From Boring to Bento Boxes

I was trying to use some fabric in my stash and was risking a truly bland quit. Too many prints with similar scale and color. 

So I thought adding some color would help. But still, yawn. 

After several inspiration searches through blogland and Pinterest, I decided to try a Bento Box quilt. 

Yes! I think I'm on to something here. I'll never let quilt blahs get me down. 

Happy Sewing!

Indecision

I have had a scrappy tumbler quilt waiting to be bound for months.  I just couldn't make myself trim the ends.  My mom mentioned that she would love to see it trimmed and bound around those tumblers. But I'm sure I'll give the quilt to a friend or family member who wouldn't have any idea about how hard that was to do.  

So finally I did it.

I marked a straight line and I CUT IT.

.

Then, I bound it and I'm happy to say that it's done.

A finished quilt is the very best kind of quilt. 

Happy sewing!

Pins, pins, pins!

I love these Winding Ways blocks, even though they slow me down!

The key is to use pins. Not too many, but the registration marks and the end and midpoints need pins. 

Now, to sew. Small stitches, slow pace. Lovely results. 

I remembered!

I laid out the 88 blocks that I found earlier in the week. I need to make two more so I can have a 9x10 layout. I set the blocks on point. Then I looked at the alternate squares that were with the little blocks. When I spied them, I only saw neutral fabrics. But there are also dark squares. So I flipped half of the squares so that I'll have alternating light and dark columns. I'm sure I can find something in my closet for setting triangles and borders.

The only thing I can't remember is why I stopped working on this project. 

Found in the closet.

I have been pushing a small plastic bin to the side of my closet for a while. I decided to pull it out and use it. 

I'm not sure how I had planned to use these little blocks. There are more than 30 and there are some plain squares in the bottom of the bin. Hmmm. Time to look through my books and magazines for an inspiration. I see a whirlwind of sewing this weekend!

Happy sewing!

Rainbow Connection

I'm cutting background fabric for my next quilt and it's not my usual neutral/cream mix of fabrics. It's a cheerful green. Like Kermit the Frog. So, naturally, Rainbow Connection is playing nonstop in my head. I can deal with that!

Here are my fabrics, I can't wait to see how they play together. 

Rainbow Connection, you are singing it now too, right?  Rainbow Connection, enjoy!!

A new start

I did lots of finishing last week. That can only mean one thing. I'm cutting for a new quilt. I love starting. Picking fabrics and cutting them into quilt seeds is so much fun. 

I haven't forgotten this unfinished project. 

It just requires some calm concentration. That happens occasionally around here. But I'm still plugging away. Stay tuned!

Happy sewing!

Summertime sewing

Summer is so full of activity and sometimes sewing is last on the "to do" list.  But I have been able to do a little prep work each day during the week so that I can have a weekend of productivity.

I'm working on the "Bloom" quilt from Scrapbasket Beauties which is my current favorite book.  I'm using my box of 2.5" strips and matching them to border fabric from my closet.

I have ordered more of the striped fabric from the inner border to use as the back.  I have used so much fabric from the closet in the past year that I don't really have enough for backings in there.  Well, that's not true if I'm are talking about Christmas fabric, but I'm not talking about the Christmas fabric situation.

As soon as the backing fabric arrives, I'll wash and prep and this sweet top can be sent to the quilter.  And now, maybe I should go and plan something with my stash of Christmas fabric.  I've got to use it if I ever want to see an Empty Closet.

Why didn't I try this sooner?

Ok, I'm stubborn.  I'm set in my ways.  I am working hard never to turn into a member of the quilt police.  But whenever I see posts about machine binding, I think "but I bind by hand, I always have."

Um, not anymore!!

I tried binding by machine and I'm hooked.  I love to finish projects - this is going to be so amazingly helpful!

There are lots of great tutorials in blogland.  I'm just so embarrassed that read them so many times before trying them.  Live and learn!

success without shopping

I am happy to have made real progress this weekend.  I finished piecing the baby quilt top, got it pinned and machine quilted.  So satisfying!

Here's the awesome part, I found everything I needed to do this project in my own closet.  I had some backing left over from a quilt that I made for my mom and binding left over from my appliqued heart quilt.  Yes, the batting was in there too.

Now here is something I never expected to see.  An empty spot in the closet.  Yes!  The consistent use of what I already own is starting to make a noticeable difference.

Now to attach that binding.  Then maybe I'll start planning another quilt. Happy Sewing!

A baby quilt

I love to make baby quilts. The size is easy to work with and the colors are cheerful. 

A coworker is expecting a little girl in the fall. I made a bunch of pink and yellow blocks, laid them out and was unimpressed. Then I remembered that the mama likes bright green. Of course I had green and pink in the closet. I whipped up a few more blocks and I'm pretty happy with them now. 

I have rows assembled. Tomorrow I will assemble the top and do some simple quilting. I'm not much of a machine quilter, I send most of my quilts to be done by someone who is great at it (Jan the Quilter), but I'm just planning some diagonal lines to hold things together. I hope it gets used and loved until it falls apart, then I can replace it with a big girl quilt.

Not much sewing lately

The past few weeks have been an exciting blur.  My son turned 18, had his senior prom, played in end of the year concerts, etc, etc, etc and is now preparing for finals and graduation.  Then he will start getting ready to head to college in the fall.  So, since I know that big changes are coming, I have been trying to enjoy his presence.  I only have one kid, so I will become an empty nester overnight.  I'm excited for the new phases of life for me, my husband and especially the boy - but I really want to savor right now.  So I come out of the sewing room a little more often, I scan quilt blogs at the dining room table while he does homework, we make sure to have family dinners most nights.

All of the fabric in closet will wait for me.

My "Go To"

Many of my favorite quilting books contain patterns using jelly rolls.  I love the beauty of those little bundles!  The way you can crack one open and have a gorgeous quilt top in a few days without over-thinking fabric choice is wonderful.

But here's the thing.  I need to make a confession.  I am a washed fabric kinda gal.  I prefer to launder fabric as I decide to use it, then press it until it's ready to behave nicely.  So that really rules out precuts for me.

So, since I want to enjoy the ease of jelly rolls AND I want washed fabrics, I have a box in the closet that serves as my supply of 2.5" strips.  And there are piles of coordinating loveliness in there.  As I finish a quilt, I slice up a few strips and add them to my "go to" box.  When I want to get to work and skip a few steps, I pull out a favorite book of patterns and a bunch of strips and get busy!

I love looking at blogs like "Quiltville" to see ways to manage my scraps.  But I do limit myself to just one box of 2.5" strips.  I know my own limitations - if I cut up more of my fabric I would be paralyzed with indecision.

The two photos above are of the same box, just with different fabrics shown to illustrate the variety in there.

How do you set yourself up for success?

Winding Ways

I have been planning a Winding Ways quilt for months, but I kept putting it on the back burner because I'm a big chicken. It looked hard. It would probably take time and care. I might get frustrated.

This magazine cover is the inspiration, and great instructions can be found inside.  I may have read the directions a zillion times prior to cutting any fabric... again, I am a chicken! 

Wow, I let myself get bogged down in negativity. But I decided that in order to succeed, I would at least need to try. I'm so glad that I tried. Yes, it's hard. Yes, I need to work slowly and carefully. The blocks aren't perfect, but they are lovely and so darn satisfying!


I'm using my Accuquilt Go! Cutter and Aurifil thread. Before cutting, I sprayed my fabric with Best Press.  I have big plans and great tools, but the key to this project is definitely my newly found positive attitude.  I CAN make this quilt.

A big finish.

Borders are on and backing fabric is in the wash. On Monday, I'll ship this off to Jan the Quilter so she can make it snuggly.

Time to get started on my next quilt top. I'm going to work in blue and white. And curves. Wish me luck!

Progress!

I have half of the top of my current quilt assembled. I have to say, it's a well designed pattern, so the pieces fall together nicely.

I found perfect border fabrics. The momentum builds!! I'll have this ready to send to Jan the Quilter this weekend.

Inspiration

I have a Facebook friend who is incredibly encouraging.  His art is bright and engaging.  I'd like to encourage others to check it out.  Stucky Art is worth a look!  

And in the spirit of encouraging others, I'm challenging readers to leave positive comments on blogs or Facebook pages.  Kind words can mean so much to a creative spirit.

And in Stucky's honor, I am working with very colorful fabrics tonight.  They are a little more intense than my more traditional piecing, which usually has a white or cream background.  I think it's important (and fun!!) to shake up my style every now and then.

Ok, now that I see a photo of these blocks, I know that I want to add some more intense colors.  So I am headed to the closet for more reds, purples and blacks.


Happy sewing!  

Tedium

I love completing quilt tops. But I don't love the tedium of assembling blocks in to rows and pinning rows together. I adore rotary cutting and all of the possibilities of a new project. I'm so proud when I finish binding a quilt. But today, I'm doing the part that makes me whine.

What's your favorite part of the process?

A good start

I love how this quilt is coming together. But now that I have laid it out, I know I want it to be bigger.

This is something that happens a lot in my sewing room. If I like it, you know I'm going to expand it!

Sam's IU quilt

Sam asked for a quilt for his dorm at Indiana University.  I am so glad he asked long before he goes in August.  I am a quick piecer, but binding is another story!  I asked him to look for a pattern that he liked and he chose "Number 18" from Kim Brackett's book Scrap Basket Beauties.  I love this book so much, just like I love her previous scrap basket books.  Great patterns and clear directions - every pattern I have tried has been a winner.

If you want to try these books, I would suggest "The Angler" for making the small triangles.  It's so easy to use and makes all of those tiny little points happen.













I have enough blocks to lay out the quilt, but I think I'll make some more for an extra long quilt - the boy is tall.  He bought me some yardage of Kona cardinal at Christmastime.  I plan to use it for the backing.  I hope to post progress pictures soon!

New Orleans

Not much sewing lately, because we had the chance to go to New Orleans.  Oh, the food, the art, the music and the sunshine!!  I have returned feeling satisfied and inspired.

And when I returned I found little quilt seeds strewn all over the sewing room counter.  I left a mess in there! I'm making two scrap quilts inspired by Sunday Morning Quilts.  I'm pulling strings and scraps from my closet, and realizing just how little fabric is needed for a quilt.  So, back to my regularly scheduled obsessive quilt making!

Back in the Saddle

I have been wanting to make a quilt quilt with the Lotus pattern from Jaybird Quilts pattern since before the Christmas Holidays.  My fabulous mom got me the Hex-n-More ruler and I knew the file of fabrics I wanted to use.  The pattern is well written and the pieces match up so nicely - it has been so much fun watching it come together.

So many points!  But the jewel shapes are large so that keeps the piecing from getting too fussy.

I lay out the pieces on the floor of the sewing room.  It's the best way for me to arrange things.  And the inconvenience of walking around the blocks gives me the incentive to wrap projects up. 

Here's the result, thanks to Dan for helping to get a photo.  It ended up larger than I expected (a running theme in my quilting).  I'll certainly use this pattern again - I have already pulled a stack of bright Christmas fat quarters out of the closet.  But they will have to wait. Next up is a red and white quilt for my son.  He'll be an IU Hoosier next year, and his dorm bed will have to have one of momma's quilts, right?