Scrap Basket Sunday - Almost

Well, I was so excited about setting up a corner in the cabin for some small scale quilting!  I found the perfect spot in our walk out family room with a great view.  I purchased a small (4 ft) folding table that is also height adjustable.  I figure I can also use it as a computer center when not otherwise engaged.  We have internet there so we always bring a laptop and can use a small travel printer which is easy to store.  The table also has access to several electric outlets since both activities have multiple power cords.  Of course, the only QI in residence is our Kirby dog but unless the fabric is located in a sunbeam, he is normally not interested in my sewing.  But I do have that fabulous view! 

So here is what my new sewing corner in the cabin looks like.  Appears I have unexpected QIs afterall! 

 

So there I was, all set up to sew!  The Hubs was out on the lake looking for the record trout.  I got all of my supplies arranged, my new portable ironing board set up in the laundry room behind me, and assembled my sewing machine.  Then I noticed that I had forgotten the one mission-critical supply - thread!  It was the "duh" heard round the globe!  I love being really remote and far away from everywhere but the other side of that coin is that you can't just hop in the car and run to the nearest Joann's! 

 

I did manage to get three more blocks done this weekend, however, since we were back in NJ.  So now I have 4 out of 20 blocks done.  The one challenge I am facing is that I am not planning my fabric choices too much.  It's basically a grab-from-the-bag method.  Boy, is that hard for me.  So far, it's working ok, but we'll see how far I get with this!  Here are my 4 completed blocks so far - 20% done!

 

 

They have to be squared up and there will be sashing in between, color yet to be determined.  But I like this way of getting something done.  Generally I am a start-to-finish kinda gal, but I could get used to this!  We will be back at the cabin in early May - thread is already packed! 

 

 

 

One block at a time - it could happen!

Now that I am retired, I am hoping to spend more time whittling down my pile of quilting projects - new, old and well, vintage.  I was reading one of my favorite quilting blogs over the weekend and learned of a great way to do this - one block at a time, one day of the week! 

When I learned of this, I had two projects in mind.  One is a queen sized log cabin quilt in greens and off-whites with reddish-orange centers.  I have a large amount of fabrics stored away for this project but nothing is cut yet.  The other project is a lap sized quilt of 10" blocks with 2" sashing plus borders.  The blocks are the monkey wrench pattern and the fabrics are scraps from past Civil War quilt projects.  This was originally started as a class project but was never finished.  I chose this one to do as the Scrap Basket Sunday project because the fabrics are already cut.  Since I now split the majority of my time between urban life in NJ and mountain life in PA, I need to have projects that are appropriate for both places.  This one will be perfect for the mountain house, and it most likely will "live" there after it is completed.  I had no idea that this would be a variation of the the same block that Kim has chosen to do until I read further in her blog! 

Here is what I am using for this project with one completed block: 

 

I will be bringing one of my spare machines to the mountain house so I can chain piece the cut fabrics contained in the box.  The timing is good - this Saturday is opening day of trout season in PA.  Anyone who has a fisherman in the family knows what this means!  

 

 

 



Ava's Wish

I've been vacationing in Florida for Spring Break - my 7 year old granddaughter's spring break that is!  The Hubs and I took the Amtrak AutoTrain down to Sandford, Florida which is very near DeLand.  This was our first stop so I could visit the Quilt Shop of DeLand.  I did manage to find some interesting fabrics for the electric box cover project.  I will audition these fabrics later this week to see which one (or both) works as a suitable disguise for the ugly gray circuit breaker box in our family room.  I will post the completed cover or covers when it is in place.

I also was able to visit one more quilt shop (Peggy's Heirlooms of Tomorrow) in Ocala, the town where we were staying for the week.  There were many more quilt shops in years past but one by one they have closed.  This one is in a new outdoor mall and is very near two sporting goods shops which keeps the Hubs busy while I shop to my heart's content. 

This trip, I had my granddaughter with me.  As we entered the shop, she noticed a particular fabric on display.  She loved it and she said she wished I would make her Dad a quilt from it.  Of course I said I would, so one more, no two more, projects have been added to my list.  Here are the fabrics she picked:

 

These folks in Florida sure love their football teams and the Florida Gators are one of the favorites, and my son is a big fan - a big fan!  Gator stuff is ubiquitious no matter where you go!  So we bought some Gator fabric and the coordinating colors - dark green, royal blue, orange and white.  I have not yet decided if I want to do 9-patch blocks for fence rail blocks for the front (or maybe the back will be the blocks).  But the quilt will be called "Ava's Wish". 

 

The second project is to make a pillow case from the same fabrics for my sweet granddaughter, but shhhhh, don't tell, it's a surprise!