Scrap Happy Summer~ Giveaway

Summer draws to and end.  School has started for many children.  So it is with sad ado we say good bye to Scrap Happy Summer.  But wait we can't end this fun without a giveaway.  I've gathered a bunch of scraps and will put them in a fun container and ship to one lucky winner. 

To enter leave a comment.  Tell me your favorite thing to do with your scraps.  Good luck to all.  

New Pressing Station

Thanks to Alex and Josh I now have a new pressing station.  Alex cut the wood for the ironing board and Josh assembled the storage unit.  I covered the board and filled it with my scrap bins, leaders and enders project, plus a few other odds and ends.

I'm pretty pleased with the results.  So thankful for my handy boys.

To the Nines

Between my garden producing yummy veggies and my generous friends sharing of their bounty I have been busy canning salsa and peaches.  It's a lot of work but I know my family will enjoy it when the snow flies.  With all this canning I've had little time for sewing but by sneaking a few moments here and there I've been able to create these random nine patches.

Hoping to be able to sneak a little more time in to make them into something lovely real soon.

Scrap Happy Summer~ Frugal Granny

I love all the Granny Squares I've been seeing out in blogland.  Their snappiness speaks to me.  But the waste of the outer squares in many of the tutes I've seen bothered me.  So I set about finding a way to make the blocks without the waste.  If  you have followed my blog for long you know I love my Nifty Notions 1/2 square and 1/4 square rulers.  I now love them even more as they have allowed me to make these great blocks without the waste.  Let me tell you how. 

                                     

First you will need a 2" strip of fabric, 1- 2 1/2" square for your center, 4- 2 1/2" squares for your first ring and 8- 2 1/2" squares for your outer ring.

From your 2" strip use the Nifty Notions rulers to cut 4- 1/4 squares and 8- 1/2 squares.  If you keep your strip doubled you can cut one set of 1/4 squares then cut your 8- 1/2 squares and end with the remaining set of 1/4 squares.  No waste.  I know I'm a little fanatical, but fabric is expensive.

Lay out your pieces.

Sew into rows

Sew your rows together.

Trim off your dog ears and your block is done.  

Repeat easy peasy!

A Friendly Twist Finished

Last week my family spent a wonderful time at the beach.  We visited Grandma and Grandpa Bailey and enjoyed time with cousins.  We got back late Friday.  So Saturday with a weeks worth of laundry to get done, I loaded the washer and sat down to finish up the quilting on Friendly Twist.

I did swirls and leaves in the stars.

Loop-de-loops in the flying geese.

And a flower thingy in the pinwheels.  It showed up on the back better so that's what I'm sharing with you.  The back and binding have special meaning in that they are from a friend's mother's sewing room.  She doesn't sew and gave me all kinds of treasures when her mother passed away.  She said she didn't know what to do with them but knew I would.  So I thought it was the perfect fit for my Friendly Twist Quilt.

So pleased with this memory filled quilt.  Can't wait to hang it on the wall.

Getting A Little Quilting Done

I pulled this one of the hanger on my clothes line of quilts.  Yes, that is how a keep a visual reminder of what needs to get done.  When it gets too full it gets in my way when I do laundry, and with a family of six I do laundry quite a bit, so that motivates me to get a few finishes done.  

Well it's getting pretty full so I'm working on this finish to try and thin it out a bit.

Scrap Happy Summer~ Pillow Talk

Do you remember sleepovers?  Sleeping in the backyard under the stars?  Giggling and talking into the wee hours of the night?  While I treasure my sleep too much for such things now.  I guess I'm getting old.  Scrappy pillows speak to me.  Here are a few I found recently that I thought you might like.
First up is this scrappy Kiss pillow from Debbie of Esch House.  Use her great tute to make your own.
                              

And there are these sweet X's by Kristy of St Louis Folk Victorian.  I love them.  In fact I'm so glad I found them and her sight, she does beautiful work.  Make sure you check it out.

Then there's this scrappy beauty form Freckled Beauties.  Don't you just love all the fabrics she used?
                             

Look at this combo of fun scrappy pillows by Sew Me Something Good.  She just randomly sewed scraps together and made this.  Aren't they great!!!!

                              

I really like this elongated one by Valerie.  I see a quilt in these colors for Alex's room and maybe a few of these to throw on the bed

                               

 Or these little beauties by Liz, a very talented lady, make sure you check out her site.  

 Well, all this eye candy is making me want to start sewing pillows with abandon.So I'm off to see what the scrap bin and my muse can create.

A Picnic with Gypsy Girl

Imagine my delight when Stephanie, of Lily Ashbury, contacted me concerning my Garden Party quilt.  I was so honored.  I loooove Stephanie's work.  Her fabric lines are bright and fun.  She uses vivid colors and beautiful patterns.  We have been emailing back and forth.  And I'm happy to say she is letting me play with her new lines.  In fact she sent me her new line, Gypsy Girl, due out next month.  I designed this basket quilt for her.  I really like the red gingham border.

 The ric rac handles and of course Stephanie's fabric.

I can barely wait to see what she comes up with next.

Scrap Happy Summer~ Hot Pads

Please excuse today's pictures I had to take them with my hubby's phone.  My camera has gone on High Adventure with Josh and N.  

Yesterday while playing with my scraps in anticipation for today, I found these red and green strips leftover from this project.  Because I really could use some new hot pads.  And I had just a tiny bit of left over binding from yesterdays project.  That would never fit around a quilt but would work perfectly for a hot pad.  I thought why not make some hot pads.  So that is just what I did.

I also found a bag with 2" squares in it and made these ones for DD in her favorite colors.

Now I know I really should retire my old hot pads.  But they are so full of sentimental value I don't know if I can.  You see, N made these when he was four.  I was pregnant with DD and on bed rest, so to keep him busy while his brothers were at school I taught him how to make these hot pads.  We played with pattern and color.  He made a ton.  I let him give them as gifts to the generous people who would bring dinner to us. I kept these two.  They are ratty and worn but, I love them.

Maybe I'll continue to use them when it's just us, and use the new ones when we have company.

A Star Spangled Finish

Lots of scrappy maverick stars quilted with a simple stipple and bond with a red check and my Star Spangled quilt is finished.

It made a little dent in my red, white and blue scraps.  I had left over binding from another project and it was almost enough to go all the way around.  I found another red check to finish the lower right had corner.  The check is smaller but I think it adds a nice touch to this scrappy quilt.  I'm thinking it will be the perfect gift for a child so I'm adding it to the Happy Chemo pile.  

Watch the quiltometer rise!

I'm linking up with quilts are for giving.  Check out the other wonderful quilts.  Learn about worthy cause to donate your extra quilts to.  And if you would like to make your own Star Spangled quilt you can find the free pattern here.

Whoop Whoop for DD!

At my last retreat I stopped at a cute little quilt shop, you can see their fun sewing machine collection here.  While at this fun shop I found this book for DD.  She loves American Girl Dolls.  She has five.  Yes she is a little spoiled.  It comes from being the youngest and the only girl.  I was hoping that making clothes for her beloved dolls might foster a love of sewing.

Although that has not happened yet, I believe there is hope.  This last weekend I helped her sew this cute outfit.  Doesn't Kit look so sweet in it?  

DD was pretty pleased with herself.  I must admit I'm pretty pleased too.

Scrap Happy Summer~ Strings

String quilts are a fun way to use up scraps.  Here are a few of my favorite along with links to make them.  First up is my spiderweb quilt.  Can you see I'm making progress on the big stitch quilting.  I'm almost halfway.  You can find out how to make this block here.

This little block is so much cuter in person.  The wind would not cooperate.  Sorry for all the shadows.  I made this one for my String Me Along be.  I had so much fun I want to make a quilt of them.  Adding to that list that grows far faster than I can sew.  You can learn how to make it here.

These X blocks I'm making for Josh's quilt are another great string block.  Make a few of your own by going here.

Hope this gives you a few fun ideas to use all the strings in your scrap bag.