I May Have a Scrap Problem - But "Me Sew Happy"!

 

Hi, all!

It's been a while since I wrote a post for Scrappy Wednesday!  It's just been so busy, and I didn't really have anything special to share - but I've joined in the Me Sew Happy quilt-along and now I do!  

Way back in February, this gorgeous quilt caught my eye on Instagram.  Imagine my excitement when I found out there was going to be a quilt-along!  So when it opened up on April 1st, I ordered my pattern and started digging through my scraps.

Look at all those beautiful bright fabrics!  I was fortunate enough to have a BUNCH of squares already pre-cut to 2.5", so I sorted through them until I found enough to make these four blocks....

For a week, these pretties graced my design wall all by themselves. Then it was time for the second block - a bit quicker this time, made even quicker by the fact that I also had 5" squares pre-cut in my scrap stash.  With a few minutes of trimming down to the right size, I had exactly what I needed for these blocks.

These worked up really quickly this morning - chain piecing is the bomb!  And now my design wall looks like this...

It's only half of the blocks for this quilt - there are still two sizes of hourglass blocks to make - but you can already see just how bright and cheerful it's going to be!  

And now I wonder what it would look like in low volume fabrics.....

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Spring Has Sprung!

Hi, all!

Well, I don't know about where you are, but here in Tennessee, spring has sprung!  The trees are greening out, the daffodils have faded for another year, and it's planting time!  I do love this time of year, but it's a terrible war between the part of me that wants to be outside, and the part that wants to be sewing.  So I try to do a little bit of everything!  But it's only for a short time, right?

Here's what happened with last week's list...

1.  Cut out blocks for a new t-shirt quilt, and assemble/quilt.

Done!  This was a fun quilt to make!

2.  Write an estimate for another t-shirt quilt, this one to celebrate a retirement!

Done, but they decided to go another direction.  Win some, lose some!

3.  Deconstruct shirts for another memory quilt, and for this one, I'm going to use a pattern from my new memory quilt book!

Wow, that was a job - about 50+ pieces of clothing, hats and bags to deconstruct - but it's all done and ready to start!

4.  Make arrangements with all the interested parties to get my new oven installed. (This involves our schedule, the delivery men, my cabinet guy, and the installers - kind of like juggling eggs!)

The eggs are in the air, and we get serious about it tomorrow when my cabinet guy comes to pull out my old oven and make some adaptations to the cabinet so the new oven will fit.  Then the installation guys come on Wednesday to install it!

5.  Get a haircut - finally!

Hallelujah!  It's a good cut - we decided to leave it long but she trimmed it all up and now it has some "bounce" when I walk, and looks a lot healthier too!

I also put some time in to refreshing our porch, too...

New cushions, new rug, new table, a lantern with a sweet smelling citronella candle, and a yard gnome!  I've also added to the flowers you can see there, so it's lovely and inviting!  

This week, though, I've got to get a good bit done, and don't have many days to do it, since I'll be dealing with cabinet guys and installers.  Here's my list for the week....

1.  Cut the blocks for the golf memory quilt.

2.  Sandwich and quilt the puzzle t-shirt quilt.

3.  Make the second set of blocks for my "Me Sew Happy" quilt.

4.  Quilt two high school graduation quilts for the ministry.

5.  Make some baked goodies with Lilli to break in the new oven.  (These will be used when the quilt ministry ladies finally get back together this weekend for a clean-up day!)

I think I'm going to leave it at that - I really need to get these things done and if I do, then I'll add some other things too.  

So now the question is - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

Hands2Help - Meet Guest Blogger Carole With A Hometown Heroes Idea!

Hi, all!

It's time for another Hands2Help post, and this week our guest blogger is Carole, who blogs at From My Carolina Home.  Carole designs beautiful quilts and hosts mystery quilt-alongs for her designs, which are always named for dances.  Her current mystery is the Pachanga, which always makes me think of Dirty Dancing - how about you?  

This week Carole has a great suggestion and tutorial for our Hometown Heroes project, so let's get started!

Oh, and don't forget - this is a check-in week, so if you've got some progress to share, you can link up at the end of this post.  I can't wait to see what you've been working on!

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Thank you, Sarah, for putting this super charity event together again for another year.  I'm Carole, and I blog at From My Carolina Home.  I have to say I was so inspired by your idea to make something for our heroes of the pandemic.  There are so many I would like to thank, and a small project makes a great way to thank a lot of people.  These could be made by your guilds for presentation to ER units, fire departments, vaccine clinic personnel, or other people who made a difference this past year.  So, here's a quick tutorial for you!

"You're a Star" Pillow or Wall Hanging

1 6-1/2-inch squares

4 4-inch scrappy squares

4 4-inch background squares

4 3-1/2-inch background squares

2 strips 1-1/2 x 12-1/2 inches

2 strips 1-1/2 x 14-1/2 inches

1 14-1/2-inch backing

Fiberfill stuffing

Embroider or paint “You’re a Star” on a piece of fabric and cut to 6-1/2-inches square. 

Pair the 4-inch scraps with the 4-inch background squares, mark a diagonal line on the background, and sew 1/4-inch away from the line on either side. 

Cut apart and press, square to 3-1/2 inches.  Arrange embroidered square, HSTs and 3-1/2-inch background squares in a star block as shown.  

Add border strips, beginning with the 12-1/2-inch long one on opposite sides, then add the longer strip to the remaining sides. 

Place block and backing right sides together and sew along the edge leaving a space for turning.  Turn right side out.  Sew in the ditch between the border and block the same way, leaving a space in the same area.

Stuff pillow with fiberfill.

Sew the remaining ditch.  

Sew the last opening closed either by hand, or by machine continuing the stitching all the way around the pillow for continuity.  

 

Give to someone who has been a star in this pandemic time.  This same idea can be made into a wall hanging as well.  I'd love to see your creations too, anything inspired by my blog, on the Friends of From My Carolina Home Facebook group, accessible from my blog's Facebook page.  Thanks again, Sarah, and happy sewing everyone!!

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Now, didn't I tell you true? That is a fabulous idea, and makes it so easy to share some love with our pandemic Hometown Heroes!  Thank you, Carole, for this fantastic tutorial.

And now it's time for you all to show off what you are working on for Hands2Help!   It doesn't matter if it's just a little, or if you have finished and gifted your quilts already - just take some time to cheer on your fellow H2Hers!  Link up below - and if you don't have a blog or Instagram, you can email me a picture you want to share at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com, and I'll pull together a post to show off your stuff.  (FYI I usually put all those submissions in one post, so try to get them to me by Thursday morning so I can put them in Friday's post!)

Hugs and see you next week!

Sarah