Random, Wonky and Wonderful

Fun - that is what quilting should be, fun.  So, I have determined to make some fun stuff and just enjoy sewing with no expectations.  I had some scraps left from making the coasters and I rummaged around in the bins and added more.  Some of the pieces were sewn together already, but not many.  Orphan blocks can be used as is or cut into strips to add back into something else. 

This one above started with a half square triangle unit. Then I pieced  around it like a log cabin - except that some of the "logs" are pieced.  Often those small pieces were cut from the end of another strip.  Those can be sewn together to make a new strip. 

Next up- these two books were part of my inspiration. 

There is also this block:

There is some slashed piecing in there as well as an orphan piece that was made

as an experiment. 

Then this one

Two more orphan pieces and another half square triangle.  And of course a lot

of scrap pieces sewn on randomly. 

Finally this little quarter log cabin - very inspired by the Gwen Marston book. 

I followed some advice and just grabbed strips to sew on it at random - as long as there was some contrast to keep it visually appealing. 

How will all of these be used? For what?  

Figuring that out has not been fun yet.

So......

I will keep sewing or do something else until the idea says 
"Hey why don't you......."

And then it will be fun. 

I worked long enough to retire so that I could start doing things that are fun. 

There are still things I have to do, 

but I get to do more things I want to do. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Another Finish- Table Scraps

It was really a lot of fun just randomly piecing and making the set of four coasters. The recipient approved them and they are almost ready for mailing.  They still need a quick wash/dry cycle so that I can be confident that no seams will pop when they are washed.  Here they are as of today, Sunday March 28th.  (This will not be posted until Monday the 29th.)  

I have to say that I prefer the straight line quilting best on these. 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

Table Scraps: Placemats are Finished -and a start

There is a challenge on the blog "A Joyful Quilter"  that I discovered when she asked if I was going to put my placemats in the challenge.  I decided that the answer is "YES."  My placemats are finished although I have not done my standard practice of "washing everything I make before it leaves my hands."  

Here are the four placemats. 

And here is the back of one showing the label.

After the last post a friend emailed asking if I could make her some coasters. Her request was "green, and use some scraps to make them so I can use them. If they are fancy, I won't use them. "

So I rummaged through some scraps and pulled greens and some blue greens. But there are bits of other colors that sneaked in.  I did random piecing that is not fancy - in my opinion.   I hope she approves of these and thinks she will use them.  If not, I will still finish them and someone will use them.  Here are the "tops" for the coasters.  

I confess that I got a copy of "Liberated Quiltmaking II" by Gwen Marston and had looked at it before I started.    They aren't fancy just fun.  Right now they are 5"by 5" so they will be just a bit smaller when quilted, trimmed and bound. 

I think both of the projects count quite nicely as "Table Scraps." 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.

A Little Update

I have been very negligent with this blog lately.  So here is what is currently going on in my world.  

Yesterday, here in Alabama - as well as other places,  we had a very bad weather day. Tornadoes ripped across the state causing a lot of damage in some areas.   I was fortunate that my home and those of my loved ones in the area were spared any major damage.  It was a scary day.  

I have been working most recently on making a set of placemats.  These are pieced and done in the "leave a turning area open" manner.    Two of them are quilted and two are waiting to be quilted. 

But before being quilted the turning spot and the rest of the edge is sewn closed.  It is at that point that I inserted my label.

This photo also shows the backing - and the fact that my stitching on the edge is not perfect. 

You know you are a quilter when you are watching mindless video and the thing that catches your eye is a log cabin block used in decor. 

This episode was made in 1972.  The seventies were the start of the quilting revival in the USA.  I love the way these were used as set decor.  It "normalized" the use of quilted items as home decor.  You may notice that the pillows do not match. Also the one on the left looks like it was truly used prior to being on camera.  (These are the places my mind goes - sometimes I lose the plot of a show when I see quilts or quilted items. ) 

Until Next Time,  

Stay Creative 

Comments are welcomed. I will reply when possible. Of course if you are a "No Reply Blogger"- I can not reply. Links in comments will result in the entire comment being deleted.