Look What I Found!

Hello Quilty Friends!  Let's start the new week with a new project.  Well, it's not really new, it's a UFO. 

It took some digging to find her. Over the last couple of years there's been a lot of rearranging going on here in the studio.   After about an hour of searching, I sat in my sewing chair wondering if I had  accidentally tossed her in the trash or donated it along with unloved fabric.  And then I saw the white plastic baskets in my little green cabinet.  That's where I hid these little lovelies!  Thank goodness!

It looks like everything I need to finish the blocks is in the basket. Yeehaw!

There's 16 blocks in various stages. Some have the handles and red basket rim stitched down and some don't.  One block is complete.

Three blocks still need basket handles.  This will be a good place to start. 

The bias strips for the handles are right there on the top.  A good press with the iron to get out the creases and wrinkles is all they need.    That's the plan for today.  Get the handles on these baskets and then start stitching the handles and rims into place.

See you soon with my progress!

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Quilting Plan ~ Scrap Buster Baskets ~ UFO

 For the last couple of weeks my Scrap Buster Basket quilt has been hanging on the design wall patiently waiting for me to decide on a quilting plan.

She's such a cute, happy little quilt and is eager to strut her stuff as a completed quilt.

Many hours have been spent on Google, Pinterest and Facebook quilting groups looking for the perfect new quilting design.  The time finally has arrived, she's off the wall and on the table, covered with plastic so I can test out the new quilting plan using a RED dry erase marker on the plastic.  Oh well, work with what you have.  I have a partial plan for the body of the quilt.  The free motion scallops idea came from a Natalia Bonner YouTube video.  

Keeping things quick and easy for me means doing as little ruler work as possible.  But there's almost always a little ruler work required in order to make the quilting pop.  The markings below are the plan for the basket but since I only have one dry erase marker that works and it's red, I pulled it off to the side so you could see the plan.

More free motion for the flower in the basket.  Of course there will be some ruler work around the basket.  The quilting for the alternate block of crossing flowers is still up in the air.  I played with several ideas but they don't seem to play well with the basket block. 

So I move onto the quilts final border.  Maybe when designing the border quilting I'll get inspired.  The border has it's issues, well I have issues with the border.  The first issue is the print.  I like the print but it's bold and I feel speaks for itself.  What quilting design can be seen when the print is so loud?  Feathers, piano key or arcs?  I'm drawing a blank.  I really don't know.  The second issue is no matter what design I choose for the border can I make it look symmetrical.  This is my design flaw.  I should have adjusted the borders to make them easily divisible... but here we are.  The work around is to use register tape cut to the length of the top and bottom, then another one for the sides. 

Fold the each in half three times.  Each fold line is the spacing for whatever symmetrical design I choose.  This works most of the time.  The difference in the size of the spacing is a little larger than I expected.  Can I come up with a border quilting design that isn't noticeably out of proportion?

As I cut and folded the tape I was thinking about something similar to the border you see below.  But now I'm not sure this will work.  Sigh....once again I'm walking away and giving my mind time to work it's magic...hopefully.  

There's other things that can be done as I mull over new ideas.  The backing is ready and waiting.  NOPE....once again I forgot to make and put a label on the back before adding my backing to the frame.  As you all know I like for my labels to be quilted onto the back so they can never be removed without taking out the quilting.  So the backing will need to be removed but not today.  

That's okay too.  My binding is cut and ready to be pieced and I pulled some scraps for the label.  

I'm going to give my brain until Friday night to come up with a plan.  If she can't come up with a plan by then I'm going to put the quilt top back in the UFO pile and pick another quilt top to finish.  There was progress made on this one and that's a good thing.  I'll have a backing with the label already attached and the binding will also be ready as well.  I really don't want to put her back in the pile so if you have any suggestions leave me a comment...PLEASE!

Until next time...

I hope you find time to stitch up something sweet!

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Design Wall 9-16-13

Isn't it just a fine wonderfully beautiful Monday Morning!?  The heat wave has passed leaving the mornings crisp here in Podunk.  Sleeping with the windows open with my favorite quilt is just what a gal needs to feel refreshed and ready for the days inspiration.  And as always there's tons of it!  If your feeling like you need a little kick in the inspiration patootie, grab a cup of Joe and  head on over to Judy's to be amazed and inspired!    Oh what the heck lets link up with Connie over at Freemotionbytheriver also.  I've jumped in here to edit and add a link to Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesdays!  This is the first time I've linked up with Lee, what a great blog!  

  I'll admit not work much on my design wall this week.  Most of the work has been in my head and in EQ.  I'm a design as you go kinda quilter.  A couple of sections sewn together, the top middle and the one to right of the top middle.  Looking pretty cheery!  What do you think about "Carnival Carousel" as a name?  

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Most spare time has been on this monster.  The sashing detail takes awhile, marking and ruler work overload!  Even the free motion to make the diamonds pop is so tedious.  And that ripper you see at the bottom right isn't there for props! 

 The set in sections....tons more ruler work.

 Tickle me with a feather, they are everywhere on this quilt!  

Well my cup of Joe is just about empty, that means it's time to get moving!    I've been using this cup for about 15 -20 years.  My ex-husband was a Camel smoker and saved up Camel dollars to get this cup free.  He didn't like it after he got it.  Well it fits my hand perfectly, I like a thick cup, stays hot longer.  So EVERYDAY this is washed and ready!

Lea

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Friday Finish

"Sweet Pickins" is bound and ready to hang.  Such a cutie!  And Sweet!

The name...well it's those cute little cherries in the border fabric.  This time of year it seems like everyday there's something needing to be picked and preserved.  Except for my flowers.  We usually have a good picking selection but I'm one of those funny people who would rather not cut my flowers. (or the weeds by the looks of it....LOL)

This year I've been trying to expand the bed around my mailbox.  I've transplanted a few things from around the yard.  It looks kinda shabby this year, hopefully next year I won't need any annuals out here.  The  Blue Morning Glories should start blooming on the mailbox soon.

 The ultimate flower garden goal for me is to have things in bloom all year and need no annuals anywhere.  We're getting close, only Zinnias and Morning Glory annuals this year.

Our little Obelisk isn't doing so well.  Next year maybe.

 After years of ME saying we should put a fence around the garden my dear sweet Ross came up with a wonderful idea...putting a fence around the garden!  He thought it would be a good idea to keep the deer from stomping around.  Brilliant!  I don't know where he comes up with such great ideas! 

Behind the garden gate is a jungle of veggies.  We need a new plan in here also.  My idea is to double the size of the garden, giving plants room to grow and breathe.  Maybe by next year Ross will come up with an idea to expand....LOL!

The fruits of my labor below.

 Zucchini Marmalade, as every gardener knows there's always plenty of Zukes.  Its a rather bland veggie so you can add anything to it for flavor.  This was the first time for making marmalade with it.  I found this recipe here.  

                                          Zucchini Marmalade
6 Cups zucchini remove seeds but leave skin, grated finely (Squeeze out the water, using cheese cloth or a tea towel then measure)
6 Cups sugar(I used 5 cps, it made the jelly a little thinner)
1/2 Cup lemon juice(I used 2 fresh juiced lemons)
1 large can crushed pineapple, 20 oz (don't drain)
1-  6 oz package Strawberry Jello, (any flavor)

Boil zucchini and sugar for 20 minutes. Add lemon juice and crushed pineapple. Boil for 5 minutes.  Add gelatin and stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat, pour into hot jars and seal.  Process in water bath for 5 minutes. 

Until next time "Quilt out of Your Comfort Zone!" 

Lea

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Sweet Pickins

 Sweet Pickins!  That will be her name.  At this stage she measures in at 18.75 x 23.25.  A three inch border should finish her off nicely.  Now to decide on that border.  I put way to much thought into the borders as you all know.  Someday I may quit complaining about my border issue.  But for now WAH, WAH, WAH!

 Each little basket block including red border is 4 inch finished.

 Working with scraps is always fun and quick.  Each HST was left over trimmings from my cherry quilt(previous post) that's still on the frame waiting for one more pass.  

Now comes the dreaded borders.  I like this combo, but I used the same border on my barn quilt.  Might use the same combo with the gingham binding, scalloped border. 

 All I can say is YUK!  More cherries, really upset my tummy.

 The large gingham made me dizzy on such a small quilt.

 So far the one below is what pleases my eye the most.  Whatcha think about a scalloped border, with the gingham as the binding?!  Yes I love gingham, I want it in every quilt for some reason.  I'd really like some ric-rac on this quilt but my stash of ric-rac had every color but the color I wanted, can't justify going into town for $3 of ric-rac.   And you know this quilt is so small that quilting it on the DSM with a walking foot and straight lines might just do the trick.

Until next time"Quilt out of Your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

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Take a Peek Tuesday

Yesterday was design wall Monday, today we'll call it Take a peek Tuesday.  So here's a peek at what I'm trying to get finished and on the frame.  Had I not decided to miter the borders it would be on the frame.   Stepping out of the comfort of straight borders and into a very uncomfortable miter border.  So I dragged out every Quilt reference book, and search the net for tutorials, and still I'm afraid to make those corner stitches.  

 It'll be this evening before I can get to this, today I'm spending the day with momma.  Girls day out!  Maybe I should move this to the floor marking and pinning those corners.  I'm up for advice on these corners if you have any suggestions.

 Look at all the red!  It's slowly taking over the Blue sewing room.  Can't wait to get everything quilted up and switched to red, so I hung the barn quilt even though it will need to come down when I paint.

Today I'll be looking for a border fabric for this one.  It would be nice to get it quilted and in the spare bedroom before summer is over and I change to winter quilts in that room.

Until next time "Quilt out of your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

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Design Wall

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!  My weekend was spent playing with all of my HST's.  I came up with a whimsical pattern that will include scrappy applique.  Its kinda a spin on Aussie quilting/ Kay Fasset/Piece-o-Cake.  Seems that style of quilting doesn't require a lot of matchy-matchy.  

 All of my sashing pieces are made.  Now for the corner blocks.  

 My very technical way of choosing HST's is to throw them all in a bag and shake. I started with over 700.  Not sure how many are left in the bag.   Another quilt,  maybe two!

I used quite a few in my Basket quilt that still needs a border and a name.  The middle seems so busy that I might just keep the border simple.  A small blue border with a larger yellow border to finish.  

I'm linking up with Judy over at Patchwork Times.  Jump on over and see what others are working on, tons of inspiration!

Until next time "Quilt out of your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

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Bountiful Baskets

She's coming together nicely.  So far no major uh-ohs(crossing my fingers, knocking on wood).  Not sure about the set in fabric and the border. 

So I played around in EQ last night and came up with these.  The lemony yellow is much better than whats in my stash.

 I'm leaning towards this one, which would mean I need to buy more white for the borders.  Now I'm thinking the baskets may need some flowers!  My mind says to use the K.I.S.S. (keep it simple stupid) method, but my quilter ego says MORE! MORE!  3-D flowers would add a WOW factor, a bluebird or two...sigh...which is quilting out of my comfort zone?  Its hard to say, am I comfortable adding more?  Or is leaving it simple the one that makes me the most uncomfortable...makes you really think about your quilting process when you start asking questions.  

For those of you that use EQ and are wondering how I got those full cornerstones on the outside sashing,  I used this tutorial.  

 See how the cornerstone below is cut in half, EQ makers need to fix this issue don't you think?

However when you do this it's just for visuals.  EQ will not tell you the correct side triangles.  That's when this handy dandy little tool is helpful.  The regular price is around $40 but if you have a Joann's 50% off coupon it's not so bad. Sure I  could have just worked up another quilt in EQ with the block size the same dimensions as the sashed block but I have this tool so I might as well make use of it.  It stays in my purse most of the time its great for border yardage and cost of fabric.  If you have 100 HST's at 3 inches it can tell you how much of each fabric you'll need!  Great tool once you learn how to use it.  There's a larger book and  there's a small pocket in the back that holds a mini calculations book.  It also comes with a DVD to explain some of the more commonly used functions. 

Well I'm off to my Happy Place

Until next time "Quilt out of your Comfort Zone!"

Lea

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