Rogue Quilter Challenge

 

I hope most of you have seen Janet’s (Rogue Quilter) challenge post by now. If not, you can read about it (here).

 She has issued a unique and fun challenge to all of us monthly “mini-acs”. Most of us have leftover scraps from previous projects. Janet keeps hers in baggies and has even offered some of her collection to anyone who does not have a pile of scraps (is that really possible?).

 My father used to call me a pack rat. I have always been enamored of little boxes for my treasures. I have dozens of boxes filled with little bits of color. 

  I don’t use baggies unless I intend to pass the contents off to someone else. These went to my friend Charlotte. 

The first one was a joke, but somehow, I knew she would try to make something with those little slivers.

 Admittedly, I have more strips, squares, scraps in all matter of containers than I will ever be able to use.

Sometimes I pack a few up and toss them on the “freebie” table at our monthly meeting. If Janet runs out of “baggies” to offer, let me know and I will send you one from the pile.

 Do check in with Janet and let’s see what we can come up with. Thanks for the challenge  Janet!

 

September Mini

 

My September mini is as simple as it gets! I just grabbed scraps from the “scrid” (scrid = pieces too small to be of any use, but I just can’t throw them out!) basket and paired them with one of my favorite prints and voila! 

 

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  I made the top in under an hour and machine quilted and bound it in a little over an hour. I thought about calling it the “Two Hour Wonder”. However, since it is a tiny version of the Chinese Coins pattern and the backing I used reminded me of pennies, I decided to call it, “Pocket Change”.

Have a look into the piggy bank of my fellow mini makers to see what they have been up to this month.

Quilting Babcia (Amity Quilter)

Randy (Barrister’s Block)

Cyndi (Busy Thimble)

Grace (City Mouse Quilter)

Barb (Fun with Barb)

Gladi (Gladi’s Quilts)

Shasta (High Road Quilter)

Julie (Julie K Quilts)

Kathy (Kathy’s Quilts)

Katy (Katy Quilts)

Sandy (My Material Creations)

Angie (Quilting on the Crescent)

Barbara (Quilts, Gravestones and Elusive Ancestors)

Janet (Rogue Quilts)

Kyle (Timeless Reflections)

Cynthia (Wabi-Sabi Quilts)

 

Weekend Update

 We had a lovely rainy Saturday here in Maine! You all know what I mean. A rainy day with no major commitments means sewing room time! I even spent a few hours in the morning cooking up a few weekly meals to alleviate any guilt that might sneak into my soggy brain.

 I finished laying out the center block for my “Bird’s Nest Soup” potholder quilt. I now have 12 finished blocks (all quilted and bound) and the remaining 20 are basted for applique. 

 These blocks have been so much fun to make! In fact, I didn’t even scream when I discovered (after it was quilted!) that I had oriented the backing on this one in the wrong direction.

Now, a rearing horse can be fun when under saddle, but not a good thing when one is hitched to a sleigh.

So, my bird is flying backwards and the poppies are lying down… it could be worse! 

 I was able to piece all the rows of my “Two and Four” quilt-a-long with KatyQuilts. Just a few long seams and we are ready to quilt! 

 I also started my September mini – yes, “started”! I actually made pretty good progress so I should have it bound before Thursday.

 And, when my mini is done, I am going to open this happy package.

My first ever quilt kit! I saw this Pam’s blog (Heartspun Quilts)  and knew I just had to order it. (you can find it on her website: Pam Buda Quilts) I have used Pam’s precise patterns many times so I’m sure this project will be a breeze! I’m looking forward to my first “kit” experience.

 A productive day indeed. Hope your weekend was full of fun too!

Two and Four and this and that

 

When I posted my 4-patches last week I had a few comments saying how amazed they were about how much I get done. This is so funny to me as I really feel like a slug when I see all the fabulous progress happening out there.

 Are you a list maker? I believe most quilters are. I have noticed lately how often fellow bloggers mention crossing things off the “to do” list. “Done and dusted” is a phrase I hear a lot. It does feel good to get a UFO into the finished pile.

These are my rail fence blocks in Katy’s (KatyQuilts) “Two and Four QAL”. Next step – piece all the rows together. Will I be able to finish the next step this week? I think I can, I think I can, I think I can! 

 I’m also steaming along on my “Bird’s Nest Soup” potholder quilt. I initially chose this fabulous bird print for my center block. 

 But, it just wasn’t right somehow so I ditched it for a fabulous Di Ford parrot. I decided it was more prudent to cut a whole new background piece rather than take these wee stitches out.

My time is more valuable than fabric. (Did I really just say that?) I’m now auditioning fabric for the final border even though I still have 18 blocks to finish first. 

 This “Summer applique” project has now moved into the, “hope I can finish it before the New Year” category!

Two and Four QAL

 

As usual I am only marginally on time with Katy’s (KatyQuilts) Two and Four quilt-a-long. I finished my 4-patches just in time to start the next phase. 

(Yikes, I think it is time for a new ironing board cover!!)

Rail Fence blocks – here we come!

Cocheco Quilt Show

 

I don’t know about you, but I am ready for an “in person” quilt show. In fact, I am willing to wear gas mask and full goggles just to see quilts in person!

 My friend Gladi (GladiQuilts) has a few of her marvelous quilts at her guild (Cocheco) show in October. 

The show is at the James W. Foley Memorial Community Center, 150 Wakefield St., Rochester, NH. October 16 & 17 from 10:00 to 4:00.

 A few of us from my Seven Sistah’s group are going to mask up and take the 2 hour drive to see them on the 16^th. Hope you get the chance to attend too.

Community Supper at NEQM

 

Woohoo to all my fellow quilters who had a part in the “Community Supper” quilt. (See the story here) It will be part of the New England Quilt Museum’s “Quarantined Quilts – Creativity in the Midst of Chaos” from September 14 – December 31. 

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 The museum is located on 18 Shattuck St. in Lowell, MA. It is a wonderful place to visit and the city of Lowell has quite a bit to offer as well. Do visit their website (here) for hours as these may change daily due to Covid.

 Working on this quilt was my salvation during the early months of this crazy pandemic and I am so excited to be able to share “our” quilt with the quilting community. Thanks to everyone who participated. I sincerely hope you get a chance to visit it. And, if you do, please let me know so I can share it with the others.