Working on Button

I am working on a new button for next year.  The first step is always to publish a copy of the image online.  You would think that after all of these years it would get easier.  Each time is like learning to ride a bike again except that I have forgotten how to ride the silly bike.
Later addition to post: I think it is working now.  The first "Grab my Button" generator sight wasn't working very well, but I found another one here: http://codeitpretty.net/grab-button-builder/.  That seemed to do the trick.  For my own future reference, the photo is 140 by 140.  If someone could try the button for me and let me know whether or not it is working, I would appreciate it very much.  You should be able to just copy the code in the box below my button in the upper right hand corner and paste it into an html widget box on your own blog.  I hope the sizing is right.  Please let me know if it looks too large or too small.  As I said, I do this exactly once each year, not quite enough to become fully competent. 

Last Finish of 2017

The binding to be sewn stack is empty -- just in time for the new year!

This quilt started as a preprinted panel.  I don't remember anymore where I got it.  A simple border was all that was needed after that.  We are all hanging out together as a family eating appetizers and watching movies to bring in the new year.  We lost Ryan to video games in the toy room.  Anna is having a sleepover before doing volunteer work with a friend tomorrow.  We've still got Sydney though.  

Racing to the Finish

It is turning into a binding day for me.  The outer edges of this quilt took just a bit longer than Guardians of the Galaxy 2 to finish.  The blue pinwheels were the bonus blocks leftover from a Pineapple Blossom quilt I made for me nephew Zac when he was a baby.  the inner blue border is made from pieces I cut for a Bonnie Hunter mystery which I ultimately decided not to do.  I've got one more quilt to bind, Rouge One awaits!  Netflix and I have a busy afternoon ahead.  

Odds and Ends

I try to keep handwork ready to go in case a long car trip is planned.  We ended up going out of town on Christmas day and with the hectic holiday schedule I hadn't taken any time to get ready.  Fortunately, there were some handy WIP bags with various bits and pieces that could use some work.
 Kurt's father decided that he was going to have a gathering to mark the first anniversary of his mother's death last Christmas.  It was mostly local friends, but his brother's family and ours both came in from out of town as well.  Since we were doing a long driving trip to the great wintery wonderland on North Carolina, we combined the trip with a couple of days skiing and tubing with the kids.  Everyone loved the tubing.  Sydney is our little daredevil, and she thought skiing was just about the best thing ever.  So between the various bits of visiting we had a solid 28 hours of time in the car.

 I counted out these baskets which have been ongoing for far too long.  Just 4 more will give me enough for a nice on point setting.

 This Dear Jane border triangle was partially complete via English Paper Piecing.  I haven't quite mastered the technique, but I'll keep trying.  I think it will look better after pressing and trimming.

These Christmas blocks took up most of our time in the car though.  All the pieces were cut long ago, so I worked on prepping them for applique and arranging them into blocks.  It would be fabulous to get this one done before next Christmas.  

 It is lovely to be back at home again now, and I am busy taking stock for the new year.  I have 6 quilts in the almost completed stage, each with a handy note explaining what needs to be done next.  I think there might be one or two more waiting for binding.  After that I will go and check out the bins of blocks in progress.
My first priority for the day though will be to finish up plans for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2018.  Mari and I have worked together to plan a lovely sampler quilt, I'll have a full post on that tomorrow for the first day of the new year.  I'll also make a button for those who would like to share it on their own blogs and make a tab at the top specific to this year's challenge.  It sounds like rather more typing than sewing, but hopefully it will set me up for a productive year of scrappy Saturdays.

For today, I'm linking up with Slow Stitching Sunday as well as Oh Scrap!.  It is always so much fun to take some time on Sunday to enjoy inspiration and progress from other quilters around blogland.  Take a few minutes to enjoy a few posts before you get busy with the rest of your day.  

Last ScrapHappy Saturday of 2017

The end of the year is officially near.  Next Saturday will be part of a brand new year.  Now is the time to share your finishes from this year or your plans for the next.   We are on the road this morning, so my main list of accomplishments will have to wait just a bit longer.  I am not planning on too many new projects this year, but there is one that I am excited about.  Mari at Academic Quilter has proposed a collaboration project.  It will be a sampler quilt with 5 patch blocks.   I will do a much better explanation as soon as we are home again.  We drove part of the way home last night from North Carolina.  That should get us back in time to pick up the dog from the kennel before they close at 4.  So far the free WiFi has beheld out,  but I don’t want to press my luck. I hope to be able to check in from the road, but if not, everything will get easier once we are all home again.

ScrapHappy Saturday - Counting Down

Just one more Saturday left in the year after today.  Hard to believe that another year is ready to get wrapped up.  For some that means a frantic race to the finish, but there is also the fun of planning projects for the new year.  They go together nicely, don't they?

ScrapHappy Finishing Fiesta

It's been so much fun seeing all the finished quilts start to pop out.  Finally, I'm happy to post one of my own.  This was part of the hurricane quilting frenzy, but I didn't finish sewing the binding until Thanksgiving.  It was too cold to go out this morning to get a photo, so Kurt was kind enough to stand in front of the tree to hold it for me. 
Is any last minute finishing happening at your house, or is it all about holiday craziness?  Semester exams start for us on Monday, so the end is in sight.  Just a few hundred multiple choice questions between me and Christmas break. 

Wrapping Up

The end of the year is near.  It is definitely time to see what you can cross of the list to make room for new projects next year.  Or just start thinking about all the new projects you want to start next year.  Why is it that planning new projects is so much fun? 

Winding Down

It is hard to believe that December has already arrived.  It is officially time to start finishing up.  If you can't finish it up this year, then feel free to carry it in to next year.  Hopefully though, crossing things off the list will make room for new projects in the new year.

ScrapHappy Saturday - Finishing Up and Catching Up

I worked this summer on scanning in some of the photos which came to us when Kurt's mother passed away last winter.  This one is from Thanksgiving of 1988.  I met him for the first time in May of that year.  Everyone looks so young!
I hope those in the US are all finding some time on the long holiday weekend to squeeze in a little bit of sewing.  I've had some driving time, so handwork has been a nice companion.  No photos yet.  Hopefully you will all help fill the void with some fabric goodness or holiday cheer. 

ScrapHappy Saturday

So sorry to be off to a late start today.  I completely forgot to post before leaving for my long run.  12 miles today!  Last big run before the next half marathon.  After that I think we'll drop back into low gear for a while.  More time to sew :)

ScrapHappy Saturday - Dark Days of November

It is the second weekend in November and I have finally dug out my dark scraps.  I have three drawers to play with this month, black, grey and brown.  There is actually quite a bit of good stuff to play with in these bins.  Can't wait to dig in. 
We had yesterday as a holiday, so I am all rested and refreshed.  I was scheduled for a 10 mile run this morning, but my running partner came down with a migrane.  I already have my running shoes on, so I am debating what to do next.  It is a beautiful fall day, here.  It has been so nice to turn off the air conditioner and enjoy the fresh air for a change. 

ScrapHappy Saturday - November Finishing Fun

If you still need another color, then November is for darks -- black and brown.  If you are not in need of another color though, this is the time for finishing.  Please use the last two months of the year to take stock, add in whatever extra something your quilts might be asking for, and best of all, put some tops together!
I did a spree of finishing things earlier this year, so I believe that I have several tops awaiting quilting to think about this month.  I just had a load of shirts dropped off yesterday for a graduation t-shirt quilt, so that will move to the front of the list.  Anna is graduating this year too, so I'm guessing she will want one of those as well.

 Last Saturday was my half marathon!  It was a beautiful day.  The weather was picture perfect.  Three miles of the run were on the beach and we were just all amazed at how perfect it was to be running along the ocean with the waves crashing.  Then, just when everything seemed ridiculously picturesque, a troop of lifeguards ran by carrying a huge American Flag.  Though I was pretty tired by the end, a half doesn't leave you wrung out and exhausted like a full marathon.  Meisje and I had to much fun that we signed up for another half next month.

 Meisje is a teacher too, and we talk about absolutely everything during long runs.  She thinks that my quilt blog is too much about quilts.  She thinks it is way too boring for regular people.  I used to put in more personal stuff when my mom was alive, she was a big fan of my blog.  Since then though, It has gotten a little more quilt centered.  So, because Meisje asked, here are a few Halloween pictureres from Tuesday.  Anna and Allie were Cinderella and her pumpkin.  They hung out down in front of Allie's house.

Anna had made a tube worm costume, but ended up letting Ryan wear that.  He volunteered to sit in front of our house to pass out candy.  I got sick on Tuesday and spent the night cuddled up on the couch under a quilt.  Sydney was Boo from Monster's Inc., but I was never able to get a photo, she had two friends over and they were off around the neighborhood on their own. Usually everyone hangs outside while the trick-or-treaters roam.  Kurt was out of town this year, so celebrations were more mellow than usual. 

ScrapHappy Saturday - Last Pink Day

It's the last pink Saturday.  I'll be sad to see this color go, but another year is wrapping up.  There may be time for just a few more baby log cabin blocks.  Though everything is put away from having company last week, it shouldn't take too long to get everything out again and make a lovely fabric mess.  I am off to a bit of a late start.  I was out late going to a barbershop contest with Kurt, but today looks wide open.  Tomorrow is the day for my race, so I'd better get busy early today.  What progress did your pink scraps make this month?  Misterlinky is below, please share with us all.

ScrapHappy Saturday - Painting the Town Pink

My sewing room is temporarily a guest bedroom.  I do have these string blocks in progress.  I might be able to remove the paper and do some trimming this weekend.  I might also try to get caught up on my binding backlog.  Somewhere there is a nice stack of tiny log cabin blocks.  I'll dig them out as soon as the sewing room is hosting sewing again.  First though, I think that we are going to the zoo and then cooking something on the grill.  It is suddenly very fall like here.  I am hoping that my morning run will be enjoyable.  Next week is the half marathon.  Just one more long run to go.   Until then, please share all of your projects so that we can all enjoy your parade of pink happiness.

ScrapHappy Saturday Parade of Pink

Though I usually tend toward "fall" colors for October, I must admit that I am enjoying working with pink this month.  I have big drawers and little drawers for my scraps.  With two girls, pink has been one of my big drawers for a while now.  I feel like I am making a dent though.  How is your pink progressing?  Misterlinky is below.  Please share with us all.  I'm off on a run first thing this morning.  Just two more weeks until my half marathon, so every run counts.

Orphan Blocks Again

I am digging deep into the orphan block bin.  Anything that doesn't get used up will be turned into more crumbs or strings.  With company coming, the clearing out is highly motivated.  I did some more organization, hanging and labeling finished flimsies to be quilted later as I broke down the quilting machine to set up a bed again in the guest bedroom.  I was amazed at how much dust quilting generates.  The whole process had me sneezing.  

While I was sewing on Sunday, I found these extra test blocks of Bonnie Hunter's Pineapple Blossom pattern that I use to make a green and brown baby quilt for a very organic baby shower gift.  It was a huge hit!  I think it was 8 years ago though, so it was time to do something with the extras.  So with a quick layer of thinsulate and some simple quilting and binding, I now have two new pot holders to use in the kitchen.  

Sunday Scrappy Explosion

I'm still digging up old projects and blocks to turn into finished flimsies.   These framed four patches were almost ready.  Just a couple of hours ironing and trimming and they are ready to come together.  It is amazing how many random block collections I have abandoned over the years.  Getting them finished up feels very virtuous.  Hopefully I'll be able to start something new soon instead of continuing to finish off old projects.  That will be fun!

I've been playing with the idea of using Inklingo for my next hand piecing project.  I think I downloaded it once before, but never followed through.  I printed out a few test pages and figured out how to combine background and main color swatches onto one page.  That is when the printer stopped working.  The cable went out a couple of weeks ago and the wifi routers have been acting strangely since then.  It is supposed to be working again now, so I will try to print out a few test blocks this afternoon.  Does anyone else have experience with hand piecing?  Any tips or suggesions would be very much appreciated. 
I'm linking up with Oh Scrap! and with Slow Stitching Sunday today.  

ScrapHappy Saturday - Pretty in Pink

A new month means a new color here at the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I can't wait to dig into this giant pile of pink scraps.  I'm off for a long run right first.  My half-marathon is at the end of this month and I have just a few more long training runs to go.  I am hoping that when I get back, the water is still working.  We are under a boil water notice right now, and the pressure has been really low since a water main break yesterday.  After a week of heavy rain from an unnamed tropical low sitting off of the coast, the system has finally been overwhelmed.  It was especially surprising after we made it through Irma so well.  Watching anxiously as Nate heads toward the gulf, it has been quite a year for storms.  I hope that you are staying safe through it all.  Misterlinky is below, please share your progress and plans for October. 

Spring Cleaning

Fall in Florida feels a lot like spring did when I lived up north.  Beautiful weather is right around the corner and spring cleaning is in full swing.  Spring cleaning for normal people might involve mops and brooms, but for quilters it is so much prettier!

I am still digging into the orphan bin.  These monochromatic 4 and 16 patch blocks will go with a growing set of leaders and enders.  I'm thinking of choosing two or three colors to go together to make several quilts. 

I was thinking of maybe pink, teal and orange?  Maybe blue green and purple?  Or I could go complementary and do blue and orange together in one quilt and yellow and purple in another?  Each quilt needs 80 blocks total, 40 each of 16 patches and 4 patches.  I think I'll just work on collecting about 20 of each color while I ponder the choices. 
The main harvest though was LOTS and LOTS of mixed color squares.  With a bit of sewing and sorting I was able to bag up enough units for three quilts.  Those will be ready and waiting when I am in the mood for some power sewing.

Here is the backing for Running Zone, which I just realized was originally called running stitches.  A little of this and a bit of extra whatever came together for a creative and colorful smorgasbord.  Best of all, lots of oddballs are out of the deep stash.  The purple was part of Anna's toddler quilt.  The flowers and the border print were part of Sydney's nursery.   

Pretty in Pink

As many rainbow scrap quilters have already surmised, the color for October will be pink.  Hard to believe that October is already here.  Just two more months to get your rainbow scrap blocks finished up so you can work on coming up with new projects for next year. 

 At some point in the past, I ordered some running fabric.  I'm sure it was back when I was running marathons about 7 years ago.  I finished up the blocks before deciding that they were too bright. 

They ended up in the orphan block bin where they languished for ages.  Finally, I pulled them out again and sewed them together into a top.  Bright or not, finished is the best kind of quilt.  

Then came the scrounging for backing fabric.  This seemed like a perfect chance to use up lots of bits and pieces.  I won't quilt this for now.  Kurt's dad is coming to visit in a couple of weeks, and I will have to break down the quilting frame and set up something resembling a guest room again.  Still, If I get the backing fabrics put together, this quilt can be ready for the next time I get some quilting motivation.  Hopefully it won't be the next time a hurricane hits.  

Forward Progress

 Last Sunday I put together these crumb blocks with a simple navy sashing.  I think I will add an outer border of the same fabric and then maybe some more crumbs.

Postage Stamp blocks were next on the list.  These were all leftover from finished quilts of long ago.  It is amazing that as many different fabrics as there are in these blocks, I still ended up with the same fabric next to each other repeatedly.  

 As part of my continuing quest to clear out orphans and extras, I quilted up this little table topper made from pinwheels of waste triangles.

 Then there is the continuing slow and steady binding progress.  I think this is number three of the hurricane finish parade.  These orange peels were appliquéd and then hand quilted.  After the binding backlog is taken care of, I'll need a new hand quilting project to work on.

Because it is Sunday, I'm going to link up with Oh Scrap! and Slow Stitching Sunday.  

ScrapHappy Saturday - Farewell to Orange

I have quite a nice collection of 16 patch blocks. The 2.5 inch squares have been stacked next to my machine as leaders and enders since I put away the nine patches of Shine Like a Diamond.   Now to decide how to put them together. I like the pink quilt I made for mom here.  Or perhaps another four squared quilt like the ones here, here and here.   What are you pondering on this last orange Saturday.  Hopefully you are seeing a few finished projects on your horizons. Nothing is more exciting in the new year than new quilt projects!

A Friday Finish!

I finished the binding on the first of my hurricane quilts last night.  Here is Shine Like a Diamond.   Nine patches were framed in  black and white based on a quilt that I saw on Quilting is More Fun than Housework.    I can't seem to find the exact quilt right now, but I will look for it. 

 I added a black and white diamond fabric for the border and found a backing fabric with diamonds on it.  From the clearance rack!

 This stripe worked for both an inner border and binding.  There is something happy about striped bindings.

B-Day

No, its not my birthday.  It is a day of batting, backings and bindings.  If only I had a border to finish, it would be the complete quilting bee day.

 While picking Anna up from her makeup ACT yesterday, we made a quick trip to Joann's for sale backing fabrics.  They have all made a round through the laundry and are waiting for ironing.

 I also found a sale on batting online and am all stocked up for a while.

I got one and a half sides of binding sewn down on this nine patch quilt last Sunday during the Emmy Awards.  I think there is a new Star Trek on tonight.  Hopefully I'll be able to get this one finished off and move on to the other quilts waiting for hand sewing.  

 As far as machine sewing, I decided to use a twisted window setting for my crumb blocks.  I used google images for inspiration and finally decided on navy.  I think this setting will be a little less rigid than the lattice and cornerstones I was thinking about.  There are plenty of these blocks for a quilt.  This is the 5 inch collection.  with the setting they come out to 6 inches.  I also have a 6.5 inch stack, but I'm not sure there are enough of them quite yet.

Then, while I continued the clean up routine, I started turning leftover 9 patches into larger 36 square postage stamp blocks.  These were all leftover from earlier quilts.  Again, I suspect that there are enough for another quilt.  I might just sew these together as is for a true postage stamp quilt, maybe with an interrupter border and then some more postage stamps?  At some point, I might start an actual quilt that isn't the result of leftover scraps from another quilt.  Maybe, but maybe not.
I'm linking up today with Oh Scrap!  and Slow Stitching Sunday

ScrapHappy Saturday -- Welcome to Fall

I'm playing with mini log cabin blocks today.  I was originally thinking of grouping all the colors into groups of 4.  I think that is called sunshine and shadows.  But then I thought it would be fun to try this row setting - straight furrows.  Maybe barn raising would be more fun?  I printed some more of the paper piecing templates, so making more blocks can come before the making a decision part.  Share your progress using misterlinky below. 

Mini House Quilt

It didn't take long to get the binding sewn down on the mini house quilt.  It is placemat sized, so it was quick from start to finish.  The pink house is a little wonky.  I wonder if a hurricane blew off part of the roof?  We are full of partially blown off roofs around here.  It will be months before everyone can schedule repairs.  As long as we don't get another storm before then, it shouldn't be a problem. Still hoping Maria follows the models and turns north.  

Trying to get everyone back on track today was a bit of a trick.  So many people are still boiling water or lacking wifi or electricity. It gets better each day though.  I might try the grocery store again, eventually the shelves will be less empty.  As long as you aren't picky, it is possible to make a meal.  Just don't hope to go in with a list and plan find what you want.  Much easier to go and be happy with what they have.  Flexibility is a good thing in so many ways.   

Blogger's Quilt Festival

I was so excited to see that it is time once again for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  It is always so much fun to see so many beautiful finished quilts all in one place.  Inspiration overload!

It didn't take me long to decide that I should post about OMG.  It was the last quilt I finished before Irma, back when life was simpler.

I was lucky enough to find two volunteers to hold it up outside on a nice sunny day.   It can be hard to get good pictures of big quilts.  

 The border gave me no end of grief and had me dumping the whole quilt in a corner for months before I was brave enough to try again.  It looks great as long as you don't get too close.

This quilt started in 2014 as an attempt to put tiny scraps to use.  I was inspired by The Birthday Quilt and Omigosh to try making nine patches from 1 inch strips.   Making tiny little nine patches is a tiny bit addictive.  Once you start, it gets hard to stop.

After several years of making nine patches, I decided to try out an alternate block or two.

I worked up a few trial blocks and took votes before deciding on a churn dash block with a tiny nine patch in the center.

That led to a couple more years of making alternate blocks.  Look how cute and little they are!

 Eventually they moved to the design wall and I planned a layout using graph paper and colored pencils.  Truly my favorite design tools ever.  

 Thanks so much for reading about my quilt, be sure to visit Amy and enjoy lots of eye candy.  Get an icy beverage first, it can take a while to enjoy it fully.  

Weekend Roundup

 I was puttering around the sewing room trying to clear out some things.  These little house blocks were going to be a block a day quilt from 3 or 4 years ago.  I made a few, but decided not to keep going.  Since then, they have been sitting in a bin.  After just a little bit of puttering around, they are now a mini quilt ready for the hand sewing of binding stack.  Making mini quilts is instant gratification.  I might have to do more of them in the future.

I also got the rest of the postage stamp stars put together.  That brings the number of finished quilts draped over the dining room table to three.  I guess that ordering some more batting will have to go on the list of things to do.  Not that quilting will be high on the list as school starts again -- finally!  There are two more storm brewing out there, but hopefully they will end up twirling around the ocean instead of making landfall.  We aren't quite recovered from the last storm yet.