Yes, I have not been posting much, but finished four quilts last week, so that might explain it. On a whirl... use all that fabric before I die? something like that. Here are some pictures. All of them are going to charity or have already gone:

Purple Patches, a lap size leaving me with only a little bit of purple scraps. It is 50" x 50"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Count the Kittens, leftovers from Jessica's Heart (which is not finished yet. The top is done but not sandwiched etc.) This was fun to put together. I had lots of the little squares that did not fit in the bigger quilt and a few odd shapes. Added only the sashing and some of it also came from Jessica's quilt.

The smaller one is a close-up of the cats and it is a child's size. Lots of fun and no cat fabric left...none! But I do have more leftovers from that bigger quilt so will be making more this size from them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is Purple Squares in Squares. I published it before but the color was awful. Someone else took this picture and it is much better. It is a twin-size. Hopefully, someone will like purple!

This is the back of the one above. I used almost all my scraps and this is lots more fun than piecing or using a wider fabric for the back.

This is called Busting the Blues. It is also a twin-size. I had enough blue left to make a lap quilt. I'll load it on the longarm this afternoon. The color is not really true in this picture. I need an outdoor space to take photos!

Speaking of outdoors, I planted 3 big planters with new flowers and added to the soil from the few others that survived over winter in our garage... and on the same day took my hubby to the local air museum to celebrate our anniversary (51). He is an airplane nut, and I am not, but it was our first-time there and we were both impressed. Very interesting history in our city. His gift to me was the week before -- to our city's new library -- also amazing!

Hubby is on a business trip so I am purging closets and other spaces. Feels good. We have a city recycle place that takes everything but books and electronics. People go there for craft stuff, etc. I just found out that they welcome batting bits and narrow strips etc. that we quilters often don't know what to do with. My big bag is already packed full for a trip there in a day or two.

Finally, another finish...

I've been quilting every day (almost) but seems as if the 'finish' eludes me. Today, I took a photo of this one that was done yesterday. It is indoors so the purple is not as purple as it should be. Too cold and windy to try it outside.

Anyway, this was a scrap-buster. Almost a third of the backing is improv using up the purples that didn't make it to the front. The panto to quilt it is called Soho, easy even fun to do. My hubby is not a lover of purple but he says he likes this one. It is about 56" x 72" so a lap-size and will go to Quilts of Valour, the Canada version.

I'm also working on more scrap-busters. The blues are being used and so are the leftovers from the post in this picture. That top is done but my design wall is so busy that I have no place to to put it for a photo. I've also finished the top from the kitten fabrics, big enough for a crib or to wrap a small child in, and used up every last bit of that fabric. Again, not had time to take photos. Excuses, excuses. Why is it that the older a person gets, the longer it seems to take to do stuff that was quick and simple a few years ago. Sigh.

Busting the Blues -- top is done!

 I actually burst into tears when this top was finished. Partly because it was a lot of sewing and my UFO list isn't getting smaller, nor the list of folks needing quilts. And partly because it turned out better than I thought it would.

 

Process was sped up by doing the piano keys border a speedy way. I took all my scrap strips and put them in piles according to their length. Then I made strip sets out of the piles, keeping the starting ends lined up and ending wherever. Then I trimmed them to 5.5" chunks, like this ||||||||||| and sewed the chunks together until I had four pieces long enough to do the job. Lots easier than sewing individual 5.5" pieces together, and fast. My BabyLock goes like crazy.

I've a blue backing, but later. Just need a break for working on this insane stash buster. 

Oh, the photo was also taken in indoor lighting, so the blues were greyish again and the greens were neon. I tried to fix it, but made it greener. Next time. The close-up picture shows the color a bit better.

Busting the Blues, getting there!

The top is coming together. WARNING: On my PC the blues all look gray and the blue-green looks bright green. LED lighting? Believe me, this thing is very blue, even the pieces that look white. 

Improv is fun, but not necessarily does it make sense. However, that box of blue scraps (turn head sideways to see most of the box at the top of the third photo) is nearly empty -- only because the scraps are either on my longarm, or on a portable table STILL. I have plans to put a row on the top and one on the bottom. Right now it is 61 x 69" so maybe more on the sides too. 

Top photo shows the top so far, draped on my longarm so not all of it is visible. Beside it are strips from the box. The sideways table (sorry) shows bits and pieces. The other table is a few blocks that will be incorporated along the bottom. I've also sewn a bunch of short pieced pieces that will make a border, not shown. There are many to go, so not sure where they will wind up.

Yes, I'm having fun. I vacuumed up a fistful of threads and lint this afternoon but refuse to save them or the trimmings from all this sewing -- they hit the round file.

Busting the Blues

Since my scrap bin marked BLUE began to overflow last week, I decided to tackle it and make as many different blocks in multiples of five (plus seam allowances) and in as many variations that came to mind. 

So far, I've this: one block on the left that is 25" and needs a bit more so it has a seam allowance that will fit with the rest. The block on the right is made up of an assortment of little pieces that were a temptation to toss in the garbage. I kept adding until it became 15.5" square. 

 

A couple more are sitting on a table. One is 15.5  x 5.5 a ready to add somewhere. The other is a strip of skinny pieces sewn on the diagonal that is 15.5 long and so far only 3" wide. They didn't make it to the wall yet. 

Yes, this is crazy, mindless and total fun. The bin is still bulging, but loosely and not pressed down. Who will get it? Not the foggiest idea. Nor do I know how big it will be. If it falls short of a good size, I'll dig out some of my blue fat quarters that otherwise have no future! I also have turquoise in this mix so that heart on the left will eventually have some company so it isn't so obviously different.

This may not be a final layout, but with improv, you have to start somewhere!