Thursday, March 16, 2023

Snowy Forest is Finished!

 Yay! I finished my Snowy Forest quilt! I made this quilt in conjunction with the #improvtrianglesewalong with Nicholas Ball @quiltsfromtheattic. He hosted this QAL on Instagram in February. This is the 2nd year that I participated. His book Inspiring Improv is a great resource for improv quilting! 

Once all most of the triangles were sewn, I started to make 'slabs.'
And puzzle them together adding additional triangles or pieces as needed.
All the fabric, mostly scraps, were from my stash. The Kona white is a staple in my stash, and the white/gray marble is from a cut-off from a previous quilt's backing.
It was ready for quilting! I quilted the 'forest' with intersecting diagonal lines about 1/2" apart. 
I found some evergreen trees in a local park for a photoshoot.
The backing is 2 larger pieces of green from my stash.
The quilt finishes at 33.5" x 45"

I'm linking to Midweek Makers @QuiltFabrication, NTT @My Quilt Infatuation,
Off the Wall Friday@Creations-Quilts, Arts, Whatever, Finished or Not Friday@Alycia Quilts

Thursday, March 2, 2023

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 10ยบ 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. 

Saturday, February 25, 2023

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 ๐Ÿ˜‰)!


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

Saturday, February 18, 2023

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. ๐Ÿ˜‰ 
To see more wonderful improv work, go over to Instagram and search #improvtrianglesewalong

Sunday, February 12, 2023

RSC ~ Pink block #2

 So far, so good! I have been able to keep up with one button block a week! Here is my second pink button!

I'm linking to ScrapHappySaturday @SoScrappy
Speaking of pink, I knitted this cute dress for my granddaughter. I love the gathering on the bodice. 
I started the 2023 #improvtrianglesewalong with Nicholas @quiltsintheattic
This year I am hoping to achieve the look of evergreen trees in a snowy field. 
These are from my first cut of triangles and backgrounds. 
I added a few more yesterday with more to sew. 
They do sew up pretty fast so my forest is growing! 
This is most likely not the final layout. 
Next week we will start making slabs. 
In February, I also participated in #monkiemotivation where Rachel Pierman and Gary Mills talk about mindfulness on the Craftymonkies YouTube channel and then do a simple mindful craft. 
This one is a torn paper collage from blocks of color found in magazines.
On the feather I used watercolor colored pencils and found this mindful quote.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

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.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

RSC ~ new month new color!

               February brings a new color for the RSC! Drum roll please!                        Angela picked the color pink!

I am trying to sew one button block each week for a total of 4 button blocks in each color. I may need to add a few more depending on the size of quilt I want but that will wait for late 2023! 

Here is my first pretty in pink button block!

I'm linking to Scrap Happy Saturday @SoScrappy

Also, here is my January 2023 calendar journal page. I can't believe that I completed 2 full years of calendar journaling and started a 3rd year!

I finished the top of the Melodic Mystery QAL with Meadow Mist Designs. Now to sandwich and quilt it. I used Christmas colors/fabrics from my stash. The best part is...I won't be rushing to finish it for Christmas 2023!
As this QAL comes to an end, I will be participating in the #improvtrianglesewalong with Nicholas Ball over on Instagram. Head over there to see some amazing improv work!