Tutorial Tuesday - {Charm Square Friendly} Mini Magic Stars

 Welcome to another edition of Tutorial Tuesday!!  I'm here to share my latest hair brained idea.  You KNOW that I love miniatures, right?  Well, I've really done it this time...

Quilters, I've shrunk the

Magic Stars Quilt!!!

Here is the tutorial for Joyful's MINI MAGIC STARS:

I originally cut 4 pairs of 5" squares to make the blocks shown above.  (You could use a Charm Pack to make things go a little faster.)  I really like using my scraps!  The 4" square below is an example of what can happen when you shrink the Magic Star blocks shared in THE FULL SIZE TUTORIAL:

From the leftovers of my "regular" Magic Star quilt, I cut pairs of 5" squares for another set of mini blocks and started slicing them up.  The first cut is at 3.25" and leaves you with a pair of 3.25 x 5" chunks and a couple of strips that measure 5" x 1.75 inches.  Set the strips aside for a moment...

... And turn the chunk so that you can cut it into a pair of 3.25" squares and a pair of short strips measuring 1.75" x 3.25 inches:

After that, you will swap the pieces and parts to make units like the one below. First, by stitching opposite squares and short strips...

Then adding the longer strips to create a set of squares bordered on adjoining sides:

There will be some trimming required when these units are sewn.  As shown in the photo below, you will trim to 4.5" square:

Note:  The previous cut can be made before sewing.  I choose to wait until after the pieces are sewn.

Stack the resulting (trimmed) pairs, right side up...

 ... And line up as shown below, and cut them from corner to corner.  Please make sure you can see your "star point" triangles to make sure you are cutting on the appropriate diagonal:

Switch the pieces around and sew.  Sorry!  A cutting mishap had me switching out a piece.  Pretend the background is the same:

After sewing, your pieces will look like this:

Press and trim to 4 inches square:

If there is a step that I haven't made clear, please refer to the original tutorial, substituting the new measurements.  I hope you will grab a charm pack (or some scraps) and give my Mini Magic Stars a try!  

When you do (because you KNOW you want to), please link to this post and drop me an email to let me know that you're making your own quilt.  Here's my quilt top:

Note:  More photos can be seen in yesterday's Mini Monday post, if you'd like to see how my quilt top came together.

Special thanks to the amazing Math Man!  My Design Assistant and very own DS2 was responsible for figuring out the measurements needed to shrink Tiffany's version of the instructions.  I hope you enjoy this Charm Square-friendly version of Magic Stars.

Linking up with Kelly

for

Needle and Thread Thursday

and

Whooping it up

with Sarah

(on Friday)

Until next time...

Make mini!!!

Mini Monday - Mini Magic {Stars}

 Welcome to another edition of Mini Monday!!  I'm in the process of making a new mini quilt.  I thought you might like to see it.  This project was begun shortly after I mailed off a Donation Quilt several months ago, in a "What if..." moment.  You see, I can be stingy with my scraps and I missed those WAY COOL Magic Star blocks.

What's a quilter to do???

Well, this quilter decided to make another quilt to keep for myself.  After all, there was PLENTY of fabric scraps!  :o))

I made 8 blocks and laid them out.  At first glance, I saw two things that I didn't like.  The top left block had gotten scorched by the iron and the resulting wall hanging was about a half-block too long to work as a new Kitchen Quilt:

SEW...

Since I didn't want a half-block at the bottom of my wall hanging, I gathered another selection of the fabrics that I had pulled from for my donation quilt, Tiffany's Magic Stars, made not long after the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis:

More blocks were added around the first block sewn:

Once I was happy with the design, I assembled the "border" blocks into pairs...

... Then rows:

The center section was sewn next:

In retrospect, I probably should have taken the central "star" apart and formed 4 "circles", as in my original quilt.  However, if you've been reading my blog for very long, you KNOW that I'm not a fan of using a seam ripper without a REALLY good reason.  I'm going with the idea that I prefer not to make the same identical quilt twice.  Interesting design wins over exact replica:

Joyful Magic Stars finished at 14.5 inches square.

Quilting will soon follow.  Just keep in mind that SOON is a relative term for some vague point in the future.  :P

HINT:  There just MIGHT be a tutorial in the works.

Let me know if YOU would like to try the mini version, too.

Until next time...

SEW. What fun!!!

Sew Some Love Sunday - Lutheran World Relief Quilts

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!!  It's been a while since the last post, but I wanted to share an urgent need with you.  Did you hear that there was a devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon this week?  If you watch the news, listen to the radio, or pick up your cell phone during the day, you probably did.

The following is an excerpt from Jo @ Jo's Country Junction:

... I was so sad to hear about the explosion in Beirut, Lebanon.  Along with the death came a lot of destruction.  The blast destroyed three of Lutheran World Relief’s 40-foot shipping containers, which were stored in the port and held more than 22,000 LWR Mission Quilts, 100 cartons of School Kits, 300 cartons of Personal Care Kits and 125 cartons of Baby Care Kits that were being prepared for distribution.

This is a huge blow to the many-many people who volunteer countless hours in the work to make these quilts, school kits, personal care kits, and baby care kits.  Being someone who has made many of these in the past, I know how sad it is to those that work so hard to help others.

If you know of a Lutheran World Relief charity group, many are part of the Lutheran Church, please do what you can to support them.  Donate fabric for quilts or even sew a simple quilt top for them.  I know the groups will be scrambling to make more quilts than they ever have before.  Often a top is as simple as 10 1/2″ squares sewn in a 6 x 8 layout as quilts need to be 60 x 80ish.

SEW...

This is an opportunity for YOU to jump in and help, if you are inclined to do so.  At the end of her post, Jo gave the dimensions for the quilts in need of replacement.

What size was that, Joyful???

The quilts or tops should measure approximately 60 x 80 inches.  Jo suggested something as simple as 10.5" squares sewn in a 6 x 8 layout.  That's only 48 squares of fabric!

Want to participate, but don't have TIME to sew for LWR???

I'll arrange the sewing for you.  All you have to do is cut and mail the squares!!  I will have my minions do the rest find another quilter to do the sewing.  I might even do it for you, myself!  (I like a bit of mindless sewing once in a while.)

Where can I get more information about LWR??

Here is the LINK for the Lutheran World Relief.  I didn't find the website particularly user friendly. Instead, I will pass along quilt tops made from donated fabric to a local organization who supports this mission.  (If any of you readers belong to a group of LWR quilters, please leave the information in the comments below.)

Will you be showing us a quilt photo, Joyful!!!

Here is a photo of my very first Bonnie Hunter Mystery quilt, Grand Illusion, circa 2014:

Note: The top row is folded over in the photo.

Later, I made a pieced back instead of continuing with the pieced borders that Bonnie had planned:

The original border pieces were incorporated at each end of the quilt back.
Alas, now that I have a longarm quilting machine, I will have to add
a border to allow for the backing to be attached to the rails.

I pulled the quilt out the other day.  Needleb was looking for a quilt top to make a quick gift.  My quilt was too big for that need and now, too small for the LWR purposes.

Side note:  It's PURPLE for the RSC.  :o))

I plan on doing some additional research into LWR Mission Quilts (to see if there are any exclusions that should be made for religious or cultural reasons.)  Please leave me a comment, if you are interested in contributing to this effort.

Until next time...

SEW some love!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC20 - Week 32

Welcome to Week 32 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week was the start of a month that I've been looking forward to with great anticipation.  In case you haven't heard, let me explain...

August PURPLE month for the RSC!!!

Many of the RSC Quilters are thrilled.  Count me in their numbers.  :o))

SUNDAY - This morning, I caught up with blogging friends.  The plan was to go up to the sewing room after lunch, but...

A friend who lives in England shared the following LINK to the Festival of Quilts (online this year, due to the global pandemic.)  Needless to say, I spent a couple of hours wandering around the show.

Late in the day, I hauled myself upstairs to do two things.  One goal was to assemble the storage system that I picked up at my friend Candy's house a couple of weeks ago:

With the latest NEW Blogger update, it seems that adding a caption
is the only way to get an uncooperative photo to the center of the page.

DONE!!  It's also loaded with the scrap bags which had previously occupied that space.  Organizing will take place at a later date, as I had another job to do.  It's a NEW month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge (and I didn't get around to taking down July's quilts.)

The bird in the tree has flown away.  :o((

Multi-colored quilts, but...

... Not a lot of PURPLE for the RSC.

DONE!!  The studio Gallery Wire is decked out in (the few quilts that include) PURPLE and it seems that I have my task for August.  Another mini quilt is in order.  Luckily, I already have a plan in place.

I also took the opportunity to play with laying out a few Bonus HSTs which were leftover from last year's Pecking Order quilt:

MONDAY - It was a slow start to the week.  I did manage to cut the pieces for my Scrap Buster Challenge block:

TUESDAY - With Sunday's Bonus block done, I only need to make ONE more before setting decisions can be made:

It pleases me to be getting MORE use out of the Fossil Fern scraps that were given to me by my friend Gayle last year or the year before.

WEDNESDAY - I skipped out on grocery duty AGAIN!!  This is the second week in a row that I've called in my"assistant" so that I could go have coffee with my friends:

On the way home, I stopped by Knittingsuek's house to check it the quilt plan for her latest quilt:

(One of) My RSC block(s) is done for the month.  I have to say, I am THRILLED!!!  It only took EIGHT MONTHS, but I got it right on the first try:

I cut more PURPLE scraps for a version of Magic Stars:

Most of these were used in the quilt that I gave away earlier this year.  LINK!!!

The late afternoon found me Zooming with LeeAnna:

THURSDAY - Today is ZoomBEE.  10 quilters joined in:

Ready?

Or not!  This kitty visit photo didn't give us time to smile.

FRIDAY - I had planned to start my day with this week's ZoomKNIT meeting, but was only able to pop in before anyone else arrived to say that I had an urgent errand to run:

Good morning! Goodbye.

After spending a few minutes with them, I had to say goodbye.  It was my day to help another friend and a quick grocery run was needed today.  It was the first time I've stepped foot in a grocery store since March!!  (I thought I had avoided the need to go inside, by placing a pick-up order last night, but another item got added to the list this morning.)

After lunch, I released a new Design Floor Friday post.  Check it out to see what became of these PURPLE blocks:

Go on.  You KNOW you want to see!!  :o))

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  If YOU like PURPLE, it's a great day to visit Angela over at her So Scrappy blog!  I am prepared for PURPLE month...

... With my Kitchen Quilt, Butterflies in 3-D, cheering the space:

What fun I had playing with my PURPLE scraps this week!

Until next time...

Scrap SEW safely!!!

Design Floor Friday - My PURPLE Palace

Welcome to another edition of Design Floor Friday!!  Today, I'm  here to share the IMPROV adventure that I went on this week.  You see, it's PURPLE month at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and I realized that I was sorely lacking quilted items for my Gallery Wire.  :o((

What's a quilter to do???

Make a new quilt, of course!  :o))

My inspiration...

... For this project was Debbie @ A Quilter's Table:

The last time she inspired me to make a quilt, I ended up with Dressed.  That one was only loosely inspired by her quilt called Skirted.  We both used an article of clothing from our closets to make the resulting quilts.

What did you do with those blocks, Joyful???

This time, there's a direct correlation between Debbie's quilt, Sometimes It Takes A While, and the one that I am in the process of making:

I've seen "Tunnel" blocks before.  I even saved a photo of a (vaguely) similar quilt by Lynn @ klein meisje quilts.  I was excited by the idea of the quilt, but it went nowhere.  Another version of the block found in a tutorial several years ago by Rachel @ Stitched in Color had the same affect.  I like the shape and the block was easy enough.  With that one, too, I just stored it away for a later date.  Something about Debbie's quilt spurred me to take action.  (Thank you, Deb!!)

Tunnels, Doorways, or Houses???

I started out thinking of my blocks as tunnels.  My friend LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color saw them as doorways.  Me?  I began to think of them as houses.

Once the blocks were all stacked up, I decided that I would pull random scraps for sun, sky, and garden to fill in the remaining spaces:

Then, I wondered if I might like to make a tree using Debbie's tutorial for Improv Spikes and fill in that final "empty lot" on the lower left corner.  I also called in a "gardener" to consult on the "landscaping."  I value Needleb's opinions.  (She rarely steers me wrong.)

Take a look...

Version One, garden gone wild:

Version Two, a flower sweet garden:

Version Three, more yellow flowers to balance the "sunshine" area:

Mistakes were made...

As I was puzzling the pieces together, I trimmed too much off the lilac house in the bottom row.  My first inclination was to trim down the big house and add another tree to balance out the green (and use that awesome green batik.)  I tried both angles and the tree just didn't work for me, but I didn't get a comparison photo:

Without further ado...

I present My PURPLE Palace, the quilt top:

Perhaps, this might even be quilted by the end of the month.  I wouldn't hold my breath, if I were you.  I'm running behind schedule on quilting up waiting tops (which are larger than a 10" square.)

Sharing with Alycia

for

Finished (Or NOT) Friday

and

With Cynthia

for

Oh Scrap!

Until next time...

Piecing PURPLE fun!!!