RSC17 week 47, 11/25

 A NOT-YET-FINAL FINISH

Here is the fastest quilt I've ever made.   I plan to show it at my guild soon.  I showed the process last week and finished the flimsie. 

  It was finished with a narrow orange batik border.  The wide outer border was cut from a wide batik backing I've had for seven years, which was way too long to hide in my closet.

The finished size is 60 X  70 inches.  I named it Southwest Daybreak.  

That is when my plans changed.  I was writing a post to Kat to offer it to her at 

katandcatquilts.blogspot.comCovered In Love. 

 Just then my daughter stopped by with some groceries.  She took one look at it and loved it.  I made my first quilt all by hand for her when she was 14, an Irish Chain done before rotary cutters and mats.  

As for this one, the size for quilting was intimidating.  She then said she would prefer to have a fleece backing like many I've made for Project Linus.  I gave her the okay because that's not as bulky to manage.

Naturally, she went right down to Joanne's and they had a great supply of fleece at pre-Black Friday sale prices.  Here is what she came up with for the back.

Meanwhile I've been working on a plan for my Geese Migration blocks.  I'm not including the multicolored ones from last April, so the remaining 16 make a nice layout.  I plan to use black sashing and will see what comes next.  

I hope everyone is having a good weekend and not spending too too much on fabric.  I've made a purchase from Craftsy, but one was a pack of Olfa blades.  They really do last longer.  That was very practical, wasn't it?  That's all I have to say for now.  Have a fun week! 

I'll be waiting to see what everyone has done at

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at

   soscrappy  and

Oh, Scrap! at 

Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

RSC17 week 46

MORE BROWNS

This week sets some kind of record for me, start to finish of a flimsie.  I told you last week about my large bin stuffed with batiks and waiting to be used.  There were so many strips that it was overstuffed.

Now you see how much I have emptied the bin.  

There were so many strips that I had no use for, or so I thought.  After tackling these unwanted strips I turned them into this 50 X 60 top, finished except for borders.

I added one little spark of orange to each strip, which makes quite a difference.  If you know me, you know I can't make dull quilts. I had to add those bright touchs.  Many of you liked them very much.

I decided on an inner orange batiks border and a wider subtle one.  Here is how it looks with the orange border added.  

I've been saving a precious two yards of 108" wide batik which I bought in 2008 from Sew Batik at Quilt Expo here in Madison WI.  I'm showing you this before I even remove the string tie and cut off a few 4-inch strips.  There is still time for a few more pets.

Tomorrow I will attach those final strips and it will be off to Kat at Covered In Love, her wonderful charity for grieving families.

I have also found time to add a pair of evergreen trees to my neighborhood.  The one on the right is a Christmas tree with stars and ball ornaments from a charm square.  I used my Tri-Recs rulers to make them.  

Time is really flying this month, as it always does with holidays coming.  I wish all my USA friends a very blessed Thanksgiving Day, and to you other dear friends abroad a special time of relaxation.  

Come join the scrappy fun at

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at

   soscrappy  and

Oh, Scrap! at 

Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

Kat at Covered In Love Kat at Covered In Love

RSC17 week 45

BATIKS GALORE

This week I was getting tired of making little trees with tiny flip triangles.  I looked through my stash to find something to reduce some of my ever-encroaching fabric.  I also wanted to start a new quilt for Covered In Love.  

I have a big bin full of batiks, mostly jelly roll strips in muted colors.  They've been sitting around for years.  So I dug into them and decided to make blocks. I fold the strip into four and measure this folded piece at 10-1/2 inches, and trim off the excess at the end with the selvages and one fold.  With my scissors I also cut through the other looped end and have four equal strips.  No rotary cutting needed.  Then I chain pieced pairs of these strips.  

To make about a 60 X 60 inch top I needed 15 strips of five pairs,  (I know that's only 50 inches, but there will be borders.)   I felt that these pieces with a lot of brown could use a spark of orange, so I've been inserting narrow strips of bright orange batik randomly.  I also staggered the blocks like bricks.

This went together so quickly that I finished one third of the top in no time.  I'm very happy with it.  There are so many prints and colors it reminds me of an Impressionist painting.   

So that's my contribution to RSC17 November brown and darks.  I'll be checking out your exciting posts for more new ideas.

Come join the scrappy fun at

Rainbow Scrap Challenge at

   soscrappy  and

Oh, Scrap! at 

Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework

 

Covered In Love, 11/9

I'm starting a new quilt for Covered In Love this week.  I love bright colors, but have a big bin full of batiks, mostly jelly roll strips in muted colors.  So I dug into them and decided to make blocks. I fold the strip into four and cut off the extra selvage, leaving 10 1/2 inches.  With my scores I cut through the folded end and has four equal strips.  No rotary cutting needed.  Then I chain piece pairs of these strips.

The strips laid out look  like a sample below.

I'm planning on about a 60 X 60 or longer top.  At the rate this is going, it will probably be finished next week.  My bin is now at least one-third empty and the top is looking good already.

I'm linking up with Covered In Love at 

katandcatquilts.blogspot.comCovered In Love