Can't let this go

I called this top finished.  Almost two years ago.  It was always my intention to put applique in the side setting pieces.  Instead of just doing the applique, it sat on a shelf as it.  A finished top.  It was back in July 2017 that I last blogged about this top.  Done as far as I was concerned.   Really done?

No.  I just couldn't let this one go as is.  It really needed something to make it better.  Applique flowers as I had originally intended.

That is what is being worked on these days.  Applique flowers.  So, into my drawer of leaf templates and my drawer of circles I go.  A bag of circles that were the correct size and ready to be sewn on was a bonus find!  I just had to make one more circle and that didn't take long at all to do.

Almost half way there.  The difference is pleasing and I'm finally happy with this top.  A smile is on my face as I look at this photo.

This will be my third top that has this flower on it.  Like my stars that show up on a gazillion tops and quilts, this flower applique keeps showing up too.  My signature items to make my quilts my own.

Same flower with more circles added.  These give my borders that extra touch of special.  Don't you agree?

Here is my drawer for circles with leftover circles from past projects.  Those little containers on the right hold all my different sized cardboard circles.  Very handy to pull whatever is needed.

My drawer for leaves and fabric odds and ends to use for making leaves.

All extra leaves from various projects over the years get tossed in here.  This is where I go look first when a leaf is needed for a block.  Very handy indeed.

I'll just tuck that leaf template and leftover circles back into their drawers because one day .....

Have a great day!

Linking to:  http://www.esthersquiltblog.com/

Chevrons

So ..... well ..... darn ..... I did it again.  Started a new project.  Chevron Legacy.  I have been drooling over this pattern since I first saw it.  We are talking serious drooling.

It is in McCall's Quilting November/December 2013.

Before my other scrap project even has outer borders on it, I was pulling scraps and cutting to my heart's content.  The cutting took longer because enough strips were cut into five piles for each length in the pattern.  Extra time in the beginning, but quicker later at the sewing stage.  Then the sewing started.

My Strofoam board comes in handy for laying out the strips to see how well they will look before any sewing is done.

Masking tape on the floor is handy for me to see when to stop sewing on strips and the trimming to size can start.  Very handy indeed.

On a good day, a length can be sewn.  A few strips here and there were removed and replaced after they had been sewn together.  The replaced fabric just did not go with the look or it was just too close to the same fabric that was exactly in the same place on another length.  It is a bit tricky to replace one strip in the middle, but it can be done carefully.

After doing this project and the American Wildflowers, my bin has greatly reduced in size.  This bin was full before these two projects even started.  Oh my word, how wonderful to see this.  Is my bin half full or half empty?

Well, it doesn't matter which way I want to think about it, because this trunk that has been hiding scraps has been emptied into that plastic bin and we are back to being full again.

 See .... full again!  I'm sure that another new project will have me dipping into those scraps again.  There are still another three bins of scraps waiting in the wings once this bin has been reduced in size. LOL  The scraps never end and they seem to multiply on their own, but Lordy, what treasures they can be made into.  Scrappy quilts.  Gotta love scrappy!

Before I can even think about playing  sewing, Miss Ashes is on a mission ..... she wants treats!  See the stare.  She is definitely on a mission.

Have a great day, eh!

Fast or what?

While going through books and magazines to thin them out for donation, I came across this pattern in McCall's Quilting March/April 2015.  What a perfect pattern to use up my 2-1/2" scraps!

I started working on this on Mar.22 (I keep a journal, so I know when start dates happen).  A bout with a stomach bug that was going around had me grounded for a number of days.  Then I got back to working on the blocks on Mar. 29 (as per my camera date).  This photo was taken at 10:37 a.m. that morning.

Plugging away at it off and on that day, this was taken at 10:43 p.m. that night.  Holy scrap, this is fast ... fast for me, that is.   I can't believe how much got done in one day!

I thought the blocks were all made, but when I looked at the layout, I was short by 5 blocks.  My husband was in my studio when the shortage was discovered and he asked if I had enough fabric to make the remaining blocks.  Well .... I laughed until I almost chocked.  Did I have enough fabric?  LOL LOL LOL

Then, slowly the setting triangles, corners and flange got made and the rows sewn together.

A week later and borders are being auditioned.

My big scrap bin has reduced in size.  Bonus!  I have almost a top.  Double bonus!

Have a great day!