Friday, March 11, 2016

big and little

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

My first finish for today is quite exciting to me, mainly because I've had the supplies for so long. It is one of those projects that should have been quick and easy, but finding that hour or so to get it done took a few years. (Yes, years!)

I was in Duluth at Hannah Johnson Fabrics about two years ago. The owner, Janet, sold the chalkboard fabric to me, and she threw in the frames for free. The frames had been sitting, unused, in HER basement for a few years prior to my visit. I think she had intended to use them for something similar to this, but never got around to it. The frames were already painted these lovely colors, which was a bonus! A few weeks ago, I had my husband help me cut down thin backer boards (to stabilize the chalkboard fabric) and last night, my two younger kiddos and I finally assembled them. The kids helped pound in the nails (to secure the backer boards into the frames) and they thought that was the best thing ever. Well, second to actually using the chalkboards.
They had such a blast trying it out! I had to chuckle that they immediately started doing math problems....gotta love that! This one will be for the kids, and the other one will be for me. I'm so excited to have this project complete! Each of the frames are about 32" x 41".....nice and large for long to-do lists. Ha!
I recently purchased a brand new bag of this...which means I have enough filling to make about 100 more pincushions. My husband is not amused. I, on the other hand, am thrilled! :)
I was playing with scraps this week and got sidetracked from my original project. I end up with this tiny block of patchwork, which is about 5'' square! Each of those strips finish at about 1/2''. Teeny, tiny and oh-so-cute! Quilted pincushions are a great way to use up those long skinny strips of leftover batting. It's fabulous!
 This one might be my new favorite! It reminds me of my kids' tiny Lego pieces.
I'm smitten by these seriously tiny (and bright) pieces!!! This is scrap project # 128!
It's been awhile since I showed my "candy dish" of pincushions. It's steadily growing...and it could be classified as a situation at this point. But, I'm good with that! Here's to 100 more! :)

Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday!
finish it up Friday, 3/11/16
1. Carie @ Space for the Butterflies  67. Margaret @ life as posted two  
2. svetlana@sotakhandmade  68. Rachel S.B. @ Stitch 2, Write 1  
3. A Tale of Two Minis  69. Heide  
4. Paint the Fence | Quilted Blooms  70. JulieBagamaryArt - Spring or More Snow?  
5. Eva-Bambi-Johansson  71. JulieBagamaryArt-Wedding Art Quilt  
6. Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs  72. SarahZ @ CedarForkStitches  
7. Brooke @ Silly Mama Quilts  73. Kara@SunshineKwilts  
8. Alycia Quilts: Lasagna Quilt  74. teach me to hope - sweet little cap  
9. Sophie @ Lunalovequilts  75. Pretty in the Port  
10. Midnight Mystery Parade - 111 Quilts!!  76. A pillow for a friend  
11. Julie @ That's Sew Julie  77. Empress Charlotte - Blocks 16 and 17  
12. Tina G @ ModGeometry | Saan ka galing  78. Tracy  
13. Miss Alissa Creates  79. Lucy @ Charm About You  
14. alidiza  80. Jess @ Quilty Habit  
15. Teagan @ Simple Satchels  81. tubakk, Norway  
16. Busy Hands Quilts - King Sparkle Plenty  82. Erica @ kitchen table quilting  
17. Elaine @ Beech Tree Lane Handmade  83. Flutterby Top  
18. Busy Hands Quilts - 4 Gift Aprons  84. PackRat With A Plan  
19. LizzieLenard Vintage Sewing  85. St Patrick's Day Tissue Box Covers  
20. scrappy qasg pillows  86. Maartje quilts in Amsterdam  
21. Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty  87. Sarah @ 123quilt - Urban Jungle Top  
22. Adaliza  88. Tanya Quilts in CO  
23. Em @ Em's Scrapbag  89. Kate @ katiemaequilts  
24. Little Medallions  90. Ilse @ kervei  
25. Jen @ stitchified  91. Smultronbo pieceful  
26. My Imperfect Life  92. Myintzu  
27. Karen  93. Majas Paradis  
28. Michelle's Romantic Tangle  94. Pinwheels @ QuiltFabrication  
29. Double Four Patch Quilt in Paris  95. Kris @SewSunshine  
30. Katy @ KatyQuilts  96. Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge  
31. Jo's Country Junction  97. Erica@dressesandspurs  
32. The Colorful Fabriholic  98. Kathy@KayakQuilting  
33. Needle & Foot Covered in Love Blocks  99. Shamrock Applique  
34. Needle & Foot Small Quilty Gifts  100. Ali Phillips  
35. beth@lovelaughquilt  101. Ruth @Stitching Impressions  
36. Geta  102. Emma @ A Hand Stitched Life  
37. Baby quilt & fabric giveaway  103. Vicki in MN  
38. Kelly @ My Quilt Infatuation  104. Urban planning finish/lobster update  
39. Laura  105. Janice@singreadsew  
40. Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts  106. Sew Happily Ever After: tutorial  
41. Anja @ Anja Quilts  107. Kim @PersimonDreams  
42. Татьяна  108. Dona@grateful4quilting  
43. Elena - Cosiendo Sueños  109. Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts  
44. Kate Heads  110. Monkey Needle  
45. Debora @ Studio Dragonfly  111. Kelly Cline Quilting  
46. Colleen @ Piecemakerquilts  112. Mt Devon Farm and Fiber  
47. Quilting is more fun than Housework  113. Mary @ Fleur de Lis Quilts  
48. FMQ sampler @ ipatchandquilt  114. Allison@New Every Morning  
49. Vickie  115. Circa 2016 and a prize package  
50. determination pays off  116. Embroidery project folder  
51. Tish's Adventures in Wonderland  117. Mihaela  
52. Pencil Case - Whims And Fancies  118. Andrea R  
53. Blithe Quilt Top | Ants to Sugar  119. Barb @ Mountain Quiltworks  
54. Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts  120. Amanda @ Material Girl Quilts  
55. selina  121. Zafira @zarkadia  
56. Johnna @ Yellow Bird Stitches  122. Alison@thechainpiecer  
57. Quilts & Such  123. Carla @ Creatin' in the Sticks  
58. Frankie  124. Ali @ Stitch Away  
59. Maria@RaspberryJam  125. Angie in SoCal  
60. Gemini Jen NZ lap quilt  126. No Greater Love- Free Embroidery Pattern  
61. RGD finished  127. SewPsyched! Paperie SewTogether Bag  
62. San  128. bee  
63. Bright & Modern @ goldshoegirl  129. Sandra @ mmm! quilts  
64. Teagan @ Hope Deferred  130. Eli's Scrap Quilt  
65. Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict  131. deana at dreamworthy quilts  
66. Scrappy Quilt Block | Stash Bee!  132. Sunshine Pojagi @ WonkyPatchwork  

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

44 comments:

Svetlana said...

I so love this little pincushion. All those tiny little pieces all together, it looks fantastic.

Preeti said...

A lovely "situation" that is also very inspiring!!!
http://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com

Paige said...

What a great idea for old frames. They are beautiful, what colors! The pincushion is so cute!

Lyndsey said...

I think you should make a pincushion shop on etsy or something. I'd buy several! Husbands everywhere would not be "amused".

Bernie Kringel said...

If I had to choose, this might be my favorite of the pin cushions! Adorable.

Anonymous said...

I do love all your little pincushions. I've resisted the temptation to make any so far, but your pictures are always very beguiling. :)

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Oh my...those are tiny squares. Looks great!

Lorna McMahon said...

The new chalk boards are fantastic! What fun for little and big people alike. And yay for more pincushion filler! Those wee scraps sure make for a bright new sample to add to the collection. Enjoy your weekend! Are your kids out of school for March Break this coming week?

Colleen said...

fun pincushions - your candy bowl looks scrumptious !

Unknown said...

Hannah Johnson's always has the best and most fun new stuff! We drive 4 hours just to go there and to Target and drive home again!

Cheryl said...

Cuter (and less painful should you step on it) than legos!

Tine said...

Ooooh!! That's what you put into your pincushions! I'll have to look what my local pet stores have!!

Judy in Michigan said...

I'm intrigued with the math problem and the way it is being solved. I'm an "old math" teacher so this is very interesting to me. Can't figure out why the graph...would love to know. Maybe your son could email me (LOL)

Love all the rest of your projects as always...what a treat to see what you've been doing.

margaret said...

glad to know where i can find crushed walnut shells! cute pin cushion.

SarahZ said...

"A situation"...love it!!! Congrats on the great chalkboard finishes too :0

Julie Bagamary said...

What a cheerful pincushion. Nice chalk boards too. I have some unused chalkboard fabric...hmmmm.

Jen said...

My daughter is always looking for a quick project to do together. She'd love these pincushions. Time to use up some scraps. Thanks for the inspiration!

Lucy | Charm About You said...

The chalk boards look fab! I agree the pincushion made me think of lego too - very cute and how pretty the bowls look :)

Turid said...

I love small scraps and I love pincushions. Yours is super sweet.

travelinsewl said...

Cheers! I have a few more pincushions at my house too,!

travelinsewl said...

Cheers! I have a few more pincushions at my house too,!

Unknown said...

Great post as usual Amanda Jean! I love how your "work" is a family affair!thanks for the inspiration!

Unknown said...

Great post as usual Amanda Jean! I love how your "work" is a family affair!thanks for the inspiration!

Robby said...

Seems like Hubby would be far happier with 100 pin cushions than 100 reptiles like those seem like they might have been destined for. That would ceratinly be true at our house.

eva said...

the colours are amazing, and another amazing & fantastic idea for using up those minuscule gorgeous bits of fabric!!

I would love to see what the back of that teeny tiny pieced pincushion looks like.

xo
eva

Sew Happily Ever After said...

Beautiful! As usual!

Di~ said...

'houston we have a situation'...well lets get situated with this situation! Love ALL your pin cushies!
(our 3 yr. old grand daughter always says, "wait, let me get situated!" :) those chalk boards are amazing!

daisymeadow said...

I love your candy dishes of pin cushions. I'm going to have to make me some of those!

Diane Beavers said...

Amanda Jean, the pinnie's are so precious and I can just see you smiling everytime you look at those Bowls full of brightness. I love the "Lego" look, bet it doesn't hurt if you step on it tho:). One of my 2016 goals is making a pinnie w/my scraps from each project and so far I'm on task. Thank you for inspiring me!!

bluestarof2(at)yahoo(dot)com

Barb Neiwert said...

I have a large bag of walnut shells just like yours! I got it when I decided one year I should make pin cushions to sell at craft shows. Since I have the majority of the bag left over, you can tell how that idea panned out, lol. Have fun making 100 more - they are all great!

Marla said...

Love your tiny patchwork pincushion. It's a great addition to your collection!

Unknown said...

You make my week !!! Great inspiration 😍

Createology said...

LOVE your chalkboards and your children working on math! Fabulous scrap pincushions you have created. I love that you use what you have. Embracing Creative Bliss...

Lara B. said...

Well it's a delightful "situation" to have gotten to Amanda Jean. Your pincushions looks so great gathered up like that. It makes me want to start sewing them too! Love the latest scrappy one too!

It is so funny that your kiddos immediately used their chalkboard for math!

Laura B said...

I love this pincushion! And that bowl of them is amazing! So inspiring! Now I want to make all the pin cushions too! :)

Suzanne said...

Woohoo! I have no idea what made you pull those scraps into that pincushion (except you seem to be hard wired to do it). The thing about husbands is that eventually they learn not to question some of our motives because a happy wife is a happy life. :)

Sandra Walker said...

Yay for math geeks!! Love the newest addition to your "situation"...I hope to have one myself in the near future, lol. This latest pin cushion is too adorable; I feel vindicated that I've kept a ton of the tiny HSTs from my Swoon Mini, which are going to finish at 3/4"...maybe. :-) Scraps cray-cray peeps are my kind of peeps. Where do you buy your crushed walnuts? The only stuff I ever found was soooo expensive and a huge bag. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Chalkboard fabric? This would have been the best thing to know about when I was teaching in Mongolia.

Anne / Springleaf Studios said...

I hate to admit how many projects I've had sitting around for years. Congrats on buckling down and getting this one done. Looks like it will keep your kiddos busy.

FlourishingPalms said...

How did you know that I too have a roll of chalk board fabric in my stash?! Unfortunately, I don't have frames for them, but thought to sew the fabric into placemats. Now you've got me thinking about that again. As for the ground walnut shells, I am happy to say that I have a nephew who owns a pet store, specializing in lizards and other creepy crawly things. I know what I'll be buying next time I visit his place in Olathe, Kansas!

Crystal_235 said...

Love the pincushions. I'm going to have to make some. Any tips?

Live a Colorful Life said...

I just love all your pincushions! I have a roll of chalkboard fabric. And have never done a single thing with it. *sigh*

Jeneta said...

Your pincushion collection looks beautiful in the wooden bowls. I think my husband wishes that our cushion collection was actually the same size as your pincushions!!

Anonymous said...

I adore your pincushions!!!