Friday, October 1, 2021

September Monthly Mini

When I finished my two monthly minis for last month (seen here), I had just a handful of half-hex and thimble shapes leftover. They sat in a small stack on my cutting table for several days. Then one day, as I was cleaning off the cutting table so I could actually use it for its intended purpose, I saw that little stack and began to wonder. Could I possibly make a little quilt with those two different leftover shapes as my focus? I had to try. I knew I was going to try a strippy quilt. I just hadn't thought I would end up stacking those thimbles and half-hex shapes vertically.

This little quilt, with its one ray of sunshine, measures 13 1/2 x 10 3/4". It was amazing to me that the leftover shapes made exactly two stacked rows of half-hexes and one row of thimbles that were the same height. The colors aren't as balanced as I would have done if I was working with my whole stash, but that is part of the fun of this process--work with what you have. I found a Jo Morton print that had those two lovely stripes in the design. The biggest dilemma was that I had it in two colorways, and I struggled over whether to use the red or green. As you can see, the red won, but I went for a happy green Betsy Chutchian print for the binding.

This was actually finished very early in the month, and that is highly unusual for me! Linking up with our Monthly Mini Master, Wendy Reed at The Constant Quilter blog.

I quilted this on my domestic machine, going straight along the the seams between rows, and then with some very careful backtracking, I quilted between the stacked shapes. There is an egg and dart design quilted over the floral stripe and a straight line quilted down the narrow striped design.

Maybe you will be able to make out everything I just described if you click to enlarge this photo of the back.

I had hinted at a surprise/challenge in this post, but I didn't get all the details worked out before this post needed to go live (and I still missed September by 1 minute). Hopefully I can still get the challenge in soon.

Lately I have had much more time in the sewing room than I have had for years, it seems. It has taken a while for the sewing mojo to return, but the past two weeks I have finally got all of the blocks finished for the Heartfelt BOW with Gay Bomers, at Sentimental Stitches. I am not doing the center applique block and am playing around with other possible settings. Will share the results soon. I have also been trying to catch up with the Barbara Brackman Hands All Around BOM. I am still two months behind, but it is doable. However, now I remember why I don't usually sign up for these things!! LOL

And then there is Lori's SAL at Humble Quilts. Just caught up with that today. Doing it a bit differently, which you will see soon. And in about a week Pam Buda will begin her next doll quilt SAL. It is very cute and there will be no resistance here. You can see what we will be making here, and maybe you will choose to join in, too.

That's it for now, other than I hope you will enjoy a few photos of the Fall color as we drove over the mountain yesterday to my favorite "local" quilt shop. You should be able to click on any photo to enlarge it.

Until next time,

Janet O.

It has been such a hot, dry year that we had been told not to expect much color. I was surprised to see it this bright, but it was very much a treat to this autumn loving gal.


And this is the view out my sewing room window. I zoomed in so you could see the sprinkling of color better.


29 comments:

  1. Your mini is fantastic! I love everything about it. The yellow spark, the spontaneity of using your leftovers, the way you quilted it. Congratulations on a very beautiful original mini. You have a LOT of other projects going on! I have enjoyed Hands All Around very much but I'm stopping here and making a top with what I already have. I really have to remember that I can only handle about two "sew along" type projects at a time! Ok, maybe three. Your mountains are amazing... and what an enviable view from your sewing room!

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  2. very inventive and frugal janet...and a perfect little mini! ahhh what beautiful vistas...still very green here in MD but did get some color change before i left maine last week...

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  3. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your mini!! Red is my color and I have a piece of that fabric. The green binding is perfect. I noticed your new header right away and thoroughly enjoyed your fall photos - looks like your foliage is a couple weeks ahead of us here in New England. The view from my sewing room is trees close up and I love it, but your view is amazing!

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  4. Oh my Janet! What an amazing mini! What a perfect use of the leftover half hexies. I am so impressed with your use of that fabulous red of Jo's. And, Betsy's green makes a perfect binding. Just gorgeous! Guess we both had "strippy" quilts on the mind this month. I'm so sorry I missed your message last night, but I am looking forward to your "challenge" post. I think I have said this before, but I don't know how you get any sewing done with that view out your window. It is so beautiful!

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  5. Oh I love that little mini!! You are very creative and the colors are beautiful!

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  6. Clever use of leftovers and I love the vertical print fabric you chose. Thanks for sharing the lovely fall colors. Hopefully, I will see some this weekend when we head north for a day trip.

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  7. Love that little quilt and the border is wonderful!

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  8. I love how your new mini reflects the gorgeous autumn of your blog's banner photo! Made from scraps, and so, so beautiful! Red is such a great neutral to bring together every other color in your wedges and half-hexies that bring to mind rolling hills and fields.

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  9. Cute way to use up those scraps sitting by your machine. Wish I could have come to visit when we were in town a couple weeks ago. I tried to take a picture like your Views. Gotta get Stitching myself...

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  10. What a nice mini. Great colors for a mini and nice EPP shapes and great reds for the setting.
    Gorgeous autumnal photos and love the header!

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  11. Great mini! I love the colors and the way you worked in the flower print for the in-between bars!

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  12. Wow! This is a clever little mini. I love your use of the Jo Morton flowered stripe. This is a perfect way to make both the little quilt and the individual fabrics shine. I look forward to hearing about the challenge. And, of course, the canyon is delightful!

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  13. Love your stacked thimbles and hexies! You always come up with the bestest ideas! Love that Jo Morton red stripe (love the green too!)

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  14. What a darling little quilt! I call these final ''use up'' projects End of Day quilts, where the last bits are too cute to leave unused.

    Your mountains are beautiful!

    lizzy

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  15. That mini quilt you put together is just amazing Janet. Though they are not usually "my colours" I just adore it. You have a very good eye for seeing what will work together. Those fall colours are stunning - its such a pretty time of year if we take the time to look at the changing colours. Its spring here & equally as enjoyable as the garden wakes up after winter. xx

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  16. Ingenious! You used your creativity gene blending those bits and pieces together. The striped fabric was the finishing touch. Love seeing the fall colors on your side of the mountains.

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  17. What a cute mini! That Jo Morton stripe sets the thimbles and hexes off beautifully. And oh my goodness, what views you have! I would never get anything done if I could be looking at those mountains and colors. I love the way the trees look as if they are cascading down the side of the mountain, breathtaking! Jan in MA (where there are no mountains, boo!)

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  18. Your mini came out great. I loved last month's thimbles; this is equally wonderful!
    And the colors?? I think your view is truly amazing.
    Glad your mojo is coming back!!
    xxx

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  19. That is a beautiful little quilt Janet and great to use up the pieces left over. You sound very busy with all your other projects. The autumn colour is stunning, fantastic view out your window.

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  20. I love that mini...and the red is perfect...

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  21. Your mini looks great and be thanks for sharing the fall pics....

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  22. What a great use of those little left overs. They were meant to be. Your fall scenery is stunning. So different from our native landscape.

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  23. What a great little quilt! Love the birds in the air that Pam will be doing too!! Once we get on a roll it feels good!

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  24. Those leftovers were just waiting for you to put them together, THEY knew they'd piece up to just the right lengths, LOL! Great too that you had that sashing print to follow the "striped fabric" theme in the two minis that "begat" this one. Always good when you can feel yourself get into "flow" in your quilt space!

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  25. What a fun quilt. I love the sashing fabric on the front and the backing fabric.
    Your views of autumn colors are gorgeous. What kinds of trees are these? For some reason I thought the western mountains were more rock than trees.

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  26. Sorry for my delay !!
    You always have great ideas for minis and this one is beautiful !!
    Beautiful pictures too with mountains ! Thank you Janet :)

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  27. Your September mini is soooo cute and quite different from your normal repertoire!! I congratulate you for stepping out of the Mini box!! Love ya and miss ya!!

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  28. Your September mini is really quite spectacular!! I love the sashing!!! :)

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