Gettin' My Fix

Here I go again!  More pot holders!  I tend take things to the edge and then back away when it gets too much to take.  Whether it's pot holders, fabrics, a certain color combination or new technique.  I like to explore every possibility and then use every last scrap...and then I'm done and can move on.

Feed Sack Pot Holders
8 1/4" x 8 1/4"

While looking through my feed sack stash for another project, I came across a pile of strips. Long and short, varying widths from 3/4" to 1 1/2".  It was time to either use them or toss them.



This set of pot holders are made up of 4" squares.  I randomly stitched strips until it was 5" or so and trimmed to the desired size.  The more feed sack prints and colors, the better!

Feed Sack Pot Holders
8 1/2" x 8 1/2"

I didn't realize I had so many strips, so I made two more sets!  One set with a yellow center and one with a red center.



The strip squares are 3" separated with a 3/4" white sashing and finished with a 1" border. 


They bring me back to my Grandma's kitchen!  You know...the good old days!

Last set, I promise!!

Feed Sack Pot Holders

8 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Eventually I'll share the real reason why these fabrics made it out of the closet!  Like I said...one thing leads to another!

I don't think I'm the only one who has to work there way through a stack of fabric until every piece is gone.  Am I?!  I might be a little obsessive sometimes!

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 Oh Scrap!

Fabric Frenzy

Finished or not Friday

Back To Hand Quilting

I've about hit my limit on hand stitching bindings on pot holders.  So, its time to get back to a little hand quilting.  The weather is becoming crisp in the evenings, the leaves are turning and falling by the bucket loads and snuggling up under a quilt with a small hand quilting project is calling my name.  

When I found this piece tucked away in my closet, I knew then and there it would be a fun project to hand quilt.

The possibilities were there!  I just needed the time and a free evening to get started with it.



The goal is not to go overboard and quilt it in to submission, just quilt it enough to enhance what is already there.  



I started with the mountains using the usual big stitch.  I often think one day I will try a new stitch...the same thing I say when I FMQ...until then, this is my stitch of choice!



Texture Happens!!  The further you get into it, the more stitches you do, the more the texture shows itself.



Hand quilting doesn't have to be perfect.  The stitches can vary.  Size isn't important. Perfection isn't the goal.  The end results are what matters.

That last part is how I think about hand quilting!  I don't know what the 'gold standard' is, I only know what I like.  It's more about the process.  

 

The back stitching I've heard, is suppose to look just like the front.  I try!  It never quite hits that mark!

I'm hoping to work on this more over the next couple days, maybe even finish it?!  Since I'll be laid up a couple days...  

Today I'm getting my wisdom teeth out.  Yes, it's true!  All four will be yoinked from my mouth today and frankly I'm not looking forward to it at all.  It seems a bit unfair that after all these years (and years and years) I have to part with them now!  There's a shift of power in my mouth...that is not going my way!  Hopefully once they are gone I'll finally be able to chew again, stop grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw.  Bring on the pain meds!  

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Stuffed & Stashed

I haven't bought fabric in a long time!  This time I couldn't resist or refuse or hold back. 

I was shocked and excited when my quilt "Raw I" was picked for Viewer's Choice during The Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side.  And then I was gobsmacked when it came in second!  So, let me thank all who voted during the festival and especially thank you for voting for my quilt!  It was so unexpected!  

Which brings me to the reason I bought fabric.  I was lucky enough to receive a gift certificate from Quilt Kit Market.  When I was finally able to sit and shop, I was naturally drawn to the solids.  It seemed like Christmas when I discovered there was an October Sale going on!  How could I pass up solids and a sale?!  Couldn't and wouldn't and didn't happen!



I've missed getting mail, missed the excitement of tracking my package, watching for the mailman and then ripping open the package as soon as I get my hot little hands on it! 



All the solids at the Quilt Kit Market are Moda Bella Solids.  At $3.99 per yard, my only regret is I didn't get more!!  But 22 yards was probably much more than I needed!

These three are the only substantial yardage of the batch.  Weighing in at 3 yards apiece and the perfect neutrals for me, I landed an upper cut with Bella Zen Grey, Porcelain and Bleached White.



How about some color?!  It was time to round out my stash, fill in around the edges.  The only sadness I feel about seeing this array...I didn't get purple anything!  That might be the one color I sorely am lacking in my fabric.  Do you have a color that never seems to make it in your stash?

These one yard cuts are: Amelia's Pink, Christmas Red, Amelia's Apricot, Peach, Saffron, Sunflower, Citrine, Pond, Mist, Horizon and Seafoam.  Welcome fabric!



The last two pieces are Grunge Basics.  I've had an idea brewing for a while and think these two pieces might be just the ticket!  Grunge Vanilla and Cream.  Sounds good enough to eat!  

The other frivolous, fantastic and fun purchase was from Mass Drop.  Not my normal place to shop, but sometimes there is something that peaks my interest.  Like this!



I don't know about you, but my thread can be a hot mess.  I have a couple racks hanging in my closet full of thread and bobbins.  Most of the time when I'm looking for something a spool will fall off or a bobbin with go flying.  Then there are times when I can't remember which spool a bobbin belongs with.  Confusion, frustration and dismay!

  

Alas, I've found my solution!  Bobbinis!  Now I can be organized and secure!  The neon colors are a bonus in my opinion.  



The soft rubber easily slides in to the top of spools and each bobbin pops on to the 'post'. It was worth the investment to stop the flying bobbins!  With shipping each bobbini ended up being .60 cents, which isn't too bad.

This ends my shopping spree.  My irresponsible, self indulging, splurge of happiness!  

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Sunday Stash

Nearing The End :: Epic BOM :: Finale

What a year of paper piecing!  I'll admit that I didn't realize when i committed myself to doing the Epic Sampler BOM that there would be so much paper piecing involved.  I would say 3/4 or more was just that.  Mind you, I'm not complaining.  I've come to love paper piecing, enough that I've even started to make my own!

If you have been following along, every time I finish a month I share my finished blocks and add them to my quilt template that shows my progress.  Some months I may only do the three blocks or sometimes if I get behind I do six at a time.    This month was the final three blocks. 

When I saw this block I was a bit overwhelmed.  I didn't want to do it...it looked like too much trouble.  But I put aside my hesitation and started to cut the pieces and plan it out. One thing I love  about @ Don't Call Me Betsy and her Epic Sampler BOM, she gives you a chart with fabric measurements for each section of the block.  It makes is much easier than having to guess and actually inspired me to use the same method for my first paper pieced block pattern.

That being said, this block was much easier and faster than I ever would have thought it would be!  The hardest or longest amount of time was removing the paper!

Basketweave Star
12" Paper Pieced

This next block went together quickly as well.  It reminds me of a really creepy spider, but don't let that scare you away!  We all see things differently!

I needed to use mostly yellow in the last two blocks to bring my quilt concept together. You'll see what I mean at the end!

HRT Star
12" Paper Pieced

The final, final, final 'block' was not really a block at all!  Instead it was a strip of Isosceles Triangles.  It was the last piece that was going to tie it all together.  The viola moment, the last piece of the puzzle, the cherry on top!

I'm hoping it will bridge the three color combinations together.  Violet/purple, teal and blues. 

Isosceles Triangle Strip

So, ready for my filled in quilt chart?!  There are a total of 39 blocks that have been completed in 13 months.  13!!!  I still can't believe I actually finished this BOM.  Technically, I can't say it's finished yet...I still have to piece them all together and then there is that part about quilting...and on and on!

Imagine if you can...this monster finished?!!!  Which will hopefully be about 60" x 72".  My rainbow concept.  My attempt at trying to get the motion of the ocean flow right!  

The layout might change ever so slightly from this, but it's pretty well set in stone now!  I spent my football Sunday carefully taking out all the paper.  It was a pretty mindless process and wasn't as bad you might think.

My next step will be to press the blocks before I piece the blocks together.  I'm looking forward to revisiting each block.  Do I like this one, not so much that one, love this color combination, I wanna make that one again.  

Thirteen months is a long time to make a quilt, something I'm not use to at all.  It helps when you love the process of each block and love the quilt!


It's also time to think about quilting.  It may sit for another thirteen months until that decision is made!  

What do you think of sampler quilts?  Have you made one...from start to finish?  And how do you tackle the difficult decision of quilting one?

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