Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Tidy-Up Tuesday - Declutter Challenge - Week 3

Welcome to another edition of Tidy Up Tuesday!!  My studio is currently in transition.  It has been dumping ground for all of the quilty things that were stuffed in my last studio, but little by little, homes are being found for all of the items or else the items are being moved along.  I'm on a quest to make my "new" studio less cluttered and more organized.  Karen @ Just Get It Done Quilts is helping me with her Declutter Challenge 2023. If nothing else occurs, the number of magazines in my studio was significantly reduced and there is one less packing box to trip over.  :o))

Let's see how I did since last week's post...

Day 15 - Unfinished Projects

It's another day for the hard stuff.  You're killing me, here, Karen!!  Here is the HUGE drawer that is designated for UFOs:


Some of those are even on this quarter's UFO List!  The others?  I'll work my way through them... Eventually!  That's what the (Ravelry) UFO Club, found at the Quilters Knitting group is all about.  Anyone with 5 (or more) UFOs can join The Club at the beginning of  January, April, July, and October.

Day 16 - Kits

The projects that have fabrics pulled, but little or no work put into them:


These are saved for times when I want to work on something requiring no thought.

Day 17 - Scraps

Today, Karen asked us to take a look at our fabric scrap and I've done that:


I look at my Scrap Station every time I walk into my studio.  It's my favorite part of my space. I love the fact that it is filled with little bits of quilting possibilities in any color of the rainbow and it makes me SEW very happy!

Full disclosure...

There are a couple of tubs of scraps that you can't see in the photo above and a BIG drawer full or scraps there on the right.

Oh!  And these, which I just pulled a project from the other day:

Strip drawers...


Square drawers:


You mean not everyone has scraps of all shapes and sizes filling up their sewing room?  Well, we don't ask artists to declutter their paints and the only scraps that I will part with are those coming in the door that I know I will never use.  ALL the rest will stay (and my offspring can part with them when I am gone.)  They are mine, Mine, MINE!!!  Yes, I'm a scrap quilter.  Why do you ask?  :P

Day 18 - Batting Scraps

That's our target today.  Mine are housed in this HUGE drawer:

Note:  This drawer measures 16.5" x 16.5" x nearly 2.5 feet!!

I pull from this drawer with almost EVERY project I make.  If you don't know me, you might think there's NO WAY to use those random bits.  However, if you DO know me, you know that I make a lot of SMALL projects.  With medium sized projects, Franken-batting is employed.  New batting is typically only used for large projects.

Day 19 - Precuts

I am SEW not a precut girl!  Here is my entire collection:


They were gifts and prizes, which is great. I'm pretty sure that I have only purchased two Fat Eighth bundles (one of which I've used for a project), two Layer Cakes and a single Mini Charm pack that was too cute to pass up!  I used two Charm Packs for a project a couple of years ago and the rest of these are still waiting for inspiration to strike. Since they don't take up much space, and they are so good at waiting patiently, I'm going to let them continue to hang out in the studio for the "right" project to come along.

Day 20 - Skip Day

Karen wasn't up to filming today's video and didn't post our task on her blog, either.

Day 20 - Fabric

Sigh...  I knew this day was coming.  It's the day my studio SERIOUSLY needs, but it's also the day that I have dreaded the most!  You see, I have a LOT of fabric.  It ALL has SEW much potential and I hesitate to part with any of it!

Logically, I know that I don't have room for all the fabric currently in my stash.  My new studio just doesn't have to space to store it all.  It's time to push my Fantasy Quilter self out of the way and face that reality.

Maybe later...

For now, I'll be parting with this (partial) bolt of fabric:


Day 21 - A Few Last Things

Karen is had one final task before we complete the Declutter Challenge 2023.  Today, we are supposed to gather all of the bags, buckets and bins, along with the rest of the trash, recycles, and donations.  Get them out of the house, wipe down your surfaces and call yourself done...  Unless you're taking the slow train to the sewing station, in which case, you are welcome to take all the time you need.  Karen is leaving the playlist up in the event that you are like me and have a bit more work to do.

I did gather these fabrics to pass along to another quilter:

Photo Currently Unavailable!!

What is your takeaway, Joyful???

I'm guessing almost ANYONE doing the challenge did a better job than I did, but...

I got some things out of the studio, found homes for a few more and plan on continuing with the momentum that Karen challenge helped build.  If your space still needs more work, you are welcome to confess share it in the comment section below.

To Karen...

Thanks for taking us along on your Decluttering journey as we head into 2023!  It's a great way to start a new year.  Your encouragement pushed me to dig through my studio and take a good hard look at the unwelcome, the unwanted, the no longer necessary.  (Even IF not as much progress was accomplished as I had hoped, but that is no reflection on you, Karen.)

Until next time...
Reclaim your space!!!
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Monday, January 23, 2023

Shades of Blue Challenge - A Blog Hop - My STOP

Welcome to My STOP for the "Sew - It, Show - It" Challenge: Shades of Blue (Blog Hop)!!  This is the next big thing from Carla @ Creatin' in the Sticks!!  She announced it early, so I figured I would jump right in.  Who can't make something BLUE with two months to get it done?  Make sure you read through to the end, as you don't want to miss anything!  I went a LITTLE crazy with my blue scraps.






I was excited, SEW...

I got right to work!  I tried one thing:


It was done raw-edged from start to finish.  I present Unconstructed in Blue:

Thanks to inspiration from my Cindy in the Quilters Knitting group on Ravelry.

The outdoor photo didn't work as well as I had hoped:


When that project was done, I started another...


The piecing was complete when I noticed...


I quickly found a solution for that hole.  It was nothing that a bit of fusible and a scrap of fabric couldn't fix:


Once the repair was done, it was time for layering, basting and...


Some simple straight-line quilting:


I think I posted this teaser on my blog last month:


Here is the completed Sew-It, Show It project titled Feelin Blue:


After that, I had Covid and decided to play with some denim...



And a new-to-me (Thanks, Linda Mac!) pattern:


As you can see, I started with the crown.  It went really well, even though a skull cap is most certainly NOT a good look on me!


That's where things went downhill...

I was upcycling denim and the pattern piece (even folded in half) wouldn't work on the pair of jeans I was trying to use.  :o((


As I was writing, I had a thought and went to raid my closet:


I haven't worn either of these dresses in YEARS!!  I figured that it couldn't hurt to try them for this project.  I cut them out during a Sew Day with my Monthly Quilt Bee:


And tried out an embellishment, too:


That didn't work out very well, but my friend DeeDee offered a suggestion that might, if I really want to include it in the design.  I'm not keen to deconstruct the perfectly sewn cap, but cutting the embellishment with the pattern piece would probably make more sense than having a pocket panel sewn to the hat!  Another other option would be to fussy-cut the embroidered flower and apply it to the center panel.  I couldn't decide (and then came down with Rebound Covid), so this project is still stalled.

Are you done yet, Joyful???

Well... Not exactly...

I had one more project that I wanted to try.  The photo below shows the start of it:


It was another raw-edge project...


With lots of BLUE scraps used:


Here is the finished project:


Thank you, again, to my friend Cindy for the fun raw-edged project inspiration!  You can find her on Ravelry @MonsoonCalamity.  I modeled my cowl/infinity scarf after THIS project she shared somewhere on Ravelry.  I couldn't find it there, but I found it on her business Moca Fabric IG account.

Note:  A similar project can be found (near the end of video) on Pola Quiting on YouTube at the following LINK with an accompanying Tutorial HERE.

I was SEW excited when Angela @ So Scrappy chose Dark and Bright BLUE for January's Color of the Month!  It worked great for me to be sharing these projects.  We'll just say that I got a head start of my scrappy sewing for this month.  :P

If you read through to the end...

Guess what???  YOU have a chance to WIN the project that I shared at the top of the post!!  That's right!  I'll be giving away that mini runner to one lucky winner.  All comments are greatly appreciated, but in order to be in the running for Unconstructed in Blue, leave a comment specifically indicating your interest in having that project mailed to you.

The winner will be chosen on MONDAY, January 30, 2023 @ 9PM (EST).  Please make sure that your email address is included in your comment, if you are a "No Reply Blogger", as I will need to be able to reach you when your name is pulled.

DRAWING IS NOW CLOSED!!!

Until next time...
Sew It, Share It!!!

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Sunday, January 22, 2023

Project QUILTING - Season 14.2 - Pink Tint

Pink Tint


Welcome to The Joyful Quilter!!  And... Welcome to the wonderful world of Project QUILTING hosted by Kim Lapacek @ Persimon Dreams!!  This is my 3rd year of participation in the Challenge.  Trish Frankland @ QuiltChicken is the creator of the crazy challenges that participants will face during the next 10 weeks.


Sassy @ Farm Quilter got me started at the beginning of Season 11 by inviting her readers to join in the fun.  I accepted her invitation and the rest is history.  As I have for the past two years, I will be dragging along my friend LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color again this season, as she enjoys having a reason to stretch her creative wings.  Would YOU like to join me in this creative journey, too?  


FAIR WARNING:  It's a wild ride, but oh SEW rewarding!


Challenges are given and start to finish you have ONE WEEK to complete your project.  PQ 14.2 can be found at THIS LINK:



Step One...

Read the instructions to see what is required of the second challenge.  Here's what Trish had to say:

14.2 – Pink Tint – Challenge 2 of Project QUILTING Season 14

Many of you know I’m a geek about color. I have loved Pantone ink swatch books (#ad) since I was a child, and you can draw a direct line from there to my adult quilting obsession.

And I know several of you were just itching to see what my color-inspired challenge would look like this year. So here we are! Let’s talk about COLOR.
Apparently, people in the know think it’s going to be a rosy 2023, because most color forecasters have gone in that direction for their “color of the year” announcements.

Pantone named Viva Magenta as their color for 2023. With a sweep of alliteration after my own heart, they declared it a color that “vibrates with vim and vigor.” It’s on the red side of pink, and BRIGHT, bright, bright!
Robert Kaufman named its Kona Cotton Color of the Year for 2023, and they selected Crush, a vibrant salmon that reminds me of juicy ruby red grapefruit.
Sherwin-Williams paint company went more neutral with their choice – but while Redend Point is taupe, it carries notable pink undertones.
So this week, what I want to know is: what shade of pink do you choose for YOUR color? You don’t have to choose one of those previously listed colors, but you must use some rosy-hued inspiration.


Step Two...

Groan.  PINK?!

Why, Joyful???

Pink is SEW not "my" color!!  What on Earth am I going to do??

Step Three...

Gather supplies:

I reached for my PINK Quilted Scrap Basket, but...


I soon pulled out my Dark/Bright BLUE Quilted Scrap Basket, as well.  That's the Rainbow Scrap Challenge Color of the Month for January and I might want to include that in my project:


Tutorial for these baskets can be found HERE.


Step Four...

Review the rules: (Insert 14.2 rules here!!!)

RULE ONE: some shade of pink must dominate this week’s project.

Trish was kind enough to provide the following links for color inspiration:

  • Palettes of four colors each with fun ways to sort and browse: Color Hunt
  • The famous archive of Design Seeds.
  • Combining science, history and art, this book is great either as a deep-dive read or to just dip in and out of on a whim: Secret Lives of Color.

You have one week to meet the challenge. Every challenge piece must be a FINISHED project seen through from INCEPTION to COMPLETION during the challenge timeline – that is, started on or after January 15, 2023, and posted by noon Central Time January 22, 2023.

Each piece must stand alone as DONE to count toward prizes.
Your project does not need to be a traditional quilt, but must meet at least one of these requirements: include patchwork, include appliqué, have 3 layers stitched together by hand or machine.

Step Five... Any ideas?

Yes.  I have one.  I might be able to use PQ14.2 as a chance to play along with Kristen's Scrap Buster Plus Quilt Challenge.  You can read more about that HERE or follow THIS LINK to her YouTube video about the challenge.


Step Six...PLAY!!!

I began by sort through my small scraps for bits that felt right for what I had planned:


Here is a bit of my construction process...

(Scroll down to the bottom of the post NOW, if you don't care to see a blow by blow of the making of my quilt.)


I was SEW excited by my plan that 6 full days before my entry is due, I cut the background scraps...


And soon enough, the piecing was done:


With 5 full days until the deadline, my project was layered with a scrap of batting...


Together with a sweet PINK scrap from my dear friend Ella, it was quilted and hand bound:


Here is my completed entry for PQ 14.2:


There is usually a reason that I participate in these challenges...

... And this time, it was because I'm going to miss this kind and gentle co-worker:


As luck would have it, PINK is one of her favorite colors!

There you have it...

Process, product, and the REAL reason for accepting this Challenge.

Follow THIS LINK to the Season 14 overview.  Check back on the Challenge release days (or sign-up to be notified automatically) and there may be one that YOU just can't resist.

It's a SHORT turnaround time!

Depending on the size and complexity of your project, that doesn't HAVE to be insurmountable.  With a little creativity and a few evenings, you really CAN do this!  My project was begun shortly after the prompt was announce and was finished in record time. I can't believe it was done with 4
 full days to spare!  My post was ready for release with more than 36 hours until the deadline.  Even so, I linked up with only a few hours to spare.  (I have a thing about releasing my post on Sunday so didn't want to join earlier.)

Until next time...
Challenge accepted!!!




Remember:  If I can do this, YOU can do it, too!

(Plus, there's a spot to post your completed Project QUILTING inspired projects AFTER the deadline for any of the challenges.)


I'm joining the Beauties Pageant 202
@

AND

Linking up with Cynthia
for

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Saturday, January 21, 2023

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC23 - Week 3

Welcome to Week 3 of the 2023 Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  I did a bit of Dark/Bright BLUE sewing for Angela's challenge.  Spoiler Alert:  It had NOTHING to do with that baggy of HSTs that I mentioned last week!!  I thought I might manage to arrange them into a quilt, but that hasn't happened, yet.

Let's take a look at the work I can share this week...

SUNDAY -  The week started with a Junk Journal January/Get Messy LIVE event on Zoom:


It was a wonderful event...


There were 109 Art/Junk journalers from all over the world working while the featured artist interviews took place.  104 worked while Rapid Fire questions were discussed. Near the end of the session, 17 journalers remained for "Artist Speed Dating".  Super fun! I chatted with Adriana from Romania, Jess from Canada, and Wendy from Ohio.  Our prompts were to share what we worked on today, do we work with themes, and what is our favorite ephemera, respectively.

Lunch followed and then I got involved in outlining some upcoming posts and COMPLETELY FORGOT about checking to see what the PQ14.2 prompt was!!  Here's the LINK so you can read the parameters for yourself.  I'm off to see what I can come up with.

MONDAY - Mini Monday

It's my day off, so I've got a FULL day planned!  It began with my weekly Zoom call to Knittingsuek... Well, after a morning of blog post writing and some lunch:


I sorted through some fabric while we talked, but you might have already heard about that by the time you read this recap.  (Thanks, again, for being flexible about this week's Zoom day, SZQ!)

TUESDAY - Tidy Up Tuesday

Work and Wordle...


Along with Quordle:


Check back next Friday for January's ABC (Table) SCRAPS Challenge to see what I made with this Dark BLUE block:


Are YOU participating this year?  There's still time to make something for this month's challenge!

WEDNESDAY - It's another work day today.


The Quordle odds were NOT in my favor today:


I would normally have Zoomed with LeeAnna this afternoon, but I had a rather urgent errand to run.  Thanksfully, her schedule could accommodate this change.

Check back on Sunday to see how I used a scrap of this sweet floral with BLUE flowers:


THURSDAY - Weekly Quilt Bee met, but I was scheduled to work.  :o((

I moved up my Zoom with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color when work was canceled at the last minute:


While waiting for the guys to get home from work, I used a tiny Dark BLUE scrap in a journal entry for Junk Journal January:


FRIDAY - Off work today, so headed to Knit Group LIVE for the second week in a row - which I later found out was a good thing, as my schedule is changing to 4 days per week:


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.  You go ahead.  I'll be along later.  I'm on my way out the door for an Art Day!!  :o))

If you happen to be reading this on Monday, follow THIS LINK for my entry in the Sew-It, Share-It BLUE Challenge.  Here's a preview of one of my projects:


Until next time...
Get SCRAPPY!!
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