Last ScrapHappy Saturday of 2019

Another year of Rainbow Scrap Challenge is coming to an end.  I hope that you have put many colorful scraps to good use and maybe come up with a quilt along the way.  If you don't have a quilt quite yet, I hope that you have many great blocks that will turn into a quilt someday soon.  Next week will be the first week of the RSC20.  A brand new decade of using scraps.  Please come back next week to share your plans and schemes for 2020.

ScrapHappy Saturday

Winter  break has finally arrived!  It was a busy week of exams and parties.  Yesterday was the last day before vacation.  I feel just as done as the kids right now and am really looking forward to spending some quiet time at home.    

 All the kids are back.  I woke them up early on Thursday for a rocket launch.  Anna is doing some work for her internship and Ryan is supposed to learn FORTRAN over the break.  Sydney has an online class to work on.  There will still be plenty of time to relax, but they won't be bored. 

ScrapHappy Saturday

The end is near!  Hard to believe how quickly the year has swooshed past.  I hope that you are able to find a little bit of sewing time in the midst of all the holiday cheer.

Tiny Tuesday Catch-Up

I'm playing a bit of catch up on Tiny Tuesday blocks.  I missed a few of the guest designer blocks as things got out of hand during the course of a very busy year.  I need just a few more for a 6 by 8 setting.  I'll dig a little bit deeper and figure out which weeks got missed.  We bought a Christmas tree this afternoon, so I'll work on digging through some decorations this evening.  Kurt pulled all of my fabric out of the storage closet while he was fishing them out.  I have been happily pulling from scrap bins all of this time and never missed the yardage at all. 
I'm linking up at Oh Scrap! today.  

ScrapHappy Saturday

 This week was the district championship match for Academic Team.  We finished first as well as first in the regular season.  Practices for the state team start after winter break. 

I finished up a teal scrap basket to go with the collection.  I think I will make at least one more in pink.  Not sure about white brown and black.  

This morning I need to go and get a picture taken for teacher of the year which means I need to shower and do my hair and makeup and all of that.  Such a lot of bother on a Saturday!  Things at school are winding down quickly.  It is a rush of getting everything graded and finishing off one last of everything right now.  

Slowly on Sunday

It is hard to remember the last Sunday that came around without a painting or home improvement project of some sort to work on.  Other than laundry, my day is wide open.  I have a few Tiny Tuesday blocks that needed a bit of applique stitches.  I think the main project will be to get those blocks a bit closer to getting sewn together.  

Anna and her friends headed out first thing this morning.  They have a Chemistry presentation on Tuesday to prepare for.  Kurt is driving Ryan back right now and they left early to try to avoid holiday traffic as much as possible.  Sydney has an online course that needs some attention.  So that just leaves me and my sewing machine to while away the time.  I might just pop in to visit slow stitching Sunday first, and after that it will be full speed ahead.  

Family Time

 Is there anything better than a leftover ham or turkey sandwich on the day after Thanksgiving?  If there is I can't think of it right now.

The gang is about to scatter for various evening plans.  I'm hoping for a family photo before we lose them all.  For now I am working on updating the RSC19 Sampler tab.  It got very neglected and sad during the move to the new house.  

ScrapHappy Saturday

I have officially switched from inlinkz, back to misterlinky. Having a credit card number stolen apparently leads to unintended consequences.
 We are enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday with two kids home for college. Anna even brought two of her friends with her. It is so nice to be able to see them again, even though winter break is really just around the corner.

 I finished up 5 new place-mats, though Anna did not think they fit the aesthetic of a Thanksgiving table.  They are in beach colors though, which is the effect that I was going for. 

I got out to walk the dog this morning just in time for the sunrise.  Though Anna and her friends are sleeping in my sewing room, I did pull out some hand work to keep me busy while they are here.  I think that we are supposed to take both of the college kids out for jean shopping this morning before they head back to college.  Other than that it promises to be a quiet day.  

Sewing Day

I tried out a new place-mat pattern today.  I'm thinking of making a set for the kitchen table. I think that I like it.  

Sewing Sunday

 Last night was our housewarming party.  It was a combination of my teacher friends and Kurt's engineer friends.  Here is a group of teachers past and present from my school. 

 Tom is Anita's husband and a Lutheran minister who gave a house blessing. 

 So nice to be able to see everyone outside of work and do a bit of catching up.  I was too busy to take and photos, so very happy that Anita sent some snapshots to me. 

Today I plan to sew all day long.  I can't remember the last time that happened.  There is a new season of The Crown on Netflix.  I plan to start at season 1 again and go all the way through until I get to the new ones.  Happy day!

ScrapHappy Saturday

It keeps getting busier around here. 

We had a quick getaway to Cancun for the Veterans's day weekend and got upgraded to the presidential suite.  It was quite fancy! 

 Then last weekend we went to a local food and wine festival and ate and drank lots of tasty treats. 

 This weekend is our housewarming party.  We've been thinking about it for a while but wanted to wait until everything was done.  It will be a while before everything on the list is truly done, so we tried to get it in before the holidays are in full swing. 
All of that will leave tomorrow open for sewing.  Hopefully you are all coming along well with the finishing up stage for the year.  Putting all the pieces together at the end is always so much fun.  I can't wait to see some of the finished blocks start to get assembled into tops. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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ScrapHappy Saturday

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

ScrapHappy Saturday

I'm fighting with inlinkz right now.  Our credit card number was stolen recently and had to be reissued.  In the process, my inlinkz account was cancelled.  Since I enrolled, the minimal fee has gone up from 2.99 per month to 7.99 per month.  Needless to say, I'm looking for a cheaper alternative.  I'm signed up for one month, which gives me a few weeks to try out some new alternatives.  Just not today.  If you know of an alternative, please let me know.
Hopefully the beginning of the end is going well.  It is feeling good to start to wrap up some loose ends.  It has been more than the usual level of crazy this year, so there might not be A LOT of finishing, but progress will be made. 

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ScrapHappy Saturday

There is no official color for November and December.  These next two months are saved for catching up and finishing up.  If you :need another color to finish up your quilt, please look in your stash and figure out what needs to be put to good use.  If that doesn't work, try laying out your blocks so far and seeing what color would make you quilt fabulous.

Linda, my friend from work, organized a group of teachers to go out last night in celebration of teacher of the year.  We saw Current Wars and went out after for drinks. 

It was fun to be able to see friends outside of work and catch up with retired teachers I don't get to see very often. 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Tiny Tuesday - Cornerstones

I chose some bright and happy darks to highlight in the last Tiny Tuesday post.  This is really just a nine patch, but with a larger center block. 
1 center square 2.75 inches square in dark
4 corner squares 1 5/8 inches square in various darks
4 side rectangles in light 1 5/8 by 2.75 inches

Arrange these into a nine patch with the large square in the center.  

 Sew together into rows.  Press the seams toward the dark fabrics.

Sew the rows together to make your finished block.  

Tiny Tuesday - Split 16 Patch

 Start with an assortment of squares in dark and light.  I had a stack of 2 inch squares which then got trimmed down eventually to 1 5/8 inches.  You will need 10 each of dark and light.

 I usually make half square triangles two at a time by drawing a line down the middle and sewing on either side.  In this case I wanted a variety of HST units and so I sewed directly on the drawn line.

 Make 4 of these HST units.  Press the top dark triangle open on each one.  .

 Now lift up the top triangle...

 ...and trim away the waste triangle below.

 Now you can square up your HST units as well as your plain squares to 1 5/8 inches each.

 Arrange in a 4 by 4 grid and sew them all together.

There you go.  Lots of little bits put to good use.  

Just one more Tiny Tuesday block to go!  Looking forward to Tuesday.

Tiny Tuesday - Bullseye

 All strips are 1 inches wide.  After that, the strips are cut to various lengths in one inch increments. 
1 black square 1 inch long
2 white squares 1 inch long
2 black rectangles 2 inches long
2 white rectangles 2 inches long
2 black rectangles 3 inches long
2 white rectangles 3 inches long
2 black rectangles 4 inches long
2 white rectangles 4 inches long
2 black rectangles 5 inches long

 Now arrange the squares and rectangles out from the center with the shorter pieces on the right and left and the longer pieces on the top and bottom.

 Sew white one square onto each side of the black square and press the seams toward the black.

 Sew one white rectangle (2 inches) onto the top and one onto the bottom of the center section.  Press away from the center.

 Now add the next black rectangles (2 inches) onto each edge.  Press away from the center.

 Repeat with the top and bottom pieces (3 inches).  Press away from the center.

 Next add the white rectangles again on right and left (3 inches).

 Now back to top and bottom (4 inches)

 Back to black on edges (4 inches).

 Finally, the last two pieces will be black (5 inches).

 Press everything away from the center.

Here is your final Bulls Eye bock.  5 inches unfinished.  4.5 inches in the finished quilt.

Scroll down for the ScrapHappy Saturday.  I'm getting caught up again on Tiny Tuesday.   The next block will be out soon.  Last block is due on the final Tiny Tuesday in just 3 short days.  

ScrapHappy Saturday

Every once in a while, life just explodes.  Even if it is exploding with good things, it is still easy to get lost.  I have completely dropped the ball on Tiny Tuesday for not one, but for two weeks in a row!  There are only Three blocks left, and I have neglected two of them.  I am so sorry!  Never fear.  I am off right now to finish off the last three blocks and I will post them all.  I know that people are anxious to get started on the finishing.
Then, when that is done, I will go buy a new car.  I wasn't fully decided on what kind yet, but Anna has an internship now and needs to have a car at college ASAP.  See what I mean about explosive goodness?  She will be working in a lab studying traumatic brain injury and couldn't be happier.  Given her own experiences with concussions, it seems super appropriate.
The morning is open though, because Kurt is off at his annual chorus competition.  When he gets back though, we will go and get a car, then clean out the garage so that it will fit inside.  Then Wednesday we will drive the old car over to Anna.
Right now though, I'm going to go and sew.  And sew and breath and enjoy.  I hope that you are able to do the same.

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ScrapHappy Saturday

Its been one of those weeks.  So sorry for not getting a block up on Tuesday.  I was in Jacksonville for a state testing committee meeting.  Kurt was in LA for a conference and Sydney got the flu.  So glad this week is almost done.  Sydney is starting to feel better, but realizing how much work she needs to make up.  Kurt and I are both home again, so hopefully things will settle down.  We had hoped to go car shopping this weekend, it is looking like it might be a bit rainy. 

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ScrapHappy Saturday

What a week!  I was frantically finishing editing a test on Wednesday when an announcement came over the intercom.  Usually it is another lockdown drill.  This time it was my principal announcing that I had been voted as teacher of the year for my school!  A huge group of people from the school and the district came rushing into my room with flowers!  

Then I got to write some essays for the teacher of the year and read some essays about endangered species from my ninth graders.  And assign some essays on a test about cells for my AP kids.  Its been a whirlwind.

Anna is home for the weekend!  She has a week off for fall break.  Monday is a teacher workday for us and Columbus day for the kids.  I have a few things to finish up at school, but I'll do those after Anna goes back to school again.  The quarter ended on Friday, so there are those last minute odds and ends.  I'm going to be out of town for two days next week, so I should  clean up my classroom a bit and make a few copies for the sub.  

I haven't enjoyed many sunrises lately.  There has been a huge driving wind lately with a lot of rain.  This morning was beautiful though.  And on a weekend.  Can't ask for better timing than that.  

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Tiny Tuesday - Geese Circle

 This block is built of 4 flying geese along with a 2 inch square.  There are SEW many ways to make a flying goose block.  I'm going to use easy angle and companion angle rulers tonight because I haven't in a long time, but feel free to use the method that works for you.  I'll come back at the end and link to some other techniques for you to consider.  The key is that each goose should be 3.5 by 2 inches unfinished. (Finished size = 3 by 1.5)
To use the specialty rulers, start with 2 inch strips of two contrasting fabrics.  I chose black and grey.

 With the darker color, use the companion angle ruler to cut 4 goose bodies.  If the strip is folded in half you can cut two at a time.

 Next, use the lighter color to cut 8 goose wings.  Again, if you fold your strip in half you can double your productivity.

 Add a 2 inch square of light fabric and you are all set.

 Sew one wing onto the right side of each goose body.  Finger press before sewing the other wing onto the left side.

 Press your flying geese and trim the dog ears.

 Start placing  your geese around the center square.  This block is just like the friendship block we did a couple of weeks ago, but with flying geese instead of plain rectangles. It uses the same partial seam method.  So if you made that block you will be ready to go.

 Continue to rotate the geese around the center square working in a clockwise direction.

 Sew the top goose to the center square using a partial seam.  This means that instead of sewing end to end, you will start in the center of the square and sew to the right hand end.  If you look carefully at the picture, you can see that the left hand end of the seam is open.

 Move on to the block in the upper right and sew using a regular seam.

 Continue to rotate around, each seam is regular until you get back to where you started.

 The top seam is already half sewn, so you just have to finish off the other half.

Press the seams on the back to help them lie flat and you are good to go.  

Back in a flash with some links to other geese methods.  

No Waste Flying Geese Method with cutting chart.  

5 Ways to Make Flying Geese