Project Quilting 12.4: The Snail Trail Block

 

This week's Project Quilting challenge was to use the Snail Trail block! This is a block that I've seen, but haven't made, so it was a new one for me. 

I started with making just 2 of them, thinking I'd make mug rugs/coasters. But as I played with the blocks and saw the secondary patterns, I went on to make a total of 4. 

Then I played some more and came up with these:

I chose the top block and started stitching! 

Adding stacked blocks to the sides and long strips to the top and bottom gave me the size I was looking for. I also added a shamrock applique to the center square for that St. Patty's Day feel. A squiggly meander free-motion quilting held all 3 layers together. 

A solid green fabric was added as binding and a small piece of shamrock fabric fit perfectly for the backing making this another project made entirely from my stash!

This little guy fits perfectly on my antique plant stand! 

This stand is actually a solid wood piece from an old church in town that my brother gave us as a wedding gift back in 1983.

 (That makes my husband and me antiques too!)

Snail's Trail Table Topper made with 4 blocks

3 layers

One applique

Measures 9.5" x 13"

Linking up to:

 Persimon Dreams

Project Quilting 12.3: Virtual Vacation

 

Like so many others, it's been nearly a year since my husband and I traveled further than 30 miles from home. Last March, we took a cruise and one week later, everything shut down tight like dried paint on a window frame. Boom!

Wherever we go, we love to walk and explore new places, especially outdoors. Many times, carrying a purse or backpack is inconvenient and cumbersome. I've worn fanny packs, but feel like a real old teenager from the 80's. Gotta be cool...almost 60 year old me! :)

In my Pinterest sewing board, I had this Clip-On Waist Bag  tutorial from the Sew Very Crafty blog waiting to be made. It's been on my mind to make one and this was perfect for this week's Project Quilting challenge. This bag clips directly onto my belt loops of jeans or shorts. 

This handy pouch is ready now and waiting for my next (???) vacation! Woohoo! 

Just the thought gets me excited! 

I chose my fabrics from the stash...a lightweight denim and gorgeous purply-pink cotton for the lining and coordinating outside strip. 2 zippers and fusible interfacing to layer between outer and lining fabrics. This Craft-fuse was perfect to give that bit of stiffness without bulk. 

The instructions were very well written, but that doesn't mean a few swear words weren't spoken! I can follow directions, but sometimes my stubborn side tells me that I know a better way...not with this guy. Follow the directions.

We have 2 dogs. We go through probably 4 or 5 of those retractable dog leashes a year. I always cut off those swivel clips that attach to the dog collar. This was one time I was patting myself on the back for hoarding. I dug out 2 of them and they were just right! Nope, they aren't shiny and new, but they work and I didn't have to stomp through the snow to get to the store to buy pretty ones.  *These swivel clips attach directly to your belt loops.

It's such a great feeling when the online photo matches the actual project! I was on a roll!

The hardest part was the turn-inside-out-part which is kinda like giving birth. 

It's hard work-gotta be gentle-fingers crossed it turns out right-and I don't ever want to do this again process---until you see it's perfect and you made it and you want a dozen more!

Too bad it's not big enough to hold my cell phone!

Maybe it's because my phone is too honkin' big. 

I will make another and increase the dimensions. 

Until then, I will make accommodations.

I just love this clip-on bag! It's so comfortable, even with my essentials inside and keeps my hands free to do other things. May we all be able to get out and discover new experiences soon!

Dimensions: 7.5" x 5.5"

Made with 3 layers in my home in Asbury, Iowa

Linking up with:

Persimon Dreams: Project Quilting 12.3

RSC January 2021 Pink! and Table Scraps Challenge

I was overjoyed to see that pink was the chosen color for January's Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) ...such a pretty, happy color to start off the year! 

It's also perfect to use for a Valentine's table runner.

I saw this block called "Be Mine" on the Perkins Dry Goods blog. 

I loved it the moment I  saw it. 

I made 3 blocks (12.5" x 12.5" each) and added a sashing on each side of the middle one.

I chose a loop and heart motif as I free-motion quilted. 

I'm getting more comfortable with my FMQ !

I really enjoyed using up some of my pretty pink scraps to make 

this runner for Valentine's Day.

Joy at The Joyful Quilter has started a new link up this month called

Table Scraps. Please consider adding a project to join the fun. 

Linking up with: 

So Scrappy RSC January

The Joyful Quilter Table Scraps Challenge January

 

Project Quilting 12.2 Fussy Cutting and Sew Sweetness January Challenge

 

I was sewing double duty this week! 

Persimon Dream's Project Quilting's task was to use fussy cutting in a completed project. 

I decided to include the fussy cutting in the Sew Sweetness January Challenge which was to stitch up any Sew Sweetness pattern. I chose a free pattern called the Persimmon Dumpling Pouch. This sweet pouch comes in 3 sizes (I made the small and medium sizes) and is absolutely easy to do following Sara Lawson's video tutorial and written directions. I know I'll be making more in the future!

I started with fussy-cutting strips of fabric that I've set aside over the years for just this reason. Most strips were 2" wide and sewn with 1/4" seam. 

Above were the sections sewn for the medium sized Dumpliing Pouch.

Quilting the newly-made fabric was fun. 

Shape-Flex Fusible Woven Interfacing helps to give the sides of the pouch some stiffness,

 and also gives the fabric depth when quilting. 

I even did some FMQ about shapes to help the designs stand out. 

You can't scare me, you sneaky zippers!

The lighting is poor here, but I have an awesome view over a pond just beyond our backyard.

Here's the finished pouches! So darned cute!

For some reason, one end on each pouch is wonky where the seams line up. 

It doesn't affect the structure, and is only aesthetics. 

Still....it bugs me.

It was fun choosing some coordinating lining fabric!

Ok, so if you don't mind a bit of "wonky", I'd love to give this smallest pink-zipped pouch to one of my readers!  

(Email subscribers and Bloglovin' followers of this blog may be given preference!)

Congrats to The Joyful Quilter for winning the Artsy Bib in my last post!

Please leave a comment on this post stating that you are interested and I will draw a name next weekend. (US addresses only, please.) You will have 48 hours to reply to my email to win. 

*Sharpie pens not included.

Linking up with:

12.2 Project Quilting @PersimonDreams

January Challenge @SewSweetness

Wednesday Wait Loss @Inquiring Quilter

Midweek Makers @Quiltfabrication

Project Quilting 12.1: Illuminating + Ultimate Gray

 

Sometimes inspiration doesn't happen at the speed of light. 

Sometimes it doesn't happen at all.

For me, it came just in the  nick of time.

This is the first week of Project Quilting 2021 sponsored by Persimon Dreams. 

This challenge requires the use of Pantone's Color of the Year, which actually is 2 colors. 

Any shades of either color are acceptable, along with white/and or black.

Along with those basics, each project must include at least one of the following:

patchwork

applique

3 layers stitched together

Call me an overachiever.

I've included all 3 of the above.

Somehow, I saw a vision among these scraps. 

I "made" my own fabric by stitching those scraps together. 

Such fun!

Soon the piece was big enough to make a baby bib.

I got it traced and cut out.

Ready for quiltin'!

Simple cross-hatch quilting on Franken-batting.

A cute Mary Englebreit-type flower was sewn and appliqued to give a bit of a feminine touch.

Backing is a yellow light terrycloth for ultimate absorbency!

If you've made it this far and you've decided you really like this artsy bib, go ahead and leave a comment! 

Mention that you'd like to have your name added to the hat. 

I'll choose a winner on January 17th and will email the lucky one. 

(U.S. addresses only please)

A reply email must be sent to me within 48 hours or I will need to choose another name. 

Linking up to:

Persimon Dreams PQ 12.1

Mini Autumn Table Topper

 

I really didn't need a new table topper. 

You know how it is when you see something you like, you just have to make it? 

That's my trouble with reading blogs...so many ideas and so little time!

This time I saw the Little Leaves block and wall hanging project on Temecula Quilt Company's blog. 

I thought I'd like to make a mini wall hanging for my front door. 

But once I made a few little leaves blocks, I wanted to make more!

So I made nine 3" blocks. They were a bit fiddly, but SO darned cute!

I sewed them together and added a coordinating border. 

I also added a colored stack of the leaf fabrics to each side to make the piece wider. 

Straight line quilting was all it needed.

This little guy was no longer going to hang on my front door. 

I wouldn't be able to admire it if it was facing outside!

So it found its way to the small table in our sitting room. 

Of course, we had to have matching coasters too!

It was completed just a week before Thanksgiving, which was good timing. 

Tomorrow (or the next day or maybe next week), the turkeys and pumpkins and fall quilted projects will be put away. 

All to be replaced with sparkly Christmas things!

Table topper measures: 10" x 15"

Coasters: 4" square

Linking up with....

Handmade Monday

mmm Quilts dreami #46

Quilting is More Fun Than Housework

A Modern Table Runner

It all started with this:

I came across a big tub of college textbooks in our capped garage. The moment I opened the lid, I knew they were mine. Children's Literature, Teaching Math in Elementary Grades, Roget's Thesaurus...all were nearly 35 years old! Time to go, right? I cut off the hard covers and bindings and threw the insides in the recycle bin. But at the very bottom lay the little book of lens papers. Likely from my freshman semester of Biology and dissecting frogs, pig hearts, and building fruit fly farms. Not one of the lens papers had been used...all 50 sheets were intact. 

They, too, went into the recycle bin. But soon came out!

I knew I could put them to use. I'd seen scraps sewn onto long strips of calculator paper. I didn't have any calculator paper, but Lord knows I have scraps and now I had lens paper! Plus, this paper is so much thinner that regular paper, so I didn't have to worry as much with my needle dulling. 

I  had no project in mind, but I just enjoyed gathering like colors to make blocks, that when trimmed, were about 4" x 6".  Mindless sewing is just the best, isn't it?

On the left are the blocks before tearing off the backing (lens) papers. The right photo is after I had them all sewn together and trimmed. 

Deciding this would make a great layout for a table runner, I kept the sashing simple. 

I used Kona Snow for the sashing and binding. 

I was very  tempted to use a striped fabric for the binding, 

but it pulled the attention away from the center blocks. 

I'm SO glad I went with the Kona Snow binding...it's perfect!

I followed Debbie Jeske's tutorial for organic straight line quilting. 

I love Debbie's style and tutorials at A Quilter's Table blog.

Her tutorial made this quilting fun, easy and so modern!

I used 6 different thread colors to create interest in this wavy technique. 

I will definitely use it again!

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up with:

Confessions of a Fabric Addict

MMMQuilts

Inquiring Quilter Wednesday Wait Loss

Powered By Quilting

Meadow Mist

Free Motion Mavericks

Sarah Goer Quilts

Quilt Fabrications