Saturday, June 1, 2024

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC24 - Week 22

Welcome to Week 22 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week

SUNDAY - Weekly Morning Art Zoom found me working in my Get Messy Art Journal:


My weekly Zoom call with Knittingsuek followed, but I neglected to get a photo.  :o((

Later in the afternoon, Meg Journals put up a new video on YouTube.  I'm a sucker for making paper bag journals, so once my sewing was done, I jumped right in with the first part of the process:


MONDAY - Holiday!!  No work, all play!  :o))

What were you playing with, Joyful???

I played with some PINK scraps in an expansion effort for this month's donation quilt:


TUESDAY - Tidy Up Tuesday

Back to work today.  Sigh...

After a trip to the grocery store, I experimented with a paint technique I've been noticing around Instagram.  My plastic produce bag didn't hold the air well enough to properly produce a flower design, but it was worth a try:


WEDNESDAY - Work was followed by...

My weekly Zoom call with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color was canceled this week, as we both ended up with afternoon appointments on our calendar.  :o((

THURSDAY - My weekend started early, as I'm off work today and tomorrow.  Yay!!  I had hoped that meant that I could attend my Weekly Quilt Bee meeting.  Did that happen???

Nope!  My SIL wanted to meet for lunch:


After lunch, I went shoe shopping and then met my friend Cindy for a snack at her favorite coffee shop on the way home:


A quick dinner was followed by my Monthly Evening Quilt Bee:


I shared this month's RSC Donation Quilt.  I modified a tutorial from Kristen @ Scrap Fabric Love:



I went to Knit Group this morning WITHOUT my knitting.  Whoops!  Fortunately, I had one of my art journals in my bag with some collage papers and a glue stick:


Today, I'm saying goodbye to my pink scraps and...

Tomorrow I'll be saying hello, BLUE!!  Here is what I have available to work with in the month of June:


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.  In the meantime, I'll be working on changing over the quilts on the Gallery Wire:


Until next time...
Get SCRAPPY!!

Friday, May 31, 2024

May 2024 - TABLE SCRAP Challenge - Link Party

Welcome to the May 2024 edition of the TABLE SCRAPS Challenge here at the Joyful Quilter!!  I'll start with a little backstory, in case you are new here.  (Apologies to my regular readers since you already know all about it.) I'm a scrap quilter who had been setting up individual challenges for several years in conjunction with Angela's (RSC) Rainbow Scrap Challenge @ So Scrappy.  Participants from around the corner, across the country and around the world have been having SEW much fun and we all have MORE scraps to use, so I am pleased to offer the...


In 2024, we have a broad range of quilted items that are appropriate for linking to the Challenge.  Baskets and bins, along with pillows and pin cushions, are all qualifying projects.  Not just the toppers, runners, and mug rugs.  Basically, ANY small quilted item qualifies.  The main premise is that you USE the (new or old) SCRAPS from your cutting table (or your friend's cutting table - since that's where the majority of my scraps come from!)

There will be a prompt each month to help get your creative juices flowing.  While you are NOT required to use it in your project, the guiding word will be revealed at the end of each month's LINK PARTY post.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the following month's focus.  It, along with the RSC Color of the Month (as soon as Angela releases it - around the 1st of the month.) will also be added to the 2024 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge page at the top of the blog.

The theme for May was...

KENTUCKY DERBY

I wasn't sure where I was going with that, but...

Since the Color of the Month was PINK, I rummaged through that basket to see what I could find:



It didn't take much time to work up a layout once the fabrics were selected:


The sewing took a little longer when I threw in some pieced blocks:


Batting and backing scraps came next...


And with a few pins, my entry was ready for quilting:


Quilting took a bit longer, as I kept adding more and more lines of stitching:


The photo below shows the binding options I selected from the scrap basket:


Here is my completed entry for the May 2024 TABLE SCRAPS Challenge...

The front in a variety of shades in rose PINK...


The back is my nod to the "run for the roses" theme of the Kentucky Derby...


And in the spot for which it was designed:


What's next, Joyful???

A new month starts tomorrow.  Angela did a soft announcement last Saturday.  The Color of the Month for June is...

BLUE

June's theme is:

WATERMELON

And now...

It's time for YOU to link up your PINK and/or KENTUCKY DERBY project in the LINK PARTY below.  All entries MUST be submitted by Wednesday, June 5th @ 11:59PM (EDT).


Until next time...
USE those table scraps!!!
#tablescrapschallenge2024

Sharing with Alycia
for

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

The 100 Day Project - #100Days100ThingsDecluttered - The Review

Welcome to the latest edition of Tidy Up Tuesday!!  I started The 100 Day Project on February 18th.  I'm still shocked that I fully committed to it.  It's particularly popular on Instagram.  I have been hesitant to participate before now.  I'll be releasing weekly updates for those of you who might be interested in seeing what goes out the door.

What was your project, again, Joyful???

I signed up with a different idea in mind than most.  You can read about it HERE.  That link will tell you all about my project.

The gist of my focus...

Decluttering my home and studio in an effort to free up space for MORE creativity.  I have worked diligently toward that goal.

Here are my Weekly Project Totals:

Week 1: 16/100
Week 2: 18/100
Week 3: 14/100
Week 4:  19/100
Week 5:  36/100

Updated Project Total: 100/100!!!

Week 6:  20/100
Week 7:  20/100
Week 8:  6/100
Week 9:  54/100

Updated Project Total:  200/100!!!

Week 10:  54/100
Week 11:  46/100

Updated Project Total:  300/100!!!

Week 12:  60/100
Week 13:  140/100

Final Project Total: 500/100!!!

The trunk of my car was loaded...


But I kept the challenge box to reuse, so this is the photo of the final donation drop-off:


Thank you to those of you who encouraged me in my decluttering efforts throughout the past 13 weeks!  I greatly appreciate your kind comments and your willingness to keep cheering me along and I absolutely LOVE the fact that a number of you even joined this decluttering journey with me!!

@dothe100dayproject
#The100DayProject
#DoThe100DayProject
#100Days100Things_TheDeclutterEdition
#100Days100ThingsDecluttered
#filltheboxjoy

If you are on Instagram, you can find me here: @thejoyfulquilter@thejoyfulquilter.

Until next time...
Do the 100 Day Project!!!

Saturday, May 25, 2024

ScrapHappy Saturday - RSC 24 - Week 21

Welcome to Week 21 of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge!!  This week is going to be a crap shoot.  I'm scheduled for nearly full time hours at work.  I'm guessing that means I'm covering for someone's vacation.

Let's see how the week went...

SUNDAY - The Guest Blogger(s)The Guest Blogger(s)

I was pleased to attend my Weekly Morning Art Zoom.  It was our "official" monthly meeting which meant that we played a round of Roll the Dice game. The prompts were scribble, stencil, collage, marks, and smoosh.  I started with a page of leftover paint from a class I took last night and went through the various techniques to end up with the following:


While it may look like a hot mess, the important part is that it was fun!

Later, I was supposed to Zoom with Knittingsuek, but we canceled this week.

MONDAY - Work...

Was followed by my Monthly Quilt Guild meeting, but first...

Dinner came with a surprise, as Britt showed up after her meeting:


Tonight's main event was our annual Silent Auction:


I came home with the following items in support of the Guild:
 
2 pillow forms (for upcoming replacement gifts)
2 pieces of fabric for potential journal covers


1 six-yard cut of fabric for quilt backing
4 books
3 patterns
1 new quilt ruler
1 quilted jacket



TUESDAY - Work...

Was followed by another round of decluttering before my post went live.  Click the following link to see how I did this week:


Since that was taken care of, I took some time to make art when I got home:


WEDNESDAY - Work...

Was followed by my Weekly Zoom call with LeeAnna @ Not Afraid of Color:



Oh!  I did bring home one more thing Monday night...

Francine brought me a "Bag of Joy".  (Thank you, Francine!)  You and Diane certainly keep me well stocked in the scrap department:


BOJ, otherwise known as a bag of fabric scraps.  The photo above is me showing LeeAnna the bag.  It was fun to share the contents with her.

THURSDAY - Work...

Was followed by tackling Mt. Washmore.  I wanted the upcoming weekend to be free of chores, so decided to catch up on it now, since my back is feeling a lot better.

Here's a peek inside that "Bag of Joy" that I shared yesterday.  It was fun going through the bag with LeeAnna!  As luck would have it, there's even a tiny bit of PINK:


After dinner, I loaded the car for tomorrow's donation drop-off:


FRIDAY - FINALLY!!!  A day off work (and next week I'm only scheduled for two days.  Go figure!)  
Before leaving the house this morning, I rearranged a few things so that I could keep my #100Days100ThingsDecluttered box to use again:


My long weekend began with a Knit Group surprise:


Tracy had a doctor appointment and scheduled some time with us before heading to work!  :o))

When Knit Group ended, I went UN-shopping (otherwise known as returns) and made a quick stop at the grocery store.  Errands were followed by lunch at home and then off to my weekly chiropractic appointment, along with some art and sewing.

If you've visited for the last little while, you probably know that there was MORE art after dinner.  My Weekly Evening Art Zoom is one of the highlights of each week.  Tonight, I worked on my page for the HOME prompt:

Love makes a house a home.

SATURDAY - It's LINK PARTY day for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge, but I'm going on an ARTventure with Britt today so I'll be late to the joining the link-up.  Before lunch we each worked on a page for the Messy May Challenge...


We went right back to art-ing after lunch with a fun new technique called Lasagna Papers from Rae Missigman:


Hopefully, you weren't waiting for me before visiting Angela @ So Scrappy to see what the RSC Quilters have been up to this week.  Since we're having a long weekend, I may actually get to visit everyone!  At least, I'm hoping that's what it means.  Also, I was SEW excited to have finished this post that I forgot about linking up.  (Sigh...  I'll get with the program eventually.)

Until next time...
Get SCRAPPY!!

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

The 100 Day Project- #100Days100ThingsDecluttered - Week 13

Welcome to Week 13 of the #100Days100ThingsDecluttered and thank you for following this mini-series here on The Joyful Quilter!!  I started The 100 Day Project on February 18th.  I'm still shocked that I finally committed to it.  It's particularly popular on Instagram.  I have been hesitant to participate before now.  I'm releasing weekly updates for those of you who might be interested in seeing what goes out the door.

What was your project, again, Joyful???

I signed up with a different idea in mind than most.  You can read about it HERE.  That link will tell you all about my project.

That was QUITE the experience!!!

Can you believe that I'm not ready to stop??  I think I will take a little break, but then plan to continue my declutter journey.  My home and studio have plenty more spaces to free up.  As the household inventory diminishes, there is LESS overwhelm and MORE space creativity.

Here's my progress for Week Thirteen from all around the house, studio and garage...

I started in my closet with:

6 pairs of blue jeans that are now too big 
1 sweater
1 scarf

8/100


I had planned to move along to the studio, but noticed the following in the closet: 

5 shoe boxes
1 pair of shoes
1 pair of boots
1 random empty lip balm

8/100


Then, from inside the house, I could hear the dresser drawers calling to me. I heeded their call and I selected a number of items that no longer fit my body comfortably or suit my stage in life:

5 PJs 
14 foundation garments
19 unmentionables 

36/100



Afterwards, I set my sights on some items in the garage and added them to the box shown above: 

6 window valances
1 window shade 
1 bread basket 
1 porch decoration
1 grocery sack

10/100

Lastly, I finished off in the studio with theses items:

  7 T-shirts (previously saved for a quilt)
67 balls of yarn
  1 knitting magazine 
  1 tool organizer
  1 hat
  1 craft book

78/100

That brought me to a Week 13 Total:  140/100


Updated Project Total:  500/100

Thank you to those of you who continue to encourage my weekly decluttering efforts!  I appreciate your kind comments and your willingness to cheer me along!  Last week, Sara @ My Sewing Room blog left the following comment:

Well done!! I think week #11 was a success - for both of us. I'm at 286 items right now. This week I'm going through a couple of more crates of books we have no interest in keeping. I'm having fun lightening the load around here.


To which I replied:

Sweet!! Way to go, Sara! I'm glad to hear that you're having fun with decluttering. I can't say I am, but I am pleased with my progress.

Please know that...

This concludes the 100 Day Project.  My goal for the past 13 weeks was to focus on the studio.  That was more challenging than it should have been.  Come back next week to see what went in the box during the last 13 weeks.  All I know is that I can't imagine getting as much decluttered without YOU, dear readers.  Thank you for your support during this process!

@dothe100dayproject
#The100DayProject
#DoThe100DayProject
#100Days100Things_TheDeclutterEdition
#100Days100ThingsDecluttered
#filltheboxjoy

Until next time...
Do the 100 Day Project!!!

Sunday, May 19, 2024

The Guest Blogger(s) - No. 53 - Kentucky Derby in Australia

Welcome to another edition of The Guest Blogger(s)!!  I received an email from Jane in Australia last week.  She has completed her entry for the May TABLE SCRAPS Challenge.

This is what she had to say...

Hello Joy
Herewith is my delightful placemat for Kentucky Derby and Pink.
Horse racing threw me for a bit, but I remembered this scrap of fabric.

Here is the story of her entry...

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie are two little gum nut babies who live in the Australian bush, (gumnuts in the eucalyptus trees). The wicked banksia men (seed pods on the banksia trees) caught them and threw them into the ocean. The gumnuts did not drown, they were quite at home down there. They met John Dory and Ann Chovy and lots of lovely fish people.
One day they were at the races - the sea horse races!!
The colours were perfect for the fat quarter of pink and blue fabric and the scrap of pink for the border and binding was also perfect.
I’m keeping this one! Such wonderful childhood reading memories!


And a reflection...

Remember when I was making table runners and had one left to do? This is the fabric which I bought to be the ocean around a map of Australia.
The map is done but I have not finished the runner - needs more inspiration and lots more work yet.

Thanks once again for posting my entry in your challenge each month.
Trust you are well,
Jane in Australia

Give Jane some quilty love in the comments below.  I assured her that it wasn't meant to be a literal prompt, but an open one with many possibilities.  I'm pleased to share her darling entry for this month's challenge.  I feel certain that you enjoy seeing her work as much as I do!  Thank you for sending a photo for the blog, Jane.  I'm thrilled to post your projects (and anyone else's without a blog.)  They serve to inspire us to USE the scraps that most of us continue to accumulate!

Link Party REMINDER...

The May 2024 TABLE SCRAPS Link Party will be opening on  Friday, May 31st @ 12:01 AM.  I hope that YOU will join in the scrappy fun!  You haven't started sewing yet?  No worries.  Small projects are quick to make and entries can be added until Wednesday, June 5th @ 11:59 PM (EDT).

Until next time...
USE those (table) SCRAPS!!!