Scraps

I've been using my AccuQuilt to make sense of my scrap bin(s). I've been cutting scraps into 2 1/2" squares, 2 1/2" HSTs, and 4 1/2" squares. These are all from the Value Die that comes with the Go Cutter.

This container was full to overflowing.

Now I'm starting to see the bottom of the container. I have at least one more container like this. I would save my scraps because, you know, I was going to make something from them someday. Ummm, yeah! But they were such a mess, I never even tried. But I kept adding to them.

Now this is what I have

Th 2 1/2" boxes are starting to get full. I'll start putting them thru the machine as leaders and enders randomly, I think.

I'm really enjoying the AccuQuilt. I hesitated about getting one--would I really use it, etc.  Well the answer is Yes!

Some people have said that the AccuQuilt makes too much waste out of your scrap. My waste is really quite small. The pieces I am throwing out are slivers. I don't feel wasteful at all.

Thanks,
Lin

Fourth Section Done

Got the next section of Fat Quarter Slide quilted. I'm having a hard time coming up with ideas that aren't too dense. I would appreciate some thoughts, if you have some to share.

I think I will mark off some imaginary squares and continuous line them. I have a daisy I've been thinking about.

I have a lot more sections to do! I had no idea it would be so hard!

Thanks,
Lin

Blog-iversary!

I just realized I passed my 1 year blogiversary! Surprising. When I started I wanted this to be a way for me to catalog my work, to see what I've accomplished. I have succeeded in that.

What I've been surprised at, is the community of quilting bloggers. I've made some great friends this way, been involved with some great events, did some pattern testing, quilt-alongs. I've had a wonderful time!

Happy Blogiversary to Me!!!

Now doesn't this look yummy!!

Rulers

Do you remember I hung all my rotary rulers so they're out of the way?

I decided I like that so well, I needed to hang my long arm rulers too. But where? I can't attach Command hooks on my walls, they're textured. So off I went to Lowe's, looking for a piece of  finished,smooth molding maybe about so long by so high. Poor guy didn't know what to make of me. Probably used to men saying they need exact measurements.

No molding, no finished wood. He was willing to scrap out a bowed piece of lumber that would work, especially if I painted it. Then I thought, what about shelving? Off we went. Perfect. A 24" shelf, finished white.

Mr LQ was invited to hang it for me. He even attached the Command Hooks so they'd be straight. I don't know what he was trying to say???

Even put up my bulletin board. I'm ready to go! The rulers were getting tucked away in various spots. Then when I wanted a particular one, couldn't find it. Now, I'm golden!

Thanks,
Lin

Another Christmas Present

I'm telling you about a Christmas present I really appreciate.

A little something from My Sister-in-Law. I asked for this to vacuum my computers and sewing machines. Wow, does it do a nice job. I find myself cleaning up the little threads all over each day. And the dust bunnies in the bobbin areas. I'm careful that the bobbin screw is not anywhere near it. Tho the "stuff" goes into a cup, so I could get it back if it got sucked into the vacuum.

Thanks,
Lin

Two More Sections

I have two more sections of Fat Quarter Slide done! YAY! After I spent so much time taking out the McTavishing, I have been careful about not using really dense quilting.

Here goes:

I like the way the flowers came out. I wish I could make them continuous tho.

A lot more to go.

Thanks,
Lin

Jack D Ripper

On my Fat Quarter Slide quilt, I used McTavishing (my version) in a section, and HATED it. I'm not good at it, and didn't like how dense the quilting was.

You can see I have started removing the stitches. I knew it would take a long time, I thought 3 + hours?

2 1/2 hours later. It actually went better than I expected. Because I had nice rows of stitches, I was able to slip my ripper under a bunch of rows at once.

The beauty of using a ripper like this one, is the rubber end that pulls thread out. I used it a lot after I cut a bunch of threads. Just by rubbing the nub over the stitch lines, it popped the thread out of the fabric, allowing me to simply lift off the broken threads. YAY!

Here's the same section with the new designs.

Each of the sections will have something new. This is for the bed in the trailer.

Thanks,
Lin

Snow

My Grand daughter and her friend found a good use for the snow we have.

This is in our yard.

Thanks,
Lin

First 2015 Finish!!

I have my first 2015 finish! Happy Dance.

Snoopy's dance always looks so happy! That's how I feel when I achieve a finish. My daughter was here from Ohio this week end, and I got her approval on Grand Illusion too.

Snow is good for something. The colors look so vibrant next to the pure whiteness of the snow.

I made swirly "flowers" all over this quilt. It's so busy, I didn't think quilting would show.

Here's the backing: (the colors match the front so well)

In all its crinkly goodness. This one was quilted with Quilters' Dream. First time using that. Haven't tried sleeping under it yet, so I haven't fully tested it yet.

Thanks,
Lin

New Acquisitions

I have two new toys!

For Christmas, Mr. LQ got me an Accuquilt Go! I have been really enjoying it. I did a number of the Grand Illusion pieces on it, and have been happily cutting up scraps. I have scraps coming out the wazzoo, so I can keep this up for a long time. I'm mostly cutting 2 1/2" squares and 2 1/2" HSTs (Half Square Triangles). At some point these will start going together for a scrappy quilt. Maybe a Leaders and Enders method? But I need to get more variety ready.

The other new thing I have is this:

Hard to see, I know. It is an Eyebrow Trimmer. There were three in the package. There is a "wire wrapped blade" that makes short work of taking out stitches. I've been using it today to snip apart the chain-pieced parts when I'm at the ironing board. Really quick. Supposed to be good for ripping out stitches too.

I saw a video Bonnie Hunter posted on her blog. Bought these on Amazon. Couldn't find them in Wal Mart. Didn't know where to look.

Thanks,
Lin

Ever So Busy

I have been working on quilting Grand Illusion. So far I've gotten the Stitch in the Ditching done. It goes slowly. I'm doing ruler work, and handling it much better than before I took the HQ classes.

For a change of pace, I've been piecing this top:

It's called Ribbon Rings by Quilt Moments, and the fabric is Hubba Hubba from Me & My Sister Designs from Moda. I think the figure eights are interesting because it depends on the color value which part is dominant. A good example of color value.

I may play with the lay out:

See the two circles that are all turquoise? When I add in all the figure eights, I can totally do that! I don't think I have even half the eights on this design wall. Not enough room, and I have a lot more to do. Just needed a break from FMQing (Free Motion Quilting). Now I can understand the people who switch back and forth with different projects in one day. I generally like to complete one whole project before I start another.

Thanks,
Lin

Package

I got another package. This one wasn't squishy, but I loved it just the same.

This is all the 2014 Kona colors. Aren't they gorgeous? I think they will round out my solid stash just wonderfully.

What do you find you need to add to your stash? Particular colors? Prints? Stripes? Solids? I guess you can figure out I felt I needed solids. Canton Village Quilt Works had  a sale right after Christmas, so I succumbed.

Yesterday I spray basted 3 quilts, started quilting today. The Grand Illusion is under the needle right now, just doing the SITD (Stitch in the Ditch) so far. The boring parts. I'm using a ruler to keep myself on the seam lines, and that's going much better then it used to.

Since Grand Illusion is such a busy quilt, I will do an all over free motion pattern on it. A flower-ish swirl, I think. No one will ever see it anyway.

Thanks,
Lin

A Squishy Package

I got a squishy package in the mail today! Yay! Don't you love squishies??

This one was from Pam, my Supernova partner. We had decided to continue making blocks til we had 16. The original plan was 10. Well, 10 just didn't seem right to either of us. What would you do, a 5 x 2 quilt? Nope, not gonna happen. Sixteen it was.

We planned on using Kaffe Fassett prints, neither of us had used his stuff before. And we decided I would make cool colors (because I'm cool), and she would make hot colors (guess what that says about her).

We dutifully exchanged out blocks monthly. Then life got in our way. Had a break, then I got a chance to catch up. I sent all my blocks to Pam. I told her January of February was fine, since we would be in Florida anyway.

She caught up. Man, do I love this quilt! This is gonna be one spectacular quilt! The colors pop, the prints are jumpin'. They're almost all Kaffe prints. Pam said she added one that reminded her of DNA, apt since we're both in the medical fields. See if you can find it.

They're just laid out on a bed, but aren't they spectacular?????

I'm wondering about using sashing to set the wild and crazy colors apart. See the gray in the last photo? Mr LQ suggested I might want a darker color. Something to mull over.

I LOVE THIS!!!

Thanks,
Lin

Fat Quarter Slide

I'm working on a UFO from last year, Fat Quarter Slide. Last Christmas, Mr. LQ gave me a fat quarter bundle (thanks, dear) and I made Fat Quarter Slide. My plan is to use this in the trailer. It seems to me all trailers are decorated in "earth tones." I think this is just another way to say dirt colors. Since this fat quarter bundle is all tan to brown, I thought it would be perfect!

I put on borders today, that I found in my project box, already cut and ready to go. I want to add another border to bring it up to camping bed size. Trailer queen sized mattresses are not the same size as our beds at home. They are smaller. This makes sense, to accommodate smaller living spaces, but don't try to tell me they're the same (our salesman did tell me that).

Here's the quilt without the third border:

But complete with little threads all over it!

Here's the third border, not yet attached:

The stripes are the perfect color. I will back it with flannel, so it isn't so apt to slide off the bed. Ironic, eh? The name of the pattern is Fat Quarter Slide, but I don't want it to slide. teehee

Thanks,
Lin

Please

To any of you who are of a mind to do this, I am asking for some prayers to solve a family problem. No details, just asking for some help from up above.
Thanks to all,
Lin

New Flimsy!

I finished a flimsy!! Yay me!

Grand Illusion is together! I can't believe how many stupid mistakes I made in putting this thing together tho. Just crazy stuff, like putting patches together with wrong edges matching--or not matching.

The two in the middle, I oopsed. Mr. Jack D. Ripper was very busy in the last few days.

Here is my first block:

At this point I wasn't sure I liked this. Quite busy I thought, and jaggedy. Boy was I worried. With all the time and fabric I "wasted" on this, and not like it???

Then I put together more blocks.

(The red is another quilt peeking out.)

Now here is the flimsy:

Still looks jaggedy to me, but I like it a lot more.

Thanks, Bonnie Hunter, for the Mystery Quilt.

Thanks,
Lin