Sunday, December 26, 2021

RSC through the years

I have participated in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge with Angela at SoScrappy since 2013 (with the exception of 2014-2015 when my mom was very sick.) Some years I just made one, other years I have made 2-3. I thought it would be fun to look back through all my RSC quilts. In 2013, I made my Russian Rubix quilt (post date 3-22-14).

In 2016, I made my Chinese Lanterns quilt (Soul Searching) posted 12-8-16.
In 2017, I made Little Spools (1-23-18) as my RSC quilt but also followed along with Angela's colors to make my Milky Way QAL (2-17-18). Another, unofficial color scrap quilt made that year was Lucky Stars using my 15 Minutes of Play orphan blocks (1-1-18).

In 2018, I made my Dog 'n Quilt (1-12-19) and Heading North (1-30-19)

In 2019, I made 2 star quilts: Reach for the Stars (2-21-20) and Starburst Colors (12-27-19).
I only made one challenge quilt in 2020: Color My World (1-3-21)
In 2021, I made 2 quilts: Rainbowlicious (11-13-21) and Wonky Shoo Fly (still in progress, now with scrappy borders attached) I also started an ongoing EPP tumblers project that I will keeping making until I have enough blocks. 


It was fun to look back at all the RSC quilts I have made over the years! Some have been donated, others gifted and several still live here with me. Looking forward to 2022's RSC. Have you picked out a block or two yet?
Linking to LastScrapHappy Saturday @So Scrappy.

Christmas crafting and sewing

 Although I haven't been able to blog during December (until now), I have done a bit of Christmas crafting, sewing and quilting that I can now share with you. 

I enjoy crafting with my grandson and we did several crafts together. To practice his cutting skills (he loves to cut paper into tiny pieces), we made an octopus and a santa (no photos of the santa.) 

We also did some Christmas crafts for presents. Our dear friend Ruth had my grandson and me over for a craft morning. We went out to collect pine cones at a local park and put together these pine cone wreaths. 





So much fun!

At Mormor's Christmas workshop, we made these handprint ornaments for gifts.   This idea was found on Pinterest.

Besides crafting with my grandson, I did a bit of Christmas crafting, knitting and quilting on my own. As hostess gifts, I made these gnomes 
and these little quilted gnomes.


My daughter asked if I could make a pacifier holder similar to one she found online. I searched to see if I could find a pattern but couldn't. So I decided to try to make my own pattern. I used the double stockinette stitch so that it would look the same on both sides. This stitch is a bit complicated when it comes to increasing and decreasing but with a little research, I figured out what I think results in the neatest look. So far I've made 2 of these and my daughter is pleased with how they turned out. I used organic cotton for these but may get some merino wool to make another.
I also made my grandson a reading pillow which I forgot to take pictures of. It went along with his new Christmas book and PJ's. 

Finally and in the nick of time, I finished the December step for the Macaron Mystery QAL. 
Here are my square in a square blocks.
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! Looking forward to the New Year and all the hope it brings.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

I got a flimsy!

 I'm happy to show you the sewing I got finished this week! After adding one more color (peach) to my wonky shoo fly blocks for the RSC 2021, I arrange the blocks in a pleasing arrangement on my design wall. I decided to go with a diagonal layout. (My Rainbowlicious quilt was laid out in rows by colors.)

Then I went about sewing the blocks into rows and then sewing the rows together. This went together reasonable quickly! Voilà, it is a flimsy!
I may still add some kind of border but I'm not 💯% sure. I'm just happy to have my 2nd RSC quilt for 2021 put together. I'm thinking of naming this one Clover Bloom because the shoo fly block is named after the clover bloom flower. 
I'm already thinking of what block(s) to do next year. Are you?

Saturday, November 13, 2021

A Finish!

                                               My first RSC finish of 2021!                                           I found time last week to complete the quilting and binding of my Rainbowlicious quilt! This quilt pattern is Joy Luck by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. 

The original layout of this pattern was stacked blocks with sashing between the columns rather than side by side with sashing between the rows. Due to the number of colors (11) and the number of blocks of each color (10), I decided that this would be the best layout. 
I'm calling this quilt Rainbowlicious because the definition of rainbowlicious is "a deliciousness of colors in an array of beauty so good you can feel it, taste it, as hues across the spectrum of light, alight you." Roseanne @Home Sewn By Us said that they reminded her of wrapped pieces of candy. Thanks Roseanne for the inspiration in naming this quilt! 
                 The backing I found in my stash ~ a colorful floral print that has many of the colors of the rainbow in it. 
It was a beautiful Fall day for the photo shoot of this quilt! 
The blocks were made monthly over the year as the color of the month is announced by Angela over at So Scrappy. I added one additional color (peach). The blocks are all machine pieced and the quilting is FMQ in a simple braid in 2 different sizes. 
The quilt finished at approx. 40" x 40". 
I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @So Scrappy, Can I get a Whoop, Whoop? @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict, Linky Party @Patchwork and Quilts, Brag About Your Beauty @From Bolt to Beauty, Finished or Not Friday @Alycia Quilts, Foto Fun @Powered by quilting
Linking to Favorite Finish @Meadow Mist Designs

I also finished my November step for the Macaron Mystery QAL @Meadow Mist Designs. Here are the 3 steps so far!
Hope you had a great week of quilting! 

Monday, November 8, 2021

A flimsy and other progress

 I put together one of my RSC 2021 quilts! I even had time to sandwich it yesterday! 

The pattern is called Joy Luck by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. that I purchased many years ago. I hope to get to the quilting this week. My job at school has slowed down a bit and I have the week off from babysitting my grandson. My SIL landed a new job and starts next week so they gave me the week off. Hopefully I will be productive (if I'm not called into work.)

I added some peach blocks to my RSC- Wonky Shoo Fly blocks.

I also made charity blocks for Covered in Love. Kat introduced the Nov/Dec CiL block drive which are textured blocks. Other than sensory quilts, I had never seen a textured block/quilt. I was intrigued with a few of the patterns and made these.

gathered strip
undulating tucks
pintucks

I tried something new while I still could find a few flowers around. It is called flower pounding on fabric. I gathered some flowers that had some good colors and a few green leaves and laid them out. 
I covered the flowers with parchment paper and taped it down. 
Then with a rubber mallet, I pounded the flowers until I could see moisture/color released from the flowers. Some flowers released more color than others and the leaves were resistant. (Marigolds and geraniums released the best.)
Here is the result. After cleaning up the remaining parts of flowers, I ironed with a hot iron to set the colors. I'm not sure how colorfast this is so I may use a salt or vinegar fixative. I'm not sure how I will use this but I may add some embroidery to enhance the flowers and add texture.

Finally, here is my finished October calendar journal. 
Hope you have a good and productive week!

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Trying to keep my head above the water!

 Why is it that life seems to keep getting busier? 

I just don't seem to have enough time to keep up with quilting, blogging, and visiting blogs with the time that is left over after work and family commitments. Anyone else feel the same?

Well, enough complaining! I need to enjoy the moments! 

October's monthly color is light green. Here are my blocks. 

Joy Luck

Wonky Shoo Fly

I'm thinking I will add at least one more color for the wonky shoo fly and 
several for the Joy Luck to make them a nice size quilt. We will see!
Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @ So Scrappy.

I did have a finish since I last posted! I finished my #30daysofimprovqal quilt.
This challenge took place during the month of August. I chose to 
add large borders of Kona white around the grid of blocks to make 
a good size throw quilt. I quilted from top to bottom in straight 
lines about 1/2" apart. 
The backing fabric was used to based the colors for the challenge blocks. The binding is left over pieces from the front fabrics. 
This quilt was gifted as a wedding gift for my daughter's 
sister-in-law and husband.
I will be linking to Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, linky party at Patchwork and Quilts, Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts and Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting.

Finally, I can show you my September calendar journal! We have been having quite the 
printer problems and finally broke down and bought a new one. I have been keeping notes on paper until I was able to get the calendar printed. 

My October step for the Macaron Mystery is finished ~ 60 flying geese
I'm excited to see what the next step is. 

Until next time, happy quilting!