A Finish!

Rainbow Dresden Plates

I should call it Fiesta Dinnerware

88 x 88

Hand quilted

Here's the last row on the ground. It's too long for the clothesline. 

This was another Rainbow Scrap Challenge I started a few years ago.  Each month I used scraps in the color of the month to make four Dresdens - 

1. Color of the month

2. Color of the month plus its complement

3. Color of the month plus black/white

4. Color of the month plus white/black

Each was appliqued to a gray background and had a polka dot center surrounded by gray rick rack. 

I hand quilted it with hand quilting thread first about a quarter inch inside each blade of the fans and then I used an old cardboard stencil that looked kind of like a flower or kind of like a Dresden with eight blades, traced it with mechanical pencil and quilted it where the four corners of the blocks meet.  The stitches are a little larger in the Dresdens because I didn't cut away the extra background behind the Dresdens (I was afraid to do so)  and that made for an extra layer of fabric to quilt through.  It also makes for a very heavy quilt but those are needed around here on the beds in the winter. 

True to the scrappy nature of the quilt I used a bit of  leftover binding after I ran out of the 8 gray width of fabric pieces I had prepared for binding.   I never actually measure precisely when I make binding. I just kind of guestimate in my head. In this case I knew if it was 88 on each I would need at least 2 widths of fabric per side so that is why I prepared 8 - 2.5 width of fabric pieces.  I didn't have any gray leftover binding to finish up when I got to the end but had a little piece of solid light blue that worked just fine to fill in the final gap.   And you can't see it very well but I used it for my quilt label.  I rarely label a quilt I keep for myself so this works for me to easily get it done as part of the process. 

This is the back. 

This was goal #1   for    Q2  2017 Finish-A-Long

It involved use of lots of scraps so linking up to:

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework

It took a month of Sundays to hand quilt so linking up to:

Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts

Another Top To Add To The Pile

Dresdens

about 91 x 91

is a top now and 

hopefully it will grow up to be a quilt 

someday. 

It's been a VERY rough (very seriously rough and very seriously depressing) week so in my very few spare moments I have turned to sewing to keep me somewhat calm and sane.  I don't blog to whine so won't bore you with the details of last week's events.  Tomorrow starts a new week. 

I made these blocks in 2015 as one of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) projects.  If I remember correctly each month I made 4 blocks - a block in the color of the month, color of the month plus it's complement, color of the month plus white and black, color of the month plus black and white.  Each block was appliqued to a gray background, had a polka dot center surrounded by gray rick-rack. 

Now I just have to whip up a backing and decide how to quilt it. I was thinking of hand quilting but now I'm undecided.  Time will tell. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Green 4.5

I didn't make any green Dresden blocks back in May when green was the RSC color of the month. So this month I have to make 8 green Dresdens. 

Here's my green with b/w and green with w/b. 

Next week I hope to have the green plus complement and only green blocks finished. 

I've been using up 4.5 inch scraps on these. 

And speaking of 4.5 inch scraps...I decided to make a few green flying geese.   I used my EZ angle rulers to cut these.  I think I'll make these next year. Not sure what I'll do with them. It will come to me later. 

Got Scraps? 

Join us each ScrapHappy Saturday and show us what you've done with them. 

Orange - The Dresden Edition

Orange is the color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Each month I make 4 Dresden blocks on gray backgrounds. They also have a polka dot center and gray rickrack around the center. The other self-imposed rules:

1. One block of color of the month

2. One block in color of month plus its complement

3. One block in color of the month plus black/white

4. One block in color of the month plus white/black. 

Got scraps?

Use them up and link up each ScrapHappy Saturday. 

Color will be changing soon!

Dresdens in Red

I only managed to use my red scraps in four Dresden Plates this week for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

My rules: make four each month. 

1. all in color of month

2. color of the month plus it's color complement

3. color of month plus white on black

4. color of month plus black on white

applique to a gray background

centers should be polka dots surrounded by gray rick rack. 

I have more red scraps left and may get some of them used this week before the next color change. Or I may not. Stay tuned. 

Rainbow Scrap Challenge ScrapHappy Saturday 

What the Heck is the RSC?

Do you know about the Rainbow Scrap Challenge - RSC for short?

Each month Angela assigns us a color, we gather up our scraps and make stuff with that color, and then each Saturday we show off what we've made at a ScrapHappy linky party. 

Now it's time for a RSC mid-year update party. 

Above you will see my Wonky Logs top - 72 x 90.   I started making logs last year with my string scraps.  Good thing I finally have enough logs because I was dangerously low on neutral strings. 

I want to finish this up for my grandnephew. 

I also started making these "Vintage Butterfly" (or Beggar's) blocks last year from 1.5 inch scraps. I have 39 blocks and want 56. I will add sashing between blocks and a single border of butterflies.  Those red blocks are ones I made last year. This month's color is also red and I have some other scraps to make a few blocks this month. 

I also started making Dresden blocks late last year. I only made a couple of them last year but this year I've been making 4 each month.  These are made from 4.5 inch scraps. 

I started making these 8 inch Kaleidoscope blocks this year from 2.5 inch scraps. 

I also started making these 6 inch Twinkler blocks last year from 2.5 inch scraps.  I have 84 of them. 

Again, another project from last year - 8 inch Depression blocks from 2.5 inch scraps. I do have a LOT of scraps in the 2.5 inch size. 

I started these Pentland Cracker blocks this year after I participated in a swap of them. I decided I would add to the swap by making some of these Crackers each month. (I do like BIG quilts). 

I'm not going to stick my 3 inch spool blocks up on the cutting-matt-covered-with-batting design wall but I've been making these for a couple of years, I think. I know I have 524 of them. I am not sure how many I need.  (I do like BIG quilts).  These little spool blocks are a good use of 1.5 inch scraps. 

I'm also not going to stick my Lozenges (aka Suppositories) on the makeshift design wall. I have over 500 of them. These also use 2.5 inch scraps and will finish at 2x4.5 inches. For a twin sized quilt I figure I need 720 of them so that's how many I will make. 

So, now I've described how I'm using my scraps. What are you doing with yours? 

If you need ideas visit the RSC Mid Year Update and go see what everyone else is doing with their scraps.  Before you know it you, too, could have a Rainbow quilt made from your scraps. 

I'm going to go Whoop, Whoop it up at Confessions of a Fabric Addict and see what everyone else happens to be Whoop, Whooping about. 

And, since these are WIPs I'm going to go party over at A Quilting Reader's Garden for WIPs Be Gone.  (Actually, I'm working more on Scraps Be Gone. Maybe these are SIPs...Scraps in Progress. )

Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More Fun than Housework. (Yes, it is). 

And, how can we forget Scraptastic Tuesday??? 

Dresden Plates - the Blue Version

Each month I make four Dresdens in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month.  This month the color is light blue.  I make one with the RSC color plus b/w, one with the RSC color plus w/b, one with the RSC color and it's complement and one in just the RSC color.   All are on gray backgrounds and have gray rick rack around a polka dot center. 

A Quilting Reader's Garden

ScrapHappy Saturday 

Purple Haze (4.5 edition)

Purple Dresdens

Wedges on the Dresdens are 4.5 inch pieces.   Each month I make 4 Dresdens on gray - one in color of month, one in color of month plus b/w, one in color of the month plus w/b, one in color of month plus its complement.  I add polka dot centers surrounded by gray rick rack.   I use the EZ Dresden ruler to cut my wedges and I applique to the background. 

Purple is the color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  With my projects this year I've  been starting with the biggest scrap pieces and then worked toward the smallest pieces, strings and crumbs. 

Purple Chevrons 

4.5 HSTs 

Purple HSTs. 

Got Scraps?

Purple ones?

Use them up and show us what you've done each ScrapHappy Saturday. 

Yellow - Version 4.5

All of the blocks I made this week are made from 4.5 inch scraps.   I had a pile of fabrics that were probably less than a fat quarter or fat eighth and cut them into 4.5 inch strips, 2.5 inch strips and 1.5 inch strips since those are the size of scraps I most often use. 

Here are my four Dresdens.  Every month my goal is to make four of them appliqued to a gray background. I will make one in all the color of the month, one in month's color plus complement, one in month's color and black/white and one in month's color plus white/black.   In addition I am using polka dot centers surrounded by gray rick rack. 

I keep forgetting to take photos of the process and some tips on how I make Dresdens...maybe next month. 

Lest you be squeamish that I include spiders in my quilts...look up the symbolism of spiders in quilts and you will see that they are a symbol of good luck. 

2 - 12 inch Broken Wheel Blocks. 

Two sixteen inch Chevron blocks.  I'll probably use these at the end of the year in donation quilts. 

Two 12 inch HST blocks.  I'll probably also use these at the end of the year in donation quilts. 

Got scraps?

Use them up and show us what you've accomplished each ScrapHappy Saturday (an RSC linky party). 

In the Pink

February's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color is pink. 

I made 4 Dresdens from my 4.5 inch pink scraps.  Each month I will make 4 blocks - one in color of the month, one with color of month and its complement, one in color of month plus b/w and one in color of the month in w/b.   I'm using a gray background and polka dot centers surrounded by gray rick rack. 

Four 9.5 inch wonky logs joined into an 18 inch Wonky Log block. I've been making these since last year and now have 11 blocks and want 20 for a large quilt. 

Two 8.5 inch string blocks.  I've been making these since last year also. I have a pile of them so need to make up a few donation quilts. 

From 2.5 inch scraps I made some 6 inch Pentland Crackers. 

Got Scraps?

Join us each ScrapHappy Saturday and show us what you've done with them. 

Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder (er, I mean Hither)

Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month (medium blue), blue plus complementary color, blue plus black, blue plus white. 

I made a few Dresdens at the end of last year's RSC just to see if I'd like to make them this year as an RSC project. I guess I do.  My rules...use scraps, polka dot centers, gray rick rack around center, all appliqued on to gray background.  Oh, and, as you can probably tell...I don't agonize about layout. I just cut and sew.  Agonizing decisions are for paying jobs, not playing jobs. 

Got scraps? (I sure do)

Grab some RSC color of the month scraps, do something with them and then join us each ScrapHappy Saturday and show everyone what you've done. 

(Note: oh, and if you comment you can always expect a reply from me but it seems lately not all of the comments are reaching my mailbox so I don't even know you've commented. Weird. )

Blue - Using it and Feeling It

Light blue is the color of the month for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

I've been making 3 - 12 inch kaleidoscope blocks each month - one in the color of the month one in the color of month plus it's complement and one in color of month plus previous month.    I want to have 42 blocks before I assemble the quilt so made an extra all blue one this month. 

I've been making the corners of the blocks out of crumbs. So in addition to using up scraps for the kaleidoscope I use up LOTS of crumbs in the corners. 

I was to also make a border out of crumbs for my kaleidoscope quilt but in mixed up crumbs. I think that will look like little kaleidoscope pieces.   I've had crumb strips that are left over each month  (at top in photo) after making the kaleidoscopes that will be used in the border.  They measure about 4.5 inches.  In addition I've had some strips left over each month from the kaleidoscopes that I've been cutting into 6.5 inch squares to use in something else (yet to be determined) later. 

Since I've been using a lot of crumbs and smaller pieces in projects this year I've started using my bigger scraps in some rainbow projects that will continue into next year like this Dresden.   I've used 4.5 inch pieces in this and will use a gray background, a polka dot center in the color of the month surrounded by gray rick rack.   With this I practice my applique skills (which are about nil). 

Got Scraps?

Join the Rainbow Scrap Challenge each Scrap Happy Saturday and show us what you've done with them. 

Black, Brown, Gray Scraps

We are supposed to use up our black, brown and gray scraps this month as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Last month the color was orange and I started on an RSC project for next year- Dresdens.  I decided I would use any gray background but was undecided about the centers.  I decided any dotty fabric will do surrounded by gray medium sized rick rack. I love rick rack. 

I made 3 more vintage butterfly blocks (Beggar Blocks) and a few spares for the border.  I think I will have to continue this project into next years RSC. These are 9 inch blocks and I want enough for a full/queen sized quilt similar to the one I saw at Nostalgic Cafe. 

 

I also made a few 6 inch Twinkler blocks. 

Got Scraps? 

Use them.

Then link up each ScrapHappy Saturday. 

The Grandkids are here so we will make Halloween cookies, play some card or board games and probably make another cooperative effort to try to solve a Nancy Drew mystery (computer game).  

  

Suggestions Anyone?

Every Sunday Kathy of Kathy's Quilts hosts a Slow Sunday Stitching party where slow stitchers from miles around gather to share their projects. 

This week I have an orange Dresden block I need to applique to the background. I made the block from scraps as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and couldn't decide on a background color. I have lot of different gray fabrics so gray it is.   But, I still haven't decided on a clever center circle for my rainbow blocks to be.   

Suggestions anyone? 

I'm still working on big stitching my baskets.  This is a large quilt. I think it's about 60 x 80. The backing is that flowery fabric with writing on it over on the right. 

When I'm finished with stitching around the baskets I'm not sure what to do next because it will still need more stitching.  Maybe a stitch in the ditch between blocks? 

Suggestions anyone? 

And finally...I may start on some of these cross stitch ornaments I've picked up from the thrift stores over the years.  Some of them may just be small enough for me to see well enough to finish.  I probably will finish off the ornaments in a different way than intended. I don't think I like those plastic frames included with some of them.  But I'm not sure yet exactly how I'll finish them off - IF I ever get any of them finished.   The shoe box full of these things has got to go.  I wiped enough dust off the box to fill a small pillow. 

Suggestions anyone? 

Slow Stitching? 

Join us at Kathy's Quilts. 

Orange

This week I made my usual combo of 12 inch Kaleidoscope blocks - RSC color of the month (orange), color of month plus its complement (orange, blue), color of month plus color of previous month (orange,green). 

I decided to add two more blocks because I want to have 42 blocks at year end.  So I added orange with analogous colors (yellow,red) and secondary colors (orange,green,purple). Unfortunately I think the secondary color block will go into the orphan block pile and then into a donation quilt. I sewed together my usual 6 strips and then found out I either didn't use a scant 1/4 seam or cut one strip too small so ended up with a 6 inch strip instead of 6.5 inch in width strip. I thought I'd fix that by adding a 7th strip and cutting off either side to even up strip set to 6.5.   Arghhhh...that was not a fix and block is wonky. 

Those blocks, believe it or not, are a real crumb buster. I use crumbs for the corner triangles on the blocks.  I didn't have enough orange crumbs so combined with a few red and yellow. 

From some 4.5 inch strips I first cut a few pieces off the end for a Dresden Block.  I'll continue these into next year. I haven't yet decided what color or colors to use for background or centers. 

From same 4 .5 inch strips I made lots of 4.5 inch HSTs. A few HSTs ended up in a 16 inch chevron block and 12 inch HST block. 

I usually don't post pics other than quilt related but...speaking of orange...

last weekend the grandkids came over and helped to pick pumpkins and other things. 

Jacob had ambitious thoughts that he could push the full wheelbarrow up to the house. 

This is the other orange stuff I worked on last weekend.  The kids helped make pumpkin pies (homemade pie crust too) for dessert and pumpkin muffins for breakfast.   . 

Got scraps? (Orange this month)

Join us each ScrapHappy Saturday and show us what you've done with them.