I have been away too long! I hope you are having a wonderful summer, what's left of it. I have been challenged by one of my quilting buddies to finish the many things in my sewing room that are 'in progress' so to that end I have finished up three quilt tops. And I am finishing the quilt that I called ugly in an earlier post. I will post a picture of it when I am finished. I began quilting it last night and got about half way finished. I am quilting it with flowers and bugs of different kinds. This little guy pictured below is inspiration for one of the bugs I am stitching into the quilt.

He is sitting on my 'Gramma' Amaryllis. I call it that since it belonged to my Grandmother. She was a quilter as well. Free motion quilting gives so many possibilities for adding some fun to your quilts. How do you spice up your quilts? I'd love to hear your inspiration!

Scrappily,
    Susan

Quilting is a social event even today. I get so much encouragement and inspiration from my quilting friends. We meet each Friday and have a wonderful time over fabric, food, fun and laughter and some service for others too. I hope if you do not have any sewing or quilting buddies that you look for some. You may find some new and life long friends along the way!

This pictured quilt was made by my friend Beverly for her daughter. The picture does not due it justice. It is just beautiful. It also gave me a new appreciation for purple fabrics. Purple is not one of my preferred colors and so I only use it for accents but not as the major color in a quilt. She used many different purples and added the green to make the purple pop! It was very effective.

So what is your least favorite color and are you using it anyway or refusing it?

Scrappily,

Susan

Stars and More Stars

The stars, sun, and moon have been in the news a lot lately. I love it when we can get away from the city and actually see a night sky full of stars. You forget how many are out there when they are dimmed by the city lights. I love warm nights, even cool ones, sitting out and star gazing. Do you? Do you ever watch for the many satellites that are orbiting our planet? Try it some time, they are easy to spot. 

Moving on to quilty star things. I am amazed how quickly this year is moving by and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that it is June and July is just around the corner. I have been in the process of making a star throw and kitchen table runner for a while now and if I don't hurry up and finish them they will have to wait for July next year. So I am working on them this week, (after my nephew's graduation party which is at my house,) and am hopeful that another 4th of July will not pass us by without these additions. My 4th of July stars are wonky or irregular stars and I am making them out of Civil War prints by Judy Rothermel in mostly reds and blues with an off white background. This style of star is fun, forgiving and quick to make. So now, as my grandfather would say, "You better get to gettin." meaning I better get to work on those stars.

So what are you working on for June and July and will you stop and spend some time star gazing at the night sky or quilty ones?

Off to star gaze...

Scrappily,
   Susan

Away with the family

We have been away for some family time, leaving behind the fast pace of life. It seems like time stands still when we go here. We have no internet, phone other than spotty cell reception, no television except what we bring in dvd form. We get lots of time together, doing things together, or time to read or just sitting quietly and enjoying. I hope you will get some down time too.    I did take some quilty projects with me though. Somehow I can not stand to not have busy hands. So I was able to work on a new pattern that I made from a picture I took of an antique quilt. I made sample blocks and it is going to be a really cute quilt. I will share the pattern here when I get it all worked out. I also worked on some small, medium and a bit bigger hexes. They are the perfect take-along project. 

What are your favorite take-along projects? or do you leave it all behind when you have a chance to get away?

Scrappily,

     Susan 

Memorial Weekend

Remembering those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms, grateful for those who have served and who are serving now. Have a wonderful weekend and thank a veteran for the peace you enjoy this weekend.
      Scrappily,
         Susan

Quilting with a heart for others

I love my quilt group. They are a group of ladies that has a big heart. Last year when I came back from a missions trip to Salinas, Ecuador and they saw some of the pictures of life there, they decided they would lessen some of their stash and make fabric bags and needle cases for the ladies of this area. They would be given out through the local churches to bless the women there. The ladies in the barrios of Salinas have very little. Most had no bag for shopping or a single needle to repair clothing. So we have sewn  bags and made  needle cases to bless the women there.

What creative ways have you put your sewing or quilting skills to work to aide those in need? I would love to hear what you have done. If you haven't done anything yet, I encourage you to look for a way to be a blessing to someone in need.

Scrappily,
   Susan

Today I am making a list of the works in progress that I want to finish this summer. I am going with the thought that a plan will help me realize some finishes in the project area.

This is a picture of one of those projects. It is part of a red and white quilt I am designing. It will be a center medallion kind of placement. It is my first attempt at set in blocks. It came out just okay. I will use it but I hope for a better set of points next time I try this type of block. Have you ever done this type of piecing and do you have any tips on getting the points and bulk on the wrong side to work for you and not be a lump?  

The small block in the picture is one of seven that will all be different styles of stars that will be floating out around the large center block. It is made strip piecing style and is not hard to keep those points realitively decent. The rest of the blocks will be four patches or solid blocks of red and white. 

Well what do you think? And what are you doing this summer? Any plans for quilting, catching up on unfinished projects or just enjoying the season? 

Scrappily,

     Susan