Scrappy Stars - DONE



Square innies and outies.

 We think we survived the big ISP changeover, i.e., TV, Internet, Phones - what an ordeal!  I gained a TV and my OWN remote control (!!!!) and we're saving $70.00/mo.  (Hope that aspect lasts for a while!)  DH and I are back to speaking with one another - I knew the changes would be stressful, but it's DONE.   I still don't have my blog comment e-mail where I want it, but that will come in time.

I'm finished with this Scrappy Stars, a class I took in May, from Bonnie Kucera, of eastern Nebraska (Fremont?)

I'm loving how it went together and also am pleased with my chunky border.  My Janome 6500 always behaves. 

One thing that always confused me, when I first started machine quilting,  given those infamous instructions at the end of a project, "Quilt as Desired,"  I would look out in space, "Does anyone know what I desire????"   Who knew?  I'm getting better at choosing what I desire, and in this quilt, I've included a variety of motifs.  Perhaps you might desire some of these choices.  The overall quilting is similar to a posey petal thing, but I accidently made them squarish and THAT is very appealing, and cog, or gear-like.

I've included a photos of the backing - I used that fabric to narrow my "Pull" choices.  The only fabric I purchased was the inner music border. 

The blocks are 12 inches, and the total quilt size is about 58 x 70. 

Paisley-type motifs





Diagonal lines, following the small print.




Vertical and horizontal lines - not sure I like it but ...




Swirls quilting motifs - easier than it looks.




My favorite quilting example.




Cog-like quilting motifs



Inner "music" border - look closely for quilting!

Quilt colors pulled from the backing suggestion.

I just liked looking at it hanging over the rail. 

This project is growing! 

See that fabric on the right?  That is what I used to "pull" various pieces - I was hoping to use it for a border.  Not so sure now - as is frequently the case.

None of the blocks are together, just the individual 6 inch units.  I'm liking it. 8-)

Scrappy star, Girl Cave

This is my latest scrappy project, after a class at Guild in May, with Bonnie Kucera of eastern Nebraska.  This gal is the queen of little pieces - I helped hold her quilt tops up for Show and Tell and could check each seam on the back - yikes, every one was "twirled" - neat as a pin.

We started each block (above) with a 9 inch square of light and one of dark, facing together, then cutting in half diagonally .  From that we cut our diagonal strips, then sewed the strips on both sides into a "tube", then cut the 5 small HSTs from each set of diagonal strips -- I LIKE this method for accuracy.  The remaining part of those two 9 inch squares makes up the larger HST which is then trimmed to 4.5 in.  Here are 4, 12 inch blocks, each block is made of 4, 6 inch units.  The only thing "hard" about it was getting the pressing directions correct, so the seams all butt up nicely.  Don't ya LOVE how the star sits INSIDE the light background? 

I HAVE learned that when you start a particular technique, stick with that same technique  (i.e. HSTs) for the entire quilt, and also stick with the same machine. 

It seems I will NEVER have a quilt made from new, off-the-bolt fabric!  Is something is wrong with me in that I only have "scraps"!  But there is something comforting about using fabrics from what I've used previously.  People at work have given me good fabric, and I LIKE that connection.  Friends have given me fabric and I like THAT connection.  Yes, I do purchase some, to fill out out my projects, but not a lot.

The heat has driven me to the cooler basement.  It's not fancy but much more comfortable. I've  upgraded/improved my computer down here, we're planning on connecting my DVD-only TV to cable for REAL TV watching, I've brought sewing and pressing stuff down here, and I already have my "girl cave."  Life is good.  8-))  We've never utilized this space in previous years -- I have missed an opportunity -- funny how a person "puts off" things that will improve their life. 

We are seeing temps in the low 80s for this weekend - YEAHHHHH, at last!!!  We've had more than 3-4 weeks of temps near and over 100 degrees, with not a bit of rain.

Hope you all are cooling off soon, and that the fires in Colorado get OUT, and that POWER gets restored for those of you without it.  Jeeesh, what a bunch of rough weeks!!!