Stashbusting Sunday

At some point last year I cut out all these blue fabrics for this pattern - it is called Rainbow Around the World and the directions I am using are by Robert Callaham - don't you just love it when someone figures out the modern way to cut/measure/etc. and oldie but goodie quilt pattern? Because I sure wouldn't want to cut each and every individual square!!!

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The strip sets are on my bed - on top of my favorite little heart quilt.

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This quilt calls for 3.5 yards white (I am using a small scale red/white/blue print), 6 yards assorted prints (mine are all blue) and 2.5 yards green (red for me). It will finish at 83X83.

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Not sure when I will get a chance to work on it some more... work has been super busy and I've had long hours. I am tired. Too tired to think about borders or settings or even making blocks, so strip sewing has been good. Fills my little need to sew without being complicated. And tomorrow I have a good break in my schedule so Little Boy and I are going to make a run for it - we are going away for a short overnight trip - combining business with a bit of fun! I am really looking forward to it.

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Here is a photo from the magazine of the quilt I am making.

Crazy Quilts

Here are some photos of the beautiful old crazy quilts that were on display at our quilt show earlier this month. And a few close-ups of the detail - I liked the little chicken saying No Pie!

We also had some modern takes on the crazy quilt too - a cake! and wall hanging.

And finally - a little project I've been working on... I've made 12 of these 6.5" squares - foundation pieced on phone book pages. I won't be making any more this size because they get fiddly to work with when they are so big, yuck. But, I perserved to 12 and will call it good - these blocks are going to be centered either in sawtooth stars or hole in the barn door blocks. NOT my original plan, but you know what - it is always OK to change your plan! 12 will be just fine and by the time I add the rest of the block components, sashings and borders - the quilt will be bed size which is what I was shooting for anyway!

A little fabric shopping

I was lucky enough to have enough time to do a bit of fabric shopping this last trip away - Marden's and Joanne's. Most of the fabric is from Marden's. Here is a photo of my purchases...

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Left - hopefully this stripe will work for a current project. Thread, elastic (for LB's pants) and interfacing - boring I know, but all necessary! 2 fat quarters (I actually got 3, but 1 isn't in the photo for some reason), 1/3 yard cut of mottled fabric that LB liked and the bottom 2 (turquois and rainbow-ish ziggy zaggy) are fabrics for inner/outer borders of the big Scrappy Bargello I made this spring. Next row over - 3 small cuts of novelties (the helicopters and construction trucks - for LB - he wants either a strippy quilt or pillowcases), a nice stripped twill and cordoroy (both fabric for LB's pants). Last row over - 1 yard of the blue star fabric and I think 1/3 yard cuts of the red and stripped fabrics. Should keep me busy for awhile and add a few newer fabrics to my working stash.

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I am finding that I really like to buy 1/3 yard cuts... I learned a long time ago that it takes AGES to use up 1 yard of fabric. Then I started buying 1/4 yard and got wrinkly noodles everytime I put them through the wash. And since I am trying to USE up my stash and just add a bit of new stuff here and there - 1/2 yard cuts seem excessive. So, 1/3 works for me. The average price of a yard of fabric at Marden's is $2.88 so 1/3 yard cuts are VERY kind to the budget too - grin!