ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC 20 - Week 50

Welcome to Week 50 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  Can you believe it?!?!  There are only TWO full weeks remaining in 2020.  It's time to get serious about finishing off any projects that we don't want to carry over into 2021.

This week was just as busy as any other...

I'm off and running with December's Color of the Month in my new DARK Neutral sneakers:

SUNDAY - This morning, I released another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday.  Here's a preview, if you missed the post:

Still on a high from yesterdays Zoom Retreat, I decided to finish of the client quilt that I prepared and attached the binding on yesterday:

Once that was complete, I did a bit of DARK Neutral sewing, but what are those green strips doing in the mix:

MONDAY - I spent the morning quilting this LWR Mission Quilt:

I had paperwork to take care of during the midday, but later I worked on the next step of a project made of DARK Neutral scraps, with an added bit of holiday cheer:

TUESDAY - Today began with grocery processing.  After lunch, I dropped off yesterday's LWR quilt for Carol to bind...

... And picked up not one, but TWO quilts she would like to be quilted in time for Christmas:

The reason I went out in the first place was to deliver the quilt that I finished up over the weekend:

After dinner, I went up to load the first Christmas Quilt and could not decide on my thread choice:

What would YOU use???  Carol thought maybe something is red.  That is a tall order, as I only had three shades from which to choose.

WEDNESDAY - Last night, I did some DARK Neutral sewing for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge:

Bright and early this morning, I released a new edition of Wonderful Wednesday.  After breakfast and a 2nd cup of tea, I was ready to face the Christmas Quilt on laying across the quilt frame.  I loaded up the backing, chose one of three shades of red in my thread stash and quilted until THIS happened:

The "pig tail" just above the needle was shredding my thread.  :o((

This afternoon, LeeAnna and I had our weekly Zoom call:

After dinner, I decided to work on the design for this month's Gallery Wire Mini using the collection of scraps:

THURSDAY -  SEW happy to spend a couple of hours with the 12 quilters joined in for ZoomBEE today:

My apologies to Carol, who joined in the middle of show and tell.  I neglected to take another group photo to include her:

Around the world in 3 hours flat... 

That's what happened once ZoomBEE was adjourned.  First, I met Candy to pick-up a pattern...

... For Ruth S., who had inadvertently purchased 60mm rotary blades.  My cutter takes that size.  Thank you, Ruth!!  How did you know that mine needed to be replaced?  Please note, I only stepped just inside the front door long enough to escape the glare of the midday sun on the porch for the photo op...

... Before I was back in the car headed to Thread Waggle Quilting to pickup the parts needed for the longarm:

And...

Since I was basically right around the corner, I called in an order for Red, Hot, and Blue BBQ:

When I got home, I changed out one of the parts that I purchased for the longarm and removed the second one, but didn't have any luck replacing it.  :o((

The only thing left to do was work on some Secret Sewing.  Shh!!!  Don't tell DH that his Christmas present is done.  :o))

DH and DS1 worked together to install that stubborn thread guide on the longarm.  Thanks, guys!  I'm back in business.  Tomorrow...

FRIDAY - We had a small group for ZoomKNIT this morning:

The order of the day was hand winding this yarn from Into the Wool:

Mission accomplished, even though no one could see it, as my computer locked up.  :o((  The view on the screen kept me company while I finished winding to what amounted to a call on speaker phone:

The day didn't get any better when I tried to do some quilting:

I gave up and went downstairs to do some computer work.  Did YOU see the new Design Floor Friday post I released?  Here's a preview:

After dinner, I opted to chill out with my computer and another Craftsy class.  This time, I chose The Essential Guide to Finishing Hand Knits with Anne Hansen.

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge over on Angela's So Scrappy blog.  I'm looking forward to seeing how many of the RSC Quilters are embracing the DARK Neutral scrappy vibe.  I know for certain that a number of them are too busy FINISHING to be bothered with December's Color of the Month, but I love the challenge.

Until next time...

Get SEW scrappy!!

Design Floor Friday - A Very 2020 Christmas

Welcome to another edition of Design Floor Friday!!  This week I did a bit of DARK Neutral sewing.  Not just any old sewing...  More improv sewing from the Craftsy class that I took in October with Suzy Williams of Suzy Quilts.

It started with an idea and a little stack of  scrap fabric:

The plan...

Using the Unconventional Lines lesson from Sewing Mojo Minis patterns found HERE.  I planned to combine DARK Neutral scraps with Christmas prints.  A pop of red going one way and a touch of green going the other would be just enough to give this moody little mini a bit of a holiday flare.

I plucked out a few of my favorite black and gray fabrics:

Then began designing on the fly with a handful of short strips:

Sewing followed:

Then I started again with the longer strips:

The panel of shorter strips needed additional length (or would that be width?) added before being joined to the other section:

The longer strip panel waited:

And then the two were merged into one:

The piece was layered and pinned for quilting:

Black thread on the DARK Neutral strips...

... A few lines of green thread on the green pieces...

... And red thread on the strongest accent strip before I could move on to choosing a binding fabric:

This scrap was the obvious choice:

Be careful when trimming threads.  Disaster struck...  

I was using a different pair of scissors than normal and snipped the binding along with the threads:

Since this was a wall hanging and wouldn't be washed (paired with the fact that the cut bit was mostly tucked into the fold), I left it:

Here is the finished piece, hanging in the kitchen:

Whoops!  It's a little bit crooked:

In case you'd like a closer look...

... Or maybe you'd like another perspective:

Even though I designed it as in the last photo, no worries about which way is "right side up"!  I'm sure it will be turned a different direction each time I hang it up (because that's how I roll.)

Linking Up with Kelly

for

Needle and Thread Thursday

and

Sharing with Cynthia

for

Oh Scrap! (on Sunday)

Until next time...

Design outside the box!!

Wonderful Wednesday and The Zoom-y Quilt Retreat

Welcome another edition of Wonderful Wednesday!!  On Saturday, I mentioned the event that a friend and I would be attending a virtual quilt retreat. Today, I'm here to share more about our day with Carole @ My Carolina Home and eight quilters from all across the United States (along with one from Canada.)

Pre-Retreat Pep Talk...

Dee Dee and I had our own private Zoom call just before the retreat was schedule to begin.  We talked about what we hoped to accomplish during the day and I showed her how I had straightened up the Scrap Center, my regular "Zoom station"...

 ... Along with the (somewhat) decluttered Project Center area behind the sewing station:

The (Virtual) Quilt Retreat...

I started the morning by preparing binding for a client quilt:

With that done, I moved on to applying it to the back of the quilt:

After that was attached, I moved on to sewing pairs of rows for my niece's wedding quilt:

I enjoyed a brief intermission when Needleb stopped by to drop something off for Knittingsuek, who will drop by sometime this week:

Just before the retreat was scheduled to end... 

... Our hostess took photos of the group, so I captured some shots, too...

... Believe me when I say, it wasn't any easier than it is for me to get a group shot for Quilt Bee:

This is my progress on the wedding quilt.  Pairs of pairs of rows sewn:

I even managed to do some design work for DARK Neutral month at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge:

I was SEW surprised that there was opportunity to being assembly:

Thanks, Carole! I'm SEW glad that I saw your post offering sign-ups for this (virtual) quilt retreat. We all had a productive day:

Post-Retreat Wrap-up...

Dee Dee and I met for a few minutes to decompress:

She shared the quilt that I missed a photo of when she finished it this morning:

Dee Dee sent me a photo of the quilt she completed shortly after the retreat ended:

Once we said goodbye, I went on to stitch the pieces of my latest project for the RSC:

I was SEW excited by the day's progress that I couldn't stop myself from finishing the sock that I've been knitting on for the last couple of weeks, as well:

All that remains is weaving in the ends.  Not my favorite job!

Sharing with Alycia

for

Finished (or Not) Friday

and

Whooping it up with Sarah

@

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Until next time...

RETREAT (at home!!!)

Sew Some Love Sunday - LWR - Quilt Top #10

Welcome to another edition of Sew Some Love Sunday!!  Earlier this week, I got a package in the mail from Mari @ The Academic Quilter:

Would you care to venture a guess as to what's inside???

As per household covid procedure, the box sat in the garage waiting for admittance.  While it waited to come in out of the cold, scraps were sewn.  Quilts were loaded and unloaded from the rails of the longarm.  Finally, the time came for the box to reveal its contents.

Let's have a look...

A treat for me?  SEW thoughtful!  Thank you for including one for each chocolate lover in the family:

Along with the tasty chocolate, was a note from Mari...

... And a mile of binding to go with this watery/book bindery looking fabric...

... Which will be used to back this beautiful quilt top:

Quilt Top #10!!!

Thank you, Mari, for contributing this lovely quilt to the Lutheran World Relief Mission Quilt Drive here at The Joyful Quilter.  I wonder which lucky quilter will get their longarm on this one?  :o))

Until next time...

SEW some love!!!