - actually it was neater, I thumbed thru it.  I can't even fold up quilt tops neatly to pack off.  I have everything else processed down, but this one is new.  It will wait for a play date in February as I really need to get some sewing done.

Some of these went into the strip boxes, some into my different project containers, and yes even into baggies that hold a future project.  That baggy is my collection for a 'low-volumn' quilt.  Actually I have 3 of those now so I think there is enough for an April play date.

Yup, I process these as soon as they come in.  If it is a small bag I can get the done in an afternoon.  Large boxes take a day to sort and some of that sort does get put in it's place.  Then another day to finish the processing and sometimes a day to cut it down into the fabric food chain - I love cutting fabric - really, I do.

Some went into my rolling drawer towers, some into the plastic shoe bins (FQ size), some in my barrels.  As you can see, these barrels are STUFFED!!  That's where I need to tackle with a marathon session with my machine.  My SIL is using my Juki right now as her little lady went off for a Spa treatment - so my little 'Walmart' Brother machine is perfect for this - it does hum happily with chaining pieces - other things - NO.

I did do a little sewing - my blue and pink bricks for the 'Now & Later' project.  This is a RSC15 project and I need 388 bricks for this quilt, so 40 of each color over 10 months will get me there with room to play. 

And I totally freaked today because I thought I had forgotten I needed to pull a winner for my bag of salvedges.  But it was today, so sigh of relief.  And more was stuffed in here too.  The winner is:

Barb H @ StitchXStitch

I will contact her for mailing info and off they will go.  This bag fills pretty fast, so there will be future chances.

Another snow storm has hit us, so a good time to sew,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon