Quilt News! Scrappy Sunflower Pincushion, Improv Pieced Units and Leftover Blocks Quilt Top, 'Scrappy Brick' Quilt Top, Jolene Klassen's Book Scrap Quilt Diary...

My Pieced Units and Leftover Blocks small quilt top progress, new strip on left.

My Sunflower Pincushion, YouTube tutorial by Beth Shibley.

This is my 'Scrappy Brick' quilt top, tutorial by Teresa @ TeresaDownUnder.

Scrap Quilt Diary by Jolene Klassen, this is an inspiring, informal look into Jolene's quilt thoughts.

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends! 

Spring is a very invigorating time of year isn't it? More walks, more sunshine, flowers and birds singing, uplifting, yes?

 I've been busy experimenting with new projects and I'm happy with the outcomes. 

Beth Shibley has a great YouTube tutorial on Sunflower Pincushions, I pieced one up and it turned out very cute! What a fun gift to give!

My small art quilt, Pieced Units and Leftover Blocks has a new strip border addition on the left. I pieced that border from left over strips from my new 'Scrappy Brick' quilt top. 

My 'Scrappy Brick' Quilt Top was  directly inspired by Teresa @ TeresaDownUnder. Her YouTube tutorial Scrappy Brick Quilt is excellent and this is a great way to use up some leftover strips.

My projects all seem related and they are because one informs the next one and I keep using leftover scraps and blocks from previous projects in the new projects. It just seems to work out better for me that way.

And after reading Jolene's Scrap Quilt Diary I was super encouraged because she thinks a lot like I do about design and color. Linda @ kokaquilts has a beautiful quilt in progress, Floating Log Cabins, and she recommended Scrap Quilt Diary as the inspiration for that quilt.

 

That is the quilt news from the valley, where the sun is shining!

I hope you're enjoying spring and starting new projects, what's on your list?

Hello Quilt Friends! My Log Cabin Blocks in CourtHouse Configuration Quilt Top Finish, New Scrappy String Fabric for Projects, Spring Flowers for April!

My Sweet Grand Muffin.

Spring bedding flowers.

My Logcabin quilt blocks in Courthouse Steps configuration finally pieced, blocks are approx. 13" x 13".

String Fabric for new quilt blocks, in process.

More useful items being made from strings and left over scraps.

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends from the valley!

 

We are enjoying spring weather:) rain and clouds with occasional thunder storms and sun. The spring flowers are braving the storms and rain fairly well.

Last few days I've been adding scrappy strips to my new string fabric, and using up my last batch of scrappy string fabric and left over pieces and scraps for useful items. I'm inspired by Carolyn Forster's book, String Quilts, published by Search Press, her book is full of great tips and ideas, lovely!

 

I also finished piecing together my Log Cabin blocks in Courthouse configuration that I started a few summers ago, blocks are approx. 13", some a little bigger, some a little smaller. As you might have noticed the top row left corner block is pieced in the traditional Log Cabin pattern. I wanted to shake it up a little. 

 

Teresa @ Teresa From DownUnder, has posted a fun You Tube tutorial, Scrap Quilt with Strips . I'm going to give those blocks a try and see how they turn out. The blocks will be 4.5" square and that will work perfect for me as I'm keeping projects on the smaller side to use in bags, and sewing accoutrements, etc. I'll show you the results soon.

 

And that is the quilt news from the valley where I'm thankful for warmer spring temperatures.

What is your newest inspiration?

I'll be by to visit!

 

 

Quilt News, New Improv Art Quilt Top From Scraps, Four Patch on Point Quilt Blocks Progress, Planning More Scrappy Quilt Tops, Late Winter Walk in the Park.

I pieced units together for this new quilt top, using up scraps and orphan blocks!

 

My Four Patch on Point blocks 7.5" square, keep increasing in number, 36 so far.

Planning new designs for quilt top to use up scraps.

Late winter walk in Flaming Geyser State Park.

Piecing units, strings and scraps together for projects; hot pads, coasters, small art quilts etc.

Hello Quilt Friends! March is here and spring will officially begin the 20th! The Snowdrops are up in the Lake Wilderness Arboretum and Daffodils and Tulips are soon to follow. There have been occasional rabbit sightings as well. Exciting.

I've been piecing scraps, strings and orphan blocks together to make pieced fabric for small projects like hot pads, small art quilts, bags, pincushions, etc. I love using up scraps it's a very creative process.

Here is a good place to buy sewing/embroidery supplies 123stitch.com. And Hobby Lobby has a great fabric selection and then there's always Amazon. I like to buy direct when I can of course.

So that is the quilt news from the valley where spring is in the air. How are your projects coming along? Any new finishes to show?

I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News! Piecing, Quilting, Fabric Scraps for Zakka: Useful Household Items, and Beautiful Cotton Canvas for Backings, Slow Stitch/Embroidery Project Progress

Beautiful cotton canvas for my new Zakka projects.

Piecing scraps and leftovers for new kitchen pot holders.

Progress on my new slowstitch/embroidery project. I'm using Bohin's Chenille needles.

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends!

The snow has melted here in the valley and temperatures have warmed up! The local grey squirrels and Juncos are very excited about that.

 I've been piecing, layering and quilting fabric scraps into squares to be used for more kitchen hot pads. I keep giving them away, so this next batch I'll keep (until I find someone else who needs them.) I layer a pieced fabric square, about 10.5" with a square of Insul Brite by Warm and Natural and then a square of batting, then the backing of cotton canvas. I pin the stack then baste with long basting stitches on the diagonal, just twice, making an x. Then I machine quilt with 3.0 length stitches, cross hatch, taking out the basting stitches as I come to them. If you don't have Insul Brite, use 2 layers of batting (or three if you have a thin batting). Experiment and see what you like.

Also I've started a new slowstitch/embroidery project, embroidering another kitchen towel, something useful for my kitchen. We use a water purifier and need towels for mop up once in a while and I like to hand dry my glasses. Why not use something with beautiful stitching on it?

“Crafting is like meditation, it allows you to focus your mind and release your stress.” – Unknown. 

I found that quote on Bebebold , visit to see all their gorgeous ideas, projects and kits. 

And that is the quilt/stitch news from the valley. What projects have you started lately?

I'll be by to visit!

Quilt News! String Quilts by Carolyn Forster and String Piecing Scraps for Small Quilted Projects, Slow Stitch Embroidery Projects, Winter Wonderland..

My String Piecing project, 8.5" diameter quilted hot pad.

Back of my quilted hot pad, fun print on cotton canvas.

String Quilts Sustainable Patchwork Projects by Carolyn Forster

Winter Wonderland in the neighborhood.

 

 

Hello Quilt Friends! 

Happy February from the valley where we have freezing temperatures and snow with more to come. Pull out the winter sweaters and scarves. I'm thankful for a warm home!

 

The last couple of weeks I have been piecing scrappy strips together and then sewing the strips into 4 blocks of about 6" each and then piecing those together to make a square approx. 10.5". An 8.5 " diameter circle is then cut from that square and so forth.. I'm using a tutorial from the book Zakka, compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale. The tutorial is by Kim Kruzich, page 66. It's very easy and goes together quick with colorful results, and I was in need of some new hotpads. I've given one away already and will need to make more hotpads because they are not only useful they make good gifts. See my previous post for more info.

 

 I'm inspired by Carolyn Forster's book String Quilts Sustainable Patchwork. It's published by Search Press and the photos and tutorials are excellent. String patchwork is amazingly versatile and colorful.

And I have more slow stitching embroidery projects started and progressing. I'm going to be embroidering borders using Stacked Closed Buttonhole Stitch, see my friend Carin's tutorial here.....Borders add so much to quilts and hand embroidery projects.

 

That is the news from the valley where the sun is shining this morning and the forecast is more snow this evening. Have you started any slow stitch embroidery projects lately? I'll be by to visit.

Quilt News! Butterfly Hand Bag Finish, Slow Stitch Project, Annual Amaryllis Bloom Report!

My slow stitch project rolled with lace and kept in a basket.

Amaryllis blooming in my kitchen window, lovely deep red.

I made this slow stitch roll to document the fabrics I used in 2024.

My Butterfly Bag finish, showing boxed bottom here.

My Slow Stitch project 46" x 3" now backed with linen/rayon in mustard yellow.

Butterfly bag, lined, top stitched, finished.

 

Hello Quilt Friends! 

It's cold in the valley with temperatures at night below freezing. Bundle up right?

Some of our blog friends 'down under' like Koka Quilts, are in the middle of summer right now. I can imagine the warm sun and blooming flowers.....

I finished my Butterfly Bag with top stitching and lining. I bought the pattern; Kwik Sew Craft Bag R10819 view C, several years ago and decided it would make a good New Year project. A finish is an excellent way to start the year. I redrew the handles in the pattern taking an inch off the width of each and wanting the outside of the handles to meet the body in a curve not a square. The outside is cotton canvas, the lining is quilter's cotton both from my local JoAnn Fabric Store. Finished!

Then I sewed the backing onto my Slow Stitch project documenting fabrics I used in projects in 2024. I stitched scraps and pieces of fabric boro style onto batting, then sewed on the backing. I keep it rolled up with lace in a basket. I might add more stitching, slow and thoughtful are the words for this project.

And my Amaryllis is blooming, looking fabulous, putting on a good show to brighten the winter days.

That is the quilt news on this frosty winter day. What are you planning or finishing today?

I'll be by to visit!

Quilt News! Happy New Year! Quilt/Project Plans for the New Year, Accordian Pouch/Sewing Kit Finish

Finished 'Accordian Pouch', tutorial by Bookhou on Youtube, I added the hand stitching.

One of my new projects, Craft Bag by Kwik Sew, pattern 'C'. The butterfly cotton canvas will be the outside.

My Accordian Pouch inside pockets.

Inside pockets view, I think it's a clever design.

Zakka Style book, compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale from my local library, fun useful projects.

Another view of my Accordian Pouch, running stitch in pearl cotton.

This is a page in the book, Zakka Style, the Patchwork Pot Holder Project, I intend to make up a lot of these!

 

 Hello Quilt Friends! And Happy New Year!

We've had clouds and rain off and on for several weeks now. 

During the quiet down times of the holidays I managed to finish a fun small project by Bookhou, tutorial on Youtube. Arounna calls it an 'Accordian Pouch' referring to the unique design of the storage pouches, very clever. I added some of my own piecing, by sewing a strip of butterfly cotton canvas on the outside cover and then embroidering running stitches by hand on the outside cover.

My local fabric store has had a good sale on cotton canvas. I bought some intending to use it to sew up a project 'craft bag', pattern by Kwik Sew and to make up potholders using the tutorial, Patchwork Potholder in my library book Zakka Style compiled by Rashida Coleman-Hale. We do a lot of our own cooking and baking and we put to good use our potholders.

I'm looking forward to the new year and working on small useful projects, the finishes are uplifting, right? The small finishes help me through the longer hand quilting process. I need to mix it up and stay challenged with color and design.

That is the quilt news from the valley, where we have so much to be thankful for!

Have you planned any small new projects for the coming year?

I'll be by to visit.