Easy Bricks Quilt

I finished another quilt!  I got it back from the quilter a week ago today.  I worked on the binding in the evenings last week - I decided to hand sew the binding on the back, so it took a little longer than if I had just done it all by machine.  Anyhow, it is finished..... and washed and dried, and crinkly.  I used a layer cake of Good Fortune, by Kate Spain.

 I got brave and trudged through the snow to hang this on the clothes line.

I took this picture yesterday, in the house.......with dh holding the quilt up for me.

 I was not real pleased with how this one turned out, and decided to try outside.  

Here is the back...... nothing special here.... taken outside as well.

Not real true to color here......... it's a very deep purple with a rose print.  

I found the tutorial here.  Rather than use just the darks from 2 layer cakes, I used 1 entire layer cake, and cut the white fabric I had on hand into 5" squares.  Super easy, and I was happy with the way it turned out.

I have also been working on a vintage- inspired quilt... using some recycled fabric.

Here's some of what I have going so far......

Here's part of the apron I got at thrift store.... I did use a lot of it in these quilt blocks......

It definitely had some fun old fabrics in it.....

And while I'm on a roll here with pictures, I might as well post one more.

We were victims of a crime over the weekend...... we live in a wonderful, small town, and have owned the grocery store here for close to 20 years.  This is the first time anything like this has happened to us... and hopefully it is the last....

All this for a few cartons of cigarettes.  What is wrong with people??

A finished baby quilt

It seems like it's been awhile since I've had a finished project to show you.  I almost had this ready to post for last week's "Finish it up Friday", but it was Saturday afternoon when I finally was able to take photos of it...  This will be packed up and shipped off to my new great-nephew, Wyatt.  He was born 2 weeks ago today...They live in Washington.  I finished the quilt top quite some time ago..... like maybe about a year ago?  I just got it quilted last week.  Here's a close-up of the back...... bananas!

 And you are also seeing the light come through the front of it.

Notice the lack of snow in these pictures.  We more than made up for that last night into this morning... about 7 inches of new snow.  They are talking about the possibility of another 14 inches ? on Sunday.  I hope not.  Guess we will just have to wait and see.  

I am linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts "Finish it up Friday".  

Re-purpose, re-use, recycle, oh my.....

The quilt I'm working on now uses some very old fabric, some new fabric, and some fabric that formerly had a different purpose.

 I got this embroidered runner/dresser scarf last fall at a garage sale.  You can see the price..... $1.00.  You can also see that it had an issue........ little holes.  It looked like possible cigarette burns.  Other spots looked like maybe it had a little mildew damage.  Anyhow, I was able to salvage most of it.

I cut the embroidered sections into 6 1/2 inch squares.  I wasn't able to center the embroidered swirls perfectly, but that will only add to the interest!  :)  The fabric feels like a high quality cotton, perhaps linen blend.  I was able to use approx 80% of it.

This blue and white plaid is actually supposed to be a dishcloth.  It is 100% cotton, but not absorbent like I think a dishcloth should be.  I believe it came in a package with several towels - terry cloth, and they were fine.  There were 3 or 4 of these dishcloths, and after trying them out once, I never used them again, as they just did not work.  They too, will be used in my current project.  I cut them into 6 1/2 squares as well, and 3 1/2 inch squares, and 2 inch squares.  

I also had a half apron that I bought for 50 cents at a thrift store.  It is made up of squares of old feedsack fabric.  I promise a picture will be coming.  I have been able to get quite a few 2 inch squares out of of it.

Several months ago, I was "gifted" a big box of vintage fabric.  Some of the prints are sooo ugly.  Some are definitely not 100% cotton, or anything that you would want to use in a quilt.  But a good portion of them are neat little calicos...... they will be going into this quilt as well......

Hoping to post my progress on this later in the week!

And now.....

Going to see son #1 today, and taking a replacement of one of his Christmas presents.  The original was cracked and had a leak.  And since he has had to wait so long for it, I made something to go with it.....

A very simple mug rug....... I was pressed for time, so just used the mustache fabric I have for both back and front, quilt batting in the middle.  Sewed right sides together, left an opening, turned right side out, and top stitched around the whole thing.   

Rugs and mugs

I finished up a couple of mug rugs the other day.... they are being packed up in a box to ship to Washington, along with the mugs, for my niece and her husband.  And yes, I guess I would consider them to be late Christmas presents.  Not very timely, I know.  They were moving to Washington (from Alaska) at Christmas time, so their gifts got put on the back burner.  

 

The cute little doll quilt that I blogged about here is finally being shipped as well.  It's for their little girl.  The new baby will be born any day now, and I will be making a quilt for him or her as well, but that will get shipped later.  I can't expect these people to wait any longer for this package!  :)  

Oh, and I am so excited... Jen over at Glinda Quilts has made a "Pants Bag" for me.  You can read about it here.  I can't wait to get it.  I might just have to send her something fun in return......

Easy Valentine project

I have a little artificial Christmas-type tree that I always thought would be nice to leave up year round and change the decorations on it for the different holidays throughout the year.  I left it up all last year, without decorations, and never even plugged in the lights.  (I know, I'm a major putz!) 

So, the other night, I was shopping in WalMart, and found these:

I made a hole in the top center of each one.

Next, I found some fabric I had in reds and/or pinks:

My plan was to tear narrow strips of fabric and thread through the holes.  It actually worked better to cut narrow strips.

Then I hung them on the tree.

And guess what?  Only about half the lights are working...... doesn't that just figure?!  :)