Hazel's Daughter

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Project Quilting 16.3: Common Blocks

Welcome to the 3rd week of Project Quilting Season 16! Hosted by Kim Lapacek of Persimon Dreams and friend Trish Frankland, there is always something to look forward to in the deepest part of winter! This week's prompt was "Common Blocks" and we were required to use at least 3 common quilting blocks in one project.

For my first block, I chose the invincible 9-Patch. I had a pile of 2" squares in my stash, so I dug them out and color-matched as many as I could, then trimmed them down to 5" blocks.

For my second common block, I got busy with the Rail Fence block. So many strips and so much fun later, they came together quickly.

My 3rd and final block, I chose the favorite Flying Geese block. They looked quite at home perched next to the Rail Fences.

Above is one panel ready to be sewn to the back.

And now the back panel.

I used a bright pink swirly fabric I've had forever as the lining.

Once the lining and outside panels were boxed and cut, I topstitched around the top band, being sure to reinforce the straps.

Here's a peek inside my newest tote bag that I'll be taking on shopping trips!

I'm doing what I can to cut down on plastic and paper bags.

The best part?

Nothing new was purchased for this (or the previous 2) tote bags!

The only yardage used was for the lining.

Linking up with:

Persimon Dreams Project Quilting

Saturday, January 25, 2025

Project Quilting 16.2: Ombre

This week's challenge for Project Quilting was to use the ombre or gradient effect. The challenges are hosted by Kim Lapacek at Persimon Dreams, along with her friend Trish Frankland. Together, they come up with some great ideas!

Ombre describes the color shift in value or hue between two points. It looks like a smooth range between two colors, or a gradient of one color from light to dark.

I wasn't real sure where this challenge would lead me, but I figured I could make a block big enough to use as a front panel for another tote bag for grocery shopping.

My gradient/ombre effect isn't as smooth as I'd like, but I wanted to use what I had in my stash. I turned to a box of batik fabrics and scraps that I won last year. So many lovely pinks, purples and greens in this collection! I pulled out the pinks and purples.

There were already several cut triangles in the box, so that was my starting point.

I made 4 of these large triangles and then trimmed them down to fit together for sewing.

For the back, I used the same fabrics and sewed strips together and top stitched each seam.

I cut up an old cloth belt to use for the straps

and added a strip of fabric to give it some pizzazz.

I pleated all 4 corners at 3" and trimmed them off.

I didn't get a photo of the lining, but it's a lavender swirl that I used to cover my bulletin boards back in my teaching days. That's been around awhile! The very top edge was topstitched with double reinforcement over the straps.

Now I have 2 sturdy bags for grocery shopping in style! My Sassy Big Foot bag has been used several times since its creation 2 weeks ago!

Linking up with:

Persimon Dreams Project Quilting

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Project Quilting 16.1: Mythical Creatures

Whooo, it's been a week! As soon as I read this week's challenge on Project Quilting, hosted by Kim Lapacek and Trish Frankland, an idea popped into my head.

Sasquatch, Big Foot, Yeti, Sassy, Squatchy...whatever term you prefer to use...has always been a creature my husband (and sometimes I) have been interested in.

He's a believer! Yes, we've even been on a Sasquatch hunt in our area after hearing reports of one being spotted. No luck though seeing him/her.

I got started making my tote bag on Monday and completed my front curvy panel of dots and solids. I wish I had a few photos of that learning curve, but my invested brain didn't think of that!

Enough curvy strips already and I was back to straight lines for a back panel.

Then comes time for me to start a 72 hour water fast I signed up for online.

What was I thinking? I had never fasted before in my life beyond 8 hours for a blood test.

That hit me hard and I was out of commission for sewing til Saturday.

I found a free Big Foot template online to print off and traced it onto Head n Bond Lite.

Then ironed it to my brown batik fabric and cut out. Easy peasy, even on a queasy tummy.

I chose an uneven applique stitch to give Squatchy a hairy look.

Blue fabric that I've had forever became the lining. I first thought I'd box the corners at 2.5", but chucked that 3" to make my tote a bit wider at the bottom.

The lining is sewn to the top of the outside panels, along with the handles inserted between and reinforced with 4 rows of stitches. Nothing worse than having a nice tote bag filled to the brim and having a handle come loose.

And there you have it! A new Squatchy tote bag to take shopping to the grocery store and beyond!

Sometimes I feel like I'm feeding a family of Squatches here when the bill rings up.

Linking up to:

16.1 – Mythical Creatures – Challenge 1 of Project QUILTING season 16

Monday, September 23, 2024

Bee Kind Blog Hop! It's my day! 🐝

Welcome to Day 2 of the Bee Kind Blog Hop!

This is a bzzzzy week of bee-utiful projects lined up

to inspire and entertain you.

🐝🐝🐝

Joan, our bee-loved host, from Moosestashquilting is so kind

and patient to make this happen!

🐝🐝🐝

In late summer, I decorate my kitchen and dining area with sunflowers. I knew that bees were very attracted to the pollen in sunflowers, so it just seemed natural to put them together in a mini wall hanging.

Flirting bees!

Sunflower petals were stitched down with Sulky 12 wt. thread.

This thread was glorious to sew with!

Small pieces of lace were used for the bee's wings.

I really like the texture and appearance it gives my sweet bees.

Beads came in handy for the eyes and sunflower seeds.

More photos below taken in the backyard.

Bee sure to follow along with the other bloggers this week!

Monday Sept 23

MooseStashQuilting.com

Tuesday Sept 24

Patchouli Moon Studio

Quilted Snail

Quilt Schmilt

Quilted Delights

Hazels Daughter <----you are here!

Wednesday Sept 25

BeaQuilter

Karrin's Crazy World

That Fabric Feeling

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Quilting Between the Rails

Thursday Sept 26^th

....aaaand because this hop is all about Bee-ing Kind, I am adding a giveaway!!

Raise your hand if you like quilty giveaways! I see you...and you...and you!

I've gathered a few items from my stash that I'm hoping someone could use. Even if you'd like to pass them on to someone else, go for it!

It's all about being kind, right?

In order to be in the draw, just leave a comment and

include the words "bee's knees" in what you write.

If you are a no-reply commenter, be sure to leave your email addy too, or I'll have no way to contact you. If I receive no response after 3 days from the initial contact, I will need to draw another name.

I'll draw a winner this weekend after the hop!

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

It's A Jungle Out There Blog Hop...my day!

Welcome to Day 3 of the It's A Jungle Out There Blog Hop!

We are here because of our gracious hostess, Joan at Moosestash Quilting.

There are always so many talented bloggers who stitch along and provide incredible inspiration.

This month's challenge is to create a project centered on animals, plants or trees.

It all began with the background piece here that's filled with woodland animals.

I pulled from my stash an assortment of coordinating fabrics.

Not knowing how big I wanted this...more likely reason is that my math skills suck...I simply cut a whole lot of 5" squares. The solids would become HST's.