Strips, Strips and More Strips!

 I have been obsessed with making strip blocks lately.  I decided to make at least 5 strip blocks per day for a while and before I knew it, I had enough for a quilt!  These are totally random, mixed colors and I plan on 6 across and 9 down (I have more than that done now).  The blocks measure 8" unfinished and yesterday I went to my LQS to purchase sashing/border fabric and backing fabric.

Here's the sashing (left) and backing fabric (right).

My LQS has punch cards and when the card is totally punched, you can use it to buy $25.00 worth of fabric and notions.  The week of your birthday, you can also get 20% off regular priced items and my birthday is coming up next month.  I have 2 full punch cards that I'm saving!!

 

I also make smaller 4" or 5" blocks using civil war reproduction fabrics.  Here's a small one that isn't finished yet.

I'm always trying to find ways to use up fabric and found a couple more that are pretty easy.  I found the first one in a large book I recently got from Martingale - "The Big Book of Scrappy Quilts."  It's called "Pieces of Eight" and I cut out 12 blocks worth and have made one as a sample.  It's super easy and measures at 18"!

I love it because it's scrappy, large and easy!!  All the blocks will be different.

Another one that I started (testing it out), is from the Buggy Barn.  I think I got the pattern either at a garage sale or at the quilt guild free box.   I made 12 blocks.

You make 2 blocks at the same time and the star and background are reversed.  This one was somewhat harder, but by the time I had made 12 of the wonky stars, I pretty much had it figured out.  The blocks measure 9" x 14" and require 2 fat quarters.

And finally, I just finished this small wall hanging 11" x 14 1/2".  This will be a gift.  The flamingos are paper pieced (some unsewing was necessary) which is not my favorite method, but certainly is great for something like this.

And lastly, I have the first flower from my new clematis plant!

I bought this one because I wanted one that would bloom all summer.  I have another one that just blooms once in May and then not again till the next year.  My new purple one is supposed to bloom all summer!

Happy summer to all!  Hope you will enjoy some freedom for a change. 

 

FEBRUARY SCRAP REPORT AND NEW GOAL FOR MARCH

I can't believe that I have only had one other post during February!  I have been busy.  At the beginning of the month, I drew my "scrap challenge" item from the jar and it was to work on the Quarter Log Cabin scrap quilt.  I was able to get that top finished and it measures 50" x 62".  I have the backing fabric picked out and just need to find a piece of batting for it.

Here's a close-up of a few blocks.  The large black/grey piece was from the left-overs of a backing and I still have more of that left.  I think I got it at an estate sale.  Does it look like "snake" scales to you?

 I also finished this top called "Scrappy Stars" that I found on the Moda Bake Shop site.  It measures 70" x 100" and will fit a twin size bed.  Most of the blocks were left overs from charm packs, some of which I bought.  I have the backing and batting ready to go.

I drew my "Scrap Challenge" for March and you can see it below.

I really like this one because I already have some blocks ready and I have plenty of strips to make lots more.  The blocks I have here measure at 8" unfinished.  I use pages from the phone book to sew the strips on, and the phone book was pretty small or I would have cut them larger.

I just made up 2 toddler cloth books because we will be going to visit family in April and I will be taking some gifts for the kids.  There is a new baby and I have a quilt already made for him.

I love the pictures of animals with clothes on.

Sew cute!

We're getting close to spring and some flowers are blooming - daffodils and grape hyacinths.  The trees are starting to bloom as well.  Enjoy!

A NEW BIRD HOUSE AND OTHER STUFF

Yesterday I happened to go past a community sale and I saw this cute teapot bird house for $3!   Here it is hanging in the tree right outside our bedroom window.  I can see it from the sewing studio window also!  

I hope someone likes it.

Darlene at Quilt Shop Gal has a Creative Goodness Linky Party every Friday and since today is Friday I will link this post to it to show what I have been working on.   I recently won this book in a drawing because I had linked something to her linky party in the past.

These are a couple patterns in the book that I really like.

This is a donation quilt that is ready to go except for hand sewing the binding to the back.  It may have to wait as my Doctor said I should give the hand a rest for a while.

Two more small quilts, doll quilt and scrappy table topper that need the binding sewn to the back.

 I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!

SOME BINDING DONE!

Here is a small pile of 5 little quilts ready to be bound.

This one is a doll quilt or chair hanger.

This is my scrappy star table runner with scrappy strip blocks,

Close up of the quilting.

Three more to bind.

I also made a label for a the basket quilt that I finished last summer.  Lori (and others) are encouraging quilters to label quilts.  It's a chore that gets put off in this house.  I'm going to try to be better.  I usually do it in spurts.  Put it off.  Make a bunch of labels at one time.  It's time to do a bunch now.

I did more hand work this week and my hand feels it.  I can only do a little at a time and then my fingers get numb.  Have a nice weekend, everyone!

SCRAPPY STITCHING AND A TOUR

After making the doll quilt with the stars, I decided to get out my box containing some stars already made and fabric cut out to make more.  I found that I had some ready to stitch.  All these stars finish at 4".

Then I was looking through my other pieces and saw that I didn't have enough to make stars of all the same fabric, so I wondered how they would look if I just made some scrappy ones.

I used up the last of some of these fabrics.  I like them!  I think I'll alternate some with scrappy strip blocks.

Guess what!  My "Faithful" quilt is ready to baste!  Finally!!  I just have to sew on the yo yos that are going to be the flowers in the basket first.

I have 3 doll quilts ready for basting as well.

Saturday I went on an architectural tour of some historic buildings in McMinnville, OR with my DIL and DGD.  The first building was the Spanish Restaurant and we got to see the apartment on the second floor.  It was lived in by the owner, but now it's a vacation rental.

Spanish Restaurant building built in about 1894 - I took this picture right before Christmas.

 The following pictures are of the second floor of one of the buildings - it was built around 1911 I believe.  The owners live in the 9,000 sq. ft.  second floor and have restored it to the original design as much as possible.  Included in the apartment is a 1900 sq. ft. ball room as well as a couple large work shops.  Here are some of the items in the apartment.

The following few pictures are of the bathroom.  I love these clawfoot tubs!

A cute frog lives on the edge of the tub.

Dressing table is in the bathroom as well.  

 This Frank Lloyd Wright designed window is in the entry door to the apartment!

 

The Cozine House was built in the late 1800s and is now home to the McMinnville Downtown Association.

As you can see, we had a gorgeous day for the tour!