De-Stashing begets a Lozenge Quilt

De-stashing the studio...we all need to do it. And mine is way over due.

I pulled out a bin of some assorted "over 10 year old" fabrics. How do I know they are at least 10 years old? Well, I recognize some from quilts made prior to 2005 and some from 2000 or earlier. I needed a plan. I hand examined each piece. If it was of questionable quality, I tossed it. Poly Cotton...Gone. I did not look back. If it was a phat quarter or smaller it cut it up into 3.5" x 6.5" bricks, and from there 3.5, 2.5 and 2 inch squares. If it didn't qualify for those it went into the string bin. Love that Scrap User System. Notice the language of that...scrap USER not scrap SAVER.

If it was larger than a phat quarter I took off a couple of 3.5" strips and sub-cut that into bricks. And didn't that feel good. This was a place to use the odd and unusual pieces. So in this quilt you will find old 1980's chintz, PEI lobster, and screaming hot buffalo wings. This is the quilt that when the grandchildren need a picnic quilt in the garden, I will give them this one instead of a ratty old orange tarp

Next up...Lozenge Quilt. I know that Bonnie Hunter had that as the L/E for 2014. I also remember her saying it is not a race!! And so while I was at it, and I needed a break from cutting, I hauled out the 2" bin and started marking light neutral-ish squares with a drawn diagonal line for a sewing guide. Shown here is about half the quilt.

The thing I learned as I went along though, and I want to share this with anyone that doesn't see this before I did, was not put dark corners on dark bricks. I lost some definition of that pretty little pinwheel that got created where the blocks meet.

Behold the completed Lozenge 2017

I free styled the long arm quilting with simple loops and leaves.

Binding is on, and the quilt is ready for picnic duty at a moment's notice.
love and hugs
Kathy

RSC15 Finish

There is no lingering lime this week, however there is much to be excited about. My quick little leader and ender, this blue barn raising quilt made with 4 patches and bricks, is almost done!!! I am also getting closer to the bottom of the 2" bin. Seemed so unlikely 4000 squares ago that it could actually happen. This is one of those quilts that will benefit from a couple of borders.

I have been prowling the bins and drawers in this quilt studio pulling the fabrics for Bonnie Hunter's Alletiare!. Let the celebrations begin...the big reveal of the first clue was Friday. Love the golden sun drenched cheddars,  big reds, stoic grey, reverent blacks and slide-on-by neutrals. Ready. Set. Cut. Sew.

But the BEST NEWS: I am doing a great reveal of my RSC15, quilted by the very talented Kim Caskey Custom Quilting.

I need to gather up the bits and pieces and make room for this new mystery. I have loved doing the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. It really opened up my eyes as to the potential in all of my bottom-of-the-bin scraps and how much more efficient it is to have them organized (by colour) and ready to sew. Either as string blocks or as these prescribed Sawtooth Star treasures.Thank you all for the prompts and suggestions for getting organized. Check out the other lime-lovelies over here at SoScrappy.

my love and hugs to you all
Kathy

4 x 2 =3.5 + 5" = 4.75"sqare

Only a quilter will get that you sew together 4 2" squares to have a 3.5" square. As invited to do so several months ago by Edyth Sitar, and that is what I have been using as my L/E's. I have been using my aged colourwash squares, which I have have added to over the years, or have been gifted, or have bought others at guild garage sales. I am getting a bit of a stack and what to do with them?

To this you add 4 triangles cut from a single 5"square to your 3.5" square and


 ...ta da...it is sewn back together as a 4.75" square. And yes, I know it is nothing but bias outside edges, but this is where Mary Ellen's Best Press is saving my day.


I have been in several 6" and 5" scrap swaps over my 30+ years of quilting, and it is now time to clean out that bin. As you will confirm, some of these are really 'vintage' fabrics.

I played with settings for a while, I think I love this 'seminole' setting between two spacing bars. Though this Jinny Beyers is too dark.

And this grey is too wimpy...


I have unearthed a few more choices and think I have found the one that will work for me. Stand by for the final reveal. It is time to sew up this stash!

But in the meantime, I am getting ready to head to Scotland with CelticQuilt Tours. Be back online and on topic (scrap quilting) in October.
Love and hugs
Kathy

Grand Illusions: This Chick's been busy

This chick been busy. There are a lineup of UFOs facing me, however this does not prevent me from starting the much anticipated yearly offering of the new mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter. There are 8 weeks of intensive sewing to stay caught up (if that's what your life allows) or to simply get the cutting and a few sewn each week.

So what is the difference between this project and the other UFO's languishing on the perimeters of the desk top? Perhaps the fact that there is a Linky party on Monday mornings, and virtual Show & Tell of those that are participating from around the world? It is very motivating to be up to speed (so to speak) with 100s of quilters around the world, to oooh and aaah over their prowess with colours choices/substitutions and sewing accuracy.

In any case this chick has chosen to go scrappy all the way with this mystery. You will note the vintage pink calico!! As an aside will I ever in my lifetime get all this sewn up into quilts for my family, friends and community.

Broken dishes blocks made (and some awaiting a final press)
and the 80 hst's set aside for later.

Have a great week all and see you back here next Monday. To see other Grand Illusion MQs head over to Bonnie Hunters Linky party.

Hugs
Kathy

Baby Faces

I just L.O.V.E. this quilt. Bonnie Hunter thank you so much for your time and talent that leads us to take a pile of pieces that looks like this

and viola...it becomes this,

I could not be happier with this design (except for the fact that now I see a 4 patch that is pointing the wrong way), and thank you also to several other quilters out that that have inspired the border I also want to use; a band of purple then a row of 4 patches made with the grey and b/w scraps alternated with 3.5" more baby faces all set on point encased with more apple green setting triangles. I can thank this gal for the visualization of the border options.

Come on over to Bonnie's linky-party here and see what quilters around the world have done with another of her ambitious and wonderful designs.

cheers
kas

Easy Street - Part II

Five years ago my daughter Cynthia had this fabulous fabric created using pictures of my babies (oldest now 42) and their babies (my grandchildren). This was created prior to the arrival of my Madie Ann. I have been so conflicted in finding a project to use it on. But when Bonnie Hunter called for a black and white background, I had found my project.  I am having to fussy cut their sweet baby faces, but there will be no saving having to shave some ears or chins, unless the pieces get a little bit larger.  It will be the classic game of peek-a-boo. 

Here are sisters Odessa and Tanea. I will be introducing others as the quilt progresses.

In the meantime I have made my 128 flying geese units and am ready for Part III.

I also want to share my new Christmas toes done by Tatiana...she never disappoints me with her designs, pictured here on one of my selvedge crocheted rugs.

I spent yesterday at my grandson's 9th birthday party at Niton Junction (90 minutes west of Edmonton) and it was a picture perfect display of hoar frost.

Started down Easy Street

Over at Quiltville.com Bonnie K. Hunter has generously started a new mystery quilt: Easy Street.  Handing one clue a week for several weeks she will lead us through heaping piles of four patches, hst's, or maybe even qst's...but she does promise that there will be no strings.

Clue #1 has us making four patches - 192. My colour palette will closely follow Bonnie's;1) because the colours she has recommended sound perfect to me 2) why mess with perfection. I was doing some kas-stash shopping I came across this thunder-struck gray and I know it is from 2001. However there will be nothing but a memory left once I am done this quilt. It was fun to sew together a Debbie Mumm to a Mark Lipinski...hey maybe these two opposites will play along very nicely in my quilt.

Bonnie has also given us instructions for doing the interior four-patch twirl...sounds like a little dance number. This opens that interior intersection and your little four-top will lie as flat as hardtop. So far 100 are made and the 92 remaining are waiting their turn.

I also have my hand block ready to send off to the International Quilt Festival of Ireland.  My very good friend (Kim Caskey) and I are co-hosting a 9-day Enchanted Tour of Ireland, June 5 - 13, 2013 and are sew hoping you will join our tour.  We have special sights and activities planned: I Spy with a Quilter's Eye is just one.  There is still room on our coach, and if need be, we will get a second one.

This block with be added along with 100's more the the 100,000 welcomes Quilt that will greet visitors to the Quilter's Castle in Galway, June 2013.  Anyone can make a block to send, even if you can not make it :-(. I would be more than delighted to send you the instructions.