Just Sew Quilter

Sunday, July 19, 2020

One Block Wonder

I have wanted to make a One Block Wonder for a long time, ever since I saw an article in Mary Jane's Farm magazine about a man who had made many of them. They were stunning!

Then I found the book, One Block Wonders, by Maxine Rosenthal, and bought it. I also bought some pieces of fabric that I thought might work. Tried one and when I started sewing the hexies, they looked the same as the original fabric, so that project stopped. Fast forward several years to some months ago when high school friend Cindy posted on facebook that she was making one from panels. The light went on in my head: I had 5 panels of the same thing (Tivoli Garden by Wilmington Prints), just needed one more, and surely I could manage getting this done now! My friend Jo had bought a number of these panels (where I got the original 5 to make a chenille panel) so I asked if she had one more I could get from her--and the magic began!

I wish I had taken more pictures of the project in process, but I didn't.

Here's one of my hexies partially arranged.

And another of all of them. As you can see along the top and bottom, especially, you sew half-hexies and then arrange them into whole hexies and sew row by row. I had several black hexies that I had sewn and ended up taking them apart to put along the sides so I wouldn't have to cut off any of the pretty hexies.

I didn't want borders to distract and ended up using black binding to keep the distraction to a minimum.

I named it Floral Fantasy.

My quilting is one of Lori Kennedy's designs--easy and pretty.

Here's the back. These are other Wilmington Prints, not in the same line so don't quite match, but work for the back.

Now I'm working on a bargello. Had the strip sets sewn together for several months and got after it as soon as Floral Fantasy was done. Stay tuned!

AND I am working on my post in the Christmas Now and Then hop, hosted by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt.

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Recent Finishes

Ok, maybe just one finish since the other doesn't seem to have synced from my phone to the computer...

This is my COVID-19 quilt. It is made from some of the scraps of the masks I have made. The blocks ended up being 10 1/2" finished and the sashing is 2 1/2" strips. The border is slightly wider, I don't remember now, maybe 4" strips.

I used a circle ruler and quilted it to look like the virus. Around the border, I added important figures and dates for the US and for IL. You can see the 100,000 deaths date below. I still have room on the top border for a few more dates so my hanging sleeve is not stitched down yet, but you can't see that anyway.

I also stitched COVID-19 in every block in one circle.

I about wore my hands out keeping that ruler in place, even though it was not slippery, for all those circles! I have sticky dots--there is still enough movement that I had to hold the ruler tightly.

I'm looking forward to another hop:

My day is July 31.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Masks and More Masks

Mostly what I have made in the past month and a half is masks:

That's not even all of them--I quit taking pictures after awhile. So far, over 335 and still counting.

I don't mind making them but they sure cut into other projects.

Right after making 1 batch of masks, I finished this little bargello--it's another Patty Dudek, of Elm Street Quilts, pattern--the Baby B.

This will go to a fundraiser, whenever they get to have it.

I also managed to make a denim purse for myself.

It is the Flip Flap Bag by Whistlepig Creek Productions.

I had made one from quilting cottons before and wanted one out of some of the old jeans I've been saving, so took the time to make it.

I've also managed another project in between masks, but will save it until I at least have it all stitched together. It's on my design wall, waiting...

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Thanks to Ricky Tims

A little over a year ago, I bought Ricky Tims' Convergence Quilts book.

A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to make one and this would be our March lesson for Cerro Gordo Quilters.

Here is my finished product. I'm really pretty pleased with how it turned out. The border took a lot more thought than making the center did. I used 3 different fabrics in this one; the top left and bottom right are the same fabric.

I also made this top using 4 different fabrics. I have yet to sandwich and quilt this one.

This Queen B Bargello (Elm Street Quilts Patty Dudek pattern) was given to one of our daughters when we went to their house last weekend.

This cute little birdie wall hanging was our CG Quilters lesson in February.

The baby quilt of which I spoke in my previous post was finished and sent off before baby arrived. I have another to sandwich and quilt very soon.

Spring arrives soon!! Happy spring, eveyone!

Stay safe, stay healthy, and wash your hands!

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Color It Red

Today is my day to share in the Color It Red blog hop hosted by Carol of Just Let Me Quilt.

While I don't participate in many hops, once in awhile one comes along that I can't resist--and this was one.

The first thing I will share is my first major project on my new Cricut Maker. These appliques are cut out of fabric, which worked well on this burlap bag that I got on clearance. I wanted to try vinyl but guess the kind I got wasn't good because I wasn't successful getting it cut. (I have a good brand of heat transfer vinyl now; just need to find time to do something with it. LOL) So, plan B worked out great!

Next is a UFO I had started a few years ago. This is Bargello Color Wheel by Cheryl Phillips. The center has been done, like I said, for a few years. Then I put it aside, not sure what I wanted to do with it. A few months ago I got it out and put it on my design wall. Then after several weeks I suddenly thought to put it on a black background. I had rainbow print to use for the binding, and I think it looks great!

My next project was not one I planned to make--it's one of those "squirrel" projects that we have to do right now. One of my quilting friends was making a table mat, Valentine's Table Topper by Riley Blake Designs, and I had to do it too. Mine isn't exactly according to the pattern; I cut the hearts and circles on my Cricut and left out some other applique. I think it came out pretty neat.

It looks really nice on our table with my Valentine's Day bouquet.

My last project is a scrap quilt. The pattern is Traffic Jam by Pat Sloan.

I used a bunch of the scrap 2 1/2" squares that I had cut (I cut squares and strips from scraps) and background fabric from my stash. Since I wanted a little more "jazz" to it, I found a yard of the bright fabric I used as sashing and binding. It sure does jazz it up! Funny thing about using scraps--I don't seem to make much of a dent in my supply...