I took time to play in the sewing room yesterday. First, I sorted some scraps and strings into piles by color, so that when I'm ready to make my next scrappy string ring, I won't have to go digging.
I heard an organizational expert say that there are two kinds of people, pilers and filers. I think there may actually be a third category, a hybrid—pilers who wanna be filers, or pilers-until-it-reaches-critical-mass-then-filers. At any rate, the pile system, albeit a very loose method of organization, works for me, for the moment.
While I was sorting through scraps, I found a couple strips of fabric I had trimmed off when I was cutting prints for the Veggie Market Quilt that Mom Wald was putting together. I had just enough to make a double hourglass block from each of the four prints, plus a length of scrappy binding.
I used Cluck Cluck Sew's tutorial, using 2-1/4" strips (mostly because that's all the wider my scraps were). Instead of using her cardstock triangle template idea, though, I used a Companion Angle ruler that I had on hand, matching the center strip seam at the 3 (2") mark and the lower edge at the 7 (4") mark. It worked perfectly, with only a bit to shave off the edges when trimming. The final blocks were 7-1/2" trimmed, 7" finished.
I used a bit of a bright lime green print for a border and quilted it with a loopy meander. Another little scrappy finish for the week!
(For vintage pottery fans, that fruit plate up top is a Hull caladium leaf plate/bowl that I found at a rummage sale down the block a few years ago, probably from the 1950s or 1960s, I'm guessing. It was love at first sight!)
Next up: Making some scrappy courthouse steps blocks in conjunction with the Sew Scraps Along. But first, I have to practice some FMQ Challenge leaves!
Speaking of the Veggie Market Quilt by Mom Wald and helpers, the auction for the finished quilt is going live today on Ebay, with the proceeds going to Japan Quake Relief.
You can check out all the details and find the auction link, when it gets posted, over at Mom Wald's Place (Edited to add: You can find the auction HERE). I hope you do check it out, and if you are inclined to bid on this happy, one-of-a-kind quilt, please do so!
I changed the vignette on my hallway telephone table to something funky and retro-ish.
It needed a little height for balance, so I added the lava lamp. It makes me smile every time I walk past it.
There was some thrifting earlier in the week. A stop at Goodwill yielded two identical Pyrex bowls in a favorite color.
I already had one like it at home, but at $1.99, I couldn't say no. Who says three's a crowd?
Have you seen the week of terrific giveaways Elizabeth at Such a Sew and Sew is having? Head over to Such a Sew and Sew to check them out! You have until January 19 to enter any or all five giveaways. While you're there, be sure to leave some birthday and blog anniversary love. She is a most generous and kindhearted soul, and her many projects always inspire!
I'll bop on out of here to Jack Johnson, who kept me dancing around the sewing room to this one yesterday. Hope you've had a great weekend!
I finished quilting and binding the embroidered fruit and veggie quilt last night!
This is a quilt that Mom Wald put together, which will be auctioned off for charity, specifically, Japan quake relief.
She brought together fruit and veggie themed embroidered blocks and fabric donations and assembled them all into this quilt. It's adorable!
I just love the vintage embroidery patterns that were used.
Even though there is an abundance of variety in the fabrics, it all works very well together.
Many people donated time and talent and energy for this project. I think she said eleven generous souls participated. That's amazing!
Here is the back:
And my favorite block. Such a happy face! Such beautiful stitchery!
I'll be getting this back to Mom Wald soon, and she is in charge of the auction details. When I know more, I'll pass the information along.
Thanks so much for visiting!
