Willy-Nilly

Willy-Nilly, January 2026

To say that I have an abundance of scraps is certainly an understatement. The best thing about all these remnants is always having the makings for a quilt. I have hundreds of photo ideas clipped and stored, many more sketched in notebooks, plus dozens designed in EQ8.

This colorful 6” block is made up of triangles and chisels, turned to make secondary designs. I started with leftover cuts, then sorted through the scrap basket for more. It's such a pleasure to find and use fabric I haven't seen in a while.

All the blocks were randomly pieced and joined on Annie, my Singer 221 Featherweight. I quilted on the Janome MC 9450, using dark beige thread in a straight stitch on each side of the main seams.

Willy-Nilly seemed the perfect name for this crazy quilt, finishing at 49” square. It was a lovely way to spend a few days in my cozy sewing room during a cold snap in January.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6274 Chisels 2” x 6”

Accuquilt -
55039 Chisels 3” x 6”
55031 HST 4”
55009 HST 3”
55017 Strips 2"

Imperfectly Teal

Scrap quilts are the reason that I save small bits of fabric from every quilt I make. Seems crazy, I know. But there's such a high level of satisfaction in using leftover pieces to create an entire quilt.  Plus, you get several extra bonus quilts without spending any more money. I do love a bargain! 

My inspiration for this project was a group of quilts designed by Jo Anne Merrill-Duckworth. Her beautiful creations are scrappy, colorful, and amazing! Her method makes it easy since you don't have to worry about perfect cuts or uniform pieces. The wonkier the better--just choose a focus color and use what you have that fits.

I took a shoe box full of aqua and teal fabric strips to the campground in October to begin these crazy log cabin style blocks. I used leftover black gingham to begin each one, adding random width strips until it was roughly 7” square. Once I got home and finished all the blocks, I trimmed them with a 6½” die before stitching them together.

Imperfectly Teal finished at 48” square after I added 3” borders. I quilted with white thread, using a rolling wave ruler in diagonal rows about 3” apart.

Scrappy imperfect quilts aren't for everyone. Lots of people just can't stand so many prints, or crooked blocks that don't align perfectly. My brain had to reset a bit before I could resist the urge to straighten out those seams. I had fun, though, and gave myself permission to play. And I'll happily do it again.

So thanks, Jo Anne, for sharing your ideas, inspiring us to abandon perfection, and to save and use our scraps!

Accuquilt dies used:
55000 Square 6½”
55032 Strips 3½”
55017 Strips 2½”

Mill Goods

Mill Goods, Useful Remnants 2023

Remnants and fat quarters combine to create a bright colorful bonus quilt with loads of movement.

The 8” Mill Wheel die by Blue Wren is fabulous for using up those larger leftover pieces. I cut and sewed random color combinations, then slapped them up on my design wall. After I laid out the blocks, I decided to add borders. But not just plain ones!

There was so much color already, I decided to go all out, cutting light and dark scraps with the 4” triangle in a square die. They aligned perfectly, and I added half triangles and a quarter circle on each corner. The result is even better than I had planned. All piecing was done on Elizabeth, my Singer 404.

Mill Goods is 56” square with rounded corners. I used some of my newly acquired bolt fabric for backing and another to cut bias binding. I quilted with light gray thread using a walking foot 1/2” from the seams on each row, then added a ruler quilted swirl in the center of each circle. Along the borders I used a circle ruler to make scallops.

I like planning quilts, but it's fun to get crazy now and then, going on instinct and without a pattern. I'm nowhere near using up all the remnants, but I'll keep trying. Just go for it!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6865 Mill Wheel 8” finished
Accuquilt 55409 Triangle in a Square 4” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

Under The Influence

Another scrap quilt and it's quite unique. Why? Because I cut and sewed most of it while taking pain meds after a dental procedure. So some of the seams don't quite match up. Oh well, it's so busy with color and patterns that it's hard to find the errors.

I used several dies and made multiple cuts to get the final shapes for this crazy block. First, I cut scraps on the 6½” square die. I used the wedge die to trim these into the center sections. For the side pieces, I cut lighter colors into 5½” half square triangles. I sewed them on each side of the wedges. After pressing, I trimmed them to size on the 6½” square die, lining up the corners of the wedge section.

Under The Influence - 2021 Useful Remnants

Then I sewed a 12” four-patch block, being careful not to stretch the sides. If I hadn't been taking the meds, they would have matched up pretty well. Under The Influence finished out at 61” square. I quilted in a simple serpentine stitch along the squares and across the wedges, using cream thread.

I had fun working out how to achieve the modified kite block I wanted with the dies and fabric that I had on hand. (I did that BEFORE seeing the dentist.) It is so satisfying to use those saved remnants, just like the grannies used to do. I created even more leftovers from trimming the wedge pieces that I can use later for another bonus quilt project. I don't think I'll ever get to the bottom of these scrap bins!

Accuquilt dies used:
55439 Wedge 9” finished
55000 Square 6” finished
55805 Half Square Triangle 5” finished (10” Qube)
55017 Strip 2½”

 

I Shall Wear Purple

The fabric that inspired my latest quilt is bright, cluttered, and loud. I bought eight yards of it at a closeout sale in 1995...yeah, I know, but it was only 25 cents a yard! I've used it for backings and in scrap quilts.

I chose a granny square design to showcase individual prints used in the material. I cut 2 ½” squares with Accuquilt, then sorted them by pattern. I added red, blue and purple blenders as the four center squares, with light beige prints for the triangles.  Layout was done in Electric Quilt 8.  

original fabric

The sashing is a grape Quilters Candy chambray from Connecting Threads. Binding and backing is the original wild and crazy fabric. Quilting in a medium purple, I used a straight stitch horizontally and vertically across each square. Then I added the wide zigzag stitch on the sashing.

I Shall Wear Purple

I am so pleased with the result; it finished out even prettier than I expected. The 44” x 54” size is handy for naps or display.

Jenny Joseph's poem, Warning, has encouraged many of us to keep our playful nature alive. I Shall Wear Purple seemed like the perfect name for a granny square quilt made by an old lady whose favorite colors are purple and red.

So, go out and do something unexpected today and don't forget to wear purple.

Twilight Stars

Twilight Stars

The friendship star block is a fairly easy one, made up of squares and half square triangles. Purple, true blue, and navy batiks with light gray centers show up beautifully against a sky blue background. This 40” x 52” size would be a nice crib or lap quilt. I sewed the top in August and finally quilted Twilight Stars on Saturday.

I put together a little bonus quilt from the scraps, called Grapesicle. I used my new equilateral triangle die to quickly cut pieces, so the front was done in a day. 

Backing is pieced in random strips of pink, purple, and gray, set in two rows. I stitched along the triangles for an overall diamond pattern and bound it with a gray stripe. It measures 22” x 26” and coordinates with the grape walls in my sewing room.

✦✦✦✦

“I just want the simple things. I want to lay on a blanket at twilight and look at the stars. I want to breathe deeply, then exhale out negativity. And I know it is within my power to do just that. So I did. I left crazy drama behind to walk straight toward simplicity and peace. I've never been happier.” – Author Unknown 

 

When It Rains, It Pours

What started out as a normal two week camping escape to Dale Hollow Dam somehow turned into a wild and crazy string of events. We are back home, safe and sound. We handled the stressful stuff well, didn't panic, and actually enjoyed camping. But, I don't think we will forget this trip.

Day one: on the way to Celina, the left rear truck brake got hot, really hot. When you're pulling a big honking 5^th wheel on a twisty, hilly two-lane road, this is not good. Got to camp safely.

Day two: Ordered brake parts at NAPA, only parts store in town.

Day three: Guys at NAPA were great, next day service. Jacked up truck and installed new brakes. Not many campers to observe our amazing work. It is quiet and peaceful here during the week.

Day four: If you're ever in Celina you HAVE to stop at Los Primos for excellent Mexican food. Their Chicken La Loma is the best I've ever had. Just the right amount of cilantro in the fresh salsa. And who knew that a small town Mexican restaurant has all you can eat fried catfish buffet on Fridays? NAPA guy stopped by and asked us if all was well with the truck.

Mother's Day: Scattered the last of Sam's ashes in the trout stream where she and Allen loved to fish. My mama is rollin' on the river now.

Day six: Jerold is feeding the squirrels roasted peanuts in the shell. Three are lined up outside the camper every morning, and taking nuts out of his hand.

Day eight: Drove back home to mow grass and pick up mail.

Day eleven: Woke up 7 am to flood warnings at home. Checked our cameras and sure enough, basement had water. Drove home and found Hwy. 52 blocked near house, detour to Gallatin and back up ridge. More water than I've ever seen across fields and roads. Driveway washed but passable, ditch a mess. Vacuumed up water and started fans to dry out basement. Around lunchtime, a minivan wrecked into the ditch in front of our house. No one hurt, they left van where it landed. Jerold graded drive so we can bring trailer back in. Back to Celina along Hwy. 52 yard sale, shopped a little along the way, ate more Mexican food.

Day twelve: Decided to shorten trip and come back home to air out basement. Traffic crazy along yard sale route. Got home, unhitched. Minivan gone. An hour later, a thunderstorm slammed through, blowing over a dead pine tree out of the woods across our driveway in front. Good timing that we got in before it fell.

Day thirteen: Pulled dead pine (covered in poison ivy) off driveway with truck and picked up debris. Jerold graded driveway again. Basement dry.

Day fourteen (today): Picked up mail, sprung Callie cat from jail. Now we're all home where we belong. 

There are always a few bumps in the road, but I am hoping for calmer days ahead. 

Crazy Days

Maybe I'll get a chance to post later...

 

Crazy Week, Bad Cat

I'm not sure where last week went. Maybe the leap day had something to do with feeling like I was marching in place. Looking back, we actually got a lot done but it was a little crazy and sure went by quickly. Between voting, errands, and routine stuff, I was able to sew.

Crazy Spring Geese

This bright flying geese lap quilt took a while to cut, lay out, and stitch together. I love the greens and turquoise in contrast with bright white, perfect for spring. I used variegated thread to outline the triangles and sew long swirling trails down the middle. I finished it up on Saturday afternoon, snapped a few photos and spread it on the back of the couch. It turned out exactly like I wanted and I was so pleased with my work.

Twenty minutes later, I walked through the living room and the quilt was all bunched up. Apparently Callie cat had attacked it and punched several holes and a few tiny rips in it with her sharp little claws! BAD CAT!!! I don't know whether she didn't like the colors or just didn't want it on the couch. Strange, since she normally likes to sleep on any quilt or fabric I have lying around. I chased her out the back door, where she was banished for several hours. Needless to say, I was furious.

So, here's the outcome:  I was challenged to repair the quilt in a creative way. I covered the holes (which were right in the middle) using a decorative triangle stitch with the variegated thread. The quilt is more embellished than I had planned. It is NOT on the couch. The bad cat is still alive. But she can no longer be trusted and will be carefully supervised while indoors from now on.  

La Vida Loca!

“Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a purpose.” --Garrison Keillor

“My cat is not insane, she's just a really good actress.” --P.C. Cast, Untamed

"When a cat rips a quilt, embellish it!" --me

Random Observations

 

Thinking something does not make it true.

Don't fix problems you don't have.

Good customer service is rare these days.

Always water the grass you're standing on.

Some children honor their mothers once a year; others do so every day.

Tend the flowers in your life, and pull the weeds.

Don't be a someday person...do it now.

If it looks, acts and smells like a skunk, it most certainly is one.

Believe in more than you can see.

There are more flavors of crazy in this world 

than Baskin Robbins ice cream. ~JRI

Don't ever take a fence down

until you know why it was put up.

~Robert Frost

A Big Ole Dose Of Crazy

There are some people who just ooze crazy.  You know them...they're co-workers, neighbors, even family. They don't live normal lives. It's difficult to be around them. They don't make good decisions; weird things happen to them. They don't conform to accepted social behavior or contribute anything positive to life. They can drag you down if you let their drama get to you.

Sometimes you have to deal with a big ole dose of crazy. Can't avoid it, have to step right in the middle of it.  You can't fix or figure out crazy, therefore you should ignore it or wait for it to pass you by.  And when crazy joins up with stupid, well, it's best to get out of the way of the impending train wreck. 

 

Some people aren't just missing the odd screw, 

their whole dang toolbox is gone.