{Post 1,771} New Finish, and I’m in Love!

 If you have been reading my blog for long, you know I save every little scrap. I also love quilts made from upcycled 100% cotton shirts (limited to plaids and stripes). I had a little plastic basket that I was keeping all my shirt strings in (just the colors, not neutrals). It was exploding, and I decided to make a quilt from them. As I shared progress on IG and FB, one of my friends who is a missionary in Madagascar commented on how much she loved the colors and pattern. Here’s how it was made.

I cut many 3” x 6” strips of old phone book pages. I had run out and didn’t want to buy paper for using as foundations. So I sent an email out on my church’s list and a friend gave me 10 phone books (that’ll keep me making string blocks for a l-o-n-g time!). Old books are used because the ink won’t transfer when they are ironed. I merely covered the foundations with strings of all the scraps. Some “strings” were even pieced from several fabrics!

I cut the same-sized pieces from a bolt of muslin I have here. I set it with a straight setting, not on point as it appears in the above picture. Here are some progress pictures, in reverse order chronologically.

When I got to the original size planned, I asked her how big she wanted it. She wanted it bigger than I had already pieced, so I pressed on literally and figuratively. It is 84” x 94”. I let her pick the quilting pattern, and she chose topographical meandering. I did it in cream thread. Here are a few pics from the quilting.

I cannot get any more pictures to upload. I will try this another day. I even tried restarting my iPad.

{Post 1,770} Recent Events

Why not start with a great food picture? We have been having people over fairly regularly. The majority are college students. I love sharing good recipes with them. Here are some apple dumplings I have made thrice in the past couple of weeks. Full disclosure—one batch was for a friend’s family. Very simple with everyday ingredients (except for Mountain Dew).

I try to sew a little every day. I have had customer quilt tops to machine quilt (several pictures below) as well as my own perpetual scrappy tops to sew. Here are a few pics w/o explanations. 

I love string quilts, but I don’t have many strings (I realize I could cut up my voluminous fabric stash, but that wasn’t my goal). I have made and accumulated various strings of colors that are not my usual lately. This little turquoise basket was where they lived. It was more than full when I started. So I started making a string quilt. I used 6-1/2” square cuts of phone book for my base. I had some black with green polka dots in my stash, and I have NO IDEA where they came from. I decided to use those for a center strip pans then added all non-green (with a few exceptions) to fill the foundation. Here are my first few, then as of last night.

My husband and I took a trip to the Lancaster area. Our first goal was to go to Sight and Sound theatre for a performance of David. We stayed in a B and B. The pic of the horse and buggy was taken as we got into our car in the B & B driveway. It was that close. Saw and experienced many interesting things. My husband insisted that we go to several quilt shops, and who was I to argue? There are many Mennonite and Amish people in that area. They both make most/all of their clothes. Here is one fabric stores black section. If you sew, you know that all fabrics are different in hue, hand, and weave. Whatever color black you wanted, they had it!

We stayed with these cuties for a few days at their house, then I picked them up to spend a couple days with us. Exciting times. Haircut for the big guy (he is 3, and a champion hair-grower!), many snuggle sessions and just daily life. I didn’t take many pictures. Just savored the time together and coordinated meals, naps, snacks, naps, more food—and that was just for me! Just kidding. Having toddlers in the house sure changes up my usual routine!

Finally started on this project a few days ago. First coat of our new trim paint. We have removed the carpet from our steps going downstairs, and the trim needed filling, sanding, and painting. One coat away (I hope) from being finished.

Then, last but not least, this past weekend I had this guy for a few days. He had his karate belt testing on Saturday. He was promoted from gold to orange belt. He has worked hard for this honor.

I have a busy day ahead. Finishing the quilt with the leaf motif at the top (all flannel—front and back…about half finished now), minimal cooking and cleaning, working in Good News Club at a local public school this afternooon, second coat of paint on the steps, and, sewing, of course!

Until later, Joan