This time last Saturday we were in the midst of Nemo, the severe nor'easter that dropped a ton of snow and generated hurricane force gusts of wind up the eastern seaboard of the Unites States and Canada.
A very fine snow fell for almost 48 hours, accompanied by howling winds that created blizzard-like conditions and high drifts of snow. The lights flickered a few times but thankfully we didn't lose power. A few days later we were greeted with spring-like temperatures and virtually all the snow that had fallen has disappeared again. What a strange winter this has been!
Being housebound has it's advantages!
I added a few extra touches to my BOM which will be introduced on the 1st of April and I was also able to design and complete March's First Friday Freebie which will be available here on Friday, March 1st. Remember to mark your calendars!
I also completed Kathy's Civil War small quilt challenge for the month of February.
These small quilts are so much fun to do and work up very quickly. They also satisfy my desire whenever I want to do some hand quilting.
Kathy is also having a giveaway on her blog so if you'd like to enter, just click on the link above for a chance to win a charm pack of Renee Nanneman's Chateau Chambray line of fabrics by Andover.
Kathy has also designed a small quilt using these fabrics which you can download for free by scrolling down to her Monday, February 13th post.
Update: With Kathy's permission, I have just added a photo of her quilt here.
And while being stuck indoors...poor me, *wink, wink*... I also managed to finish the second step of Darlene's mystery quilt. The instructions are posted on her blog and at one step a month, there's still lots of time to catch up and join in.
Because I like anything scrappy, in addition to yardage, I have also accumulated quite a collection of fat quarters.
If I use about a third of a fat quarter, I don't like to return it to my fat quarter stash because then I'm fooled into thinking that there's a full fat quarter of that particular fabric available the next time I'm looking to pull fabrics for a project.
My dilemma was what to do with these odd sizes of leftover fabrics? They were too large to put into my scrap bin and too small to be returned to my fat quarter bins. So I got a brain wave and came up with this idea.
I went to our local Dollar store and bought a bunch of these small containers to store my odd cuts of fabric which I've sorted by color. They don't take up a lot of room and the contents are easily visible because the bins are transparent.
What do you do with the left over fabric once you cut into a fat quarter?
I'm thrilled to report that Frankie is 100% back to his normal self and when he isn't sunning himself in the upstairs bathroom...
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| Ahhhhh...just catching some rays. |
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| Zzzzzzzzz. |
38 comments:
Wow, you have had a very productive week. :-) Storing those not scraps/not fat quarter pieces have always puzzled me. I think you've hit on a very good idea.
I'm so glad to hear that Frankie is back to normal. woohoo!
I have fabrics pulled and cut for Darlene's QAL, but haven't sewn a single stitch yet. I'll get to it though....... Yours is looking great!
Hi Kaaren, Good idea, I put my offcuts into a tissue box but unlike you I can't see whats in there. I think I have some boxes like yours in the kitchen, might just sneak them up here into my sewing room. Love to see cats and dogs getting on so well, the little darlings. Glad to here that Frankie is well again. x
Your little quilt is lovely! I have those same containers from the dollar store for holdings scraps and UFOs. Can't wait to see the FFF for March! Glad to hear Frankie's feeling better!
Good news that Frankie is feeling better. wow you got lots accomplished-that is always such a feel good feeling. I like your storage tip. I have a couple vintage wire baskets that are small and that I can stack-I put all my scraps in those.
Hi Kaaren,
So glad you survived the storms and that Frankie is back to normal. Looks like you have been very productive with your time indoors. You are always an inspiration. I too use the containers from the dollar store and Canadian Tire (clear plactic ones meant for shoes) They are great to keep projects neat.
Our weather has not been quite as confining, so I have not had long periods indoors. This winter the weather has been stranger than normal, with all its up and down temperatures.
The sun is shining here today, but rather cold, so I think I will visit my sewing room.
Have a great day, looking forward to March the lst and April 5th for you new patterns for us.
Dianne
I'm glad you all survived the storm without too much distress.
Your mini quilts and mystery quilt are lovely.
Glad to her Frankie is back to his normal routine.
It is a sunny day here on the west coast with crocuses and snowdrops making their appearances.
Enjoy your weekend.
very pretty quilts, love the first one! your fur babies looks so serene there tucked together in front of the heat. so glad all the snow has gone away for you.
What a lovely small quilt Kaaren. I enjoy your blog as usual. You have been busy while housebound. Looking forward to your fff. Glad Frankie is well again. I havent blogged in ages, for different reasons. One of them being I have mislaid my camera. I was looking longingly at an all singing all dancing new model today.......but I think the car insurance and a fill of heating oil come first :(
Blessings to you and Mr PQ.
I love Kathy's little quilts. I follow her blog and watch the quilts come into being on other blogs, but this is one thing I have not joined. (miracle, I know). I haven't seen Darlenes. Love the snowball block--very cute so far.
My "FQ" drawers are actually for anything from a fat eighth, to a FQ, so they go back where they came from. When they get under an eighth they go into the scraps.
My goodness, you have been busy! Love your February quilt...the colors and fabrics just pop! Darlene's mystery is coming along really well...really like your variety of lights and darks that you used for the hourglasses. And where would we be without little containers for our treasures? Great ideas here and I am very tempted to do Kathy's little tabletopper too! Thanks for a great inspirational post!
My left overs from fat quarters go back on the shelf. And like you, I am fooled into thinking they might be a full fat quarter. I have to unfold somewhat to see what is there. Your storage idea is a good one. I recently sorted my scrap basket pieces by color and put them into plastic bags and back into the basket. Has helped to keep me from digging so much.
Apart from backings and my new collection (repoductions) all my yardage is sorted into colours and stays together. About two years ago I stopped buying so much fabric and focused on finishing UFo's. Now I have the UFO's under control, all the fabric that was old/from past projecs/cut into/or I just didnt like anymore got cut up into different size strips. I am now making a Bonnie Hunter Scrappy Trips pattern quilt with some of the strips and using others for leader and ender spool blocks. So I have drastically reduced my stash to the point I dont worry about cut into fat quarters - cos all my fabric fits, still organised by colour! My tiny scraps have been in seperate bins/bags (by colour) for along time, for when I want to foundation piece or applique and only use small amounts.
I use lots of plastic boxes for my offcuts. You can see what colour is in the box at a glance which saves time. Lots of lovely things your are working on. Hugs....
WOW, you did have a great week. Glad that Frankie is back to his normal self. Love your Civil War Scraps quilt.
Gostei do seu blog ..
Lindos os trabalhos ....
Bj♥
Leila
www.fazendoarteleriente.blogspot.com
I love your mini quilt , beautiful Colors and your addition to Darlene's mystery quilt is perfect ! Glad to hear Frankie is doing much better . Hugs
Ohh I love the little quilt you made. Did you know that i never have made a real doll quilt !! And I have all the books of Kathleen Tracy LOL
When I have cut of my FQ, I stash them at the same pile... everything goed on that pile because I know they are not all FQ, besides .. I buy often 1/4 FQ... like that size :-)
Beautiful picture of hte pets again !!
So glad to hear that Frankie is fine now, he looks very content sitting there in the small patch of sun, my Miss Mini does the same thing LOL!!!
Love all your projects, you did a great job with Kathy's February challenge, beautiful border fabric!
If I use too much of a FQ, I try and get some more LOL! especially if I really like it. Otherwise I just wait for that piece to get quite small before I put it into a small tray of left-overs!! I just heard that we are only a couple of weekends away from Autumn, glad to hear that actually, this summer has been very hot in patches and the fire season has been devestating in several large parts of the country.
If I could be as productive as you have been I would love to have a snow storm--you have been one productive quilter!
The storage bin idea for left over fat quarters is a great one--
So glad to hear Frankie is 100%. Am sure Ollie is happy to have his best buddy back
Your posts always lift my spirits! The small quilts are darling - perfect for a table topper and a filler for an empty wall. So pretty! AND so glad to hear Frankie is back to feeling well - great news :)
Thank you for a delightful post! You proved that even that dark cloudy storm had a silver lining!!!
Have you read Bonnie Hunter's book, Leaders and Enders? Great ideas about those scraps and how to make more than one quilt at once.
Love your blog:)
Lovely quilts! I don't have plastic boxes because I haven't found any that don't have a horrible, nauseating odor, which means that my fabbies are a mess!
Glad the snow is gone and the furry family members are doing well too.
I store my small scraps exactly like you do, that way when I do applique I know where they all are!
Love the quilt you made. So happy to that the storm has passed and you had a good week. :)
I'm so glad Frankie is is ok and that you survived the storm, too. Ollie looks like he is making sure Frankie gets a rest. lol Great use of your time. Your projects are lovely as always!
Terrific news about Frankie. He and Ollie are like Abby, sun seekers! Your civil war mini is so sweet I have no organization for the FQ leftovers. I have lots of odd sizes in my scrap bin. I keep it under my cutting table and throw the odd sizes into that bin.
You have put your time to very good use. Lovely interpretation of Kathy's February quilt. Glad to hear that Frankie is happy and healthy again.
My goodness, you have been a busy woman! What pretties! I'll definitely have to check the small quilts and see if I can save the download pattern.
I am an "organizer" - your tidbit tip is a good one.
Love your last photo... If cats and dogs can get along so well--- shouldn't everyone?!?!?!
So very glad that Frankie is feeling better! Lovely little quilts, too!
Adorable projects Kaaren!! Glad Frankie is feeling better too.
Most of the time I throw my scraps back in with my fabrics, but if they are too small I throw them in the scrap drawer to dig around when I need a small piece. I think you are way more organized than I am.
Beautiful mystery quilt,Kaaren. Its been a joy working on this one. I store my fabrics by color in plastic bins with covers so they stack easily in my sewing room closet. I have a separate 3 drawer bin that holds my civil war fabrics in the largest drawer, shirtings in another drawer,and charm packs, jelly rolls,etc in the third drawer. 30's prints are in a separate bin. Small pieces get tossed into a basket. It works, but I still manage to make a mess when I sew!
Beautiful quilts, Kaaren!
In my past quilting life, I cut 1.5 inch strips off any extra fabric for a pineapple log cabin block, and then just stored the rest by color. Now I have bought some bins and am going to sort according to color. I am going to start prewashing my fabrics that I use for applique and so am going to have double bins, for washed & unwashed fabrics, which seems like a big pain to me, but I can't think of anything else to do. Argh.
I'm so glad Frankie is feeling better!
Kaaren,
What a fun post! So much eye candy. Frankie and Ollie look adorable all snuggled up together. Lori
I'm so glad your cat is back to 100% ok. That cat and dog are just super cute together. Take care and thanks for sharing. ;)
So very happy Frankie is back to his happy self. I am sure Ollie is pleased. I know you and Mr PQ are relieved and happy. Congratulations. Nice quilts too.
So very happy Frankie is back to his happy self. I am sure Ollie is pleased. I know you and Mr PQ are relieved and happy. Congratulations. Nice quilts too.
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