The Quilted Snail

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Scrap Happy - January 2025

Welcome to Scrap Happy Day where we post about the scrappy projects we've worked on over the past month.

Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL, Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol, Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa , Tierney, and Hannah

Only a couple of scrappy projects on my plate this month thanks to the work on the house and starting to move. First up were these scrappy blocks made with the leftover strips and bits from other projects, including one Christmas gift and a commissioned project.

The orange blocks were made with the leftover bits of a pillow I made for a friend. She saw them on my design wall when helping me move stuff between homes, but didn't think of anything till after she opened her gift later the same day.

Next where these little ornaments that started with some wooden craft ornaments that were made to put photos into. I pulled a few small strips of green for these trees. The pile of trimmings on the desk did go into the trash.

I then pulled some of the itty-bitty teensy scraps that I'd tossed out initially after making the centers of the orange blocks above and used them for these two sunburst ornaments.

Final scrappy project for the month is this wooden plaque that was in the Christmas craft things that the big box fabric store here in Phoenix had this past year's Christmas things. I picked it up after Christmas and decided to make scrappy trees in the same kind of way as the ornaments.

Gratitudes:

1. First phase of the work on the house is finally done and I can now live there. Now to figure out when the next phase of work can be done (3 more steps to get all the needed work done).

2. Almost everything was moved into the house before or on Jan 11th. Just a few more things to move over and a lot of cleaning to go at the house. Am so thankful for all the help I've had in getting everything moved into the house. Next up continuing to downsize so I can get the remaining work done on the house.

House Update....

The first phase of the work on the house was completed mid-December. And that allowed me to start moving into the house the weekend after Christmas thanks to a lot of help from one of my best friends. Most of the remaining items were moved this past weekend leaving some yet to move, a lot of cleaning needed (those dust bunnies got out of hand!), and some painting that needs to be finished. Next up is contacting a realtor, as well as finishing up everything so that I can get the mobile home sold and out of my hair.

Family room and dining area.

Finished kitchen

For the time being my bed is in the living room because what will be my bedroom, along with the master (were my fabric is) and the final bedroom are filled with boxes of stuff and fabric.

My "home" office and sewing area. Am thankful for the office desk my dad had picked up for my mom years ago.

My "work" office setup and ready for work on this little pine table that I picked up a couple of years ago at the second hand store just a half mile from my house.

Gratitudes:

1. For all the help from some of the young adults at church in getting so much moved on Saturday

2. For everything fitting in the house (well except for one cabinet that still needs a place to go) and for room leftover for me to be able to move around in.

Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Christmas 2025 Wrap-Up

Once again, the majority of my gifts this year were made by me. Making my gifts keeps my thoughts and prayers on the person they are for as I'm working. A blessing to me as I'm so far away from family these days.

Sunday, December 15, 2024

ScrapHappy - December 2024

Welcome to ScrapHappy day!

Everyone has been busy working on their projects. Be sure to check out what everyone else has done with their scraps this month - Kate, Gun, Eva, Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Tracy, Jan, Moira, Sandra, Chris, Alys, Claire, Jean, Dawn, Gwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, SueL, Vera, Ann, Dawn2, Carol, Preeti, Viv, Karrin, Amo, Alissa , Tierney
and Hannah

First project this month was to use up the wee bit quilted fabric that I'd had leftover from the potholders I'd made last month. I first added backing made from the leftover binding from a mini wall-hanging that I've got in progress.

Next up was trimming to 4 inches and cutting the strip into 2 pieces at 1/3 of the width. I then sewed the smaller piece on the end of one side.

Next step was to sew a button on and then zig-zagged around the edges. I then sew the side and bottoms together.

Final little gift card case looks like this. I ended up sewing a different button on, and used stretch elastic for the button loop.

Next up was making something to go on top of a 12" by 16" cutting board so that I can use it to set hot pans on when taking them out of the oven. The cutting board has feet to will keep the pans (like a cake pan) away from the new countertops which are formica.

To that end I took a piece of "created" fabric made from all the trimmings from a couple of commissioned quilts and after bordering it with more of the Grunge dots used in the potholders last month.

I then too a piece of ironing board material that I'd gotten as a remnant from Joann's and quilted the two together and bound with more of the grunge dots. Finished size is 12" by 16" and it can be used with either side up. And even managed to perfectly match dots as I sewed the binding ends together.

The final scrappy project for month was to sew the remaining bit's from the potholders together and then border them out to 9" cut to start on blocks for a scrappy quilt. Border strips were scraps from another quilt, and a remnant will be used to add more blocks as I have bits leftover from other projects. This is likely to be a long-term project so it needs to find a tote to reside in. =)

Gratitudes:

1. the vision in my left eye is getting better (went from 20/400 to 20/250 at the latest appt). Looking forward to getting the cataract removed, hopefully sooner than later, so that I can see clearly again.

2. The work on the house is almost done for this present round. I'm looking forward to being able to move in sooner than later......I hope. Had hoped for Christmas, but it's looking more like January is more realistic.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Gnome for Thanksgiving Blog hop - My Day

Welcome to my day on the Gnome for Thanksgiving blog hop.

I had fun with this challenge. Debated on what I wanted to do, but then I saw these wooden plaques at Dollar Tree and since I've been known to make a pattern from most anything, just couldn't resist getting them. I used the one on the right as inspiration for this challenge, but i'm thinking I need to make patterns from the other two plaques soon.

And I'd like to introduce 'Sven the Gnome' to you. Sven is on his way to see his girlfriend Greta and is taking a poinsettia to her.

Background fabric, backing and binding were from a remnants and scraps I had in my stash.

His body, face and hat were all out of the bag of prefused scraps (yes, it's pretty much unending....I don't toss much out).

His beard is made from 1.667 yards of fringed, cotton trim from Joann's (only 12 inches left from a 2 yd spool of it!). The trim is top-stitched on with a stretch zigzag stitch. One of the little tassels from the trim is sewn onto the tip of his cap.

The poinsettia bloom is a silk flower from my stash of flowers and is held on with a wooden button.

Finished size is about 10 by 12 inches and was made for display at work should I ever make it back there before Christmas.