Kaleidoscope for baby

Here's my latest baby quilt.

I take a quilting class at the local adult school and

this is our latest project/pattern.

I take the class to keep my quilting skills SHARP!!

Let me tell you...

this kaleidoscope pattern quilt was a DOOZY!!!

Oh my goodness!

All those triangles...

All those points to match!!....

All those blocks to square up.....

(don't look too close!  LOL)

It is NOT a quilt pattern for the faint hearted.

;)

I think foundation piecing would make it easier...

(for me)

BUT...

It's done now!!!

Yippee!

I was able to use some fun fabrics on the back.

The cute zebra print came from a pillowcase found at the thrift store!!!

I know.

Crazy luck!

And...

a striped binding is ALWAYS a great thing!!!

My striped fabric stash RARELY lets me down.

So...

I've practiced my precision piecing.

ON to LOOSEY goosey improv!!!!

AND maybe some...

SCrappy HAPPY strips!!!

Happy quilting friends!

Giving little quilts away

I love giving quilts away...

EVEN when they're teeny tiny quilts

like these potholders.

;)

My 2" scrap drawer gave me PLENTY of options

when I was making these little gifts.

It was hard to choose a color combo!!!

What are you up to this week??

Link up and share.

Just for fun

Improvisational Quilt:

many scraps.

crazy colors.

lots of LINES.

After making a VERY large log cabin block...

I cut it into four pieces...

and

added some extra strips.

(should have taken a BEFORE photo

BEFORE cutting the large block up.)

;)

Happy quilting!

Simple sewing

Nothing fancy.

Nothing original.

Just a little practical sewing.

Using up orphan blocks

and covering up some words.

I prefer the patchwork to the words.

I was inspired by one of my friends in blogland...

Margo.

Thank you for the inspiration, friend!

She posted about HER project here.

On the first bag I used my Pinking shears to cut around the patchwork

and then just sewed it on.

(It was easier than pulling out my machine that has a zigzag stitch)

And...

When was the last time YOU used pinking shears???

They don't get a chance to cut very often, do they???

In the second bag...I ironed the patchwork edge in and then sewed around that.

Both will hold up to shopping trips,

knitting projects,

trips to the library,

and various other errands.

I have too many bags...

and TOO many scraps.

This project connects the DOTS.

;)

What are YOU making this week???

Friday Finish

Here's my newest finish.

A bright sting quilt.....TWIN size!

I pulled lots of bright happy colors.

The browns and DULL colored scraps are still in the basket.

They didn't get to play in this quilt.

;)

I love scrappy quilts.
Don't you???

String quilt

I am in the midst of a STRING quilt.

Very satisfying WORK!!

It is work and play ALL wrapped up together in ONE

and I LOVE it.

After pulling this block out of the orphan box Monday

and wondering what color to make NEXT.....

 

I knew (Within 2 minutes)

that my blocks needed to be

FULL of COLOR!

I KNEW I had enough scraps for this one!

 

I was so excited after making block #1...

I kept sewing.

;)

 

Sue asked for my block info...

so I'm adding it here today.

My squares are 6" x 6"

 

After sewing strings together....

I trimmed and pressed.

 

You need FOUR of these 6" squares for each block.

 

For the corner triangles..

I used one piece of 7"x7" phone book page

(If you're careful with that 1/4" seam

I'm sure you could do it with 6 1/2" as well...

but I like some "Elbow room")

 

I paper pieced the strings

beginning in the niddle and pressed as I added strips.

When the paper was full....

 

I turned it over....

Trimmed along the edge of the paper....

Cut DIAGONALLY

and removed the paper backing.

I cut a 7"x7" muslin square

and cut that diagnally as well.

I sewed a string triangle and a muslin triangle together

then I had to trim ONCE more

to make the square 6" x 6".

 

Each block needs FOUR of these half square triangles.

 

I now have this beautiful set of blocks

GLOWING on my sewing room floor.

 

Initially I thought I would add muslin sashing

around/between each block.....

But...

I'm going to let it GLOW a bit longer

and see if this quilt helps me DECIDE!

I kind of like them ALL close together.

 

Happy sewing!

Monday Making

Good morning quilters!!

It's Monday.

For me, that means the kids are beginning another week of school.

Summer's over folks!

The crazy summer events are now behind me

and I can FOCUS on some sewing!!

Yeah!

I DUG around in my orphan quilt block box

and pulled this out.

I'm trying to decide what color to make the NEXT block....?????

I could go with the traditional red and green.....

but I want to EXPLORE something else.

Hmmm......

What are YOU hoping to make this week???

Monday Making

I'm a finder.

Found these at the thrift store for 10cents.

Plastic canvas NEVER looked so good to me!!

And...

I'm a finisher.

I'm adding felt to the backs of these BEE-u-tee-ful flowers

to make coasters.

(My photos are sideways......

and I'm too tired to figure it out...

Excuse my sloppiness tonight)

;)

What are YOU making this week?

Link up and share!

Because I love you sewing

Many times we are sewing for the love of sewing.

And then there are the times

we are sewing because we love someone.

This week it was ALL "I love you sewing"!!!

First the diapers.

Whew!!!

What a project!

The diapers were fiddly.

Not sure how many more I'll make.

It WAS nice to sew with my daughter who's in town!

She made a dress and I slaved away on the diapers.

;)

I also threw together a nursing poncho.

SUPER simple project!!

Yeah for EASY!!

This monster wasn't so simple.

IT's a BIG 'ol football flag.

4'x6'

Yikes!

My son thinks I can do anything......

In NO TIME at all.

They need it next week.

LOL!!!

Last, but not least, I made some bunting for the baby shower.

Another simple "I love you" project.

Sanity sewing is on the agenda NEXT week!!!

Inspiration

I don't know about you...

but old quilts like this one INSPIRE me!

The old fabric.

The lack of FUSSY piecing.

The idea that a square in a square block was the jumping off place...

but the square in a square block is never SQUARE!

;)

of course...

the string pieced squares make this one EXTRA special.

I LOVE string quilts.

I mentioned recently that old quilts have been finding their way to my house.

I can't say NO to old quilts...

but I am NOT a collector.

They may not STAY at my house...

but I enjoy touching....

Looking....

admiring them for a little while.

This quilt is UNfinished.

Someone began quilting it a long time ago

and I JUST might finish the job!

What do YOU admire about these old GEMS???