February Table Scraps Challenge - Two Table Toppers

Oh my, how this past month has felt like a slog.  Funny how the shortest month of the year can feel so long, not to mention repetitive, a la Groundhog Day.  I tried to stay engaged, but my attention span was hit and miss.  Needless to say, not a lot got done in the sewing department.  And with a long stretch of below zero days, the thought of hanging out in the cold basement didn't have much appeal.  Instead I did some genealogy on the computer, filed and shredded a couple long-ignored piles of paperwork, and prepared and filed my income taxes (yay!).  So there was productivity of a different sort, albeit with a huge side of Netflix.

Thankfully, it's been above freezing for several days now, so we're going on Day Four of getting back into daily walks outside around the neighborhood.  Whew, it feels good to stretch my legs and feel the sun on my face again!  What does NOT feel so good is how TIGHT my pants are after a few months (okay, most of 2020) spent baking treats and indulging my chocolate cravings on a too-regular basis.  Ugh.  I literally sausaged myself into a pair of cords to go walk outside the other day, and when a Kleenex dropped out of my coat pocket, I could not bend over to pick it up!  So, obviously, the time has come to switch back into more healthy eating mode, and move my butt more, in hopes of having clothes to wear once spring finally gets here.

Can you relate?

On to the Table Scraps Challenge.  Having procrastinated until this week to make something for it, I started by looking through a plastic drawer full of vintage fabrics.  Must've had old stuff on the brain from the genealogy work.  Anyway, I started sorting the old fabrics into coordinating color piles.  One thing led to another, and I started making some string blocks inspired by a tutorial I'd seen HERE by Amy Smart.

You only need to make four 8-1/2 inch blocks for this mini, because you then cut the larger blocks to make four smaller blocks from each, or a total of 16 squares.  Then you just rearrange them to your liking and sew them together to make a mini-quilt.  Mine measured 15-1/2 inches square when done.

I backed it with a larger piece of the pink and green feed sack fabric with pineapples.  I'd found this feed sack at a thrift store a few years ago, and it still was stitched together as a sack until a few days ago when I took it apart.  There were even a few bits of some kind of grain or chaff in the inside corner of it, even though I'd washed it when I brought it home initially.  I'm guessing this particular fabric is at least 50 years old, but in excellent shape.

I did crosshatch quilting to mirror the graphics of the pineapples in that funky print.  I don't know why, but I get a Sponge Bob Square Pants vibe from this print, even though it predates the cartoon by  decades.

This mini quilt project was a good way to get my sewing mojo working again.  Easy on the brain piecing, quirky fabrics, and small enough to finish quickly for a hit of good vibes for having accomplished something.

A day or two later I repeated the process and made another one, this time working with some blue vintage fabrics, including two other feed sacks.  One with blue and purple dots, and the other with blue and green flowers. 

I also used that blue and green fabric for the back.  Swirly quilting on this one.  I tried quilting daisies on my test run, but my free-motion skills were rusty and a bit too inconsistent for flowers.  So swirls it was.  

It felt like this sweet blue 1970 Panasonic radio—the Panapet, as it was called—needed to be in the photo shoot.  I had one like this back in the day, but it's long gone.  This is one I picked up at an antique store a few years ago.  It still works!

Linking to The Joyful Quilter's Table Scraps Challenge.

January Table Scraps Challenge Table Runner

It's the last weekend in January, time to link up to the Table Scraps Runner/Topper Challenge at The Joyful Quilter.

My goal this month was to do something with the batik strips I had left over from making a quilt for my brother's wedding in October.

For Christmas, he gave us a couple of nicely framed pictures from their special day.  Here's one with all of us siblings (me in the teal).

One of my fondest memories from that day is the couple bopping down the aisle exiting to their recessional song: "I Feel Good" by James Brown.  :)

The wedding quilt I'd made used 17 or 18 different batik fat quarters.  I had taken a chance and ordered a couple different bundles from eBay, which worked out well.

The way I'd cut squares from the FQs left scrap strips that measured about two inches wide.  That's what I used for this table runner.

My inspiration was something I'd seen on Pinterest, a braided table runner from strips (link HERE).  I started laying my strips out in the way she described.  This runner was going to be as long and as wide as it could be from the strips that were available.  I didn't aim for any specific size.  When I ran out of strips, that was it; that was going to be the length of it.  

I cut some pastel solid two-inch squares for the center.  I also tried a layout with one-color (cream or off-white) squares down the center, but that seemed blah, so I went back to the pastel squares.

Their colors remind me of candy hearts, the ones with words on them like "Cute," "Love You," etc.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any process pictures.  It all went together pretty quickly.  

Once I'd used up all the strips, I trimmed the long piece into a rectangle and then sandwiched and quilted it.  I did a meander in variegated thread, but left the center squares empty and just ditch-stitched around them.  I like that it just gives them a simple pillowy look.

In the back of my mind, I was thinking this runner might work on the dining room table, but it turned out to be pretty underwhelming for that large of a surface.  So I popped it on top of the hall table to take pictures, and, surprisingly, it was the perfect size!

So there you have it, my batik scraps table runner, with centers reminiscent of candy hearts.  A sweet little treat just in time for Valentine's Day!

Sunday Sundry 1-17-21

Yesterday was tech day here at our house.  Nothing high end, but tech solutions nonetheless.

Unlike many people, I have not had to do a lot of video conferencing this past year.  I didn't have a job that required it (or a job, period), so there was no need from a workplace perspective.  But as the weather got colder and the pandemic dragged on, I finally hopped on the Zoom train (and Google Duo and Meet).  I am a happy introvert most of the time, but even that has its limits and I miss face time with friends and family.

I used my tablet to video chat a few times, because my main desktop PC is older and didn't come with a camera or microphone.  The tablet works so-so, but doesn't have the best sound and some of the Android apps seem to lack full functionality.

So yesterday I installed a webcam with built-in microphone (and by installed I mean plugged it into a USB port, ta-da!).  I also bought a ring light, since my PC sits in a pretty dim corner of the dining room.  I also intend to use the ring light when I'm photographing whatever's on the design wall in the basement, another not-well-lit space.  

I tested out the webcam setup today with my sister, and it seemed to work well.  It was so nice seeing her face for the first time in many months!

The rest of the afternoon yesterday was spent hooking up an indoor digital TV antenna.  Again, installing it was simple, but figuring out how to make our TV scan for channels involved a call to Samsung tech support, and then trying the antenna in different positions for the best reception.  Much to the chagrin of my husband, it ended up having to go up on the wall above the sliding door.  That then meant figuring out how to hide as much of the thing and its wires as possible, until he was more or less satisfied with the aesthetics.

Looks don't matter as much to me as will the monthly savings on our Spectrum bill when we officially cut the cord on cable TV in the next week or so.  As far as channels, I was happily surprised to pull in 27 stations with the antenna, even though we're at least 45 miles away from the nearest major market.  And with multiple streaming apps besides, we certainly won't lack for content.

* * * * *

Today was all about putting away the rest of the Christmas decorations.  Funny how it always turns out to be more of an ordeal than simply reboxing and reshelving the trinkets.  Furniture has to get moved around, floors vacuumed, surfaces dusted, etc.  Plus I reorganized "the hole," i.e. the area behind a half wall in the basement where the seasonal decor gets stored, for the second time in a year.  But that's job done for another holiday season.

* * * * *

I finished assembling another quilt top, the second one from sampler blocks made by one of Jo's Country Junction's readers (whose name I don't know, unfortunately).  This is another foster quilt that will be sent to The Joyful Quilter for quilting and donation to Lutheran World Relief.

It's similar to the other sampler quilt top (blogged HERE), but this time I used a dark espresso brown for the sashing and border, and I cut the border a little wider, as much as I could eek out of the fabric I had available.  It ended up about 63 x 77 inches.

The rich colors and varied geometric blocks make it an appealing quilt for a man or woman.

 * * * * *

This week I started (and finished) a table runner from leftover batik strips from the wedding quilt I made in October. 

The Joyful Quilter is hosting a Table Scraps Challenge, and this is my first project for that.  She'll have a link-up the last Saturday of the month, so I'll go into more detail in a separate post, but here's a peek!

* * * * *

File this one under cheap thrills:  We swung by the local Dollar Tree store recently for some essentials, and I grabbed this BB Cream (Sassy+Chic brand in Light) as I was standing in the checkout line (which extended halfway down the cosmetics aisle due to six feet apart rules).  Oh my gosh, I love it!  For a buck, and a total impulse buy, it exceeded my expectations.  Has anyone else tried this (or another BB or CC cream)?  To be honest, I wasn't even sure what a BB cream was, but I'd heard about it somewhere.  It's like a tinted moisturizer, not as heavy as foundation, but decent coverage, smooths on easily, and feels like it's hydrating your skin.  I just set it with a little Mineral Veil translucent powder by Bare Minerals and I'm good to go.  "Go where?" you ask.  Good question!  LOL

Sunday Sundry 1-3-21

Here we are in a new year.  I like to imagine it stretching out before us like a winding path.  

What will we encounter along the way?  Will it be smooth or tricky to navigate?  Likely some of each.  

We can only see so far ahead, but it isn't always clear.

I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I do spend some time thinking about the past year, what I've learned and what I'm grateful for, and noting where I can do better.  

I am optimistic about 2021, and I know that it will bring more opportunities to practice presence, patience, creativity, kindness, resilience, and gratitude.

We were able to get together on Christmas with my daughter and her partner, Chris.  It was a very 2020 Christmas, and we took precautions, wearing masks and social distancing to the extent possible.  I put all three leaves in the dining room table, and the four of us sat at opposite ends during dinner.  

It was great to celebrate the holiday with them.  Even though they live less than an hour away, we hadn't seen each other in several months, when we'd been able to meet for outdoor dining in warmer weather.

Among other things, my husband surprised me on Christmas with a vintage paint-by-number for my collection.  It's really well done, and I love it!

I treated myself to some raspberry goodness.  I added these to my grocery pickup order a couple weeks ago. 

I love raspberry flavored tea and coffee, but since I drink a special low acid decaf coffee, I thought I'd give this flavoring a try.  It's perfect!  About four or five drops in a cup of coffee (or glass of iced tea) is all it takes. 

Yesterday we ventured out to a thrift store.  We've really been limiting trips to stores, and for me this was only the second time I'd been in a store since Thanksgiving.  But I wanted to find a couple t-shirts with at least 5% spandex that I could cut into strips for making the ear loops for masks.  I'd used up the versatile gray t-shirt I was cannibalizing for ear loops, and although I don't need to make any masks right now, I still get requests from friends or family from time to time, so wanted to have supplies on hand.

I found a gray and a black t-shirt, so that was mission accomplished.  I also found some nice fabric!  I was thrilled to discover this little cache of greens.  Less than $4 for over two yards' worth.  Not bad!

My husband directed my attention to a vintage Pfaff 130 sewing machine at the thrift store.  Oh, it was tempting!  I have more than enough machines in my stable already, but she was sure pretty.

(Hutch in kitchen decorated for the season)

Today feels like the holidays are well and truly over, although I've still got all the decorations up yet.  

(Orange almond cake with cranberry curd)

The rich foods have been eaten, what was left in the fridge and pantry.  

(Pecan snowballs)

I've got some organizing type projects on my mind, as well as sewing ideas.  I've joined The Joyful Quilter's Table Scraps Challenge. 

(Frosty trees outside my window today)

Before I go, I wanted to mention a documentary on Gordon Lightfoot that I watched on Amazon Prime a couple weeks ago.  I didn't know much about him personally until I saw it, but I remember his popular songs back in the 1970s.  I had the album Gord's Gold (greatest hits) that I played the heck out of back in my college days.  The music in this documentary took me right back to that time, and I really enjoyed learning more about the interesting career of a talented artist.  You might, too.

Foster Quilts

I've been making some donation quilt tops during the past couple months.  One with my own materials, and others from kits or orphan blocks sent my way by Jo at Jo's Country Junction to be put together and donated.  

I've started to think of these as foster quilts:  Something I have the temporary care and nurturing of along their journey to becoming a finished quilt and ultimately landing in the arms of someone in need of warmth and comfort.

First up, the one from me.  When The Joyful Quilter put out a call for quilts (or parts thereof) for Lutheran World Relief, I promised to send something her way.  I started pulling some older, half-forgotten things from the stash, a bit like going through and cleaning out the pantry.  What hasn't moved in a while and needs to have another life?  A little of this and a little of that, and pretty soon I had a nice subdued palette of florals and coordinating fabrics for a simple patchwork quilt.

Pictures don't really do this quilt justice.  It had such a soft, cozy vibe.  I also put together a backing and binding and sent everything off to The Joyful Quilter for quilting and donation to LWR.

Then I started on one of the projects that Jo had sent, which I presume was sent to her by one of her readers.  Unfortunately, I don't know who that person was.  If anyone reading this recognizes this, please let me know.  

The blocks were already pieced.  It just needed to be put together as a top.  The maker had included extra 2.5-inch strips and other coordinating fabrics, so I used those to sash the top and make borders.  

There was a yard or so of a rust colored solid fabric the maker sent along, and I had a similar rust colored print in my stash.  Those pieces, along with some more of the 2.5-inch strips, were enough for a kind of improv backing.  The remainder of the strips were just right for a scrappy binding.

(Backing)

This turned out to be one very pretty quilt!  It was a little large for me to quilt on my domestic machine, however, so I sent it on to Karen, a quilter I connected with through Jo's blog, to be quilted and donated.

Then I finished a Thimbleberries quilt kit that had been sent to Jo by "Connie in Wisconsin."  Everything was there and complete to make this darling quilt top.  It went together fast, and the fabric quality and instructions were excellent.  

I remember when Thimbleberries quilts were quite the popular thing (this kit was dated 2002), but I had never made one until now.  I can definitely see what the appeal was!  I sent this top to Karen, along with the other one, for quilting and donation.

This last quilt top was a made with sampler orphan blocks sent by Jo.  Again, unfortunately, the maker of these blocks is unknown to me.  Please let me know if you recognize them as yours.

Once again, the blocks were already done.  I just had to bring them all to a uniform size and sash them with a cafe au lait brown solid I had on hand.  This one was also a good size, so I asked Joyful Quilter if she'd like to finish another one for Lutheran World Relief, and she said she'd be glad to.

It makes me so happy to see these quilts fostered to completion by various hands in the "quilt village."  I'm happy to have played a small part in that!

And now for a technical thing.  I'm trying something different with this post.  Lately, my pictures seem to be blurrier in Blogger (and in my feed reader, Feedly), so I've increased the file size of the pictures uploaded for this post.  Let me know if it causes any noticeable issues as far as page loading, etc.