Valentine's Day Heart Mini

Welp, I did it again. Distractions are the rule here in Squirrel-ville. I'll blame this one on The Joyful Quilter whose blog I visited earlier this week. She had purchased a cute little heart mini quilt and then made one herself. The original was made by Jayne at Twiggy and Opal, who lists the Rainbow Heart Trio pattern in her Etsy shop. Before I knew it, the PDF was in my cart, and then it flew out of my printer.

This scrap-friendly pattern gives instructions for various combinations of a large single heart, one large double heart, and one small heart. I chose the large double heart.

I used darker tones and a faded-look flowery print as background for the small center heart. Then I used the same colors for the larger squares in the outer heart against a creamy blender for the background. I didn't want to distract from any of the dark red scrappy goodness, so I bound it with the same creamy blender.

These pieces belonged to my Mom. Inside the heart dish

is a ruby rhinestone heart pin that she used to wear

For the backing I used the same fabric as the center heart.

Happy Valentine's Day to you! This post is linked to Oh Scrap! on Cynthia's blog, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.

Butterfly Apron For Granddaughter

About a month ago my daughter texted me a photo of my granddaughter in the apron I made for her in 2017, with this message, "Grandma I've almost outgrown my apron!". I was happy to make her a new one to give to her for Christmas.

You can see the difference! She has grown taller and has a slim build.

Judging by the reactions of my older (18 and 16) granddaughters when Delaney opened the gift bag with her apron, I probably need to make one for each of them too! I mostly followed a pattern, which also had an option for adult sizes. I tried adding a PDF for sharing to Google Docs, but I was unsuccessful, so just go to Google and insert the following text into the search box: "child's pdf apron pattern by joanna armour michael miller fabrics", and "Classic Reversible Apron" should appear first in the results. If that doesn't work, then just email me and I'll send you the pattern!

Here she is modeling for Grandma. The straps and ties are long so it is adjustable as she grows.

My daughter texted me last night with this message: "Making necklaces and needed her apron. She tried to put on the old one and got excited when I reminded her of the new one" (That's little Everett you see in the background!)

This apron is fully reversible, with pockets on both sides. She likes butterflies, and I had fun choosing and coordinating fabrics from my stash. On the "front" side, I love the way the butterfly and text fabric coordinates with the text on the main fabric. On the "reverse" side are ballerinas and pink gingham, for when she feels more girlie. To make it reversible, I simply made both sides, put them together with right sides facing, stitched around the perimeter leaving about a 7-inch gap, then turned it right side out, sewed the gap closed, poked the corners out, pressed it, and top-stitched around the edges.

Apron Details:
Pattern: Classic Reversible Apron by Joanna Armour for Michael Miller

Fabric:
Newspaper Butterflies and Bird Dot Collage, both by Carrie Bloomston for Windham Fabrics
Ballerinas by Lynda S Milligan for Avlyn
Key West Pink Gingham Check by Di Ford-Hall for Andover Fabrics

Superior Thread:
#50 So Fine in 503 Genoa Gray

Winterlude Table Runner

I first started this table runner in December 2014, and you can read about it in this post. I had purchased a kit with a honey bun and fabrics from the Winterlude collection by 3 Sisters and planned to use it for Christmas decor.

When I blogged about it, I had worked on it for several hours and stated that I had cut 420 tiny pieces of fabric. I carefully paired and placed those pieces on a board to transport to my closet, planning to keep it out of harm's way until I could work on it again. On the way to the closet the board hit the wall and all those pieces spilled onto the floor. I was so discouraged that I threw everything into a bag and decided to wait and finish it later. This year I found it again and sorted everything out and was excited to get it finished.

It was fun to start on a project with the pieces already cut. I wasn't as picky about pairing fabrics this time, but I like it just fine. The fabrics are so pretty, and it was a pleasure to chain piece and press them. The pattern consisted of 3-1/2 inch 9-square blocks.

I had planned to use a piece of Grunge-ish red metallic as the main part of the backing, but in my Christmas scraps I found a remnant of Moda Fruitcake and decided to piece it with the red. Fruitcake is my very favorite fabric line. I bought it for my first quilting class in 2010, a table topper I finished in 2014. You can read about that right here.

This was (I think) my first time working with a flange. I like the effect, and it was easier than I thought it would be.

My seam ripper was used quite a bit. Normally the scant 1/4 inch seam is my friend, but in the case of the little 9-square blocks, a full 1/4" was required. I found that out the hard way.

Jack was very helpful during the quilting and the photographing

I kept the quilting simple

I'm keeping this one for my Christmas table runner this year!

Winterlude Table Runner Details
Finished size: 26 x 52
Pattern and Fabrics
Front and binding: Winterlude Table Runner Kit by 3 Sisters for Moda
Backing: Fruitbasket by Basic Grey for Moda, Luxe Brushstroke in Bordeaux by Moda

Superior Threads
Piecing: #50 So Fine in 402 Pearl
Quilting and binding: #40 Rainbows in 806 Desert Rose and #40 King Tut in 1002 Holly and Ivy

Quilting
Straight line walking foot and some free motion

Scrappy American 4th of July Table Runner

This little table runner graced our table for our Fourth of July celebration. Our daughter and son and their families were here, along with our grandson's girlfriend, as well as my husband's sister and nephew. We had so much food and so much fun! Our menu was my husband's smoked brisket and ribs, baked beans, potato salad, garlic french bread, and homemade ice cream and strawberry cake for dessert. I will share family photos and recipes in an upcoming post.

I forgot to get a picture of the table when it was "in use" during our celebration, but this was the basic decoration.

The idea for this table runner started when I organized my scrap bins a couple months ago and found some 2-1/2 inch squares left over from the Scrappy American Flag wall hanging I made last year. I'm happy to say that I used fabrics 90% from my scrap bins and 10% from my stash!

I had no pattern. I just knew I wanted the squares on point. I used this chart to cut the setting and corner triangles, and it was a perfect fit. I sewed the rows together diagonally, and there were a few rows I had to redo because I got confused - lol!

I had a piece of Aunt Grace's Garden that was the perfect size for the back (yay no piecing!)

I added a navy border and navy binding and simply stitched "in the ditch" to give a puffy appearance. You can see by the photo how hard it is for me to stay in the ditch!

Scrappy American Table Runner Details:
Fabrics:
Mostly from my scrap bins

Backing:
Aunt Grace's Garden by Judie Rothermel for Marcus Fabrics

Border and binding:
Hobby Lobby's version of navy Grunge

Thread:
Piecing - Superior Threads So Fine #50 in Genoa Gray (503)
Quilting - Superior Threads So Fine #50 Navy Blue (431)

I am linking to Finished or Not Friday at Busy Hands Quilts.

New Sew-Along and 4th of July Squirrel

Here is the first "Granny Square" block for the new Crochet Quilt Sew-Along. Fresh Figs is hosting the SAL on Instagram, and it is based on Joanna Figueroa's new Crochet Quilt pattern. The majority of blocks I see on Instagram have gorgeous Fig Tree and Bonnie and Camille fabrics in small-scale prints and pastel shades against a white or black background, but I decided to do a Christmas themed quilt. I always like to be different. ;)

There will be 16 blocks total, and the finished size is 66" x 66". I have a couple of treasured Mary Engelbreit fabrics I am (gasp!) cutting into for this quilt. The background is a soft gray grunge-like fabric. Again, I had to be different.

This is how a black background might look when finished

There are a LOT of pieces in this quilt, and the background alone has 960 1-1/2" pieces!

In other news, I chased a squirrel the other day and cut 2-1/2" squares for a Fourth of July table runner. All our kids and grandkids will be here for the 4th, and I want to have it ready by then. The squares will be "on point", and I had to find a chart to figure out what size to cut the setting and corner triangles. Yes I did get my degree in mathematics, but quilt math is harder than calculus!

I'm joining Busy Hands Quilts in Finished or Not Friday and also Confessions of a Fabric Addict in Can I Get A Whoop Whoop (love that name.) I hope you have a great weekend!

Countdown to Christmas SAL March Blocks

Here are three more blocks for a Christmas quilt before Christmas! I have nine blocks so far by participating in Mama Spark's Countdown to Christmas Sew-Along. The blocks are from the Moda Bake-Shop website, and you can find them by going here. I am choosing blocks that appeal to me rather than doing each block listed. This month I chose Festival, Special Gift, and Christmas Logs. I am picking my blocks from the posts listed under Countdown to Christmas for December 2018 and am enjoying making a different block each time.

Festival

Special Gift

Christmas Logs

I made a mistake by not thoroughly reading the instructions for Christmas Logs. The directions are to trim the logs after each round, and I did not see those instructions! So this block finished at a full 3 inches larger than the other blocks. I will either use it as part of the backing, or it will become a pillow!

I'm linking this post to MamaSpark's Countdown to Christmas SAL.

Countdown to Christmas SAL February Blocks

Here are the completed February blocks in my monthly goal to have a Christmas quilt before Christmas by participating in Mama Spark's CTC (Countdown to Christmas). The blocks are from the Moda Countdown to Christmas for 2018, and the links are found here. Warning: some of the instructions are not crystal clear! But the patterns are free, so I can't complain - lol! I am picking and choosing my blocks instead of making all of them in order, and the blocks I chose for this month are Prairie Christmas Star, Wrapped Up, and Reindeer Games.

Prairie Christmas Star

Wrapped Up

Reindeer Games

Jack (tail pictured) is glad Mama Spark initiated this sew-along.

I am enjoying sewing for Christmas early in the year, with no holiday pressure! I am linking to Mama Spark's February CTC Sew-a-Long Link-up. It's not too late if you'd like to join in. You can do as many or as few as you like, even just one for a pillow!

Countdown to Christmas Sew-Along January Blocks

"Mama Spark" is a prolific quilter whose feed I follow on Instagram. Earlier this month she issued an invitation to join her in making a few blocks per month from Moda's 2018 Countdown to Christmas, and I was in. I have an abundance of Christmas fabric and ran out of time to make anything Christmas-y last year. If I make a few blocks a month, then I should have a quilt ready for Christmas this year! The blocks are found on Moda's website. In order to find posts/links to each block, go here.

The first block I made was Country Winter and is composed of half square and quarter square triangles. I used fussy-cut a glass from Cotton+Steel Glasses in Teal from the Tinsel collection to coordinate with Hometown Christmas Icey Dots by Moda.

This block is Grandmother. This block was a challenge for me as it involves Y-seams. But I liked the challenge! I used another fussy-cut from Glasses along with Courthope in Julep from Savernake Road collection by Free Spirit.

This was my favorite block, Regent Street Star, and I like it so much I may make several for a quilt. I used a generic red with white dots from my stash.

The completed quilt will be a sampler, and Moda has included suggestions for layout. There are 12-inch and 6-inch block instructions. I am starting with 12-inch blocks but may do a few 6-inch so I can include some of the blocks from Moda's 2017 CTC. My colors will mainly be teal and red.

I am linking this to Mama Spark's link-up. It's never too late to join in!

A Quilt Like Dad's Flimsy #2 Finish

My daughter's "quilt like Dad's" flimsy is complete. My design inspiration was this pattern from Jedi Craft Girl. As of now it is 46" x 67" but should end up a tiny bit larger with the binding.

I think she will like the fabrics I chose, especially the plaid, which is from one of her Dad's old shirts.

Next is to make the backing from some Hobby Lobby flannel and a "Woolies" piece left over from my son's quilt backing. Then I will sandwich with "lofty" batting, hand-tie, and bind it. I anticipate another 2-3 days to finish. I have an extra day to work on it, because our kids will all be here the day after Christmas. I'll post photos of my kids with their quilts. Hopefully they'll be smiling - lol!

My husband gave me an early Christmas gift. I've wanted a wool pressing mat since I read reviews of one on Elm Street Quilts. I chose a different brand than the one Pattie reviewed. This one is by Glaciart and measures 19" x 26", and so far I am very pleased with it. Wool enables the iron to press more crisply and stay pressed. But I'll have to keep it covered so the kitties won't use it as a scratching pad!

I'll close with two collages - one of the "down-sized" decorations we do since we retired and one of my favorite ornaments. (Click on the photos for a closer view) I gave the remainder of our family collection of ornaments to my daughter last year.

Merry Christmas to all of you!