Tuesday 14 August 2007

Scrappy day !

It's a funny thing being a quilter ! You get up in the morning hoping you'll get a bit of time to feed your obsession - ie. do a bit of quilting :-) I had a good sortout of my stash yesterday - after buying a few more storage boxes. It was all looking much better. Still need to re-fold a few drawers that are a bit messy from rummaging in. You know - when you need a certain fabric and you know it's there somewhere- just can't quite put your finger on it.

Anyway one of my new big boxes now houses all my bigger scraps. Plenty of room for a few more ! All my smaller scraps and strips are in a lovely big hat box I treated myself to earlier in the year when I was looking for a present for my dad for Fathers Day - lol !
I was just squashing the little scraps in so I could get the lid on when I found myself turning on my sewing machine and getting my backside comfy on my chair. before I knew it I was off ! You see a few days ago I came across Pattis tutorial for mile-a-minute blocks ( July 7th post )
at http://www.quiltingisstillmypassion.blogspot.com/ and then I saw what Fiona had made and I wanted to have a go too.
These blocks are such fun to do ! I have never made anything like this before but found it very relaxing. I have had a bad week with one thing and another but doing these was like therapy - I could feel myself really getting into the rhythm. Once they started getting to about the right size I counted them up expecting about 14 or 15 blocks. I had actually made 32. You could have knocked me down with a feather ! I will be making more of these at the weekend I think. My scrap pile does not seem to have gone down an awful lot !!



Here are a few of them ! Cheered me up no end ! I also got some fabric through the post that I had ordered from here I heard about this website from Karol-Ann who takes her quilts there to be long-armed. Here are my goodies - notice the pattern has a vine applique sashing - I am getting ahead of myself after completing my scrappy quilt with the viney border - lol !



Also when I was putting my photos on the PC I noticed this one of a little quilt I have not shown yet. This is on the wall next to my sewing machine and my DD Jess thinks it is the saddest thing going to put a quilt on the wall !! Honestly that child has no idea - lol !

I made this last year and all the little log cabin blocks ( all 60 of them ) were hand sewn onto a very soft vilene printed with little squares. I bought this by the yard somewhere and I enjoyed doing it. I think each little log cabin measures just under 4 inches. I love the fabrics in this and when I'm sewing away on my machine I find myself looking at this thinking " how on earth did I have the patience to do this ? ".



Time to go - need to clear up the floor a bit - I make such a mess when I sew and although I have the bin right next to me it seems all the bits of fabric and thread go everywhere but in it !!

26 comments:

Patti said...

Your mile-a-minute blocks look fabulous! You described my experience exactly. Making them gave me a huge lift, and they added up so much more quickly than I ever imagined. I'm so glad to have a tiny part in your enjoyment!

swooze said...

Love your quilts! There must be butt magnets in your sewing chair!

CONNIE W said...

The log cabin houses are wonderful. I love that quilt!

sewkalico said...

Love the mile a minute blocks - saw Fiona's and thought, I have to try them someday! Yours are great. Your log cabin hopuses are amazing - wow. Nice shopping too - all that tidying up deserves a reward!!

Belvie said...

That wallhanging is beautiful. I love the colors.

I really like your mile a minute blocks too. Someday I'll have to give that a try too.

floribunda said...

I've been tidying up my sewing mess lately, too -- and after seeing your mile-a-minute and reading Fiona's tutorial, I think I'm ready to dive into the scrap pile! Thanks for the inspiration.

Fiona said...

Oh brilliant, your blocks look so colourful and crazy - that Patti has really started something! (And best of all you get a result so quickly)

jovaliquilts said...

With so many ringing endorsements, I will have to try those mile-a-minute blocks. They look great!

Your log cabin houses are lovely!

Libby said...

Wow 32 blocks!! I guess we know how they got their name! yours look realllly great.

mereth said...

Your blocks are lovely, I've never tried mile-a-minute but I'm seriously tempted now.It sounds like you really needed a day at the machine as therapy and it paid off!

Helen in the UK said...

Love the mile-a-minute blocks. They have a lot of variation in them with the triangles and the variations in direction - great stuff. The log cabin houses are so cute too :)

Joyce said...

Love the mile-a-minute blocks. I just finished piecing a wonky log cabin but only saw the M-A-M tutorial after Iwas done. THat is next on my list of stash reduction quilting.

Unknown said...

The wallhanging is really pretty!

The mile a minute blocks are fantastic...very bright!

Anne Ida said...

Thank you for a cheery, scrappy post :o) Kust wanted to say I LOVE the log cabin houses!!! They are adorable! Looks like such a challenge to do! And you've done them!! :o)

Rose Marie said...

What great fun those blocks are and using up scraps is the added bonus. The house quilt is sweet and I would hang it up too!

Lynda said...

The mile a minute blocks are amazing, but I suppose it depends on your scraps. Yours look really great - am addicted myself too! Up to 56 and counting! lol

Quilter Kathy said...

Love it! Me too - I want to make one!!

Wendy said...

I love the row houses, what a neat idea for log cabins.

Unknown said...

I think you are so talented, your work is lovely. Those mile a minute blocks sure must be fun to make.

Lesalicious said...

Oh wow I wish I had some great quilting talent like you love all your things.

Came across your blog and love it and would like to invite you to list your blog on Crafty Crafters top 100 site. It's where those with some great hobbies like to list there blogs and get to know others with blogs that is all about there hobbies. Here is the link and hope to see your blog there.:)

http://craftycrafters.gotop100.com/index.php

Beertje Zonn said...

The log cabin houses are wonderful and your blocks are lovely.
Kind Regards,

Sonnja

Floss said...

Love the little house, they are wonderful.
The mile-a-minute look fun to make.

Yvonne said...

Isn't it wonderful how little scraps of fabric can soothe your soul....great blocks and quilts.

Steffi said...

Fantastic quilt!I like your fabrics and colores!

Greetings,Steffi

Rose Johnston said...

OMG i love those log cabins!!! They r just gorgeous, what a fantastic wallhanging!! Think i might check out this Mile a Minute tutorial, ur blocks look great....and 32 in one sitting!!! well done!!!

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh my goodness! Your mile-a-minute blocks are WONDERFUL! And what a cute log cabin house wall quilt1 say nothing of the fabric and patten you show! Way too fun!