FNSI

Hi everyone,

Here is what I did for FNSI:

I layered and pin basted this panel that I am going to machine quilt for a dear friend.

This will be a play mat for her new baby nephew.  I'm thinking I must find my sunnies to wear while quilting it though. Wow, this one is very bright in person :)

I made a start on a few string blocks, then decided most of my strings are too wide for these blocks that are only 5" square.  That will be easy to sort out later.

Then I worked on this stitchery.  It's nearly finished and then I will make it into a thread catcher for my Secret Santa swap.  It's been fun to stitch and I will be making more of these! Design is by Michelle Ridgway :)

I've been sorting scraps all week and I had a nice stack of 4" squares , so here are some of them started off in pairs.  I love a scrappy patchwork quilt most of all.  So, that's my FNSI here at the cottage.  Hope you had fun too! xx debbie

FNSI

Hi everyone
I am joining in with Wendy tonight for FNSI.  Just pop over to her blog if  you would like to sign up too.  Thank you, Wendy.

 

I don't have a definite plan yet but I have plenty to choose from.  As I posted earlier, my focus this week has been rotary cutting and sorting my scrap drawer.

 

 

I have been cutting 4" and 5" squares,  2 1/2" strips, and strings only.  I decided this will simplify things because these are the sizes I use most. I don't care for the rotary cutter much, but I have found this task pleasant after all. I have sew many new ideas now that I can see what I have!

 

 

So, what shall I do for FNSI?  Here are my choices:

 

1.  I have 5" base blocks and strings cut and  ready to start a string quilt, could be for Blankets of Love.

 

2. I have enough 4" blocks ready to start another baby quilt for Blankets of Love.

 

3. I have a quilt panel, batting and backing here that I will be machine quilting for a friend.

 

4. My Secret Santa project: the embroidery is nearly finished, then will sew it into a thread catcher and add some goodies to fill it up.

 

5. My Aiming for Accuracy quilts...I've neglected these as I have lost interest.

 

6. My scrap  bag of 2 1/2 inch strips/ Jelly Roll leftovers contains many lengths, but I have had an idea that I could try a quilt along the lines of "Jelly Roll Race Quilt" just the same, even with shorter lengths.  You can find this idea on YouTube if you don't know what I am on about LOL.

 

7. I still need to cut and sort more scraps, but I have made good progress with this project.

 

I will probably work a little on several of these projects.  What goals do you have for tonight? Do you struggle with scrap quilt colours too? I find I have to force myself not to worry too much about what matches or not.

xx debbie

 

 

 

 

Travelling Treasures Winner

The lovely Bev has chosen the October winner of Travelling Treasures.

Sincere congratulations go to Susan.  If you have a moment, check out Bev's blog. She has made a
very special gift for Susan.  I am jealous!  Thank you to everyone who played along.

Here at the cottage, there is still plenty of yardwork happening. I've been trying to do as much as I can before it gets too hot.  I was very sad yesterday I had to dispose of 3 fully mature tomato plants that I grew from seed.  They were loaded with tomatoes that were full of grubs. I've thrown away more than a dozen fruits so far and have yet to eat one myself!! The remaining plants are well sprayed now with garlic and chilli spray and homemade white oil.  I refuse to give in!!  Some things are going well though.   I have had these pretties for lunch the past two days, freshly cut by me!

Spinach, spring onions, rainbow silverbeet.  I added celery, capsicum, and tomato to make a huge salad. Did you know you can plant the roots of spring onions from the store and they will grow?  I have a steady supply now as I can cut off what I want and they grow back.

This is my scrap drawer.  It is only 3 inches deep, but it holds a lot. I promised myself when it got full I would do some cutting and sorting instead of starting another drawer :)  Then I looked around my sewing room (which I never sew in because it is too dark) and I saw little stacks of scraps here and there that had been multiplying when I wasn't looking.  There is no way all of those scraps would have fit in the drawer too, so it was time to start sorting.

There are 30 leftover / orphan quilt blocks on this chair, found in that drawer.  Hmmm......

I have made a huge mess but it is a pretty one. I decided I don't want blocks in every size, so I have limited my cutting to 4" and 5" squares, 2 1/2" strips, and strings. These are the sizes I use most.
I made a bag for each of these sizes to simplify sorting while I am cutting.

This produce bag is nearly full of the crumbs too small to save. The pile is 8" high!

Here is the drawer a few days later...and it doesn't look like I made much progress.  How do you sort your scraps?  Do you set a limit for yourself?  Do you cut many sizes?  xx debbie