Hello, again!

     I had grand plans for 2020!  However, even before January ended,  my life changed forever.  My mom, who was an enthusiastic supporter of all my endeavors, passed away fairly unexpectedly at the end of January.  I had spent time with her nearly every day since retiring in 2016, and suddenly she was gone.  Then, in the midst of working through that grief, Covid hit, and life as we all knew it was no longer the same.  Everyone's life has been upended in ways big and small.  

     I found art and creative pursuits good solace, and managed to finish up the work to complete my  associates degree in fine art.  I also returned to quilting, and made a lot of masks as well!  While I managed to post pictures on Instagram (@snugharborquilts), I couldn't find the energy to work on my blog until now.

     I have refreshed the look of my blog, and will again start documenting my quilting experiences as I go along.   If I get brave enough, maybe I'll share my other art as well!    I'd like to say I'll blog every week or so, but let's not get too crazy!  

     In the upcoming months, I'll blog about a few of my recent quilts - here are a few teaser photos! 

A civil war repro spider web for my husband.  Hand quilting!  Yikes! 

A batik "Delectable Mountain"  gifted to my sister-in-law

A "Lexi" for my soon to be daughter-in-law

A quilt for me - there is a whole story behind this one!  

 

In the meantime, thank you for visiting my blog, and be well.

Take care,

Gretchen 

 

    

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