Another Finish! Dandy Leftovers

It's a finish! 

Dandy Leftovers

40 x 60

I made this top in April 2022 with scraps leftover from making a Dandy Quilt for my husband's old friend. 

It is quilted very simply with vertical and horizontal lines on both sides of the seam lines. 

The binding fabric is the same as the backing fabric. 

The Star is quilted with swirls. 

The backing came from a quilty friend. I am thankful for the quilty friends who enable me with gifts of backings and scraps to make a lot of donation quilts. I love to piece with scraps! 

A little quilting marathon has been going on here. Soon I will have boxes of comfort quilts for two of my favorite charities that provide quilts for kids  - Wrap-A-Smile  (WAS)  and      Quilts Beyond Borders.  (QBB)

If you are interested in joining an online group of folks who make quilts for the above two charities and many more then join us at the Sunshine Online Quilt Guild. 

Notes on shipping:

I recently mailed off a two boxes of quilts to Wrap-A-Smile.  In order to save on shipping costs I tried out Pirate Ship for shipping since it has been recommended by several persons who have been shipping through them for awhile.  I first went to the UPS site to see what the cost would be to ship one box. Then I sent to Pirate Ship to see what the cost would be. I was shocked. I could ship two boxes via Pirate Ship for the cost of one box via shipping directly via UPS.   With Pirate Ship you just measure and weigh your box and then enter destination and then you get various options for shipping either via UPS or USPS. Then pick your option and pay your bill online and then print your box label and take it to any UPS drop off location. I'm definitely going to use Pirate Ship from now on. 

Also next time I'm going to vacuum pack my boxes so I can fit more in.   There's a Youtube video on ow to vacuum pack at Merry Mabel Market.  Or if you have an old laptop and phone like me and they tell you that you need to update before you can watch a Youtube video but then tell you that you can't update because your devices are too old then there is a pdf file on how to vacuum pack at Merry Mabel Market.    For my recent shipping to Wrap-A-Smile I was able to fit 6 quilts in each of my boxes. I have another box the same exact size so next time I ship we shall see how many I can fit in when I vacuum pack! 

And sew on...

 

Two Finishes! Churn Dash and Orphan Ernestine

Two Finishes!

Churn Dash and Orphan Ernestine

Monkey Wrench

45 x 60

This one started last year when I was cleaning up a box of HST parts.  I noticed there were a lot of sets of 4 - 3.5 inch HST parts that were prints paired up with yellows. I made the HSTs and from there turned them into 7.5 inch (finished) Monkey Wrench blocks. I think I had to make a few more blocks in order to have enough for a kiddo sized top. 

I tried to find some fun things for the centers. You know how I love "I Spy"! 

I quilted it on my DSM with spirals. 

And I bound it with a yellow print.

Orphan Ernestine

40 x 52

I made this top a month or so ago when the theme in my sewing space was ORPHAN BLOCKS.  

This is a kitchen sink full of a few of my blocks and blocks that came from several other folks. 

A very scrappy quilt needs a scrappy binding so that's what Orphan Ernestine got. 

I also quilted spirals on this one. 

The backing fabrics came from a quilty friend. 

A little quilting marathon has been going on here. Soon I will have boxes of comfort quilts for two of my favorite charities that provide quilts for kids  - Wrap-A-Smile  (WAS)  and      Quilts Beyond Borders.  (QBB)

If you are interested in joining an online group of folks who make quilts for the above two charities and many more then join us at the Sunshine Online Quilt Guild. 

Notes on shipping:

I recently mailed off a two boxes of quilts to Wrap-A-Smile.  In order to save on shipping costs I tried out Pirate Ship for shipping since it has been recommended by several persons who have been shipping through them for awhile.  I first went to the UPS site to see what the cost would be to ship one box. Then I sent to Pirate Ship to see what the cost would be. I was shocked. I could ship two boxes via Pirate Ship for the cost of one box via shipping directly via UPS.   With Pirate Ship you just measure and weigh your box and then enter destination and then you get various options for shipping either via UPS or USPS. Then pick your option and pay your bill online and then print your box label and take it to any UPS drop off location. I'm definitely going to use Pirate Ship from now on. 

Also next time I'm going to vacuum pack my boxes so I can fit more in.   There's a Youtube video on ow to vacuum pack at Merry Mabel Market.  Or if you have an old laptop and phone like me and they tell you that you need to update before you can watch a Youtube video but then tell you that you can't update because your devices are too old then there is a pdf file on how to vacuum pack at Merry Mabel Market.    For my recent shipping to Wrap-A-Smile I was able to fit 6 quilts in each of my boxes. I have another box the same exact size so next time I ship we shall see how many I can fit in when I vacuum pack! 

And sew on...

 

Two Finishes: Ballerinas and Dinosaurs

Two finishes!

Ballerinas and Dinosaurs

Both quilts are 45 x 54

Last December I went through some novelty scraps and came across some ballerinas and dinosaurs (and other things to come). A lot of the scraps came from making quilts for grandkids and great nieces and nephews. I kitted up the scraps in December 2022 and in January 2023 I made these two tops. 

Ballerinas

Nine Patches and Squares

Quilted with pink swirls on my Brother PQ1500.

The pink binding came in a box of scraps and was just the right length for this quilt so I guess it was meant to be. 

Dinosaurs has a mix of Squares, Nine Patches and Happy Blocks. I went where the scraps took me. 

I love paw print fabrics. A long time ago I came across dinosaur footprints fabric that I thought was fun too. I think I used the last of the dinosaurs and their footprints in this quilt. 

I quilted in leaves of green so the dinos would have something to eat. 

And the binding is an old green calico.

The backs.

Green goes with the Dinos and Pink goes with the Ballerinas. 

A little quilting marathon has been going on here. Soon I will have boxes of comfort quilts for two of my favorite charities that provide quilts for kids  - Wrap-A-Smile  (WAS)  and      Quilts Beyond Borders.  (QBB)

If you are interested in joining an online group of folks who make quilts for the above two charities and many more then join us at the Sunshine Online Quilt Guild. 

Notes on shipping:

I recently mailed off a two boxes of quilts to Wrap-A-Smile.  In order to save on shipping costs I tried out Pirate Ship for shipping since it has been recommended by several persons who have been shipping through them for awhile.  I first went to the UPS site to see what the cost would be to ship one box. Then I sent to Pirate Ship to see what the cost would be. I was shocked. I could ship two boxes via Pirate Ship for the cost of one box via shipping directly via UPS.   With Pirate Ship you just measure and weigh your box and then enter destination and then you get various options for shipping either via UPS or USPS. Then pick your option and pay your bill online and then print your box label and take it to any UPS drop off location. I'm definitely going to use Pirate Ship from now on. 

Also next time I'm going to vacuum pack my boxes so I can fit more in.   There's a Youtube video on ow to vacuum pack at Merry Mabel Market.  Or if you have an old laptop and phone like me and they tell you that you need to update before you can watch a Youtube video but then tell you that you can't update because your devices are too old then there is a pdf file on how to vacuum pack at Merry Mabel Market.    For my recent shipping to Wrap-A-Smile I was able to fit 6 quilts in each of my boxes. I have another box the same exact size so next time I ship we shall see how many I can fit in when I vacuum pack! 

And sew on...

 

Slow Sunday (and Monday and Tuesday...) Stitching

Suzy Ducken

This little 5 x 7 cross stitch is finished. I had to fudge a little bit in a couple of places because I could not see the darned chart very well and it never occurred to me to enlarge it on my printer until I was finished. Well, anyway, this will be the center of a Courthouse Steps baby quilt someday.  I just happen to have some oranges and lime greens I will use for the sides. 

According to the Suzy's Zoo website: "Suzy Ducken is a cheerful and friendly girl ducken who loves to make everybody happy. Suzy is loved throughout The Beak Isles and is a bright spark of sunshine in Duckport."

Now that I have kind of gotten interested in cross stitch again I decided on another project - making a few biscornus.   The first one is a freebie chart from Cross Stitch Happy. 

I found my little magnetic board so I can mark my place and maybe see where the stitches should be from now on. 

I also found several packages of aida cloth picked up from the thrift stores ages ago.  So I think I will be making several biscornus. 

I also have most of the colors of floss needed but will make a few substitutes for the colors I don't have. My floss also needs quite a bit of organizing. Long ago I started winding a lot of it on cards each time I started a project and filled up a couple of floss boxes but I also have bought a lot on sale or picked up bunches from thrift stores or just plain have not put back leftovers after a project back into the floss box. Pretty messy. But right now I don't want to stop and organize everything I just want to stitch.

A biscornu is a small, octagonal, stuffed ornamental pincushion.     I made this one a long time ago and although it looks like it is gathering dust I use it often. 

I usually have several handwork project boxes (old Christmas tins) filled with items needed for the project and I like to put my little biscornu and magic needle book in the box. This is the one I took to the hospital so I could work on big stitching my Roses in the Cabin quilt.  When I start my next big stitching project I will put away all those threads and put in the ones needed for big stitching that quilt. 

So, anyway, I would like a few more biscornus for a few more project boxes. And since I have the supplies laying around I might as well get to it. 

Last week I was excited to have actually finished a crocheted sock. Gayle (Mangofeet) commented that knitters sometimes suffer from Second Sock Syndrome.   I thought she made that up but I Googled Second Sock Syndrome and found out it is a real thing. Well, I'm not a knitter but I suppose crocheters can also suffer from Second Sock Syndrome. Gosh, I definitely do not want the Second Sock Syndrome so I have started on my second (very wild) sock.  Won't they be fun to wear? (If I ever went any place).

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts 

 

It's A Top! Postage Stamp Pandemic 2020

It's a top!

Postage Stamp Pandemic 2020 (PSP20)

88 x 88

I caught the Postage Stamp Pandemic back in June 2020 from Sally (Objects of Design) or maybe I caught it from Gayle (Mangofeet).   

Sally mentions in her January  2021 blog post: "the original source for this infection/confection is Lynn Dykstra at Klein Meisje Quilts where Lynn is working on a series of quilts combining solids and prints. Then the infamous quilt infection super spreader Wanda Sykes at Exuberant Color held several large events where I caught my infection. Of course, Wanda had a very short course with her PSP20 infection while mine lingered for quite a long time." 

(Actually I think Sally meant Wanda Hanson of Exuberant Color)

This was a Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) project for a couple of years. I didn't always have postage stamps cut or a solid in the color of the month to make blocks in some months. 

121  blocks that consist of 64- 1.5 inch (unfinished) squares. That makes for a total of 7744 squares. 

I made this big enough for our bed but now I wish I had made it smaller because it is a lot of fun to cuddle up in a quilt like this on a cold winter day and just look at all the fabrics and play an I Spy game with myself. 

I just sewed the blocks together randomly.

I usually kind of keep the darker blocks for the bottom as I web blocks together. 

And I usually try to keep the lighter blocks for the top.  Athough this quilt is square so it doesn't make any difference as to top, bottom or sides. 

I spy a chocolate chip, a couple of different cats, peppermint candy and bottle caps. (Do bottles still have caps that require a church key opener)?

And sew on...

Finished or Not Finished Friday at Alycia Quilts

 

Coneflowers, A Duck in a Dress, and a Sock

I have finished the second prompt to the Bramble Blooms QAL - "Add simple floral applique to your centerpiece background." 

I chose Coneflowers as my simple floral. I did needleturn applique - freezer paper templates on top. I played around with adding some leaves to my Coneflowers  but they just did not look right to me no matter where I placed them.  So now I guess I am ready for the next step of this QAL.   

I think she is a duck but she might be a chick. This is where I am with this cross stitch. When finished it will be the center of a baby quilt. 

And guess what!!! I actually finished crocheting a sock! 

And I think it fits although maybe the heel could use a little adjustment. Maybe... Not bad for my first crocheted sock. Pretty wild, though! I guess now I need to complete the second one or make a sock monkey.

So that's the progress on my slow stitching projects. Until next time...

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

 

It's A Top! Path And Stiles

It's a top! 

Path and Stiles

90 x 90

A long long time ago I used to swap 3 inch Nine Patches several times a year for a lot of years. I love little Nine Patches and have used them in several quilts and although my stash of them is dwindling I still have a little pile of them left but those will be worked into a few UFOs one of these days. I will hate to see that bin empty but so it goes. 

I started making these 9 inch (finished) Path and Stiles blocks back in July 2021. I picked out little Nine Patches for the centers and then tried to match some fabrics from the scrap bags to the little Nines to finish the blocks. 

By November 2021 I had made 100 blocks and put the complete block set away in my SAR (Some Assembly Required) box. 

Matching up points is enough to drive me batty sometimes! 

Oh my goodness...points that don't match up! Well, that's okay. This quilt will go into the collection of quilts we use on our bed for warmth in this drafty old farmhouse and points that match or don't match really don't matter to me all that much. I had fun making the blocks.  

You never know what might show up in a scrappy quilt! 

And sew on...