LEFTOVERS

I lived in the country when I was a girl and my mom was a stay-at- home mom.  She was also a great cook!!!  Even when our income was meager, she still managed to put together meals for us from leftovers.  Sometimes the leftovers were much better the second time around when she had added other ingredients to them and changed what they looked like the day before.

I have talked about the "drawer" in my sewing room that contains lots of leftovers.  Sometimes it is blocks, sometimes it is components of blocks, and sometimes it is simply scrap strips.

Here is what I found in the "drawer" the other day.

This is a leftover split 9-patch block made using batiks.

I looked around until I found a bin of leftover batik strips.

Then the fun began.

I decided to make a place mat with this block placed on point.

I could build it out by Quilt As You Go and Flip and Stitch.

The first thing I did was quilt this block.

Here is the way it looks on the back.

I thought this was pretty cool!!

Then I started adding strips to the four sides of the diamond.  I decided to reverse the value of the strips to the block.  Light against dark and dark against light.

Since I was using Stitch and Flip Method here, I did not need to add any more quilting.

I really like how it looks.  And on the back it looks pretty neat too.

I pulled some strips out of the bin and made the binding.

I decided to complete the binding on the machine to make it sturdier because this place mat will get a lot of washing.

Of course, there is only one of these, but I don't mind that every one's place mat is different at my house!!  After all, this was a practice piece for trying some straight-line quilting and using up some leftovers.

                                                     -sandi

COLLABORATION

Collaboration is a very big word for something that was so much fun.  My SLKS group (acronym for the initials of the members) did a Round Robin, sort of, for several months.  I absolutely love mine and am still thinking about how I want to quilt it.  We only have a couple of months to get it finished because we want to show it at our guild meeting in December!

It started here.  I made this block and said that it could be used anyway the others chose, but I preferred asymmetrical layouts.

After two rounds this emerged...

Here is the final round added...

And then we all showed our pieces together...

Outside...

and inside...

What a wonderfully talented group of ladies to hang out with.  This was a challenge for me!!

Our fearless leader, Linda, has already proposed our new group challenge project for 2015.  Wow!  more creative stretching is in store for me!!

-sandi

ROUND ROBIN

It is the last round of our Round Robin in the SLKS group.  SLKS stands for Sharon, Linda, Karen, Sandi.

We started this project about 4 months ago and I had Linda's top this month to add my two cents worth.

It started with an applique block of original design by Linda, then Sharon added her round which included the cute little bee, next came Karen's and she added the fence and another flower with a vine.  So, when it came to me I decided to keep it simple to emphasize the center work.  

Linda had this gorgeous gradated piece of fabric and I chose to use it and add simple asymmetric borders.

-sandi

DID SOMEONE SAY HULA SKIRT???

Oh, I guess not!  Oh, well, my Pineapple Blocks are ready to assemble.

Should I line them up in a row like this

OR, should I line them up on point?

Of course I chose on point which then required setting triangles.

Some serpentine quilting on my domestic sewing machine.

and then binding and label

Ta-Da  All done!!!  And LilBit slept right through it all!!

                                      -sandi

ANOTHER FINISH

Several months ago a friend of mine saw a quilt that I was adding a sleeve on while we were in a meeting together.  She loved the quilt and wanted to know if I would sell it.  The answer was no because this quilt was already spoken for.  She asked if I would make her one "just like it".

Well, we all know that cannot happen if the line of fabric is more than a few weeks old.  I explained to her that I would have to research and see if I could come up with the fabric line.  If I could, then we could make a "similar" quilt to the one she just saw.

Of course, I started my search online.

I was able to find a fat quarter bundle of Moda's line called "Freebird" designed by MoMo.  Whew, that was great!!  I ordered the bundle and off we went to make the quilt.

Since the pattern "Lawn Chair Quilt" from Moda's Bake Shop called for a jelly roll, I had to cut the fat quarters into strips.  

The quilt is finished and ready to deliver to my friend/customer!!  It is not identical to the one she saw, but it does use the same fabrics.  I made sure that I did not refer to the original one while making   this one.  This one has a couple fabrics that are not in the other quilt and vice versa.

I hope she enjoys using this in her "cabin" in the woods!!

By the way, the original one was chosen as part of the BAQS Exhibit in Des Moines, Iowa for 2014 Quiltweek.

         -LilBit and Sandi

ART QUILT GUILD

It has been quite a while since I have had the time to attend my Art Quilt Guild called GreatFul Threads.  I made it to the meeting this month.  For the programs and projects this year we were presented with a basket filled with various techniques.  Each month the member chooses from the basket and makes a project to share at the next meeting.
My "draw" this month was Ruching.  I have seen Ruched Flowers on many embellished quilt pieces.  As I started to decide what I would do, I went to the internet and did a google search.  Lots of videos and tutorials popped up.  
Once I was sure that I knew what I was doing, I began my project.
Ruching is a French word meaning pleated or gathered.  I decided to do Ruching on some strips of fabric and then join them together to make a pillow.

This was easy enough.  I inserted this strata into more strips and created the pillow front.  
I decided to make a Ruched Flower to embellish my little pillow.

Here is how I did the ruching for the little flower.

I cut a strip 1.5 inches wide by WOF.  Then I folded it in half and pressed it.

Mark it with a ruler using the 45 degree line to form a "v" shape that looks  a little like rickrack.

Thread a needle and use two strands to sew with.

Starting at one end and, following the drawn lines, do a running stitch all the way to the other end.  

At about every 5 inches draw up the thread and the ruffle will begin to emerge.

When the entire strip has been stitched and gathered, then simply shape it into a circle and build the flower in layers.  I tacked it together as I went along.

I attached it to my finished pillow top and inserted my pillow form.
Voila!!!

                                 Well, I think I like it!! 


                                     Too cute for words!

                                     -sandi

GETTING BACK ON TRACK

Hard to believe it has been about a month since I last posted to my blog.  What a month it has been!

Made one last trip to AQS Quiltweek Charlotte to promote the upcoming AQS show in Chattanooga.

Hung out with some neat quilters and shot a video for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Annual Meeting.

Travelled around the area highway yard sales with hubster while he was "picking" for his upcoming sales.

LilBit helping Papa with the Longest Yard Sale!!  What a great weekend that was!

Enjoyed a visit with my grandson, Nick, before school started!!  Hard to believe that he is in Middle School now.

Saw my first grandson, Preston, head off to Auburn University for his freshman year!

More promotion for Quiltweek!


FINALLY, it is here!!!





 Chattanooga was host to its first ever AQS Quiltweek September 10-13!! What an exciting time for all the quilters in our area.  There were so many wonderful quilts on display in the show area.  One of the special exhibits was the BAQS exhibit curated by our very own Maddie Kertay from Spool. I was privileged to have a quilt hanging in that exhibit.

I did get a little sewing done this month.

Added my "round" to Karen's Round Robin piece this month.  Loved working with the crazy log cabin blocks.  It will be interesting to see the final round and completion of this project!

Working on a quilt for a customer.

This month has been exciting and busy.  I am looking forward to getting back into my usual routine and finishing the quilting on several projects.  The travelling is over and the AQS show was a success so now I can go back to quilting.


                                    -sandi

DOINGS IN JULY

It has been a while since I have posted.  

July was indeed a very busy month for me.  I worked on lots of projects and completed a few.

Chattanooga is a host city for AQS Quiltweek September 10-13, 2014.  I have had the pleasure of working on many of the venues throughout the city where quilts will be showcased during this event.  I will be posting more about AQS Quiltweek in a few weeks.
I spent time putting sleeves on five quilts to be hung as part of an exhibit at our local mall.
I also had two quilts accepted for the BAQS exhibit.  One of the quilts will be shown in Chattanooga and the other one in Des Moines. Both of these had to be prepped and mailed.
I will show pictures of these quilts later after they are in place.

I was able to finish the top for my Pineapple Blocks quilt.

This quilt is now ready for quilting on my domestic sewing machine.  Maybe next month???

Some other projects that I have ready to quilt:

A fun project from a SewIn at Chattanooga Modern Quilt Guild:

And I read a good little book in some of my spare time.

August is in full swing now and I have been busy with so much paperwork and preparations for our AQS Show that I have not spent a lot of time sewing.

-sandi