Snippets

Snippet: definition - a small part, piece, or thing.

Synonyms: crumb, nubbin, patch, scrap, snip









And I have been playing with lots of snippets - managing to condense 3 large totes into one - YEAH! And playing along with the Christmas Quilt Along has cleaned up a lot of seasonal scraps condensing one tote and two large bags into that one under/bed tote.

SQUARED UP

I decided to take my previous 2-match ups and make a 6.5" block by using 3 rows of them.

This will be a work in progress with such small snippets. I used 6 blocks for a row setting one way and then the next row I flipped the entire row for this 'confetti' look. BUT so much room for play.






SOMETHING NEW

Since I had a weekend post and some of my other projects are secrets (swap partners read my blog), I thought I would take the opportunity to introduce some fabric sites to quilters - there are lots of fabric companies and designers. Since this weekend our own Windham, NY had a quilt show and their quilt shop had a special sale to compliment - I thought I would invite you to view Windham Fabrics. Lots of free projects, too.

CLOSING SNIPPET

'The history of all times and of today especially teaches that women will be forgotten if they forget to think about themselves.. '
- Louise Otto-Peters, 1849

Christmas Quilt Along

SATURDAY

It's time to put these blocks into a top.

Rather than the strip settings, I am going with green blocks. After all, this is to use up scraps - had just enough of the one green for inside blocks and just enough for the setting greens (love the old ornaments in this fabric).

I have the two halves done - time for some lunch. Then I will put them together and add the thin white sash.

Oh - lookin' good! I really don't like working with seasonal fabrics, but I like this - how vain!! Now I will go thru my tote and cut/piece 3.5" squares for a scrappy final border. Hmm - I think I hung this upside down - my fussy cuts are on their heads.

Well, I need a bit of a break, so I think I am going to switch gears and do some work on this little secret project. That's 18 count aida by the way - love small even in my stitcheries. Sewing will resume tomorrow.








SUNDAY

I got the scrappy border on and the binding is ready. I do have a backing and batt, but have 4 other quilts waiting.

And I finished another secret project. It is time to pick up the Christmas fabrics and get some housework done. I will work on my cross stitch piece later.








Thank you for a fun weekend,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

The Perseids Are Coming

The Perseids is the name of a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids are so-called because the point they appear to come from lies in the constellation Perseus. The shower is visible from mid-July each year, with the peak activity this year between August 11th - 24th. During the peak, the rate of meteors reaches 60 or more per hour. They can be seen all across the sky, but because of the path of Swift-Tuttle's orbit, Perseids are primarily visible in the Northern Hemisphere. SO - eyes to the skies for some amazing inspiration.



PLAYING WITH BLOCKS

I decided to start chaining my puzzle pieces into 'twosies'. Still lots of playing with these.

I finished the hand quilting on my 'Raggedy Friends' and discovered I had used all my Kona black needed for the binding, so need a trip to my LQS. I fell across this bag of scraps yet to be 'played' with.

Some very bright and interesting string blocks are emerging. The perfect project to keep busy while waiting. I decided to make these larger than my 'norm' - 6.5" blocks that I will set with some hourglass blocks.



AN EXERCISE AND A TIP

I want you to watch what you do when you come to the end of a block piece. Do you hold the end with your right hand? Press the piece and see if that end of the block has a larger seam.

Or do you hold your block piece with your left hand? Press the piece and see if your seam ends are the same. Most sewing machines want to pull the fabric onto ALL the feed dogs - so it pulls to the right. By, also, holding with your right hand - you are 'helping' the machine to make that right pull, thus ending up with a larger seam on that end of your block. As I was told when learning to sew - SIT ON YOUR RIGHT HAND.

CLOSING WHIMSIE

' - Or would you like to swing on a star, Carry moonbeams home in a jar; And be better off than you are - Or would you rather be a fish?'
-Johnny Burke “Swinging on a Star”

Sewingly Yours
Sharon

Dog Days of Summer

Dog Days were popularly believed to be an evil time "when the seas boiled, wine turned sour, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies" according to Brady’s Clavis Calendarium, 1813. The modern French term for both this summer period (and for heat waves in general) "canicule", derives from this same term. It means "little dog", again referring to Sirius.

In Ancient Rome, the Dog Days extended from July 24 through August 24 . In many European cultures this is still said to be the time of the Dog Days. The Old Farmer's Almanac lists the traditional timing of the Dog Days as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11, coinciding with the ancient heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius. These are the days of the year when rainfall is at its lowest levels.

But what ever the calendar or listing of days - I have been like the photo - standing in front of the fan - (are my ears blowing in the wind?)!

PLAYING WITH BLOCKS

I have half of the needed 36 - patch blocks from Crazy Mom Quilts. I am going with more traditional fabrics and shirtings. I just love it! I, also, love what Patti over at Pattilousquilts is doing. Not only the 36 - patch, but an 8-patch. So if you are intimidated with the large block, try the 8-patch.

And I made a few more Jacob's Ladder blocks for Bonnie Hunter's Floribunda quilt. I have always wanted to make a JL quilt - I've used the block as settings in other quilts, but I just love it on it's own. Using just my blue/green/yellow scraps - half way there with these, too.

I haven't shown these blocks at all because I'm not sure how I will border/sash yet. This is 'Home Sweet Home' By Paula at Quilt Happy, Quilt Often. She is up to block #6, but they are all still available.

SQUARED UP

My lovely 1.5" squares - remember I sewed them to 1.5" strips of muslin. They have been seperated, pressed, and trimmed - now I am sewing them to 2.5" muslin strips. They are then seperated, pressed, and trimmed. I will have (400 ?) bricks 2.5" x 3.5". Hmm - how will I play with them next? Will I be making more of these? My play puzzle.

HAND QUILTING

I had some requests to show how I was hand quilting the Raggedy Friends quilt. Now don't be grossed by the photos and all the cat hair - I have a great lint brush (one of those washable, reusable - fantastic with pets just love it)and then it will be washed with a couple of color catchers (afraid of the one red fabric) and half cup of ammonia - great for hair and dander.

There are some good tutorials for the large stitch - a few that I like because they show the quilter's knot also - here and here and here. And I know I said I would quilt this in a week - well, had to take one day to let a badly stabbed finger recoup - I don't use a thimble. But I have just one block left to finish off. Then I will do the binding and then add all the buttons last.

FINISH

I finally made a decision on the binding and finished off the fabric framed cross stitch. At least one finish to claim for the weekend.

CLOSING THOUGHT

Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.
- John Lubbock

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon