Evening in the Garden Quilts

Adventures in Fabric Art


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Sportsy Finish

I just finished this commissioned baby quilt. It’s the color of the Spring sky!

One thing that made it go more quickly was my new laser line! A friend showed me this post by Laura at Slice of Pi Quilts about adding an inexpensive laser to your machine. I ended up getting the exact one she did (use the link, it’s very confusing searching for these on Amazon). It has mixed reviews, but so far it’s working for me. The line is a little thick, so I’m lining up on the edge of it. I expect to mostly use it for half-square triangles, but it really made it easy to quilt these flying geese shapes in the background spaces. No marking!

It felt good to finish something!


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Sunday Stash Report: 3/10/19

A little went out, a lot came in. I used .75 yards on a table mat for a friend. I bought seven yards of new fabric. It was mostly for a commissioned quilt, so it will go out again soon.

This week: + 7 yards, – .75 yards

This year: + 29.5 yards, – 24 yards

Net destashed added in 2019: 5.5 yards

Ah, well.

I did cut up the scraps this week.

Good luck using your stash!


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February / March Goals

February Goals:

    1. Make donation blocks for Kat’s Covered in Love. Yes! Here. And they’re mailed.
    2. Complete Step 2 of the Handy Dandy Scrap Quilt. Yes! Here.
    3. Determine pattern and collect fabrics for my brother’s quilt. No. I did try, but I couldn’t get a decision from them about the pattern. I’ll pursue this in March.
    4. Complete top for log cabin donation quilt. No, didn’t touch this.

Bonus: I made a tote bag, a zipper pouch, pillow covers, and a fabric basket.

 

March Goals:

  1. Complete Step 3 of the Handy Dandy Scrap Quilt.
  2. Determine pattern and collect fabrics for my brother’s quilt.
  3. Make last twelve log cabin blocks.
  4. Assemble top for log cabin donation quilt.

This spring my husband and I have short trips scheduled for March, April, and May, so I’m trying to keep the sewing goals realistic.

Don’t forget Darla’s March-Along, where we sew (blog, cut, trim, bind, shop, etc.), for 15 minutes each day. This is how we’ll achieve our goals!


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January / February Goals

No, I know it’s March.  I meant to post this last month, but somehow I posted it as a Page instead.  Mostly these are for me, but the next post will make more sense after this.

 

20190119_133154

 

  1. Make tree skirt for our new tree so I won’t be scrambling at the last minute come December. Yes!  Here it is.
  2. Applique pine cones on guest bathroom towels (same reason).  Yes.  This was tiny, I didn’t take a picture.
  3. Begin pulling and cutting fabrics for Charlotte’s Handy Dandy Scrap Quilt.  Yes.
  4. Complete Step One of Charlotte’s HDS Quilt.  Yes.  The photo is in this post.
  5. Make donation pillowcases.  Yes, here they are.

Bonus:  Purple baby quilt, zipper pouch, and tote bag.

 

2019-01-2613.37.08I’ve also worked some on my year’s goals.  I acquired these books (haven’t read them yet).  I broke down some boxes and moved them, and vacuumed my studio.  Coming along.

 

February Goals:

  1. Make donation blocks for Kat’s Covered in Love.
  2. Complete Step 2 of the Handy Dandy Scrap Quilt.
  3. Determine pattern and collect fabrics for my brother’s quilt.
  4. Complete top for log cabin donation quilt.

 

Good luck on your goals this coming month!


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Sunday Stash Report: 2/24/19

No fabric shopping (well, no buying!), and I used a little bit this week. I backed these six pillow covers that I made from vintage tablecloths. And I lined the toile basket.

This week: + 0 yards, – 3.25 yards

This year: + 22.5 yards, – 23.25 yards

Net destashed added in 2019: .75 yards

It’s not much, but I’m in the black!


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WIP Wednesday: A Mystery

I’ve completed the second clue to Charlotte Hawke’s Handy Dandy Mystery Quilt. So far there are twelve of these blocks and eighty of the sashing strips. I love my maple seed background fabric, but it looks a little…wormy… up on the design wall.

Scrappy Stars Around the Corner, 2016

It occurs to me that some of my readers may not be totally sure about the meaning of “mystery quilt”. In my experience, it involves one person designing a quilt, then giving us the directions bit by bit, and we don’t know what the pieces will make until the final reveal. (Some quilters are better guessers than I am!)

Surrounded by Scraps, 2017

Some designers select the colors, too, or suggest them. Charlotte is a dedicated scrap quilter, so her designs are meant to be made with a variety of scraps in any color, with just “light”, “medium”, or “dark” to go by.

Scrapitude, 2014

Some designers give a new direction every week. Charlotte gives us the cutting directions in November, then, starting in January, we get a new clue every month about which squares and triangles to sew together. It takes longer, but can be easier to manage.

Srap in a Box, 2015

Summer Stars Over Fawn Lake, 2018

This is probably my scrapiest quilt yet. I have trouble letting go and just throwing everything together. In the past I’ve stuck with certain colors or themes. We’ll see how this turns out!

Looking for the next clue in March!


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A Basket for Me

Sunday I finished putting together this basket to help tidy up my studio. I had a lot of messy recycled mailing envelopes that were an eyesore overflowing their shelf. I also had some home dec fabric I hadn’t used, and a roll of Peltex cluttering up a corner.

I used the directions for the One Hour Basket, but I substituted Peltex for the fusible fleece. I fused the Peltex in place before sewing, and I didn’t think until much later that I should have scored it where I wanted it to bend. Doing it this way, I literally wrestled with it, but I won in the end.

Today I found out that I should have used this tutorial by lillyella. Go look at it, just to see her beautiful work. She handles the stiffener so much better here. Ah, well, next time. Thanks so much, Jaye, for the link. Do you read Jaye’s Various and Sundry posts? I always find so much there.

Anyway, I’m glad I made this. It lets me use the whole shelf and hides the mess. And I dusted for the photo!

Good luck on your projects!