Ok I need motivation

I have four more blocks to go and then I will have 30 of them done. They are 9.5 inches square. I need to decide if they are to be set on point or just a straight setting. Not sure of the sashing I plan to use and then after all that how to quilt it. So many decisions and I am have a Brain hiccup today.

I have tried to come up with enough lights and mediums to make this somewhat balanced for the eye to travel all over the place instead of one place and get stuck there. Some more moving will have to happen before I think it is right. I have used up a lot of small scraps and also several medium pieces. I sure would like the on point and I think that is what it will be, but my courage is waining on this. The set in pieces to square it up are bothering me. I know how to do it, but what if I don't like it. Oh well it is only fabric right. It will be more scraps if I don't like it. LOL Chris

6 1/2 hours at the machne and cutting table

Well the blocks are getting worked on plus I am sorting and pitching anything that I can't use. I have thrown away about a 3 gallon basket worth of slivers of fabric pieces that are too small and threads. I am trying to use everything I can before I pitch it out. I worked so long at the machine my ribs started to hurt. Decided I had better get up and move. I keep thinking I will do one more and then it is three later.

I have been cutting for each block when it comes to the rounds after the 9 patches. I still have several 9 patches all pieced together and ready for the extra rounds.

If you can sew a 9 patch and then sew some flying geese you are set to make this block. The hard part for me is the way to press the seams after several rounds of stitching and all the tips from the flying geese seams.

I think I like the contrast on this one about the best. As I said I am cutting each block for the rounds as I pick it up. I have a better handle on the look of the block by doing one at a time.

While I am sorting I have found things I forgot I had and also some things I have been looking for. I opened a bin my Granddaughter had filled and I sat there almost in tears. The reason for the tears was I will be 105 years old before I get everything done. I would like to have the better share of this mess of scraps sewn before Christmas next year. Yes I am making Christmas quilts already for next year. Silly me. Chris

Had to stop sewing and rip

I had three rows sewn together and then I went to press and I had one on backwards. DAH!

I need to cut more sashing rows and then I can get the top on the road to being finished. It has several borders and I think this will be at least full sized when done.

I figure it can be used on a couch or as an extra at the foot of a bed if necessary. I am not sure I would do this quilt pattern again. The bias seams and the stretching has bothered me. I tried to be so careful and I feel like it is not truly square.

We wallpapered the inside of the trunk. Have you ever wallpapered the inside of a box. It took for ever to do.
It is clean and all is covered so she can store stuff on the inside without troubles.

It was a thicker wallpaper. It is designed to cover textured walls like cement and old paneling. It worked well in the application for this project.

She is coming for this on Thursday after work. I think she will be so happy with it. The first we saw it the likely hood of it being a usable trunk was questionable. But the look and the finished project was rewarding because it is a thing to look at now and can be used for several things. I think she is going to use it as a coffee table in her living room. She is into primitive and antiques so it will fit right into her decor. One man's junk is another man's treasure.
Chris

Doing it again being a cut up........

Cut cut sew sew. Scraps galore are being whipped into shape and piles are going down. I have been getting up early and cutting and sewing in the quiet.

This time of year I hate the TV. My husband has trouble hearing and with the A/C running and the TV at the highest decibles imaginable I like sitting in quiet in the mornings before the sun comes up. These are 1 3/4 inch squares in a 9 patch and 3 3/4 inch squares cut diagonally to make this block. not a lot of fabric and small when done. But they are attractive when sashed with a darker fabric. I made one last year and the kids all try and grab it when they are here. So thought I would make another one and have it on hand for sleep overs. That way the other one won't wear out as fast. Funny it isn't just the little kids that want it the big kids try and grab it too. We have a Dr's appointment today hopefully the feeding tube will come out soon. It would sure make our day to hear that bit of news. Chris

The bug has hit

Here is the first block and yes it looks distorted it isn't pressed and the way I took the picture wasn't from a good angle.

The quilt in this issue of McCalls Quilting Sept/Oct 2011 is on page 20. It was designed by Sarah Maxwell and Dolores Smith. Their finished quilt is smaller than what this one will turn out. Their block size is 8X8 and mine is 12X12.

The sashing for the quilt sets it off and then the colorful borders put a nice frame around the quilt.

I can see a lot of scraps being used on this one.
Now I need to keep looking in my stash for sashing and more combos of light and darks. Chris

HST Mania

In the new Fall quilting magazines they all are using HST. It is either part or all of the quilt design. I got a bag of HST from my Mom and I guess I will add to them and see how I make out. I was cutting up scraps for other quilts and decided some were larger so I started cutting 3 7/8 inch squares. When stitched with another square they make two 3 1/2 inch HST square. Which is larger than the patterns in the magazines, but will get the size of the quilt done quicker than the smaller 2 1/2 inch HST squares.

They have a light and dark side to the squares and the possibilities are endless what you can do with them.

As you can see the slicing and dicing is still going on. I am now cutting pieces for about 5 quilts at once to get rid of some of the scraps that are taking up space. I will have to add to the mix at some point, but the bulk of it is working to get more mileage out of the scraps.

Here is some of the scraps cut into 1 1/2 and 1 3/4 inch strips that can be sliced into squares when ready.

This is a challenge I am making out of all this mess we cleaned up. To get things in a manageable state so it can become a quilt or quilts as it may end up being. Scrap quilts for kids are always a necessary thing and when the grandkids come they all have to have quilts no blankets. I guess they are spoiled.
Chris

Plan of Attack

I got up early and started cutting. I think I had like maybe 27 blocks already done. I have to have 113 of these blocks to set on point for this quilt. I used all the iron scraps I had and sliced and diced until I ran out of pressed fabric. I started sewing. I have used up three spools of partially emptied spools of thread in the piecing.

Stitching and pressing have gone on for about 6 hours. Oh Yeah I had to go out and remove 3 inches of snow off of the drive also. I am doing laundry and I have to stop soon to make my bed before bedtime.

Here are sections waiting to be sewn into the blocks. I sew a few press a few and then I sew some more.

I now have 52 of the 113 done. I made quite a bit of progress today. Now I have to iron more scraps and cut more pieces and start the process all over again. I am on the down hill slide now over half are done. This quilt will have a sash on it and I have to figure out the color of fabric and start looking for it. I think a brown print will work. This is for a 12 year old, but thought I would make it so he could use it through his teenage years. He likes quilts. In fact all my grandkids like quilts. Chris

Little Bit of Progress

I dealt with snow yesterday and also doing laundry and dishes that I couldn't get to the day before because of the visit to the hospital for 5 1/2 hours. I went into the sewing room and decided cleaning one surface at a time was better than nothing. These are fabric scraps that my Mother several months ago threw away. I salvaged them from her garbage. She still laughs about it. I am cutting strips for a scrap quilt and they were on the table I started with. Now I can go in and do some sewing and make some progress besides cleaning.

As I slice and dice I am cutting two sizes of strips for these blocks for this scrap quilt. Not very big. 1 1/2 X 2 1/2 and 1 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches. But they are usable for this size of blocks.
See the waste basket is filling up. My Mother says she will never hear the end of this that she threw usable fabric away. She works with larger pieces as she gets older easier for her hands to work with. There is always someone that can use the scraps you don't feel are usable. If you belong to a guild take them and someone will be happy to get them.

We are getting flurries and today is a good day to stay in and get more sliced up and more thrown away. Back to this table to get some more done. Chris

Not much going on

I think today I might be feeling somewhat better. I am a plant nut and this is some of the plants I have in my living room. They must like the filtered light they get where they are sitting. My poor garden looks so sad. The picture was taken through the window so therefore the glare, but it is dirty looking and so empty compared to the summer months. Can't wait to get out there and make it come alive again. I am so ready for Winter to be over with. I did hear birds chirping the other day when the weather got to 50*F. So maybe it will come.

Here is the latest blocks I am working on. Scraps are being sewn up and the pile is going down. But today my Mother called and said she had a pile more for me to pick up. She doesn't like working with the smaller pieces anymore. Hopefully they will work for what I am doing.
Here are the ones I have pressed and done. They will have to be trimmed, but for the most part are sewn together.
This is 17 of the 113 I need. It will take a bit of time to get all this cut and stitched together.

They will be set on point with sashing and it makes a 85X85 inch quilt. I know another queen size and I just complained about doing a queen sized quit last month because I finished 2 of them for Christmas. Since I have been under the weather I need to get some cleaning done today and then onto the sewing room. Oh yeah I need to get the scraps from my Mom's house. Off to do some more cutting. Chris

Another top ready to quilt

This is another one finished waiting for backing fabric. It is ordered with the thread. Hopefully today or Monday it will arrive.

This is a couch throw for my stepson and his wife for Christmas. Lots of machine quilting will go on in the next few days. This afternoon I have to get back to the one for my son. I need to get some more done on it and hopefully the thread will be here soon. Time is running out and I feel the pressure as all of us do. I always say I will be done way before the holiday and look here I am down to the wire and nothing is done yet. Chris

Busy and dealing witht he cold

It was really cold this morning. 1*F when I got up. A little warmer now. As you can see this chair as it stands now. Wish I had taken before pictures. My DIL found them along side the road waiting for a garbage truck. The cover on them was dirty and torn and somebodies dog had chewed the bottom rungs until they were chewed in two. They brought them to Dad to fix, but Stepson wanted something different for his house. Dad fixed the rungs and re stained and varnished the chairs. My Mom wanted something different in her bedrooms to sit on to put her shoes on in the mornings, so we went to Joann's and got a Waverly fabric for the seats and recovered them. I got them delivered the other day and she loves them for the bedrooms. Low arms and just the right height for her.

He was able to get the stain to come close to the furniture she has in the rooms also.

Here is a pile of UFO's. It was started for me by my Mother. She was making a Broken Dish pattern and she got frustrated with it. So she gave me the blocks a few days ago and I found fabric to finish the top the other day.

Here it is in the works. My stepson and his wife have done a lot for us recently and I thought a couch throw would be nice. He stands 6ft 6 inches so it has to have some length to it. This is turning out to be close to the look of the couch throw I made for our couch. I have the top half sewn together this morning. I have been up sewing for over 5 hours and finally stopped to get something to eat and take pictures.

Here is an upclose picture of the scrappiness of the top. I sure hope they like it. I almost wish I hadn't agreed to make it for them. I kinda like it myself. Chris

Scraps Scraps Scraps!

I told you before I have been cleaning the sewing room. Part of the cleaning process is cutting up all the scraps I have laying around and making them into usable pieces. These are some of the blocks I have made from all the clutter. I plan on making a sofa quilt for the livingroom out of these scrappy blocks.

They will be bordered with a black sashing and a colored corner stone square. It has been fun getting the colors to work together. Some of them I wouldn't ever think of using together but they do make a statement when paired together. This is the box I filled with the pieces as I cut them. I knew the size of the pieces I wanted so when I cut them I had a plan in mind. I add to it as I need to for variety.

The colors in a scrap quilt show character to me. Leads your mind to wander and yet it is pleasing to the eye. They are small pieces but I am satisfied with the outcome. It makes me slow down some to get the sewing better. Some of the fabrics are a little tricky because they are directional and I have to concentrate on the final look of the block. It has been raining here and the colors are taking me away from the dirty ugly look from the outside. Chris