starting a new series

I've been kicking around the idea of doing a series of 10 solid quilts for a few months now, so I guess today I am making it official! This is going to be a long term project, but it's one that I'm very excited about. I love having a challenge with parameters. The main reason is because it helps me focus! (And that's a very good thing.) Having limits is actually good for cultivating creativity...I've seen it time and time again in my own work. I enjoyed my one-a-day pincushion challenges, and before that, I did the 101 scrap project challenge. (Twice.) I'm looking forward to stepping it up a notch and doing a series of QUILTS.

My parameters are very simple:

-I'm going to try to make a series of 10 quilts from solids.

-The quilts can be any size, baby size and up.

-The majority of them will be from the scrap bin, (no shock there!) but I'm allowing myself to supplement with my stash if need be. It would be amazing if I actually ran out of scraps!!!

-They may be quilted by me or by someone else.

-The quilts may also contain shot cottons, linen, chambray, denim and the like, as long as it reads as a solid/near solid.

-I will allow myself to work on other projects as I'm working on this series.

I think that's it! No need to make it complicated! :)

I haven't come up with a good name for my challenge yet, so if you have any great ideas, I'd be interested in hearing them.

Yesterday afternoon I cut off a piece of batting from the roll and started laying out a BUNCH of 2 1/2" squares. I'm making an alternate version of my hot & cold quilt from my book No Scrap Left Behind.

I chose to use batting rather than my design wall so I wouldn't have to clear everything else off...realizing that it might be awhile before I get around to finishing this top up. So far I really love this quilt! I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the dividing line between the warm and cool colors, but thankfully I have a few hundred squares to arrange before I have to decide! Ha!

Have you ever worked in a series or gave yourself a personal sewing challenge? What did you think? Did you like it? Would you do it again? If you haven't, but would like to, what would your challenge be? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the subject!

Happy Monday to you!

liberty scrap challenge

When Nova asked me to join in her Liberty scrap challenge (along with Jo from the Organic Stitch Co.), I just couldn't say no. Liberty fabrics are f-i-n-e....no two ways about it. And you already know how much I love scraps! These are the cream of the crop.

For my project I made a little wonky whirlygiggle mini quilt with a little touch of hand stitching.

I do love it, even if it was a bugger to photograph! :)
It measures 17.5" x 22".

Here's a little tutorial if you would like to make one of your own.

First off, start with two little wedge shaped pieces. Make sure they are over 2" long and wide enough that when the two are sewn together they are at least 2" wide.
(For the white fabrics I used scraps of regular ol' quilting cotton. They mix just fine with liberty fabrics.)

Sew the two wedges together and press.

Trim the block to 2" square.

Make 4 blocks, then layout as shown.

Sew the top two blocks together, press the seam toward the right.
Sew the bottom two blocks together, press seam toward the left.

Nest the seams together and pin. Sew top and bottom blocks together.

Press. Starch a bit if you would like.

Trim/square up block to 3.5".

Repeat as many times as you desire!

I chose to make 12 blocks, and then decided to add some gray sashing.

From the sashing fabric, cut 8 pieces 2" x 3.5". Sew the sashing pieces in between the blocks as shown to make 4 rows.

Cut 3 strips of sashing fabric 2" x 12.5". Sew between rows as shown.

For the side borders, cut 2 pieces 3" x 17". Sew to each side and press.

For the top and bottom borders, cut 2 pieces 3" x 17.5". Sew to top and bottom and press. 

You mini quilt top is complete!

Baste, quilt and bind as desired.

I chose to hand quilt my mini with my precious Anna Maria Horner thread. (Thanks Tara!) It's the perfect compliment to this project!

It was a great activity to do while my kiddos were playing at the beach. :)

I bound it with a vintage navy dot that came from my grandma's stash...so there are lots of precious bits in this quilt.

If you would like to check out all the other Liberty Challenge Tutorials, you can find them all on this page and check out the flickr group here.

Be sure to check out Jo's shop for Liberty scrap packs, charms and fat 1/8ths. She is offering a 10% discount to YOU on your order for the next 10 days...just enter 'Challenge 10' in the checkout when you place your order.

AND....

If you would like to throw your name in the hat, I have a scrap pack and a fat eighth of lovely Liberty fabric to giveaway to one lucky reader (thanks, Jo!)...just leave me a comment on this post! I plan to pick the winners for both contests tomorrow evening. (I didn't plan on doing two giveaways this week, but I'm sure you don't mind, right?)

Happy Friday!

edit: the giveaway is now closed.

a happy accident

I'm trying to resist the urge to start a new project, and it is becoming harder by the day! I did pretty well last week finishing up some quilts, but there is still so much to do. I really let my WIP's get away from me this past winter, but I'm stubborn to the core and I'm not giving up yet.

So, today I pulled out my string scrap bin and tried to divert my attention from all the new projects calling my name. I made a few more of these free formed coin blocks. I have about 20 ideas of how I could use them. And I just stumbled upon a new one.

I received these blocks, shown above, along with a passel of scraps from someone a few years ago. They really aren't my style, but I have this thing where I feel the need to rescue fabric (I could write a whole post or two on that subject!) and apparently quilt blocks, too. I held on to the blocks because figured I would come up with a way to use them somehow, someday.

Well, it finally all clicked. I don't know what prompted me to pair them with my pieced string blocks, but wow-whee! I am smitten!!! What a difference scraps can make! I love stumbling upon happy accidents like this. The only down side is, I'm going to have to make a bazillion more blocks for my other 20 ideas. :)

One more thing! I'm featured over on Cindy's blog today. If you want to read how crazy mom quilts got it's name, click on over.

Happy Monday to you!

scrap challenge, round 3

This mini quilt came all the way from England. Anne, who was my round 2 scrap challenge contestant, offered to play with my scraps in return. This is what she made for me. I LOVE it! It's currently hanging on my craft room wall and I smile every time I see it. Thank you, Anne!

That reminds me...

It's time to open up the scrap challenge for round 3!

Here's how the scrap challenge works. One selected reader will send me a small bag of scraps. I will use the scraps, plus additional fabrics of my choice, to make a mini quilt. The mini quilt will be sent back to the scrap sender. I absolutely love this challenge because it gives me a chance to play with fabrics that I may not choose on my own. If you would like to be entered in the draw, leave me a comment on this post. If you have any suggestions of what you would like to see, you can feel free to add them in the comment. I will chose the winner randomly this time.

You can read about how the scrap challenge series first started here.

The results of the first round are here.
And the results of the second round are here.

liberty mini quilt

This little quilt is the result of the second round of my little scrap challenge. Anne sent me several gorgeous Liberty scraps, which I LOVE. (You can see some of what she sent here.) She challenged me to make a mini quilt that included triangles and hand quilting.

The triangle blocks finish at about 1.5", so they aren't big at all. The triangles were actually tolerable, even at that tiny size. The hand quilting, however, was very enjoyable. Although, I must learn how to bury my knots correctly. I know how to in theory, but in reality, I had a few knots pop through the front. It was not a big deal, I just had to re-do the stitching on those blocks. I used a variety of threads in a variety of colors (I have plenty), trying to match the patchwork as much as possible.

For the back, I used a fat quarter from my stash. I love how it matches the feel of the front even though it is a completely different fabric line/manufacturer. It's handy that the threads blend in, too. I got the loveliest thank you from Anne saying that the quilt made it safely to it's destination. This quilt now has a home in the UK, which delights me to no end for some reason. :) It measures about 18" square.

I absolutely loved working on this project and I love this challenge concept in and of itself. It's been a great exercise in breaking out of my rut. I know I get stuck in my rut and it's quite refreshing to break out of it every once in awhile. I plan/hope to open up the challenge for round 3 sometime early next year.

liberty scrap challenge

Annie's scraps arrived in my mailbox several weeks ago. She sent me these lovely liberty tana lawn scraps, and in turn, I will use them to make a mini quilt for her. I have had no previous experience with liberty fabrics...but I'm learning that these fabrics are delicate and amazing. And did I mention pretty? They blew me away.

She included this little card in the package...it's just as cute as can be. Look in the lower left. Those bikes! My absolute favorite fabric of the whole lot.

I finally got to cutting and piecing this week. The quilt top is done...now it needs some hand quilting. Not my forte, but I'm excited to see this mini come to life.

And here's a shot to give you an idea of the scale of the squares...teeny tiny....almost 1.5" finished.

I started making two quilts right off the bat, because I knew it was going to be hard to let this one go.