Design Wall Monday, April 28, 2014

I'd like to share with you the Whisper Challenge project that I am working on, but it is a secret.  Just know that I'm working on something pretty crazy...  It is what is on my design wall right now.  

For those (including me until this challenge) who don't know what a Whisper Challenge is all about let me try to explain.  All the quilters who want to participate in the challenge are split into equal groups.  Next the quilters of each group are assigned a position.  The quilter in the first position in each group receives a photograph from the coordinator.  That quilter has to create a mini quilt that is an interpretation of the photograph.  That quilt along with the photograph goes back to the coordinator who removes the photograph and sends the completed mini quilt on to the second position quilter who will create a mini quilt that is an interpretation of the first quilters mini quilt.  And so it goes to the next quilter.  The whole idea is like the "telephone game" we used to play as kids growing up where the story changes as its told each time.  At the conclusion of the challenge the photograph and every mini quilt will be shared.  I'm sure there are lots of surprises ahead.  Oh and each quilter gets to keep the mini create they created.  The quilts size can range from 12" to 16" on a side and can be irregular too.  I happen to be the last of four in my group so I wonder how far from the photograph mine will end up...

Kottontails
38" x 47"

I have Kottontails to share with you.  I just finished the binding, sleeve, and adding all the buttons to give them eyes as well as dress up their chests a bit.  This very cute bunny quilt will be gracing my home next Easter.  It is a Buggy Barn design called Bunny Trail from the Stir Crazy book.  I'm hopeful the next Buggy Barn design I will be working on is Crazy as a Bird Dog.  Wait till you hear the "K" name my Sister came up with for it.

Take time to visit Judy's Patchwork Times to see many other great projects from quilters from all everywhere.  Have a great last week of April and first week of May!

Sunday Stash Report, March 30, 2014

Let me start with some finishes.  I had already claimed the yardage for Konstituent (left) last week, but today I can claim Kottontails (right).  The block at the top is the BOM for April that I will be coordinating at Sunshine Quilt Guild.  Always like a positive stash report! 

This is the back I pieced together for Konstituent (March UFO).  I cut too many of the pieced border units so I used them in the back.  I needed another 15" for the width and these came in handy with what remained of the white print that was used in the top.  The far right pieced border is the center of the back.  The strips will run from top to bottom.

Kottontails
38" x 47"

Kottontails took seven yards from my stash.  The plan is to use the border stripe cut on the diagonal for the binding.  The bunnies get button eyes and two more buttons at the bow's intersection.  To make the quilting a bit easier I plan to put them on after Kerry's done her magic.

This is Kottontails back.  DeLinda shared a fabric sale at a friends home with a couple of us during the time I was gathering fabrics.  Both the border and back were purchased then.

Kookaburra
87" x 87"

The binding is all done on Kookaburra.  The darker black was also used for the binding.  Kerry has Kwiver ready for me.  She might also have Keltic Krest done before I have a chance to get to her place.  More binding just around the corner!

For this week my stats are getting better.  My next project is Kranberries...we learned early that #1 is to be worked in April for the UFO Challenge with 52 Quilts.  Fortunately I have a lot it done.  I'll share my progress tomorrow.

More to see through the links at Patchwork Times.  Enjoy your Sunday!

Used this week:  7 yards
Used YTD:  85.75 yards
Purchased this week:  0 yards
Purchased YTD:  83.75 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2014:  2 yards

Friday, March 28, 2014

Oh it is so nice to sleep in...Today is my Off Friday!  I'm enjoying time in the sewing room putting Kottontails together.  I will be putting a zigzag pattern on each of the eggs with a complimentary wool.  I was able to square my bunnies up to the suggested 11" x 14" size which doesn't always happen with Buggy Barn projects.  The fabric of the border really brings out the fabrics of the bunnies.  Another trip to Michael's for buttons to complete the last two bunnies is part of today's agenda.

I hope you have a terrific Friday!  

Design Wall Monday, March 24, 2014

Konstituent
55" x 68"
March 2014 UFO

 Happy to have Konstituent complete.  I really like how the borders came out.  Brings out the yellow in the blocks just perfectly.  I made more than enough of the pieced border so I plan to use the extras when assembling the back.  I do like a more busy back than a solid piece.  It is the perfect opportunity to use up left over fabrics from the project.  The pieced blocks are from Sharyn Craig's Building Blocks project; the first year of her series.  I got the kits for most of the 12 blocks each month noticing early on that the yellow kept slipping into these kits.  June 2011 is when I first started collecting fabrics that I thought might work well when I got to putting it together.  When this project was called to be made I kept a consistent background white on white and let the yellow sneak in as the "pop" in each block.  Next came time to set the 12 blocks...Judy Laquidara to my rescue with her book 60 Pieced Quilt Borders Mix and Match.  I found Anything Goes to finish my project.  Judy's book is a must for your library if you don't have it.

Kottontails

Now that Konstituent is complete...it's on to Kottontails.  I played around a bit with the block placement and this one seems to work out best.  If you have other ideas I am always open to them.  I tried not to put colors next to one another, but the possibilities aren't has prevalent as it would appear. 

Oh by the way, my count of flying geese units made for Kranberries was TWICE what I needed.  Apparently I got a little carried away.  I thought about eBay, but Kerry thinks we can put good use to them by making a second Talking Turkey quilt.  Not sure just how I will use them at the moment.  I think I better do a better job in the future of counting!

I'll be binding tonight and the next few nights.  Sure hope DH has some "good for my viewing" Netflix movies ready to be seen.

Have an excellent week.  March 2014 is nearly a thing of the past.

Wednesday, March 13, 2014

Konstituent

I have been working on other things...must get back to my March must finish project.  I suppose there must be something to it's being a UFO!  This is Block 6  called T Square.  This one has an on point quarter square triangle in the center.  I'll be using the two fabrics at the top right for it.  The print has the yellow in it.  Another one to fussy cut the stripe so the block radiates outward.  Before I call it a night this block will be cut out. 

Kottontails

These are the bunnies from my Buggy Barn Bunny Trails workshop on Tuesday.  I was able to sew four of them that day.  The others kept calling out to be finished.  I just couldn't help myself.  The remaining five were sewn as soon as I got home from work. I will be putting this project on the shelf until I can get my UFO done.  Too bad the bunnies must wait.

Kranberries

Tomorrow I'll be back to trimming flying geese at lunchtime.  Enjoy your Thursday!

Design Wall Monday, March 10, 2014

Konstituent
March 2014 UFO

 These are the blocks cut out and arranged so far.  There are three more to go before I start assembly.  These last three (the blocks on the left) are darker than the first six.  It all has to do with the fabrics that came in the block's kit.  Yellow as an inner frame and black as a sashing still seems right.

Block Seven, Chair Rail

Block Four, Newel Post

Block Eleven, Anchor Bolts

I've been moving ahead on the gazillion flying geese of Talking Turkey (my Kranberries).  I am squaring them up now, all sewing done.

I have a busy day ahead.  A Buggy Barn workshop making Bunny Trails on Tuesday afternoon and Sunshine Quilt Guild monthly later in the evening.  See lots more projects through the links at Patchwork Times.

Sunday Stash Report, March 9, 2014

Bits and Pieces on Friday had three yellow/black/white prints that I'll be using for Konstituent's accent on three of the twelve blocks that this project will have.  The neutral star will work well for a future UFO that is patriotic.

Konstituent Accent Fabrics...Future UFO Fabric

 Wool for eggs needed...  Found a blue, pink and white today at Country Loft in LaMesa.  I think I'm set now except for the buttons.  I will need a bunch of 3/4" to 7/8" buttons.  I think each bunny takes two.  Class is on Tuesday...I'm almost ready!

Kottontails Fabrics

These fabrics are for my project for this month.  It is Building Blocks by Sharyn Craig.  I plan to use these two fabrics for putting the twelve blocks together.  The yellow will be for a frame around each block that will draw out the accent in each of them and the black will be the sashing.  At the moment I have a black and white stripe in mind for the binding.  I think going without an outer border will work...

Konstituent Fabrics

 A stop at Memory Lane had me pick up one of their patterns.  There is a different layout when you go in the door of their shop that I'll be using.  There isn't a photo of this layout, but I like it better than the cover layout.  One just needs to rotate the basic block and the look is so much different.  I'll be on this one in the future.

So another add to my stash.  I sure have been doing this a lot lately!  Sometimes though you have to buy to make the scraps work!  Enjoy your Sunday...

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD:  64 yards
Purchased this week:  7.5 yards
Purchased YTD:  83.75 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2014:  -19.75 yards

Others are working on using their stash too.  Check them out at Patchwork Times.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Last night Konstituent Block 9 pieces were cut out and arranged.  I hope to select fabrics and cut out a block a night through Friday then get to sewing.  What is your thoughts on the stripe?  I have enough to play around a bit so I'm thinking the stripes need to all go the same direction or maybe I cut the fabric to have them radiate from the center.  May move the yellow print around so that the corners have a little bit more black in them.  The yellow seems to diminish the corner squares.  Thoughts?

The mail brought me two packages on Monday.  First is The Buggy Barn book Stir Crazy that I need for my Bunny Trails project...Kottontails.  I sure was happy to see it arrive before class day on March 11th.  I like another pattern in the book called Winter Blooms and then there is the Tree Skirt...  I can see this book will get some use in the future.  Don't you just love it when a book of patterns brings more than one project to you?  I got the book on Amazon for half the cost.

Mom sent me some red scraps that might find a place in Kranberries.  I'm pretty much set with what I think I'll need, but the Charlie Brown and Dog prints may just have to be included in the string border.

Design Wall Monday, March 3, 2014

Kranberries

I started off Sunday working on Kranberries.  All of the 2 1/2" squares have been marked with the diagonal line; ready for sewing.  I have a lot of partial Flying Geese ready for finger pressing towards the red.  See that stack on the bottom top right side?  Lots and lots of Flying Geese in this project.  I cut a few of the 5 1/2" strings and attached to the odd size 9-patches.  Besides what I can get in during my lunchtime this project will slow down until March 2014 UFO is done.

Just when the Oscar's Red Carpet started I turned to fabric selection for Kottontails.  The pieces on the left will be the back and border.  On the right are the bunny blocks.  I will be using 3 yellows, 2 greens, 3 pinks, and a purple.  The purple is the only solid fabric...might change this if something printy comes along between now and workshop date.  The other requirements are buttons and wool for applique eggs, but they won't be needed for awhile yet.

After dinner and kitchen clean up, over the Netflix movie The Lone Ranger, pieces were cut for the first of 12 blocks for Konstituent.  This block pattern is for Month Three called Picture Window.  It took a bit of auditioning until these fabrics were arranged that I liked.  

Konstituent Block 3
Picture Window

As you can see from the photograph below the yellow is not prominent, but scattered about creating the "pop" that these black, white, and gray prints will need.  The yardage on the top left will be used for sashing, binding, and/or back.

Hope you are being creative with your fabrics.  See other projects going on in sewing rooms around the globe at Patchwork Times.  Happy sewing...

Sunday Stash Report, March 2, 2014

Fabrics for Kottontails

Another week of purchasing.  I was able to shop for $2.50 per yard fabrics on Friday.  A quilter passed away and friends at her church were selling her fabrics with the proceeds going to their church.  As I mentioned in my last post I will be taking another Buggy Barn workshop in March at Paradise Sewing.  I will use most of the fabrics in the first photo along with the fabrics from Fat Quarters Shop (a Christmas gift from Kerry) in the second photo.  I haven't received the Stir Crazy book (a Christmas gift from DH) that contains the pattern to know the fabric requirements, but I am pretty confident I have enough to choose from between the two groups.  Thanks Janet another great "K" name for my project; Kottontails all by itself will work just great.

Buggy Barn Fabrics for Kottontails

The third photo is stash enhancement...  The patriotic might be used in a future UFO, the neutral always nice to add to the stash, and the greens are perfect staples for projects I enjoy putting together.

Stash Enhancement

These reds have already been used in Kranberries another of my 2014 UFOs.  I believe I have met all the red fabric requirements that are needed for the top.

Fabrics for Kranberries

Today I am working on Kranberries, but soon to switch to the March UFO.

String Strips and Flying Geese for Border of Kranberries

Here are my numbers for the first report of the third month of 2014 =^.^=

Used this week:  0 yards
Used YTD:  64 yards
Purchased this week:  19.5 yards
Purchased YTD:  76.25 yards
Net Fabric Used in 2014:  12.25 yards

Others are working on using their stash too.  Check them out at Patchwork Times.

Friday, February 28, 2014

If you Pre-Registered for San Diego's Quilt Shop Hop (aka Cruisin Quilters Run), then today is your first day to dash off to quilt shops around the area and receive the 15% off discount.  Too bad for the run that the weather is rainy...just remember we need it bad in this area...get your umbrellas or hooded rain gear and boots on!  I don't see any mention of FREE block design from each shop so maybe organizers have changed the format this year.  I'm sure the shops will have some fun things going on nonetheless.

I signed up for another Buggy Barn workshop.  This one is called Bunny Trail.  It will be at Paradise Sewing in Poway on March 11.  I've already started collecting fabrics for it.  I found the same deal as Debra, $14.00 for the book Stir Crazy through Amazon.  The book is listed as NEW, probably less that the usual price because it is one of Buggy Barn's first books.  Anxious to fill my pizza box with parts and pieces of this cute Springtime design.   

I have all the pieces cut for Kranberries now so I'll spend some of this rainy day in San Diego putting units together.  Tomorrow I will be learning which UFO to work on when Marti of 52 Quilts chooses a number for us.  Until then it's full throttle on Kranberries! 

Enjoy your Friday, keep dry...