Design Wall Monday

I finished stitching all the rows together on my trip around the world quilt, but it still hangs on my design wall to remind me to do the next steps -- sandwiching and quilting.

For some reason, when I think of a trip around the world, I think of a safari - so I thought this fabric that I recently bought on a whim would be perfect for the backing.

Also on my design wall are a few x and + blocks.  Someday they may become a scrappy quilt.  I just make one now and then when I'm in the mood.

There's a tutorial for making this block here, and here's a quilt (not mine) halfway to finish.  I love the chaotic scrappy look!

Hop on over to Patchwork Times and check out the links to see lots of great design walls today!

Hand Stitching Week One

This is where I've been sitting every morning after breakfast, watching the morning news and slowly making progress on this quilt.  Thank you Bonnie for giving me a little push in the right direction -- My plan is to stick with it when the month is over and continue this routine until it's done.   I quilted for 6 1/4 hours the first week.  A lot of hours this week were spent taking an old quilt apart to square up the blocks -- but I don't suppose we get credit for unstitching.

My next hand quilting project will be finishing this one that sits in the other corner.

Check the links on Bonnie's blog to see the progress others are making.

This one's for you Barb!

I've been reading all over the internet that September is National Sewing Month.  How convenient that it falls so quickly after my full retirement.  Now I don't have to wonder what to do.

Bonnie of  Quiltville's Quips & Snips!! has asked quilters to join her in celebrating this month by devoting an hour a day to hand sewing.

 

I decided it was time to pull out this quilt that's been neglected for far too long.    I'm off to a late start for the month, but the weatherman says that, beginning tomorrow, the high will be about 70 for the next ten days.  That should be cool enough in the evenings to have a quilt on my lap.

There'll be days when I won't get in an hour, but I hope by the end of the month my total will be 30 hours.  So my challenge to you - my favorite sister - log more hours than me and I'll give you a dollar for each hour you do some hand stitching in September.

If you want to see what Bonnie and other quilter's are accomplishing, there are links on Bonnie's September 3 post.

Happy Stitching!

Design Wall Monday

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times today.  Check her links to see what other quilters have on their design walls this week.

When I visited my kids downstate in the spring, I made my usual stops at the quilt shops in Howell.   One of the fabrics I couldn't resist was this black print.  I had no idea what I'd use it for and I only bought a fat quarter, so I didn't have too many options.

Then I saw this quilt made by Rita of Red Pepper Quilts on flikr and got inspired.   I started pulling fabrics from my stash and came up with this.  I had two 2-1/2" squares of the black fabric left from my fat quarter when I got done playing.

Without a doubt, this is the only kind of  "Trip Around the World" that I'll be making in my retirement.  I'm sure I'll make another quilt in this pattern -- I just don't plan to travel outside of the USA - there's too much here I haven't seen yet.

August? UFO Challenge

Judy's challenge for August was to complete #7 on my list of UFO's.  Maybe I'll do that in September.  Instead, for August I completed #9 which hasn't even been drawn yet.  That doesn't make me feel ahead of the game since it was the first quilt I completed for the year.

Number 9 was this blue and yellow patchwork quilt.  It finished up at about 60 x 90, which should be good for a twin bed.  The back is flannel, making it a nice cozy weight for the coming cool weather.

It was a little large for me to get a decent picture.  Hanging on the line you can see a little more than half of it - the other half looks pretty much the same ;)

I also managed to complete two baby quilts in August.

I guess it's obvious that I love simple patchwork.  I love working with lots of fabrics, but I do run into problems with my no plan/no pattern method.  It's always a struggle to come up with a piece of fabric large enough for the back of a quilt.  Sometimes I end up buying yardage, but I prefer to make do.  I'm happy I was able to stretch a piece of fabric for each of these baby quilts.

Check the links on Judy's blog at Patchwork Times to see what other UFO's are being completed.

Now I'm wallowing in the joy and freedom of my first week of retirement -- it's even better than I imagined.

My Sewing Room Rug

Sometimes I'm glad I have a hard time purging "stuff".   While I was making an attempt at cleaning my sewing room a couple of weeks ago, I came across a bin of selvages.  For several years I've seen different projects that quilters have made using selvages and I decided to start saving them.  I wasn't sure what I would do with them, but I do think they're sort of fun.   I've dug through them a few times when I needed to know the  name of a certain fabric to check if I could buy it again.

Anyway...... when I came across the bag I came real close to pitching it.  But like so often happens, I just moved it from a bin to a plastic bag so it wouldn't take up so much space, and I shoved it into a different corner.

Then I came across this fun project.  It didn't take me long to dig out that bag and get started!  In just a few days, I turned this mess -

into this cheerful rug for my sewing room!  I have to say I just love it!

Now if I need to know the name of a fabric, I just crawl on the floor instead of trying to figure out where I put that bag!

I recently purchased a box of these little red things.  They seemed a bit pricey, but I wanted to try them out.  I have to say, they're worth the money spent!

And for the record -- I think I'm cured of purging!

Which reminds me - I almost forgot.  I wasn't sure what I was going to use for a base for the rug.  Then I remembered this blanket that Sharyn had bought for me at a garage sale.  Another item that I came close to purging recently -- and it was perfect!

If you save your selvages, there are instructions for making one of your own here.

Churn Dash

While I was making an attempt to organize my sewing room last week, I came across the rows for my churn dash quilt .  This one was on my UFO list for 2011 but got replaced by a special order quilt.  I added it to my 2012 UFO Challenge list, and I felt pretty obligated to get it done this year.

I finally finished adding the borders to it this morning.

The thought of quilting this one is a little intimidating.  It'll probably go to the bottom of my "to be quilted" pile.

The blocks are 6" square.  I started out making the blocks with Christmas fabrics, then added other green and red prints from my stash for variety.

It has just a quiet, cozy Christmas feel to it.