First Finish of 2022

 I finished my 2nd RSC quilt from 2021 ~ Wonky Shoo Fly! It turned out even better than I expected! A few nights ago, I finally sat down to bind the quilt and finish up with hand stitching. 

The last stitch went in last night, then it made its way to the washer and dryer. Here it is in all its crinkly goodness!

Today I took some time out in the snow for a photo shoot of Wonky Shoo Fly!

Wonky Shoo Fly was made following along with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge throughout 2021! I added one additional color, peach, so that I had 11 colors.

Angela, from So Scrappy and the host of RSC, posted a tutorial on the wonky shoo fly block. I choose to do it as one of my blocks for 2021. 

The block size is 6" and I made 10 blocks each month. 

To make the finished quilt a bit larger, I made 6" strips 

of wonky piano keys to match the adjacent color block. 

I also added another border of the scrappy cream color I 

used in the top. I am very pleased on how it turned out. 

All the scraps in the top are from my scrap bins. The backing is a new purchase.

The binding is also from my stash - navy and cream check. 

(You can see it better in the first picture)

This quilt finished size is approx. 67" x 72"

And now it is 2022, a new year and new a RSC. January's color is red! I choose this block, Hang Ten, a free pattern on Happy Quilting. 

As I was making this block (it is 15"), I realized that I would get 8 bonus HST that I could use for another block. With a few additional squares, I made these 2 blocks. Easy Peasy!

Each block is 4"  x 8"

I also made this block that I found on flickr years ago. 

I have lots of gray scraps, so I'm doing the background in gray! This block is 11".

I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday, Finished or Not Friday @ Alycia Quilts, and Friday Foto Fun

As the new year begins, the old year ends! Not sorry to say goodbye to 2021 but I did complete a year of monthly calendar journals! Here is my December calendar!

Have fun, stay warm and safe!

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?

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.)

Linking to Scrap Happy Saturday, and Patchwork and Quilts

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!

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!

Sew busy!

 I wish I was 'Sew' Busy rather than 'So' Busy. The beginning of the school year is always busy but this year it has been extremely busy! The District I work for is short on subs, so I'm working everyday that I'm available with few exceptions. I also babysit my grandson 2 days a week so it leaves me with little time to sew, write blog posts, or even read them. 

I did manage to sew my monthly blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. The color for September is ORANGE!

Wonky Shoo Fly blocks in orange!

All the blocks so far!

Joy Luck blocks in orange!

All the Joy Luck blocks so far!

I'm linking up to ScrapHappySaturday@So Scrappy.

I also managed to do the September step for the Macaron Mystery QAL 

with Cheryl Burkley @MeadowMistDesigns.

Living in Chicagoland, I was able to take advantage of seeing the Bisa Butler exhibit at the Chicago Art Institute. If you are not aware of the work of Bisa Butler, I encourage you to look it up as she is an amazing quilt artist! The quilts on display are her portrait quilts! They tell stories of her life and of the lives of others African Americans.

Her use of colors and fabrics from Africa add to the beauty of these quilts! The details in her quilts are truly amazing!

She layers fabrics like a painter layers paint.

I also love the way she places her figures on her choice of background fabrics. 

Here are just a few of the many pictures I took as I couldn't get enough of seeing these wonderful pieces of art and the emotion they evoke. 

If you get a chance to see her work, don't hesitate! It is sew worth it!

A Much Needed Update!

 It has been almost a month since I have posted. I have been doing a bunch of sewing but since my sewing room has been under construction, it has been difficult. 

August's color for the RSC is aqua blues. Here are my blocks!

Wonky Shoo Fly

Joy Luck

I also cut pieces for my EPP tumblers but haven't stitched them yet.

I'll link up to Scrap Happy Saturday @ So Scrappy.

Here is my July calendar journal. Only 1 week before August is over and I'm just getting this posted. That's how it goes sometimes!

I joined the #30daysofimprovqal on IG in the beginning of August. This QAL is hosted by @ShannonFraiserdesigns and Amanda @Broadclothstudio. Each week is dedicated to a theme and each day is a prompt. We are already finished with 3 of the 4 weeks. 

The 1st week was all about squares. Here are my blocks.

Week 2 was about stripes.

Week 3 was about triangles.

Only 1 week left!

Linking to Finished or Not Friday @Ayycia Quilts.

School has started and I am back to work. I'm still babysitting by grandson 2 days each week. My sewing room isn't quite finished but it is close. Here are a few pictures.

My sewing table, cutting station and ironing board are still not in. 

The top to my new cutting station isn't on yet.

I'll leave you with some cute pictures of my grandson!