Scrappy Rainbow Quilt-a-long: Week 2

Are you ready to start making your scrappy rainbow blocks?
Depending on the size of your scraps, it can get a tad bit tedious if they are super small.
I like that kind of work.  It's so satisfying to me to use up all my scraps ;)
I suggest before working to set up your ironing board, cutting station, and sewing machine as close together as possible...

1.  Start with  a few scraps that are about the same size.  Sew them together using a 1/4" seam.

2.  I like to sew my seams open, because it will cut down on the bulkiness of your block.

3.  Trim it all the way around so it is nice and even.

4.  Find your next scrap that is about the same size and then sew it onto your first pieces.

5.  Iron and trim like before.  Continue with another set of scraps.

6.  You will continue with this process until your whole block is complete.  I lay it out on my cutting matte so I can see how close I'm getting to 12" x 12".  There is no right or wrong way to lay the scraps.  Each block will be completely and totally different.  Mine are not straight and perfect at all.  I love them wonky!

7.  Once you have sewn everything together, trim the final block 12" x 12".  Press really well.

Ta-da!

This one is in the blue and turquoise color group.

Now make one in each color group.

Meet me back here next week with five complete blocks if you can.

  If you get really ambitious, of course you can keep going.

 Remember you are making six blocks in each color group:

pinks/reds,

oranges, yellows

greens

blues, turquoise

purple, lavenders

You will have 30 total.

Have fun and if you have any questions I will answer them in the comments :)

Slip-n-Slide

Slip-n-slides are pretty cool still.
I remember playing when I was little and having a blast.
I picked one up for $5 this summer and it's a great way for the kids to get outside when it's too hot to even think.

 My kids do beg me to do it, but I think I'll keep all my ribs intact, thank you very much!

I love this shot of Jackson.  He is a ham!

My neighbor and I finally got smart and threw a tarp down too.  We poured dishliquid all over both of them and srayed some water on it.  It made everything slippier and slidier  :)

36 patch

In addition my scrappy rainbow quilt that I'm working on, I also started Amanda Jean's 36 block quilt-a-long as well.
I couldn't help it!  I turned 36 last month, and this quilt is made up of 36 blocks that each contain 36 squares.
Destiny, I tell ya!;)

Yeah, my first block didn't turn out exactly perfect.   It's because I ironed my seams open out of habit, instead of toward the dark color like she suggested.
It's okay, hopefully the next one will be more accurate.

1 down, 35 more to go.  I'm giving myself until next June :)

More Pillows :)

Scrappy Rainbow Quilt-a-long: Week One

(working on the orange and yellow block right now:)

Welcome to week 1 of the Scrappy Rainbow Quilt-a-long!

I may be the only one doing it, but that's ok!    ;)

I know some of you are joining in, and some of you may do so later when you have some time.

Either way, I will document everything as I go, just in case!

I have so many scrap pieces of fabric that I'm using only scraps from my stash.

Each block will measure 12" x 12", and there will be 30 blocks all together.

(If you don't have a large fabric selection but still want to make the quilt, you will need 30 pieces of fabric cut to the same size 12" x 12".)

The first thing you need to do is sort through your fabrics and divide them into five different piles:

1.  pinks and reds

2. oranges and yellows

3.  greens

4.  blues and turquoise

5.  purple and lavender

We will me making six of each, for a total of 30 blocks.  It will be sashed and will end up being a twin size quilt.

Get your supplies ready:

• rotary matte and cutter
• fabrics divided up
• sewing machine
• small scissors
• iron and ironing board

(This is all you will need to get started)

Once we are nearing the block completion, I will tell you what else you will need to finish it up.

I will be back next week for block construction.  :)

Have fun playing with all your colorful fabric!

If you have any questions, I will answer them in the comments.

Common Ground

Lately  Logan  needs some grown-up eyes to attend his evening fishing trips on the beach.
Here is what I do:

...and this is what he does:

It is so calm and beautiful while the sun is setting, and I thoroughly enjoy my quiet time embroidering letters on.

At water's edge, rest in the serenity of His promises...

I know nothing about fishing, but that's okay.  Logan doesn't need me for that.

I have come to look forward to this time of the day.  We don't even talk that much, but we have found a common ground.

The ocean brings both of us peace.

These photos make me happy.

“The waves of the sea

Help me get back to me.”
-Jill Davis

 

"One learns first of all in beach living the art of shedding; how little one can get along with, not how much."

- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

State capitals

I have a confession that I am not very proud of.
I do not know all of our state capitals.  :(  How did that happen? 
I'm sure at some point along the way I learned them, but I have forgotten most of them.
Isn't that terrible?
Maybe I'm not the only one... (yes, please tell me I'm not!)

If you are from the US, do you know them all? 
I realized this summer that Logan left elementary school without learning them.
We put it on our summer fun list to learn them all.

It's not going so well...but I am determined to do it with them!
I plan on purchasing one of the embroidery projects above, probably the second one shown.  Both are available from this etsy shop.
I figure if I spend a year of my life embroidering all of them,  I will remember them!  haha

But I need suggestions on a (fun) way to help the kids learn them.
Any suggestions?  I would surely appreciate it :)

Scrappy Rainbow Quilt-a-long

After wrapping up the new book, I took a break from quilting for awhile.  (...and as soon as I can tell you more about the new book, I will, I promise!  Soon!  :)

Now, after weeks of making lots and lots of Pillows for Davis, I have found my scrap piles of fabric to be out of control.

One day last week I was playing around with some of the scraps and created this 12 x 12 block.  The next thing I knew I was drafting up a new quilt!

Here is my chicken scratch template...

The deets are:

The final quilt will be twin sized...

It will include 30 blocks, all divided up into five color palettes:

pink and red

orange and yellow

greens

turquoise and blues

lavendar and purples

The blocks are all made up from scraps, and will be sashed with white or dark gray.

If you are a beginner quilter, you could use fabric pieces cut into 12 x 12 and this would be a great beginner quilt.

If you are scrap hoarder like me, this is a great way to use up all those tiny pieces of fabric.

Either way, it will be a beautiful rainbow themed quilt.

The quilt-a-long will be set up for a six week "class".  Every week I will post the next set of directions.

I will include lots and lots of photos and step by step directions.

I will begin next Friday, with a material list and all the info you will need to start.

It will be so much fun!

If you think you might play along, will you let me know?  ;)

Have a beautiful weekend!