Inching To a Finish

It was a bit of a pokey process but Second Hand Clothes inched its way to the finish line (at least to a flimsy).

I thought that having it in full view in the kitchen would prompt me to get it trimmed up and ready for borders in short order but that didn't really happen. Eventually, as I was cutting a few small squares for my Nine-Patch blocks, I bit the bullet.

The border strips were already cut and sitting in the same bag as I found the blocks in so the next day I grabbed everything and within about an hour they were attached.

It was nicely pressed at one point but this morning I took it to share with our quilting circle at the church, hence all of the folds that you see. Regardless, I am very happy with the final product.

What started out as an excuse to use up that brown border fabric resulted in three quilts like this (two last year and this one) but I can now say that, with the exception of a few 3 1/2" and 2 1/2" squares, mission accomplished!

The variety of fabrics in this one really appeals to me. And what looks like a sold cream from a distance is actually a soft print, so a nice accent. You might need to click on the photo to get a good close-up as it is subtle.

All of my blocks are hand pieced but recently I came across a quick method for making them using four 5" squares, so I'm thinking that there may be more of this pattern made in the future. Not that I minded sewing the blocks - it's always great to have hand piecing to pick up - but sometimes there is a need for speed 😉....M

Some Slow Summer Stitches

July is always a busy, busy month for us and this year has been no exception, so I'm not sure why I'm surprised that we're closing in on its end. After the blur of the last few weeks it was time to find a deck chair for some quiet hand piecing. Out came my scrappy Nine-Patch blocks. 

I had lots of fabrics paired up so I was raring to go. It should be noted though that a comfy chair on a warm day does make one prone to napping so, as much as I got a quick start, things tapered off pretty darned fast.

Eventually, my first block made it to the finish line.

And just to make myself feel productive 😉I made a second block. Not the busiest sewing day that I've ever had, but certainly a very relaxing one....M

I'm Cutting Instead of Sewing

So, that Second Hand Clothes quick finish that I was imaging? It has yet to materialize. I've got the centre all together but it's still waiting in the laundry room for a good press and the border to be added. So close, and yet so far.

Instead, I've been cutting scraps for a little workshop that our church quilters are planning for the end of the summer. There will be more details to come but for now I will just share my fabrics. These are for the first quilt.

And these are for the second. Very similar but fewer greens and purples and more turquoise in this one. 

There are a few pieces that need to be pressed but by and large I have all of the makings for two quilts in this Ziploc bag. Hard to believe but it's got me thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a bag or two in reserve for those days that you just want to sit down and sew....M

Trying to Get Out of My Own Way

We are well into July and I had thought that by now I would have switched gears away from making Quilts for Survivors flimsies to working on a few of my own projects, including a few items for the Holly Bazaar in the fall, but it's proving a little harder than I had hoped. It seems like every time I turn around there is another project that just needs a little more attention. This Second Hand Clothes is the latest case in point.

I found the pieces and blocks for it lurking in a Ziplock bag and once I knew that it was there I couldn't unsee it. Last year I hand pieced lots of blocks - enough blocks for three quilts - but only got two together for our fall shipment so the third was bundled up for later. The simplest thing to do was just get everything up on the design wall and try for a quick finish.

The fabrics for this one are very traditional - beautiful, rich hues - and it's fun seeing it come together.

I've only got this corner left to assemble, so it shouldn't be long now.

There are more large squares cut and one pieced block as well so I suspect that at some point there will be another quilt cut and stitched, but not right now. 

The brown fabric on the bottom will be the border (another piece that I'm dying to finish up) and it looks like there might be enough of the red to make the setting triangles for the next one. Fingers crossed! If not, I could always combine it with one or two other reds since the quilt is very scrappy...M 

I Made It to Arkansas

I made it to Arkansas! Arkansas Crossroads has been in my sights for the last couple of weeks and now it has moved over into the finished column. Yay!

It's a pretty little quilt, but I am genuinely surprised at how light in colour it is. Not that I mind, but I thought that the grey corners in those Xs would make it much darker. Definitely what I would call a 'summer' quilt.

Such a dreamy palette; it's filled with a number of calicos that I am trying to use up, particularly the peach floral, which I think might be a VIP print. That's going waaaaay back. I think only one piece was completely used up but at this point I couldn't tell you which one.

The secondary pattern made with the grey corners is very effective but after sewing three or four quilts this winter/spring with stitch-and-flip corners it's time for a break from them.

The brighter hits of turquoise and mauve give it a great little bit of interest throughout.

I thought that I had a photo of the entire flimsy but apparently not - I'll try to remember to take one for you. 

This is another one for Quilts for Survivors; it will be interesting to see how they quilt it....M

Oh Canada!

Without a doubt our national anthem will be ringing out from coast to coast to coast today as we celebrate an extremely hot Canada Day; we're looking forward to enjoying fireworks over the Ottawa River this evening.

I always like to see if I can showcase a little red and white stitching in honour of our national celebrations and this year it's a selection of the scrappy nine-patch blocks that I am hand piecing.

They aren't pure red and white, but close enough to count.

I'm trying to force myself to create combinations that are a little outside of my wheelhouse.

This is my inspiration. It's from Linda at Koka Quilts and I was really taken with the border of larger blocks inserted amongst all of those scrappy nine-patches; mine would measure 3" finished. Subtle, yet effective. She has such a fun sensibility to her quilts!

I've got about two dozen nine-patches made right now and think I need about that many again to make a QFS flimsy approximately 48" x 64". I'm planning for 30 blocks in the centre (she has 25) so I will need to adjust my math to make things work. I might also switch up that border with a single wild blue/green print that I have but I'll play with that once things get to the wall.

Happy Canada Day everyone!...M

I Spy Flimsy

It didn't take very long for our quilters at the church to get the I Spy flimsy for Poppy's new little brother-to-be together (see my last post for details).

Once we landed on the pattern everyone just made up a bundle of blocks using whatever fabrics they had and there were lots to choose from. We used 42 in this one and there are 30 leftovers, so I suspect that we'll make a few more blocks and then have ourselves a second flimsy to quilt.

The blocks are all so different, and SO cute!

Some really adorable prints for little ones out there, aren't there?

Here's a little behind-the-scenes snippet for you...the kitchen island in the church hall is ideal for cutting our batting/trimming up quilts and also proved to be ideal for testing a layout. After this photo was taken, we received two more bundles of blocks so a few changes were made to integrate something from every quilter. All of the extras have become the start of the next one....M

Plucky Little Polka Dots

We had a busy weekend but I still managed to get a binding made and attached to a little girl's quilt. 

Her mom is expecting their second child in about 6 - 7 weeks. Apparently Poppy, the little girl, isn't very keen on having a baby brother (actually, after having mom and dad to herself for 6 years she doesn't feel that a baby girl is necessary either...) so our quilters thought a new quilt might help ease the transition to 'big sister'.

Jan made this one from coordinated jelly roll remnants before she moved and we've just recently finished quilting it, so I brought it home to find, make and attach a binding. 

There's lots of sweet bunnies, trees, ducks, flowers, and piglets to help capture her attention.

I landed on this tiny turquoise polka dot which goes equally well with both the front and the blue and turquoise plaid flannel backing. Hopefully it will work its magic and help make the transition to big sister just a little more manageable.

We're also making an I Spy quilt for baby, the beginnings of which I will share shortly....M

Getting Close to Arkansas

Slow and steady is getting me closer to having the blocks for Arkansas Crossroads completed - just three more to go.

I've run hot and cold on this one but the more blocks I make, the more I like it. It's taking me about half an hour to make a block so I'm finding bits of time to run downstairs for to keep the progress going. When I have all of the blocks together everything will get a good press.

Each of the white and grey blocks are made with stitch-and-flip corners and when I stitch them I automatically stitch a second line to create a bonus/remnant HST.

Hence the wee mountain of small grey and white HSTs growing near my machine. Heaven knows what I will use them for but I just can't bear to toss them....M

Spring Buttercups

Things are starting to bloom in the garden, particularly my peonies and irises, and Buttercups are in bloom on my sewing table.

These little buds will be added to the orphan blocks going to Quilts for Survivors in the fall (yes, I know specially made isn't usually how 'orphans' come to be, but it is a great excuse to try something new without committing to a larger project).

The blocks are 6" finished and sweet as can be. They would be lovely on point scattered across a quilt top in various shades of pink and green or worked into a border.

You can also make the block with a stem but I prefer the openness of the block without it....M

 

A Garden of Possibilities

Jane is a gardener and loves surrounding her cottage with a riot of herbs and blooms every summer. Now she's got a textile project that reflects her passion. 

Recently, she was gifted this handmade and quilted jacket by a friend who had picked it up at a thrift shop and ultimately decided that it didn't do much for her. Seeing the potential to bring those mossy greens to life, she has set about making a garden of it, adding large blooms overtop of the greens.

She's undertaking her own version of broderie perse (French for Persian embroidery), the only difference being that her background is pieced rather than a single piece of fabric. Historically, this technique used Chintz fabrics which, in the early 1900s, were very expensive. To make the most of the Chintz, elements such as flowers and birds were cut from it and arranged on another piece of fabric either as a central design or for borders and appliquéd in place.  

All of Jane's flowers were cut from a Kaffe Fassett print that's been in her stash for 20+ years; the scale is perfect.

And the butterflies that she sourced from a second fabric add an additional hint of whimsy.

Love how this posey is popping up out of a pocket!

She's attached them throughout the jacket with fusible interfacing and is now contemplating her next steps. The plan is to embellish the edges by hand with various colours of embroidery thread and, who knows, possibly the odd bead or bauble. 

It's going to be a beauty....M