I May Have A Scrap Problem... Progress, and Some Fresh Inspiration!

Hi, all!

How's that scrap monster these days?  Mine is feeling a little threatened - I'm enjoying digging in my scrap buckets to find interesting pieces for my Long Time Gone quilt!  Here's the newest set of blocks I made this week...

These blocks are called Crosses of the U.K. - and they are tiny!  I raided my Kate Spain scraps to make these.

I also decided to pull the fabric for this year's 12 Days of Christmas in July quilt along, and cut the strips so they are ready to take along on vacation in just 9 days!  I knew I would want something to sew on in the evenings, and if I can get the sewing and tutorial done for 12DCIJ, I'll be that much farther ahead!!  All the fabrics came from my stash - technically not scraps, but my Christmas fabric never seems to disappear either, so I try to use it as often as I can....

If you want to get a head start on this year's 12DCIJ quilt along, you'll need sixteen pieces of at least 10" width of fabric.  That could be sixteen different prints, or you could repeat some if you want.  There should be some contrast between the prints - I chose four green, four red, four light, and four blue based prints. 

And here's a little inspiration for the week...

Isn't this a beautiful scrappy quilt?  I love the blues and greens, and my blue bin is totally overflowing, so this one may be on my horizon soon!

I also love the layout of this 16-patch quilt - so unique!  And imagine how many scraps it would use up...

I don't know about you, but I've become so accustomed to making chevron quilts where the prints are all the same in each row, I forget how pretty a scrappy chevron can be!

And take a look at these two quilts - both are made by the same pattern, but one puts a dark solid in the center and radiating out, the other puts the prints in the center and radiating out!  It makes them look so different, doesn't it?  

Now take a look at the same pattern with sashing and cornerstones!  

And last but not least, Jenny Doan's Falling Stones pattern would be an awesome scrap buster - particularly for those leftover charm squares we all having hanging around!  You could even add in 5" orphan blocks if you have any!

So that's what I've got for us this week - a little progress, and lots of inspiration!  Now if I could only find a way to manufacture a few more hours in the day....😄

Link up below to share your scrappy progress or how you're doing with the Long Time Gone quilt!  Inspiration comes from everywhere!!

Hugs!

Sarah

PS You can find the original links for the pictures above on my Pinterest board, Oh Scrap!

Make-A-List Monday - Best Laid Plans...

Hi, all!

Wow, last week went by really fast!!  And some of my projects went a lot slower than I thought they would - all of which created a perfect storm of not finishing my list!  But it's all good - at least I'll have something to work on this week.  Let's see how last week's list went...

1.  Make more blocks for my "Long Time Gone" quilt.

Done!  I really love these - I raided my Kate Spain scraps for the materials in these...

2.  Bind the two quilts for Stash Builder Box.

Done!  Such pretty colors in these quilts...

3.  Quilt and bind the "Dear Jane" quilt.

This is where I got bogged down - it took a LOT longer to quilt this than I thought it would, and while I've got the binding machine sewn on, I'm still stitching it down by hand.  What was I thinking when I decided to make a scalloped edge???

4.  Begin repairs on the vintage quilt.

Nope.  Didn't get to this one at all.

5.  Quilt a couple of quilts for the quilt ministry - for a special project, quilts for our high school seniors on graduation.

Didn't get to this one either!  But I did pull a couple of tops and find backing material for them, so they are ready whenever I get some time to work on them.

6.  Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that come up!

It was a quiet week - we only gave away two quilts.

This quilt went to a young man who tried to commit suicide this week...

...and this one went to his mother.

But in my defense, I did do a couple of other things this week that weren't on the list.  First of all, I made a twirly skirt for Emmy's fifth birthday, from her favorite Shopkins fabric!

 And I pulled the fabric for this year's 12 Days of Christmas in July quilt along!  I'm thinking I may work on this quilt while I'm on vacation in a couple of weeks - killing two birds with one stone by giving me something fun to work on in the evenings and getting my prototype done well in advance!

Plus, I dealt with car issues this week - a recall repair at the dealership (airbags are useful, but sometimes a hassle to deal with!) and getting my battery replaced.  All of which required time away from my sewing machine!

So I'm pleased with what I did get done, just wish I'd had a bit more time to do some of the rest of it!  Here's what's on tap for this week...

1.  Finish the binding on the Dear Jane quilt.

2.  Begin repairs on the vintage quilt.

3.  Pull together my project(s) for vacation.

4.  Quilt a couple of the graduation quilts.

5.  Make the next set of blocks for the "Long Time Gone" quilt.

6.  Keep up with any quilt ministry needs that come up.

With all that being said, I'm going to wrap up here and get back to stitching down that binding!  

And now I want to know - - - what are YOU working on?

Hugs!

Sarah

Hands2Help - Meet The Sponsors!!

Hi, all!

I hope you're enjoying the Challenge so far!  Maybe you've started on your quilts, maybe not - everyone works at a different pace - so it's all good!  Today we're going to meet the sponsors who have contributed some lovely things to thank all of you wonderful quilters for participating in the Challenge….

First, let's meet the corporate sponsors.  

You all will soon be receiving (via email from me) a discount code from C&T Publishing …

…good from now until the end of 2017 on most of the items on their website.  If you haven't checked it out, be sure to! You can get a great deal on fabulous quilting books and other items!  

Free Spirit Fabrics has joined us as a new sponsor this year, and look at all the beautiful precuts they have provided!  There will be many happy H2Hers when this is divided up!!

The fabulous Kate Spain (and her husband Pete!) have sent oodles and oodles of mini-charm bundles of both her newest line, Early Bird, and her beautiful Grand Canal line.  I love these sweet little precuts - a fun way to see and play with all the fabrics in a line!

This year, InspiredLED has is back again, and is donating TEN of their awesome sewing machine lighting kits!!  I have these on both my domestic machine and my long arm machine and they are mah-ve-lous, darling!!!  They also have other great LED lighting and the best prices I've seen around - you should check out their site!  

Amy Smart, who blogs at Diary of a Quilter, has sent a huge bundle of giveaway items.  Amy's blog is always a delight to me - she makes such pretty quilts (and photographs them well, too!)

The folks over at Fat Quarter Shop are back again this year, offering two $25 gift certificates!  Have you been to Fat Quarter Shop?  They have a great selection of fabrics, and they feature wonderful tutorials for easy quilts using pre-cuts.  Lots of fun things going on there!

Christina Cameli, from A Few Scraps, is donating her own book, Step-By-Step Free Motion Quilting, and a copy of The Quilting Manual.  

Christa Watson, who blogs over at Christa Quilts, is donating two of her PDF quilt patterns.  Yes, before she was an author, she designed patterns (some of which I had the honor and pleasure of testing for her!) and they are fabulous!

Annie Toy, well known for Annie's Ruby Slipperz, is donating some quilt-y goodies and books!  She's a long-time champion of the Challenge and I'm so grateful for her support!!

Fabricworm has come through with some of their beautiful Birch organic fabrics - four fat quarter bundles!  I've seen these fabrics personally - they are so soft and gorgeous - and I'm already jealous of the people who will take these home!!

Stash Builder Box provides a monthly quilting box full of fabric, patterns and fun, and for every box they sell, they take a portion of their own stash and turn it into charity quilts to give to children in need through various organizations.  A great cause, and a great way to build up your own stash for a very reasonable cost!  They are celebrating their first anniversary this month, too!  You can also find her on Instagram as @stashbuilderbox - show her some love, H2Hers!!!  Amanda has signed up to provide three of her monthly boxes as prizes - awesome!!!

You may be most familiar with Classic Metal Company as the creators of those fabulous metal barn quilts - but Mark has been branching out, and this year he is donating four sets of these beautiful coasters as prizes for Hands2Help!  Be sure to check out his website to see all the beautiful things he creates just for quilters!!

You know I've talked about how much I love my Hera marker - and Clover is donating twenty-one Hera markers for some of our fabulous participants!!!

If you're anything like me, you're already familiar with The Warm Company, creator of Warm & Natural batting.  The Warm Company has sent us a quilt batt to be given away to one lucky H2Her!

And many of you not only give it forward with your quilts, but you also help encourage the people who participate in the Challenge by donating giveaway items!  (Quilters are THE BEST!!!)  So here's what your fellow participants have donated!

Sharon Vrooman, who blogs at Vroomans Quilts, is donating these two beautiful fat quarter bundles of Good Neighbors fabric!  Sharon is an amazing scrap quilter - if you've never visited her blog before, you really should - you WILL be inspired!!

Lara Bucella, who blogs at BuzzinBumble, a copy of her  book, Crafted Appliqué - New Possibilities!  I have read her book and LOVE the technique she uses for appliqué - definitely new and a perfect solution for a lot of the problems people have with appliqué!

Terri Johnson, who blogs at QuiltNCards, is donating a bundle of five fat quarters in bright, lovely colors!!  Terri does the most amazing paper piecing - you should see some of her creations!

Joanne Hubbard, who blogs at Everyone Deserves a Quilt, noticed how many precuts we've received as prizes, so she thought that a book about using precuts would be useful - so she's donating a copy of "I Love Precut Quilts" for one lucky winner!

Kathleen Gansert, a/k/a KatieQ, who blogs at Katie's Salt Marsh Path, will be bringing us some goodies, too!  How about eight fat quarters of Arizona by April Rhodes?  Awesome!!  Such gorgeous fabrics - I love that southwest vibe...

Selina Kidney, who blogs at Selina Quilts, has found a great prize to donate - an OttLite!  These things are awesome - just great for adding a little extra light just where you need it...

Susan McAdams is donating a $20 gift certificate to Intrepid Thread... ooh I sense a shopping spree coming on!

Norece E. is donating these four V & Co. books, each one paired with a matching spool of thread and fat quarter!  These books are so much fun - I have all of them and they are chock full of great ideas and lessons about color.

Myra at Busy Hands Quilts is donating two of her PDF patterns...

Karen Goad at Quilts...Etc. is providing a fun flannel fat quarter bundle for one lucky winner...

We've also got some great prizes - fabric, books, notions, and other quilt-y goodness - from some donors who wish to remain anonymous.  We'll call them the Quilt Fairies, I think!  Here's just a few of those fabulous prizes...

A set of Connecting Threads Essentials...

A fat quarter bundle of From Bump to Baby by Gina Martin...

Four winners will receive a Kona Printed Color Chart fabric panel, all 303 colors on a 24x44 panel by Robert Kaufman...

Frivol Tin #4, Moda Windermere by Brenda Riddle...

An Owl Pillow Kit - Who, What and Where by Sewing Sue in Yosemite Park Flannels...

Four 12-fat quarter bundles of fabrics (The Owl and The Pussycat) from some favorite designers!

And there are more, I just haven't had time to photograph them yet!  

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

Such a great array of prizes from so many generous folks!  I'm still trying to round up a few more prizes - so if you know of a great company or person that might be willing to sponsor and you don't see them listed here, tell me about them!  And if you've got something you'd like to donate, drop me a line at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com….

Be sure to show all our sponsors some love - they really come through when I contact them about the Hands2Help Challenge every year!!  And be sure to check back next week, when the fabulous Pam of Quilting Fun will be our guest blogger!!

I've been on Instagram for a year now, and I just love it!  My handle is @fabricaddictquilts.  If you're on there, I'd love to follow you!  Also, if you post pictures of your H2H quilts or in-progress shots, tag me and use the tags #Hands2Help2017, #h2h2017, #happychemoquilts, #camphobequilts, and/or #refugeequilts.

Time to get quilting!!

Hugs!

Sarah

PS If you're just now finding out about the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge, there's still plenty of time to enter!  Just fill out the form in the top right sidebar (be sure to scroll down and fill out the complete form!) You can read more about the Challenge by clicking the Page tab at the top of the blog...