As Orange Fades into the Sunset ...

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Monthly Roundup

Early in the month I was able to knock off most of my ongoing projects.  First to get finished were eight Chandelier blocks.

Chandelier blocks

These blocks are easy to whip up quickly because I am using the same background for all the colors and already have a bunch cut. 

Next I tackled my three Double Shot (Double X) blocks over several days.

Double Shot in orange

These blocks use nothing but 2-1/2" strips; the hardest part is finding a suitable background fabric in the beige/tan family.

I added a new project to my list after I rounded out my collection of Squared Away Sampler blocks.  I'm calling these blocks Buckeye Stars since they are made by combining 4 Buckeye blocks.

Buckeye Stars

 It occurs to me that these are very similar to the Scrap Jar Stars I made a couple of years ago.  I was able to make three in orange because I already had the units made for an abandoned project.  My goal is to make three each month; we'll see how that pans out.  I'm in no hurry.  I see ways that I can get ahead with the 4-patches and HSTs which will make assembly a lot easier.

And NOW, we're on to dark blue.  How fortunate that I decided about halfway through May to dig out Dawn to Dusk (from More Nickel Quilts).  I plugged along steadily every day and I'm pleased to say I have enough blocks for a nice-sized throw (approx. 50x60)

Dawn to Dusk

I love the secondary pattern these blocks form.  I used a BUNCH of 2.5" blue strips.  Some I used only once; others I used twice.  I think there is only one fabric I used three times.  The background is a white Grunge.  Now to settle on a nice arrangement of the mixed values.  That will be my goal for June.

I'll be linking up with Cynthia at Quilting is more fun than housework.  And, if it's not too late, I'll link with Angela at Soscrappy.

Something New

Vegetable Garden

One year (in another life) I had volunteer tomato plants in the ditch behind our house where the neighbor's castoffs had washed down to our lot.  Another year (in this life) I planted a 25-cent tomato plant and it flourished until the ants got to the fruit before I could ...

That's been the extent of my vegetable gardening experience -- until now. I thought if I had a raised bed on the deck I might be able to keep the deer and other varmints from devouring the fruits of my labor.  So Santa brought me a raised trough garden for Christmas.

VegTrug and liner from Garden Supply Company

Yesterday we got the liner installed and mixed the recommended soil/manure/vermiculite mixture.  We decided it would be easiest to mix the three products directly in the trough in three layers.

DH used my new (and still unused) kayak paddle to stir each layer.

Let the planting begin!!!

Another Tiny Thursday

Well, it's done.

TT Monarch Butterfly

Mine came out 1/4" too short -- I wondered why the body part was too long!  I think the lower wing pieces need to be cut 2.5" x 2.75"  and we need 4 of both background squares.  

So my proportions don't look as nice as Angela's but it's cute and sweet and I can adjust the final size with the sashing.  I usually make two of each TT block, so I may try another one ...

A Tip for Tuesday

a/k/a How to eat an elephant ...

Our local guild here in the Glade -- Fan-Tastic Quilt Guild -- has an open sew day on the 4th Friday of most every month.  When we're lucky, one of our members will share her knowledge and experience by teaching a technique or a special project to those who are interested.  (Otherwise, where 2 or 3 are gathered, we sit and sew ... and chat ... and eat ...)

This past Friday we had a special class with Sharon N. who LOVES small piecing.  She led the group through the Ins and Outs of piecing a 2" (finished) 9-patch, from the importance of an accurate 1/4" seam allowance to taking advantage of strip piecing.

The project had the 9Ps set on point with alternate 2" (finished) plain squares.  If you've ever made a large quilt with blocks set on point, you know those corner-to-corner rows can get pretty long.  Imagine if your blocks are 2 inches how many teeny blocks are in one of those long rows.  So Sharon came up with a way to organize the final piecing into sub-units that are not only easier to sew and press, but in the end will improve the overall accuracy.

For demonstration purposes I drew out 3" (finished) 4-patches with 3" setting squares.  The size isn't important; organizing your process is the objective.

The red lines indicate my sub-units.  I looked for a combination of blocks that could be repeated several times.  You will notice that all A units are 5x5; the A units have 4-Ps in the corners, and the
A-1 units have plain squares in the corners.  The B units are identical, as are the C and D units.  Again, the size of the blocks OR the size of the sub-units is not critical.  The objective is to break the final assembly into something that is easy to manage and easy to press.  In the end you will improve your accuracy!

I hope this is as eye-opening to you as it was to me!  And I thank Sharon for letting me share her technique with my readers.

A Little Patriotic Stitching

... Almost

Now that the snowbirds have returned to the Glade, our social calendar is filling up.  Add in chiropractor visits and my guild responsibilities as Education chair (someone had to step in) and that hasn't left much stitching time this week.

I decided it was time to get back to my Dawn to Dusk (from More Nickel Quilts) project.  While "auditing" a class at 4th Friday Sit-n-Sew, I used my time to cut about 20 more blocks which I put together today.

I prepped about 25 more blocks this afternoon but after making mistakes assembling the first three blocks after dinner tonight I decided I should give it a rest!

I also assembled  a stack of Strip Twist blocks while I was tending the class on Friday (as Ed chair I have to open and close so I chose to stay and sew ... and listen to the class ...)

I think I need to make a few more blocks before I start laying this one out.  Besides, I want to get the blue quilt together and off the wall first.

A patriotic sunset  

Sunset 5/27/19

I wish my phone camera would catch the reflection in the water.  It looks like pink Kool-aid.

Tiny Thursday

Wha ...??

I was gearing up to leave town last week when the Tiny Tuesday block was introduced.  And I had a day full of activity on Tuesday this week so even though I sewed, I didn't have time to plan and prep the TT blocks.  Until yesterday

Those bear paw claws will finish at 3/4".  Each week I try to make a reverse-value block but that bear paw bow tie is NOT going to get a partner! I'll find another little block to make in orange if I need it.

Sunrise 5/23/19

Sewing again

After an extended weekend in Arkansas to attend GS-3's high school graduation, I finally had some time to sew today, continuing with Strip Twist that I first wrote about here.

Strip Twist

At Devo and Sew today I was able to complete 32 of the 48 blocks I will need.  The beauty of this pattern is the diagonal seams match because the seams nest but nothing else has to match block-to-block.

Our Floor Show (show and tell) included one of my donation quilts that Jane had quilted.

Summer Heat - Nancy Mahoney design

Another gorgeous sunrise this morning.

Sunrise 5/21/19