Christmas Challenge

Another UFO turned into a practical item!  During my recent closet cleanout, I found an experimental block that I created several years ago using chisels and parallelograms. Stored in the ziplock bag with it I found scraps and more cut shapes. This, my friends, was like a challenge to me. I just had to make something out of it.

Back and front view of Christmas Challenge placemats

I decided to whip up a couple of holiday place mats for our kitchen bar. Adding 2" strip borders made the blocks the right size. A rose and holly print remnant was found in my stash for backing.  I used champagne colored thread with an eyelash serpentine stitch for quilting across the blocks diagonally.

Christmas Challenge place mats finished out at 15” square. I enjoyed playing with fabric, used another piece of material, and eliminated one of my unfinished objects. What could be better on a December day?

Cookout Time

I'm ready to celebrate the 4^th of July with a cookout, using brand new hot pads and an apron.

I have lots of these handy hot pads, made with scrappy leftovers from quilts and odd test or sample blocks. These two are the latest in my collection.

The navy smock style apron is reversible, made with medium weight poplin and denim for the straps. I've seen this style selling online for $75 to $150, can you believe it? I made my own pattern, then used fabric from my stash to whip this up in an afternoon.

That was a fun diversion from quilting, but now I'm back to my ever growing list of quilt projects. I'll take a break to grill some burgers on Thursday.

Blue Streak

This little quilt has motion, don't you think?

Four Lemoyne star blocks in blue paisley and plaid are framed with blue dots, adding plaid for the outside border. Blue Streak is 32” square, bound and backed with a blue ticking stripe. It's quilted with cream thread in a serpentine stitch.

Accuquilt dies made quick work of cutting and sewing, so I had time to whip up a few small mats in different blocks to coordinate the look. Another pretty kitchen set done!

She's normally a quiet person,

but she'll talk a blue streak about sewing,

if you let her.

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By the way, I entered a new quilt block design in Accuquilt's contest.  If you'd like to vote, link here.  Thanks.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Farmhouse Kitchen

This fun little quilt features windmill blocks made from 2 1/2” strips. The watermelon red, burnished gold, black and cream colors blend together beautifully. A cream and red vintage print nicely frames the blocks. Backed in a cheerful apple print, the 24” x 30” size is great for a table mat or wall decoration. It's quilted on the diagonal with a swirling leaf stitch.

Speaking of kitchens, I've been doing some reorganizing in ours this winter. Now that the pantry is sorted again (how does all that stuff get pushed to the back?), I can find things more easily. 

I also pared down my unruly collection of plastic food keepers. Out went old stained and cracked ones, odd lids and sizes; replaced with new clear stacking storage containers. These new ones (Brilliance by Rubbermaid) are leak proof and have a lifetime warranty. We'll see. They do take up less space in the cabinet and refrigerator.

A side note on storage: I found the prettiest little storage bins last week at Dollar Tree and could not resist! They are PURPLE to match my sewing room walls. 

I bought several sizes to hold current projects and to replace the shoe boxes I had been using for scrap storage in my rolling cart. Cute, huh?

Life's more fun

when you're organized.

Bright And Sassy

Bright and Sassy

I needed sunglasses to work on this one! Bright orange and hot pink prints paired with black and white small and mini dots make a striking quilt. The 8” shoo fly blocks went together quickly. 

Larger white and pink dots on black for the backing and long rows of narrow serpentine stitching are a sassy modern take on this vintage block. Bright and Sassy finished out at 32” x 40” size.

 

Although it may seem like I haven't left the sewing room, I did go on a quick bargain hunt last week. These cute pottery plates were only a quarter each at a local thrift store. They remind me of a diner. 

A bit of research found that they were made during the 1930's and 40's in Brazil. I bought four small plates and four shallow salad bowls. The $1 glassware came from Dollar Tree.  These are perfect for a quick meal in our bay window breakfast nook.  

A bargain is something

you don't need

at a price

you can't resist.

Kitchen DIY

How about this for a DIY project?

I'd been looking for a simple pot rack that would mount under the vent hood over my range. I didn't find anything I liked that would fit the space or my budget. Several photos on Pinterest gave me the idea to use black iron pipe. A quick trip to Lowe's and about $25 later, I had pipe, fittings, and spray paint. 

The S hooks were a challenge. I finally found what I needed at Dollar General...plant hanger S hooks in black satin metal...only $2 for four.

That didn't take long at all! It turned out to be a perfect sturdy pot rack to display three of our iron skillets.

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Find beauty in the ordinary,

and you'll find joy in unexpected places.