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! 

Flowers with Friends

I published this top before, but now it is FINISHED with a deep sense of gratitude. It was not fun. The pieces were leftovers from a different layout and given back to our guild where the fabric and pattern had been donated. The white background (don't know why it looks pink here, artificial light likely) material is heavy and my longarm did a lot of thumping going over the seams. Also, it needed white batting and I could not find a thinner option, so that adds to the thickness. 

It looks pretty though, and I hope whoever gets it enjoys it. Colors are fun. I used a panto called Saffron Blossoms, not too densely quilted. Didn't want to add the the weight. Still, it feels good that it is done. In my record book, it is #257. Also changed the name from Leaves and Friends because the panto looks a bit like leaves but more like flowers.

I'm working on Christmas gifts, so will not publish them here unless totally convinced that the recipient will not be peeking. Trying to do others in between so hopefully will have a few that can be posted.

We have lots of snow with up/down temps. Dropped 20 degrees Celsius in a couple hours this week. Our storms are much like those on the east side of USA but it is much colder here, but power outages are rare. Hibernating is okay!

 Oops, still no photos, but there is a reason. I finally made a decision that Christmas was not going to sneak up on me this year. So I made a list of those who get gifts, arranged them starting with the people who live the farthest away. Then I made another list of possible gifts. So, I am sewing for someone who may be looking at this blog, and do not want to ruin the surprise (she loves surprises but always tried to find out ahead of time). 

Our cold snap weather finally broke today, with temps above freezing, right now 2C or about 36F. The 2-3 foot snow drifts have slumped and the streets (with a little freezing rain last night) are now skating rinks. All the more reason to hibernate and sew!

Just washed my sofa quilt for the first time. It is a favorite. Rather than a link, here is a picture...

 Stay warm, and stay safe!

Happy New Year... never more heartfelt this new year as we have been through many challenges and could use lots of bright spots. 

I'm quilting that "ugly" quilt and having fun with it. We traveled south for nearly three weeks in November/December. I found a neat quilt shop in the hills northeast of San Diego and bought some fabric... went in there looking for a really tiny thimble. Oh well, it was for a planned quilt so not as guilt-creating as just randomly "I like this so much" with no plan at all.

The covid tests made the trip a strain, but we managed. We also had a week of fun and games with two of our adult children who had us laughing most of the time, then a week in SD area and a few days in San Francisco to visit a relative who will be 104 in three days. That was special. He likes to talk about big topics and is bored without friends with common interests.

I have no pictures to post. Too busy trying to catch up with life and enjoying time with family and friends. Next time. 

 

Hallelujah Christmas 

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:1–17.

This day, may the great joy of Christmas fill us all and bring us peace!