SAHRR and some green button blocks

 My 2023 SAHRR quilt is finished! I started with an orphaned Halloween block I made in 2012 as part of the Wicked Blog Hop. I also won a fat quarter of Halloween fabrics that were just sitting on my shelf. It was time to use them. 

My quilt grew as the rounds were announced each week. 

Week 1: spools

Week 2: stars

Week 3:hourglass

Week 4: flying geese

Week 5: square in a square

Week 6: pinwheels

After Week 5, I decided to add Week 6 to the top and bottom to make a rectangular quilt instead of a square. I also decided to add 2 more rows to make it a bit longer. I drew up a paper piece pattern for a simple witches hat and some candy corn. I added one row to the top and one to the bottom.

I finally finished the quilting! I added custom quilting in the rounds like spider webs and 'ghost' quilting of the pinwheels, stars, etc.

Easier to see on the back.

Now it was photoshoot time! I went to a local park that has a cute Kids Only house. 

I'm calling it Halloween Night!

The finished size is 42" x 53.5"

I pieced the backing from most of the leftover pieces from the fat quarters. It will be fun to have a Halloween quilt ready in the Fall. 

Thanks Gail for hosting this SAHRR with all your host friends! 

I'm linking to the SAHRR Parade linky party @QuiltingGail

Edit:Linking to Favorite Finish Monthly link-up

I also finished 2 green buttons for the RSC.

Three finished and one to go!

I'm linking Scrap Happy Saturday @So Scrappy!

With my last 2 finishes, I started a new project! News about it coming soon!

March color is Green, Round 5 of SAHRR, and Wedge Work

 A new month and the new color for March is GREEN! I hope to have time on Saturday to make a button or two!

Today I worked on Round 5 of the SAHRR. Gail picked the pinwheel block for the last round. At first, I made 3 pinwheels for each side separated by a solid black square. I wasn't sure what to do for the remaining part of the round. I tried a print or several     prints, I tried a solid orange and some purple. Nothing seemed to work for me.       I finally decided to skip going all the way around and just add to the top and bottom. I used 6 pinwheels for the top separated by the solid black squares and then added a cute print that coordinated to reach the correct width. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of this print...only some scraps. Here is my final round. 

I'm thinking I may add another row to the top and the bottom before finishing this! 

I'm linking to the linky party @Quilting Gail

 

Recently, I have been interested in working with wedges. I signed up for Christina Cameli's @A Few Scraps Harmony and Light quilt along. It is a beautiful pattern and I have the pieces cut and ready to go. I'm waiting to I have a good chunk of time to get started on the color placement. It is a bit intimidating! Recently, I found her book Wedge Quilt Workshop at my library. 

After reading through it, I remembered that my daughter bought me this pattern for my birthday in 2019. I never made it because I don't own a 10º wedge ruler.  

I thought that the templates from the book would work perfectly. So I copied the template and pulled some solids from my stash and started. It wasn't until I was completely finished with the table topper that I realized that the pattern was designed by Christina! It is no wonder the templates worked perfectly! 

It feels good to have finally used this pattern. 

Final week of pink for the RSC, Round 5 of the SAHRR

 It has been a busy week trying to keep up as well as work and help with my grandchildren. Here it is Saturday and I finally started to work on Round 5 of SAHRR. Emily from The Darling Dogwood pick the square in a square block for this round. 

Before deciding how to add this round to my Halloween quilt, I stepped back and took a look at the composition so far. I thought that the quilt was pretty busy with a lot going on in each round. I wanted to find some place to have the eye rest.  So using a simple spider web print from the collection in black, I teamed it with some Kona silver to make my square in a square blocks. I made three blocks for each corner and connected each corner with a strip of black fabric.  

I will probably bring in some color, purple or green, back into the mix on Round 6. Of coarse, it will depend on what block will be announced on Monday for the final round! My quilt measures 42.5" after Round 5. 

I'm linking to Round 5 linky party @The Darling Dogwood

It is also the final Saturday in February which means the last Saturday to post your pink blocks. I wonder what color March will be? Last night I found a bit of time after work and dinner and brew out with my husband, to make my final pink button block. I was successful in making 4 blocks (that's the goal 😉)!

I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @ SoScrappy

I also finished putting together the slabs to construct the top for my #improvtrianglesewalong quilt. It is next up for sandwiching and quilting!

I also finished the quilting on my Melodic Mystery Quilt, prepared the binding and stitched it on. Now I'm working on hand stitching the binding. I don't have any pictures of the quilt right now but I should reveal it soon!

Linking to Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop @ Confessionsofafabricaddict, Finished or Not Friday @AlyciaQuilts, Off the Wall Friday @Creations, Quilts, Art, Whatever and Link Party @Patchwork and Quilts

SAHRR Round 4, RSC block and improvtriangle sewalong progress

 This week is round 4 of the SAHRR QAL hosted by Anja @anjaquilts! Her choice for this round is the flying geese block. There are several ways to make flying geese but I choose to use the 4 at-a-time method. I added 2 geese to each side of my quilt. I have been keeping my rounds at 3" so my quilt now measures at 36".

I'm linking to @anjaquilts , linky party @QuiltingPatchworkandApplique, Finished or Not Friday@AlyciaQuilts, Can I get a Whoop, Whoop @Confessionsofafabricaddict

I finished another pink button block for the RSC. These buttons blocks are so cute!

Linking to ScrapHappy Saturday @SoScrappy.

I made progress in making 'slabs' with all the individual improv triangle blocks. It is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to fit the pieces together but they do come together with added pieces here and there.

I do need to do some more work to finish the composition. I still may add more triangles to make this quilt a bit bigger. 

With no pattern, I'll let the quilt tell me when it is finished. 😉 

To see more wonderful improv work, go over to Instagram and search #improvtrianglesewalong

SAHRR ~ Round 3

 Monday marked Round 3 of SAHRR23. This week is hosted by Chris @ChrisKnitSews. Her prompt for round 3 is the hourglass block. I chose to use the traditional method of HST to make my blocks. I cut squares 4 1/2" in both my chosen fabric and the background fabric. I drew a diagonal line from one corner to the other. I then sewed a scant 1/4" seam on each side of the diagonal mark. I cut on the diagonal line from corner to corner and without moving my piece I rotated and cut diagonally from the other corners resulting in 4 HSTs. I pressed to the dark side and then nestled the seams and stitched to complete the hour glass. I trimmed to 3 1/2" square. 

(I didn't take any pictures while I worked)

I made 16 blocks for 4 on each corner and cut 4 background blocks 3 1/2" square, and using coordinating Halloween fabrics, I cut 4- 3 1/2" x 12 1/2" strips to finish off the sides. 

My quilt now measures 30 1/2"

I'm linking to the Link up party here.

SAHRR - Round 2

 On Monday, the prompt for the second round of SAHRR2023 was announced. This week is hosted by Wendy @Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life. She choose stars for this round. 

As always, the interpretation of the prompt is up to the individual. I also choose to make the friendship star. 

I made 4 - 3" stars for each side of my block. A total of 16 star blocks! The centers of the stars is the same fabric that I used for the moon in my orphaned center block! Yes, I still had some left from 2012 in my stash. I used a coordinating Kona Butterscotch from my stash for the points and the purple is also Kona Mulberry from my stash.

To fill in the corners I used a purple background Halloween print from my stash. 

The block now measures 24.5"

I'm ready for the next prompt for Round 3!

I'm linking to the linky party for Stars @Pieceful Thought of My Quilting Life.

A Finish, SAHRR - Round 1

 Saturday morning (my time), I took a class with @Craftymonkies. This was the 4th class I took through them. Craftymonkies is a great way to attend classes with teachers from all over the world via Zoom. I love this forum. If you have never heard of them, you should check them out on IG!

Saturday's class was taught by the talented @victoria_vanderlaan. Her class is called Use Your Intuition and her unique, nature-inspired stacked technique of building your quilt was something I never tried before. It is a improv method. 

By the end of class I had this small quilt put together.

I wanted to make it a bit larger so I auditioned a few pieces of fabric in my stash. 

I thought this piece worked well and didn't take away from the actual piece.

I cut the borders and sandwiched the quilt with more of the same fabric for the backing. I kept the quilting simple with straight lines about 1/2" apart.

I rotated the piece because these reminded me of flames. I needed to make a decision on whether to bind or face my quilt. I squared up the quilt and then decided to face the quilt using the technique from @cottonandbourbon on IG. 

Finished size approx. 20" x 24"

backing

I will do some more of this method and try to change up the shapes. I will play and see what happens!

Linking to Off the Wall Friday, Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork and Quilts, Free Motion Mavericks and Friday Foto Fun. 

Linking to Favorite Finish @Meadow Mist Designs.

Today also announced the 1st round of this year's SAHRR hosted by Roseanne & Sue @HomeSewnByUs. They chose the spool block as their choice for round one. 

Here is my block.

My quilt measures 18.5" after this round. 

I'm linking to the Linky Party for Round 1

SAHRR 2023

 This is the 3rd year for SAHRR (Stay at Home Round Robin). This challenge was born out of the COVID years. A team of quilters heading by Gail @QuiltingGail, announce a weekly challenge for each round. Starting with a center block (either new of orphaned) - Week one and continuing for 6 weeks of rounds. 

It is your choice on how to interpret the rounds and how you choose to make your quilt. There are really no rules to follow as it is your quilt!

This year I will start with an orphaned Halloween quilt block that I made back on 2012 for the Wicked Blog Hop. I am not a big Halloween fan (although my opinion has changed a bit since my grandson was born) so I don't have any Halloween quilts. I made one of the blocks from the blog hop into a wall hanging for my daughter but the rest are in the orphaned basket. 

I picked this haunted house block as my center block. It is a 12" block.

Even though I am not a Halloween fan, I do have a fat-quarter bundle of Halloween fabric that I won many years ago and a few other pieces. We will see how this goes as my schedule is pretty full. 

Looking forward to the next clue.

Linking to Quilting Gail

Stop by to see how others are starting their SAHRR this year!

SAHRR Parade and other things

 Today is the start of the Parade for the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR) challenge for 2022 hosted by Quilting Gail. Here is my finished quilt, Change the Ending! It debuted on IG for #igquiltfestday14. 

This year I started with an orphaned quilt block I found in my sewing room. Each week a new round was added. This year there were curves, diamonds, stars, signature, fence rail, and shoo fly. 

For the quilting, I thought it would be appropriate to use the quote by C.S. Lewis about changing the ending. I FMQ the quote into the center since my orphaned quilt block was transformed into this quilt!

(my attempts at showing the quote)

"You can't go back and change the beginning but you can start

 where you are and change the ending."    C.S. Lewis

My quilt finishes at 36" square.

I'm linking to the linky party @QuiltingGail.

I really needed to catch up on labels so I spent a few hours doing this. 

I have a few more to go.

Finally, here is my February calendar!

Final Round of SAHRR

 This week I spent most of my 'free' time quilting a wedding present. I did read the SAHRR post hosted by Chris Knits early in the week. She picked shoo fly for the final round. I just finished a shoo fly quilt for RSC from last year so I didn't think it                 would be too hard (except that I was running out of fabric.)                         I thought that I would spend some hours on Saturday and get the round done! However, my SIL was running a race on Saturday morning and my daughter and grandson anticipated going but it was rather cold so she called and asked if we could hang out. They only have one car right now so we planned an outing and went to pick them up. We spent the morning together at a local electronics/appliance store that has a huge aquarium, a fountain and more fun things to do (no, we were not shopping). We dropped them off in time for lunch and a nap.

Enjoying the 'dancing' water fountain!

The moray eel and shark among many other fish!

We got home and had a bite to eat and I headed to my sewing room. Calculating how much fabric I would need to make this round and determining whether I had enough fabric, I got busy. I needed to keep each round as narrow as possible so I wanted 3" finished shoo fly blocks. I needed to add a narrow half inch border to make my quilt 30". Then I could add 10- 3" shoo fly blocks to each side. I didn't actually have enough fabric for 40 shoo fly blocks and I was running out of time. I did find more of the main black fabric hiding in my stash so I crossed my fingers that I could stretch it this round. After sewing small shoo fly blocks through the afternoon and into the evening (stopping only to have a bite to eat with my DH), this is what I came up with! 8 pink/black, 8 green/black and 4 black/light green shoo fly blocks with black background strips between.  

                   I am pleased with the results of this year's SAHRR challenge! I missed the link up but still glad I finished this round!
 The finished parade starts on March 21st!

Slow Stitching, SAHRR and Macaron Mystery

             Slowly I've been making progress on some of my projects.                       But first I want to share these Valentine's Day cards that I stitched up. 

The cards are free from Christina Cameli @Afewscraps on IG. I have been a fan of Christina's for some time. At Christmas, she offered some cards to stitch. I was very tempted but we have been doing photo cards over the past few years so I didn't get them. When I saw her post about her Valentine's Day cards I immediately downloaded them and started stitching. I made 2 sets of them (slightly different). It was so satisfying to slow down and stitch these beautiful cards (even if I knew that                           some wouldn't get to their destinations in time). Better late than never!                           Thank you Christina for these lovely cards!

I worked on Round 5 for the SAHRR project. This round was hosted by Quilting Gail. She gave a choice of applique and/or fence rail. I choose to add some fence rails to the corners of Round 4. Although I'm not in love with it, it will have to do. I'm running short on fabrics that go with this orphaned block. Note:after I had this round together, I found more of my main black fabric but no more of any coordinating fabric. We will see what the next and final round brings! 

Linking to Linky Party for Round 5.

I also finally put together the flimsy for the Macaron Mystery from Meadow Mist Designs. I still need to trim it up and add some borders on the top and bottom to make this quilt a bit of a rectangle. It is a bright one!

I'm very pleased with this pattern from Cheryl. It is my 3rd mystery 

by her and I love all of them! Thanks Cheryl!