Spur of the Moment Unmatching Placemats

I had kind of had it in my mind to make mug rugs ever since I saw some with piano keys (sorry, I can't remember which blog I saw them on).   The husband of our friends who are coming to visit  plays a keyboard, probably as interested in his music as we are in our quilting.   It was obviously challenging for me to get the black keys even.  I ended up with placemats, they are about 14 x 20 inches.  Kind of big for mug rugs and I decided for time sake to use orphan blocks, can you tell. 

The backs however, are all matching.  Just a solid fabric, but I think I would call them reversible.  Pretty fast not that good job.  I decided yesterday afternoon to make them, and finished about 20 minutes ago.  It's about 4:40am now.  I did take a few hour rest in the middle.  
Kim of Kim's Big Quilting Adventure is doing Scrap Basket Sunday, so if you'd like to see some scrappy projects go here .
She also asks what constitutes a scrap to us.  In this case, it was leftover orphan blocks and bits and pieces.  Also, leftover bindings, but I must confess that I went to yardage this time for the backs as time was an issue.   

A New Tablecloth

Yesterday, when I should have been doing other things, I got the urge to sew and I thought what can I do.  I've been wanting a quilt for my dining room table, but haven't made one, and then I thought, I wonder if I could make one from one of the manly quilt tops that I have already made.  I figured it out, and I just had to add 5 inches to each end on the top (see the light color at the top) and a few inches to one end of the back.  I did that, and got to basting.  Today, I quilted it, my usual meander, and put on the scrappy binding.   Voilà, my tablecloth (table quilt?).  I'm going to wash and dry it and then I'll take a picture on the table.  It isn't the fabrics of my dreams for my table, but it's ok, it'll be quite good in a month or so, and it is a good pattern for a tablecloth, hardly any lumps, and it's almost like a table runner down the center.   My house isn't any cleaner though, and I'm not any more organized.   Now, I'll get to doing those other things I should have been doing.  I know it's probably a little tacky, but I'm also going to go to Walmart and see if I can find a clear vinyl tablecloth protector.   It'll save on the washing.

Oh well, it's not washed yet, but I wanted to see it on the table.  Sorry, terrible lighting and dreary outside.

Hiddenwells Finished

Not exactly what I pictured, but it's finished.

A bit of a closeup. 

The label.  It's from my brothers family for a very sweet 82 year old lady.

And of course, the back. 

Progress and a Break

Progress has been made on my hiddenwells, but I'm not too thrilled with it.  I think that I'm going to cut off about half of the red border and call it finished.  It's for my brother to give a friend, and that is his vote, too.

Meanwhile, I kind of took a break and made a purse (tote).  It started out to be for a gift and then I realized that it matches the ipad case that I made and I decided that I'm keeping it for myself.  There are large patch pockets on the front and the back and....

Lots of pockets inside, too.  I have to have my pockets.  I have discovered that I like to have a big about 8 1/2 or 9 inch square pocket on the inside, it's great for doctor referrals, lab referrels, etc.  Also, I have a big strip of velcro on the top.  I was going to do a zipper, but didn't have one, and I did have velcro.   Now it's back to working on the hiddenwells, I still need to do the back and then baste and quilt it.  Next step is the label. 

Large Hiddenwells

This is the first 2 blocks of 24 lain out for my brother's friends quilt.  It's kind of busy, but hopefully will turn out well and be pretty. 
Our friends are coming the end of this month, so my BOM's will probably have to be doubled up next month, but my brother's quilts are a priority.  I'm hoping to get this one done.  The other is a baby quilt kit from Connecting Threads, and I have to get it ordered.  I haven't done any kits before, but I have confidence that Connecting Threads will supply enough fabric.  

Green RSC Kaleidoscoope, Etc.

04/12/2013

Since I finished 2 table runners and a table topper, I linked up with crazy mom quilts Finish it up Friday here. 

My six inch nine patches.

They look the same in the picture, but these are four and a half inch nine patches.

Sixteen patches.

I can't seem to stop Picasa from assigning weird dates.  I actually finished this table runner 040913.  Green scraps in the side on the left, so I figure it's part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

This was actually finished 040713?  Again one side has green scraps.  They are not really out of shape, it's my photography.

And I almost forgot this green finished 0410.  My Rainbow Scrappy Tripalong, or Bargello?  I'm kind of liking this Tripalong though.

And here, last but not least, my snowballs and nine patches.  Sorry, this whole post is out of chronological order.  I kept adding things to get everything in one post. 

04/11/2013

I tried not pressing my block until the end, but my center isn't too good on this one.  I pressed my bonus block as I went, and the center is better.

My crazy bonus block.


I don't know about my expected company, when they will come, so I'm trying to finish everything as my focus will change to cleaning and cooking when I know they're coming.  I just have one more RSC project and I'll be doing it asap (it's done, my snowball and nine patches).  I also have quilts my brother has asked me to do for him as gifts for friends that are a priority. 
If you'd like to see lots more green, it won't fatten your wallet, but you can visit Angela at Soscrappy here .

And my last hurrah for April RSC.  Top Row: Scrappy Trip Along, Table Runner, 4 1/2 inch 9 patches.  Second Row: Rainbow Jelly Roll Race, Snowballs and 9 patches.  Bottom Row: Table Runner, Kitty Table Topper, Kaleidoscope blocks, 6 Inch 9 Patches and 16 Patches.

 

April RSC Green

Enough Table Toppers?

See why I had to make one more.  The pie safe on the right was looking very bare and the three table toppers on the left were looking kind of top heavy. 

The Dresden plate side on the drop leaf table my brother made for us for Christmas a few years ago. 

The flash kind of washed this one out, but it really looks better in person.

The one that started it all. 

The kitties aren't showing up too well, but I knew that with my cluttery style of decorating, it was bound to happen.  

And the one more.   They all have red white and blue on the other sides, so probably the end of may I'll flip them all over.  These should do me for a little while, I do plan to make more (hey, I have dressers and night stands) but first I need to catch up with my BOM's and quilt-a-longs.  
After that, I need to get my brothers request quilts done. 

 

My Living Room Needed One More

I put out some of my new table toppers and the room was kind of lopsided, so I decided I needed one more.

Yay, more green scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  My brother asked me a couple of days ago if I'd make a baby quilt for a friend, so I agreed to do that and to do a lap quilt for another friend.  They will be simple, but hopefully will be well liked.  I'm anxious to get started.

Last One, At Least for Now

My coffee table runner is finished.  Tomorrow, I'm hoping to get my living room cleaned up and put all my table toppers and table runner to use.  About 20 by 48 inches. 
PS  I was just thinking that this would make a nice door banner for the Fourth of July.  Maybe, next year.

The reverse.  Spring Wonky Strippie.  I was going to make a green and a purple.  Then I thought why not combine them and use the green part for RSC.  I really wanted the blue binding for the flag, so I decided why not green, purple and blue.  It's still springy, at least I hope so.

My finishes of the past few days.  Not bad, plus I used up a bunch of scraps of fabric and batting. 

Table Runner - What a Surprise

This is one side of the table runner I'm making for my coffee table.  I think with the other red, white and blues that I've made this year that The Fourth of July will be well represented.

I'm not sure if pictures like this should be tall or wide. 

Collage of a group of collages, the table toppers that I have made this year.  You'd think I'd had enough, but I still have a few spots, and then there are always holidays.