Here, There, but Making Progress

   Another snowy day in Ohio. So cold, so pretty, and so glad we haven't had the 70 inches like they had in Boston!

This is the view out my kitchen window. And the view in my sewing room is nice too because I have been busy. 

Since I have joined the Stashbuster's challenge for 2015, my head is swimming with ideas to bust more stash. I have also been all over the place working on different projects since the first of the year (some generated by this fine group). I usually keep this number down to three projects at a time so it is time for some self control. 

 
My main goal has been to diminish my stash of juvenile fabrics. It seems that the more I cut, the more it multiplies. I think maybe one more and I'll set it aside. 

SYNCOPATION

The first is from the pattern, Syncopation. I wandered off from the directions a bit and made it my own. Working in 2.5" block sizes leaves lots of room for variations. 

The finished size is 65" x 86". The original pattern called for more blocks on the bottom but I stopped at this size. Time to move on.

DOUBLE FOUR-PATCH

 

I am sure there is a better name for this quilt. I really enjoyed working with this block arrangement and I did not use a pattern. I just cut 2.5" squares, arranged them as pictured and separated with 1.5" strips and centered with a 1.5" square. 

Four of these blocks were then joined by yellow 1.5" sashings to make blocks finish at 19". Don't you love these prints? Most of them are from Timeless Treasures. These fabrics wash so nicely and seem to soften more after each washing. I love how they handle as you work with them - not too stiff.

 And to finish I used 2.5" blue sashings with 2.5" yellow cornerstones. This quilt top has also finished at 65" x 86". And it is now ready to go with the Syncopation quilt to my long-arm quilter.

MORE WORKS IN PROGRESS

I've been swayed into  Barbara Brackman's, Stars in a Time Warp Quilt Along. Barbara posts a new colorway each Wednesday. I love her articles as they are very informative about civil war fabrics and antique dyes. I originally thought I could use these blocks in a Pheobe quilt but they are the wrong style of stars. Time will tell how far I go with this one. 

My Bonnie Hunter, Grand Illusion is cut and ready to sew. I have worked on several sections and have it all in box lids ready to grab when the mood hits. This is my fourth mystery quilt I have done of Bonnie's. She never disappoints. I might have to travel to Michigan and stay at this beautiful hotel.

This is not the best representation of the colors I chose. Just evidence that I am working on this quilt.



I love hand work and managed to complete a couple of Dear Jane blocks. These blocks have not been trimmed yet and look a bit raggedy but they will clean up nicely once I begin adding the sashes. 

This quilt has been years in the making. I would love to see this completed this year but I only have 60+ blocks done. The prep work seems to be the most work. Once pieces are cut, I am ready to go.

I have wanted to make Mabeth Oxenreider's Trail Mix quilt for a long time so it did not take a lot of coaxing during all the recent discussions about this quilt on Stashbuster's. I began my trail with the 4 patch block. I am now officially on my way! No planned color scheme. Just using up the scraps in the scrap bucket.


So it is now mid February, I have 2 tops completed and ready to be quilted. And one full size quilt ready to pick up from my long-arm quilter which will need its binding and label put on. That will surely be completed by the end of this month.

My design wall now looks bare. I have to get busy on that last kiddie print quilt top. And did I mention I picked up the April issue of American Patchwork & Quilting? Their 2015 quilt-along features a quilt by Edyta Sitar. Awesome!