Friday, December 9, 2016

It must have been the eggnog!

I mean, why else would I have decided to “start” a new project in the busiest season of the year? Thankfully, no one will miss my cooking, but they might wonder why my tree is half decorated or why the vacuum cleaner is still in the middle of the floor!

I am mesmerized by obsessed with this new “Pot Luck” quilt. I find myself stopping midstream to run to the sewing room to sneak in “one more stitch”.
 

I have discovered two important things; 1 – I did not have as many “orphan blocks” as I thought I did and 2 – It is easier (and much more fun) to create “new” orphan blocks than to use the old ones. Part of the reason for #2 is that most of the orphans were actually “rejects” from other projects and so to make them look “happy” again, I had to make quite a few adjustments.

 I have had a ball making these crazy mixed up wacky blocks! At first, I tried to “let go” and use whatever came next in the scrap pile. But, it became quickly evident that I was spending way too much time “playing” with scraps. Those of you who make scrap quilts know that there is really a lot more “planning” in a scrap or crazy quilt than one might think.



I am using reproduction “cheater prints” for the backings.



And, did I mention that I have decided to hand quilt all the appliqued blocks? Yet another “time consumer” (but loads of fun). 


So… instead of the easy peasy holiday season quilt, this has become my “winter” go to project. Monday’s blanket of snow is being quickly devoured by today’s fog. But, the warm temperatures won’t keep me from dreaming of a white Christmas and a fun and productive winter!


Hope your day is full of quilty things!

21 comments:

  1. when you say pot luck do you mean you are turning your rejects/orphans into a potholder/quilt as you go quilt? Or are you turning the blocks into individually bound little quilts? I had nearly 100 of those types of blocks, I traded them to a woman looking for "identify this block" game for guild, for a priority box of scraps. We both think we got the better of the deal :)

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  2. I am making a potholder quilt with these. It will be my 15th potholder style quilt. If you scroll through some of my older posts you will see about a dozen or so in different posts, including a medallion style one and a Dear Jane! I made my first potholder quilt in 1990 and I just keep trying different ways to make them. Thanks for asking!

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  3. Wendy, this looks like SO much fun! You know I would be tempted to keep all of the little parts as small quilts, but I am intrigued by this winter project. Can't wait to see the outcome. Can you hurry it along? LOL

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  4. Looks like really fun projects! Who cares if it is the busiest time of the year! LOL

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  5. I'm lovin' all those orphan blocks and you're newest projects. You're right, scraps quilts can be so time consuming, messy, challenging and delightful all rolled into one.

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  6. Blame it on the eggnog! I love what you're doing here...fun stuff! I would be obsessed too.

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  7. Sometimes this time of the year begs for a bit of misbehavior....enjoy!!!

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  8. So many pretty little quilts are such fun to see! And this is definitely the perfect time to abandon the vacuum cleaner and play in your scraps!

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  9. Sounds like the best kind of project.:)

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  10. That looks like a super holiday/winter project with all your cheerful prints to enjoy as you stitch.

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  11. I know what you mean about wanting to create new orphan blocks. I always think I do not have enough of the right orphan blocks to make a quilt like you are doing. I end up passing my blocks on to someone else.

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  12. Oh, what fun! Love both your old and new orphan blocks. Such inspiration! Using cheater cloth on the backs is a great idea :)

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  13. This is going to be amazing! I'm assuming this will be another potholder quilt. Can't wait to see your progress on this one!

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  14. You are so right about that scrappy look taking more time! I have to carefully plan my randomness. I call it plandom. :)

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  15. I"m almost afraid to ask about a pot luck quilt. I don't think I have seen anything about it. I do agree with you about the orphan blocks. I actually think my ufos are mostly quilts I don't like or lost interest in. My extra blocks are sometimes the ones I didn't use because I got sick of the quilt... guess that's the same.
    I love what you're doing, though!!
    Happy holiday season!

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  16. Your projects sound so intriguing! From what I can see we're all going to LOVE them!

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  17. what a neat project. Isn't it great when we are excited about a new project and can't wait to sew? the fabric combinations are fabulous and I can't wait to see the backings of each.
    You are so inspiring! - forget the tree and vacuum, lol we must strike when the creative muse is hot.

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  18. It's hard to imagine snow when it's hot and summery here. What a wonderful project you have taken on to get you through the winter. It'll be fun for us to see your progress posts.

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  19. Just love...LOVE your new project! How fun to see all these orphan blocks pulled together with that wonderful red border/sash. I look forward to seeing this quilt come together!

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  20. How much fun it looks like you are having! And, it is true, scrap quilting takes more time than one would think...especially when working from the bottom of the scrap chain, smallest usable piece to smallest usable piece! I can't wait to see this completed! Enjoy the Eggnog!

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  21. Fun, fun, fun!! Love the red bindings! and all the little quilts/blocks that are becoming PotLuck! Yes, I usually start a new project this time of year. lol Don't know why, because it is so crazy busy, but that's how I like it I guess!

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