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