Scrap Stacks

So if you look back at the last several quilts I've made, you'll find that their focus has either been repurposed fabric or scraps. And after piecing together my second carefully measured and constructed Plaid-ish quilt top (which just got sent off to be long-arm quilted), I was back in the mood for some more improv.

I flipped thru Nicholas' Inspiring Improv (again) and realized I hadn't ever tried the 'stacks' technique. Well maybe I had done something similar, but it had been a very long time. So I rummaged through that scrap basket again, just pulling some bits and pieces that felt like they'd be good together. I just started making blocks and putting them up on the design wall, building as I went. I started in the upper left corner, so you can kind of see how some colors (like the lilac) are concentrated there, then as I move out, other colors (and sizes) are added in and then left behind. There really was very little rearranging of blocks once I'd worked my way through the pile. Maybe there should have been, but that just wasn't what I was feeling.

Once the blocks were done, I actually pulled another small pile of strings and stuff that I thought I would incorporate as I puzzled the blocks together, but strangely enough, I never added a thing. I just pieced and trimmed in sections, again building as I went. And then it was time for a pieced quilt back.

For quilting I did a randomly spaced and non-straight grid with Aurifil 50wt #2600 [light gray]. I like how it really stands out on the darker fabrics, yet recedes nearly completely on the lighter ones. 

And oops! When it came time for trimming, I just couldn't square it up. Again. Binding was made out of those strings I mentioned earlier, so yes, I did use some of them after all.

And once the quilt was done, I threw it right in the wash. Not my norm necessarily, but this one just called out to be crinkled. Measuring about 44" x 49", it's a funky finish - soft and textured and teeming with a scrappy spontaneity that I love.

Double Tall Skinny Vanilla

The honest truth is that way before I dug through the scrap basket and pulled out all my brown scraps, before I cut the first tumbler block, before I knew that my hope for the perfect photo-shoot would be dashed, this quilt had a name. A brown quilt had been on my list for quite a while, and when one day I got the inclination to make a scrappy tumbler quilt (you know, in my quest to lower the level of those scraps all the way to the bottom of the basket) the two ideas merged, and the name Double Tall Skinny Vanilla percolated up and did not go away.

And when that happened, I got the notion that the photo-shoot just had to be at one of my neighborhood Starbucks, preferable with a barista showing the quilt off through the drive-through window. I even considered a few different store locations, and picked the one with the best-looking siding as a backdrop.  Only problem was, Starbucks didn't like my idea as much as I did. snif. 

So I settled for the parking lot, strange as that may be. Some days it's worth settling when blue sky and nicely planted community areas are involved, right?

In case you missed it, I posted a tutorial for scrappy tumblers earlier in the month. They are really easy to cut once you know what size you want. And they piece together so quickly and neatly.

I chose to lay out my tumblers in a gradient of sorts, letting one lone 'cup' stand out and receive some singular quilting. I found several brown and green prints in the scrap basket, and I thought they added a fun nod to my favorite espresso stand's signature color. Two coffee-colored threads were used for quilting - Aurifil 50wt #2372 (Dark Antique Gold) for the cup, in an angular spiral; and the remainder a steam-symbolic wavy straight-line in #2326 (Sand).

Using stash browns and greens, I pieced a back - not my favorite thing to do but I used up more fabric!

And I chose a binding that is kind of striking and keeps your eye moving, a yummy brown wonky grid from Echo by Lotta Jansdotter.

So things didn't turn out quite like I'd hoped as far as the photo-shoot went, but otherwise, I'm more than pleased that I finally made a brown quilt, and having been inspired by my favorite espresso beverage kept me pretty stoked to work on it. AND, the fact that this is my sixth scrappy quilt this year was a bonus. Bottom's up!

Finished size: 56" x 56"

This quilt was on my 2017 Q3 Finish-A-Long list!
Linking up with Finish It Up Friday!

Modern Halves and Modern Blocks

Ok, so several of you recognized my scrappy blocks yesterday from Elizabeth Dackson's new pattern, Modern Halves. Good going! (You'll find Elizabeth at her blog, Don't Call Me Betsy.) Huge difference though - Elizabeth made her quilt out of the mod and amazing Half Moon Modern fabrics, while I am rummaging through the mountain of scraps on my sewing room floor.

I actually started with a charm pack I got in my stocking.
{thanks sis!}

There are two charms of each color, so I'm planning on making two similar but different blocks of each color, using the charm squares as the centers, and scraps as the bars. I'm being adventuresome and just working down through the stack of charms, so you saw orange and lime yesterday, and here's lavender today. bad lighting - it looks so much better in person!

So that's been fun. Also fun is my first block for the Modern Blocks Bee! Alisha is up for January and sent out a fun little bundle of Bliss, and asked us all to make her a Quatrefoil block by Solidia Hubbard. (We're all using the book, Modern Blocks.)

I've been in several bees, but never one where someone sends me fabric to make the block of their choosing. Needless to say, I was very excited, and just had to make my block as soon as possible! Ta da!

Quilt-Alongs, Swaps, & Bees

One of the main reasons I started blogging was to join the online quilting community in a fuller sense. Right away, I jumped in quilt-along-ing with Block-a-palooza, Socken, and later, Supernova, which in itself was a profound quilting experience. Now, I am eager to start Kaleidoscope next week, with prints from my stash.

Mostly Denyse Schmidt Fairground, with a Katie Jump Rope plaid,
Amy Butler Lotus dots, Michael Miller Ta Dot, & Cloud Nine Nature Walk.
A prized piece of Flea Market Fancy Green Dot is on its way to round out the collection.

I ventured into the swap arena with safe, low-commitment SewSara's Scrap Swap and  A Little Fabric, A Little Chocolate {Swap!}. They were fun, and gave me the confidence to join Gen X Quilters' Spoonflower Swap, with its slighty higher {read: custom fabric} stakes, and flickr's Scrapbuster Swap, where we'll swap modern Scrappy Depression blocks like these . . .

photo credit: JulieFrick on Flickr

And I confess, when I started blogging, I had high hopes to eventually join a quilting bee. And that I have, just this week! The [3 X 6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee seems a perfect 'first bee.' I can hardly wait to be assigned to a hive next week.

So. Progress is being made. Quilts are being created. Community is being built. Fun is being had. I've made some bloggy friends, who I enjoy sharing progress and ideas {and life} with. I find great inspiration in seeing the work of my fellow quilters, and I'm learning some things. All in all, it's a good thing.

W.i.P. Wednesday

Yay! It's W.i.P. Wednesday! Be sure and stop in over at Freshly Pieced to see more great works in progress!  

Ongoing projects

My Block-a-palooza quilt along top is DONE!

I started Aneela Hoey's Comic Strip Quilt using sherbet pips and I am loving it! I have the basic blocks done; now need to add the gray borders . . . a fun, quick quilt.

I basted my supernova! I have a quilting plan, and am anxious to get going on it.

Finally, two weeks ago when my extended family was together (we live across the country from each other!), I told my daughter and my nieces about the Scrap Swap I had participated in a while back. We decided it would be great fun to have a family scrap swap! I have my envelopes ready for the girls, and will be mailing them off today! I'm looking forward to more quilty goodness for the stash quilt I want to make, plus fun times with some of my favorite young women!

Need to do

* Cappuccino Bali Pop quilt.

* Stash quilt - Sew Katie Did's zig zag quilt.

* Dream Big birthday quilt for my daughter.

* Quilts for our siblings.

* The last project from the Pioneer Women Sewing Circle.

Have a great day!