"Mathilde" - Quiltmania Mystery Quilt 2023

 I have fondly followed many Quiltmania mystery quilts over the years, always thinking, "This looks like fun!" So, with a little encouragement from my friends Barb (Fun with Barb) and Randy (Barrister's Block), I finally took the plunge. This is the first step (Quiltmania issue number 153). Thirteen 4" stars and four 6" applique blocks.

I am using Dutch reproduction prints including a few vintage fabrics I bought on a sailing vacation in St. Barts in 1993!! Once again, my "scrap' gene took over. There are 26 different fabrics in the stars alone. I auditioned several backgrounds.

I really wanted to use a buttery yellow but feared I might not have enough to finish, so I opted for this lovely "Arundel" by Christopher Wilson Tate (because I had 5 yards!!).

The stars went together quickly as I used my square in a square method to make the geese units.

There is a bit of waste with this method, but at this point in my life, time saved is worth more than fabric wasted. The gorgeous print I chose for the appliques is quite airy, so I softened the concave of the leaf a bit to get as much color out of it as I could. It makes it look a little more "folky", but it works for me. I can't wait for step #2!! 

Sugar Shacks

 Just a quick update on my Corinne and Cecile quilt-a-long house project. The little houses are coming along. Number 2 block is now quilted and bound.

The backing for this one has thankfully been reproduced but, this is the real deal. 

This is block number 3. 

This backing sack is one of my all time favorites. 

O.k., I do love them all, but isn't this one sweet?! Do visit their Facebook page to see all the fabulous progress. I know I keep saying this, but there is so much creativity this year! Enjoy your day.

Circle Time

 It feels strange to not have a mini quilt to post on this final day of January. So, my mini circle a day blocks will have to do. After searching my tin inventory, I decided on this Roy Rogers reproduction tin. 

 

I kept my yo-yo production in this for years, but after making 875 yo-yos, I thought it might be time to move on. I made little oaktag boxes for each month.

When each month is finished, they will reside in this old shoe box. (yes, I save all boxes, it is in my DNA). 

Because these are the cutouts from my Quilty 365 (hosted by Quilty Folk in 2016), the sizes varied a bit and rather than trim each one, I decided to place a little piece of wool under each circle to hide the seam allowances. 

 

After I applique them down I press them "flat" and trim each block to exactly 3". I made this special trimming ruler by taking an old worn out 6" favorite and taping the circle to the back as a guide. 

 

 

Now, they are all evenly centered - easy peasy!

 

This is what 31 circle blocks looks like.

On to February!! Hope you sew something that makes you happy today!

Housing Project

 Block #1 in my Corinne and Cecile quilt-a-long is quilted but not yet bound. 

I'm still trying to pick the right binding fabric. I may have to quilt a few more blocks before deciding. I am using a different novelty feedsack on the back of each block. I love these baby shoes! 

I'd like to thank those of you who remembered my "food or cooking theme" for naming my potholder quilts. Kyle (Timeless Reflections) said that they conjured up the word "storybook" to her. Oh how I wanted to utilize that word, but I just couldn't think of a "catchy" name using it. So, because many of my sacks were used to carry sugar, I have decided to call it "Sugar Shacks". Short and oh so sweet!

This name posed a problem with my third intended block. 

I wanted to add a church, but after deciding on the name, I thought it a bit disrespectful to call a church a shack, so I am making a replacement for #3. No worries, I will use this adorable little church somewhere. This is block #2. 

 

The sun is shining and the snow is glowing so I am off to enjoy a bit of outdoors. I hope your day is full of sunshine too!

Corinne and Cecile's Quilt-a-long

 My house quilt for Corinne and Cecile's 2023 quilt-a-long is going to be made entirely from vintage feedsacks.

 

House #1

I'm determined to NOT cut into a whole sack, so I've been knee deep in scraps, pulling from boxes and drawers and other hiding places.

 

 

It is difficult to find solid feedsacks these days, but I was able to finish 16 backgrounds (the minimum number of blocks is 16) for my upcoming houses. 

 

I am making them in the potholder method (really??) and have thoroughly enjoyed pawing through my scraps. They are really building themselves with these wonderful, whimsical feedsack fabrics. As usual, the creativity I have seen on their Facebook page is remarkable. Hope you get a chance to visit them all!

New Year - New Project

 Happy New Year to all! How do we start an entirely new year? With a new project of course!

I wanted something I could pick up for a few minutes each day. I've always wanted to make a tiny basket quilt but the thought of making one of these little guys (3" finished) every day was a bit overwhelming.

How about a tiny star? Hmm, I've already made quite a few tiny star quilts, and I really wanted just a bit of applique each morning. How about circles? I had such fun doing a circle a day with Audrey (Quilty Folk) back in 2016. Then it dawned on me that I already had 365 circles cut out!!

I had cut the circles out of the back of my "Crop Circles" quilt and placed them in a vintage tin for a future project. So Here we are - my 2023 daily project.

Once hand appliqued circle a day. Thanks for the idea Audrey! I may have to find a different tin, they are a bit small for the one I used for my Quilty 365 blocks. 

I am also starting a house quilt in this year's sew-a-long with Cecile and Corinne. You can join in before the deadline of January 20 on their FB page  Corinne et Cécile Quilt Along ! | Facebook  Their sew-a-longs are always so much fun. The creativity is endless. I am still in the planning stage, but two things are for sure. I will be using vintage feedsacks and I will be doing it in the potholder method. I'm choosing backgrounds from this pile of vintage feedsack pieces.

Let the fun begin!

December Monthly Mini

 I just love to wander through antique/junk shops. I can't afford to collect antique quilts, but I'm always looking at textiles and once in a while I find a little treasure. This little gem was sitting in a plastic bag in one of favorite stores just waiting for me to find it. My guess is that it was hand stenciled back in the 1980's when this was a popular thing to do. All it needed was a little light cleaning and some hand quilting and voila! It measures 6 3/4" x 8 1/4". I thought it had a holiday feeling so I chose to finish it for December. 

 

 

It is with heavy heart that I have decided to stop my monthly mini postings. I still plan to make minis whenever the mood strikes and I hope that you all will continue as well. I want to thank everyone of you who have participated over the last five (yes 5!) years. I have enjoyed seeing every single one of them. Maybe one of you would like to carry on the tradition?? If so, I would be a happy follower! 

Enjoy the offerings of our fellow mini makers! And I wish you a very Happy Healthy New Year!

Quilting Babcia (Amity Quilter)

Randy (Barrister’s Block)

Cathy (Big Lake Quilter) 

Cyndi (Busy Thimble)

Grace (City Mouse Quilter)

Barb (Fun with Barb)

Gladi (Gladi’s Quilts)

Shasta (High Road Quilter)

Nancy (Joy For Grace)

Joy (Joyful Quilter)

Julie (Julie K Quilts)

Kathy (Kathy’s Quilts)

Katy (Katy Quilts)

Sandy (My Material Creations)

Meredithe (Pomegranate and Chintz)

Angie (Quilting on the Crescent)

Barbara (Quilts, Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors)

Janet (Rogue Quilts)