WIP Wednesday - Scraps

Just when I think that I have my scraps under control, I find this.

These scraps were left over from my Burning Love quilt and were found stuffed inside a shoe box. 

I decided to challenge myself to make something useful out of these scraps and thought that a quilt-as-you-go pillow would work.

I still have a ways to go, but I am hoping to have this completed before Christmas.  I even have the pillow form ready.

Also, I am so happy to be making progress on my long term scrap project - the lime spider web quilt. I finally got this basted over Thanksgiving and am now working on the hand quilting. 

Linking today to WIP Wednesday.

Blogger's Quilt Festival - Mom's First Modern Quilt!

One of my favorite times of the year is the Blogger's Quilt Festival because there is so much quilt inspiration to be found in the entries.  Plenty of my time is spent visiting blogs and admiring all the creations.  

Now, I have entered my stuff before, but this entry is rather special.  This entry is my mom's first modern quilt.

Mom's First Modern Quilt

53 x 51

Machine pieced by mom, straight line quilted by me

Inspired by The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters by Sherri Lynn Wood

In February, my mom and I attended Quiltcon 2015 in Austin.  While I was in class, my mom attended a lecture by Sherri Lynn Wood.  She really enjoyed hearing Sherri speak about improv creating and I suggested that maybe we could collaborate on a quilt someday.

Well, someday turned out to be Memorial Day weekend.  I was missing Quiltcon, where it was fun sewing with a group of people and I asked my mom (expecting her to say no) if we could have a sew day.  When she said yes, I jumped to gather up my supplies before she could change her mind.  I was worried just how easily this traditional quilter would take to improv piecing.  

I was wrong.  My mom just jumped in and totally got into the creative flow.  I was trying to be encouraging, while at the same time trying to bring her back to the instructive process as laid out in the book.  It soon became clear to me that my mom was in a zone and was doing her own thing.  I realized that this is what improv creation is all about.  So I gave up on trying to "help" her and just let her go.

The top was completed in a day and I quilted the piece using straight line quilting with invisible thread.

   

Following Sherri's instructions, I asked my mom to evaluate her work:

Surprises - I was surprised at how vibrant the color looks against the light background.

Discoveries - I learned how to use a lot of colors.  Normally, I stick to one color scheme but I like how all the colors work together.

Satisfactions - How fast it all went together.

Dissatisfactions - None really.  I thought at first that the colors would look all jumbled, but it all came together in the end.

Entered into the Modern Category of the Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2015

Le Challenge - Gold

This month's Le Challenge theme is "gold".  I wasn't sure where I was headed with this month's project.  I knew that I wanted to make a zippered pouch, but all I had on hand was a red zipper.  

So it was time to dig into my stash and finally cut into some Cotton and Steel fabric.  I found the perfect gold fabric that works well with the red zip.

I have been wanting for some time to make a pouch to carry my scissors when I go to class.  When I saw this tutorial, I knew I had to try it out.  The pouch took an evening to make and the scissors fit perfectly.  Just in time for my classes at the Houston International Quilt Festival in a few weeks.

Please check out the other "gold" themed projects this month.

2015 Finish Along - Quarter 4 Intentions

If 2014 was my year to scrap and stash bust, then 2015 has been the year to bust through my stack of WIPs.  It's been good to see some progress on actually finishing my projects and I know it is due to the monthly and quarterly goals that I have set.

Not sure how many projects I will complete this quarter, since the holidays are coming up and I am running out of old projects.  I guess its time to start something new!

Quarter 4 Goals - New projects added to the list

(1)  Mom's Modern Quilt.  My mom and I had a sew day in May and she made her first modern quilt.  I have finished the quilting, but she wanted a hanging sleeve put on it.  Hoping this won't take too long to finish.

(2)  White squares.  I was told in a Quiltcon class that I used too much color in my project by some students and I should use more white.  So, I started this improv project using some scraps.  It stalled out a bit because I am not sure I like restricting my colors, but I am hoping that I can make it work.  It is starting to grow on me.

(3)  I started to work again on my Tula Pink Marquise quilt.  I know it will take a while, but I figured it wouldn't get finished if I don't start working on it.  The top row of diamonds is completed.

(4)  More scraps have been cut for a Lolly quilt.

(5)  Solid scraps are selected, pressed, and ready for an improv pillowcase.  I need to pick up a pillow form.

Projects Returning to Goal List

(6)  Pink scrap color blocks.  I like these blocks, but I am not sure where this project is heading.

(7)  This Texas quilt is 50% completed and I know someone who wants it for a Christmas gift.

(8) Orphan star block.  I think this may be the oldest project on my 2015 goal's list.  

(9)  Miss Kate Hexy quilt.  All of the hexies have been cut and I have started to sew them together into rows.

(10)  Lime Spider Web.  I have been working on this project all year, and I finally have a top ready to be quilted.

I guess I'd better get to work.

Linking to the 2015 Finish-Along.

October Goal - A Lovely Year of Finishes

My goal this month for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to finally do something with my little star orphan block.  This little wonky star was made during a class last year making modern blocks.

So on this WIP (Work In Progress) Wednesday, I am thinking it would make a cute pouch paired with my Star Trek fabric.  This fabric has been in my stash for awhile now, but somehow, I never found the right use for it.

Linking today to WIP Wednesday.  

Got Strings?

What's on my Design Wall this Monday?  Foundation pieced string blocks where everything goes.

This is the October block for Covered In Love.  I can't wait to see how these quilts turn out because there are a lot of varied fabrics in my scrappy blocks.

Its kinda of funny really because last month I declared that my scraps were officially under control.  Sigh...I had no idea that I would have enough strings to make these blocks.  And, I even have enough scraps for more blocks.  Yikes!

Linking today to Design Wall Monday and Oh, Scrap.

Another September Finish

Yes, I can't believe that I have been on a role completing my WIP's.  Here is another one to check off my list.  It is another house quilt.  This is a wonderful pattern for scraps because anything goes!

And its a special quilt because it is part of this year's 100 Quilts For Kids.  It will soon be on it's way to a forever home via Margaret's Hope Chest.

There is still time to enter your quilt!

Finish It Friday - Tilt!

Yes, I can finally say that Tilt is finished!  Started December 2011 and completed September 2015.  

This pattern is found in Kaffe Fassett's "Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts".  The fabric is Olivia's Holiday and 10 various solids.

 

This is the first quilt that I started to machine quilt and was about half finished when I ran out of light gray thread.  I was having a tough time struggling with it in my machine so there it sat for a few years.

But with the help of making monthly goals during A Lovely Year of Finishes and quarterly goals for the 2015 Finish Along, I was able to focus on my WIP stack and get it completed.

Linking today to Finish It Friday and to Whoop, Whoop Friday.

Le Challenge - Wilderness

Who knew that my scraps could ever look so good?  I had no idea that I even had enough orange colored fabric in my stash.  I think it's the cute Fancy Fox pattern that makes my modern and traditional fabric scraps look so good together.

I think these foxes work well for this month's Le Challenge theme of "wilderness".  I have to admit that I was a bit stumped with this month's theme, but that's why it's a challenge right.

This quilt was made as part of the 100 Quilts for Kids project and will soon be on its way to a new home via Happy Chemo.

Finish It Friday - Sew Together Bag

Woo hoo, I am glad to mark off another WIP from my list because my Dalmatian Sew Together bag is done!

This finish comes about a month late for my Disney cruise, but I am sure that there will be another opportunity to use it.  This is the third Sew Together bag that I have made and its for me.

I have been really proud of myself for attacking my mountain of WIP projects, but with the holiday weekend here I am just itching to start something new.

But for now, I think that my September goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes is to finally finish up Tilt.  I am oh so very close.

Linking today to Finish It Friday and to Whoop, Whoop Friday.

100 Quilts For Kids

I was in my quilt room intending on playing around with my quilt fabric.  Then I started tidying up a bit, which turned into a review of my WIPs.  I found projects I hadn't seen in awhile and decided to buckle down to get some things finished.

There was a completed stack of scrappy Lolly quilt blocks already ironed and just waiting to be finished.

I wanted a masculine feel to this quilt by using black, brown, and blue scraps with the backing a blue and black plaid.  It is already on its way to Happy Chemo to find a forever home.

This is my first quilt made as part of the 100 Quilts For Kids project and I am hoping to finish more.

Linking today to 100 Quilts For Kids and to Oh Scrap!

Design Wall Monday - August 24th

I may have been silent here lately, but I have been busy sewing.  This month's Le Challenge theme is "wilderness" and I thought maybe some scrappy foxes may work.

I think this will also make a very cute quilt for the 100 Quilts for Kids project.

I don't know whats gotten into me, but I have also been working on some of my old WIPs.  I know, weird, right.

Tilt has been about 75% complete since 2012, but no more!  I have been buckling down and should have a finish quite soon.

Linking today to Design Wall Monday and to Oh Scrap.

Le Challenge - Direction

The theme for this month's Le Challenge is "direction".  My first thought was to make something using flying geese.  But what to make?

I was cleaning my sewing area and kept finding needles on various pieces of scraps.  I also found some scraps of felt.  So, I decided to make a needle book.

I was stumped for awhile on quilt math - trying to figure out how to make mini flying geese units.  I don't have that much patience, so I settled on using "direction" fabric that look like flying geese.

Now my needles have a home and this really is a cute book.  I used snaps for the closure (which I also found during the clean-up), but next time I think I will follow the tutorial and use a button.  These books would make cute little gifts.

Please check out this month's entries at Le Challenge.

2015 Finish Along - Quarter 3 Intentions

Well, I think its confirmed.  I definitely like to start more projects than I like to finish as I have found during this year's Finish Along.  However, I am determined to keep going and getting some progress made on my old WIPs.

Quarter 3 Goals - New projects added to the list

(1)  Dalmatian Sew Together Bag.  I think I may need to use this soon.  I've got the outside, sides, and inside completed.

(2)  The kaleidoscope quilt may take awhile (ok, a LONG while), but I need to start making some more progress.  Oh, would I be so happy to have this completed as a Christmas gift.

(3)  Pink scrap color blocks.  Dont know where this is heading.

(4)  I'd also would love to finish this Texas quilt which is about 50% completed.

(5)  Yikes, I need to work on the Marcelle Medallion quilt.  It's been hanging out awhile.

(6)  Gardenvale stars quilt made from a mini charm pack.

(7)  Denyse Schmidt hexies.  I have a nice sized panel completed that I thought I would make into a pillow, but maybe I will keep going and make it bigger.

(8)  Triangles Galore.  I just need to make one more block and then I may have enough for a small top.

Projects Returning to Goal List

(9) Orphan star block.  I am thinking this may be a mini pouch or maybe a pot holder.  I haven't made one of those, but then I may need to start to cook so I could use it.  

(10)  The class project from the Gee's Bend class at Quiltcon.  

 

(11)  Miss Kate Hexy quilt.  All of the hexies have been cut and I have started to put them together in rows.

(12)  Tula Pink Hexy project.  I found in my stash, one of my first attempts at making hexies using a charm pack of Parisville.  I think I may attempt to salvage the project.

(13)  Tilt.  Completed in 2012 and with the quilting about 75% complete, I think it really is time to finish this quilt.

(14) Lime Spider Web.  All of the blocks are made and are ready to be sewn into a top. 

(15)  I have enough scrappy houses made for 1 house quilt.

(16)  Hip To Be Square Challenge top completed, just needs quilting 

That's quite a lot of projects, so I better get to work.

Linking to the 2015 Finish Along.

WIP Wednesday - Sew Together Bag

The project that I am working this Wednesday is another Sew Together Bag, and this one is for me.

I have a feeling that I might need something Disney in the near future.  

This bag started out great, but kinda stalled out.  So I am making this my July goal for A Lovely Year of Finishes.

Linking today to WIP Wednesday.