I finally had some time in the sewing room yesterday and I started by pulling pieces out of the scrap basket ironing them and thought funny how many blue fabrics, the idea came make a little blue and white quilt I wanted it to have an airy/fresh look to it rather then totally scrappy. I found a 1/2 yard of a light background fabric started cutting up 1.5" squares. When I could I did cut 3.5" x 1.5" strips of the background and blue pieces to chain piece them.  Of course I cut extra 1.5" squares for my postage stamp project.

Decided on 4 patches as some of the pieces of blue would not give me enough for a nine patch block.     I just kept making 4 patches and sewed them together added borders and in a few hours had a new little quilt.  For you fabric lovers just look at some of the older fabrics in this little quilt! 

My quilt is 2" finished 4 patches, 18.75 x 18. 75  in case you want to make one too.
Amazing what you can make from the scrap basket and fabric in your stash.
Maybe I need to make a red and white one next :)

 sometimes its the little things during the holidays that just makes you smile....
aren't these napkins just so fun?  reminds me of the HOHOHO little quilts I made...

 making the sample ornament (see last post for book/pattern info) to see if I can really do this...no design yet I may just embroider it on with pearle cotton.  that is an option in the book too.

not as hard as I thought it would be....of course I am not changing yarns, will go back in January and learn how to do that.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and magical treasured moments .....

Enjoy your holiday season  whatever it may be  and just remember take time to relax, make those memories, just enjoy the simple things.

 Last year Lucy posted about this book and some of the ornaments she made from this book, I was in awe!  I was in a yarn store this week and in a weak moment bought the book and yarn to make some of them.  Ok my dream is to have a tree filled with knitted ornaments next year.  Maybe I am just taking this red and white theme a little too far....

 Ok just how fun are these????

 Just look at that tree, LOVE the red and white ornaments......  did I tell you I am not really an advanced knitter not even sure I can make one?  The nice ladies in the yarn store said come back in January and they will teach me!  They were so impressed I was willing to buy the book, yarn and needles (oh and the book isn't really written with clear instructions for American products! sizes!) without much experience...guess they haven't met enough quilters!  Hmmm wonder if quilters stockpile more then knitters, even quilt kits/patterns/ book that are too advanced for us but we love the pattern...

So if your not all ready for the holidays yet....this pillow says it all!!!!
Merry Christmas to all and enjoy every minute of this holiday season...

My cutting table this morning has these squares laid out ready to be made into blocks.

My squares are cut 6.5" square, the width of the ruler!  I find this size just works great for appliqué and piecing.  For the projects I have planned for 2013 I decided to cut them up into 1.5" strips

As you can see these will be made into log cabin blocks (so many of you emailed and wanted to know what I was making!) and 4 patches and squares left over will be used in my postage stamp blocks .  

In the previous picture you saw I chose 3 dark and 3 light squares, I cut them into 1.5" strips

Next I lay them out the way I will use them in the block, I cut the pieces as I am sewing the block

Sometimes they come out Perfect and sometimes my mind wanders and I am not paying attention, the size is right but the block is wonky (its ok in my book I will use that block on the left!)  Thank you Gwen Marston for changing my opinion on perfection!
did you notice the 4 patches are using these same fabrics, yup keep making those 4 patches too!
And YES I trim back those 1.5" strips a lot, for me I don't want to paper piece and have to tear off the paper , this works for me and I don't mind wasting bits of fabric to do this. and 1.5" is a size I use a lot.  Keeping in my system I don't want left over sizes of 1.25 or 1" I would rather trim and keep my strip sizes consistent.

 The 4 patches go into the bin at the end of the day and the 1.5" squares go into another bin ready to be made into postage stamp blocks...  Just staying organized helps when you make scrappy quilts or any quilts in mho. And you will be amazed at how quickly these bins fill up!

Yes there are still left over strips they go into another pile they will be used for another scrappy quilt down the road.....being organized and having strips ready to go means I can just start sewing.  For me its worth all the effort of precutting all year round...I have been using my system for at least 10 years works for me!

 This is the book that started my idea last year of working in a series of quilts along with viewing hundreds of antique quilts over the years of log cabin blocks....   The Ultimate Log Cabin Quilt Book, by Patricia Cox and Maggie McCormick Gordon. A book I can  highly recommend.  I have always wanted to do that, make a few quilts with the same theme but make them look totally different.  Thats my goal for 2013.  This book has amazing layouts in black and white just for you to really see the graphic appeal of log cabin style quilts... and then it had this antique quilt in it that just said OMG  so another red and white quilt is in my future....and just look at that setting!

Everyone needs those lint rollers in their sewing room, I used it all the time to keep cleaning off my cutting mat so those strings don't wind up on my clothes.  rip off the sheet and then clean off my clothes as I am walking out of the sewing room helps if any do get on me!
hope you enjoyed a little view of how I work and what my next scrappy quilt will be :)
I often wonder if people like posts like this?  do you????
process vs just seeing finished quilts?
thanks for stopping by

 thought this would just make you smile today!  I am ready to start another scrappy quilt, one quilt that is on the top of my list for quilts in 2013.  First I pull out my squares, I always cut squares from every fabric that comes into my sewing room. just makes it easier when you want to make a scrappy quilt!  Can't believe thats my last charm pack, wow.
I plan on working on cutting these into strips the next week or two in between all the activities.  I am hoping this keeps my sewing room neat and tidy during the holidays!

still making 4 patches as well from the strips from my friends scrap basket!

I still have quite a few bindings to sew down as well....I wonder if I can ever catch up!

 I decided I really want to cut up and use whats in my scrap basket and bags this year.  I will be making   4 patches, red and green nine patches , cutting strips for a few other projects I have in my mind and my postage stamp blocks.   I find it easier to just cut for a few projects at once.   Of course quite a few little quilts will be made too, stay tuned!

 Of course swapping fabrics with a few of my friends is always fun , great variety is always a good thing, when I pulled out the bag in this little box it grew and grew instantly!  I was so surprised just made me laugh maybe this is why that scrap basket never goes down!

see that gold fabric on top oh I am thrilled to have a piece of that again!

 so in the bag from my friend here are some of the pieces I ironed them and started cutting into my strips for my new projects  what fun quite a few fabrics I didn't have or had and used up!  did you notice them in the 4 patches above?  I will make a four patch from each of her fabrics to start with.

 Lots of strips waiting for the next big quilt to start, I will wait till Jan 1st.  hope to make the quilt in a year!  thats the goal!  So have you started thinking about your quilt goals for 2013?  

I have had mona keeping me company all year just look at her note to me....think its time to pack her away for awhile once the calendar comes down!  This bird made from an antique  quilt always makes me smile too she will stay :)
I just want to say thank you to all of you that sent me postage stamp squares, I really appreciate  it!  It was so kind of you , you all know who you are.
I have plenty now to make at least 5 more blocks.

 Here is the new fabric line I just had to buy , New Colonies....there are some wonderful fabrics in this line.  below are my favorites, that purple is wonderful and these 3 greens I just love.  A beautiful red  and well the soft yellow with the ditsy print beautiful.  The yellow floral is just so pretty I can see a quilt based around that fabric.  I have to admit the turkey reds are not as wonderful as in their previous Colonies lines in mho. I really hope they will reprint some of those turkey reds.  Lots of prints I am happy to have in my collection, ones I would not have chosen if I was buying individually but really work when your making scrappy quilts, those lime yellows in the upper right WOW will make scrappy quilts sparkle!
Yes I had to go back on line and order yardage of a few more of the fabrics its true :)  that box will go un opened till Christmas....

aren't they wonderful....my favorites  I think I need a bolt of that red :) and the yellow ditsy print one please!

I know I know your probably thinking get on with it who won the Crumbler template :)

well I had a hard time choosing....

I decided to give both of them away and I will just buy another one as I decided to order one for a friend for Christmas .

Anna from Woolie Mammoth Blog

I want anything that sounds like the name of a coffee cake but will create a beautiful quilt! thank you!

and 

Nifty Quilts blog

who inspires me every time I read her blog.  I had to smile when she wrote

I never enter giveaways, but this one is too good! Thank you.

I can't wait to see how she uses this template and the quilt she will make.

Anna and Luann send me your addresses !

I really wish I would have bought a lot more to give away I know many of you would make amazing quilts with it.

 All cut out , ready to sew together!  Isn't it wonderful to have a fabric collection that you can just whip up a quilt! I am amazed at how much fabric was and still is I have to admit in my scrap basket and bags!  Using the crumbler template made it easy and fast!

love how the template has lines so you can precut out the side blocks , in the past  I would just sew an extra block and then trim it back.  This is so much easier!!!!   I chose a grey as I thought it would go with the quilt  I was going for a masculine looking quilt , (does it look masculine to you????) its darker in person then in these pictures.  I will bind it with this grey fabric as well.

I changed my mind I will pick the winner tomorrow Thursday, I hate long giveaways :)  I always want to know if I won!  so go to yesterdays post and enter if you haven't yet...
I wish I could give away many more of them, I think this is one of those tools /rulers you won't be sorry you bought., just MHO....
tomorrow I will share new fabric I just had to buy.....

As soon as I saw this on Carries blog I had to order one, ok I  ordered 2 one for a giveaway
they arrived and well I couldn't help  to start cutting up my scrap basket....
I fell in love with the one she showed on her blog with the reproduction fabrics ;)  not surprised are you?  Of course I have made a few tumblers already but not one like this.....
AND the thing I loved about her template is the multiple uses (check out Thelma's blog post she did a great job describing all this CRUMBLER can do!) it will have and the SHAPE
its different then the tumbler shape I made my first one with.

here is the first picture I took after I cut a few tumblers :)  I just couldn't stop!

AREN'T YOU TEMPTED? 

  don't you want to make one too!

Its growing...these are so addictive, I was able to cut all these just from the scrap basket and strips I had precut already that were the perfect size!  now I need to move some around and then go into the fabric collection pull out some of my favorite fabrics and colors I need to add to it, needs more browns!  a few favorite turkey reds, cheddars and purples...

 I am giving away one Crumble template and patterns are included to one of my readers I will pick a winner Friday the 14th.
Good Luck!
GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED!  SEE THE WINNERS HERE...

 does this fabric look familiar to you???    I think this is my last treasured piece of it.  If you happen to have any of it in your fabric collection and would be willing be part with a piece of it I would be forever grateful and happy to send you fabric in return or pay for it even......

on the cutting table this am....I will be making lots of red and green nine patches over the next year for a quilt for next Christmas....

 I love this fabric line its Metropolitan Faire by Barbara Brackman for Moda.  When I saw that kit for sale I just had to buy it using this fabric line.  Speck by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company.

My progress on my red and white blocks... I will take a break the next few days from this project as I have a few gifts to whip up!
Can't wait to finish this top though my goal was by Thursday this week, lets see if I can still pull that off.    Sleep is overrated, right?   I really wanted to be hand quilting this one over the holidays....
I think I may have be more realistic and say quilting it in January.

Whats on the cutting table this am ready for me to sew together!  When will I ever get tired of sewing with red and white?  Not sure I ever will!  I was so inspired after I saw Lori's quilt finished (see her new header picture!)  I knew I had to make one too, lucky for me a quilt like this as on my list to make someday.  I emailed Lori and thanked her for the inspiration!  Just hope mines turns out as beautiful as hers.

A few blocks done...not sure I will actually make a triple irish chain or just have alternate blocks of just the plain fabric.  I will hand quilt this one and thinking of a great motif for the blank blocks :)
stay tuned!

 I bought this book used recently Quilts and other Bed Coverings in the Canadian Tradition
Ruth McKendry 1979, many wonderful antique quilts in the book , just be warned at least 1/2 are in black and white.

 I loved this wheel quilt  sort of reminds me of the one by Susan McCord  I have been intrigued with circle quilts lately , here is another one.

Its a book worth having in your library if your always looking for inspiration.  I have a few quilts in here I know I am inspired by for my 2013 list of quilts to make!

Have a great weekend, take time for yourself.... take a few stitches and relax.

I learned a lesson with this quilt do not stay away from big bold prints!  It was really fun to make this quilt the past few weeks.   I love how graphic the quilt is and mattering how you look at it you see pinwheels or a geometric design . Isn't that fun????    This quilt did not start out as this...

The original plan was to be a stripy quilt I tried the green to use in between the strips of the big bold print.  no I didn't like that ....

 Then I thought ok lets just cut up the red print and alternate it with the pinwheels and make it a 3 border quilt .  That has been on my list for a long time to make.

 No didn't work something was missing , it needed the forth border....   oh and did you notice the second round of the red print , go ahead look closely....  I used the fabric to make another inner border , when I cut the squares for the alternate block sometimes the leaves would just be so bold, I decided to take advantage of those pieces and make another "frame".    A surprise when you really look at the quilt, I love finding surprises in quilts!  don't you????

AS I always say its all about the fabrics!  Lesson learned do not stay away from big bold prints, they can be tamed :)
I talked about this fabric here on this post... I knew this fabric had possibilities !

As you must know by now I love tumbler quilts well look who has a new tumbler template for sale!  OMG of course I had to order one this morning , well I ordered two, stay tuned I will be having a giveaway for one very soon..
I am suppose to be having blinders on when reading blogs but just look at that reproduction tumbler I need to make that!

and then I just read Linda's blog and look at that quilt she made from a kit, AMAZING!
and a few other quilts there I really like.....

Have you seen Tim's blog lately, he has a free downloadable snowflake pattern, don't you remember making these as a kid?  NOTHING Like his was ever made by me!  AMAZING  you have to go look
and while you are at it go look at the tablecloth he quilted and made into a quilted tablecloth, really a quilt now!  His hand quilting is just incredible....I am in awe every time he shares what he is working on.  I love that he buys antique quilt tops on ebay and quilts them into masterpieces...
hand quilting can make even the simplest quilt an heirloom he has proven this over and over again.

THANK YOU for all your kind words about my postage stamp quilt blocks
yes the squares are one inch finished, each block is 10 x 10" finished, 100 pieces of different fabrics are laid out on my sewing table and then I sew it together.  I am repeating fabrics but not in a block.
can you imagine having 10,000 different reproduction fabrics to be able to make it a charm quilt, wow! I can only wish.  I am fine with it not being a charm quilt.