Rainbow Scrap Challenge in Progress

I've finally got 5 months worth of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks up on my design wall.  And, ooooh! I really like them.  My quilting friends have been listening to me complain as they are not as easy as I thought they would be. But, darn! They really look good to me.  

Here's how I've been making these 9" finished blocks.  First I make a small set of strips (1" to 2") -- usually 4 or 5 if the strips are really narrow. And repeat that 3 more times.   

Once I get all four strata made I use my 9" Accuquilt Go Cube Companion Set's Drunkard Path dies to cut the outside in white and the inside with the strip set pieces.  (OH no!  I just realized that the 4.5" dies to make the Drunkard Path blocks are no longer in  the 9" Cube Companion sets but they are available in other sizes.) 

When sewing these together I tend to pin like crazy.  There is a nice notch in the center of the arc which I match up and pin. And then I add a few more pins on each side. I generally sew with the white fabric on top and gently stitch the quarter circle, removing pins as I go along. 

Once all four sections are done I iron the seams.  I have been ironing seams of the two opposing sections toward the white and the other two sections to the color.  That lets the seams snug up nicely.

Last step is to sew the four sections together just like a four patch. 

 It does take a bit of time to make each block but the end result is worth it. But, I swear, next year I'm picking easier blocks to make -- maybe. 

That's it for me.  I'm linking up with several Linky parties. Please take a look at what folks are up to by visiting some of these sites.

  Needle and Thread Thursday

Finished or Not Friday

Beauties Pageant

Scrap Happy Saturday 

I'm hoping to upload a few posts while I'm on vacation.  I'll try to include a couple of project pictures with a few of our vacation pictures. If my internet access isn't great then it may be a while before you hear anything else from me! 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Table Scraps Challenge -- Purple

It's the day before the last Saturday in June.  Do you know what that means?  Yep, time to share my Table Scraps Challenge piece for purple June.   Once again I decided to do a table runner AND to use Accuquilt dies that I've hardly used.   

Here are the dies I decided to use. These were part of a companion set for my 9" Cube.  These dies are no longer available in either of the current cube companion sets.  But you can get different sized Drunkard's Path dies if you have a Accucut cutter.  Mine are 5" cut, finished at 4.5". 

I made the blocks and then tried to decide how I would put them together. This arrangement was chosen. It was fun turning the quarter circles around trying to find a pleasing design.  I decided to add the corner triangles to get a different look for the border. Although this design is not in the book, I did get a lot of inspiration from John Kubiniec's book, A New Spin on Drunkard's Path.

As usual, I quilted this on my Bernina 635 with a walking foot.  I used a magenta colored Mettler PolySheen top thread with a Mettler cotton in the bobbin. 

I pulled a piece of fabric I've had for years (and years!) for the backing. I was happy to use it and I like the way it compliments the front. Oh yes, all fabric was from stash! 

We are only 6 months through the year long Table Scraps Challenge. I'm having a lot of fun making these small quilts and enjoying trying things I doubt I'd try on a larger quilt.  I wonder what our next color is going to be.  

Here's my list of linky parties for the weekend: Midweek Makers, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop,  Finished or Not Friday, Beauties Pageant, Scrap Happy Saturday, and The Table Scraps Runner/Topper Challenge.  Wow. That's a lot of linky parties.  Enjoy seeing what is happening with quilters across the Internet. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

A bit of technical info -- I find that my photos look great after I edit them in my Photos on my Mac.  But once I finish and publish my post they get darker.  Today I made an effort to really lighten and brighten my photos.  I'll evaluate this attempt after I post my blog.  Maybe they will have just the right lightness to make them look great. 

FCQ Quilt Show Goodies

Hello from Columbia, Maryland! 

I'm staying with Sharon while we both work at the Faithful Circle Quilt Show.  Please stop by if you live in the DC area.  Visit the FCQ web page to get directions and details.  I heard that nearly (or was it over?) 300 quilts have been hung.  Plus we have vendors, demos and lots of opportunities to win stuff! Fun times! 

Here's a quick peek at a few of the quilts. 

You might recognize my owl quilt which is now owned by my granddaughter Natalie.

I thought this little fish quilt by Roma Knee was so creative.  This is part of the Dots for Tots challenge FCQ offered.  Anyone who wanted to participate was given a preselected group of polka dot fabric.  Remember my sailboat quilt? It's part of the challenge but it still needs its borders and quilting etc.  Here's a close up of the quilting Roma did on the fish. 

You can't  see the scales as well.  I was tickled with this quilt and think it would make a terrific kid's quilt.  I've been playing with drunkard's path blocks for the Throw Me a Curve challenge at Country Piecemakers.  The dp block isn't hard at all so I think there may be a fish in my future. 

If you are looking for my monthly fabric usage report I won't post it until I get back home.  I can give a quick recap though.  I didn't finish any quilt in April. NONE.  I did make several blocks for the monthly BOM but that is going to be it. I only bought 4 yards of which 3 yards was my short stack fabric by mail.  Hopefully I'll do much better in May! 

Happy Quilting All!