How Many Pinwheels?

In one of the blogs that I sort of follow, there was a post about sewing in solids. Now I have a whole bin, one of those Sterilite plastic bins that are approx. 16" wide x 26" long x 14" high, totally full of solid fabrics. Have I used any of them lately? The answer to that question is NO! Not in forever or so it seems.

Combine that with the desire to make a mini quilt for the mini quit auction at the upcoming quilt show in May for the Cable Car Quilters Guild, Dubuque, IA, and you have a perfect fit of making a "twoferone" project. I just love those, don't you?

18" x 18"

And what you see is what developed. But that really isn't a lavender in the center, it's really a gray. Don't know what happened inside the camera but use your imagination and your mind will see it as a gray. Yes, it's hand quilted "Big Stitch". It was fun, it makes me want to get in and play with my solids even more but that will have to wait.

I dug into another bin the other day and after the sorting through process, I came up with 5 projects in various stages. 1) is just a single block. 2) is two blocks. Both of which I want to continue making until I have enough blocks to make into a quilt. 3) are blocks sewn into strips that need to be sewn together. 4) is four blocks that I will finish off as a doll quilt. 5) is a center that I pieced from 9-patches, I just need to add a black border, then the next border is made from blocks I won at a guild block raffle.

Will I do them all right now? Probably not but I hope to get the strips sewn together first, then finish up the doll quilt. Then get the parts and pieces of the raffle blocks together. If I get that accomplished I will feel like I am a winner.

Have a good day.

JoQ



American Quilter Magazine blog

You can check out my quiltmobile on the American Quilter Magazine blog at www.quiltviews.com. Oh, what fun an old lady can have with a cute little car.

National Quilt Association Website

This is just a note to let you know that I am the Spotlighted Member on the National Quilt Association website for the month of April. (www.nqaquilts.org)

If You Are Truely My Friend Then Do NOT Gift Me Any Of Your Scraps!

I know it is nice to receive gifts but . . .

Consider that I have been a quilter for 30 years, consider that I now own a small quilt shop, consider that when I buy fabric I buy what I like and therefore, some of almost every bolt has to go into my stash, so just imagine how big my stash is.

Now my question to you is; why would one of my friends give me packages of her scraps? Well, the good news is they were all packaged into baggies of the same size pieces, that does help.

After getting the last machine piecing project done I was having a hard time deciding on what to do next so I went into my basement, looked over the shelves and noticed a bag that looked like it had little 2" or 2-1/2" precut squares in it. I figured that they could easily be sewn into 16-patch blocks so I brought them upstairs and started in. I wish I had taken a picture of the little bitty sandwich bag totally stuffed full.

First off, I found that the bag has a bunch of the green check squares and fabric that was an orange and green watermelon print. I decided to sew those first. Then that got boring so I started sewing the bright bits together. I'm still sewing on these but I did get the check/watermelon blocks done and have a total of 15 blocks. Once I check the size of the little squares I found out they were cut at 2-1/4" (now why would anymone cut blocks that size?) so they finish a 7" square. By framing and sashing the block and with a small border I will be able to stretch these into a 40" x 60" inch quilt.

I guess I could have thrown these little devils away or I could have donated them to a guild charity group but, if you know me, you now that I can't throw fabric out or even donate it if it's not sewn together. I just have to "do it myself"!

So my friends, if you want to remain my friend, do not EVER give me a gift of your scraps! (Yes, Joan T. I am talking to you.)