New Button for 2023

 Scroll down for today's linky party.  I am working on creating a new button for 2023, the first step is always to post a photo to which to link.  

And now the smaller version of the button for 2023

Thanks to Code it Pretty for help with the HTML this year.   If you would like to put the Rainbow Scrap Challenge Button for 2023 on your own blog, just copy the code below the image in the upper right hand corner of my blog and paste it into an HTML widget on the layout page of your own blog.   Then you should be able to return easily each week by just clicking on the button.   Please let me know if you have any troubles.  I code so infrequently that I never quite remember all the nuances from year to year, but it seems to be working!

ScrapHappy Saturday - On the Eve of the New Year

 Another year of rainbow scraps comes to an end and it is time to reflect.  Let's celebrate finished quilts,  make notes for projects still in the process and plan for new quilts to come.   2023 will be another chance to work our way through the rainbow and work on using more scraps in so many beautiful projects.  First though, take a breath today and enjoy everything that you accomplished in 2022.  

Two of my three main #RSC2022 projects made it to the flimsy stage.  I will work on getting my quilting machine set up again as soon as the kids head back to college again and get those finished officially.   Bulls eye is still pinned together in rows.  It won't take long to get those put together when there is a little more space to set up a machine.  

Here is the final layout for Blackford's Beauty.   I made about three or four blocks each month for this one with solids for the star points and assorted scraps for the rest.  It was fun to put the solids to good use.  I like the way they make the blocks look more planned

And here are the Carpenter's Star blocks which had an extra sashing added at the last minute.  It gives the quilt a good size as well as creating a nice secondary effect of diamonds where the blocks meet.   

I still have a backlog of bindings to be sewn from a great quilting marathon that happened over the summer break.   Chopsticks will be the last one crossed off the list in 2022.  I took the last stitch in the binding while settled next to the fireplace at the cabin.  This one will stay there to keep us all warm in the chilly mountain air.   

#Fullstop is finally complete.   I sewed most of this in the car while driving to the cabin.  Even taking a turn at the driving, there is still plenty of time to sew a bit. 

How did your plans go for 2022?  Please share below and come back next week with plans for the new year.   

ScrapHappy Saturday - Christmas Eve Edition

It is almost the big day!  It doesn't seem quite the same now that the kids are all big.  Our oldest did bring her cat home with her for the holidays though.  All three of them helped to pick out and decorate a tree.  We have baked cookies, enjoyed Christmas movies together and had lots of family game time.   Today we will make Christmas pajamas and put the presents under the tree.   

I had been asking to get my office painted at school.  After moving out 17 bookcases, we discovered a long ago water leak had caused some damage to the wall.  Our assistant principal in charge of facilities started with the company line that we don't do cosmetic painting, but eventually scheduled the painting/mold remediation team to come in September.   

So after a series of cancellations and postponements, I finally just painted my own darn walls.   We aren't supposed to of course, but I was embarrassed to keep having parents and students in.   The grey is the same shade that we have at home, but with the brick walls, it looks much pinker at school.  

The new desk we ordered in June still isn't in, but with the college pennants up, it is starting to look a lot more festive. 

The cold has descended, even to Florida.  I am so glad that we walked to look at the lights yesterday.  We might need to turn on the heat if this continues. 

Is anyone up for a grand end of the year reveal next weekend?   Then we can start the new year with plans for new blocks 

ScrapHappy Saturday - One Last Flimsy

I got the last set of blocks up and on the wall before kids started rushing home for the holidays.  

 I tried it two ways.  Definitely leaning toward rainbow rows on this one.    We realized when Anna brought her boyfriend home with her that we didn't actually have enough beds for everyone.  Poor Sydney is on an air mattress with a halfway remodeled bathroom lacking a door.   

It was a late morning today after two work Christmas parties yesterday.   Just three more short days at work before the break.   

ScrapHappy Saturday - Thank You, Next

 Pulling out each mostly completed block collection is like an early Christmas present.   As much fun as it to add to the collection each month, pulling them all out together is just icing on the cake.   As I survey the blocks on the wall, I can see a few rotated corner nine patches.   My plan for these is to add 2 inch lattice strips and cornerstones in between each block to create nine patches where the blocks meet.  I spy a few rotated corner blocks though, so I will fix those as I rearrange the blocks and cut of the strips.  My husband has been out of town for work all week, so having him back is another early Christmas present.  The kids will start trickling in during the week, so that is even more holiday fun to look forward to.  

ScrapHappy Satuday - Mad Dash to the Finish

Time to start thinking about what can still be finished up this year and what I want to start fresh for next year. I think I can finish these carpenter star blocks today.  I am finally getting set up in my new sewing space.  It has been a slow process.  When I got my design wall boards downstairs I realized that the first floor ceilings are just ever so slightly lower than the 8 foot boards.  They are leaning at a jaunty angle for now while I decide how to fix that.  I hate to disassemble them all to cut off two inches.  I could also rotate them sideways instead and put them on two different walls.  That is a decision for later though.  Right now I am focused on making enough extra HST units to frame out these blocks and get them all sewn together.  

The kids will be home for winter break in a couple of weeks so we will need to set up a bed downstairs again.   At the moment, the bathroom is still mid construction.  I hope all three kids don't mind sharing the same bathroom.  It is coming along slowly, but Kurt has been out of town a lot lately and with holiday travel plans, quiet weekends at home have not been all that common.   

I hope your finishing is fun so far.  I love seeing all of the blocks coming together.  It always makes me excited for the new year and inspires my list of new projects to ponder.  

Happy Thanksgiving

 The end of the year is zooming toward us!  So many projects to finish and so few Saturdays to get it done.   We are with family today, but I was able to start setting up my new sewing space before we left.  Hopefully I will be able to do some mass block assembly in the last few weeks of the year.  I haven't even started to think about blocks for next year yet!  Maybe that will be my project for the trip home.  I  always have so many great rainbow blocks that I want to make.   I will need to start thinking about what needs to be finished to be able to start some new projects.

I hope you are all able to spend some quality time sewing this holiday season.  I peeked at the new quiltville mystery yesterday, but I wasn't at all tempted to start something new with so many projects on the cusp of completion.  

After the Storm

Ah to be home again.  Even better than being back though, was being gone during the storm. We were able to fly out with no issues at all just due to the lucky fact that we had decided to use airline miles which made it easier to drive the longer distance to the Miami Airport.  Normally we would fly out of the Orlando Airport which was closed for the storm.   Many of the people at the resort already were scheduled to fly back through Orlando though, and when they were unable to go home again, our room got changed to this upgraded Villa at no additional charge!  What a nice way to start the vacation as we arrived to texts of the power being gone back at home.  

The resort was small, just a little cove in between mountain ranges really, but we didn't really take advantage of the activities they offered, instead lounging by the beach or pool while sipping on icy beverages.   It was lovely just to read books and nap between meals and swims.   

The storm back home was causing lots of beach erosion.   Most of the walkways over the dunes are destroyed and the blue house on our normal dog walking route has been condemned.   It has always amazed us that it was able to survive so close to the water, and this time it just didn't quite make it.   It was already quite run down though it was almost always rented out.  The green and yellow houses next door are still intact, though most of the yards and landscaping have washed away.   Nicole wasn't a very strong storm, but it just managed to hit the beaches which were already a bit rough after Ian.   

ScrapHappy Saturday - Storm Days

I hope that we are off safely waiting out the storm in a less ocean front location right now.  I am scheduling this to post on Saturday though it is only Wednesday.  We are getting early reports of storm surge and lost dune walkovers.   I was so moved by all the local friends who called to offer up places to stay.  Hoping for the best, but also feeling like we just did this!  I hope that you are all finding time to sew today.   I will try to check in again when I am settled back after the storm. 

ScrapHappy Saturday - The End Begins

What a week!  Just when I think things will calm down.  Such is the way with a new job though as we all figure out exactly what is going on.  They are painting my office this weekend and my new desk is on the way.   I still need to get settled into the new sewing space as well.  I am tempted to just start moving everything downstairs after packing it all up while Sydney was home sick last weekend.   We will see what the day brings.   

Hopefully everyone is starting to think about block assembly.  This is the time to pull out collections and see what is needed to finish up the top.  I encourage you to dig into the brown and black bins for a few extra blocks.  People tend to shy away from the darker colors in rainbow tops, but they can add a nice grounding effect and allow the colors to shine even brighter.  Give it a try!  They are only scraps after all.  You can always hide an ugly block on the back if you don't like it or add it to the orphan bin.