Another fun day and a finish!

Today was yet another fun, relaxing day for me.  Again no chores on my list - except for making dinner.  But I enjoy catching up on Mr. Quilting Bug's day while cooking so I don't really consider that a chore. 

I never made it back to quilting last night after blogging.  I was tired and my neck was bothering me so I decided to take a bath and go to bed early.  But I got up bright and early this morning feeling refreshed and ready to get back to it!

I had hoped to finish quilting Goulash (now renamed Hodgepodge) and to make all of the blocks for Michele's birthday quilt.  Well, I did manage to finish quilting, labeling and binding Hodgepodge.  Can you guess how this quilt got its name?

Hodgepodge - 60" x 64"

This was a Block of the Month offered by a local quilt shop back in 2009 (I think).  You provided one fabric for all of the blocks and they gave you the rest.  I had no idea when I started it that the fabrics would be so different.  I enjoyed making the blocks, but it also taught me that I'm not really a scrappy quilter.  I can see no instance (in the future) where I will combine hot pink, bright yellow and magenta in the same quilt.  Although it's not the prettiest quilt, I used black flannel for the border and backing and it's really soft.  I'm going to donate this to an orphanage and hopefully a child will find it comforting.

I used scraps from the blocks to make a label for the back and quilted it with an all over meander using Black Aurifil thread.

Label for Hodgepodge

As I already mentioned, my other goal for today was to finish making all of the blocks for Michele's quilt.  Perhaps if I'd forgone the afternoon nap, I might have finished them.  (But what a wonderful nap.)  In any case, I did complete all of the components and got one other block put together.  Only 7 more blocks to make plus sashing and borders!

I also took some of the left over scraps and played with them.  I made some quarter square triangles and pieced them together to make a larger block.  I think I'll use this on the back for the label.

Extra block made from leftover pieces

Earlier I brought the finished charity quilt downstairs to wash and dry.  I swear I laid it on the chair for no more than 10 seconds before I had a cat on it.  That shouldn't have surprised me in this household.

David on Hodgepodge

Until later...

“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”  

Psalm 82

What a fun productive day!

Today was one of those rare days where I had no obligations.  I didn't need to go anywhere, the laundry is done, the house is clean (relatively), the bills are paid, etc.  I didn't even work out today, but rather spent most of it in my sewing room - aka "my happy place".  And while there, I managed to get so much done...

I ironed the backing for Michele's quilt.  (I really need to think of a name for this.)  I put the blocks together and the inner border for my Winter Wonderland quilt and have already started on the Fly Stitch that goes between each block.

Winter Wonderland Quilt Center

I decided not to remake the one block yet again.  All of these same background fabrics will be in the stars in the outer border so I think it'll blend together just fine once it's done.

I also finished making all of the strip sets for Michele's quilt, sub-cut most of them and even managed to complete one large block.  As I mentioned in a previous post, the block units are made first by sewing your fabrics into a tube.

Strip pieced tube for block units

You then cut triangles out of the strip with your ruler.  You just alternate the placement of the ruler from top to bottom.

Cutting out one of the block units

Each strip set provided 5 blocks - 3 with one dominant color and 2 with the other fabric dominant.

5 units from one strip set

After I cut out all of these blocks, I arranged them to make the main block in this quilt.

One completed block in the quilt

There are a total of 9 blocks plus a scrappy border.  I have another free day tomorrow and hope to complete all of the blocks.  I also plan to finish quilting Goulash (I'm almost done) and possibly load Connections on the frame. 

In any case, I'm really enjoying myself puttering around up there and looking forward to a repeat tomorrow.  In fact, I may even try to get another few hours in tonight!

Until later...

It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.  

Ephesians 2:10 (LB)