Stash Busting 2 - Strip Quilts

I'm making progress using some of my

stash! 

I was thinking what patterns I could make

to use up some of the purple fabrics that

I had. 

I saw a strip quilt on Pinterest and decided

to try one. 

I used some out of print fabrics that I was

saving for what - I don't know....?  It felt

good to finally use them.

 The back is one solid piece of purple polka dots.

For the quilting; I used channel straight line 

with my walking foot. 

This measures about 37" x 39".

I had so much fun (and a lot of left over fabric)

that I decided to make another one.

 # 2 - I added more purples and a piece

of my hand dyed fabric in blue. And also

some of the purple polka dot fabric left over

from the back of #1.  As a matter of fact -

that middle row with all of the different

rectangles is a cut off of #1 also. 

 Channel straight line quilting on this one

also. But I had no backing - so I had to break

down and buy some. 

 Pretty in purples chevron pattern - gives

it a very modern look. 

This one measures about 34" x 40".

These were fun and they're easy to make

and use up some of your stash.

I've also collected 2 more bags to donate.

Spring cleaning!   I have one more bin

to go through.

*********************

I took a walk in the back of my yard -

since all of the snow had melted - Yay!

And spotted these pretty little crocus shooting

up.

 I walked further down by the little creek

and peeked in  at the bottom of the tree

and saw some strange fungi growing.

And then further down I couldn't believe

my eyes.

 My Neighbors - tree limbs all over the place

from the storm that we had. What a mess!

But you know I was thinking that better

down there than close to the house like

I had. It was one terrible winter all over.

I have to thank my son for sawing and 

taking away all of the fallen limbs. 

Happy Quilting!

Stash Busting - Floral Table Runner

     I only know of one woman who quilts

that just buys enough fabric for the quilt

that she is currently working on. She has been

quilting for over 40 years.

I guess she learned a lesson long ago.

     I have donated boxes of fabric to the

local Mennonite good will and still have

tubs of it left! 

     Since my husband passed away; I'm

desperately trying to downsize.


     I have lots of greens that I had collected for

my applique work. 

I love this fabric and didn't want to cut it up.

So I made a table runner out of it.

 This is the back - one solid piece also.

 I had fabric left over from the binding; so I made

a couple of coasters. 

Happy Quilting!

 

WIP #6

This is my WIP (works in progress) # 6

I made this table runner using the 

quilt block "Ocean Waves" awhile back.

 I was debating on how I would quilt this..?

  Traditional or modern?

I had my walking foot attached to the machine

and decided to use just the straight stitch,

using variegated thread.

 
So I started to quilt the wavy lines  trying to imitate

the lines in the fabric.

I love the wonky movement in this runner!

I used a white fabric on the back - where

you can see the wonky stitching.

Measures 41" long and 19" wide


---------------------

Going through my fabric stash (oh my!)

I decided to postpone my WIP and use

some of the fabrics that I have been collecting.

Stay tuned!

----------------------

Around Lancaster

 

 I was looking out the back door and saw this beautiful

sky line! 

 

 

Taking a walk in Long's Park the other day where 

there were lots of Seagulls (herring?) 

 

 Walking around I saw this tree that had

recently fell, probably during the last

bad storm. 

Happy Quilting!

WIP #5

Hello Spring! (i think)

I had taken a class from my friend Kathi

Beginners Bargello. I thought that it would

be very confusing but it turned out very

nice! 

 It's a Landscape Bargello and it was fun

to do, not confusing to me at all. 

 The back is one solid piece and I added

a sleeve for hanging.

 I just did some free motion quilting around

the clouds; the rest is straight stitch in the 

ditch.

I had some fabric left over and decided to

use it to make a small Landscape Bargello

table mat and coasters.

 Again, I just did straight stitch in the ditch

quilting. 

So, not only did I finish the WIP (work in

progress) but I used some of my stash fabrics.

If you're interested in making a Bargello;

Bonnie Hunter has a great tutorial ----

 Scrappy Bargello

From my backyard

 

                                     Grackles

 

Crows

 

Happy Quilting!

WIP #4

Another WIP (works in progress) finished!

Am I running low yet? Nope!

I had a bag full of 9 patches  - made out of

strips that were 1 1/2" wide.  

Not knowing what I wanted to do with them

exactly; so they were put away.

So, they came out of the WIP draw and I

thought that I would make a table runner out

of them.

                         Table runner is 30" x 18 1/2"

I really like the fabric but don't know the

manufacturer, as I bought them as Fat

Quarters. The look of it reminds me of a

Romantic Cottage style.

I wanted to try something new, so I decided

to use a decorative stitch around the sashing.

I think that it gives it a nice touch. The quilting

is just a plain cross hatch.

 The back of the table runner is a solid olive

green but with the quilting in a cranberry color

it has a nice contrast and the runner now can

be reversible. 

We have all these pretty decorative stitches

built in our machines and they should be 

used more. Don't you think?  

I had lots more 9 patches left, so I made 

some matching mats.  Mats are 10 1/2" x 13 1/2" each.

Around Lancaster

 

 Happy Quilting!

WIP #3

I'm sitting here looking out of my window

and it's snowing AGAIN! {{{sigh}}

I can't remember a winter with so much 

snow!

I'm taking some of my Baltimore blocks 

and making them into wall hangings.

This one just needed a little more hand quilting

and I also added some embroidery - a binding

and finished!

"Rose Wreath with Red Birds"

This block can be found in "Baltimore Beauties 
and Beyond" Volume One by Elly Sienkiewicz.
This block is dated 1854.

I used the back basting method on this piece
for needle turn applique.

It measures about 20" x 20" finished.

Here's a very good tutorial by

Sentimental stitches 

I added some embroidery around the flowers

 Sleeve added

There are many tutorials on how to add

a sleeve to your quilt but I like Susan's

You can find it here Sleeve

I'm making good progress in finishing

my WIP (works in progress) - it's very

satisfying!  

I hope that you're inspired to finish yours

also. 

**********************

The other day we had warm air coming

in  and with the snow still on the ground

it created a very dense fog.

It looks so eerie! But I think it has some

kind of mystifying beauty.

Of course my little friend was back!

He probably can't wait for spring either!

Have a great week and Happy Quilting!

WIP - #2 Finished

Thank goodness all of the snow is

finally melting! 

I know that there are many quilters

like me who have a lot of WIP (Works

in Progress) or UFO (Unfinished Object)

just hanging around.

Some of them are experiments, a new

technique, a new pattern that looked

like fun.... whatever. 

We spend lots of money (fabric is not

cheap) and buy books and patterns -

and also a great amount of time and

energy on the project.

That's why I am determined to finish

them. 

 This table runner just needed a 

little more hand quilting and a 

binding. 

I wanted to try the French Braid and

I didn't want a large project.

It's 64 1/2" long and 14 1/4" wide.

This is a very easy pattern - great for

beginners. 

Here's a very good tutorial 

French Braid Pattern 


I think that this pattern would also be

very pretty as a border.

                                                       ******************************


I was so excited to see a new visitor

on my deck!

It's a Yellow bellied Sapsucker!

I have never seen one here before.

And of course my regular was back.


Happy Quilting!