ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC25 - Week 51

Welcome to Week 51 of the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  It's hard to believe that I've completed my second month of my retirement.  Where has the time gone??  I guess it whooshed by (just like the release of this post.)  Whoops!

Let's see how this week ticked by...

SUNDAY - I worked on Day 10 of Care December during my Weekly Morning Art Zoom:

As evening approached, there was a big commotion outside...

I went outside to see Santa driving by:

MONDAY - This afternoon, I was pleased to catch up with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color during our Weekly Zoom Call:

TUESDAY -  Open Studio with Barb found me making a start on yesterday's Watercolor class with @susuanyeates which I missed due to a timing issue:

After lunch a quick lunch, I joined Lisa from Scrap Club for Sit and Sew:

WEDNESDAY - Wonderful Wednesday

This afternoon, I finished up the painting begun in yesterday's workshop:

THURSDAY - At this morning's Weekly Quilt Group meeting, we celebrated Ella with a candle in her snack and a small gift:

FRIDAY - Knit Group

Get Messy's Open Studio with Deandra I prepared the journal page shown below, watched yesterday's video before dinner, and afterwards, I completed it during my Weekly Evening Art Zoom:

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  I hope you will join me in visiting Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.  I'll be along later, as I'm off to spend the morning at Carol's Christmas House for our Quilt Bee's Holiday Potluck.

The following members were in attendance:

Afterwards, I went to Britt's house to pickup the quilt she quilted for me:

Thank, B!  I'm looking forward to finishing this one.  Hopefully by year's end!

Until next time...

Get SCRAPPY!!

Wonderful Wednesday - 2025 Chubby Stash Challenge - A (Ravelry) UFO Club Finish

Welcome to another edition of Wonderful Wednesday here at The Joyful Quilter!!  I'm back with yet another completed UFO from my Fall 2025 UFO Club list.  It's my FOURTH for the Fall 2025 UFO Club and it feels SEW good!

This project began in the Spring of this year.  Well, sort of...

Maggie issued the 2025 Chubby Stash Challenge back in January, but I didn't get started right away.  Since we were given just shy of a fat quarter to work with, I wanted to make sure that I had enough fabric for the design I chose.  The fabric was this gorgeous batik:

The Birthstone prompt during Project QUILTING Season 16.4 gave me my first prototype.  It was inspired by the Pecking Order quilt.  The original pattern can be found HERE:

It was a fun pattern, but I thought I might like to make something else for my entry.  About that time, I saw a selection of block layouts for Bonnie Hunter's County Clare Leader/Ender Challenge from 2024.  (I saved the blog post in a tab, but my computer crashed and ate all the open tabs.  My apologies the its author for the lack of credit.)  One in particular caught my attention.  Of course, Bonnie's blocks wouldn't make for an interesting quilt in our size parameters, so I shrunk the blocks a smidge.  A half-inch makes a BIG difference!

Thus another prototype was created...

This one was made using my friend Tiffany's scraps during our Spring Mini-Retreat since I had finished the other projects I took to work on. The NT Halloween Retreat provided the time and motivation needed to complete the quilt:

I was pleased with my Mini County Clare so I decided to expand on the theme...

My entry was worked on in dribs and drabs over the Summer.  The original idea was to make a 4-block wall hanging.  That would have been fine, but I opted for adding half-blocks on the top and bottom:

Our retreat gave me the perfect opportunity to complete the "expansion project":

Another month passed...

With the deadline approaching, I chose a scrap of batting and a (fairly compatible) backing fabric:

Threads were pulled for quilting and more were pulled when most of these didn't work:

After quilting, I auditioned binding options...

Then wondered if a faux-piped binding might be a better choice:

If you saw last week's ScrapHappy Saturday post, you might recall that I made a decision to seeking "professional guidance" from my "Design Consultant" (Britt) and DS2, my former in-house "Design Assistant", both available via text.  They both weighed in on the scrap options from my Big Bucket of Batiks.  (Thanks again, you two!)

Based on their suggestions, I sewed some sample binding to make sure I had the dimensions set in my mind before cutting into my challenge fabric and tested it along the edge:

Hanging the complete quilt on my gallery wire was the natural thing to do, but the evening lighting...

Did absolutely NOTHING for my sweet finish!  So, I took this photo at my Weekly Quilt Group meeting the next morning to show it to its advantage:

I'm happy that I managed to finish it in time for our Reveal Party this past weekend:

Thank you for issuing our group's 2025 Chubby Stash Challenge, Maggie!  With only a size range and a fabric to use in potential entries, the design was wide open.  It was a sneaky way for you to move some unused yardage out of your fabric stash, but participants were SEW pleased to help you with the task!

Until next time...

Mark another UFO off the list!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC25 - Week 50

Welcome to Week 50 of the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week may or may not include some rainbow scrap sewing, but some scrap quilting is definitely on the agenda.  Other then that, we'll have to see what happens with the items/activities on my list.

Winter weather has been predicted, including the "S-word"... SNOW!!!

Let's begin with the journal page I made during yesterday's Season Opening at Get Messy.  For some reason, I was unable to add it to the end of last week's post:

SUNDAY - At my Weekly Morning Art Zoom I did some gel printing for Care December...

MONDAY - I got a slow start on the day's activities with a leisurely breakfast and catching up on some emails.  Then came a midday watercolor class with Tammy Kaye, but I didn't paint along with today's lesson.  Here is the image I will paint from in the coming days:

Weekly Zoom Call with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color

While waiting for our call, I selected a backing fabric and dug out an appropriately sized scrap of batting.  Here is a peek at the quilt sandwich with thread choices for the quilting:

TUESDAY -  During Open Studio with Barb I did more gel printing for Care December, this time with the "water technique" to add texture:

WEDNESDAY - Scrap Sewing happened today!!!  :o))

This morning, I debated about binding choices for my next UFO Club finish.  After lunch, I made a decision after seeking "professional guidance" from my "Design Consultant" (Britt) and DS2, my former in-house "Design Assistant", available via text.  They both weighed in on the scrap options from my Big Bucket of Batiks.  (Thanks, you two!)  Based on their suggestions, I sewed some sample binding to make sure I had the dimensions set in my mind before cutting into my challenge fabric and tested it along the edge:

THURSDAY - Since parking is limited at Candy's new apartment complex, Britt and I carpooled to our Weekly Quilt Group.  Sorry!  There was no group photo today.  

After a stop at Trader Joe's, I headed back to Britt's house for some long overdue art time.  We watched the day's lesson from Get Messy.  It was called Make Your Mark lesson with Job of Job's Journal.  I loosely followed instructions.  Here we are with the pages we created:

Ignore the top two journal pages and focus on the tree images.  Britt's watercolor and ink on the left.

FRIDAY - Knit Group - It started snowing on my way there and continued, switching to some sort of tiny snow pellets before stopping on my way home two hours later.

I finished my Lucky 13 Socks from Tracy Workman of On Woolen Pond and wove in the ends.  The pattern was overshadowed by my yarn choice, but they are nice and cozy:

After lunch, I showed up to Open Studio with Deandra only to discover that our time slot had been commandeered by Monthly Reflections with Caylee Gray @ Get Messy.  It's a journaling-heavy session to encourage us to look back at our art goals and determine the success or failure of them, what we were particularly proud of, along with other weighty topics.  I'm not much for writing in journals...

So...

I worked on Day 5 of Care December using a magazine image that Britt shared with me during our in-person art session yesterday afternoon:

Weekly Evening Art Zoom I worked on Day 8 of Care December - Green Edition.  The prompt was My Sister's Green House and the theme was Playful.  I couldn't watch the video so I just went with something playful relating to the day's prompt.  This photo shares a glipse of it as Britt and I chatted after the meeting:

I also selected a rainbow of fabric scraps for this Month's TABLE SCRAPS Challenge entry:

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  I hope you will go visit Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.  I'll be along later.

The weather played along nicely so I'm off to our Quilt Bee's Challenge Reveal party in a little while.  I'll add photos later, if Blogger cooperate will let me update the post on my phone.  (Hopefully...) Here are the participating members who were able to attend:

Photo Currently Unavailable!!

And...

A group photo of the incredible entries:

Photo Currently Unavailable!!

Until next time...

Get SCRAPPY!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC25 - Week 49

Welcome to Week 49 of the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week should include some scrap sewing.  Maybe not the rainbow variety, but scrappy none the less.

Have a look to see how that plan worked out...

SUNDAY - Weekly Morning Art Zoom found me working on this page in my Collage Scraps Journal using more cut pieces than torn ones - a departure from the way I usually work:

My Weekly Zoom Call with Sue late this afternoon didn't happen.  :o((

MONDAY - Much of today was spent watching the Patient Education Program webinar from the 2nd North American Bronchiectasis and NTM Patient Education Program hosted by NYU, as recommended by the attending physician at last week's pulmonology visit:

Late in the afternoon, I was able to carve out some time to catch up with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color for our Weekly Zoom Call:

TUESDAY -  During Open Studio with Barb I worked on my journal for Care December, adding green backgrounds to a number of the pages:

Photo Currently Unavailable!!

WEDNESDAY - WAIT!  What???  How can it be Wednesday already?!?!  The day was a blur of laundry, dishes, and other household chores.

A phone call from Sue, but no Zoom photo to share.  Sigh...

THURSDAY - I shared my "renovated" house quilt made for the November 2025 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge at today's Weekly Quilt Group.  Follow the link for additional photos and details.  Sadly, the door and windows were the only sewing I've done this week:

FRIDAY - Knit Group was canceled today because of a (predicted) weather event.  I read on the couch most of the morning.  Get Messy's Open Studio with Deandra this afternoon was spent harvesting letters and word:

After dinner, I enjoyed spending time with my Weekly Evening Art Zoom friends while swatching my collection of green paint for Care December:

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  I hope you will join me in visiting Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.

It was haircut day for DH before lunch and afterwards, I headed up to the studio for the Opening of the Season of Excitement at Get Messy.  Here is the page I made:

Photo Currently Unavailable!!

Until next time...

Get SCRAPPY!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC25 - Week 48

Welcome to Week 48 of the 2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  With a month of  retirement under my belt, I will spare you the weekly update.  Will there be scrappy sewing this week?  I certainly hope so!

Read on to find out...

SUNDAY - During my Weekly Morning Art Zoom, I cut shapes from the gel printed papers I made yesterday and created this collage:

I had another chat with Sue this afternoon.  She called to check on me because my guys aren't at home this week.  Thanks, Sue!

MONDAY - Another FREE watercolor class with Tammy Kaye, but this morning it was on Patreon instead of Zoom.  This is my version of the floral bouquet we worked on today:

Later, I took in a watercolor class with Emma Weekes.  The splodges in the grass was part of our warm-up, but I opted to paint right over it instead of  wasting paper:

TUESDAY -  During Open Studio with Barb this afternoon, I worked on adding details to my 2-minute warm-up landscape painting from yesterday's class with Tammy Kaye:

Later...

Here I am waiting for my Weekly Zoom Call with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color:

We got our wires crossed on the timing of today's meeting.

WEDNESDAY - Doctor Day

Before I headed out, I sorted through these scraps and made a start on my November 2025 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge entry.  I hope you will check the link in Friday's entry to see what became of them:

Nothing like the LAST minute, right!!

At least I was on time for my pulmonology follow-up appointment!  Today I met with a different fellow and the UNC lead physician focusing on my lung condition came in to consult with me.  She said that I picked the right day to come in.  I was told to continue my nebulizer treatments and was referred to attend an upcoming virtual Patient Education Program to learn more about what ails me.  (My words, not hers.)

Next, a quick lunch and a stop at the car dealership to see about a replacement windshield since a dump truck's tires through a rock at my car and put a chip in it.  The chip was accompanied by a crack that has been steadily growing since the unfortunate incident.  :o((

Afterwards, I had promised Knittingsuek a visit.  And look!  She surprised me with a gift:

THURSDAY - Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I attended my friend Beth's holiday celebration.  It was lovely buffet at her community's fine dining restaurant with a few of her neighbors who generously welcomed me:  

DH's flight returns at 10 PM, but DS1 agreed to pick him up at the airport so I will go get him tomorrow.  I spent the evening working in the studio.

FRIDAY - TABLE SCRAPS Challenge Link Party

No Knit Group today.  At least, not for me!  I had a few things to do...

First - Stop at the local Big Box Store to check for white quilt batting.

Second - Go to Cary Quilting Company to meet up with Monica from the UFO Club:

And...

Third - Head to DS1's for a visit to bring DH home from his cross-county road trip.  I'm amazed by how fast a week passed!  He is so glad to be home and I was happy to see him and enjoyed the visit with our son and his girlfriend.  Here he is with her ginormous cat:

Obviously, I ended up missing Get Messy's Open Studio with Deandra AND unfortunately, my Weekly Evening Art Zoom, too.  I could have shown up really late, but opted to continue the chat with DH that began during our dinner out.  He was catching me up about trip details, DS2's apartment, and the interesting news about his new work environment.

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!  I hope you will join me in visiting Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.  Here's hoping everyone is having an enjoyable holiday weekend.

Until next time...

Get SCRAPPY!!