Scrap Pluses H2H

 For my second H2H quilt I used 2'' squares, I had an overabundance of them. Even after making the quilt I still have lots left.

sorting out the 2'' squares, these were not the only ones I had

The pluses for the top used 648 squares, 24 across and 27 down.

auditioning borders

For the red and black border, I used 2'' squares. I used up different values of black from my black scraps, the red squares were cut from a 1/2 yard piece that I've had for a while. I think it was a Jinny Beyer piece.

I see some pluses should have been moved around for better colour placement

I bound the quilt with the same red I used in the border. For the quilting in the body of the quilt, I did loops and hearts. In the border, I did some straightish lines, and in black squares, between the red, I did elongated figure 8's.

border quilting

This quilt will also be going to Ronald MacDonald House in London, Ontario.  It finishes at 43'' x 47''. I used Hobbs 80/20 batting, my favourite batting, and Superior So Fine #50 403 Putty for the body of the quilt and 411 Black in the borders. 

I will be linking up to Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Sailing Along H2H Quilt

 While sorting fabric in my quest to use up more of my stash I came across a bag of scraps that someone had given me. I think they have been percolating for at least 5 years or more. 

these were the scraps and as you can see they were not all straight cuts

The challenge was on! Could I make a quilt top using just these scraps?

16 1/2'' x 16 1/2'' centre 

Time to start adding borders.

three borders added

After adding three borders it was getting there, but I still wanted it bigger. It was only 33'' x 33'' and I was running out of scraps, but that didn't stop me.  I added a couple more to each end bringing the size up to a 33'' x 42'', a small baby quilt. Perfect for Ronald MacDonald House, my charity of choice.

Some simple curls and swirls for the quilting to keep the quilt soft

One less bag of scraps, and the real plus they are going to a worthy cause.

Born to be Wild Almost

 Thanks to Carol of Just Let Me Quilt for organizing another wonderful hop. When I first saw the theme for the 'Born to be Wild' blog hop all that kept going through my mind is the song 'Wild Thing you Make my Heart Sing' sung by 'The Troggs' in 1966.  We were to sew something that's jungle-related. Like jungle animals, wild colors or designs, or jungle fabrics. In my defense for going roque, flowers and butterflies are in the jungle. RIGHT? Ahh all is good then, on to my project. Hopefully, Carol forgives me for doing my own thing.

The things that make the heart sing are the things that give you joy and happiness. I love flowers of any type, colour or shape. While my heart was singing I drew.

drawing out a plan

I drew out a design on a piece of freezer paper, it was convenient and big enough to do all on one piece of paper. After that, it was a simple matter to cut out what shapes I wanted to use for the 'Crafted Applique Method' my favourite method by far.

a few fauna and a wild butterfly, yup that fits the guidelines

For the quilting I did some 'Wild FMQ' from Christina Cameli's books. I stitched in the ditch around my applique pieces.

Okay are you ready, I did actually use an animal print for my project. It just happens to be on the back. It required a little bit of piecing to make it the right size. 

What makes your heart sing?

    The other bloggers for today are:

Ms P Designs USA
Patchouli Moon Studio
Beaquilter
Hill Valley Quilter
Quilted Delights
Stitchin At Home
Sew Many Yarns

Pattern Release: Woven

 After a year-long break from pattern writing, I have a new release today. 'Woven' is available in my Etsy store.

Woven goes together quickly and is a confident beginner pattern. 

The pattern includes 3 sizes:

Baby: 44" x 44"

Lap: 58" X 72"

Queen: 85" x 99"

To see other examples made by my testers visit them at:

Anja who blogs at https://anjaquilts.blogspot.com/

Wendy who blogs at https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/blog/

Robin Sue who is on Instagram at  @robinsue58

Kitchen Stitchin

 Another fun blog hop from Carla of Creatin in the Sticks, this one in the kitchen. 

We were to create something inspired by the kitchen. It could be pot holders, tea towels, coasters, placemats, table runners, mug rugs, or even a toaster cover. It was our interpretation of a kitchen project. Anything kitchen.

I have three quick kitchen projects to show you today. First up an apron for my granddaughter who is finding a love for baking and cooking. 

which first baking or cooking or maybe a little of both

I'm still shopping my stash and didn't have a piece big enough for the full length of the apron. I also didn't have a pattern, this was a fly by the seat of my pants project. For the bottom skirt, I used 'Raindrops and Sunshine' by Wilmington prints, which was a 20'' x 20'' piece. The top bodice piece was made using 'Brushstrokes' by Cloud 9 fabrics, which I cut 10 1/2 x 20''. A pink Kona cotton 2'' strip was used between them. 

I used my fashion ruler from my clothing sewing days, for the curves of the bodice 

I cut the bodice on the fold and cut the side curves with the fabric still folded right sides together. The top edge of the bodice was 5'' from the fold, the fold is to the right in the above photo, and the bottom was as you can see on the corner. This gave me a nice gentle curve. I sewed the bottom and bodice together using the pink strip between them. I did line the apron with the same Kona pink. The ties were 32'' long, long enough to wrap around to the front and tie.

Next up is a linen bread bag. 

I make a lot of bread for myself. I usually make a small loaf. The recipe for the one I have made a few times is here. Even with it being a small loaf, I've still found that I don't use it up fast enough. So began the search for how to keep bread fresh longer, the answer was simple.. linen. Linen is breathable, keeps the bread in the dark, is washable, it doesn't seem to dry out in them either. I'm sorry I don't have a link for the info on linen, but I read so many different ones, I just combined the info from a bunch of different sites. I have been using mine for a few weeks now and really like it.

On to the project, I knew somewhere I had a couple pieces of linen, that someone had given me at one time.  They were stained and not something I would want to display.

this piece has a stain in the upper left corner

you can clearly see the discoloration in this one

The size of my bread bag was determined by the size of the linen pieces I had. I did a french seam to keep the threads of the linen from raveling. A piece of ribbon or you could do a drawstring depending on the size of your linen. I stitched the ribbon on the back of the bag and use it to tie the bag closed.

I kept the original lace as I liked it and didn't have the heart to cut it off. I like vintage lace and have a few pieces, including Belgium lace that my husband's grandmother made.

My finished bread bag is 16'' x 10''. 

As a bonus no more plastic bags.

Up last I like to have a towel hanging on my oven door, mine were well used and needed replacing. You can see one in the photo of my granddaughter.  I had picked up a new towel, just prior to our latest stay-at-home order in Ontario.

a fresh spring/summer look for my stove

Now let's go see what my fellow bloggers have been stitchin in the Kitchen

Wednesday, April 21st

MooseStashQuilting

DayBrook Designs 

Beaquilter

Patchwork Breeze

Kathy Kwilts and More

Stitchin At Home

Songbird Designs

Days Filled With Joy

I love to read your comments and will reply to them all via email unless you are a No-Reply Blogger.

Salt and Sand Blog Hop

 Starfish or more accurately Seastars were my inspiration for my project in the Salt and Sand Blog hop, organized by Carla at Creatin’ in the Sticks. 

My starfish is hanging around in the rocks, usually, it's in my bathroom.

 

Did you know that all starfish resemble stars, the most common only have five arms, although some of them can grow up to 40 arms?  Interested in reading more fun facts about Starfish check this out.

Thread selection, not all of these made the cut

I drew out the shape of the starfish and traced it onto my fabric with a Clover Air Erasable marker. 

little bubbles

 I free motion quilted a star in the centre of the starfish radiating the bubbles out into the arms. There are some tiny bubbles in these arms, I used Aurifil #4666 40 wt variegated thread.

For the background, I used Superior Thread #4037 Twist and free motion quilted some curved lines trying to give the effect of underwater mountains. I added a few delicate water plants using Aurifil #3817 40 wt. I wanted the starfish to be more pronounced and the background to stay in the back, I think I accomplished that.  The piece is 10'' by 9 1/2'' and I used my favourite batting  Hobbs 80/20.

Want to see what fun my fellow bloggers are having in the salt and sand?

                                                                    March 25

Quiltscapes

Beaquilter

Stitchin At Home

The Joyful Quilter

Scrapdash

Freckled Fox Quiltery

Quilts Fabric and Thread Tales

                                                          Words & Stitches

Project Quilting 12.6 Ab Intra

 Up until this morning, I was not going to do this challenge. This week's challenge is Ab Intra, or "from within." At first glance, I think the theme is a little intimidating and I have too many raw emotions to contemplate putting them into this. 

But, you know there is always a but somewhere. While having a coffee this morning I thought of this challenge and how we as quilters give freely and put our heart into all we do. We are all stars! 

 So the challenge started at 7:27 AM, nothing like the last minute to do this.

a fabric pull of scraps began. I thought of my inner heart and fresh beginnings. Of course, green being my favourite colour didn't hurt

Not much time for anything else, it was put the head done and sew.

by 9:20 I had made progress

Keeping the pedal to the metal, well maybe not metal. But I was going full out.

11:45 AM

I can't believe I made it. Simple straight line quilting echoing the shapes. This little piece finishes at 7'' by 7''. Need to go small when there is no time to spare.

And so I have 6 for 6 done!