ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC16 - Week 10

Welcome to Week 10 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  Each week I link-up with Angela over at the So Scrappy Blog.  She is the host of the RSC16, a project that is near and dear to my heart.  The Rainbow Scrap Challenge encourages us to USE our fabric scraps!! Angela has even designed a Column-Along Sampler Quilt for this year's Challenge.  Feel free to join in at any time.

On SUNDAY, I found that Denise Russart at Justquiltin Blog is hosting a Barn Dance Quilt A Long. Unlike other QALs that she's hosted, there isn't a set schedule for block releases.  You will have to keep checking back to see when she has moved on to the next step.  Here is Denise's photo of what the quilt will look like when it is done:





I just found out that one of my nieces is engaged to be married (Congrats, Robyn!!!) and Denise is making her version for a wedding quilt, too.  Perfect!!  Now to decide on a color scheme...

MONDAY - Happy Leap Day!!  Knit Group met today.  There were so many scheduling conflicts that it was either today or Friday.  Quite frankly, Friday was simply TOO far away!!

In addition to it being Leap Day, it is also the LAST day of February.  You know what that means, don't you?  It's time for the Month in Review.  I made...

ONE (1) Maverick Star Block:

ONE (1) Slab Block:

ONE (1) String Block:

ONE (1) Tiny Nine:

For a total of FOUR (4) blocks made during BROWN month (with accents of pink):

But, WAIT!!!  There's more...



FOUR (4) Rainbow Crumb Blocks were made (even though some of the blocks don't look very crumb-like):

4 + 4 = 8

February's grand total to EIGHT (8) blocks produced:

How's that for finding a bit of balance?!?!

On TUESDAY, since it's the 1st day of March, I want to share the news of Angela's March Color Announcement.  Below, you will find her color inspiration photo:

Can you guess???

Perhaps, THIS photo of my current manicure can help.  I'm shocked that I chose a shade of...

The Color of the Month for March:

Angela threw in an accent color of the daffodils STILL blooming in my front garden:

YELLOW!!  :o))

WEDNESDAY, I sorted through the options for my niece's wedding quilt...

Option One is a combination of scraps gifted to me by my dear friend, Diane.  It's a combination of Modern prints and a hand full of solids:

Option Two is pulled from my "basket" of multi-colored scraps:

Option Three is my bag of batik scraps:

Each of these options come with an inherent set of challenges and, honestly, I'm not confident that ANY of them hold enough fabric for the quilt that I shared with you on Sunday.  Even if I discount the fact that I will need to source background fabric elsewhere in the stash!!


On THURSDAY morning, I went to take K and L to school.  That was BEFORE my Quilt Group meeting at Joanna's Mountain.  After the meeting, the ladies lunched at Bennett Pointe Grill and after that, I came home to play in my PURPLE and yellow scraps:

While waiting for our new KING SIZED bed to arrive, I pulled some PURPLE fabrics for a Maverick Star Block, but didn't manage to find any yellow for the background squares:

Later that night, after the new bed was made and all of DS2's scholarship paperwork was complete, I took a look around BlogLand and THIS is what I found:

I saw it in Gramma's Quilting Room and followed her link to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Both blog posts made for interesting reading.  If you are in one of my "Real Life" quilt groups or The Stash Busters Challenge on Ravelry... you KNOW that I have a problem, too....

FRIDAY proved to be a productive day, in between running up and down the stairs peering at O's quilt (read more about that in this Design Floor Friday post) and stitching at the machine, I completed...

ONE Tiny Nine in PURPLE with a yellow center:

ONE Rainbow Crumb Block (that looks like it was trying to imitate a Log Cabin Block) done in the Colors of the Month:

ONE Slab Block in PURPLE with yellow accents:

And THIS strange strippy thing...

... Was magically transformed into ONE String Block in PURPLE with a touch of yellow:

On SATURDAY, I took DS2 to All-State Auditions (for Concert AND Jazz Band.) Yes.  He COULD have driven himself, but auditions were a LONG way away and he wanted to get some extra sleep on the way there... and on the way back!!

When I got home, I was tired, but managed to finish this post and join Angela's LINK PARTY.

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

Design Floor Friday {... On Saturday} O's T-Quilt

Welcome to another edition of Design Floor Friday!!  It's been quite a while since I've posted about anything on the design floor...  because it's been a LONG TIME since I've had anything out there to share.  On Wednesday, I had O's T-quilt laid out for your viewing pleasure (and to try to decide how to proceed with this quilt!!)

Yes!  I realize that Wednesday is NOT Friday, but that will just have to be OK!!

This quilt is due for a Spring delivery and Spring is on its way.  Don't think that I haven't been doing ANYTHING toward this goal!  I did purchase the backing fabric on my recent trip to Foust and Mary Jo's.  Actually, I bought TWO different fabrics for the back of this quilt!!  The first was nixed by O's mother. The second was approved.

It was a stroke of genius on my part!  I've know O since he was 2 years old.  I know his affinity for "cozy pants."  I also know that the entire family are die-hard NC State Wolfpack fans.  What better choice than a fleece fabric covered in helmets, basketballs, and team letters?!  :o))


SEW...


The quilt is out on the floor and it's been through several iterations, which, I thought you might like to see.  You would, wouldn't you???  I thought so!!

Take a look at...

Version One was basically the result of throwing all of the shirts down and attempting to arrange them so that there weren't too many of one color clumped together:

In Version Two, I moved a few things around.  The bright green lion pajama top didn't work for me up in the top corner.  Measures were taken to consolidate some of the pieces for good balance in the bottom row of shirts:

Version Three is MUCH closer to a pleasing arrangement for me.  However, I feel that there MUST be a better spot for the white skull and cross bones on black:

For now, it's back to the drawing board!  (That's because there is one or two more items to be fit in to the front of the quilt.)  Then it's back to the cutting board.  Followed by a trip to the sewing machine. Maybe tomorrow...


Which (ultimately) brought us to Friday!!  (See?  I told you.) 


The bottom half of the quilt (rows) was pieced:

Which left the top half:

Only the upper left hand corner remains...

... Along with some filler squares to balance out the rows.

 The only problem was that my computer wasn't connecting to the internet on Friday, so I'm posting this on Saturday.  :o((

Until next time...
I'll be juggling quilt squares!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC16 - Week 9

Welcome to Week 9 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  WHERE did the week go?!?!  I'm not quite sure... since my normal practice of inputting each day as it came and went fell by the wayside.

I'll try to recreate it for you, but don't be surprised, there is VERY little sewing involved!  :o((

SUNDAY was UFO Bee. Our hostess shared the quilt top that she completed after our last meeting:

Nice work, Diane!!!

On MONDAY, I did a whole lot of nothing and a little PT, but here's what I accomplished yesterday:

Next up, setting triangles for Dr. Pete's Wedding Quilt!!

TUESDAY was Knit Group in the morning, followed by lunch with a friend recovering from hip replacement surgery. I provided the lunch and spent a good bit of the afternoon chatting and watching episodes of House Hunters on HGTV, which happens to be my favorite TV channel!!!  :o))

When I got home, I did a little bit of sewing to complete ONE Rainbow Crumb Block.  And LOOK!! There is even a TINY bit of BROWN in there, too:

It looks suspiciously like a String Block.  Oh, well!!!

On WEDNESDAY, I had a crazy-busy day!!  I spent the morning with my new little friend "J" and raced off to a hair appointment in the early afternoon. Once I was beautified, I chased a storm (literally! The school dismissed the student drivers so that they wouldn't be driving during a tornado.) back to Hboro to pick up "K" and "L" for a bite to eat.

Whew!!  Off to bed early... I'm exhausted!!!

THURSDAY, I got up early to get DS2 off to Jazz.  (I know!  Not the usual day, but an extra rehearsal because the teacher won't be in on Monday.)  Anyway, a little while later, I was at the school to pick him up for our visit to Duke University Medical Center.  We spent the entire morning at The Children's Health Center.  It was time for DS2's Three Year Studies.  He had a dose of the usual... vitals, blood work, ECHO, and PFT.  These were followed by a visit with his bone marrow doctor and a trip to Noodles and Co. for lunch (on the way back to school, so that he could make it back in time for his LAST class of the day.  Better than missing the WHOLE day!!)

There was a small chunk of time between grocery shopping and cooking dinner.  I made use of it by making ONE Rainbow Crumb Block:

Oops!!  This one is disguised as a Slab Block.

FRIDAY was another long day.  I spent the entire day with my little friend "J":

Shhhh!!!  Don't wake the baby!!!

Later, I had planned to meet DS2 for dinner before attending the UNC Symphony.  We hoped for tickets at the door, but the event was canceled (for us) as DS2 had a headache when he got home from school and it shot our plans to smithereens.  :o((

On SATURDAY, I tackled Mt. Washmore and joined in Angela's LINK PARTY over on the So Scrappy Blog.  I hope you will follow the links to see what all of the RSC Quilters have been up to this week (since I didn't have very much in the way of quilt inspiration here.)

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC16 - Week 8

Welcome to Week 8 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  Each week I join the LINK PARTY at Angela's So Scrappy blog.  She encourages the RSC Quilters to USE their fabric scraps.  It takes scrap quilting to a whole 'nother level (and I absolutely LOVE it!!!)

In case you are curious, here is how my week went...

On SUNDAY, I wanted to wish YOU a... Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Photo staging by me.  Tablescape by Deborah.

MONDAY was a LONG day!!  I was "iced in" at home (feeling guilty that I wasn't working.)  As the day passed, I worked on (and finished) ONE Rainbow Crumb Block:

I did some work around the house and thought about what tabs I might create for the top of my blog page.  Three amazingly generous quilters have explained the process of creating these tabs.  I am grateful to each, but then, as I read the instructions from the third quilter, I began to feel like I finally GET IT.  I decided that I really COULD create the tabs (and did so on my Quilt Bee blog), but then I began to wonder if I even needed tabs along the top of my page!!  (Thank you for your help Angela, ?? , and Kat!! So sorry that I can't locate the email from the third quilter for a proper acknowledgement.)

Do YOU have tabs on your blog page?  How did you decide what tabs were needed/useful?  I'm having trouble deciding.  Any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated!


On TUESDAY, I did a few hours of work and discovered that Kat (a different one than mentioned yesterday!) had posted a new batch of Covered in Love quilts.  One of the quilts included a block (or two!) that I made for the December Block Drive.  There's still time for YOU to participate in the February Block Drive.  Here's the block that I made and it even includes some BROWN tones:

Let me tell you... after making so many Tiny Nines and such, this 12.5" block seemed HUGE!!!

WEDNESDAY was Girls Night Out and I spent the bulk of the day in anticipation of the event.  When I wasn't thinking about it or preparing for it, I cleaned house.  Nothing exciting to show.

On THURSDAY, I enjoyed the company of THIS 7 week old wonder:

Ahhh, bliss!!  (No time for quilting, though.)

FRIDAY was a busy day filled with Knit Group (which returned to Friday - for this week), the Elon University Jazz Festival...

 And SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone in the market for an old Singer Commercial Sewing Machine???

On SATURDAY, I had hoped to join Angela's LINK PARTY over at the So Scrappy blog... after getting up early, taking kids to the UNC Jazz Festival, and chaperoning all day, but my computer wouldn't cooperate.

You made beautiful music, CRHS Jazz I and you should be proud of your performance.

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC16 - Week 7

Welcome to Week 7 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!!  As you may know, I've been having trouble with my email provider (for several weeks or has it been a month now?!)  I really would LOVE to be able to respond to all of my lovely comment-ers, but it's just not going to be possible for me to catch up on 3 - 4 weeks of comments.  Please forgive me and know that I was finally able to find a solution.  Leave a comment on this post and you should receive a response within a few days.  Thank you, again, for your understanding in this matter!!

On to the week in review...

SUNDAY morning, I found that Angela had posted:

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Sampler 2016

Click on the title to view the tutorial for a Patience Corner block done in scraps.  Looking at the block, I noticed a way to complete the block using one larger square and four longer strips, but our goal is to USE our scraps!!

I had bigger fish to fry, so off I went to my UFO Sew-In.  However, I made ONE String Block in BROWN with pink accents as a warm-up exercise:

On MONDAY, I left bright and early for an adventure with an old friend.  We journeyed several hours from home to attend a Fabric Warehouse Sale and make stops at Mary Jo's Fabrics:

... And IKEA on the way home:

The car was QUITE packed.  Sorry...  PHOTO UNAVAILABLE!!  It was a wonderful day. Thanks for inviting me to go along, Tif!!  It was a pleasure spending quality time with you.  I enjoyed every minute of it!

TUESDAY morning, I went off to my weekly Knit Group meeting.  It appears that we have switched from Friday and the current new day is TODAY...  Until my work schedule changes (again!!!)

After knitting, but before my doctor appointment, I made the center of a Maverick Star and trimmed the light squares for the block (which I will assemble another day.):

On WEDNESDAY there was FREE time in my schedule!!!  I had intended to get some work done, however, Knit Friend came to town on business.  I had planned on meeting her there, but when I attempted to start my car, I found that it was DEAD in the garage.  Never fear!!  Knit Friend to the rescue.  She took care of the meeting alone and then came by to take me out to lunch - so that I wouldn't be trapped in the house all day.  Thanks, TBF!!

I'm not quite sure what happened to the intervening hours, but I did manage to select and layout pieces for that Maverick Star center that I made yesterday:

THURSDAY is the day that I attend my weekly Quilt Group meeting.  Today was NOT a productive day for me:

I had things to do before AND after the meeting made sewing more than that ONE Maverick Star Block impossible:

On FRIDAY, I thought that I had a FREE DAY to work in my studio...  Until I realized that Mt. Washmore was taking over the laundry room and the refrigerator was suspiciously empty.  SEW, no.  Laundry and grocery shopping, yes.  :o((

SATURDAY mornings are normally for joining the LINK PARTY over at the So Scrappy blog, but I had a meeting to attend.  Off to my monthly Quilt Bee meeting!  Catch you later...

OK, I'm back.  (I've actually been back for a while, but I had H over after bee. I don't get to spend time with her often and jumped at the chance!)  If you click on the LINK PARTY, be prepared to be amazed by the wonderful projects of the RSC Quilters!! I'm ready.  Will you follow me to the LINK PARTY???  (I hope so!!)

Until next time...
Get Scrappy!!!

Tiny Nines - {Design Floor Friday Edition}

Welcome to another issue of Design Floor Friday!!  Today, there is actually NOTHING on the floor. However, I  recently commented on Ravelry (1/31/16) that I may have decided how I want to put my Tiny Nine quilt together...

Here's February's Block:

Yes!!  I'm only making very few blocks each month, as I am trying to concentrate on my commissions first and then on my UFOs.  This is a L-O-N-G term project (and I'm OK with that.)

Anyway...

When I found THIS at Julie's My Quilt Diary blog (2/1/16).  Apparently, she had recently (12/31/15) given some thought to what to do with the SAME small blocks HERE.  Perhaps, I could do mine on-point, just to change it up a bit???  Who knows?!

I'd LOVE to do Ring Cycle, but feel that I would only hash it up royally!!  So then I wondered about Tiny Nines on point with larger 9-Patch Blocks on square...

SEW many possibilities!!!

Until next time...
Peace to Piece!!