Scrappy Strings Progress

I've made a dent (a teeny, tiny one) in my strings basket since I started making blocks last week for Covered in Love.  It's been kind of fun to do some basically mindless sewing.  Mainly because there's no dreaded math involved!

The strings basket was an overflowing mess.

I just started pulling out strings and scraps, ironing them, and stacking them into piles.  A lot of piles.

I got tired of that and got back to sewing blocks.  Added to the blocks I made last week, I have 20 blocks to mail to Kat and Cat for the block drive.

I didn't even come close to using up all the pieces stacked up in these piles, but I feel like I made some pretty good progress.  Especially when I look at the strings basket now. Dare I hope?

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Quilting Addict 

Strings Galore

Another one of my goals for 2018 is to set aside a week out of each month to work on donation quilts.  Kat's Covered in Love project provides comfort quilts to the families of East Texas hospital patients who have passed away.  For this year's block drive they are asking for 10.5" string blocks with no restrictions on colors or prints.  (If you're interested in sending a few blocks their way check out the details HERE.)

For the foundations I'm using up some fabrics I doubt I will ever use for anything else.  You know - those fabrics you don't know what you were thinking when you bought them, or those mystery pieces you don't even remember having at all.  Starting with a center strip and then using the flip-and-sew method I added strings working towards the corners.

They look like a real mess, not only from the fronts .....

..... but also from the backs. 

Until they're trimmed.

I finished ten blocks this week, but I hope to have more made before the end of next month when I mail them off.

I'll try to incorporate some not-so-bright pieces in the rest of the blocks.  Oh, who am I kidding?  No, I won't!

I'm getting my Whoop Whoop on and linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Check out some of the other bloggers' work there!

Also linking up with Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More fun that Housework.

The 70273 Project

One of the donation projects I've decided to work on this year is called The 70273 Project.   Jeanne Hewell-Chambers is gathering 70,273 quilt blocks to commemorate the 70,273 disabled people deemed "an economic burden on society" and murdered by the Nazis in 1940 and 1941. Each quilt block has a white background and two red X's to signify the two red X's placed on someone's file when Nazi doctors determined that they were "unfit" and sealed their fate.   You can find more information at her website here or on her Facebook page here.  

I volunteered to sew some blocks together and two sets came in the mail the other day.  

You should see how well documented this project is.  Each block donated is assigned a number, and each quilt is numbered.  A record is kept of who made each block as well as who quilted each quilt. 

Today I started putting blocks together for quilt number 409.  I settled on a layout knowing I would have to increase the size of some of the blocks to make it work.  

I found a ziploc bag full of small white scraps in my stash that will come in handy.  See why quilters don't like to throw out odds and ends of fabric bits?

I only got the first row put together today, but I think this is going to go quickly. 

   
Look at this photo from The 70273 Project Facebook page (used by permission).  It shows just  a few of the quilts on display. 

Just as soon as I get quilt 409 and 410 pieced I'm going to volunteer to do more.  I would definitely like to make at least one entire quilt this year for the project.

Please check out the website and Facebook page for more information and to see if there's some way you can help.

Jelly Roll Baby Quilt

One of the goals I set for myself for this year was to make a baby quilt using this Zen Chic jelly roll.  I love this entire collection by Brigitte Heiltand for Moda.

I decided on this pattern I found online.  The tutorial is available as a free download HERE.  

It took a while to lay out the strips in an order I liked. Naturally, once I started sewing I rearranged (and rearranged!) and then ripped out seams and rearranged again!  (Ummm, this wasn't the first time I've ever done that.)

  

There is nothing more boring than sewing long strips together .....

..... unless it's ironing those seams open!

And there is nothing more frustrating than running out of bobbin thread and sewing for 40 inches without being aware of it .....

..... unless it's wearing a sweater that day and being covered with lint from those pinked edges on your pre-cuts!

I appliquéd the flower petals too far apart so I just added another smaller row.  I actually like the double row of petals better.

Now, it's basted and ready to quilt.  We've had some pretty cold weather lately so I'm happy to have some hand-quilting to do in front of the fire (and the TV....)

This will be the first of several quilts I plan to make and set aside for future great-nieces/nephews. I have lots of nieces and nephews ranging in age from 45 all the way down to 16, and the youngest six don't have little ones yet.  That's not even including future great-grands!

It looks like I have some serious quilting to get done.

I'm linking up with Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Can I get a Whoop Whoop?

SaveSave

Scrap Attack Goal - January

It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's time to see what my Scrap Attack Goal is for January.  I had my grandson pull a slip from the bag.

Hooray!  It's an easy one.  The first goal for the year is to cut up my blue scraps into useable pieces.  (Can you tell I'm glad?)

Fortunately my pile of blue scraps is on the smallish side.

Well, maybe it's not that small, but wait until you see the greens!

I've started with the smaller pieces, pressing and stacking. The plan is to cut them into 2", 2.5", 3", and 3.5" squares, and 2.5" x 4.5" bricks.  What's left will be cut into strips, and pieces less than 2" are going into the trash.  (Don't tell anyone.)  By the way I'm only cutting up scraps - not stash.  I want to make sure I have large enough pieces left for other projects.  

I'm hoping to get this done quickly.  I have lots more goals to work on, and I need to get busy!

I'm linking up with Sarah's Scrap Attack 2018. 

6 & 6 in 2018 Challenge

Heaven help me I've found another challenge!  It should help me stick to my goals for the "Stash Attack" challenge and motivate me to get some new projects done.  Meredithe at pomegranate and chintz and Anne at frayed at the edge are hosting 6 & 6 in 2018 on their blogs.  The idea for this challenge is to work on 6 old projects/UFO's (during even numbered months) and 6 new quilts or projects (during odd numbered months).  

My 6 old projects will be --
1.  Josh's T-shirt Quilt UFO
2.  Debbie's Batik Quilt UFO
3.  Use Tom & Jerry fabrics from pajamas
4.  Use leftovers from Savannah & Sahara's quilts
5.  "Disaster Averted" UFO
6.  "Pop of Poppies" UFO

My 6 new projects will be --
1.  Rag Quilt for Aaron
2.  Black Quilt for AJ
3.  Use Zen Chic Jelly Roll for great niece/great nephew quilt

4.  Use Hawaiian Prints for great niece/great nephew quilt

5.  Whatever strikes my fancy
6.  Ditto!

It's beginning to look this is going to be one busy year!

I'm linking up with Meredithe's 6 & 6 in 2018.