Pages


Tuesday, February 24, 2015

A Day Late, but Never a Dollar Short

I'm just getting around to posting the blocks I worked on last week.  I'm running out of pink scraps so I only made one Garlic Knot block for Angela's  Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Three more blocks for my red/cream postage stamp quilt.

I made another Eye Spy Disappearing Nine Patch quilt using the tutorial at Obsessively Stitching.  I didn't remember to take a picture of the fourteen 9 patch blocks I made for the top, but they looked very much like every other nine patch block you've ever seen.
The quilt looks the same as the one I made earlier in February, but I used a different blue fabric for the cornerstones. I have one more to make so this series may be drawing to a close.

Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict is hosting the Sweet Sixteen Quilt Along featuring tutorials for different quilts using sixteen patch blocks. You can see all of the details by clicking the button on my side bar.  In January, I made sixteen blue 16 patch blocks for the Sixteens and Pinwheels top as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  Last week, I made fifteen pinwheel blocks for the top.


The blocks finish at eight inches so the 5 x 7 layout I planned would finish at 40 x 56.  I considered adding two borders to make it larger, but instead I will be making more blocks to finish the quilt at 48 x 64 with the option of adding a border to make it larger.

Retired Guy picked the winner of the flannel fabric giveaway.


Terry, who blogs at Terry's Treasures, is the winner.  Terry has a wonderful blog.  I guarantee that if you stop by, you will be inspired.  I will notify Terry by email.
Thanks to everyone who participated. The temperature this morning was minus 2 so I will be huddled by the wood burning stove ironing and cutting fabrics.  Even the heat from the iron is appreciated these days.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Pink Rainbow Scrap Challenge Blocks and a Few Extras

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to live in one of those cute little houses that appear in snow globes, I have the answer.  It's boring.  This week has been full of snow and ice with more on the way.  That made it a perfect time to sew. Right now the wind outside sounds like a freight train going by.
I thought I had lots of pink scraps to use for this month's RSC, but when it came time to piece some blocks there wasn't much to use.  I had just enough for two  Mod Cabin blocks, three Garlic Knot blocks, and one Happy House block.  This will be the last of the Happy House blocks.  I started the blocks during last year's RSC.  I now have a total of forty two which will be enough for a quilt.
I  promised to make two baby quilts for friends of my daughter and one for my niece's baby.  I am month's behind in my promise.  This week I pulled out the five inch novelty charm squares that  I cut over the summer.  I used the Eye Spy Disappearing Nine Patch tutorial at Obsessively Stitching for the placement of the patches.  It doesn't make a difference with the allover prints, but I wanted all of the pictures to face in the same direction so that required the directional prints to be placed in a particular way.
It's hard to believe that  14 simple nine patch blocks yielded the fifty six blocks for the top below.
I love the way this setting creates the  sashing and corner stones.  I will make the other two quilts using the same formula.  It went together really quickly and I am eager to get the tops quilted and on the way to their tiny new owners.


Last August, red was the RSC color.  I started a red and cream scrappy postage stamp style quilt.  This week I made six more blocks.  I'll be making three more to complete the top.

I will be linking up my pink blocks with other quilters participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over at Angela's So Scrappy blog.  There are always lots of great projects to inspire you.
It's also not too late to leave a comment to enter the "Welcome Baby" flannel giveaway here on my blog.  The giveaway closes on February 23rd.

The most common greeting in our area during 2015 has been, "Stay Warm."  I hope wherever you are, you are cozily sewing surrounded by warmth or air conditioning if that's what you require.




Monday, February 9, 2015

A Little Whining and a Giveaway

Last week was the first time I posted since August 30th.  Without any quilt projects to show, it seemed silly to post.  From June to September I wore a boot on my left foot to help take pressure off my Achilles tendon.  I was hopeful that it would help heal the micro tears that developed due to a bone spur. It slowed me down a bit, but I could sew.

When the boot came off in September, my foot felt great.  That wonderful feeling of freedom lasted two weeks.  The pain came back and there was no way to avoid surgery for my ruptured Achilles tendon.  The surgery was scheduled quickly so there was no time to prepare any hand work projects for the long weeks that I would be in a cast.
Luckily, we have a bathroom on the first floor of our home so I was able to get around with some help from my husband and my new toy.  The scooter was a lifesaver.  Unfortunately, my sewing room and all of my supplies are on the second floor of the house.
After the cast, I was back in the boot until Christmas. It soon became obvious that I still needed the support of the boot, so I have come full circle and am back in the boot again.  I'm not allowed to leave the house when there is ice or snow because the boot impairs my balance.  Here in New York, we have had nothing but ice and snow for weeks so I am beginning to feel trapped.

As a thank you to everyone who took the time to read this whiny story and came back to visit my blog after the five month absence, I am giving away two charm packs and a two yard cut of a coordinating fabric.  The charm packs and fabric are from the "Welcome Baby Flannel" line by Wyndam fabrics.

 If you would enjoy sewing with these cozy flannels, leave a comment.  I will pick a winner at random from the comments.  The giveaway will close on Monday, February 23.  The giveaway is now closed.   Please make sure you are not a "No Reply" blogger because the winner will be notified by email. Good luck from wintry New York where it is snowing once again.