Jelly Roll Race Finished

This past weekend while having too much fun relaxing with friends for Memorial Day, I was able to get this jelly roll race quilt bound.  This quilt has been waiting around since March to get finished.  Oops!  Although, I am happy with the final product.  The quilt got a scrappy binding and an all over stipple for the top-quilting.  My friend's sister laid claim before it was even finished.  I will spare her the embarrassing picture of her all wrapped up like a burrito, but you can enjoy the visual.

We also got to hang out with these crazy kids posing all nice for the camera!  All in all the weekend was a huge success.  

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Traveling Chalkboard

Many people have commented on how I photographed all my Farmer's Wife blocks using a little chalkboard.  I completed my blocks a couple of weeks ago, and decided to pass along the chalkboard for some inspiration/motivation to others who are working on, or starting their FWQB.

Here is the concept, each person will get the chalkboard for a month before sending it along to another blogger.  We will all be linking to one another so you can follow the chalkboard's journey.  How cool, I think my chalkboard might get to more states than me!  You can also follow the chalkboard through our flickr group, named the Traveling Chalkboard.

First stop is Stephanie at Late Night Quilter.  She is working on some beautiful FWQB using many of my favorite prints from Happy - Go - Lucky, just wait until you see them!  They are so great, makes me rethink my color palette.  Stephanie is also coordinating the Supernova Friendship Block Swap.  There is a link to the flickr group.  This block is fascinating.  I have been snooping to see the color combinations people have chosen.  If only I could take on one more project! 

Stephanie also has started the Late Night Quilters Club.  (I hope you're in awe right now of how much she is doing!)   Not sure if any of my readers tend to find themselves at the sewing machine late at night trying to finish up a project this is the group for us.  Yes us, I did join because let's face it, working a full time job leaves me no other option!  The best part is, the group is on Facebook.  You don't even have to be a blogger to join!  Plus, isn't this banner super cute?  

As for now, the chalkboard is in the custody of the United States Postal Office headed to it's new destination.  Stephanie should be receiving the package shortly or already!  Follow along at Late Night Quilter to see what happens next!  (The suspense is already killing me!)

As for progress on my own FWQB not much is happening.   All the blocks did get squared to the correct size, but that is about it. Right now all I can show is this pile of trimmings.  Hopefully, soon I will have a second to sew the sashing and blocks together.  Although, I am in no rush either.

Linking up with Crazy Mom Quilts and Fort Worth Fabric Studio. 

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Modern Maples

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  Every year I take off to Vermont for a weekend camping extravaganza.  My minions are doing my posting today :)  I have been looking forward to a relaxing weekend with friends for some time now.  Just so excited it's finally here!  Last year it snowed and was still great, so nothing is going to ruin this weekend.

Lately, I have seen so many people make such great modern maples quilts, I had to try it out. (ok, more like, has been on my to do list for a while now!)  This one is going to baby sized quilt, so nothing too big.  Plus, Pinterest has been a huge inspiration as well.  So amazed by people's creativity ...

Isn't this pile great?  Best of all, it all got pulled from my stash.  Yay, me!  I thought these colors would show a great variety of maple-ish colors.  My favorite tree is the the Crimson King Maple so that 4th fabric from the bottom, is paying homage to that beautiful tree!

Also using my 500 Quilt Blocks book again (still in love).  It has every block imaginable, with easy to follow directions, and a million variations.  For this quilt I am going with Variation 1, which finishes at 9 inches square.  The final quilt will be about 36 inches by 45 inches, hopefully.

Ready to start cutting!  The background for the block is going to be done in a variety of low volume prints.  I think I am going to be crazy about this one.  Actually I am crazy for any low volume background.  It's my new favorite.

Sew long for now, 

CHELS & PATCH 

Making a Come Back ...

My friend had her 40th Birthday this past weekend.  She has started a campaign to bring back the scrunchie.  An essential part of pony tails in the 80's and 90's.  Thus far, she is the only teacher at her school wearing a scrunchie.  For her birthday, I thought I would help her out.  They are hard to find in stores these days, but I did find a tutorial at ikatbag.  Then decided to make up a bunch.  Here are some fabrics from the scrap pile.  

Scrunchies are very quick to make up following the tutorial above and I had all the materials necessary (scrap destash!!!!).  Once I made the first, it was hard to stop!

And ... I kept going.

I also wanted to get some green in my sewing area, so I purchased these little succulents.  This will be my second attempt, as I killed off the first attempt.  Over the past year, I have kept my school plants alive and growing.  My aloe plant has survived the winter (last year wasn't good!) so things are looking hopeful.  The plant below is called a "donkey tail" the name cracked me up so I bought it.  

My mom used a mason jar for one of her plants so I copied the idea.  The other two planters are just cheap terra-cotta planters I spray painted blue.  The blue didn't cover the color completely leaving an interesting look with the orange coming though.  It looked neat, so I went with the concept.  My Mom also has a couple other succulents that would look nice in the collection, so those might end up missing next time I visit!

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Scrapbooking a Quilt

A while ago I posted about being apart of the 2014 New Blogger Blog Hop, and while the hop has yet to start the email conversations and ideas have been going strong.  Some of my readers, may know about my dislike of orphan blocks and how I typically incorporate them into the backing so there are no leftovers.  If you didn't, you're officially filled in :).  Anyhow, Michelle Bartholomew passed along a great idea.   A scrapbook quilt!  The concept was passed along from Ashley at Wasn't in a Day.  Michelle makes and keeps one extra block from each quilt she makes, so by the end of the year she has enough orphan blocks to make a quilt as a memento to all her finished quilts.  How cool is that?  I got to thinking about how many quilts I had given away in the past and forgotten by this point.  It would be nice to have a little part of each one to remember them all.  I do have some orphan blocks hanging around from this year.  For the remainder of this year, I will be making one extra block from each quilt.  Hopefully, by the end of the year I will have enough to make a good sized lap quilt.  Fingers crossed.  Here are the blocks so far .... 

 

Both Michelle and my new friend Julie over at Juna Creations are posting their orphan blocks on their blogs too.  Head over to check out what they have done this year.  We all just like the idea so much!  Michelle already got Julie and I on board with the idea, has she won you over too?  

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Be .... Joyful

This month's Sugar Block is dedicated to finding the joy in everyday life.  Sometimes I amaze myself at the number of times a day that I complain about nonsense.  Then have to think, really was that necessary?  Either way this month I have been stopping and taking in the moment to enjoy.  Sometimes I forget how funny my students are!  Plus it's almost summer vacation, so us teacher's also get excited about that too!

This months color selection.

I totally love the block this month!  Loving how it plays with the others, starting to get really excited to see this one finished.  Just a few more months, ok, more like 7 more to go.  Must be patient.

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

A Weekend Finish!

This weekend I got one of my quilt binding's hand stitched.  This poor quilt has been sitting around for a while now.  Usually I get slowed down at basting, lately it's been at hand stitching.  

Grey & White Chevrons

36 inch. x 36 inch.

The blocks for this quilt were finished before I even gave a thought about blogging.  So there are no process pictures for this one.  I am just excited this finally got finished and out of my UFO basket!   It's taken forever, for no reason.  

Not sure what kind of flowers these are but they just looked so pretty.  Plus, I find it very difficult to photograph red/pinks so this was great practice.  After about 30ish shots, I found one that worked!  Anyone else dread having to photograph red/pinks?

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

True Blue ... and A Lot of Pink

A while ago I pulled a bunch of pink charm squares out my scrap bin to start working on a couple projects.  The goal here was to deplete my growing scrap box.  Not sure I really made that big of dent, or one at all after pulling fabric for two different quilts.  So far I have only been able to get the True Blue top completed, although it's more like True Pink!

Once the blocks were laid out I decided that order doesn't matter.  Usually I  control everything about the quilts layout.  I just divided everything into piles and went to town.  The only time I changed things around when sewing was if two of the same pattern touched.  This definitely sped up the process!  Each block finishes at 12 inches square, and the quilt is 5 blocks by 5 blocks or 60 inches by 60 inches, approximately.

Top finished.  Just waiting to get basted.  So far so good :).

The folded fabric will be the backing, and strips will become binding.  I also pieced three too many blocks, so there will also be some orphan blocks on the back side.  I really dislike having orphan blocks laying around.  After the work to put them together, I can never bring myself to toss them out. Then I have these guilt quilt blocks with no project.  Personally I like a pieced background, I can put in any extra blocks or use up fabric I purchased for a specific quilt, and can never picture myself using again.  For me it's a win win.  What are your preferences on backing?  Orphan blocks?

Public Service Announcement: tomorrow is Mother's Day!!  Love you MOM.

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

New Quilt Blogger Blog Hop

Ok, I am wicked (that's the New England word for very) new to the blogging community.  Like, 4 months still learning my way around this space, new.  For example, I just learned that replying on my blog space doesn't mean the person who commented will be notified.  Total rookie move!  I know, but as much embarrassment I have found putting myself out here, I have also found such great joy.  The people in the quilt blogging community are such kind souls.  The comments (that I now can reply to) are so inspiring and full of cheer!  Beth over at Plum and June is running a New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop, whoa say that ten times fast!  Even if I am not chosen, this sounds sew fun!  Never seen it in action, but I think it will be great. Whether I see the inside action or from the sideline, it is just fantastic that Beth is taking the time to help new bloggers and introduce us newbies to the world.    Win Win!

I highly recommend going over and taking a peak or signing up yourself!  She also has links to past year's alumni offering newbies advice.  If you are new to blogging or want to start a blog, all the columns were fantastic, honest, and informative :)

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS

Final Stretch

Oh, they are sew pretty all together!! After last post, I realized that with nine more blocks I would have a good sized lap quilt.  So back to the book to get these last blocks sewn up!

From the stack I am going to use 42 of the 9 inch blocks.  Now I just need to start cutting sashing!!!

Sew long for now, 

PATCH & CHELS