February-March Challenge @ 5 weeks

This is my client’s wall above the fireplace. The two smaller ones were from last week. 

 It's hard to believe that I have finished all but 2 items on my original challenge list. And those are dependent upon someone else sending out specific information. I’ve gotten the info on one yesterday and it will take me a few days to collect what I need for it. The second one will come mid-month. That gives me some room to try out a few other ideas that have been cogitating in the brain pan. LOL

On Tuesday Barb and I worked on creating Mariners Compass blocks.  I’m pleased to report that they lay flat! We haven’t made our centers but the grey of my design wall works for now.

Another quilt top in progress from the Leftovers Pantry. 

These are 4 of the paint pours I did this week. 

I love yellow. 

This one is another 8” square. I like it the most from this week’s time in the pouring studio. 

This one is a 12” square. All of the others were 8” squares. 

The panda fabric panel should arrive this week. It’s for a specially requested quilt for one of my granddaughters. She loves Anime, Pandas, anything Japanese, and her favorite color (today) is red. I’ll be searching thru my fabrics to make something for her to stay warm with. 

71 years of being Blessed by God. 

Thanks for stopping by

Luann

Linking up with https://lyndaheines.blog/?s=Feb%2FMarch+

Feb/March Challenge Update 4

Spring comes to South Carolina.

15 bags of fabric stash pieces were delivered to me this week. Everything has been sorted and all but 3 bags have been picked up or delivered for use by others. The remaining bags will be going to Outreach program with the guild.

These are the 4 pair of leggings I wanted to get done this month.

This quilt finished at 68x84. A nice size for a gift.

Here are my latest 3 quilt tops, waiting for finishing.

This is an 8” Mariners Compass block. No paper piecing or y-seams! All done with strips of fabric and a couple of specialty rulers. My next one will be an 18” block, using the same process. However, it will have skinny points.. 

While I was working on the larger quilt I chose a jellyroll of precuts. These are supposed to be 2&1/2” wide! After using a Creative Grids ruler to trim them correctly I couldn’t help but put the two edges back to back to see just how 'off' they were! And sometimes we wonder WHY something we’ve sewn together doesn’t measure correctly?! Pinked edges are the worst, second irritation is when a fat quarter is cut so far off grain that you’re lucky to get a 17x20 out of what should be 18x21. Oh the joys of precuts! LOL

Saturday I did some paint pouring. 2 are for a client, and 2 were experiments. 

I really like how this experiment turned out. It’s much better than my first two. 

Sunsets are so amazing at this time of year. 

After looking over my intentions for this challenge, I’m right on target for completing my first list. Later today, 2/28/21, I will write up those specific to March and include them on my next post. 

Linking up with Lynda over on her blog  

https://lyndaheines.blog/2021/02/22/feb-march-challenge-week-4/

Have a wonderful day 

Luann 

February Update #3

Sweet puppy for the grandkids. 

Five quilts were longarmed for the Outreach Project, and off  to the coordinator on Sunday. 

Finished this quilt that I started in January. 

While I worked on my next quilt, I caught the low bobbin BEFORE  the next 16” seam. 

Here's the quilt using those 16” blocks. Just need to trim and bind it..

These paint pouring are in their forever home. My client is very happy with them. And I’m blessed to have been requested to create 2 more to finish out the large grouping. The next 2 will be 8” squares and fit nicely into the center side areas. 

That’s what I’ve been doing this week. See you next Monday. Linking up with Lynda https://lyndaheines.blog/

Until then,

Sunset in Summerville 

Let’s Create Today,

Luann 

Feb Challenge Update #2

Basket of selvedges cut from scraps that were piled high. 

As I start the third week of this challenge I’ve got a lot to report. 

First of all, the accountability of having Lynda to connect with has been a real game changer for me.  (https://lyndaheines.blog/2021/02/15/feb-march-challenge-week-3/).

I’ve also been watching a series of YouTube videos by The Gourmet Quilter. She has a 20 day 'unit' on creating a Leftovers Pantry from scraps.  She also has a pattern packet with information of how to utilize it. https://www.gourmetquilter.com/collections/2020-programs/products/20-ideas-rom-the-leftovers-pantry-2020-tasty-treats

Each width has its designated bin. These are for the quilting  cottons. 

These two piles of strings will go to a guild member
to be used for stuffing pet beds.
The top group measured 18”x24”x3” deep!
Then I started on the second pile. 

Top picture is the set up as I’m working with hand-dyed scraps.
I have fewer of them and they will be bin-sharing.
Bottom image shows how the quilting cottons looked when I first started. 
They're pretty full now!

Here's a peek inside my fabric closet. 
Empty shelves are waiting for the pantry bins to be returned.
There’s no end to 'finding more scraps' lol.  

What do these two pictures have in common? 
First one was items taken to thrift store, second was my reward for taking them. 
I removed from my house 4 loads of excess items this past week. 
Everything from batting scraps to layer cakes of fabric to bubble wrap and wedding gown fabrics. 
Someone referred to this as Swedish Death cleaning, I call it 
Clearing, Cleaning, and Calming!

One of my grands is creating also. 
Way to go Miss Hannah!

This image is my Mid-month Mini for the Mission Inspiration group. 
Our theme for this was HANDS. 
I drew  on a previously painted background.
Next I filled in the nails, knuckles, and wrinkles. lol 
The quote is actually the title of a very old poem  

Well, I may not have gotten much crossed of my 'basic' list, but I’m very pleased with how my sewing room is starting to get calmer and more inviting. 

Until next time,

Let’s Create Today in whatever way resonates with you

Luann 

February Challenge - Update #1

My camellia is in bloom. 

Another basket full of stuff ready to go out the door. 

I needed a container for my MCT Oil that would be easy to use. A former olive oil bottle, a piece of  'scrap' fabric, 2 coats of Mod Podge, and I now have something functional and fun to see sitting out. 

This was after several steps with my mixed media project for Mission Inspiration. 

And where they are now makes me very pleased. I’m not as creative in this area as I would like to be, but I’m learning to let things happen. And I do enjoy playing inside the book I made with watercolor paper, scrapbook papers, fabric, and a lot of glue. LOL

My pages so far:

Robin Ruth Designs newsletter came this morning. One of the comments she made was,

Sometimes you just have to make do and figure out a way to move forward!

Linking up with Lynda Heines,  https://lyndaheines.blog/2021/01/24/join-us-for-feb-march-challenge/

also linking up with Nina at,  http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/2021/02/how-to-title-quilt-on-off-wall-friday.html

February and March Creative Challenge

 

I’m linking up with Lynda. There’s no set rules, just to encourage one another to be creative. All the info is at:  Lynda Heines   

I'd love to have you join us,,,

My first projects will likely come from one of these piles of left-over blocks and pieces. I always say I'll stop saving scraps, but I never listen to myself when I’m saying that, lol. 

I have invested several hours into clearing and cleaning throughout the house. We took 7 paper grocery bags and a few miscellaneous items to our local Habitat For Humanity shop. 

Yesterday I took another batch of batting and scraps to a fellow quilter. Today I have almost maxed the 13 gallon trash bag that I fill with SCRAPS that are used by another friend for animal shelters. I’m very thankful for these friends. I do a fair amount of longarm quilting for various charities, so it’s nice to let others do the projects that they enjoy. 

I longarmed one charity quilt during January for QOV. I have 5 more quilts for our my Guild's Outreach Program. Those will undoubtedly get done soon. 

I cut out 3 pair of leggings earlier today. I've made one pair a while ago. I like how comfy the stretch jersey is so 3 more are destined to be finished this month. 

Here's my list so far:

• 3pair of leggings
• 5 quilts to longarm for Outreach Program
• At least 3 quilt tops from all those leftover bits and pieces
• I will be doing 2 mixed media projects each month for another group I’m in
• AND I’m sure I’ll do some paint pouring just because I find it so relaxing 

Looking forward to seeing what you are working on during this winter months,

Stay safe. 

Luann

What have I been doing lately?

 Well, as one might expect from me, I’ve been up to a variety of activities. Everything from pouring paint on canvases for a commission I received to deep cleaning my closet. Variety like all the spices on the shelf at the grocery store. Each has its own purpose and putting too many into the pot at one time can spell disaster. 

I’m hoping to be able to insert pictures where I want them in this post. You have probably been discouraged with the lack of descriptions with the pictures lately. But please be patient with me as I plan to remedy that over the next few months while I revisit each of those posts to update them. 

For now, I wanted to let you in on a little adventure I’m going to be undertaking starting on February 1st. Hopefully some of you will want to come along.  Lynda Heines is going to do a 'creative challenge' on her blog.  https://lyndaheines.blog/2021/01/24/join-us-for-feb-march-challenge/  She’ll be having a 'link-up' weekly where we can post our progress. I like that she’s not making this a highly structured challenge, just an encouraging way to connect for a couple of months. Maybe we'll continue longer, it’s up to us as individuals. I know some folks are very good at getting into their 'creative area' on a daily basis. In the past I’ve been one of that group. But 2020 just messed with my Creative Spirit and I found myself decluttering and cleaning more often than creating. I agree that 'creating' a cleaned up environment is healthy, it’s just not the method that satisfies my spirit. So, when Lynda and I got to chatting, via email, I knew that this will be a catalyst for that part of me that wants to be creative. I’ll be very open about this, I want an audience once in awhile, or more often if I can have one! Over the past year it wasn’t easy to share my creative adventure with very many people. I’m ok with people saying, ‘what were you thinking when you made that?'  Most of the time I have to say, 'well, to be honest, I didn’t know I was supposed to think before or as I was doing it', and we all have a good laugh.

 So, without further ado I’m going to try to add the progress pictures of something that is, in my opinion, a complete disaster. But, I’m not going to toss it just yet, because I have a couple of neighbors that think it’s cool!!! Go figure on that:

Steps 1,2,4 &5

This is steps 3 & 5

As you can see I went from a very nice faux wooden-board painting to a crazy mess of,,,,

Do check out Lynda's blogpost and join along if it works for you. I’m hoping this will get me back into the groove of weekly posting. I published my blog book for 2020 and I clicked something I shouldn’t have. All of the pictures from each post went to the end and all of the writing merged. I’m not sure if I will print another one at this time, or wait and have the next one be for 2020 & 2021. 

Let’s Create Today something that will bring us joy.