What I've been working on

Now is one of those times when I have a project in just about every stage of production. Except the finished stage. But when I've been sewing these past couple weeks, it's been only to enjoy the process. I sew when I have time. Other times I read a book, or obsessively watch through the first four and a half seasons of Breaking Bad with my husband. No sewing for deadlines. (Although there are a couple deadline-related things that I really need to start on- ahem, Film Petit!)

Here is a peek at my current do good stitches bee quilt, as I was basting it yesterday. I went lazy and sprayed. I feel like I should have strong feelings one way or the other on the whole pin vs. spray debate, but I don't. I just do whichever I feel like. Excited about finishing this all-geese quilt though. Aren't the colors great? I'm usually not prone to use so much white background in a quilt, but sometimes that's just the best choice for this bee. And I hope all the white will be striking in the finished quilt.

I occasionally get the chance to plug away slowly at my oldest WIP, the Swoon. I started it at the beginning of last year. This is block #5, although probably only counts as 4 because I have one I really don't like. We'll see if I change my mind about it when all the blocks are done. I first blogged about this project here. 

Since I was feeling good about finishing a couple tops up, I cut a new one! This will be simple patchwork squares for a picnic blanket. I've had this particular fabric stack pulled and waiting for at least a year. Glad I still like it as much now as I did back then. 

These were last month's do good stitches blocks. I should really try to show you these more often, but I am always so rushed in making them that I never get pictures. This was a really fun tutorial to follow.

 And!!!! I finished my ginormous scrappy trip along top!! (First blogged here.) I basically pulled every single blue FQ off my shelf and started cutting and stitching. That was back in January. I stalled out for a while in February, but then got a new fire under my tush to finish all 56 blocks. I'm going to use a long arm quilter to finish for me for the first time ever, so I'm excited about that.

This is me showing it at our Cincinnati Modern Quilt Guild meeting last night, with Christine's help on the right. I recently became the president of our guild, and I am so thankful to have this group of creative friends. We have too much fun. Tonight, we are having a Modern Meet-Up event in downtown Cincinnati as Nicholson's Pub. If you are in the area, I'd love to meet you! More info on that here. 

Scrappy Trip Confession

Yes, I'm doing this too. I almost feel guilty and weak about it, because at first I swore I wouldn't succumb to the craze.  Then one day, without putting in much thought, I just grabbed my entire stash of blue fat quarters and began cutting them up in order to join in the #scrappytripalong that started spontaneously on instagram. 

It's fast and fun and satisfying each and every time a block is finished. It's based on this great tutorial. However, it's not so fast if you decide to make 56 of them for a queen sized quilt.

I'm now halfway there, with 28 blocks done. The top picture is my first 16, but after that my Lizzy House Pearl Bracelets arrived and all the blue ones were immediately cut up, along with some blues from her Constellations line, which I got at Sewn Studio. I'm loving the blocks even more with all those mixed in now.

I'm hoping I get to make more progress next week, after I finish the new baby quilt I shared with you last week. Sometimes it's just fun to join in, no pressure, no prizes or deadlines. Lots of people are finishing up their quilts now- check out the Flickr group for lots more inspiration. Or search the #scrappytripalong tag on IG. (I'm alittlegressica)




I also wanted to let you know that if you're a newer quilter in the Cincinnati area, I'm teaching a class on this block on Saturday February 9th at Sewn Studio. Check out their site and call the shop for more info.

Something Sweet and New

One thing I want to do on the blog this year is show more of the process. Take things slower, make the time to show the unfinished and the small decisions along the way. I always like reading those kinds of posts when other people do them, but I guess I never think to take the time unless I have something shiny and finished to show. But the truth is, unfinished is much more true to my life and has much greater potential. 

So this what I've started this week. A new quilt for a very old friend who is having her first baby. I started with sweet pinks and aquas and golds, then added a couple black/white and gray prints for an unexpected edge. I used almost entirely scraps, but also cut into a couple of fq's from my new bundle of Lizzy House's Pearl Bracelets. They just make everything better. Everything.

I've been wanting to do a more traditional dresden design ever since making my Old World quilt a couple months ago. And it seems perfect for the vintage feel I want here. They are really fun to put together and relatively fast once you get all the blades cut. (You were right about that Maureen!)

The quilt will be about 45" square and have four large dresdens. I have 2 done and 2 more sitting in these very appealing stacks. They are screaming at me to finish them. Tomorrow I'll take one of the finished ones into work and pick out a background, a backing and binding. As one would expect, it's very convenient to work in a fabric shop for many reasons.

We have a couple new low-volume prints in that might be just the thing for the background. The colors would have to be just so to work with these, so we'll see if I end up defaulting to white. Maybe a very pale pink if I go the solid route? More of that floral Liberty print might be really nice for binding. Can't wait to show you the finished product!

The December Sewing Tantrum

It is an inevitable phenomenon. If you count yourself among those who avoid the stress of Christmas shopping by... um, spending much more time and maybe even money on making gifts for your loved ones, (you know, so much less stressful) then you probably know the tantrum I'm referring too.

I didn't realize this was an actual shared creative experience among all of us until I saw Megan's picture on Flickr the other night. The caption explains it all:
"So many different Christmas projects I should be working on by instead I cut out a new bag for myself."


C'mon, amirite? You could go all year without making one blasted thing that is actually for yourself, but when December 4th rolls around and your Christmas to-make list is like 32.5 items long, you HAVE to start a new project that has nothing to do with any of it. AMIRITE? Ok, maybe Megan and I are the only two crazy ones and the rest of you have learned to take your meds and get the ADD under control. You are probably chugging thru your list like the responsible handmade lovers that you are. Me, here's my official December sewing tantrum-

I cannot for the life of me stop making these Japanese + & x blocks. Why? Oh you know, just for a scrap-busting quilt that will be a very slow-going and I might finish in 6 months to a year. It's completely unreasonable, but I'm addicted. I even have 3 more than this done now. 

My fave so far is definitely this bottom left one with all the Tula Pink. I'm not even sure what led me astray to starting this project... but it's really fun. I've been thinking of a quilt to make using just scraps for a while now in the back of my mind. At first I thought this design was just a little too scrappy for my tasted, but I'm over that. It looks kind of like my scrap draw threw itself up into this pattern and I love it that way. Almost eye-searingly scrappy, but I don't care. I think it's so addicting because of the freedom. Each block has 7 fabrics, and so you plan each one independently. No forethought as to how the whole quilt will work together, it just works out in the end because it's so mismatched that it matches. Also, with each block I'm nostalgically thinking back on what that fabric became in a former life in my sewing room, which is also really fun. 

I'm stopping these right now. No more of these blocks this month! Maybe... So what's your DST of choice this year? (Yeah, that's right, I'm already giving it initial status. Consider phrase coined, you are free to use it freely for free.)