Thursday, June 21, 2012

The GREAT Summer Orphan Block Challenge!

It's summer, and it's time for a challenge. Are you ready?

I'm kicking off a season-long challenge to encourage you to use orphan blocks located in your stash right now. I mentioned it in my blog last week, and now it's time to roll up your sleeves and dig in!


Why? 

 - It'll be fun!
 - Finally find a home for orphan quilt blocks that are stuck in your stash.
 - Get lots of ideas over the course of the summer to motivate you.
 - Win a terrific PRIZE PACKAGE awarded as summer fades and the leaves start to turn.

Keep reading for some background, a few guidelines and rules as well as a new project I created from orphans in my stash to get your creative juices flowing.

The Back-Story

So, what are "Orphan Blocks?" You start a quilt with all the best intentions, you finish a few blocks, then lose interest in the project. With only a few blocks complete, the project falls off the to-do list. And all of the sudden you have blocks that really don't belong.

These four-patches, for example, were leftover 2" strips from samples I made years ago. At the time, I sewed two strips together, cross-cut them, then made four patches, and stowed them. Handfuls of them have fabrics that match, some are scrappy. None of them are doing anybody any good in their current form. I must have about fifty 3-1/2" four-patch blocks!


The GREAT Summer Orphan Block Challenge

Now what?
I decided this would make a great summertime challenge. How can I convert some of my own orphans into something useful? Then I thought YOU'D like to play, too. And, what if I sweetened the pot with a wonderful gift package awarded at the end of the summer, as the leaves start to turn?

But first, some Guidelines -- some thoughts to get on the right track.

Guideline number 1. Start small. Start with one something. One block, One collection of four-patches, one . . . ?


Guideline number 2. Whatever becomes your inspiration or 'orphan' block must have at least one sewn seam. Examples: a half-square triangle unit, a four-patch, a completed block or a partially completed block. You can start with more than one of any of these, but whatever 'it' is has to have come out of your stash with at least one seam already sewn. Exception: if you really don't have any orphan blocks, make something from your scraps, a four-patch for example - the key is to start with something you already have. Adding new fabrics is allowed! Using stash or scraps, even better!

Guideline number 3. Make it fun! Start any time. This is a guilt-erasing, not guilt-creating challenge. Choose a favorite technique. Fun tools. Try something different. Even if you make one new thing from one abandoned quilt block, that's one more than you had before summer started!

Guideline number 4. Share. I'll post pictures of what's happening on my end. I'd love to share your projects, too! It has been said that one of the tricks to accomplishing goals is to share them. 



An Incentive

I'm in the process of assembling a REALLY TERRIFIC prize package for the most innovative and pleasing use of orphan blocks to be awarded at the end of summer. Enroll in the weekly eZine or watch these blog posts as summer heats up to see what's in store for you to win! It's going to be phenomenal!

I have an independent mystery judge all lined up--she is an internationally known expert in the quilting field
.

To be considered for the prize,
 - You must use at least one orphan block as defined above.
 - Submit two good quality, low-resolution digital photos and one SHORT (no more than 200 words) story about the project. The first picture needs to be a photo of the orphan block or blocks (stacked up, if necessary) ready to sew. The second picture is the finished project. Finished means quilted and bound if it's a quilt, ready to give or use if it's anything else.
 - Enter as often as you like, but only one submission per finished project will be counted.
Entries will be judged on creativity and industrious use of orphan blocks.
Submit your project via email here.
Questions? Comments? Just ask.


Some Motivation
Here's something to start your creative juices flowing.

This week, I started with my orphan four-patches (pictured above) and decided to make some pin cushions!

I picked out four matching or sorta-matching four-patch blocks. The four-patches were made from 2" squares, so they are all 3-1/2" square.
Since I really love embroidery and beading, I decided to add a little handwork to one of the four blocks. The embroidered/beaded block will be the top of the pin cushion.


Then I cut two of the plain blocks up into four 1-1/2" x 3-1/2" rectangles.


I sewed one rectangle to each side of the embroidered four-patch block, starting and stopping about 1/4" away from each edge. Alternating darks and lights.


Then, I sewed the remaining uncut four-patch to the other long side of each trimmed rectangle, leaving one long seam partially unsewn for turning later. I made a total of four seams (including one partial seam), and starting and stopping 1/4" away from the edge each time.



I sewed the short rectangle sides too, each time starting and stopping 1/4" from the ends. Basically making a squatty fabric cube.


I turned the pin cushion right side out, then stuffed it with leftover wool batting scraps through the seam opening. You can also use fiberfil or crushed walnut shells. I like using the batting because I already have so many scrap pieces.


Once the pin cushion was stuffed nearly to its limit, I closed the opening by hand. Then sewed a tiny decorative button through the middle of the pin cushion, one on top and one on the bottom.

Ta-da! These were so much fun, that I made three of them! That means twelve orphan four-patch blocks have now become finished projects. Yay!

I might just have to make a few more!


Feels good! A little progress is better than no progress at all!

Now it's your turn.  Pull up an Adirondack chair, or choose a nice spot in the shade. Grab a needle and some thread, and get sewing!


Joan

Thursday, June 14, 2012

A Summer Challenge!

On Sunday, I headed north to Clayton, New York, right on the St Lawrence Seaway. It was a perfect summer day and the North Country Quilt Guild of Watertown, New York had their quilt show at the Clayton Arena. It was a great show (as always) with beautiful quilts, many vendors, and the opportunity to chat with good friends.

Here's one of several antique quilts on display. This one dates to 1880-1900.
 
Our party of three - Gail, Marcia, and myself - stopped for a pretty awesome lunch at Bella's. Our outdoor table was ideally situated overlooking the Seaway and a small section of the 1,000 Islands in absolutely perfect weather.


At the show, I was drawn to a table set up along one side where a unique community service project was on display, featuring orphan blocks.

Once I got home, I couldn't stop thinking about the orphan block quilt project. You could say I was inspired to take the idea to my own stash of scrap fabrics and partially constructed blocks. 

It got me thinking that this might make a nice challenge for the summer - for myself, then I thought maybe YOU'd like to join in, too! Are you up for a little summer challenge? Keep reading!




So, what are "Orphan Blocks?" You start a quilt with all the best intentions, you finish a few blocks, then lose interest in the project. Or you are distracted. Life happens. With only a few blocks complete, the project falls off the to-do list. And all of the sudden you have blocks that really don't belong. Does this sound familiar?

The guild seems to have created a terrific solution to this common quilter's problem. Instead of lamenting over the cast-off blocks, the guild members decided to collect them. From anyone. No orphan is refused.

The blocks are sorted by color, theme or size. Several blocks that really didn't 'go' together, now 'go' together and become a cohesive quilt project.


Three sample quilts made from "Orphan" blocks












The more orphan blocks collected, the better the chance that blocks will find coordinates. A strip of color is added here and there to complete the quilt top. Members with long-arm quilting machines volunteer their services and the quilt is complete. Ready for community giving.

Isn't this a great idea? Everybody wins!

So, I got to thinking . . . What about my stash? I know I have orphan blocks floating around in there. Some of them leftovers from ScrapTherapy patterns, some of them ScrapTherapy projects that never made it past the drawing board. Some of them are just there, leftover from who-knows-what.

These four-patches, for example. There must be fifty of them! They were leftover 2" strips from samples I made years ago. At the time, I sewed two strips together,
cross-cut them, then made four patches, and stowed them. Handfuls of them have fabrics that match, some are scrappy. None of them are doing anybody any good in their current form.

Now what? So I was thi
nking. This would make a good challenge for summertime. How can I convert some of these orphans into something useful, if not for me, then for someone as a gift or donation?

You wanna play? Summer starts in exactly one week. Would you like to join in? I'm not very big on rules, but maybe we should set up some guidelines. We'll 'start' officially on the first day of summer, and I'll post photos of my progress. Join in any time!

Guideline number 1. Start small. It's summer after all, and nobody wants to fling a king sized quilt around their sewing table. Start with one something. One block, One collection of four-patches, one . . . ?

Guideline number 2. Whatever becomes your inspiration or 'orphan' block must have at least one seam sewn. Examples: a half-square triangle unit, a four-patch, a completed block or a partially completed block. You can start with more than one of any of these, but whatever 'it' is has to have come out of your stash with at least one seam already sewn. Exception: if you really don't have any orphan blocks, make something from your scraps, a four-patch for example - the key is to start with something you already have. Adding new fabrics is allowed! Using stash or scraps, even better!

Guideline number 3. Make it fun! Start any time. Nobody needs stress in the summer. No one is supervising you. There will be no quiz at the end of the summer. If you don't make any progress one week or another, that's fine. This is a guilt-erasing, not guilt-creating challenge. Even if you make one new thing from one abandoned quilt block, that's one more than you had before summer started!

Guideline number 4. Share. Send pictures before you start sewing. And keep us posted on your progress. And I'll post pictures of what's happening on my end. It has been said that one of the tricks to accomplishing goals is to share them. 

Who knows where this will go? Think about it this way, if you turn one orphan block into something each week of the summer, just think how many projects you'll have by September!

Are you up for the challenge? 

Happy Stitching!
Joan

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Gotta Love Hummingbirds!


They're back!

Just a few short weeks ago, right before I headed out of town for International Quilt Market in Kansas City, the first hummingbird of the season was spotted at the hummingbird feeders in my yard. Right now, the honeysuckle plant at the end of our front porch is a riot of fragrant blooms, and the hummingbirds are having a field day, visiting frequently.
Honeysuckle in bloom

These tiny creatures make an amazing journey all the way from Central America each Spring just to visit my feeders and my garden! Okay, maybe they have a couple of other things in mind too - like making little hummingbirds. Anyway, I love seeing them so much, I named my design company after them!

At Quilt Market, the hummingbirds made a significant showing on the Hummingbird Highway.

About 50 handmade, scrappy hummingbirds flocked to booth 1210 and were suspended above visitors' heads for the duration of the show!

Do you want your own quilty hummingbirds? They're fun and easy to make and you can have your very own pattern - for free! Just download it here from the Hummingbird Highway website! Then follow the easy steps shown below to begin your flock!




How-To:

Go to your ScrapTherapy bin and select two coordinated 5" scrap squares. One will be the hummingbird body and one will be the wings. Cut each scrap in half, one diagonally for the body and one across the middle for the wings.

Trace the shapes on one side of the fabrics with a heat-eraseable pen, like a Frixion pen. Center the smaller shape inside the larger shape.

Layer with batting - I like using wool batting scraps because it's nice and fuffly. Pin baste, then quilt on the inner line.


Trim all shapes - two wings and a body - on the outer line.


Sew the wings to the body using two miniature buttons.


Add a hanger loop through the top of the bird body between the wings. Test the placement before you knot the loop so the hummingbird hangs straight.

Yay! These hummingbirds won't migrate in the fall, either.

Happy Hummingbird-Making!
Joan