Scrappy all over

I spent the afternoon in the studio today, putzing around with various projects.
First up, I got pieces cut for Libby's Mystery Quilt.  I picked out the red snowflake print for my light right off the bat, but couldn't decide whether to go with red, orange, or purple for the contrasting color.  So naturally I found a batik that included all those colors.  Win!

And I sewed the first row of Burgoyne blocks together, complete with sashing across the top.

I'm hoping if I get it all sewn together that it will forestall any efforts to make more blocks.  Though I think I might actually have to sew a border on in order to really make my heart accept that this quilt is big enough.

Though I might have stumbled on something that could help.  I found this quilt pattern online, see, and then I shared it with my friend  Cathy, who agreed with me that it's pretty phenomenal and phenomenally pretty.
It's here.  Go look and tell me that it isn't just screaming my name.
I've already got lots of triangles after all.

And the blocks are pretty simple to assemble.

And I only need 2048 HSTs.
For some silly reason, they named this quilt Garden Mosaic.
I don't know what Cathy is going to call hers, but I'm calling mine Totally Demented.

Linking with Quilting is More Fun than Housework for Oh Scrap!  Come see what everyone's doing with their scraps!

Squaring Away some purple bits

I squeezed in a bit more sewing time yesterday and finally got a Squared Away block for February's RSC SAL done.  I'm hoping to make a few more before I run out of month, both for the SAL itself and the fact that it's a fun block to make.  I stuck with just two colors for the first iteration, but I've got plans for throwing lots of purples into the next one.

This little Jacks block was made as a leader/ender while making the SA block. 

True confession - I found it already cut out and ready to go while I was shifting stuff around.   I'm not sure when I actually kitted it, but there's enough purple in it that I'm claiming it for February.  There were a couple more on the same plate, so apparently I'm now cutting blocks in my sleep.  Not dangerous at all, I'm sure.

And ta da!!!

That's Burgoyne Surrounded #20 - the final block!  (No, seriously.  I mean it this time.)  (Except for the problem I'm having with my fabric sorting/organizing project, where combinations keep landing next to each other that make me say "Oh, that would make a great Burgoyne!"...)  (I may have to make a second BS.)  (Help me, someone.)

All the Burgoynes are laid out and I've started stitching them together.  This is so exciting!
I've already started the dithering about borders!


Linking with SoScrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday.  Come see all the rainbow fun!

Purple at last!

Woohoo!
Despite the near-constant interference of the universe lately, I finally finally finally got some sewing time in.
I snatched up some purples (purples!) and got right to work.  Well, play, actually.  Calling this work would be downright silly.

One purple Jacks-in-Sixes/Anvil/Hovering-Hawk/Charlie/Whatever block.   I love this purple circley fabric.

And I got another block done for Rags and Tatters (go here for the pattern - scroll down about 3/4 of the way down the page) which I'm calling "Orts" because same thing.
When I made the first block, I approached the center part like this -

Sally T wisely pointed out that what I really had was the unit we'd just learned to make for On Ringo Lake, with the square-2wingtriangles-bigtriangle.   (I've seen the unit called Cat's Cradle.  Much more succinct.)
Here's the block laid out the easy way.

Two four-patches and two cat's cradles is definitely the way to go.

Then just attach those crazy corner triangles and voila!

That picture is a bit brighter than real life, but purples gotta purp.

So, that's two.

And purple was so happy about finally getting some action that some polka dots turned up in Burgoyne #19 -

and there's even some purple in Burgoyne #20 (last of the Burgoynes, I swear this time)  (no, really) which is now in progress.

I'm linking with Linda at kokaquilts for Sew Stitch Snap SHARE.  Come see all the gorgeous projects!

As if life wasn't complicated enough...

So, this happened the other day.

I tried gluing them, but (true to my usual experience with crazy glue) just ended up gluing my fingers together, and at one point had the frame of one piece glued to my thumb.  (I also ended up with glue in one eyebrow and I can't even begin to figure out how that happened.)
I finally gave up and asked my dad for help.  He held the parts together while I tried to squeeze some glue. 
"Just a drop," he kept saying - "Just a drop!" 
"Dad, I can't see it without my glasses..."

Unfortunately (but not unexpectedly), the repair was impossible, since the bridge piece is just too thin to hold together with glue.  I'm overdue for a new prescription, so I'll be off to the eye doctor, but the earliest appointment they had wasn't for a couple of weeks.

So, cheap Walmart readers to tide me over.  Far from perfect, but at least I can read a computer screen.  (I just have to remember to take them off when moving around - the vertigo gives me nausea.)
I'll probably take another stab at fixing my real glasses, now that I can actually see them again.  Some kind of splint across the bridge, to fasten the halves to...  Yeah, that could work...
Wish me luck!

I turn my back for FIVE minutes...

He always manages to pop the hoop as he settles into his magical cat-nest.

On Ringo Lake, just drifting away

Yesterday was the last link-up party for On Ringo Lake over at Bonnie's place, so I need to throw a quick post up about Ringo's status.  Wouldn't want to miss a party!

I haven't gotten as far as I would have liked, but getting sewing time has been a rough road lately.  I'm just going to declare myself happy with my progress and move on.

The lower left corner of the quilt is assembled, and the row running from upper left to lower right is sewn together, but not attached to the main part yet.  Little by little...

(And don't think I'm not saving those little cutoff tippy-tops from the setting triangles.

I've already thought of several things to do with them, from flying geese to Hope of Hartford to using them for the outer triangles for a square-in-square block.)

The master plan for ORL at this point is to scoop all the sewn-together parts and set them aside, while I continue making more components as leader/enders for my other projects.

You know, projects like Burgoyne, who had to get displaced so I could take photos of Ringo.

He's now mumbling to himself over there in the corner, and making ominous threats involving "Surrounding".  Ringo better watch his back...

Come see the last Ringo Lake linkup at Bonnie Hunter's place.  So many people played along with this mystery quilt - isn't that a wonderful thing?

Surrounded by Burgoyne...

Let's be clear.  I started making a Burgoyne Surrounded quilt because I fell in love with Cathy's blocks when she started hers.
At first I was just going to make one block, to try out the pattern.  That plan lasted about 5 minutes.
Then I figured I'd make 4 blocks for a nice wall quilt or table topper.  Yeah, another failed plan.
Well, nine blocks would make a nice baby quilt.  But I blew right past nine and headed for twelve.
But twelve was totally going to be IT,  3x4, nice lap quilt, done now, no, really.
But.
When I hit sixteen, I was definitely done done done, I'm so done, no more blocks, nice big square couch quilt, no more blocks.
Yeah, right.
Number seventeen happened the other day.

Followed by number eighteen...

And number nineteen is all cut out and ready to go.

And number twenty - fabric pulled, and starting to cut the bits.

I swear on a stack of Quilter's Newsletters that I'm going to stop at twenty blocks.  That's a full-sized big honkin' quilt.  I'm now up to my earlobes in full-size quilt tops.  (Note to my kids - if you see one of my quilts that you really really want, speak up and if I ever finish it, it's yours!)

And look - I really do have to stop now.  Burgoyne is currently also trying to surround Ringo Lake.

If I make any more blocks, it's going to ooze over this whole side of the state...


Linking with Quilting is more fun than Housework for Oh Scrap!  Come see what all us scrappy folk are up to!
Also linking with Sew Stitch Snap Share at kokaquilts.  Come see all the stitchy inspiration!

Paltry rainbow bits

I didn't get much chance to sew this week, and no time at all for RSC's February color, even though purple (purple!) is one of my favorite colors.  (Yes, you caught me.  I have a lot of favorite colors.  (Orange!)  But isn't life just nicer when you have a lot of favorites?)

I did manage to get one block more done for January, though,

before I started folding light blues and putting them away.  (No really.  Imagine me folding and putting away.  I know, right?)

See?  Folding and stacking as I finish with each one.

Mostly because my fabric shelves are looking like this and I was starting to worry about being injured in an avalanche...

Linking with So Scrappy for ScrapHappy Saturday.  Come see all the rainbow fun!