Some Rainbow Scrap Challenge Finishes

I've put the finishing touches on several Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts recently, but did not take the time to photograph all the results.  Since we spent the long Independence Day holiday at our camp last weekend, I packed up my finished quilts so I could hang them from the balcony for photos.

I started making the 9-patch variation blocks in 2015 and put the finishing stitches in the quilt late last year.  

Diane Knott of Butterfly Threads Quilting did the long-arm quilting for me - lots of swirls to counteract all the squares and angles on the front of the quilt!  

The handprint backing fabric has been hanging around in my stash for 20 years, at least.  This seemed like a great project to use it up!  I also shopped in my stash for the binding fabric - a purple cross-hatch fabric that worked perfectly.

Another long-running Rainbow Scrap Challenge project is this sampler quilt.  Our RSC leader, Angela Feldbush, shared block instructions every week throughout 2014, resulting in lots of scrappy sampler quilts.

My finished sampler top languished in the "Needs Quilting" pile for a couple years, until I had the great idea to ask Diane Knott to long-arm quilt it for me.

I spent some binge-watching TV time hand-stitching the binding last week so I could add this quilt to the Finished pile.

I was being optimistic when I put the finished date on my label!

Windblown Wishes was a more recent Rainbow Scrap Challenge project.  My inspiration was the Windblown Wishes quilt in Diane Knott's Scrap Quilt Secrets book.  I used a different border treatment than Diane's pattern, but I think it worked out well for the RSC format.

Of course I had to ask Diane to quilt this project!  Even the quilting reflects the "windblown" idea!

I used some leftover binding fabric to make a frame for the quilt label.  

So the UFO pile has shrunk a little, but there are still plenty of projects waiting for their finishing touches.  If I can tear myself way from non-stop weather coverage on television, I might actually do some sewing today.  And since our power is still on, I'm going to go look at more Rainbow Scrap Challenge inspiration at Angela's Soscrappy blog.

(FYI, we're still waiting for Tropical Storm Barry to make his presence felt in the New Orleans area.  Forget about the sensational coverage on the Weather Channel.  We've had minimal rain, minimal wind, and little storm surge.  Conditions are a little worse closer to the coast, but still not life-threatening.)

RSC 15: Where Are They Now?

To observe the passing of half the year, Angela has invited all the Rainbow Scrap Challenge participants to share their Rainbow Scrap progress to date.  As usual, I've got more projects underway than I planned at the start of the year!

 

All the 9-patch variation blocks so far.  It appears I'm missing a green 9-patch.  I think I deconstructed it because it was too dark;  I'll have to look for some additional green scraps.  The blocks on the left are remnants from last year.  I plan to make additional orange and aqua blocks, but I'm not sure about the brown.

 

The Maverick Stars are also waiting for some aqua and orange blocks.  I have a plan for setting these together, but I need to do the math and decide if the quilt will be big enough to make me happy.

 

I will definitely add orange (cheddar!) to my Scrap Jar Stars in reproduction fabrics.  There are a lot of brown repro scraps in the box, so if brown is an RSC color, there will probably be some brown SJS, too.

 

I did not plan on making Sugar Bowl blocks at the beginning of the year.  Sometimes you just have to listen to the creative muse, though.  Not sure what I will do with these - they may carry over to next year.

 

These 4" sawtooth star blocks were inspired by the stars I'm making for Barbara Brackman's Stars in a Time Warp BOW.  I was just inspired to make little stars in each month's rainbow color.  These will probably carry over to next year, too.

 

Here's my proudest RSC accomplishment so far this year:  my 2014 Rainbow Scrap Sampler is completely pieced.  I'm so happy with how this turned out!  Even more, I love all the happy memories stitched into the blocks: eagerly awaiting Angela's sampler patterns throughout the month, playing with scraps and piecing, and the sharing of everyone's progress through Angela's weekly linky parties.  Many thanks to Angela for creating and sharing this project with all of us!

 

 

 

 

 

RSC 15: The Joy of Sashing

I'm working on one of last year's Rainbow Scrap projects this month - trying to get my 2014 Rainbow Scrap Sampler blocks assembled.

 

I've barely made a dent in the assembly process!  I have 90 RSC sampler blocks, which will be assembled in rows of 9 x 10.  The sashing is 2" strips, which will finish at 1.5".  I can already see I don't have enough of the current white on white sashing fabric, so I'll be mixing in a similar white on white.  It's a scrappy quilt, so who says the sashing has to "match"?!

It has been fun re-visiting last year's RSC Sampler blocks - there was plenty of color and piecing challenge!  The Rainbow Scrappers continue to have fun and the results can be see at today's link-up.

RSC 15: Mid-Year Evaluation

We're already at the half-way point of the year - how did that happen? The monthly RSC colors and blocks have been flying by, but progress on last year's RSC quilts has stalled.

The June RSC color is light blue.  I checked my current stacks of RSC blocks and decided the color blue is well represented, so I'm going to focus on some of last year's projects. 

 

Last year's Carpenter's Wheel quilt top has been waiting patiently to be quilted.  I tidied up the loose threads on the back and prepped the backing this week.  It's now in the hands of my local long-arm quilter and I'm looking forward to seeing her creative input!

 

Next up - last year's Rainbow Scrap Sampler.  I was able to arrange the blocks on the design wall last year, but didn't have time to piece them before I needed the design wall space for another project.  I took them down in order and made notes to remind myself of the piecing plan.  I'll be using white sashing between all the blocks; everything is ready to go - I just need to get started!

 

I was hoping to start last night, but I wound up puppy-sitting for my oldest son's new buddy.  This is Moose - named in honor of one of his favorite baseball players.  He's a rescue pup, about 8 months old and not well-house-trained yet.  I really had to keep an eye on him last night, which was not conducive to sewing.  Oh well, he and I bonded - which is probably a good thing because I'm sure I'll be doing more puppy-sitting in the future!

I'm linking up with the other Rainbow Scrappers over at Angela's SoScrappy blog today.  I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else is up to at this mid-year point!

 

 

2015: It's All About the WIPs!

Many bloggers have shared delightful quilt year retrospectives this week.  I was inspired to look back over my quilting year, and I was surprised to find I had only completed TWO quilts this year!

On the other hand, my collection of WIPs (works in progress) seems to just keep growing.  I did some cleaning and tidying in the sewing room this fall, and decided it was time to focus on finishing projects.  That's my goal for 2015 - to make a serious dent in all the projects in varying states of completion!

 

Both of this year's completed quilts were started as part of the 2012 Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

 

I probably would have finished more quilts in 2014, but I developed a reluctance to begin that last step in quilting:  applying the binding.  Normally, I don't mind the binding process and actually enjoy hand-stitching the binding to the back of the quilt.  For some reason, I just could not get excited about binding for most of this year.  As a result, there are four quilts in the queue that need binding! 

 

I did manage to get a few flimsies completed this year.  There's also another plaid memory quilt - similar to the quilt top in the upper right corner - in the queue for quilting.

 

The biggest queue is quilt tops in various stages of piecing.  I'm embarrassed to fully enumerate all of the languishing projects, so I chose a few to really focus on for the first part of the year.  

The birds, flowers and stars are destined to be an applique border for the bowtie blocks below.  

The blue and white blocks were a year long leader-ender project of uneven 9 patches and alternate sawtooth stars.  All the blocks are finished now and need assembling.

Rounding out the projects are two samplers from 2014.  The Rainbow Scrap Sampler was offered by Angela at Soscrappy.  I've been participating in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge for a couple of years, so doing the sampler was a fun project to share with online scrap-loving friends.  I also participated in Barbara Brackman's Austen Family Album, a sampler that focused on author Jane Austen and her friends and relations.  I need to finish another half dozen or so blocks for this project before it will be ready for assembly.

 

There's still at least one more memory quilt to make.  That will be a total of 6 quilts made from my father's shirts.  I made a good start on the center of the 6th quilt today.

So my goal is to avoid new projects and focus on finishing some of the quilts I've shared today.  It will be hard to resist the siren song of fabric and creativity, but I'll be much happier when some of these projects are off the "To Do" list!

 

 

Scrap Happy Saturday: Scrappy Payoff in Sight!

This week I was finally able to lay out my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Sampler blocks.  I tried a 10 x 10 layout first, but found I was 14 blocks short!  I knew I didn't have the patience or time to make 14 more blocks, so I quickly switched to a 9 x 10 layout.  I found an extra pink block, so I now only needed 3 additional blocks.  I decided the colors orange and purple were under-represented, so that's where I focused.

 

I followed Angela's handy instructions for the ZigZag block and dug out some great orange-red scraps to use.

Some purple scraps made a great Quarter Log Cabin block.

 

I don't know if this block has a name.  I wanted something simple that would make a purple statement.  I think the block fills the bill!

 

Now all the spots are occupied with amazing RSC blocks!  I already have fond memories of the year-long process as shared through the words of so many different RSC participants.

I have at least two white-on-white prints in the stash I can use for sashing these blocks.  However, I'm waiting for Angela's final version using light and dark gray sashing before I decide on how I will finish mine.  In the meantime, I've stacked the blocks in their proper order to await further assembly.  

I needed the design wall cleared so I could arrange

 

the Scrap Jar Star blocks.  

I started with 18 blocks, so two more were needed for a 4 x 5 layout.  I didn't want to use black and gray scraps (and I didn't have enough anyway), so I went with bright, multi-color scraps.  Now that I see them hanging on the wall, I'm not so sure they fit in very well.  

I can't decide if I want to make two additional blocks in solid colors, or just keep things as they are and get 'er finished!  The blocks will be sashed with the same dotty fabric as the star backgrounds, and there will be colored squares at the sashing intersections.  I think that may help pull everything together.  And since this will be used as a quilt and not a wall-hanging, I don't think the multi-colored blocks will stand out as much.

So, I'm off to cut and stitch some sashing.  I'll be using my Singer Model 15 treadle for sewing today - which I mention because my friend Annie Kusilek is hosting a sew-along today via the FB group Treadle Quilters.  If you're interested in learning more about quilting with treadle sewing machines, stop by and check out the group!

I'm also linking up with the other Rainbow Scrappers over at Angela's SoScrappy blog.  There will be lots of colorful, scrappy fun on view!

 

Scrap Happy Saturday: Clutter Control

Somewhere about the middle of the week, I was struck with the desire to do some de-cluttering and organizing in my sewing room.  I've gone through the drawers and bins, the closets and the shelves.  UFOs have been re-evaluated, fabric re-organized and scraps sliced into strips and squares.  I even took my main sewing machine to the shop for some neglected maintenance.  I won't bore you with pictures, as my sewing room is still cluttered - but it's organized clutter!

Now I feel much better prepared to focus on some quilt tops that need to get finished before the end of the year AND also use spare minutes here and there to work on Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.

 

Even with all that de-cluttering, I was able to finish a Road to Tennessee block for the RSC Sampler.

 

And a Kentucky Crossroads block.  Yup, I'm still using up chocolate scraps!

 

One Contrary Wife block in black and gray.

I need to finish the project on my design wall so I can lay out all my Rainbow Scrap Sampler blocks and see what colors might be lacking.  I have not given much thought as to how I want to assemble them, other than I'll probably use sashing between the blocks.

After all that organizing and stuff, I'm ready for a nice cup of tea and a visit to Angela's blog to see what the other Rainbow Scrappers have been doing this week!

 

Scrap Happy Saturday: Scraps from the Dark Side

There were new blocks posted this week for the Rainbow Scrap Sampler, designed to use brown and black scraps - this month's RSC colors.

 

Angela called this the Sickle block.  I think I should call mine "Truffle".

 

The Chevron block used a novel construction method.  I enjoyed learning something new, but if I were making a Chevron quilt I think I'd use half-square triangles.

 

This string block came out a little lop-sided, but I think I'll leave it that way and call it a Design Feature!  It was fun digging up enough black-background strings for this.

We have been having amazing fall weather here in South Louisiana.  Dear Husband and I were inspired to take a little road trip today for some antiquing and other hunter-gatherer activities. 

 

I made some vintage fabric finds, including hankies, a dishtowel and some awesome orange buttons.  Of course I couldn't resist the cobalt blue compote dish with a fish stem!

 

And though not vintage fabric-related, but I loved the color play in this collection of jadite and milkglass! 

Now I think it's time for some tea and a trip through all the other Rainbow Scrappiness over at Angela's SoScrappy blog.

Scrap Happy Saturday: RSC Mini Show

One of the great things about the Rainbow Scrap Sampler blocks is they don't take a lot of time to construct.  They're perfect projects for that free hour or so before or after work.

 

This week's batch of sampler blocks were perfect weekday fabric therapy.  Best of all, they were all made from scraps - no yardage was disturbed for their making!

Many thanks to Angela and Deb, her pinch-hitter this week!  More Rainbow Scrap fabric therapy may be seen at Angela's Soscrappy blog today.

Scrap Happy Saturday: Orange Distractions

Many distractions this week, so not much orange sewing.  At least I could go in my sewing room and admire my orange scraps and strips!

 

I did get to make the Ribbons block for the Rainbow Scrap Sampler.

 

This afternoon I stitched up some Scrap Jar Star parts.  I didn't bring any extra 2" squares, or I could've assembled the entire block. 

 

I bought a kit for this table runner a couple of years ago.  I decided it could be the next camp project - something that stays at the camp until finished.

 

This isn't strictly scrappy, but I'll have lots of reproduction-style oranges to play with as I'm completing this project.  Looking forward to using a different range of orange fabrics!

I'm linking up with more Rainbow Scrap stitchers over at Angela's SoScrappy blog.  I know there will be lots of great orange scrappy inspiration to enjoy!

 

 

 

Scrap Happy Saturday: Let the Orange Frolics Begin!

I had some time to dive into my orange scraps this week - what fun!  All that orange fabric makes me want to start another orange-themed quilt.  I'm trying to be good and stay focused on projects at hand!

 

One "Kick" block was added to the Rainbow Sampler stack.  This one was a fun way to use the Tri-Rec rulers!

 

Another Rainbow Sampler block - "Plus".  Quick and easy, plus I love the orange star fabric!

 

Last week, Sally T (Objects of Design) featured orange cat blocks.  Her blocks reminded me of an orange cat who once owned me, so of course I needed to make an orange cat.

 

As you can see, Butch was my sewing assistant!

 

For my ongoing scrappy project, I added 2 orange 9 patches.

 

And one Maverick Star.

There are still large piles of orange scraps calling my name.  I hope this coming week has plenty of time for orangey stitching!

To see more orange scrappy inspiration, do stop by Angela's Soscrappy blog to see what other Rainbow Scrappers have been up to!