Log Cabin Christmas Tree .... con't

I managed to get the blocks sewn together for the Log Cabin Christmas Tree.  I didn't want to put the project back on the shelf and have the layout all mixed up again.  Now it can go back on the shelf. :-)

Next step is a border. I am thinking about a log cabin variation block using lots of red scraps.  In the meantime, some other items have jumped to the top of my list.

Happy New Year ......................... Everyone!

A Prayer To and From Sandy Hook

I'll just share the link to this website. The writer has written an amazing poem of vision, from the children and from God, our Creator.

http://www.shadetreequilting.com/

This read is a comfort for the soul.  Thank you, Judy C.

Holiday Treetops

I wanted to share a pic of my latest mini wallhanging.  It is a whimsical tree in christmas fabrics.

This little item is a replica of a photo of a mini project that was shared on another list.  So, sorry, I cannot share a pattern since I don't know where the pattern comes from. I knew right away that I had to make it, so I drew up my own rendition and pulled out some scraps!

Now on to finishing some other projects. I hope you're getting time for some quilting therapy today.

Christmas Eve Prayer

CHRISTMAS  EVE  PRAYER

Help us remember the birth of Jesus that we may

share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the

shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the

door of hate and open the door of love all over the

world.  Let kindness come with every gift and good

desires with every greeting.  Deliver us from evil

by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to 

be merry with clear hearts.  May the Christmas 

morning make us happy to be thy children, and

Christmas evening bring us to our beds with

grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, 

for Jesus' sake.  Amen.

                                                *  Robert Louis Stevenson

Log Cabin Christmas Tree

A few days ago, I decided to fill in some sewing time by stitching up some more scraps. The bins are overflowing again.  I pulled down a project that was stashed at the top of my souder cabinet.  It has a partially finished wallhanging.  The log cabin blocks are actually scrappy, but this mock up in EQ shows the basic plan.

  

Today, I'm down to the final 8 background blocks.  I think I'll sew this plan together before I decide on the final border treatment. Then I can audition possibilities.

If you have any visions for an appropriate border, I welcome your comments!

Quilt Block Recipes

Greetings everyone. I have added a new page, "Quilt Block Recipes".  When you visit there, you will find the list of quilts/blocks/projects that I have created a post about. I hope this new page will condense and collect the offerings on this blog. This page will have just a photo of the project. Click on the name title to link to the post and project files for that design.  I will try to keep the entries in alphabetical order and easy to find.

Just click on the tab to go to the recipes.  I will be adding more as inspiration knocks.  Thank you for visiting!

Midnight Star Quilt Block

Susie at starwood quilter shared her rendition of the  midnight star block and provided the link to the pattern at  quiltmag. Naturally, I went looking for secondary designs, so I turned to my EQ program for help.

This is a 16 block quilt ( 4 x 4 grid), created using the full Midnight Star block.

What if I considered just the quarter unit?

       Here are 16-blk sections (4x4 grid) of the quilt using just the quarter block. This breakdown lets you pinpoint elements in the unit and control your color play, You could change the whole effect of the quilt by altering color placement.

and if you rotate the quarter blocks again, you can get this lovely rendition.

Thank you, Susie, for sharing your blocks and histories with us and inspiring our creativity.

Nativity Wall Quilt

I quilted up a wall hanging this week. I had gone digging in a stash box for some flannel and stumbled upon this panel.  LOL  So being the Christmas season, it only seamed  fitting that I push aside the next project and make room for holiday stitching.

This is a preprinted Nativity Panel. I didn't have time to decide on a fancy border and stitch it up, so I settled to quilt and bind the panel,as is.  I have two more panels in the stash. Maybe I will figure out a plan to enlarge them.

May you all have a blessed Merry Christmas!

Snug as a bug in a Mug Rug

I have been busy fussing over mug rugs. I have not accomplished anything monumental! I am  ready to move on since one rug hit the waste basket and here is the rest of them.  Not one of them even close to perfect.

Is it normal for the smaller items to be more difficult to create than the large ones?  I kept changing techniques, as each one produced  unsatisfactory results.  I had planned to present these items along with a new mug and some christmas candy as hostess gifts.

Now I have so much christmas scraps strewn about. I think I'll stitch them up into log cabin blocks and do some mindless sewing. .... just have to decide on the block size.

Scarecrow Wall Hangings

I had four decorative scarecrow picks, so I had to build wallhangings around them.  I think I'll have to put away my autumn fabrics sooner than I am ready, but I do have to rush into christmas before it passes me by.

So here is my batch of scarecrow wallhangings, finally finished. You can see that they are all a bit different, because I always have to deal with the  "what if "  factor.  The fourth wallhanging is shown in an earlier post.

I wish you all a very blessed Thanksgiving Season.  We have SO MUCH  to be thankful for, may we always remember.

Scarecrow Mini

I built a pumpkin field around this cute scarecrow pick. I had some fabric with pumpkins too. I backed them with fusible and cut them out individually.  I  made a facing for the fence to give the top edge a finish, which left an opening to insert the stick.

 I bought 3 more scarecrows, so I'll need to make more mini quilts and use them as gifts, or I could put them in the craft bazaar next year.

Fall Projects Finished

I have finished another pumpkin mini that is displayed on my wire table top frame.  I made one last year. It was a mystery block at paperpanache.com.  She creates wonderful patterns for paper piecing.  Anyway,  I had my little pumpkin on display  at a craft bazaar recently , and DH sold it.  LOL  It was so special, I had to make another one.

This one has a story of its own.  It's the first time I've  unstitched a completely finished binding.  The first binding matched the golden flange separating the border from the block. I didnt give it a thought. I just made the binding in the same fabric because it was pretty and went well with the border fabric and the backing.  Well, it was so over-powering, I couldnt stand it!  So I have to say this binding now blends into oblivion, which is what I wanted.

Stay tuned for another fall project finished..................................................................

QOV TATW top finished

I have my first QOV top assembled.  It was a bit of a challenge.  Too much cutting, pressing, sewing, unstitching, re-sewing ............... . Was I supposed to spray starch the strips into cardboard-like pieces first?

The quilt itself is lovely - bright, deep reds, rich royal blues and a soft blue and white. The trip around the world layout is so nice. I have new ideas for using scraps plus a few standard color strips. I would conduct the construction differently, avoiding the unsewing, if I'm making ALOT of blocks.

So, here is my QOV top. I keep humming a certain, old song in my head   "From A Distance" by Bette Midler.  It looks beautiful   "from a distance".  Some squares are a bit wonky, some seams do not intersect to perfection.

Our soldiers are SO worthy,  so off it goes to Alycia. My contribution to the Quilts of Valor mission! I hope you will find time to contribute some blocks for this program.

QOV TATW Blocks con't

I've just finished sewing my 24 blocks, albeit slightly imperfect.  Now to get those sewn together and shipped off to Alycia. But that won't be tonite.  If I have encouraged you to make some TATW blocks and send to  Alycia,  please tell her I sent you!  Photos of my quilt tomorrow!

More QOV TATW Blocks

I decided that four blocks that blend together perfectly deserves to be an entire quilt.  So, I have started cutting my strips to make 20 more blocks.  There will be a few areas that are scrappy, but contain the same color value. There will be a few areas that are consistent with the same fabrics.

This project is an unexpected detour from the stitching plans I had laid out this week.  When you are inspired with something, we have to run with it, without delay. When my blocks are all stitched, I'll send them off to   Alycia   to contribute to her campaign.

TATW Blocks

Here is a set of four blocks. I ran out of one red fabric, so I can't make more matching blocks. I will have to go VERY SCRAPPY next time.  I wonder if I can control a few areas just enough to "separate and contain" the scrappy ones?

I did some figuring.  If I cut a 16" wide piece from each of six fabrics, I could cut 16 strips from each fabric. Each strip would make one block, so I could get 16 blocks from these cuts.  That is a nice layout. It would be 48 x 48, plus borders.

But I do prefer the 24 block layout, 4 x 6 grid. This block works nicely in even numbers.

Should you have an  odd number of blocks, or very scrappy blocks, then the straight furrows layout might look nice.

Here is one with 1/2" sashing separating the blocks.

So I wonder how to control the scrappy?  Would I use the same fabric in position 1  (white) and another same fabric in  position 3 or 4 ? This sounds like another mission for EQ!

I hope you will find some time and fabric to make some QOV TATW blocks.  If you send 5 blocks to  Alycia ,  she will enter your name in the drawing for a chance to win 5 yards of fabric.  I think I'll try a scrappy one now.

QOV TATW Block

Well,  you'd have to be a quilter to decipher the written word to all these letters....QOV  TATW !  I have one block done!  I had other things to do today, but I did get one block done and it is so pretty, I hope to have enough of these fabrics to make a 24-block set.  I don't think there is quite enough of these fabrics, but maybe they will multiply like bunnies during the night, like my scrap boxes do!

So,silly me,  just had to show you my one block. Now dont criticize my photography skills!  I havent taken the time to make up my design wall yet.  But I can picture this block rotated into a gorgeous quilt!

So come on, as Eleanor Burns says, get strippin!

Quilts of Valor Block Drive

I support the Quilts of Valor Block Drive initiated by Alycia.  You can get the details of the block drive here at  http://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2012/10/quilt-block-sew-long.html.  She has created a clear tutorial for constructing the block, borrowed with permission,  from the queen of scraps herself, Bonnie Hunter.

Should you have a generous nature, you can show appreciation for the sacrifice others have made for our freedom. Will you  make up a few blocks and send them on to Alycia.?  She will enter your name for a prize drawing of 5 yards of fabric!

If you are not able to send in blocks, go ahead and try out the tutorial for the Scrappy Trip Around The World block. It is a fun technique. You only need 16 inch length of strips.  Here is a couple layouts you might use for these blocks.

This quilt is a 4 x 4 grid,   16 blocks
It finishes at 60 x 60

This quilt is a 4 x 6 grid, 24 blocks
It finishes at 60 x 84














A little more fine rotation, same blocks, you can control the flow of colors. I like this one!

I hope you will consider being a part of this program. I thank ALL OUR MILITARY for their service!  Thank you!

Friends & Family Wallhanging

As soon as this pattern was released in the October issue of Quilters World, I put it at the very top of my to-do list.  It is the Friends & Family Quilt by Bev Getschel.  I found the perfect paisley print for the branches, leaves and border. It has burgandy, brown, aqua and a touch of tan. What a joy it is when you find the fabric that is perfect for your project.

I am making this project at half scale of the original pattern, so it will end up being about 25" x 29".  Today I assembled the background for the applique.   I have to make everything based on 1" finished strips. Here is a photo of my work today.  It was a challenge to work these strips into their diagonal placement. I had to wing it along the way.

It came out really pretty.  I trimmed it oversize until I get the applique pieces on.  Now should I add the fused applique first, then quilt around it?  The pattern has ALOT of branches and leaves. I probably wont enjoy machine stitching every little piece.  Should I make the quilt, quilt the background, then add the applique and stitch it down by machine?  Should I take the easy route and do the machine quilting thru the entire piece,ignoring applique placements?  I havent decided that yet.....BUT.... I still have to prepare the applique pieces, so there is time for more decisions. I bet my cyber friend, Bonni, could help me decide.  She is totally hooked on applique.

The October issue of Quilters World has a few really great projects that inspire me. I am hoping for a quiet winter with lots of time to spend in the quilting cave.  The Sticks & Stones Quilt could make a dent in those scrap boxes.

Autumn Display

I used to get distressed when the fall season came upon us.  Not because I would be another year older, but because it was just too close to winter.  I could never tolerate winter.  But I truly love the colors of autumn and the changing of the seasons. It is a reminder that God is indeed constantly at work.

I have also been constantly at work these past few weeks.  I have been making an assortment of fabric greeting cards - 100 of them, actually! I am preparing for a Harvest Fair to take place Oct 13th!

This photo is a temporary display of some of my pieces. The quilt on the wall is not for sale in the bazaar. I just love it to pieces. I made it several years ago and I quilted it by hand. I am not able to quilt by hand anymore.  I hope to enjoy it for a few more years.  It is a pattern by Lynette Jensen.

After fussing over 100 cards, I am ready to move on to another project.  I already know what that  will be, a special design from the most recent issue of Quilters World. Stay tuned.

Thank you for visiting. I wish you a blessed day!

Fancy Fleece Scarves

I am a member of the UMW group at church. They are having a table at the Fall Craft Fair also. They have engineered a mission to make fleece scarves.  This is the first time I've made fleece scarves and I am delighted to report that I made quick work of it, thanks to the handy quilting tools we have.

A yard of fleece can yield 5 or 6 scarves that will be as long as the width of fabric; i.e. 54" or 60".
First I trimmed off the curly selvedge edge.

I folded the yardage in half, then folded in half again. The piece you will be cutting will now be in four layers ( 1/4 of 54") by the yard length (36").

I used my handy 6" x24" ruler and rotary cut 6 scarves, the width of the ruler.

 

(Actually, in this photo, I cut 5 scarves:  2 @ 9" wide and 3 @ 6" wide.  The 9" scarves make a comfy  shoulder wrap.)



The next step is to mark a line, 5" from both edges, to cut the fringe.  I decided my handy June Tailor Shape Cut tool might make easy rotary cutting work of this step.  I did not have to mark a line.

I laid out the scarf so that both edges were even. Then I lined the ruler up to the edge, at the 8" line.  If you rotary cut from the 8" line, up to the end of the ruler - that should make 5" of fringe.  I cut the fringe at 1" wide.

 

The next step is to pinch or make a tiny fold at the 5" line - make a tiny snip with the scissors. Take the fringe and slip it back through the tiny snip. It should look like this:

 

 

 

 

I bought 2 yards of fleece and made 11 scarves. It took  about 3 hours of fun.

 

 

Thanks for visiting.  May you have a blessed and creative day today!

Welcome September.....

Greetings everyone.  It is amazing how quickly September rolls onto the calendar!  Here in the midwest, fall will be in the air soon.  I have not done alot of blogging lately.  Usually that means I've been stitching up a storm.

September is a big and busy month here at the Scribner house.  It begins with today, DH birthday!  Happy Birthday Raymond.  God has graced you with many years and you have shared that grace with so many others.  So, Happy Birthday Sweetie!  September also entertains my birthday.  It has become a tradition to take a short trip to Shipshewana for my birthday. This eliminates the stress that DH might have when thinking about my gift.  When a quilter goes to Shipshewana, the gifting is covered.  We usually cap the day off with a fabulous dinner at Essenhaus.

Now, I have been stitching lots of greeting cards.  Here is just a sample. I have made multiples of these designs. I think I will be doing this all month. 

This is a newly released pattern by Carol Doak. She calls it Cat in a Pumpkin.    It is available free on the Carol Doak Yahoo group. You can join here

 

 

Some Christmas cards

 

 



 

 

Well,  I'm having issues with editing in blogger!  So, gotta go!  See you all soon.  Thanks for visiting.

 





 

 

 

 

 

 

Steppin to the Nines

Oh how sweet it is  .... two  UFO's from June, 2010 .... finished!  It seems like I havent been here, but I've really been busy sewing. 

A little history:  I was cleaning out some EQ files and came across one that showed more potential.  I played in the file, until I came up with this pattern.  Originally, it was a design which graduated with steps; hence the name.  Then I added 9-patches and titled my pattern "Steppin to the Nines".  You know how these things evolve. LOL  I shared this pattern with my Cbees group and we had an on-line workshop weekend.  It was lots of fun and lots of STT9 tops were created.

This first STT9 quilt is finished with a diagonal quilting grid.  My sheltie, Kody,  managed to squeeze into the photo, in the bottom left corner.  Isn't he a doll!    The quilt is about 54" square.

The 2nd STT9 quilt is just a bit smaller because of the different border treatment. It is quilted in a straight grid.  It is about 46" square.

Still, these are two finishes, all washed and cuddly and ready for children.  How sweet it is!

Congratulations! 'Think Christmas' Prize Drawing

The prize drawing for 5 fabric Christmas cards is completed.  The random generator picked a number between 1 and 128 ................  the winning number is  79!

CONGRATUATIONS !    Gwen  July 31, 2012 4:44 PM



"Cute, cute blocks-- and LOVE those Christmas cards! If I won, I'd be sending them to my closest quilting friends! Thanks for the chance to enter your giveaway! :-) "

Email your mailing address to me at katscribner3@gmail.com  so I can send your prize to you.

Thank you, everyone, for visiting my blog and leaving such nice comments for me.  I hope everyone enjoyed the "Think Christmas" hop.


'Think Christmas' Blog Hop Wraps Up

Yes, pun intended.  LOL  the 'Think Christmas' Blog Hop wraps up today.  There has been 7 fun-filled, inspiring days of hopping. I visited every one!  I enjoyed every one!  (and I wasn't even in the mood for Christmas).

Lesley of  the cuddle quilter did a fabulous job in hosting the hop.  She offered interesting reviews and pictures, not to mention the patience of support offered behnid the scenes.  Thank you, Lesley, for making the hop so enjoyable and entertaining!

You will find today's line-up of blogs here:
 http://lesleythecuddlequilter.blogspot.com/2012/08/think-christmas-final-day-is-here.html

and you will find the entire 7-day line up here:
http://lesleythecuddlequilter.blogspot.ca/2012/07/think-christmas-blog-hop-schedule.html

I hope you have time to visit the blogs, leave a comment and be included in the chance to win their prize offerings.

Thank you Madame Samm of  http://www.sewwequilt.com/  for being a great cheerleader!

Check back here tomorrow to see whose number is drawn for my  set of 5 fabric christmas cards!

'Think Christmas' Blog Hop

Welcome to my presentation of the Think Christmas blog hop.  Thank you, Lesley, for organizing the recruits for this blog hop and especially for all your  techie help behind the scenes!  Thank you, Madame Samm, for being the cheerleading squadress (is that a new word?).  Now that I've gotten my acceptance speech complete.....  on with the show.  (grin)

My first quilting love is paper piecing, so I am unable to toss out ANY  bits of fabric.  As if  wanting to inspire you wasn't enough of a challenge, I had to toss in a  'new-to-me'  technique for a personal challenge.  So,  I started creating crumb blocks. I approached this process 'willy-nilly', no specific instruction and I quite enjoyed it!  Oh no!! another reason not to toss out those bits and pieces.

Here is my first block. Crumb piecing is in the green rectangles and a paper pieced ball ornament was transformed into an applique motif.  This block measures 12-1/2" sq.

Here is another block with a new motif.  This little stocking was paper pieced from a pattern at http://www.circleofcrafters.com/irisfolding/christmas.html.  Coloring book pages is another good resourse for motifs.  I left the top edge of the stocking unstitched, to insert some christmas trinkets.  Here is how I made the stocking into an applique motif.

Here is my third block.  The bells are made from red crumbs and stitched down with gold trims.  What red, green and white christmas doesn't warrant a touch of gold?  How did that scrap of red get stitched in with the greens?

Hmmm, does my parade of blocks look like a pre-planned set?  LOL  Okay, I confess, I had a hard time making a block without a purpose. I sewed them together, added a narrow border stripe and a triangle finish, and quilted it into a door banner.  If you put a triangle finish on both ends, you would have a great table runner. I hope you were inspired with my christmas blocks using fabric scraps.

Here is one more 12-1/2" christmas block. It was  made with the little twister template and 5 inch squares.

THANK YOU !   for visiting me today.  Yes, Virginia,  there    IS    a   Santa Claus.   Just write  a comment  and you'll be entered in the drawing  to win this set of 5 fabric christmas cards with envelopes.  They are blank inside,  leaving a place for you to write a personal message.  The drawing will take place at the end of the hop, on Monday, Aug 6th.

Here are more Think Christmas bloggers ready to welcome you today:

Tuesday, July 31 

 Jane's Fabrics and Quilts

Quilting Fiesta

Scrapbox Quilts

From This to That 

Buzzing and Bumbling

No Loose Threads

Deborah B 

Judith Handmade Treasures

Gran-Knot-Y Embroidery Lady

Mrs. Pickles

Susie's World

and just so you don't miss a beat, here is the schedule of participating bloggers for the entire 7-day hop.  Have fun and Think Christmas!

http://lesleythecuddlequilter.blogspot.ca/2012/07/think-christmas-blog-hop-schedule.html

Making an applique motif

We are fortunate to have so many options in our quilting methods.  Here is one method for transforming a shape into an applique motif  with a finished edge.


stitched pattern + interfacing

With right side of fabric next to interfacing (paper side up),

 stitch around outermost edge, with a tiny stitch length

remove paper

trim within seam allowance; 
 Bonus: using pinking sheers will clip the curves for you


Cut a slit in back interfacing; turn shape right-side out; press with an iron

Your applique is ready to stitch down to a background piece.

Gettin it off my chest

Yesterday, an episode of Dr. Oz aired, the substance of which really troubles me.  He is a surgeon, a professional MD.  One lady and her wrinkles was the brunt of the show. The good doc told her that a census decided she looked 10 years older than she really was and  "How did she feel about that?"  She was in her 40's.  The doctor said he wants to help her look her best and to feel good about herself again.  He offered some miracle answers/products because " it's his job to help her feel good about herself!  "            WHAT?     !!!  

How sad it is that  professionals are using the media to influence society and tell them they are not okay because they showcase a few wrinkles!!!  I'll not be watching that show again.  Their strategy is just   WRONG !

Now, back to  my regularly scheduled quilting.

L.R. Wallhanging - finished

I have finished my wallhanging for the living room. Yay!  I am visually drawn to a mix of piecing and applique, especially since I am surrounded by an unyielding supply of bunnies (scraps).  I included both techniques in the wallhanging and I enjoy it's aire of whimsy. 

The log cabin blocks are each 3 inches and made totally from scrap pieces left from the LR sofa quilt. I wish I had the scraps under control now, but another project will have to be planned.

I tried out some satin stitching on a few of the applique pieces. That didnt fare so well and I went back to my blanket stitching. I SITD between the log cabin blocks. I used some lettering on my machine to sign my quilt in the bottom right corner.  Finished.  TA DA .   lol

L.R. Wallhanging - con't

Ooh, the excitement mounts for my latest wallhanging. I have finished stitching the scrappy, little log cabin blocks; sewn them into a border and stitched 2 additional frame borders . It's looking very rustic. I think I'm gonna like it!  Sorry,  no pictures yet.

I hope to get it quilted Thursday and displayed on my wall.  Wish me luck to get it done as I have other projects waiting in the wings, for their turn at five minutes of fame.  LOL

L.R. Wallhanging - WIP

I have been working on a wallhanging for a small empty wall in the living room.  Have I said that applique is not my immediate forte?  I still enjoy the mix of applique shapes and piecing. so I just run with it anyway.  I have been working from a scrap pile created from my L.R. Sofa project. 

This is the center piece. I went "without a plan".  Some pieces are fused and a few are pinned. I will stitch it all down when I get to the quilting process.

Now on to the borders.  I used EQ to audition several border treatments.  I have a huge pile of small, odd-shaped scraps, so I went with  little log cabin blocks.  I am pretty sure that there will still be a pile of scrap pieces left over, when this project is finished.  What about the leftover yardage???  LOL

I wish you all a blessed day and thank you for visiting!

A Quilting Interlude

A friend shared this video with us.  It reminds me to put my priorities in perspective and to remember what is truly important.  I hope you enjoy the video.
                  http://www.lshs64.com/enjoytheride.html

Autumn Strings Quilt

My Autumn Strings quilt is finally finished. This project began way back on August 01, 2011.  It's purpose was to clear out some of the pieces in my scrap bins.  I decided on warm colors of autumn and started trimming strings and tossing them into the project string box.  When the box was full, I started the 36 string blocks. The posts for this project began here:
http://scrapboxquilts.blogspot.com/2011/08/string-quilt-2.html  When those blocks were finished, they were neatly trimmed to size and put back in the string box.  This seemed like a good stopping point.

Well, it seems my scrap bins are overstuffed again.  What to do?  I guess I'll have to sew more string blocks to get those bins under control.  So before I could do that, I had to quilt up the batch that was started last summer.  This should have been a quick undertaking.  Ha!  I  have been working on it for the past 2 weeks.  However, I now have a photo to share.  YAY!

and here is the back

Now I can plan my next string orchestra with a clear conscience!  Are you encouraged to make some string blocks?  Thanks for visiting!