Tutti Fruity Tuesday

Over in the land of Instagram, the #scrappytripalong was born.  I fell so hard for making this block that I worked start to finish on this quilt.  Such a rarity for me, who has so many WIPs.  Many of these fabrics are hoarded Jennifer Paganelli fabrics that I love.  As I was playing with block placement, four blocks with purple played ring around the rosy...and they were having so much fun that I couldn't bear to break them up.  

From there the colors get softer out to the edge of the quilt.  

I decided to break into my vintage sheet stash to back this quilt.  Since the top was all from fabric I had, it just didn't seem right to buy fabric for the back.  

I love how the soft, muted back plays with the bright, cheerful top.  The bright purple binding is the same fabric that is focal pattern on the front.

I added a border of some OOP Jennifer Paganelli fabric that I bought the last few yards of when I saw them at a quilt shop.  Alas, only a wee bit remains in my stash.

Those who have visited here before know that I often can't resist some decorative stitch quilting.  I did manage to limit it to where the border meets the patchwork.

Full disclosure, I am not a prewasher.  The back had no puckers before I washed the quilt.  It does make sense that it loosened up a bit because the rest of the quilt shrank a bit.  I have no problems with this because it is one of the softest, cuddliest quilts I have ever made.  If this is something that would drive you crazy, you could pre-wash, or not use vintage sheets.

Linking up to Fabric Tuesday and Show and Tell Tuesday.  Please use the nifty buttons in the sidebar to visit all the other great finishes!

Blessings,

KT

Frazzled Friday

Finished this useful quilt yesterday. After recently painting my kitchen a cheerful yellow, I wanted new dish quilts. The old purple ones were just not working for me any longer. They no longer matched, were too small, and the binding was beginning to fray. Since I have killed two dishwashers in six years, I decided to try life without one. Now that I do more dishes, a bigger mat was in order.

I used a Moda Strawberry Fields jelly roll. Love it!

This quilted up quickly with a feather stitch on my machine.

I bought a new bath towel to use for the back-and batting. Before I used one that was too thick, and it never really dried out between uses. Hopefully I have remedied that with a lighter weight towel.

I did away with binding altogether, and just used my serving stitch for "binding".

My machine has this great stitch that I call the triple stitch. Each stitch is really three in one. Used it to reinforce the edge.

Before I had three, but two were always in use since they were too small. I figured two was enough if they were a bit bigger. Hope I am right!

Oh, and there is the basket liner I made earlier to match.

Here is a dose of reality. Yup, that is real life here. Well, at least dinner is ready!

Linking up at Sew & Tell. It has been way too long since I played along! Hope you will used the cute button to jet over to enjoy all the other finishes.

Blessings,

KT

Flipping for a New Bag

Hurried to take these pictures before the battery in the camera died.  The charging cord has sprouted wings, so it might be awhile before I can take some decent pictures.  Not that my photography skills are that great anyway. 

Anyhow, I finally finished my Amy Butler Field Bag.  Looked back, and I got it finished before its year anniversary as a WIP.  Good thing I still love the fabrics!  Erin McMorris' Summersault is so cheerful.  Perfect for a travel set and purse.  I have some small scraps left, and a wallet pattern, but I am feeling the itch to move on.

I used some very bright fabrics from my stash to finish off the inside.  It has some great pockets!  I still have some hand sewing to do to tack down the lining to the outer layers, just couldn't wait to share.

On a pattern note.  I will have to wait until this bag falls apart at the seams to ever make another one.  While I love the bag, it took as much time as a quilt.  This is not a quick fix, but it will be super useful for short overnight trips.  It is much cuter than luggage!

I am wanting a new beach bag.  My book always gets damp in the family beach bag when wet towels get thrown in on top.  (To make it worse, it is usually my beach towel that someone else filched used.)  Anyhow, I am hoping a bag that is mine alone HANDS OFF! will solve this little inconvenience.  A girl can dream can't she?

EDIT-- I have finished my beach bag, but haven't gotten any pictures(love the Mondo Bag by the way!). Linking up to Sew and Tell. Be sure to use the cute button on my side bar to see all the great stuff that is finished! Blessings, KT

Wee Little Finishes

I have had this beautiful little panel in my to do basket along with all this wonderful fabric for awhile.  The panel was designed by Amy and I bought it through her Etsy shop.  She knew me well enough to know that I am a purple girl, so she gave me a little heads up.  Though she is no longer printing these panels, she has a beautiful array of printed lovelies.  I have bought several.  All are so wonderful that I want to make something to keep with them.  So that is probably why they languish in the selfish pile!  Well, at least this one is free!!  It came with great instructions for this wonderful quilt.  I did swap out one of the blocks for a courthouse steps block, which has a rose fussy cut in the center.

This stacked coins block was part of the pattern, and just to cute to resist. 

Did my usual cop-out and used decorative stitches on my machine to quilt.

Special fabrics on the back.  The middle strip is a scrap that Amy sent as a thank you for nosy interference a suggestion I gave her.  Love it Amy!  The lighter fabric is maybe old enough to be considered vintage?  My quilty partner in crime gave it to me, along with the purple paisley that I used for the binding.  The blue is from a lonely stack that was in an LQS every time I visited.  I noticed the neglected fat quarters over and over, liking them better each time.  Finally I brought them all home, and now they are nearly gone! 

I have discovered that on these little quilts I can make these pockets in the back corners, cut and sand a pinky-sized dowel to fit, and then use a regular picture hanger to hang.  Cheap, easy, and it shows nothing to detract from the quilt.

These are bound and ready to go to their new homes.  You can tell these aren't mine, they are red.  (Remember I am a purple girl.) 

Yup, that one is mine!

I really like all the little pieces.  I even enjoyed sewing the red.  Feels good to slip a few OOP scraps into a gift.

I can only show you the back of mine.  Otherwise I would be giving away secrets.  Theirs is pretty much the same, only the stripes are going horizontally.  I like the horizontal better, but cut one of the pieces wrong.  Used it on mine so I wouldn't have to re-cut....hey, it was late!!!  More OOP fabric for the tags.  Theirs are the same print, but in green. 

Oh, and the last thing I finished, apparently, is being thankful for a mild winter.  Our temperature is 18 degrees with a wind chill of 7.  Topped off with icy roads.  I think I'll stay in and sew tonight.

Be sure to visit the other Sew & Tell Friday Finishes by using the super cute button on the side bar.  I am linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts Finish it Up Friday as well.  Grab a mug of something warm and enjoy!

Blessings,

KT

Friday Coaster Finish

Well, almost. Going to be gone most of Friday, so I wanted to get this up early. I will try to update, but just as sure as I promise, the day will be nuts-o!

All but the purple coasters are finished. My hope is to do them Friday evening. Just stitch & flip, quilting & closing left. Then I will have four cute sets of six rainbow coasters. My plan was that people only had to remember their color to know which glass or cup was theirs!

One set is for a secret Potholders Pass Partner, the other three sets will be tucked away for various Christmas gifts.

Above is what is left on my cutting table. The purple bin is full of ROY G. BIV strips that should join nicely with some scrap gray and sewing themed scraps for some mug rug love. Yup, I am thinking Christmas goodies! And just so you know I am honest, I was going to make myself a set of rainbow coasters. That is what the blocks on the right are. At the last minute I chose to save them back for a wall hanging.

The little white milk glass cradle is holding some small scraps for a ticker tape quilt. Maybe also a Christmas gift!

Am I the only one that loves seeing the colors in my little trash bin? Having a hard time throwing such sun-shiny goodness away!

Also, many appologies for the terrible pictures.  (Not that mine are ever that great anyhow!)  But my computer is still in rehab.  Ipod blogging...

I will link this to Sew & Tell in the morning. Be sure to visit all the other lovely finishes by using the updated button on the side bar.  Amylouwho has had some trouble with her domain.   Everyone please be sure to update her links to keep up with the fabulousness on her blog.

Blessings,

KT

Top Finished!

Just popping in to share that I have finished Treasure's top.

This picture is the closest to true colors.  The fabric is Neptune, by Tula Pink.  It makes me think of all the wonderful vacations in Gulf Shores Alabama.  That man of mine is so much fun!

Using this picture, even though it is washed out, because it gives some size perspective.  This top measures about 72" x 96".  Long enough for no toes to poke out when his shoulders were covered.   Going to work on something else until I dream up a design to piece up the back.  I have three extra blocks, and some scraps to make use of!! 

Blessings,

KT

Avoiding Bias....

Last Sunday I avoided bias by going antiquing with Dee and her family.  We both loved this chair.

Saw some great quilts.

Dee held this one up for a picture.

By Monday I was avoiding bias by working on my Itty Bitty Project.  By the time I finished the block on the bottom left (Flower Garden) bias was beginning to look fun!



Front

Tuesday, I avoided bias by going to King's Island.  Riding roller coasters in 100 degree heat is bound to take your mind off bias!!  While there, I noticed how handy drawstring backpacks are.  But, being hot, I was not longing for the synthetic variety.



back

Wednesday, I avoided bias by using a charm pack that I won from my LQS to make this super-cute, non-sysynthetic, drawstring backpack.



inside

I used solids that I won earlier this year.  Since there were no notions used, this bag was free!!!
I think that the charm pack was Just Wing it by Mo Mo.



Thursday, I avoided bias by tidying up the sewing corner.  This great basket organizer was a wonderful gift from a quilty friend.  Thanks Shannon!!

Picked this up at Marshall's for some scrap management.

I really like that I can slide the baskets out.

I love that it slides out of the way under my ironing board.

So finally, I needed to face the bias.  I think that I will likely use a gallon of starch on this quilt. 

Four rows down, four rows to go.  I am determined to finish this soon, bias and all!!

Blessings,

KT

Friday Finish...

Not yet finished making my blocks.  Loving the pattern, hating the bias.

As I finish the block sets, I am squaring up and putting the rows together.  Loving how they look!  Starting to get sick of working on them.

So, for a bit of distraction, I pulled these back out.  Blast from the past!  These just need to be squared and put together into a top.  They are even already marked with their order.  I got discouraged when I realized that a 96" by 108" quilt was never going to fit under my machine.  I think that I am going to try to find wool batting and send it off to the long arm quilter.  This will be our winter quilt for our bed.

Three rows finished!  Kinda breaking up the Kaleidoscope Monopoly of my sewing time!

Squares cut for an Itty Bitty block.

Finished fabric shopping with my Super Sister Chick Dee (well, for today anyway)!  ;0)

Bought the backing for Treasure's Neptune Quilt.

These lovelies also found their way into my fabric shopping bag.  (Still loving it Amy!)  The top two fabrics are for my Paganelli Pile, the bottom two are for stash, and the little fat eighths are for my scrappy double hourglass quilt.

Okay, so nothing really finished, but they will be and I am enjoying every minute of it!!

Blessings,

KT