a new quilt top and a few more pincushions

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

Last weekend I managed to sew some blocks that have been sitting in limbo for a long time into a quilt top. According to Instagram, I was working on these blocks in February of 2014. Yikes! I guess some projects need to marinate longer than others!

These blocks were inspired by a little doo-dad that my son made out of perler beads several years ago. It just goes to show you that inspiration truly can come from anywhere! I started with one mini charm pack of Tula Pink fabrics, which are surrounded by Oakshotts. The colors of the cross weaves are so brilliant--they shimmer! The background is Essex linen in the color flax.

I like that some of the blocks have 4 squares inside and some only have 3 squares inside. I also like the setting of the blocks! The quilt is a twin size...and any name suggestions are welcome. :) I'm still mulling over how to quilt it, and hopefully that won't take me 2 years to decide!

I'm still on track with my pincushion challenge. It has been so. much. fun!
Day 26....

I made another diamond pincushion (based on my diamond pillow pattern). I love this simple design and it uses super tiny scraps. It measures about 4 1/2" square and it is scrap project # 172.

Day 27....

I made 2 pincushions for day 27 because I was testing some measurements. (I'm working on writing up a set of pincushion patterns...I hope to release them in a few days.) I made another diamond pincushion, but this time I used a striped fabric in place of the scraps. I thought that was a lot of fun twist...and much quicker! The pincushion on the right is a multi-colored version of the pincushion I showed on day 1. These are scrap project # 173.

Day 28...

I am rather fond of this little herringbone pincushion! It was foundation pieced onto paper. Again, the scraps are super tiny...most of the strips finishing at just under 1/2". (!!!) It measures 2 1/4" x 6" and it is scrap project #174.

One more thing for today...

I made these needle minders as gifts for my retreat friends last weekend. I thought they turned out pretty cute! (I love that I didn't even need to add a watermark to this photo. ha!) These are made from scraps as well, and are project # 175.

 

 

Alright! That's it for me today. Please link up you finishes for the week. Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday! Have a safe weekend! 

finish it up Friday, 7/29/16

1.	The Inside Stori	52.	Busy Hands Quilts Summer Solstice QAL
2.	Eva-Bambi-Johansson	53.	wall hanging
3.	Katy @ KatyQuilts	54.	Gemini Jen NZ Kate Spain quilt
4.	That's Sew Julie	55.	Wendy's quilts and more
5.	Penguin Pillow	56.	Kathy@KayakQuilting
6.	Stacey @slostudio - Quilts for Fort Mac tops	57.	Friendship Quilt
7.	Mermaid Banner:: Porcupinestew	58.	Lucy @ Charm About You
8.	Windham Fabrics Fabric Giveaway	59.	Angela A @ betterndogbiscuits scrap
9.	Benartex Fabrics Fabric Giveaway	60.	Pomada
10.	Updated & Even Faster Hidden Zipper Tute	61.	Sandra @ mmm! quilts
11.	Simple Skirt :: Porcupinestew	62.	Quilts & Such
12.	Handtied Snuggle Quilt Pattern	63.	baby quilt top and Sugarblock bom block
13.	Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl	64.	SplendidSampler byTiina
14.	The Leftovers	65.	Treadlestitches Daisy Quilt finish
15.	Seams Open Or To Side -Pros & Cons	66.	Rachel S.B. @ Stitch 2, Write 1
16.	Julia in Mississippi	67.	packratwithaplan
17.	Sylvia	68.	Tanya Quilts in CO
18.	Janine @ The Sweetest Dreams	69.	Carla @ Creatin' in the Sticks
19.	Friendly Village Table Runner	70.	Meloney
20.	Susan's Quilt Creations	71.	Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts
21.	Kitty @ Night Quilter	72.	SewPsyched!
22.	Adaliza	73.	dreamworthy quilts
23.	Sew Preeti Quilts	74.	Julie Bagamary
24.	Lisa @ simpledream2.etsy.com	75.	Julie Bagamary Art
25.	DonnaleeQ-Baby Boy	76.	Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge
26.	Kat & Cat Quilts	77.	Anja @ Anja Quilts
27.	Frankie Carson	78.	Christina @ Christina's Handicrafts
28.	Nancy@PugMomQuilts	79.	Dresden Quilter
29.	Lunalovequilts - Glasses case	80.	Terri Faust Quilts
30.	Applique Tutorial & GIVEAWAY | Quilted Blooms	81.	Tami @ Thrift Shop Commando - Pink and Scrappy
31.	svetlana@sotakhandmade	82.	12 Hundred Quilt at dittencraft
32.	Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs	83.	Jen Shaffer
33.	Karen	84.	Ali@arabesque-scissors
34.	Smiles from Kate	85.	Amanda @ fabric engineer
35.	My Imperfect Life	86.	Baby Quilt #4 @ LoGoQuilts
36.	Em	87.	Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
37.	Napkin Tutorial and Giveaway	88.	Kelly Cline Quilting
38.	Little Bunny Quilts -- tree skirt and giveaway!	89.	Kim @PersimonDreams
39.	Five pointed star pincushion	90.	Glisten:A Finished Quilt
40.	Quilting is more fun than Housework	91.	Carol Quilts Sometimes - Frivols Quilt
41.	Aviatrix Medallion | mell-meyer.de	92.	Steff`sHobbys
42.	Holiday Forest @ QuiltFabrication	93.	Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts
43.	Brooke of Silly Mama Quilts	94.	CJS-sewingroom
44.	Michelle's Romantic Tangle	95.	Patty @ Elm Street Quilts
45.	Lorna @ Sew Fresh Quilts	96.	Elm Street Quilts - wedding quilt
46.	MOD Bear Paw	97.	Jess @ Quilty Habit
47.	Janeen@Quilt Art Designs	98.	Poke Ball Love
48.	Quilting with a view	99.	Row By Row Finish!!!
49.	Julie @ Pink Doxies	100.	Janice@singreadsew
50.	Ruth @Stitching Impressions	101.	Needle and Foot
51.	Ice Tapestries and Shibori Quilts

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pincushions galore

The pincushion challenge is still on....25 days down, and still going strong! I will admit that some days I don't look forward to making yet another pincushion, but once I get started, I'm always glad that I did. Here are the most recent ones...

Day 20...

This pinwheel pincushion is made of solid scraps. (A few weeks ago I gave away all my little print scraps...so I've had to dig into the solids. It's been good!) I think it took more time to stage the photo than it did to make the pincushion, but sometimes that's how it goes! It is scrap project #166.

Day 21...

This one is a variation on day 7's pincushion. I thought it would be fun to throw another bowtie in the middle. I like it a lot! I called this one "dumpster diving" because I had my friends dig in their trash to rescue their cut off triangles. (The name credit totally goes to my friend Cindy...it was her genius idea.) It is tricky to line up 1" squares when you use Essex linen, but it was totally worth the trouble. It measures 4" square. It's scrap project #167.

Day 22...

More solid scraps...these are Lecien solids and they were great to work with! I LOVE the colors. This one reminds me of a beach towel. The stripes measure at about 1/2"! It's scrap project #168.

Day 23...

Fussy cut scissors are the star of this pincushion! I love that Cindy's scissors match the fabric perfectly. I might need to purchase a pair of those scissors just for photos. They are too cute! I love the simplicity of this one. It is scrap project #169.

Day 24...

I really (really!) like this one! It was inspired by the iconic Aurifil spool. Oddly enough, I quilted the spool with thread from Connecting Threads. Hahaha! I love the irony! It measures about 3" x 4 3/4". It's scrap project #170.

Day 25...

I went old school for this one....paper pieced pineapple block in red and white. I was afraid that I would ruin it with the quilting, but I think it turned out alright. It finishes at just under 4" square and it's scrap project #171.

Once again, thank you to all of you who have encouraged me along the way as I work toward my goal of making one pincushion a day in July. It's been a lot of fun! Only 6 more to go...

Do you have a favorite?

dot your i's quilt top

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

This weekend I'm hanging out and sewing with my friends for our annual Gruber's quilt retreat. This is year 7 (!!!) and it keeps getting better and better. I've appreciated having the time to sew and laugh with my friends and sew some more. I'm super excited, because it gave me time to finish up my "dot your i's" quilt top! I started this project exactly one year ago. I'm thrilled to have it in quilt top form. Already!

There are a total of 396 hand stitched squircles in this quilt. I used Carolyn Friedlander's needle turn applique method that she shares in her book Savor Each Stitch. I thoroughly enjoyed the process of making this quilt! It measures about 63" x 77". It's an instant favorite! I'm looking forward to spending more time with it (hahaha!) as I hand quilt it. I do love a good long term project!

Now, it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank you for joining me for finish it up Friday!

finish it up Friday, 7/22/16

1.	Hawaiian box quilt	47.	Brigit Gail
2.	Eva.Bambi,Johansson	48.	Cool Yourself Down Tie
3.	Candy Shop quilt by Alison	49.	5 Step Guide To Perfect Minky Quilt Back
4.	Bannan bread:: Porcupinestew	50.	Nancy@PugMomQuilts
5.	Chrissie @ prairie charm quilts	51.	JulieBagamaryArt - Gray Matter
6.	Needle and Foot - 1	52.	JulieBagamaryArt-SilverPainted Buttons
7.	Carie @ Space for the Butterflies	53.	Ruth @Stitching Impressions
8.	Needle & Foot - 2	54.	Sleeping Bunny - Quilting stories
9.	Alycia's Patriotic Quilt	55.	Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts
10.	Julie@Pink Doxies	56.	Brooke of Silly Mama Quilts
11.	Michelle's Romantic Tangle	57.	Elena - Cosiendo Sueños
12.	DonnaleeQ-Football Sundays	58.	Starry Field
13.	mini matriarchin - qayg pillow	59.	Heidi @ Buttons & Butterflies
14.	Tami @ Thrift Shop Commando	60.	Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
15.	Mari @ The Academic Quilter	61.	Wendys quilts and more
16.	Quilting is more fun than Housework	62.	Mama Spark
17.	Jo's Country Junction	63.	Judy @ Sew Some Sunshine
18.	Q-Bits Seminole Patchwork	64.	A Friendly Throw (Anne)
19.	Kaffe Fassett Fonthill Quilt	65.	Knit Beanie - Easy!
20.	Sylvia	66.	Gemini Jen NZ mermaid quilt #2
21.	Smiles from Kate	67.	Gemini Jen NZ mermaid quilt #1
22.	Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs	68.	My Sewing Room
23.	Celtic Thistle Stitches	69.	Debbie
24.	Happiness Sunburst	70.	Gender Neutral Baby Quilt
25.	Leanne Parsons	71.	Two Sided Baby Pillow
26.	Lunalovequilts - Zip pouches	72.	Annie
27.	Crystal	73.	Bionic Gear Bag - the lilac cat
28.	yanicka	74.	Jess @ SewJess Handmade
29.	Adaliza	75.	Karen
30.	Hexies and a gorgeous new bag!	76.	Anja @ Anja Quilts
31.	Improv: Beyond The Bee- Floating Squares	77.	Big Half Hexie Quilt
32.	My Imperfect Life	78.	Jess @Quilty Habit
33.	Katie @ what KT made	79.	The Twin Baby Quilt @ LoGoQuilts
34.	Quillow	80.	Libby @ No Airplane Here
35.	Merbaby	81.	Apple Farm Pot Holders
36.	Katy @KatyQuilts	82.	Kim @PersimonDreams
37.	Colleen @ Piecemakerquilts	83.	Deana
38.	Quilty Hug	84.	Emma @ A Hand Stitched Life
39.	Windchimes quilt finished and gifted	85.	Debbie @ A Quilter's Table
40.	Kat & Cat Quilts	86.	shelley brooks
41.	Terri Faust Quilts	87.	Steffi`sHobbys
42.	In Our Garden Blocks 5 & 6	88.	Susan's Quilt Creations
43.	Sweet Pepper Jelly: A Finished Quilt	89.	Peekamoose Mountain Quilts
44.	Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts	90.	Hexagon Variety
45.	Near Finished	91.	Rosemary@The Knitting Quilter
46.	Gretchen's Little Corner	92.	Heide

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the pincushion fun continues

I'm still keeping up with my pincushions. One a day in July! I haven't missed a day yet...so I'm hopeful I can make it through all 31 days. I guess we will see!

Day 15....

I paper pieced this little pineapple pincushion from solid scraps. I was tempted to make an entire quilt out of these, even though it would take for.ever. I willingly used purple in the corners...can you believe it? Hahaha! It finishes at 3 1/2" square and it is scrap project #162.

Day 16...

I went minimalist with this one and it was a nice change of pace! I don't sew much black and white, but I like it when I do! This is scrap project #163.

Day 17....

I finished stitching ALL my squircles for my dot your i's quilt on Sunday, so I celebrated by making a squircle pincushion. Naturally, right? I love, love, LOVE the quilting on the background and how it pops. This is scrap project # 164.

Day 18....

This was a scrappy block that was just hanging out in my sewing room, so I turned into a skinny pincushion. It was fun to quilt it in hot pink! This is scrap project #165.

Day 19...

This is a revisited design....all the way back from 2008! It seems almost wrong to combine fine Liberty fabric with a recycled tuna can, but I also love it for that reason! I free motion quilted the words on the Essex linen. Pin....sew....

....press....repeat. It's NOT a scrap project...but it is a finish! I love it!

So, if you are keeping track, that's 23 pincushions so far this month! Crazy. Fun.

Mary's socks

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

This morning I finished my 17th (!!!) pair of socks to date. These are for my good friend Mary. She purchased the yarn (isn't it gorgeous???) and I had the pleasure of knitting them up. I hope that she enjoys them for a good long time! The yarn is from Spun Right Round and the colorway is graffiti.

I used my basic sock pattern, which is available as a free download here. I changed things up a bit by knitting the ribbing pattern on the ankle/leg section only. I used a plain stockinette stitch throughout the foot instead of the ribbing. It makes for a comfy pair of socks!

Another finish this week...day 14 of my pincushion challenge!

This is a paper pieced courthouse steps pincushion. I left it un-quilted because I didn't want to mess it up. You can be sure that I will try another one, someday, and I plan to quilt it next time. I LOVE this little block. It's all I can do not to start an entire quilt of them. But, I really (REALLY) need to finish some other WIPs first! This pincushion measures about 4 1/2" square and it is scrap project #161.

One bit of business...Therese from Wichita...if you are reading, please email me! You are the winner of my bright birch tree starter kit winner. If I don't hear from you by Monday, I will pick an alternate winner.

That's it for me this week! Please link up your finishes. Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday! Have a GREAT weekend! xo

finish it up Friday, 7/15/16

1.	Eva.Bambi,Johansson	55.	How To Make Selvedge & Fabric Xmas Cards
2.	Iris Wall Hanging	56.	12 Days of Christmas in July
3.	Jill @ Pie Lady Quilts	57.	Wendys Quilts and More
4.	Alycia - the Chimney Sweep	58.	Susan's Quilt Creations
5.	alidiza	59.	Free tote patt with wallet & key clip
6.	Katy @ KatyQuilts	60.	Karen
7.	Brick Cottage Lane {2} Busy Hands Quilts	61.	Teagan @ Hope Deferred
8.	Rainbow Bargello Busy Hands Quilts	62.	Sandra @ mmm! quilts
9.	Lunalovequilts - Fabric basket	63.	Sandra @ mmm! quilts Finish #2 minimini
10.	Kathy@KayakQuilting	64.	Julie @ That's Sew Julie
11.	Carie @ Space for the Butterflies	65.	Treadlestitches Vintage Mess
12.	Colleen @ Piecemakerquilts	66.	Julie Bagamary
13.	Baby moccs:: Porcupinestew	67.	cath@wombat quilts
14.	Sylvia	68.	Barbara @ The Flashing Scissors
15.	Needle and Foot	69.	karenbbsnow
16.	Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty	70.	Go-Go Kim Courthouse Quilt Finish
17.	Barcelona Blouse - Amy	71.	summer quilt-finished quilt top
18.	Angela A @ Betterndogbiscuits	72.	katiemaequilts
19.	Kat & Cat Quilts	73.	Janice@singreadsew
20.	Sarah Goer Quilts	74.	Lyndsey
21.	Lindasquiltmania	75.	tubakk - Norway
22.	2 more	76.	Kris @SewSunshine
23.	Katie V Hobbies Up To Here	77.	Nancy@PugMomQuilts
24.	flying geese pillow @blockMquilts	78.	Christmas Quilt with Cardinals
25.	In Our Garden BOM - Blocks 11 & 12	79.	Sew & Sews Rose Garden Socks
26.	Elm Street Quilts - chunky alphabet	80.	Kelly Cline Quilting
27.	Julie@pink doxies	81.	Ruth @Stitching Impressions
28.	Brooke of Silly Mama Quilts	82.	Happy Harvest Open Season Quilt
29.	Poké Ball Pillow @ Creatin in the Sticks	83.	Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge
30.	Michelle's Romantic Tangle	84.	Prairie Scratch Quilt
31.	Emily Bailey	85.	MaryseMakesThings
32.	Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts	86.	Kitty @ Night Quilter
33.	Mary Stori Flash SALE	87.	The Colorful Fabriholic
34.	Beth @ Cooking Up Quilts	88.	Rosemary @ The Knitting Quilter
35.	Lone Star Quilt	89.	grateful dona
36.	SUNFLOWER Quilt	90.	You're Invited-Trunk Show @Swedish Inst.
37.	Arcadia AVENUE Quilt	91.	Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
38.	STARS & STRIPES Quilt	92.	Jen @ Jennifer Under the Juniper Tree
39.	CowGirl QUILT	93.	Jayne's Quilting Room
40.	Afton @ Quilting Mod	94.	Marie -- the Watermelon Diva
41.	Patch the Giraffe	95.	refashion a merino into swing jacket
42.	Mama Spark	96.	Terri Faust Quilts
43.	beth@lovelaughquilt	97.	Baby Quilt @ LoGoQuilts
44.	Liberty Sleeping Bunny - Christine	98.	Debbie @ A Quilter's Table
45.	Quilting is more fun than Housework	99.	Carla @ Granny Maud's Girl
46.	Team USA	100.	Tarnia@QATA
47.	Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs	101.	Elaine from Emily's Cupboard
48.	Sew Happily Ever After: summer dress	102.	Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts
49.	Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl	103.	One in every bunch
50.	Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl Finish 2	104.	San FranciscoTop - Amy
51.	My Imperfect Life	105.	SarahZ @CedarForkStitches
52.	Q-Bits - Da Gama Table Runner	106.	packratwithaplan
53.	Stacey @SLOstudio - Morning Walk quilt	107.	Shelley@TheCarpentersDaughter
54.	Cindy@LiveaColorfulLife

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

the pincushion challenge continues

It's July 13 already and I've managed to keep up with my one-a-day pincushion challenge. Frankly, I'm surprised that I have managed to stick with it this long without missing a day! It's been such a great challenge, creatively.

Day 8...

This is a teeny tiny scrappy trip block made with leftover scraps from my log cabin blocks. Each of the squares finish at about 1"! This is scrap project #155.

Day 9.....

Each of the colored strips in this pincushion finish at 1/4"! The overall finished size is about 2" x 8 3/4". It's perfect for setting right in front of a sewing machine. This one started out as another idea, but it morphed into this, which I love! Did you notice the stitching in the negative space on the ends? They mimic the colored strips....it might be my favorite part! This is scrap project #156.

Day 10....

For this trio it was all about the quilting. I started with super soft double gauze (in a shade dangerously close to purple....hahaha!) then quilted each square heavily. I love the simplicity! These are scrap project #157.

Day 11....

Inspired by pick up sticks. I started this one day, almost threw it away...then finished it up a day or two later. It's not perfect, by any means, but it's acceptable and at least I gave the idea a chance. :) It's scrap project #158.

Day 12....

This was an orphan block (pattern can be found here) that I turned into a pincushion. The coffee cup fabric is a chevron print (from Dear Stella fabrics) that I used as a guide for the cross hatch quilting. I wasn't sure if it would work or not, but it seemed to do the trick! This one is a little larger (just under 5" x 5 1/2"), so I stuffed it with poly fiberfill. It's scrap project #159.

Day 13....

This is a scrap vortex in solids. I added the borders so I wouldn't lose any of the scraps on the outer edges, as they are SO tiny. This pincushion is just over 4" square. It's scrap project #160!

Thank you for following along with my crazy pincushion antics and for encouraging me along the way. I appreciate it very much!

I'd be curious to hear which one of these is your favorite!

a simple summer quilt

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

I've been on a mission to use up some scraps this summer. (Who am I kidding??? I am always on a mission to use up scraps. hahaha!) I had a tall stack of 6" squares that I have been collecting for years. It was high time to use them, so I had my daughter help me arrange the squares. When we were close to a twin size, I decided to cut about a dozen more squares to fill in the gaps.

There is something so charming about simple patchwork. I doubt that I will ever tire of this kind of quilt. Since I've been collecting fabrics for so long, there is a wide variety of fabrics included. It's apparent my tastes have changed over the years, but that is kind of fun to see. This quilt screams summertime to me.

After taking the photos, I realized that the darks weren't distributed very evenly. Ooops! Do you see how light the left hand side of the quilt is?

I did a little stitch ripping and added one more brown square to the left hand side.

It's amazing how changing just one square makes such a difference. I think it's much better now! I'm looking forward to quilting this one up!

I've been keeping up on my one a day pincushion challenge, too!

Day 6....

This is a revisited design, but since I gave away the first two pincushions I made like this, I had to make another one. (This one is paper pieced....or else my points would be laughable.) It's scrap project #153.

Day 7....

This one was an instant favorite! Teeny tiny bow ties. This is scrap project #154.

That's it for me today! Now it's your turn. Please link up your finishes for the week. Thanks for joining me for finish it up Friday! Have a great weekend! xo

finish it up Friday, 7/8/16

1.	Needle & Foot	57.	Wendy's quilts and more
2.	Eva.Bambi,Johansson	58.	Smilesfromkate
3.	Bobbi at Snowy Days Quilting	59.	Jess @ SewJess Handmade
4.	Colleen @ Piecemakerquilts	60.	Huntspatch Quilts - Imperial Star
5.	One Block Finish	61.	Treadlestitches Granny Squares
6.	Teeth Pins :: Porcupinestew	62.	Alycia Quilts in CO
7.	My Imperfect Life	63.	Gretchen Weaver
8.	Cut to sew & Giveaway	64.	Schoolhouse @ Creatin' in the Sticks
9.	Gunilla	65.	Erica@dressesandspurs
10.	Carie @ Space for the Butterflies	66.	JulieBagamaryARt - Expanded Skills
11.	Gail	67.	Peekamoose Mountain Quilts
12.	unsophisticated + jejune | Quilted Home	68.	Dona@grateful4quilting
13.	Two at a Time	69.	Caryl @ cinnamon holiday workshop
14.	Shauna's World	70.	Samuel's T-shirt Grad Quilt
15.	TGIFF @ Shelley@TheCarpentersDaughter	71.	Sue @ Quilting the green star
16.	Katy @ KatyQuilts	72.	Bee - Buzzing Around
17.	Kat & Cat Quilts	73.	Emma @ A Hand Stitched Life
18.	Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts	74.	Yanicka
19.	tubakk - Norway	75.	packratwithaplan
20.	Julia in Mississippi	76.	Ruth @Stitching Impressions
21.	Magda@Iloveneutrals	77.	Lynn Harris
22.	Angels' Song - Studio 3D	78.	Tanya Quilts in CO
23.	Debbie @ A Quilter's Table	79.	Terri Faust Quilts
24.	Vera @ Negligent style	80.	Jess @ Quilty Habit
25.	Julie @ That's SewJulie	81.	Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs
26.	Baby Blocks@snugharborquilts	82.	Quilting inAmsterdam
27.	Brooke of Silly Mama Quilts	83.	Titti
28.	Karen	84.	Stacey @SLOstudio - 2nd quarter finishes
29.	Lemons into Lemonade & A Giveaway!!!	85.	Quilting is more fun than Housework
30.	DonnaleeQ-Cleaning House	86.	Kathy@KayakQuilting
31.	Emily Bailey	87.	Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
32.	Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge	88.	Scandinavian Christmas
33.	Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing	89.	Quilter In Texas
34.	Little Tents Quilt | Ants to Sugar	90.	Cathy in Ontario
35.	Sarah Goer Quilts	91.	beth @ lovelaughquilt
36.	The Inside Stori	92.	Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts
37.	Katie @ what KT made	93.	Haunted Hotel Socks
38.	June Progress & News	94.	Jennie @ Porch Swing Quilts
39.	Exploring Manhattan - Purl Soho	95.	Erica @ kitchen table quilting
40.	Side Effects	96.	A merino poncho in just 30 minutes
41.	Kim @PersimonDreams	97.	Lisa @ simpledream2.etsy.com
42.	Wendy@Pieceful Thoughts	98.	Angela A @ betterndogbiscuits
43.	selina	99.	Nancy
44.	Julie @ Pink Doxies	100.	Sew & Sews Isocelese Triangle Quilt
45.	Christmas in July is Coming!	101.	Mega churn dash duvet cover
46.	sally's angelworks - finishalong Q2	102.	True Blue @ The Amateur Librarian
47.	lindasquiltmania	103.	Steffi`sHobbys
48.	Heide D	104.	Bird's eye view -the lilac cat
49.	Frankie Carson	105.	Patty @ Elm Street Quilts
50.	Quilts & Such	106.	Scraps and Selvedges
51.	KludeMarie	107.	Kelly Cline Quilting
52.	Wisteria Baby Quilt	108.	Diagonal Flying Geese
53.	Tote bag	109.	Nancy @ Grace and Peace Quilting
54.	Gypsy Four Patch Top - Quilting Stories	110.	Hair Scrunchie
55.	Marla @ The Quilted Puzzle	111.	Animal ABCs finish
56.	Hilary @ Young Texan Mama

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one a day pincushion challenge

I've been wanting to do a month of pincushions (one per day) for awhile now. July seemed like the perfect time to tackle the challenge, so I jumped in and gave it a try. I'm so glad that I did! It's been a great way to play with different ideas AND I appreciate the fact that I can get something finished fairly quickly. Summer sewing is full of constant interruptions, so this challenge fits the bill perfectly.

Day one...

I used triangle scraps that were cut off from a snowball block (or something similar) mixed with gray to make tiny little triangles. Each HST finishes at about 3/4"!!! (This was a bugger to make. I did a lot of stitch ripping!) But, it was worth it in the end. It measures about 3 1/2" square. It's scrap project #148. (I love it!)

Day two....

More gray background and more bright colored triangle scraps for day two. This one uses a stitch and flip method. It measures about 4" square and it is scrap project # 149. (I love this one, too!)

Day three....

I started with the stripe pincushion (top). I got the idea for the window pane pincushion (bottom left)while I was making the first pincushion, and I just had to try it out! I love the woven effect that it has. The last pincushion (bottom right) utilized the scraps from the second one. And so it goes! They were fun to make...and I love the bold color combination of lime and navy. This trio is scrap project #150. 

Day 4....

I got fancy on the 4th...I made a 4 tier birthday cake out of Liberty scraps. The cake idea was from my daughter...and it was fitting, since I share my birthday with my sister AND the entire country! The pincushion on the right was a birthday gift from my friend Mary. (Thanks so much, Mary!) The Liberty pincushion is scrap project # 151.

(A crazy side note about the Liberty scraps...they were sent to me by Anne Day back in 2010(!!!) when her and I did a scrap swap challenge. Time flies!)

Day five...

This one uses skinny strips...most of them were 1" wide or less to start with. It was simple and easy to make. I love the bright, happy colors. It's scrap project #152!

 

A few notes about the pincushions....each one is filled with crushed walnut shells (sold as lizard litter in larger pet stores). They each start as a tiny quilt block, essentially. I quilt the block onto a scrap of batting. The backings are regular quilting cotton with a light layer of interfacing, so that the fabric is a bit more stable. All of these elements add up to a soft, sturdy pincushion.

 

Now, to answer the often asked question, what do you do with all of your pincushions? I give them to friends! And a few of them become a part of my permanent collection. Just the way it should be. :)

bright birch tree kit winner

Thank you for all the comments and entries on my bright birch tree giveaway! I wish I had enough scraps to send to everyone! The winner is Therese from Wichita, KS. Therese, please email me so I can send you your prize. Thanks to everyone who played along!

a tinker tote

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

It seems like I'm finally getting around to projects that I've wanted to make for years, which feels great! This week I tackled a tinker tote. The project is included in my lovely friend Tara's Quilt-As-You-Go Patchwork Bags class on Craftsy. The bag is fairly involved, but the results are so worth it! Tara's class is excellent. I can't recommend it enough!

I added the mug in this photo for scale. This bag is big and roomy. I love it! Tara designed the pattern to use a quilt-as-you-go method, but I wanted to change things up and make one using my favorite scrap size of all time: 2 1/2" squares. I pieced the patchwork panels and then quilted them. I had a few problems with the quilting distorting, but after ripping things out a few times, I decided that finished is better than perfect! I do love the squares! I certainly want to try making one using quilt as you go method next. Of course!

I added 4 slip pockets to the interior and rather than adding a flap, I installed a magnetic snap to the lining.

Red polka dot binding was the natural choice for finishing things off. I used denim that I had on hand for the bottom, so it shouldn't show dirt very fast and it should be durable. I love the combination of all the fabrics. It's so bright and happy!

I'm quite pleased with my finish for the week! It is scrap project # 147!

Now, it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank you, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday! For those of you in the States, have a safe and great holiday weekend!

finish it up Friday, 7/1/16

1.	Melissa Corry	58.	finished round
2.	Julia in Mississippi	59.	Scrappy Patches Twin Quilt
3.	AMH Dresden Plate Finished	60.	Spiral Quilting - Sarah Goer Quilts
4.	Michelle @ From Bolt to Beauty	61.	Christmas in July @ QuiltFabrication
5.	Eva.Bambi,Johansson	62.	49 Hearts by de Jong Dream House
6.	Judy@Quilt Paradigm	63.	Cheryl @ Meadow Mist Designs
7.	Alycia@ AlyciaQuilts	64.	Jenn @ A Quarter Inch from the Edge
8.	Abigail @ cut&alter	65.	Izzy @ Dizzy Quilts
9.	Laura	66.	Mary at Fleur de Lis Quilts
10.	Baby shorts:: porcupinestew	67.	Treadlestitches Block Exchange Quilt
11.	Mari @ The Academic Quilter	68.	Celebration Table Runner
12.	Screenprinted Tanks::Porcupinestew	69.	Marla @ The Quilted Puzzle
13.	Alison @ Little Bunny Quilts	70.	blockMquilts - Wanta Fanta bee blocks
14.	Judy@Quilt Paradigm	71.	Man quilt - the lilac cat
15.	Julie @ That's SewJulie	72.	Judy @ Sew Some Sunshine
16.	svetlana sotak	73.	Q-Bits - African Fabrics
17.	Sandra @ mmm! quilts	74.	The Inside Stori
18.	Faith and Freedom @ pursuing joy	75.	Patriotic Prairie Point Star Ornaments
19.	KatyQuilts	76.	Patriotic Garden Path Banner
20.	alidiza	77.	Kelly Cline Quilting
21.	Wendy@Pieceful Thoughts	78.	Wendy's quilts and more
22.	Karen	79.	Celtic Thistle Stitches
23.	Katie @ what KT made	80.	Ruth @Stitching Impressions
24.	Heather P	81.	Sarah @ Confessions of a Fabric Addict
25.	Needle & Foot	82.	Emma @ A Hand Stitched Life
26.	Quilt Match 2016 - Meet The Contenders	83.	Julie @ Pink Doxies
27.	Frankie Carson	84.	Lucy : Charm About You
28.	Free ModQuilt Ezine:Modern By The Yard 2	85.	Patch the Giraffe
29.	Janeen @ Quilt Art Designs	86.	Little Black Cat Quilting
30.	FPP Hearts & Strip Rainbows	87.	Terri Faust Quilts
31.	Kat & Cat Quilts	88.	Emily Bailey
32.	Sarah @ Smiles Too Loudly	89.	Tarnia - Across the Aisle Quilts
33.	Allison - HST projects	90.	Libby @ No Airplane Here
34.	smilesfromkate A Finish	91.	International Maples
35.	Jess @ SewJess Handmade	92.	Cathy Tomm Happy Canada Day
36.	Carie @ Space for the Butterflies	93.	Ann @ Fret Not Yourself
37.	Brooke of Silly Mama Quilts	94.	Sewgiving Makers Tote
38.	My Imperfect Life	95.	Jayne's Quilting Room
39.	Johnna @ Yellow Bird Stitches	96.	Quilting is more fun than Housework
40.	Thank You Stephanie: A Finished Quilt	97.	Debbie @ A Quilter's Table
41.	Baby Quilt Finish - Amy	98.	Susie at ProsperityStuff
42.	Piping: June's TSNEM - Amy	99.	Jo @ Create the point
43.	Rebecca Grace @ CheekyCognoscenti	100.	ShelleyBrooks
44.	Celebration Chair Back Cover	101.	Steffi: Seepferdchen
45.	Frog's Runny Nose	102.	grey and red cross quilt finished
46.	Ganz schnell	103.	Elm Street Quilts
47.	Tami @ Thrift Shop Commando	104.	The Sweetest Baby Quilt
48.	Maria@RaspberryJam	105.	Another D9P
49.	Afton @ Quilting Mod	106.	Kris@sewsunshin
50.	Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing	107.	Susan's Quilt Creations
51.	Michelle's Romantic Tangle	108.	Sylvia
52.	sew happily ever after: americana tour	109.	Janice@singreadsew
53.	Rachel @ snippetsofsweetness	110.	Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl
54.	Caryl @ cinnamon holiday workshop	111.	Yvonne Fuchs - Finish #2!
55.	Angela @ betterndogbiscuits	112.	My Dear - Oh Deer Quilt @ Creatin'
56.	Quilts & Such	113.	Renae--Scrappy Rectangles
57.	Magda@Iloveneutrals

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