Saturday, March 9, 2019

An early March Mini, and something new on the design wall.

This is actually my second mini quilt finish for March (highly unusual for me to have even one finished this early in the month, let alone two). The other one is in my previous post. I couldn't decide which one to let claim the honor for the Mini-a-Month challenge with Wendy (The Constant Quilter blog). They are both Pam Buda patterns. This one is from her book "Vintage Patchwork." Wendy is also sponsoring a SAL for the projects in this book, but I can't keep up with both.
May I introduce you to "Emma"?
She really is a tiny thing. I've been showing her around the house and maybe a couple of those shots will give you a better size perspective.

Here she is beside her namesake.
Yes, I love Brit Lit, which is one of the reasons I love the names of the little quilts and projects in this book of Pam's. I think I have read 10 of the 12 books whose titles she used--most of them multiple times.
 


And this is where Emma will reside for the next little while.


There is a story behind how I came up with the color palette I used. When I was at retreat back in January, on the last night you may recall that I shared how almost all of the participants had packed up and gone home hours before we had to vacate the building. I was furiously focused on my project as people were gathering their things and saying their good-byes, and when I heard someone announce that they were throwing away scraps larger than an inch, I didn't even look up. Now that is focused!
A couple of hours later I made my way to the large and almost overflowing trash bin to empty my thread catcher before packing up to go home. Sitting on the top of the heap, in a cardboard tray, was this amazing collection of scraps! They were pristine--no food scraps had been dumped on top of them. They were just sitting there waiting for me.


The largest pieces were folded and if you ignore the pointy corners they measure 3"x6". The smallest pieces are 2"x3". In my world those are huge! And there were four pieces of almost every fabric.

In order to make "Emma" I added two other fabrics in colors that matched a couple of the scraps, and I added the background fabric. I also pulled small bits of fabric from my scrap basket for the binding and backing. And I still have a lot of these little bits left for another small creation or two.



This shows you the backing, binding and quilting a little better.
I keep the quilting pretty simple on pieces this small, not wanting to overpower the piecing.








The half log cabin quilt top is finally off the design wall. I pushed my way through putting borders on in a timely manner. It is too big for the wall now, so I have it on the floor for this photo, and I am up in the loft, leaning over the railing to get the shot.

The final border is similar in color to my carpet, but I think you can tell where the quilt ends and the carpet begins.

This is what is on the design wall now--my version of Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trips. You may recognize it as one of my projects from my retreat--for the last two years. It is all in Kansas Troubles fabrics collected for various projects over the years.

I only need 6 more blocks along the bottom before I can put these together. I have them all laid out on design boards, ready for when I have a few minutes to make a quick block.


I started this quilt in January of 2013 when the Scrappy Trips quilt-along was sweeping across the country. It has been in hiding (other than the last two retreats) for much too long. I am excited to be breathing life into it and hope to have the top finished soon. I do believe I will border it to make it a good bed size. It is pretty shocking that I am finishing quilts this year that are large enough to keep a real live person warm, instead of just decorating a wall or table top.
Quilts for warmth--what a concept. :)

Until next time,
Janet O.
 

31 comments:

  1. That Emma mini is a fabulous finish and the story that goes with it is perfect! Somethings are just put in our paths, aren't they?
    Yea for the huge log cabin top. It looks so homey and welcoming already.
    Love your scrappy trips....never even remembered this one. But it has your signature warmth in the blocks. You are well on the way to a full year!

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  2. Emma is wonderful and I love that she mostly came from the garbage can! You do amazing tiny work! Congrats! On completing the top for your son. I can just imagine you leaning over the balcony for that pic! Yikes!! You are on a roll for March...I expect your scrappy trip will be done in no time at all!

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  3. Thank goodness for dumpster diving. Emma's a cutie and two mini's done this month! And then two big quilts! Your sewing room has been humming. I love your KansasTrouble Trip. Funny, I just pulled all my KT pieces from from stash thinking I should do something with them to use them up. I might have to follow your lead if that's ok.

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  4. now that scrappy trips is the best i've seen....can't wait to see more!

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  5. I'm always amazed at what gets throw out at retreats! It hasn't really helped me out though since most of the other gals work in batiks or Kaffe's. You really made the most of your lucky find--Emma is so cute! I love how your trip blocks are looking using the KT fabrics. It reminds me that I always wanted to make a second one after donating my first one--great pattern and stash buster!

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  6. I love your version of Emma. I thought of you the whole time I was making mine. Those tiny pieces keep you on your toes. I really love your Scrappy Trips quilt. I've made a couple of them and love how easy they go together. Hugs

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  7. Janet, your quilts inspire me so. I am working on such big projects, I yearn to just stop and make something small. Love your Scrappy Trips too--I have made two of those I didn't care for when done. Think I need to plan the colors a little better.

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  8. Emma is lovely! Great story of how her colors came to be. I need to check out Pam's book.
    The Scrappy Trip is also lovely. I wondered what the size was till you said you were making bigger quilts. I'm going to have to put this one on my list. I really like it.

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  9. I'm with you, Janet, I would have gone for those "scraps" in a heartbeat. I can't believe someone would throw them away! You should show her your mini whenever see her again.

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  10. Those are some really large scarps!! Yay for making minis out of trash!!
    The 1/2 log cabin looks great as does the long neglected scrappy trip!!

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  11. You did a great job, trash to treasure, I love it!I remember Gwen talking about a "floor" quilt. Made from scraps picked up off the floor. Your LC is gorgeous, as it your BH scrappy TATW. Keep stitching.

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  12. I think I need to start attending retreats, you created a fabulous mini out of what many others would toss out, and have scraps to spare! I'd love to create a version of Emma sometime, though my idea of a mini is in the 16-24 inch range, lol! You've been very busy this month, I love both of your big bed size quilts, all the reds and bits of cheddar make them look so warm and homey already, and that will be even more so when they are layered and quilted.

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  13. Snap! I just pulled my Pam Buda book out yesterday after much discussion about how long it was since I last made a mini...and I picked Emma to be my next project! Well at camp in a few weeks. And in the course of yesterdays chat I had to admit I had also pulled pre cut strips out for a project and the only thing that came to mind was a Scrappy Trips quilt. So while I am talking about it you are making/finished LOL. Love Emma she is very sweet. And your Scrappy trips looks great, especially love the diagonal cream running through them.

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  14. Emma is quite a beauty, and your quilting is a beautiful finishing touch! I love the layout of your half-log cabin. Your scrappy trips is very interesting. I think I finally figured out how you made the blocks to get that neat layout! Seems like you are really enjoying your quilting time. So am I! ---"Love"

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  15. What a cute mini! I just finished hand quilting mine and pulled it from the dryer today. I also love all the books featured in Pam's Vintage Patchwork. I have that very same set of Jane Austen books with the blue dust jackets! I think we are kindred spirits.

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  16. Aren't you glad you went trash can diving? Yea for a bed sized quilt. My hubby is begging for one that covers his toes.

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  17. I really like your version with the light as the diagonal. And I love your colors; I like to sew with this palate myself.

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  18. I am in LOVE with Emma dear Janet!! She is just beautiful. What a story behind you acquiring the fabric scraps. Just perfect timing!

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  19. Emma is just as delightful as her namesake and the story of how she came to be is equally so! Your bookshelf looks similar to my own...please tell me there are little quilts in Pam Buda’s book that are named after Bronte characters...I don’t have this book...

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  20. Emma is absolutely delightful! I LOVE the story behind the fabric find. What a hoot! We tease our dear "Charlotte" (one of our 7 Sister group) for raiding our trash bins each night at retreat. Of course, like you, she always ends up making something fantastic with our meager cast offs.

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  21. The little mini quilt is so precious. And to think that someone threw away all that fabric. I was hoping you would post a close-up of the fabric you used for the border of your son's quilt. The blocks on your design wall are so pleasing and comforting somehow. I'm hope you're thinking of keeping this one for yourself.

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  22. Oh wow - what a great scrap rescue and what a sweet tiny quilt. It is so charming and the quilting is just right.
    I always feel like borders are such a big job that I put them off - glad to hear yours got on quickly.
    I've always wanted to make a STATW

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  23. As the years go on I am still amazed by your mini quilts. Oh I love Bonnie's scrappy Trip quilt pattern! I'm doing a sew along on Instagram where we are using her method, I'm onto my second quilt and I'm really scraping the bottom of my 2.5" strip drawer!

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  24. I love following your blog. A few blog posts ago, you had a picture of flying geese foundation piecing key holder. Is this a pattern or kit or something. I would really like to make one. Could you give any info about this? Thanks.

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  25. I love little Emma and the story of how she came to be! She's just beautiful!

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  26. Turns out we like lots of the same designers! Didn't know about the Pam Buda projects / books. Pam has me busy this year!

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  27. Wow, what a find!! Emma would have been very proud of you to find those huge "scraps"!! And your quilt from those scraps is wonderful!! From the looks of your blog post and my Friday blog post, we have been doing the same thing!! Trying to finish up OLD UFOs!! I love both of your human-sized quilts too!!

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  28. I like to watch some of the Bristish movies and series. And read some of the books but slightly more modern than what you are showing in your picture. I have watched "Pride and Prejudice" many times.

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  29. I love itty bitty flying geese. Great scrap rescue story too :) Congratulations on moving the "keep a body warm" sized quilts along as well.

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  30. Wow, you get so much done!!! Love your rescue story. I have had soom issues with blogger and had visit with Geek Agent a few days ago..he taught me how I can post from my Tablet and got me all set up again..I have alot of catching up to do...always fun and inspiring to see what you are creating!!
    Hug's,Carolyn

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  31. Emma is a cute and tiny March mini! Love that you found those scraps. What fun! Scrap quilts are my favorites and yours are fantastic!

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