October....and on and on it goes.

   I had 2 projects to work on this month........ The scrappy floral mountains is under the needle....only not finished.   I am about half way thru the quilting, and easy meandering loop.  I debated on trying something more complicated or with detail.   But common sense prevailed and I knew the florals were so busy nothing much would show, so why invest that much time.









   The other got finished...... the rail fence in florals.













   I worked on the leader and ender ---Double 4 Patch---as I assembled both of these quilts.   Talk about a bonus.....I will probably work on hourglass blocks as leader and ender as I assemble this one.  Never ending, just one after another.









   Bonnie Hunter released her colors for the Mystery Quilt......I sent Sir Old Man to Lowe's for color cards.  LOL, he was wanting to get nails for the nail gun anyway.    He needs them to make a couple more pumpkins for the front porch:)   The sun was quite bright so the photo is washed out.
   This is his first prototype.  Made from wood pallets, unstained raw wood.  He sculpted a stem  of sorts too.   He plans on a couple more that are taller.  I will get better photos too.

   We had a great visit with Chad while he was in town over the weekend.  He and Amber are now in Missouri and expecting a second child.  He noted the featherweight was out, and said he was so relieved that I was back to quilting.    So I am now perusing thru patterns for the next baby quilt.  I have an couple of ideas which I will nail down soon. 

I will figure out next month when it gets here......tomorrow.  Happy stitching, and eating chocolate.

Floral rail fence

   I had to hunt a bit for the earlier post for when I started this one.  Here is one with the rail fence blocks on the design wall.     Blocks were begun in May as a leader and ender project. 

  It has been pinned and waiting for quilting for a couple of weeks. 

  I used my 2'' floral strips to cut 6 1/2'' pieces.  I planned out the blocks according to value....dark, medium, and light.  Please note, I used 4 strips per block and not the usual 3. 
  So you might find 2 dark, 1 medium, and 1 light strips per blocks.  Or a dark, 2 medium and a light......I decided to be random and not be strict about how many of what value per block. 
 With more attention to value, this could be turned into one of those 3-D designs.  Not for me.....they make my head hurt :0

   Label on the back....per usual.
Quilting can be seen on this photo of the back too......lots of overall swirls.   With this much busy on the front, little quilting can be seen.












   And I used up more strips of floral  fabrics for the mixed binding.

  Finished size is 48'' by 60 ''.

Freshly washed, it is soft and cuddly.   Just right for tonight as the weather finally shifts to almost fall.  Today was a beauty with temps about 70 and tonight in the 40s. 


Happy stitching.

Odds and ends......

  Class/workshop went great on Monday......and I have been recuperating from all the energy used.   The gals did very good and seemed to catch on.   No photos....I am hoping they will send me photos of their projects when done.    So on to the next items on the monthly plans.....the trunk show and talk for the Loose Threads guild next week.  I have been pulling out the quilts and wall hangings to share.

  Sir Old Man picked up the new computer software program for Printmaster for me.  A little time spent with it and I managed to get a couple of labels made and set up my new cards.  I exported them as a PDF to a file for ease of use.  So that's something else off my list....yay!

  Yesterday I caught the monthly education video from Handi-Quilter.    I now have ideas on what to do with my assortment.....remember these?  I have a drawer full of lace linens too!

  It featured Kelly Cline, one of the educators.  But wow!  You might want to see what she does with vintage hankies, and linens.  Here is her website....Kelly.  I want to share her photo....but won't as I don't have permission.  So go look!

  So now I have a lot of ideas swirling around in my brain.  Once they settle down maybe I can come up with a plan.

  Rail Fence ideas......I set up a board on Pinterest for ideas.    This is the Leader/Ender pattern of the year from Bonnie Hunter.  No size, fabric, or pattern required to join in.  I ran across one that sparked me....so I may be doing another one, just smaller.
   And C&T liked Bonnie's idea for a year planner book and have put it in the works....cool!







   Today is Cousins Day!  Not really a holiday but special to me.  A drop in visit from a couple of my cousins from Florida is planned.  They made a visit last year when I was in the rehab/therapy hospital unit and have stayed in close touch this year.  They want to view some quilts and see Sir Old Man's wood working projects, along with lunch of course.
  Since the worse heat of the season seems to have decided to stay on, I plan on hiding in the sewing room this weekend.  I have some small projects to take care of and a quilt for Habitat for Humanity that needs quilting......a good way to stay cool!   Enjoy your stitching time.

Rail fences for leader and enders!

    I saw that Bonnie Hunter announced her Leader and Ender project of the year today.    No surprise.....she gave huge hints on the last quiltcam that I caught.    She offered up tips, hints, and suggestions for sizes.  
   Guess I was way ahead of her as my floral rail fence is on a hanger waiting for a border and or quilting :)  

   Anyway, I may have to hunt up another variation......I do love Rail Fence quilts.   They are easy stitching, use scraps,  and no sashing needed.











   This one  used a block variation....I called it a 2+4 patch rail fence.    I worked out the block for it using 2" squares and strips for a 6 1/2'' block.

    Today is get B-12 shot day and I need to get  the table topper pinned.   And there is a donation quilt for guild that needs to be quilted.  Well, at least make a start on it.  
  Happy stitching.

A Rail Fence

   Floral rail fence blocks were my stitching project last week.  This pattern is about the only zig-zag pattern I can do now......chevrons make me dizzy usually.  I completed the half dozen blocks needed and then put it all together.
Not a lot of thought to this and it was perfect to keep me busy.  It's 48'' by 60'' right now.....undecided about a border.

  And a small watercolor got sewn.  It needs a border and maybe some applique.  As it is the size is 15'' by 21''.....about the size I have students work on in class.

  I had a couple more emails about patterns for watercolors.  I don't have/sell/provide patterns.  But if you look around at photos, magazines, books.....there are plenty of inspirations.  It is not really possible to capture an exact picture but they do provide a great starting point.

For instructions....visit the pages listed under the blog banner.  I have links to posts for information, and fabric selection.

Visit Whims for watercolor kits and packets of fabric strips.    Since variety of fabrics is needed for one of these projects, I think their strip sets are the way to build up a collection to start.  They are the only place I know for watercolor kits.

  Or the organizing side.....I can now see the floor in the guest room.  Not the bed, just the floor.  I am not sure all the fabric will fit back into the stash closet, so I am taking my time to figure it out.  Who needs guests anyway?
Enjoy this holiday weekend.   Happy stitching.

The first week of May....

  I have been quiet.  I have been sorting/clearing  things out.  I have done some sewing.  I have done some baking.   I have done some free motion quilting.  I have done some  fabric cutting.   I like reading that list.  It makes me feel I have been productive....especially when I think I haven't.  

  More rail fence blocks sewn.  This one is turning into a very happy feeling quilt.   I debated on playing around with the setting, but I like this just fine.  I don't do a lot of zig-zag settings any more, as that style setting messes up my sensory input and balance.   No chevrons, please.   This is subtle enough I can handle and enjoy it.





I cut more strips to the 6 1/2'' length and sorted them into light, medium light, med to darker, and dark value stacks.   I will sort and pin them into block units and then put them together.  

   I spent a couple of afternoons free motion quilting the water color throw.  I added an extra row of dark floral fabric strips on the outer border area.  It has a better balance now.   I used an all over large swirl for the quilting.   And I love the over all effect of the light flitting across it all.  Now it needs a trim and binding.

   While I was cutting the floral strips for rail fence blocks, I decided to cut  up the extra short lengths into 2 '' squares.  Whoa.....I ended up with a very large box of squares.  Since I am doing another workshop this month, I had planned to use the extra squares for the class packets I give out.    Needless to say, I have more than enough.  So...........I marked a piece of interfacing with some guide lines and designed this small piece with some of the extra squares.  It needs seams sewn......and border, etc. Designing the top is a good tension easing process for me.

  I also did some errands with Sir Old Man.   This time I found the 90'' wide muslin at the J store......but no Heat and Bond Lite at all.   How can brick and mortar stores expect to get my business if they never have regular items in stock.  I hate running around to several stores to find  regular items.  Sir Old Man complains about the same thing at the home improvement places.  So today I hit Amazon for the Heat and Bond....and a couple of other things.

OH....and I added a new page to the blog----Year of Floral Quilts.  So original, but I reference them a lot and figured they deserved their own spot.
Happystitching.

Now on the design wall

  The design wall was empty, and I can't stand that blank space staring at me.  So I put up a few of the rail fence blocks I have been building.   Once again the floral strips are being used.  Four of the 2'' strips make up these units.  At least one dark, a couple of mediums prints, and one light  used to create a blended effect.  Then they just zig zag across and down.   Once I sort and pin each batch, the sewing is mindless and perfect to do while watching a movie.

  The sorting, purging and such is still continuing a little each day.  I have emptied 6 different leftover project boxes that just got put back on the shelf.  So a benefit is I am creating space, as well as finding useful leftovers.  Of course, I probably won't have any problem filling it back up.

 And then I saw this on FB from Mary Jo's----a mecca of a fabric store in Gaffney.   That's me.  I have promised, tried, avowed this very thing.  And then I laughed at myself and went shopping for one more piece of fabric.
  I haven't tackled the fabric stash closet yet......tomorrow maybe.  Ha!
Enjoy your day....happy stitching.

Mixed bindings for a finish

This quilt began in February...see the post here.   In this post, I referred to it as the 2+4 patch rail fence variation.   In July, I got it assembled and hunted for a border solution....in this post. 

    Last month I got it quilted.  I used swirls for the center and the stylized leaf and vine for the border.  This is a nice loose design that can fill a space without becoming too dense. Adding those extra curls helped to keep the design open and to turn the corners.

  I guess you want to see the front too.  I debated on quilting down the reddish inner border, but left it untouched.  I liked the way it just popped with color.

  Then it was time to bind......I pulled out the bindings box of odds and ends and began to join pieces.  Continued to sew the small bits together until I had enough.    I often do this for a scrap quilt, but usually I work in a colorway, like blues, and greens, etc.   This time it was whatever was on top of the heap.   Using up those small pieces is a good thing!

 This rail fence variation is named
Twist and Shout.....because it reminds me of a spontaneous party.
It's just for fun and will make a good donation quilt.
Size is about 60'' by 50''.

  Or maybe, we should just curl up with a good book on the porch this fall.  Either way, the mixed bindings worked and I can call it done.


  I sewed up a dozen or so triangle units that need to be trimmed before pressing.  We are taking a day trip to visit Sir Old Man's cousins in the mountains.  I heard there are a couple of quilt shops nearby.   Don't tell, but I think I might need to take some $$ with me.
Happy stitching.

July wrap-up

  July is a wrap......with some finishes!  That's a good thing.

   The small block Carolina Chain was done in floral fabrics with batik accent squares.  The border was any leftover small pieces framed with a dark batik.  I love the striking effect it created along with the center shimmer.

  The rail fence variation was pieced and bordered...finally.  It's up for quilting next month.

  The other finish is on the bottom row in the center.  This is a bargello done in floral fabrics.  It was a Let's Book It project that has been hanging around for a couple of month.  Quilted in July and finished!

  The other 2 photos are small projects......mug rugs and snack mats.  It was that December holiday in July here.  I had vowed to not wait to the last minute this year, and decided on mug rugs as my "gift" items.  It was good I had a few on hand this past week to share with visiting family as mementos!

   I have two table runners pieced and ready for quilting, also.  And that is all I am committing to for August......as I am sure it will fly by.  I would rather  get more done than planned than to miss the mark.   Time to get Hot Legs oiled up and ready to go to work.    Happy stitching.

Rail Fence flimsy surprise

  The leader/ender project that had been on the design wall gave me a little surprise.  Hanging on the design wall, it was colorful, and a little bit plain.  So I knew a border of some sort was required.

  Shopping in the stash closet----- I was looking for something to bring it all together.   I had enough of the cream rail fabric for the outer border...which would help float the design.  Yet I wanted a narrower inner border to frame it.   A large print just made it busier.  A small  print looked alike dots and was distracting to me.  Black was  under whelming.  Various blue fabrics were uninspiring.  My green collection is getting sparse.








   Then I went to the red section.

  I have had this mottled fabric for several years.....won as a door prize.  It's not really red.....one of those that are difficult to classify.  Some goldish orange that blends into a red purple tone...as a large piece it is ugly.   Yet, cut into strips  as an inner border, it not only stops the design, it enhances the gold and red fabrics in the mix.












   Once the borders were added, I was surprised to see how well it worked for this rail fence variation.  A little unexpected use of some ugly fabric adds a spark to a very simple pattern.
   Now it is on to the backing and quilting.  Maybe you will discover a surprise in your stash!

  Happy stitching.    

Scrappy design wall

   Cutting and piecing small projects has filled the design wall.....a watercolor banner, large table runner from the Hot Dish pattern, a table runner using the Piano Keys pattern, and a scrappy rail fence using the 2+4 rail block variation.










  The Hot Dish runner is large enough.....so it is ready to be pinned and quilted.  The Piano Keys runner is going to get a border this time around before it gets finished.

  The watercolor banner needs an applique....possibly the butterfly, if I can find the fabric I want to use.  Then a border is needed too.

  I went ahead and assembled the blocks I had for the rail fence.  It is a small lap throw size right now, only about 36" by 48", so a border is needed to finish it up.

   A lot of leader/ender piecing was accomplished as I put all of this together this week.  I think I can actually begin to put together a few rows on the vintage bricks, just to see how it looks.


   Along the way, I pulled out a scrap bin of strips to look for some pieces for binding.  I found binding and some leftover blocks.   These may find their way into some mug rugs.  Lol....one thing leads to another....and I have miles of thread to go before I stop.
   Sir Old Man stopped in and asked what all of this is for.  The gift pile, and one for a charity auction, I replied.   I do believe he thought I was preparing to open a shop or at least put things up for sale!  That is more production that I have in me, I think.  I really think I am just making more scraps.......happy stitching.  

A trio of doll quilts and some answers

     A cute trio of doll quilts arrived last week.  These are from Mrs. Claus of Texas.  Rose, aka Rosenana, is a member of the Circle of Friends.   The colors are just dainty and sweet in this one.

  And the other two are fun and dashing with bright colors.  I love the red dots, they say summer is on the way!
   Thank you, Mrs. Claus for helping and giving of your time and talent.

My version of the Carolina Chain

   After my post of the end of the month projects, I had several emails about the Carolina Chain block.   The original block was from 2010 Quiltmaker magazine....ala Bonnie Hunter.  It is in her column Addicted to Scraps----so that is why I did not post complete instructions on how to make this block.  Bonnie gives so much away, and by posting instructions I know I would be violating copyright.   It is quite easy to figure out and select the size strip you want to use according to your stash.  My quilt in the photo used 2 1/2" strips.






     I began playing around with a smaller version over the weekend.......I know another project, but I was just testing it out  ;)    I have stacks of 2" strips of florals.......so by adding a few strips of batiks for the center squares, I came up with this.  Each small unit finishes at 4 1/2".


  I have seen this quilt using all batiks....and it is always beautiful.  Then I saw one that a friend did in blue and yellow.....very striking.   What's in your stash?  Pick your favorite fabric style and go for it, I say!







 And several questions about the rail fence with 2 patch + 4 patch  popped up.  Here is the post with the block. 
     My earlier version appeared "watered down" because I included too many squares with light backgrounds.  I put together a few more blocks, keeping the prints and backgrounds deeper in value.  Now, the design becomes more evident.   Of course, you could reverse the rails by using  a dark rail mixed with lighter 2+4 patch units.  That would give a different look!     You can't get easier than a rail fence design.....and it makes a great donation quilt, baby quilt,  or family snuggle up quilt.  Just remember , you are the designer.....let your quilt speak with your voice.   Happy stitching.  

2 patch + 4 patch

   I am not starting this project right away....but thought I would share my sleuthing on this.
  This pin is all over Pinterest....with no info or original source.  It is bright and colorful, yet the photo is sort of misleading.  It's a zig-zag pattern, but exactly what block was used?   I had to figure out the pattern.
  So the detective in me emerged and I  began to use my special  quilt block vision........
2+4=6.......that is what I needed!    A six patch unit to turn into a rail fence variation.

Rail Fence variation using EQ7

  Next I went to EQ and drew out the Rail Fence variation.  Then I set the blocks into a quilt.....yep, that was it. Instead of 3 strips to form the rails, 2 of those "rails" were composed of 6 squares.   It is very easy to put together 6 squares from 2 patches.

   By using 2 1/2" squares and  a plain strip the block will be 6 1/2" unfinished.    If you prefer 2" squares and a plain strip, the block will be  5" unfinished.

The overall setting is just like a traditional rail fence with easy block alternating---on its side and then straight, and repeat.

    I pulled out my box of 2 patch and 4 patch pieces to do a test.  I keep a stack of squares by my machine to use as leaders/enders, so I have a bit of inventory with which to work.   This will be a scrappy version.  I think it might be interesting done in color ways for the zig-zags....blue, green, red, purple.....maybe as a future project.  
   Anyway, mystery solved for the pattern.  The Quilting Queen did it in the studio with a rotary cutter!  I can put away my detective garb and get back to stitching.   I have a baby quilt to design and get busy on.....glad to have a project with the winter storm forecast of snow and ice.....yuck!  But wait till you see the blocks......butterfly and strings are in my forecast!
Happy stitching.