FALLING LEAVES TABLE RUNNER

 I just finished this table runner for my next-door neighbor.  It was fun to make as she requested Fall colors -------

The runner is 13" x 36" and contains 38 different fabrics culled from my stash/scrap bins.

It is machine pieced, and machine quilted with random wavy lines.

 The yellow/gold glow in the center reminds me of the aspen trees in our beautiful Rocky Mountains during the autumn.

I'm joining the following:

My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday

Have a Daily Cup for Share your Cup Thursday

Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday

Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday

What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday

Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making

Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday

Ems Scrapbag for Moving It Forward Monday

FALL ???????

Fall colors ---- time for a new project!

I'm joining the following:

Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday

My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday

1930s REPRODUCTION SCRAPS

 Those of you that have read my quilting blog in the past know that I have a huge supply of scraps spanning several decades and 100+ quilts.  My ongoing goal is to use some of them up.  But, I think, I am failing big time ---- when I'm not looking, they seem to multiply!

Case in point ---- I pulled out this box of scraps from two quilts I made in 2001 and 2004 for books I was writing at the time. 

 Here is what the box looks like today after I finished another quilt using these fabrics.

I swear I didn't add a single fabric to the box ---- it's just a losing battle!

Here is the new table topper I made out of the 1930s repros.  Every fabric including the backing and binding came out of that box.

 It is a traditional half-log cabin pattern rotating the blocks.  I was disappointed that the yellow squares didn't show up better, so I diagonally machine quilted them to emphasize them --- it helps, I think.  It's also quilted down the center of each 1/2" log.

The 36 blocks are 3" each and paper-pieced.  The little quilt measures 21" square.

 And, an extra photo --- just because I'm enjoying our August garden!

My husband also grows a vegetable garden, and we are currently enjoying tomatoes, green beans, green peppers, and onions.  He's our resident gardener; I just quilt! 

I'm joining the following:
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Quilt Fabrication for Midweek Makers Wednesday
My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday
Ems Scrapbag for Moving It Forward Monday

BETSEY'S BLOCK TABLE RUNNER

I was blessed with some sewing time last week so I finished this table runner.

I'm always intrigued with a quilt setting that appears to obliterate the seams of the block resulting in a secondary pattern.
This is the block I started with --- one of my favorite blocks -- "Betsey's Block".

By off-setting the blocks and alternating colors, a secondary zig-zag pattern appears. 

The blocks are 3" and the runner finished out at 16" x 25".  It was paper-pieced and machine quilted.

Time for a new project!  I'm thinking of pulling out the bin of 1930s reproduction scraps.

I'm joining the following:
My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or not Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday

A NEW PROJECT

A new project started ----- still working out of the scrap bins and making my favorite block again.  Read more about 'Betsey's Block' here.

This time I'm using an offset setting that produces a secondary pattern.

This will be a small table runner, so just a few more 'Betsey's Blocks' to make.

I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Ems Scrapbag for Moving It Forward Monday
My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday

CACTUS FLOWERS

When I began this project I was interested in seeing how the colors of coral, rust, and red interacted together.  This little quilt grew from that idea.

The 3-inch cactus flower blocks were paper pieced.  That is the only way I can achieve any kind of accuracy with tiny, bias edged pieces.  I dug in my stash/scrap bins for fabrics to make the blocks, but purchased the Barbara Brackman fabric for the sashing and the Di Ford fabric for the setting triangles.

It was fun using this striped, coral and red fabric for the setting triangles to form a quasi border.

 I'm happy with the design and fabric choices ---- but as usual, not too thrilled with my machine quilting!  The quilt finished out 24" square.

I'm ready to begin another project.

I'm joining the following:

Ems Scrapbag for Moving It Forward Monday

Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making

Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday

What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday

My Quilt Infatuation for Needle & Thread Thursday

Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday

Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday

Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday

CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP DAY WITH QUILTS

The United Nations has designated July 30, 2017 as International Day of Friendship.  Plus, the United States celebrates Friendship Day this year on Sunday, August 6th.

I thought I would celebrate with pictures of some of the signature quilts that I own.  They include signatures of old friends, quilting friends, family, and other acquaintances.
Each quilt is very special to me, and contains fond memories of people and occasions.

Below is a book I wrote several years ago about signature quilts that contains tips and patterns.  It is out of print, but still available on Amazon Books.

CELEBRATE WITH FRIENDS AND MAKE A SIGNATURE QUILT!

I'm joining the following:
Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or not Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Ems Scrapbag for Moving It Forward Monday
My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday

ON POINT

I've been intrigued recently about how the colors -- red, rust, and coral --- interact with each other.  I finally got to the quilt store in Colorado Springs to do 'some research', and came home with these two fabrics.

I love working with stripes especially when using a traditional  'on point' quilt setting.

The wheels are turning ------

I'm thinking of making these 3" cactus flower blocks with scraps from my stash, and using the two stripe fabrics for sashing and setting triangles.

I like the way this is going together ----

Only 21 more itty, bitty cactus flower blocks to make!

I'm joining the following:
My Quilt Infatuation for Needle and Thread Thursday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
So Scrappy for Design Wall Monday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Ems Scrapbag for Moving It Forward Monday

OBSESSIVE QUILTMAKING

If I wasn't obsessive about quiltmaking before, I'm quickly getting there ----

My latest project was a 24" mini-quilt with 36 4" log cabin blocks.  The quilt contains 468 pieces with 216 DIFFERENT  fabrics.  That's a lot going on in a 24" square.

Unfortunately, it didn't make a dent in my supply of tiny scraps!

Don't call me a hoarder of fabric --- I'm the curator of an extensive private textile collection that spans five decades! 

I'm joining the following:
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday
Crazy Mom Quilts for Finish it up Friday
What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday

TRADITIONAL COMFORT ZONE

I've tried to think a little out of the box on my last few projects. 

So to change things up a bit this week, I decided I would start something really traditional ---- a log cabin with reproduction fabrics.

For me, traditional-type quilts are the most fun to make.  I'm always inspired by antique quilts, as that is where my quilting travels began 50 years ago.  Plus, I'm intrigued by all of the reproduction fabrics on the market today.

If I can pull out 100 (or more) different fabric scraps for a project, the fun just increases.

I'm paper-piecing those little 4" squares.  Is paper-piecing traditional?  I don't know, but I love the accuracy.

Traditional just feels comfortable to me!

I'm joining the following:
Love Laugh Quilt for Monday Making
Cooking Up Quilts for Main Crush Monday
What a Hoot Quilts for BOMS Away Monday
Sew Fresh Quilts for Let's Bee Social Wednesday
Busy Hands Quilts for Finished or Not Friday
Confessions of a Fabric Addict for Can I Get a Whoop Whoop Friday