Scrappy Little Rugs

      In between projects, I decided to get going on using the scrap jelly roll strips I had made for some small rugs.   I just finished two, one round and one oblong.

    I still have some of the prepared strips to make some more, and I have some rolls of scrap batting all ready to use when I get around to cutting more 2 1/2 inch fabric strips.   Unlike the fabric, I don't join the batting.

     These are pretty easy projects, especially when listening to a thrilling novel.  I have been listening to an audio book of "The Woman in Cabin 10" by Ruth Ware.  I can't wait to finish it.  Spell binding!  Why is it that a narrator with a British accent sounds so good?
     I have been working to improve the smoothness of the finish on these, which involves taking out the batting incrementally in the last bit, and rolling the fabric to make it blend in to the edge.  Each one gets better, although none are perfect!  But since these are rugs for below a sink, or for pets,  I am not overly concerned!

ehhhhh

Better

    I also realized that it matters how you start the piece, and that it looks more finished if you can put the stitched side inside, so the last row does not look odd.  The round one had the stitched edge on the outside,

    On the oblong one, I managed to get the smooth side facing outwards.  Much nicer finish!

     The oblong rug is already out the door and headed to Connecticut with my son. 
      These are great projects to use up scraps of fabric and batting, and also thread! 
     I am finishing up a baby quilt, and also trying to get my pink and purple batik Lexi quilt put together.  That one is a struggle - not sure what I did wrong!  More to come.

Take care,
Gretchen

Li'l Nancy Drew

     For those who have been reading my blog for years, you may recall that in 2013, I made two Nancy Drew Quilts for my childhood friends.  We were all big fans of that titian haired girl detective!   Click to see the details on those  Nancy Drew Quilts.

     Fast forward a few years, and my friend Cy (dark hair), is now a grandmother of a little girl, Louise.  

I decided to use the Sugar Sack (Whistler Studios) fabric I had used for my "Mad about Plaid" table runner.  Blog post here! .  I started with 5 inch squares and cut enough for two baby quilts.   For this quilt I decided to do an illusion quilt.  I watched a you Tube video from the Missouri Quilt company to get started.  Video here 

   

Instead of gray, which is often used in illusion quilts, I used a dark blue Kona cotton, and I substituted 3 of the 5 inch squares for fussy cuts from some of my remaining Nancy Drew fabric.  The colors are close enough that you have to be a detective to find the Nancy Drew heads! 

     I didn't take many photos while putting together the squares, but managed to get some photos of the squares on the wall before sewing it all together.  

   

   I quilted with white Aurifil and bound it with the blue, and used the newsprint backing because my friend Cy is a writer! 
  Thank goodness I remembered to use some color catchers when I washed it to make it soft and crinkly.  I washed it three times, and still the color catchers got filled with the blue.  Yikes! 

Here are some close ups of the three Nancy Drew patches! 

I hope that little Louise will enjoy reading, adventures and lifelong friendships just like her grandmother! 

Sorry about the weird formatting.  I tried too many times to fix it, and just couldn't figure it out!  

Take care,
Gretchen 

2019 - A year in review

      So few quilts finished in 2019!  I started the year with grand plans, even though I realized that my quilting and pattern designing would slow down since I was busy with my art classes.   However, life tossed me a challenge when the reality of my mom's dementia diagnosis hit.  Like so many others who have loved ones with this disease,  life turns upside down.  All of a sudden, it is necessary to  find the appropriate care, clean out and sell a home, and make difficult moves.   Some days, I was simply exhausted, and had no capacity to create.   I am actually surprised I finished what I did!   But, right now, my mom is doing okay, and I am once again planning some quilts. 

      The year started with my participation in a book tour blog. Posts begin here  That was a great experience.  The cute quilt I made was gifted to my great nephew, Coen. 

      I also finished my spider web quilt center.  It still needs a border, and to be quilted.  Perhaps 2020 is the year!

      I made two quilts from the brightly striped fabric that I cut to create the illusion of a more complex quilt.  This one was gifted to a cousin's grandchild, Nae.   Post is here.

      My favorite piece of the year was my modern mini, Hey Wassily #2, which placed in the Quilt Expo Modern Mini competition.   Post is here

      I did manage to finish the Bonnie K Hunter "On Ringo Lake" mystery pattern.   I am using this one on a bed at home!  I enjoyed the process, and look forward to tackling another of her great scrappy patterns soon!   Post is here

      I finished a second quilt from the striped fabric, and that was gifted to Anais Rosemary, the daughter of one of my art school classmates.  Post is here

     My last completed quilt from the year was the Lexi quilt I made for Baby Hughes, the son of one of my nieces.   Post is here

Judy posing! 

     I also completed a small jelly roll rug, and recently finished getting some more scraps ready for a few more rugs.
     Some home dec projects also got done for my son's new house in Connecticut.  Grommeted kitchen window toppers, new dining chair covers, and a window seat cushion and a pillow are gracing his new home. (I'm a nice mom!)

Chair Before

Chair After

Gizmo the Cat

     I turned a few tee shirts into pillows for my daughter, who likes reminders of her Buffalo roots in her Boston area home.  

     This was a wonderful wacky sequined tee shirt her college roommate found for her in Taiwan!

 

     Finally, I also got my sewing room all set up, with my Tiara and my Bernina in the same room!  Post is here   
     This year will start out as busy as the last.  I plan to finish my art degree this semester, so will be at school 4 days a week!  I have a few quilt tops ready to complete in the new year, and of course, lots of ideas for quilts to make.  As I start to make art of my own, and not just class assignments, I'll start to share.   
      While my posts may be less frequent (I'll try for at least a monthly post), I am using Instagram more frequently!  Please check it out and follow me  @snugharborquilts!  Thanks!
     In the meantime, Happy New Year, and may 2020 bring peace to all!

Take care,
Gretchen