Christmas sparkle finish

It is so exciting to finish this Christmas quilt early..... ok late. But, I am glad it is done and off all my lists. I found the pattern as a free Christmas sew along here. In March 2018, I was overwhelmed with piles of Christmas fabrics and I started cutting. This is one of the quilts I cut trying to use it and organize it. I didn't make it all go away, but, I did get it stored together.

I had it cut out January 2021

I started  the blocks march 2021

The blocks were big and I really liked these Christmas prints

It was a top April 2021

84 x84 = 24 yards

old Christmas prints for the back and free form swirl quilting

I am linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

Whoop Whoop

creations

peacock party

from bolt to beauty

put your foot down

oh scrap sunday

wednesday wait loss

PHD

patchwork and quilts

sparkle top

After considering adding another row to the Christmas sparkle quilt  a free pattern found here. I made more blocks and added to the top before counting it done. But, now, I need to make the decision to add borders. I have plenty of fabric. IT doesn't seem big on the library floor, but, it does at home when I lay it out to decide.

I am always impatient to visit my favorite greenhouse in the Spring. And as a warning to be patient, it was only 47 degrees. We bought asparagus, cabbage, onions, and Jasmine. I have never seen that before as a plant. I tend to have big plans for the garden each year...... for my hubby.

I am looking forward to a guild open sew this Saturday. I have a new project to start.

I'm linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

Whoop Whoop

creations

phd 21
peacock party
oh scrap
from bolt to beauty
UFO busting

put your foot down

to do: sparkle

My Friday group met and I worked on Christmas sparkle UFO .  The instructions had me making corner pieces for each of the 9 blocks. I think the block using just these pieces would be great as well.

I was looking forward to trying a block to see what it would look like. I was surprised at how big it was.  

These blocks are huge 24 - 25 inches and there are only 9 of them. I used Christmas fabrics, but, I think I would like it with shirt fabrics.

Christmas sparkle   a free pattern found here is part of my ufo projects for the rainbow scrap challenge at so scrappy 

I am linking to:

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky _

oh scrap

boms away 

wednesday wait loss

needle and thread Thursdays

rsc21 super saturday

faux hexagon

When I opened a project box a bit ago, I found this Christmas table runner project in strips. I had to study it again and decide where I had ended, and where to go from there.

That evening, I sewed them together and added the borders. This was a workshop 7 years ago. We used a trace n create template from Nancy Zieman. The set includes a set for tumblers as well as hexagons, and in several sizes.

And this pattern

We cut strips and then traced the cut line with the template for the piece. Then we could just cut along the strip and had pieces that looked like this.

After, a visit to the design wall, I decided on this layout of fabric.

It's ready for quilting. And I can take it off the ufo list. I'd like to think this is one of the oldest ufos, but I doubt it.

I am linking to:
Free Motion by the River

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky

Oh scrap

snowflake

I have most of the Christmas snowflake assembled. I ordered a red stripe fabric for a border. I don't know, yet, if I will like it. I showed the quilt to the guild, and I will teach a Saturday workshop March 30th. I think they will like doing it if they give themselves a chance to try it.
I did mine in Christmas fabrics, but it would like great in any color combination.

How I started this quilt is here and here and here. and here and here.

I am linking to:

WOW

midweek makers

Bee Social
Silly Mama WIP

Oh Scrap

stash report January 6, 2019

Ok.... not a good start to a fabric diet, but walmart had their Christmas fat quarters for 24 cents. I didn't count them until I came home. I bought 38. sigh.... The bigger Christmas piece was also 24 cents at the rescue mission. It was the only fabric I have ever seen there.
I knew instantly that I wanted to put 2 different fat quarters into the string piecing for Good fortune mystery quilt.

I am ok with the price per fat quarter, but 38 fat quarters = 9.5 yards. Really? they don't look like that much. 

Last year at this time
Stash report
Fabric Used this Week 0 yard
Fabric Used year to Date: 0 yards
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 0 yards

I finished 2018 having used 379 yards and donating 400 yards
I bought 242 yards

Net Fabric for 2018: 

This year at this time

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week 0 yard

Fabric Used year to Date: 0 yards

Fabric Added this Week: 11 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 11 yards

I sewed more than 15 minutes every day

I have a binding to do for Sunday stitching and then I will have a finish.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

Oh scrap

sunday stash at quiltpaintcreate

15 min to stitch at life in pieces

hooking a leaf

I have a leaf hooked in my Cleveland rug. I am guessing it symbolizes the botanical gardens. It's fun to revisit Cleveland and the biennial in memories as I hook this rug.

It has been awhile since I worked on the Christmas snowflake quilt. But I was able to sew another red one. I only need 3 more blocks to begin assembly.

Linda from Friday quilt group has finished a quilt of valor for the vet's home.

and another donation quilt for the police department. This one included donated fabric from the guild.
She collects the quilts from the guild in October to make one big donation.

I am linking
needle and thread Thursdays
Oh Scrap
Jos country junction

Shop hop

Recently, we had a shop hop in Kokomo, and these are the quilts I wanted to remember for inspiration.
This is a pattern from Crimson Tate in Indy. They are waiting for the printing of the pattern. I was a huge fan of John Denver and this was a quote from him.

Sheepies in wool are so cute, and I love the lamp made from an old sewing machine. Maybe my husband can figure out how to make one for me. LOL

I still have homespun, and recycled shirts, this could be fun....

And, of course, this is my year to get through my Christmas tubs, maybe, this will make a dent. Oh, who am I kidding?.   I didn't buy any of the patterns, but it gets me thinking.

I am linking to:

Fiber Tuesday - 

Free Motion by the River

to do tuesday

too cute tuesday

jewel box stars

Every year Bonnie Hunter introduces a new leader and ender challenge. This year it is jewel box stars. I was lucky enough to have 75% of the piecing done already, in my pieces and parts boxes. I had 3 1/2 inch hsts and 4 patches aplenty. So I am ready to start assembly. I was anxious to try the block and have finished 3. This is going to be fun.

I also have 11 of 16 Christmas snowflakes finished. I notice I am not as interested in these as I have started the stars. hmm.... so close I should finish first. So many choices.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

Finished or Not Fridays   

Whoop Whoop

crazy mom quilts

snowflake blocks

Our first picking of okra and eating from the garden. yum

Our first picking of cucumber

We had a relaxing 4th with our oldest and family. Oh, how I love my Grandchildren.

I wanted to sew red snowflake blocks. I had done several green so I was ready for red.

I am linking (links in the sidebar) to:

needle and thread Thursdays
and
Oh scrap

parts and blocks

I have really enjoyed the paper piecing and working on Christmas Snowflake quilt. I find it repetitive enough that I can just set a rhythm and sew away, but interesting enough to hold my interest. And the results are great.

I don't have all the paper piecing done, but I still had to make a few blocks to see how they are coming together. They are so fun.

It's a chance to see all the fun old Christmas fabrics play nicely together and be useful.

Intro/ templates

fabric requirements

cutting red and green fabric

cutting background

piecing the center

wings

corners

assembly

I am linking (links in the sidebar) to:

needle and thread Thursdays
and
Oh scrap

Christmas snowflake assembly

And now we have come to the last of the Christmas snowflake instructions and time to start assembly.

Choose a center square in a square  from week 1

 add a set of 4 wings from week 2

 and 4 matching corners from week 3

And sew together like a 9 patch and tada it is finished. Again, there are 16 blocks. Arrange on a design wall and assemble in rows.

Intro/ templates

fabric requirements

cutting red and green fabric

cutting background

piecing the center

wings

corners

assembly

I am linking (links in the sidebar) to:

needle and thread Thursdays
and
Oh scrap

Christmas lights

I have had a terrible time with my back lately. I haven't wanted to do much of anything. I visited a chiropractor and I think she was a little too rough. I am sure a little time will heal this. I have had scoliosis most of my life, but it has gotten worse.

 I did have a finish. This is my version of Christmas Lights mystery quilt from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville. It was a 3 part series in Quiltmaker magazine January 2009. It is her 5th mystery and my 10th mystery finish. There are 5 more mysteries to go and 2 more that I started in different colors.
The next one in order is roll roll cotton boll. I have it pieced but it needs assembled.

Keeping with the Christmas theme that seems to consume my quilting year, I was gifted a bag of 4 inch Christmas squares. There were 120 of them and I cut background squares from my stash. I am sewing 9 patches with the hopes of making enough to make a disappearing 9 patch quilt.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

Finished or Not Fridays   

Whoop Whoop

crazy mom quilts

Snowflake corners

This is the last part of the snowflake block.

It's time to make the corners. Here is a quick tutorial for foundation piecing. The wrong side of the fabric faces the wrong side of the paper. Each piece has been cut to size.

The piecing on the corner will use the prints in number order. #2 print is the same as # 1 on the wings. #5 on the corner is the same  #4 on the wings. # 8 on the corner is the same as # 7 on the wings.

The first set of rectangles is the smaller set. The next round will be the larger rectangle.

It is important to check against a light source that the triangles are centered.

I had the most trouble with the last pesky triangle. I am not sure why.

Each block will need four matching corners. And these corners should have the same fabric as the four matching wings. So make 64.
After this we are ready to assemble. It won't be long now.

Intro/ templates

fabric requirements

cutting red and green fabric

cutting background

piecing the center

wings

corners

I am linking (links in the sidebar) to:
needle and thread Thursdays