A well-dressed sewing machine for my March challenge

So that nine-patch of circles minus one became what I originally intended:

a cover for my Juki sewing machine.

It took a little engineering, but it fits.

Here's the back where I made room for the thread stand

by removing one block, as shown in the previous post.

I used Kona Espresso for the backing and the binding, and

some off-white Kona for the background.

Thanks for the March challenge that pushed me to finish this!

Two challenges in one

I'm combining my solid and Lotta fabric challenge from August

with the March challenge of repurposing a UFO.

I cut the package of charms into circles and got this far last summer

but then stalled about what to do next.

I found the answer by unpicking one of the circle blocks.

Stay tuned for what happens next.

I'm liking where it's going, but I'm not quite ready to show you yet.

Here's What Materialized

A mini for me ...

I cut up my least favorite block & used it in the corners.

And another mini for AAQI ...

March Challenge

Today I had some time to play with four blocks made

a few years ago when I was learning how to paper piece.

I've always liked them.

Maybe a mini quilt with wide colorful borders?

Maybe a table runner with a narrow border using a competing graphic?

Maybe the start of a large quilt?

Maybe I need to play some more!

My March Mini

My mini is a bit over 12" x 12".  I decided to use an orphan block I made a year or so ago because I didn't want to lose the tiny piece of fabric with the moth. The original block goes out to the gold corners.  I don't know why I was drawn to this moth, but I think she is very lovely.  I went through the stash and found some fabric I wanted to add, including the last of the Harvest Gold.  I am such a throwback to the 60s sometimes.

Because I wanted this to be a learning experience, as well as just fun, I decided to add a flange (I think that is what it is called when there is a piece that is only attached on one side between borders.).  I learned that I need to miter the corners of the flange and the next border to get the look I want, but I decided this time to leave it the way it turned out.  My next new thing was to do some thread drawing with the machine.

The first thing I did was the little moth in the center.  I used my favorite King Tut variegated.  Then I did some meandering on the first border.

I had drawn in some little moths in the corner squares because I didn't feel confident enough to freehand them.  I think they turned out pretty cute.  The rest of the quilting is meandering.

I have hung this on my wall of minis.  It is fun to have one of my own up there. 

Woefully Behind

How do you guys sew so fast and get so much done? I'm always behind!

But I promise, I'm still in the game, and chugging along . . .

Here's the beginnings of my October challenge:I've decided to make a fairly large quilt for mine, so it might take me awhile, but since it's not a race . . . I'm making what I want to make, and enjoying the challenge and the process for what it is.

Here's my January challenge piece:
I don't have it quilted yet, and I'm toying with the notion of outlining the letters with black embroidery before I do, since they don't seem to stand out as well as I'd like from my made-fabric background. What do you think?

And I have a plan and a recipient in mind for my February challenge, but I simply haven't taken the time to start it yet.

I also have plenty of orphans to use in the March challenge, so I'll be getting busy on that one fairly soon.

I'll post more when I have more to show!

Practical and pretty

These orphan blocks were constructed LONG ago

with some very thin fabric.

I knew it wouldn't be the best to include them in a quilt...

but I did want to get them out of hiding!!!

So I made some table mats for the senior lunch I serve twice a month.

I know my friends there will enjoy these homemade centerpieces.

And I WILL too!!!

Log Cabin Orphan

How old are these fabrics? The second from the right (white fly) was in my very first quilt made back in the seventies. The others are "newer" but not by much. I made this block for my Long Island guild's raffle quilt years ago. It didn't measure up, but I just could not toss it....too many memories. I am hoping to recycle it into a Kindle carrier.