Messy House - Happy Quilter 2021/2

Some people are so clever. I found this little bag many years ago in a market and over the course of a couple of months I was able to pick up quite a few of these. This one is going on my wall in my sewing room. Others I have gifted and others I use to 'put scraps in'. Speaking of clever people, I love looking at 'Insta' photos and others blogs - see 'link up party' below. I get so much inspiration and news of new mystery quilts, sewalongs, blogs, etc.  As I said some people are so clever!

My sewing room is slowly filling up, and Peter's 'cinema' room (the other 'half' of the room) is gradually losing space.

I've been doing a lot of string piecing as my leaders and enders lately. When I straighten edges of fabric for rotary cutting I usually cut it wide enough to make a strip for sewing and place it in plastic containers that I have sorted into colours. When I get enough variety of shades in one container I pull it out and start a string block. I'm working on 4.5" blocks at the moment. I think they look nice on my sewing table too.

The last two weeks I have finished Grassy Creek Mystery quilt top. I decided to go with light and dark grey for the borders rather than to piece them.

Also in the last two weeks I did the binding on my 2019 Moda Blockheads quilt.

I used 'Just get it done' idea of a cardboard template to make the corners. The template is 45 degrees with 1/4" marked to know where to stitch up to and where to start. I've never been able to make these corners so neat. So glad she shared that idea - you see, clever people. She also has a great YouTube channel.

That left the binding hand sewing. I like  to hand sew the second side as I think it makes it look neater.

...And here it is. My ROOSTER quilt finished and on the bed temporarily for this photo. Way too hot in our summer for the quilt, but come footie season in will be on one of our beds, maybe in the caravan as we will be able to travel interstate during the footie season.

Last night my cousin arrived with some quilting goodies from his Mum, my Auntie. In with these beautiful surprises was an applique quilt ready to applique and sew the blocks together. Well, I had to start last night didn't I. It is a Sue Daley pattern 'In My Garden'. I'm not so much into applique but I really enjoyed stitching last night and chatting with my cousin, until midnight. You might remember I am also hand piecing (EPP) Sue Daley's Paper Lanterns for our newest grandchild, 5 months old, on the other side of the world - and we have yet to meet her.

Link up Parties:

Whoopwhoop Friday

Wednesday-Wait-Loss

Off the Wall Friday 

Finished (or Not) Friday 

A Pageant of Finishes Peacock Party 

Welcome to 2021!

I don't make New Year Resolutions - I don't think I ever have. If I have a goal, or a wish, or a change, I don't wait until New Year to make it known, I just do it! I always have quilt tops to make into quilts, and I always have projects to finish and projects to start. Then, there are so many talented quilters out there who share their ideas and projects that I will never be left with nothing to do. 

So, what am I doing this January? No travel, no Parkes Elvis Festival, no Tamworth Country Music Festival. We might try to get away for a few weeks in our our big state before our big trip to Western Australia later in the year, but in the mean time I have a list - I always have a list - and in no particular order on my list I have three sewing projects to start, three tops to finish, and three projects to complete.

• Start 2021 Focus Cutting Sew Along - hand sewing
  
• Start selvedge chair cover
  
• Start - still waiting for inspiration 😉
  
• Finish Grassy Creek Mystery quilt top.
• Finish Paper Lanterns baby quilt top for new Granddaughter Briar - that we have not yet been able to cuddle, maybe this year. - hand sewing
  
• Finish Selvedge bookshelf wall hanging
  
• Complete Grassy Creek quilt. 
• Complete 2020 fussy-cutting sew along table topper. - hand sewing.
  
• Complete Briar's quilt before she arrives in Australia (could be a while). - hand sewing.
  

So what have I been doing? Grassy Creek Mystery. January is always finishing Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville Mystery. Part 4.

Part 5

Part 6 was fun as I like making string blocks.

...and here is the beginning of the layout. I will be changing some blocks here, I just wanted to see how it was going to turn out.

Last month...... was the finish of the 2020 fussy cutting / focus cutting sew along. See top photo. The theme for December was Christmas / Winter. Block 49 was motif.

Block 50, my favourite - NOT - pattern matching.

 

Block 51 was sections. I love sections. I never know what I will  end up with

Block 52, and the last block was free choice, so I made a Christmas tree motif.

 

The shape for 2021 is half hexie. I'm not sure what I will make with them, maybe just coasters. Can't have enough coasters, right?

Link up Parties:

Whoopwhoop Friday

Wednesday-Wait-Loss

Offthe Wall Friday 

Finished(or Not) Friday 

A Pageant of Finishes Peacock Party