Answering questions....

The first emailed question was about quilting the french braid quilt.   My quilt was done in batiks and  the runs were staggered when set together.  Each panel was about 9 inches wide, so it  had to be quilted down.  I did not want to use straight lines because the pattern is so angular.   As usual, I probably overdid it, but I used free motion to quilt a vine with curls and leaves.  There's a closer detail photo on the Free Motion Quilting page--scroll to the bottom.  Two reasons:  the curves and twirls create a lot of texture on the quilt once it is washed--I love the look of denser quilting on batiks, and the second....I like stitching curves.   I used meandering loops in the narrow strips between the black bands. 
 I have plans for a second braid quilt done just in florals---on florals curvy/wavy lines would be fine, because the pattern of the fabric will hide most of the quilting anyway. 
On the AK quilt, I saw a Moose, I also used a blended braid border.   I free motion quilted in large loops and swirls the border--confession time--to take in some fullness and stretching.  All braids have bias edges, and each time you touch it, it can stretch even when stay stitched.   

Second question  was about the jewel box quilt.  I went back and looked ......oops!   I started a tutorial  on the block construction and then apparently got side tracked and never gave details on finishing.  The finished quilt in shown on the Scrap Quilts page at the bottom.  Priceless Gems finished at 55 inches by 70 inches with a 4 1/2 inch border.  I used black for the background  and inner border strip and it required  2 3/4 yards.  All the other fabrics were scraps, so I do not have an exact amount used, but I would estimate about 2 yards for the rest of the fabric needed. The final border was whatever I had left of the black and 2 1/2 inch strips that were sewn into a piano key type pattern.  
Thanks, Jan, for the questions and catching my unfinished details.

Never ending list of projects

I'm a list maker and have been since just after college.  I get great satisfaction in crossing things off my list---done, and completed!  That carries over to my quilts in progress....only it is never ending.  No sooner do I finish one--and get to cross it off--and I realize I have started a project that is not on the list.  Crossing off the jewel box scrap quilt, I saw that the blooming 9 patch (which is cut) is not on the list, and neither is the Alaska quilt (and there are 5 blocks done for it).  Oh, and then there is the french roses lap quilt that is my night time project---not on the list either. 
  Maybe I just need to look at it a different way......I don't have too many projects, rather I am inspired by a lot of things, events, and places!   Sounds better to me.  Inspiration hit again this morning over the first cup of coffee.  I was just sitting and staring at  Scrappy Mountains on the quilt rack....light bulb moment.  Use the delectable mountain block pieced into the AK quilt.  Hmmm....now I have a couple more ideas to incorporate. 
Here's the jewel box quilt.....I love the black background and how everything just pops because of it.
Off to the sewing room....happy stitching.

Stash busting report

For the Jewel  Box--- Scrap strips used for border----approx. 1 1/4 yards       Backing used----3 1/2 yards

Backing for the water color wall hanging---1 yard

Backing for 2 art projects---1/4 yard

Total---------6 yards

Yea!!!!  And now there is about 3 inches of  free space on my mini bolt shelf.  And the jewel box is ready to be pinned and quilted.

Working on the Jewel Box Quilt

Part of the jewel box quilt is now up on the design wall, and I am beginning to sew the rows together.  I really the like the brights and a few darks too, set against the black background.  I didn't do any planning on this one......just used what came next in the stack.  I thought I would use up more scraps in this one....but I still have way too many scraps.  Never fear, I have lots more scrap quilt patterns to make.
We had a short afternoon bee today, and Suzanne shared an new technique (at least to me) for photo transfer using Citra solv.  It is a cleaning product that dissolves the toner ink---toner based ink rather than an inkjet--- from copies onto the fabric.  There are details and photos on their website.  Very easy and I think it might be an interesting technique to use in the art quilt projects to create a different background fabric from photos.  Maybe even for the collage project I am staring at.........will see.

Work in Progress...jewel box scrap quilt and tutorial!

This is my current evening project.  Looks like just a pile of  bits and pieces.  And it really is.  Lots of 2 1/2 inch  and 5 1/2 inch squares  from the scrap boxes, and strips and squares of a black tone on tone   of which  I had quite a lot of yardage.   
It is well on its way to  becoming a jewel box quilt.

       I have a jewel box quilt I did from the early 90's---the background is muslin and the fabrics are very dated and muted.  It is one of the first quilts I machine quilted and I do love the size.  It is just right for a nap size quilt.  So it is time for a new updated version. 

I ran across the directions that I had torn from a magazine years ago.  I recalculated the measurements to use 2 1/2 inch squares because I had lots of those.  The large squares needed to be 5 1/2 inches to give me 2 HST units ( half square triangle units) that will measure 4 1/2 inches to use in the block. 

Here's a quick tutorial for a Jewel Box..........

The first step is to create the 2 patch unit of black and the scrap fabric.  Cut a 2 1/2 inch wide strip of the background fabric--in this case the black.  Using the  Eleanor Burns method of chain piecing, place a 2 1/2 inch square to the black strip. That will give you lots of 2 patch units to cut apart and press open.    Then 2 sets of 2 patches are joined to create a 4 patch unit.  The 4 patch unit measures 4 1/2 inches now. 

What about the 5 1/2 inch squares?  First mark the back of the black squares --the background--  on the diagonal, corner to corner.  I also mark 1/4 inch on each side of the first line---these are the stitching lines.  Since I am piecing on the featherweight it is easier to take the extra time for a good sewing line.  Pair up a black square with a 5 1/2 inch square of scrap fabric.  Stitch on each stitching line.   Cut apart on the first drawn line.  Now you have 2 HST units.  Square these up to 4 1/2 inches and press. 

Once all the units are completed, they need to be joined

to make the basic block.  It is still just a simple four patch block.  Just get the placement of the black correct to make the pattern work.

The block should measure 8 1/2 inches when assembled. 

    From the photos you can tell I am still stitching the HST units.   So the second part of the tutorial will have to wait till I get enough blocks assembled to see the overall setting.  That could be a while since I only work on this in the evenings while watching TV.   So, guess it  will  be a mystery ..stay tuned to see the results.