Manual Labor

The weather last week was warm and sunny, so we gathered up our gear, the tractor and mower, then headed outside for some much needed yard work.

Picture me, dressed in overalls, ball cap, and boots, armed with a hand-held mini chain saw, hedge clippers, and a rake. Although there's no photo evidence, I'm definitely a redneck Southern woman when I need to be. Not quite the sweet little old quilt lady you're used to, huh?

We attacked prickly wild rose and blackberry vines, overgrown weeds, crabgrass, unruly shrubbery, nasty poison ivy, stubborn privet, dead bushes, and a couple of fallen trees. We stripped out all the shrubs around the house to create a clean slate for new landscaping later. 

Even though there was sweat, sore muscles, bruises and a bit of blood, overall we had a good week. We were out in the sunshine every day.  We got lots of exercise chopping, loading and dragging brush and logs. I lost two more pounds. We took our time, laughed, enjoyed the breezes and admired the fall colors. The yard looks better and Jerold bushhogged the back field. 

I'm not sure how it got so out of hand (well, maybe because we played instead of working) but it's almost whipped into shape, at least near the house. Out in the country, there's always something that needs to be done. Could be time to think about a place with a smaller yard so I can sew instead of doing manual labor.

Mixed Links

I truly love experimenting with quilt blocks. Switching around pieces to create a different look is right up my alley. And I've been playing again.

I sketched out this block last year after seeing a similar vintage quilt online. I used some elements of the Star Links die and added a 2” square. I had to trim off triangles after sewing to get that odd shaped piece.

Lilac, aqua, and pink scrap prints are sweet for this table mat. I quilted using a scallop stitch and white thread. Mixed Links is 35” x 15” size.

Not all my test ideas make it into quilts, but they can be used for pot holders, cat rugs, or trying out quilt stitches. It's all good!

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6967 Star Link
6015 Strips 1½”
Accuquilt
55018 Value die (2” square)
55017 Strip 2½”

Gin Blossoms

I've been playing again. Some of my best ideas come when I'm cutting scraps or straightening up the sewing room. Today's project is one of them.

I like to mix elements from seemingly unrelated dies to form new blocks. Chalk that up to creative curiosity and a love of puzzles. I've never been afraid to change a pattern or design to suit me.

This medallion table mat combines three dies: kite, triangle in square and drunkard's path. I've seen a similar design somewhere before but of course I changed the layout. Shades of rusty red, salmon pink, and stone make a pleasing palette. After adding a 3” border and a chevron binding, Gin Blossoms final size is 23” square.

I free motion quilted with ecru thread using a medium wave ruler in rows 3” apart, then rotated and straight stitched across the curves.

Winter is a natural time to rest and recharge. I highly recommend letting go of expectations, responsibility, and self imposed restrictions. Play a little and see where it takes you.

Accuquilt dies used:
55254 Kite 4” finished
55409 Triangle in Square 4” finished
55739/55743 Drunkard's Path 4½” (trimmed to 4”)
55032 Strip 3½”
55017 Strip 2½” 

Baubles & Beads

Baubles & Beads

Remember my new design sneak peek a couple of weeks ago?

It's finished and I love it! The blade sections of the Blue Wren Windspinner die make a sweet curved design arranged in this way. I fan folded to get them to match up the way I wanted.

Colorful remnants combined with natural muslin give this little quilt a vintage vibe. I pieced everything on Annie, my Featherweight. Lots of stitching with slight curves but she handled it well.

I switched to the Janome so I could free motion over the muslin fabric. I really enjoyed quilting those flowing lines. I got into a relaxing rhythm and finished in no time. (So much better than last week's uncooperative ruler experience.)

Straight stitching along each side of the angled seams made a wide double zig-zag row across the prints.

Baubles & Beads measures 42½” x 44½” size, good for table mat, wall hanging, or baby quilt.  Size could easily be changed by adding more rows or cutting more scraps!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6289 Windspinner
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”
 

Brainstorm

Having more scraps than I know what to do with is a constant state for me. I'm always looking for project ideas that use leftovers. And I love to experiment with shapes to create new designs.

This scrappy table runner is the result of a recent brainstorm. I had just moved a quilt made with Windspinner block, and noticed the curved section. Could I use that portion by itself? Off to the cutting table I went. I sewed two together at the angled end. The arrangement reminds me of a braid or ruffle when stacked in rows.  It might make a pretty border, too. 

Miscellaneous purple, blue, and gray scraps are paired with neutrals. I added 3” borders and ruler quilted in a wave pattern with purple thread. Brainstorm is 16” x 40” size.

While I was playing, I saw another color placement option. I haven't started that quilt yet; I'm still cutting. It will be larger and use more remnants. Here's a sneak peek of my design wall.

This old brain still has ideas sparking!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6289 Windspinner
Accuquilt 55032 Strip 3½” and 55017 Strip 2½”

Stay curious, and always take time to play!

 

American Heroes

American Heroes

Today, Memorial Day, is set aside to honor those heroes who died while protecting our country.

I sewed this 44” wall hanging with red, white, and blue remnants. Simple, yet striking. 

I cut blue prints with two segments of Charming Rings die, and appliqued it to one corner of a 22” square. Then I sewed red wedge pieces together, aligned them, and appliqued. 

I carefully trimmed the excess fabric underneath before sewing all four squares together.  I quilted with white thread in diagonal lines.  

I love the result of my day of playing with scraps. American Heroes is on the wall in my dining room, alongside my other red, white and blue quilts used to decorate our home from now through July 4^th.

Today, remember the heroes.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6858 Charming Rings 8”
Accuquilt 55439 Wedge 9” 

Fabricate

I've always been one to improvise. To change ingredients in a recipe, or mix styles in décor and clothing. It must be my curious nature to seek new ideas, to figure out how to make something. This quick project came from a blissful afternoon of experimenting.

I saw a similar table mat online, so looked through my dies to find shapes that might work. Of course, I used remnant pieces.  The side sections of Jackaroo Star fit together to form petals of a dresden plate block. I positioned the sewn quarters with a glue stick onto a 6” square, then stitched them down. After trimming off excess fabric and the points, I added a yellow piece (trimmed center piece from the Wheels die).

Once I put them together with sashing, quilting began. I echo stitched with cream thread, then used free motion ribbons around the gold. Fabricate is 18½” square.

I'm inspired by color, design, creativity, and nature. I love playing with fabric, making useful and beautiful items. If the results are pleasing to me, I'm not going to worry about what others expect or what's in style. It's my life, after all.

Dies used:
Blue Wren
6369 Jackaroo Star
6297 Wheels
Accuquilt
55006 6 Square
55017 Strip 2½”

But it's all right now

I learned my lesson well

You see, you can't please everyone

So you got to please yourself

~Rick Nelson

Playful Pinwheels

Playful Pinwheels

Sometimes I just want to sew a simple quilt. These pinwheels are easy and fast.

I started with navy and bright turquoise half square triangles that were already cut, then cut the khaki ones and a few more lighter blues.

Stitching all of them went quickly, then I pressed and sewed the little blocks. Laying them out and putting them together didn't take long either. Playful Pinwheels is 36” square and would be a lovely baby quilt, wall hanging, or table mat.

I recently got a new quilting ruler template and decided to try it on this one. The swirling design with tan thread adds both texture and motion. It's a sweet pattern.

This whole project was easy and enjoyable. I like having pieces cut and ready to use, which is why I make time for a scrap cutting day every month or two. In a perfect world, I'd do this after every quilt, but that's not realistic for me.

Besides keeping my scrap bins from overflowing, the precut remnants encourage me to play, to experiment with color and design. No fabric goes to waste around here, I put all to good use making bonus quilts!

Accuquilt dies used:
55009 Half Square Triangle 3” finished
55017 Strip 2 ½”

It is a 

happy

talent

to know how to

PLAY

Ralph Waldo Emerson