Make Life Chevrons

After two recent quilt finishes, I decided to pull out scraps from previous projects and make a Patchwork Chevron Quilt designed by Jeni Baker of In Color Order.  Since I had leftovers from a jelly roll, I sewed nine patches of 2.5" squares and 6.5" squares of white fabric.  The chevrons above are randomly placed at the moment.  I'm planning on adding 7 more chevrons to make a 4x4 grid instead.  If I can squeeze out enough leftovers, I'll make it 4x5 but I don't think I'll be able to pull that off.  My quilting plan is to try the orange peel quilting method from Oh Fransson!.  I wanted to try a small project before taking on a twin size quilt for my niece.  No intended recipient, but depending upon the size, I may keep this one for O.

But this weekend is beautiful so I think this may be as far as I get until later in the work week.

Daisy Chain Strings

The string quilt is finished thanks to my mom sewing the binding for me.  I still need to improve my picture taking skills.  The color isn't very good and there really isn't much detail.  Perhaps if my quilt holder was a little more willing to be helpful.....

Pattern: slight variation on Valentine by Elizabeth Hartman
Fabrics: Daisy Chain by Amy Butler; Kona: Navy, Olive, Sour Apple, Pear, White, Robin's Egg, Azure, Peacock; Moda Light Jade, Free Spirit  Jade
Backed in Robert Kaufman Olive flannel
Bound with Kona Navy
Quilted by me in an all over stipple
Pre-washed size:  58x70"

It's not a new project, I'm cleaning

 I sent out way too many strips for my bee quilt and had extra uncut fabric as well as strips remaining.  So, instead of trying to organize the container of strips, I chose to use some 12" cheap scrapbook paper and make a lovely string quilt.  I'll either run out of strips or out of variety with what is remaining.  Maybe I'll add 5 more blocks to make it around 55x66.  There is a lot more room in the container so I suppose I can chalk this up to cleaning rather than starting a new project when the other one is still not complete.  And for some reason, I thought string quilts were a bit more time consuming than it ended up being.  Or, I need to wait to say that until after I tear all the paper off the back.

The colors are so much better in real life and not well represented in the picture.

Nearly done....

 I've spent some time attempting to get this quilt nearly finished.  One more block to go and that one will be coming in the mail.    I'm trying to completely finish a project before starting another one but that isn't too easy.  One more block was made since this picture was taken.

 My niece could probably use a twin size bed quilt mostly likely using Lynnebobsquarepants.  Ever since making the Project Linus quilt using Pat Bravo's scraps, I've been wanting to incorporate more Art Gallery fabrics in my quilts.  This stack is mostly Poetica with some Oval and Nature Elements thrown in.  Pretty good for someone who likes blue, purple and pink.  Unless I make a baby quilt to donate first, I think this is my next project.

And April's bee block for Lisa.  I tried to be very careful about matching points especially because I know I am better when I can trim things down to size.  There wasn't that luxury this time with the directions.  It looks pretty good in the picture.  Yay!

A final project that also has yet to be started.  Every year there is a call for staff art to be displayed at the main office.  Traci and I decided it might be kind of cool to get together a group of us and each make one block to contribute to a quilt to be displayed.  We have about 6 months to accomplish this and it is the fun part, fabric shopping.

More squares

So far this week I've added 3 more squares to my Daisy Chain quilt, all in the 4 sets of 6.5" squares.

 In a random layout, here is what it looks like now with 31 blocks completed.  I need to add more of the intricate blocks instead of the 4 square or 1 square per 12.5" block versions.  And probably I need to add some more solid dominated blocks as a resting point for the eyes.

 Last weekend, I attempted to release the parking brake from the car while it was in the driveway only to hear a funny noise and find that even though the handle was released, the parking brake was still engaged and the car would not move.  While waiting at home for the tow truck driver to come to take it in to get fixed, I started on a Mod Mosaic mini-quilt/mug rug as a thank you.  I've never sent a quilty thank you before and it is one that is probably unexpected.  But, I wanted to return the favor when someone did something that made me smile.     I now think I need to make some other mod mosaic style blocks as I like them quite a bit.  I'm glad it is Friday tomorrow.

A block for Alisa

I haven't done much sewing this week and failed to take pictures of the drawstring bags before they were given as wrappings for birthday presents.  But, I did manage to make the 25 patch block for this month of Sew.Bee.Create (and a second 16 patch that I did not take a picture of before I packed it up).  I did try to go slow and match up as many points as possible, but I wasn't perfect.  Argh.  Alisa wanted us to include at least one square from our own stash to make each block unique and ours.  Can you guess which one it is?




Besides drawstring bags, the other project since the last post was selecting and cutting fabrics for Kati's Monster Charm Swap.  I got my favorite color, managed to purchase some that ended up being red-purple in person instead of purple, and had to try again.  These were the final five selected.  Most are from Art Gallery (as were the red-purples) and the first is a Timeless Treasures Bubbles in Purple.  The fabric is now cut and sorted, and is waiting to get packed up and sent off after I buy some labels.

Next project to complete before a Saturday swim lesson is a drawstring backpack with laminated cotton on the inside to put in someone's swim stuff.  Hopefully that will be a successful story for the next time, and I'll be better about taking pictures.

And then there were 21

5 new ones since the last picture but I need to fix one of them since one is hard to see next to its neighboring large square.