Design Wall - June 25, 2012

My design area has a couple of projects. First - 66 6.5 inch flannel blocks of sport balls - basketball, football, tennis, baseball and hockey pucks, plus some yardage I may/may not use to create 2 or 3 quilts.

These quilts are part of my "Summer of Done" project.

I think I have had these squares cut out for at least three years.

I will make one of the quilts into  a snowball - 9 patch quilt.  I thought of making a rag quilt and decided that  didn't want to do the snipping of the seams.

The "Summer of Done" is all about quick and easy quilts.

2 - When my mother first moved from California to TN I knew she was going to miss her fuchsias, so when I came across fuchsias on fabric I made her a quilt to remind her of her lovely flowers.

These extra blocks have been sitting around for almost 7 years and suddenly I realized they would make great runners for her dresser and bedside tables. Only have to put the binding on and they will be ready for use. I might wait 'til Christmas and put them under the tree. I probably won't be able to wait 6 months. This is another "Summer of Done' project.

Linking up to Patchwork Times.

Stash Report June 24, 2012

Wow, can't believe it has been one month since my last stash report. Been to NJ and PA, then back to NJ and spent some time with my mother in the hospital. I am really surprised at how much sewing/quilting time I was able to squeeze in.

These blocks are for Margaret's Hope Chest.  Click here to check out their website. They are super simple to make and you can get almost 2 blocks per fat quarter.  I made 14 of them, there were 15 but I cut through all the layers when trying to remove the backing from one block. Simple raw edge sewing.

This pattern is from Cluck Cluck Sew - Basket Case. I used dimples strips. I think it looks a lot better if a jelly roll is used. The weaves would then blend into one another and not looked disjointed. I may try this pattern again. A local group will find a good home for this quilt.

This is the fifth (and last)  of  these quilts that I had precut about 18 months ago. Glad to have these completed. This is going to Ronald's House.

Meet our new family member, Harry. He is about 12 and toothless.  Bill teased me that I am the only person he knows that would get an inheritance that would cost us $ on a daily basis ( I asked for Harry and Bill agreed he needed to come and live with us). Harry has chosen Bill as his person, he tolerates me while Bill is away from home. Harry flew home with me from New Jersey and had his own suitcase, which was bigger than mine. He brought two scratching pads, 2 beds, numerous toys, canned food,  meds, bowls, etc...  So hopefully he felt right at home once we got his stuff unpacked.

He is quite the pest, jumping on the ironing board while the iron is hot, messing with the thread while I am piecing, sitting on the fabric as I am trying to sew, etc... The worst part is the dirty looks he gives me when I move him to his window seat so he can watch the birds and squirrels.  For a Yankee he is adjusting well to the Southern life, it helped that I was able to spend 6 days with him in his home before heading to TN.  He also likes to disturb my mother's puzzle pieces and her crocheting. We have a few dog gates up to keep the dogs out of certain areas, but Harry has no trouble jumping over them. He does understand the word "no", but only when he wants to. Living with a Cat is a fun, new experience.

Visited a quilt shop in KY and didn't see anything that I had to have. I did "feel" that I needed to make a purchase so I choose the kit to make this top. The hardest part of this quilt was cutting the center panel to the correct size.  This quilt will be going to Ronald's House and I am hoping a young teen will fall in love with the mermaid. It has been in the closet for at least 5 years and only took me 30 minutes to finish the top - what was I waiting for?  Makes me wonder how many other tops I have that only need a little bit to finish them.


Here is the first finish for my "Summer Of Done". 

It is 42 inches square, perfect baby size.  It has a
green flannel back.  It is a bright, happy quilt. The white circles in the border pop and adds a lot to the quilt. This one will be going to Ronald's House. I have already picked my next
"Summer Of Done" baggie, just have to decide which patterns to use.

Used since last post - 31.62 yards

Used YTD - 230.35 yards

Added since last post - 0

Added YTD - 87 yards

Net Used YTD - 143.35 yards

Quilts finished in 2012 - 25

My goals for 2012 are simple~

1 - make one QOV each month. 

Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  June  July  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec

2 - make one quilt for Ronald McDonald's House each month

Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  June  July  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec

3 - finish one already started quilt each month (have about 20 of these, some more than 3 years old)

Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  June  July  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec

4 - if I complete the above 3 goals each month I can start one new quilt

1 - 2 - 3

Linking up with Patchwork Times.

2012 - The Summer Of Done - Inspired by Thelma

Thelma over at Cupcakes and Daisies is  making 2012 "The Summer Of Fun".  She has inspired me to tackle a bin full of baggies (26) that contain various blocks, strips, squares, etc...  that need to be made into quilts. While my projects might not be "fun",  they will get "done", one way or another!

Some of the pieces in the baggies were left over from the backing of quilts, others when I cut too many pieces for a quilt, or cut them the wrong size.  I will pick one baggie each week and will work on making it's contents into a finished quilt, really simple quilts, using only fabric I already have.


My mental conversation about these baggies have been "What was I thinking when I did this",  "Now what", "I don't remember doing this".  I will be cutting some into tumblers, apple cores, squares and a few will find their way into my strings container. Maybe a few might get cut up and put into dog beds.

I am going to start off my "summer of done" using 42 4 patches. The black fabric is from a back of a previous quilt, paired with brights to make the 4 patches. These blocks have been sitting around for at least 3 years.

The four patches are 4.5 inches. It will be the perfect size for a baby quilt. I am going to set the blocks on point, use black for the setting triangles and this bold wacky circle fabric for the borders. First I need to rearrange the blocks. I have two extra blocks and I will piece them into the backing!


Pulling this top together is pretty exciting for me as I really struggle with coming up with ideas to use these bits and pieces. I do not have an artist's mind. I got an "F" in high school art class. I can follow a pattern, but trying to be creative on my own just doesn't work.  Taking a pattern and making changes to it is almost impossible for me. So maybe using some of the fabric in these baggies will stretch my creativity a bit, or will have me tossing the whole thing into the trash.


Enjoy your "Summer of Fun".