Another Flimsy Finish

After not getting much done over the weekend to complete my Scraptacular Picnic Quilt, 

I finished it this morning [or at least the top]! I decided to use a small white border as a stop to the busy scrappy patchwork and then add a blue and white checked outer border. 

I do love the picnic feel that the border adds to it. 

A red and white checkered border would have been great but I had the blue and white in my stash. That's what it's all about....using what you have.

All of the blocks were made from my scraps and the borders from my stash.

Doing 'scrappy' is a bit out of my comfort zone as I tend toward organized, symmetrical patterns. I'm happy with the results and that I took on this challenge as it has been on my 'to do' for some time. If you want some more scrappy inspiration, head over to the Sew Scrap Along Flickr page.

And speaking of challenge, I have finished the first book of my reading challenge. The category I read was: A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary

Well, what would a quilter carry in her backpack? A quilt, of coarse. Or even those hand pieces can be carried in your purse for the next spare moment to stitch. 

The book I read was The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs

It is a mother/daughter story about their relationship and how it is changing as they move into a new season in life. The quilt is being made by mom on the long car trip to take the daughter to college. Oh, the things you learn about yourself and your daughter when you are on a long road trip. This story resonated with me as I have taken my daughters off to college and experienced many of the same feelings that this mom has. This book is an enjoyable, easy read with a simple message. 

Head over here to see what others have read.

Friday Night Sewing

Yep! Last night was the January FNSI! I was able to get a bit of sewing done :D

Did you? 

Last week I showed you this:

My cut squares for the Sew Scrap Along at Pleasant Home.

Since my husband was out of town this week I was able to sew them together into this:

Sew last night I began ironing the blocks and organizing them onto my design wall, trying not to over think the placement of the scrappy blocks. I arranged them into 10 blocks across and 12 blocks down. 

[The whole quilt will be 10 across by 18 down but I was running out of room.]

Then I marked them to keep them in order and began sewing the rows together. I got several done before I called it quits for the day night.

The bottom 5 rows are sewn together.

And this is what I have left to arrange.

60 scrappy blocks!

Now I'll be heading over to check out what other sewing was accomplished that night. Join me here.

A flimsy and some pins...

Yesterday I manage to finish the last 2 blocks as I'd hoped and since I was off today, I was able to finish the top! I am very pleased with the way it has turned out. What do you think? 

colors are not accurate

Although I was very careful in making those tedious HRT, I wasn't too sure that the points would match up. I'm glad to say that they really didn't give me any trouble. All these fabrics [except the Kona White] is used out of my 'less preferred' stash, the 3rd quilt of my challenge. Next up, I'll be looking through my stash for fabric that I could use for the backing. 

I am joining in on the Pincushion Parade over at Love Laugh Quilt! Here are some of my pincushions:

Life's a Stitch Dress Form

Sorry for the bad quality picture

 Tea Cup

Sunflower and Pinwheels 

I received the 2 pinwheel pincushions in a swap from Kelly of Charming Chatter

A Hen and a Velvet Tomato

Edit: the hen pincushion is a tutorial from my friend Deonn at Quiltscapes. 

 Heart

A FNSI win from Heidi of Handmade by Heidi 

The Ghastlie Knitters

From the Ghastlie blog hop

And a little play on words :D

On my way to check out some other pincushions. Won't you join me?

Progress has been made....

Yes it has! Only 2 more blocks need to be made on my personnel challenge quilt and all 20 will be finished!  These blocks have HRT [half rectangle triangles] which are a bit tedious to make. Just sayin...Hopefully I'll get the last 2 pieced tonight and then work on sewing the top together! 

In the meantime, I have purchased some backing fabric and batting for my Birdie Stitchery BOM quilt. I thought I wanted some silvery gray for the backing but came home with something entirely different. I will be piecing the back to include the extra block I embroidered. No pictures yet. 

I also cut out 180 4 1/2" squares and 360 2 1/2" squares for the Scraptacular Picnic quilt I'm starting as part of the Sew Scrap Along hosted by Jodi over at Pleasant Home. These were cut all from my scrap bins [not my stash]. 

After I missed a few FNSI, I once again will be joining the fun this Friday night. You can go here to sign up. Thanks Bobbi for hosting this month! 

Here are a couple of dishes I have been cooking up.

Potato, Bacon [Canandian], and Corn Chowder

A very colorful and tasty meal.

Beef and Mushroom Ragu

Both of these recipes are pinned on my Pinterest Board -Looks so Yummy!

A challenge and a tiny finish

Last post I told you about my word of the year...challenge. I also mentioned the reading challenge that I signed up for since it sounded like fun. Here is a bit more about it.

Between January 1 and December 31, 2012, read one book in each of the following categories:

1. A book with a topographical feature (land formation) in the title: Black Hills, Purgatory Ridge, Emily of Deep Valley
2. A book with something you'd see in the sky in the title: Moon Called, Seeing Stars, Cloud Atlas
3. A book with a creepy crawly in the title: Little Bee, Spider Bones, The Witches of Worm
4. A book with a type of house in the title: The Glass Castle, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Ape House
5. A book with something you'd carry in your pocket, purse, or backpack in the title: Sarah's Key, The Scarlet Letter, Devlin Diary
6. A book with a something you'd find on a calendar in the title: Day of the Jackal, Elegy for April, Freaky Friday, Year of Magical Thinking

The book titles are just suggestions, you can read whatever book you want to fit the category.
Now that is only 6 books which I'm sure will be easy enough. I'm hoping on finding some new authors to read by visiting with other readers on the challenge. 

I'm still working on my 'less preferred' stash quilt and have finished 9 of the 20.  

Almost halfway done! 

I also finished this cute pin cushion, inspiration here. 

I had a few scraps of plaid that I found going through my stash, sew I stitched up this guy. Sometimes I just find myself off on a tangent. Back to those 'less preferred' blocks.

Refreshing

Sew the first week of the new year is over and it is back to work/school tomorrow.  Our house is once again quiet as we said goodbye to DD3 on Friday. Before she left, she asked if I could make a pennant banner for her dorm room.  So using the tutorial I pinned here, I made this.

Sew what else have I been doing on this first week of the new year? Organizing... Amber over at A LIttle Bit Biased posts Tuesday Tips about inspiring sewing rooms.  Anna from Thimbleanna guest posted a link about folding your fabrics nice and tidy. Hmmm...my stash is housed in an old dresser and each drawer is stuffed. Definitely not folded nice and tidy.

before

Sew I went about ironing and folding all most some of my stash. Here are some of the finished drawers.

stacked by color before going into the drawer

nice neat and tidy piles of stash

mostly blues, reds and greens in here.

I also weeded out smaller pieces and added them to my scrap bins. I did need to go out and buy 5 more bins. It's a good thing that I'm following the Sew Scrap Along over at Pleasant Home. [Button on my sidebar.] I haven't started on a scrap quilt yet because between ironing and folding,  I worked on...

...putting sashing and borders on my Birdie Quilt. I need to buy backing fabric and some batting before sandwiching this cutie.

I am also working on my 3rd personnel quilt made from my 'less preferred' stash fabric. Here is a peek at the blocks.

These finish at 16" and I have 7 out of 20 done. 

 Last year, Kelly from Charming Chatter challenged us to come up with a word for the year. My word last year was JOY. To feel joy in all areas of my life. One of the most joyful times of this year was celebrating our DD2's wedding and welcoming our SIL to our family! 

 My Word Up for 2012 will be 'challenge'. I already have challenged myself with my 'less preferred stash' quilt goal but I would like to challenge myself in other ways too! Sew to speak, try new things, think outside the box...not only in quilting but in all areas of my life. Here is a fun reading challenge I will be doing to start. 

I will leave you with this picture of my Christmas Cranberry Almond Coffee cake that, as tradition, we have on Christmas morning that I meant to post before but forgot. It is delicious!

What's new?

I've joined the fun with Jodi over at Pleasant Home!  

I'm excited to take part in Sew Scraps Along 2012! 

I really need to feel more confident with using my scraps and this is just the place to be inspired! 

There will be tips on how to organize your scraps and how to use them in a quilt. 

There will be guest bloggers, tutorials and give aways! 

I'm ready to have some FUN...are you? 

Today was the first tutorial so hop over and be inspired! The button on my sidebar will take you there. 

I've been a little remiss over the busy holidays to post some notes of thanks. Better late than never...

just before Christmas I was the lucky winner of this book

from Linda Lum DeBono. It has some really nice projects and is a very nice addition to my library!

And this book from Kelly at IHAN! 

An interesting technique that I want to try.

As part of the Blog Hop Party, I was the lucky winner of these sweet prizes.

Thank you Andi from Making Modern Memories. 

And we have a winner!

The winning name for my pair of repurposed sweater mittens goes to

Deonn@Quiltscapes! Congratulations on winning. I will be emailing you soon to get your details.