Pineapple Log Cabin Class

This morning, I took a pineapple log cabin class through the Oxford Quilt Guild with Barb V. at Fun With Barb.  She was our Zoom speaker back in November and several members of the guild admired her pineapple log cabin quilt made with 1/2" logs. Someone on the executive suggested a class and so we invited Barb to return today for a Zoom class.  I contemplated fabric options for the quilt all week and, finally, just before class this morning, decided on orange and bright green scraps with a white solid background. Soon, I had enough scraps pressed and cut into strips to at least start my project.  Barb taught us how to make these blocks without paper piecing...it's a bit tricky to get them started properly, but we were all soon on our way. 

The darkest orange centre square is a scrap from a friendship star quilt which I made for my daughter over 20 years ago.  So many memories attached to our scraps!

I had to be careful to make sure I put the green and orange scraps in the right spots...there may have been some un-sewing a couple of times during the class.

By the end of the class, I had a couple of rounds of each colour on my three blocks.  I think I will be making a table runner with my blocks.  I will figure out the size for each block as well as how many I need as I go along.  It would be nice to have this done sooner than later so I can put the runner out this Spring/Summer. I would highly recommend Barb Vedder as a speaker and workshop leader for your guild.   Thanks, Barb, for a great class!

I also made my green block for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this week.  

I now have three blocks--yellow, pink and green.  I fussy cut the little chick in the middle of the block. 

I needed 4 more yellow and gray blocks for my next Colour Block Challenge quilt. I would love to get this top put together this coming week.

These three blocks are for an Elgin Piecemakers Comfort quilt...More scraps used up!

I have been reading Emma Donoghue's "The Pull of the Stars" this week for the Library book club which meets this coming Tuesday on Zoom.  I am just about done--I like the book but if you are the least bit squeamish about medical descriptions, this might not be the book for you.  It is set during the Spanish Flu Pandemic during WW1 and gives the reader insight into some of the difficulties during that time.  

My daughter has not had as much stitching time as usual this week but she did finish off the purple cone flower. 

Love Birds is about 1/2 finished now.  I purchased more blue thread this week so I don't have to worry about running out before the picture is done. 

I have been sending a picture to the newlyweds each week so they can see my progress. 

The snowmen have been put into storage and we are now channeling Spring at our house.  We have even started working on a Spring themed puzzle this week. 

Fluffy Finn will be getting a haircut this coming week.  My daughter says he has been "fluffing" all over her apartment.  From this chair, he has a good vantage point to watch my daughter as she works at her desk. 

I will link up with the RSC folks as well as the Slow Sunday Stitching Gang. 

Sewing Escapades

It's been a busy sewing week with lots of progress on several projects.  I also received some squishy packages in the mail today. The first package contained my Modern Guild Make a Mini, Make a Friend swap quilt from Anne L in Texas.  When I signed up for the swap, I said that I liked Frank Lloyd Wright and orange...I think she nailed it!  Thanks for a wonderful mini, Anne!

I made my block for the March comfort quilt for the Elgin Piecemakers this week too.  It is a wonky quarter log cabin block in gray and white.  These blocks will make a fun quilt!

At the sewing day earlier this week, I made three modern improv blocks for the London Modern Guild project.  We will be working on putting everyone's blocks into three quilt tops at our next meeting.

I also worked on my Libs Elliott "Weight of Love" quilt. I added two more columns by sewing Y-seams...they take a little longer but all the hexagons seem to be coming together well.

I have several more blocks ready to make into the next few columns to add to this quilt.  I will work on this again next week at sewing day.

The Oxford guild is having a VP sewing day in February--everyone is going to make the same blocks in their own colours.  I decided to make a baby quilt using some of my orange, red, blue and green fabrics. Here are the fabrics I pulled out of the storage drawers...I might need a few more blues. I'm sure I have a "few" more around to choose from...

I have done most of the cutting for this quilt...I hope to finish prepping by the end of the day tomorrow.

My second squishy package contained my Fun With Barb modern star blocks from her swap!  I already have an idea about how to use these in a quilt. Lots of fun and colourful variety!!!

Of course, I am still working on my little embroidery project as well.  I added these leaves to the roof of the house today.

I am off to do some more cutting of fabric for the VP day project.  Bye for now!

Churn Dash Swap

Last year, Christine and I signed up for a swap with "Fun With Barb".  We made Broken Dishes blocks for the last swap--I have still not done anything with my blocks but Christine has her quilt top made. I am waiting for inspiration on how to put them together.  This will come in time.

This year's swap is 6 1/2" Churn Dash blocks.  I need to make 54.  My first one is shown above.

They are rather addictive!

I ran out of the green fabric and switched over to magenta.

Then, I ran out the first background fabric I had chosen, so I found another one and kept sewing...

Here is a close up of the other two background fabrics I am using.

I have started cutting some purple churn dashes but they are not sewn together yet.  I will show more pictures in a future blogpost. I have 23 completed blocks so far.  Only 31 to go!

I hope to do some more sewing tomorrow before I head off to work.  If I get up a bit earlier than usual and get moving, I can spend 30-45 minutes in the sewing room before I leave...