Scrap Dance Quilt is completed

After no sewing during July I promised myself August will be different. I finally have a finish to share. There is still lots more to do but they will have to wait, maybe there will be some sewing time this weekend. I have to finish my piece for the Road Home Row Along which is nearly done. One block completed and two applique blocks that are ready to sew and them one last block once I have the three blocks joined together.
In the meantime here is my Scrap Dance quilt finished, with a scrappy top, scrappy batting and backing.

This project was to make a dent in my scraps and it did make a difference for 10 minutes but the box is now full again. Scrappy projects here I come.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Getting Closer to a Finish.

On my Project Uninterrupted list and my 2016 Finish Along list is my Scrap Dance Quilt. I pinned and started quilting it last weekend but ran out of weekend to finish it.

So it was at the top of my list to finish this weekend, with only 30 minutes of quilting left to do on it.
Just some simple diagonal quilting using the quilt top pattern for guidance was all I did for this one.

You can just make out the quilting lines if you look closely. 

For the binding I pulled out my binding bag full of leftovers from other projects. I selected the shortest piece under 50 cm in length and joined them together. I did notice there seem to be a lot of green in the mix so I did try to space the greens out.

 It has made a noticeable dent in the left over binding but my scrap bins are still full. I will have to start a couple scrap projects to use some up. I don't measure my binding so I was taking a chance that I may not have made enough but I could alway add another strip if I was short as there was more strips to use. As it turned out I made the right amount. No leftovers to go back in the bag. I don't think I will be doing that again soon. Normally I have too much hence the leftover binding collection.

Now to finish it off in front of the tv one night this week. I did start it in our Project Uninterrupted session but I was busy so only one side was completed but at least that means I am a quarter of my way through it.

In the meantime it is time for me to finish my row for The Road Home Row Along which starts in September I have written the pattern and started on my blocks but I need to finish sewing them and get them together. I hope you will join us in September for this event. There will be rows created by lots of talented people around the world. It will be a great event and would love you to join in.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Under the Pressure Foot #22

It has been a lean month of sewing. With lots of other stuff happening nearly no sewing has been done. So I was determent to get some in before the end of the month. IT may not count in my 350 Block Project totals but it will get me closer to finishing a couple of my Project Uninterrupted quilts.
These are the two quilts in my sight, my Scrap Dance quilt and my Quiltmaker  Auld Lang Stitches Mystery quilt. Both were mystery quilt alongs last year.

They are ready for pinning and quilting but first I needed to piece a couple of backings and batting for them. My left overs boxes are too full especially the fabric one. I need to use some of it up.

I managed to get both prepared and pinned but the afternoon was nearly over. Dinner was in the oven and I had about an hour left. So what did I do. I had a go at some speed quilting. Let's see how far I can get before the time was up. I had decided how I was going to quilt my Scrap Dance quilt so off I went with the timer ticking down.
What happened?
I didn't make it even with simple diagonally stitching following the lines on the quilt so I didn't have to mark the top and it isn't a large quilt. I did get three quarters through it. So it won't take long to finish it. Then I can use some of my left over binding to create the binding. It will be a true scrappy project when I finish it.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2016 Q3 Finish Along To Complete List

It is time to make our third quarter finishing list. Now I only finished 2 projects on my list last time. I keep the list short last time but I am thinking maybe I should have a slightly longer list with a few more projects to choose from.
My list this time.

My Quiltmaker 2015  Auld Lang Stitches mystery quilt is ready for pinning and quilting.

My Scrap Dance Mystery quilt ready for pinning and quilting.

My Forget Me Not Sew Along project. This is a EPP project so I don't know how far I will get.

All the blocks are done. I must of forgotten to snap a picture once I finished the block. These are from my Allietare quilt.

My Victorian Hope Chest blocks need to be sewed together.

Lastly this one which is half way through being quilted when my machine broke down. Hopefully I can finish it.

That will do I think for this quarter. Six projects for me to complete this quarter.

Here is the link if you want to see what others are setting themselves to complete.

http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2016/07/q3-2016-fal-proposed-finishes-link-is.html

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

2016 Finish Along #2 Grand Illusion Report

The second Finish Along has just finished and it is time to report in. There was 5 projects on my list and I know you want to know if I finished them all. The answer to that is no I didn't finish them all. I may of been a little ambitious to think I could finish all five. I can tell you  2 projects were finished that were on my list. Here is Grand Illusions quilt my first finish of the two.

Have a look at some of the other completed projects by others plus my other finish for this quarter.

http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2016/06/fal-q2-finishes-link-is-open.html

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Retreat Project Update

Friday is the day to load up our cars and head off to our annual retreat at Nunyara. After careful consideration I have selected to following projects to take with me.
These 3 are on my Project Uninterrupted list
1. 2015 Quiltmaker New Year Mystery quilt.
All the blocks are made ready to be sewn together.

2.Scrap Dance Mystery quilt.
This one just needs the rows sewn together.

3. Forget Me Not Sew Along quilt.
A English Paper piecing project about 2/3 completed.

4. Victorian Hope Chest Quilt.
Which is a newer project. All the blocks are completed and I have cut the 1st and 2nd borders.
I don't believe I have no pictures of this one. I will take some when I unpack it at retreat.

Plus I have thrown in a couple other projects just in case including the new Pemberley BOM.

I will share more later. Hopefully I get some of these to the quilting stage.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

350 Block Project- March's Report

This month total is 30 blocks.

More work on the Stash Bash projects. I finished Breezy Baskets off by sewing up the last  2 rows them joining the last 3 rows together with 2 borders, making it 7 for this one.

Some more work on Diamonds in the Breeze so for 14 more Windmill blocks and 14 diamond blocks. 5 rows sewn with 4 sashing strips and 2 borders for a total of 39.

The last eight Scrap Dance block finished. Now I have to sew all the blocks together and sewn into 5 rows, a total 13.

I also finished the last 8 blocks from February clue on the Scrap Dance Tango. Plus the 10 blocks for March are done. No Picture I swear I took the photos but I can't find them.

2 very large wonky blocks.

From Cotton Carnivale 2016 I have completed 2 octagon blocks, and a basket block.

Yes they are staples in my basket block. It is Leonie way of securing the basket to the background. I still need to remove them.

In the end I did all right for March with a total of 82.

Until next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

350 Block Project 2016 -February's Report.

It is time for February 350 Block Project report. This month's total is 30.

No sewing in the first week of February but a lot of designing and pattern writing happened. With the Christmas Reproduction Sampler Block of the Month I am trying writing the block instructions before I make the blocks instead of making notes as I make the block then writing. So I have completed my 3 February blocks.

Plus I have pulled out my Scrap Dance project. The block components needed arranging into their order and then the blocks can be sewn together. This was a mystery quilt from last year and it is on my Project Uninterrupted list to completed. 11 blocks completed so far.

Next more work on the Stash bash project #1, the last row of blocks were joined together and then I sewed the 6 rows together and the 2 borders for a total 9. Plus it is finished.

Then there was the second Stash Bash project more blocks. I made 2 basket blocks and 8 windmill blocks. 10 more to the total.
I have started my blocks for the Scrap Dance Tango quilt along.so far 2 blocks completed.

This last week of February was not very good. I sure of made a few more blocks than I did but it is too late now.

February's total is 35 blocks. 

My year total so far is 96 blocks. 

Until Next Time 

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

More blocks.

Yes I am working on more blocks. What is going on around here? I may just win the most blocks made if there was a competition. There must be a point where I will have to start sewing the blocks into rows and turn them into quilt tops. This leads to my next sticking point quilt tops waiting to be quilted. That pile is not getting smaller and if I keep making blocks it will eventually get larger in theory at least. I will have to do some quilting eventually.

This is what I have picked up to sew, my Scrap Dance Mystery quilt blocks. All the component are made and the blocks just needed to be laid out and sewn together. As I am busy sewing Stash Bash projects with their deadline looming I just need something small for chain piecing purposes.
Here are the first two blocks completed.
It is really scrappy for me, though a couple fabrics are a little too light but that is life. My third block is in the reject pile already waiting to be unpicked.

So on I go. This will bring another Project Uninterrupted project closer to being finished.

To see more scrappy goodness pop over to She Can Quilt  and have look at what others are working on.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

My 2015 To Do List Update

I think it is time to check in on my 2015 To Do List and see if I have made any progress or have I wander way off my path.

UFO's from 2014

1. My Pies & Tarts quilt. I am 3/4 through hand quilting this one.
 Completed

2.My Farmer's Wife Sampler quilt. I have finished the top in 2014 so it is ready for quilting. I just have to decide hand quilt it or machine quilt it.

It has returned from the long arm quilter ready for binding..
3. My Double Wedding Ring quilt which has become a bed runner. I have lots to go on this one.
My bed runner is now ready for pinning and quilting.
4. My Disappearing Hourglass quilt. I only have made 6 blocks so far.
Completed.

5. My Wishes quilt. Ready for quilting.
Completed

6. My Pink Dahlia quilt. I need to find the templates so I can continue.
Templates found so I will be able to do some more of this one soon.
7. My Inklingo Castle Wall quilt. I am working on the 2nd pieced border.

Completed.

8. My Inklingo star quilt. All printed and 2 blocks completed out of 12.

Completed

9. Grand Illusion Mystery quilt. I am currently working on the blocks.
Blocks all joined together, ready to do the borders when I have time.
10. My Lozenge scrap quilt. 
Completed

11. My Aurifil Block of the Month quilt.  I am ready to arrange and piece the top ready for quilting.
Still sitting waiting to be sewn together.

12. My Crossroad Quilt. I am still working on the blocks, 12 done and 13 to go if I settle on 25 blocks. I am undecided about a border I may just make some more block to make it bigger.
Completed now called Scrappy Roads.

New things to do for 2015.

Pat Sloan's Vacation Time Block of the month.
 I am working on August's blocks.
Quiltmaker's New Year Mystery Quilt
Blocks made ready to be sewn together.
So Scrappy Rainbow Scrap Challenge 15
I am stuck on this one at June blocks.

Added to this list is
Scrappy Dance Quilt Along
The big reveal has been done I am ready to sew all the pieces together.
Quiltmaker Bitty Blocks
Starting to fall behind I think I am working on July's blocks
Just started Christa's Quilts Paper Piecing Quilt Along
We have sewn the first block. No progress on this one.
Addicted to Scrap Idaho Square Dance blocks have turned into box runners to hide my plastic crates at the fairs.
12 blocks completed and 5 joined together.

Still a lot here to work on. At least 7 of my long term projects are completed with at least 3 more at quilting stage. Plus there is a number of other projects that got started and completed.
 Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Scrap Dance Quilt Along #5

We are getting closer to our finish. This month I had to make  10 of these unit for my lap quilt. Nice easy sewing. It is what you need sometime. You want to sew but not wanting to do any brain straining. I know I do. It sometimes makes me feel better that I have managed something on the machine even if it is simple chain piecing for a project. To mark something off my To Do List brings me closer to completing a project. You are 1 base closer to a home run in my book.

Simply sewing can be satisfying.
Until Next Time
Keeping Stitching
Cynthia

Scrap Dance Quilt Along #4

We have had another clue for July and I am looking forward to how all these clues fit together. There has been a couple of times I thought I had it worked out but have I. I will have to wait and see what it really is. I am enjoying the pace of this quilt along. No pressure I have time to work on each clue.
For July's clue I only had to make 10 blocks and they were really simply. Not even I could stuff them up for a change. Here they are.

There is the Scrap Dance Link in the right hand side toolbar if you are interested.My blocks so far at least I am up to date.

Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Scrap Dance Quilt Along #3

The 4th clue was released during the week, so out comes the Scrap Dance box with all my fabric and blocks pieced so far. This time I have 40 of these to make.

I had planned a big sewing marathon but I didn't quite work out that way. So much other stuff kept getting in the way. I had to do some block testing for a pattern the sizes needed double checking and a good thing I checked because 1 piece was  1/4 inch too small. While doing this I used the Scrap Dance blocks as leaders and enders so I could chain piece. The only problem I had was I was missing 1 half square triangle unit and as I made them in pairs- 2 squares together stitch either side of the diagonal line there should of been an even number but I was 1 short for my 40 blocks, so I made up 1 more pair. A good thing because I accidently cut the corner of one of the pair, so silly of me.  Note to oneself. Make sure you leave enough room on your mat to trim without cutting into something else.
By the end of the weekend I had all 40 done.

So I am ready for the next step. Wish I knew how  all this is going together.

By the way while laying out the rest of the blocks to take this photo look what I found. That's right the missing half square triangle unit.

Until Next Time

Keep stitching 

Cynthia