scrappy log cabin mini

 This is a 12 x 12 tabletopper (candlemat placemat) I finished this week....
I have a lot of strips I cut with my GO cutter of really old fabrics and some newer fabrics too...

 I did straight quilting starting with the first block next to the center and just kept going around in a
continuous line.  I used varigated thread.

 The back is Susan Winget fabric from many years ago....

 I made some more blocks and will probably make a quilt of these blocks with sashing...

 Another one....these are 12 ½" blocks unfinished....

In this block I am just going to continue adding more to it.....
So easy and so fun........
Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Linking to Linky Party Tuesday, finish it up Friday and Link a Finish Friday

5 by 5 blue mini

 I finished this little 12½ square quilt yesterday...
I used varigated thread of blue and pink to quilt it....
I have a lot of fabrics that I am trying to use and not just sit...
AND these fabrics I purchased almost 20 years ago!
I have been cutting strips of my old fabrics with my GO.....
I have blogged before about these little squares and 4 patches.

 I have collections of Susan Winget panels that I purchased long ago!

 I really like her designs and decided I would use this piece as the back...

Since I finished these yesterday I will add to finish it up Friday and Link a Finish Friday.

Will also link to Linky Tuesday.

Strips & Squares Saturday Linky Party

I am trying something new............
There are times when I just want to sew....sew....sew....
and when there are strips already cut then it is so easy to grab them and sew!!
I got the idea to do a linky party where we can share projects of what we are doing using strips and squares.. AND today is the first day.

In my last post I mentioned about cutting strips with my Go and that is certainly a fast and fun way to get those strips.  Then the fun begins to use them in so many ways.  The following photos are just playing with different possibilities.  The first two photos are something new I had not done before.  I got the idea from the book Strip Smart Quilts by Kathy Brown.

 Then I always love doing 4 patches...

 and I made them into a 16 patch..

 then I cut some squares and mixed squares and 4 patches...

 I have a box of twosies and this morning I made some chains of 4 patches...

I want to know how you are using your strips and squares

UFO and some new

 Pat Sloan has a UFO challenge on her blog here and this tablerunner is the one I picked to finish in January.
I just have the binding and a label yet to finish.  I have put photos on instagram and I will do a blog post of this with photos when it is finished!

I can only work on UFOs so long and I need to start something new....anyone else like that?

I have been using my GO to cut up strips of a lot of my fabrics that have been sitting around for years.  I need to get these used up and out of here.  I need more space for new stuff!  hee..hee!  Today I am trying a new block.  I sewed 2 1½" strips to a 2½" strip and then cut on diagonal.

I have been searching for different things to do with strips.  Last weekend I set up a linky so this next weekend is when it will start.  I sure hope it works.  I would like to know what others are doing with their strips.

Since my word for the year is accomplish....I want to accomplish and learn new things.  So the linky is something I have wanted to do for awhile....got that done.  Also...I was trying to figure out how to put instagram photos on my blog....discovered an instagram widget....got that done.  I still marvel at technology and all of the possibilities.

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Linking up with Connie at Freemotion by the River.
Also linking with Kelly at My Quilt Infatuation.

Creative play

Here is a big pile of 1 1/2" strips sewn together light to dark....
I used my Go cutter to cut up some of my fabrics into strips...
No idea what I am using them for.....just sewing away.....

 Then I started cutting them into "twosies" ready when I decide how to use them..

I went to the sewing machine yesterday instead of munching on snacks....
It was a great distraction.....
I had walked 5 miles with Leslie Sansone DVD and I was feeling real good...
Being on Weight Watchers keeps you tracking all of your food you eat and all of your exercise...
Most of the time I am doing okay keeping my points within proper range....
but anyone trying to do this knows how difficult it is sometimes....
I was not about to eat up the activity points that I had sweated so hard to get!!

I am thankful for my creative hobbies...specifically sewing when I can get lost with putting the petal to the medal!

Back to creative subject...
Today I read this blog post from 15 Minutes of Play....
It was about making tiny little blocks for a mini quilt....
I have a lot of little pieces and it sounded like fun....
but I did not start off small enough....
I will be making more and see how small I can get the blocks!
It is fun to use up all of these little pieces that I can't bear to throw away....
Back to the fun...

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

a week later

I took these two photos on Feb 15 with the plan to do a blog post that day.... my husband postop from gallbladder surgery developed problems... more about that below... this is one of the blocks for a santa swap at Pat Sloan's quiltmashup forum... most everyone else is done with their blocks and I am now far behind....

here is the photo of a simple Valentine card to my sweetie... I used the stars and swirls embossing folder.... I cut out the hearts with my AccuQuilt GO!.... then stitched them with zigzag stitch... added some worn lipstick distress ink in spots... Smiles and hugs....Caryl ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~husband medical update....~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dave had the gallbladder surgery on Feb 9 and this was due to stones they discovered last Sept when he had severe pancreatitis. The surgeon was waiting for some pseudocysts to decrease in size before doing the gallbladder surgery and they did decrease. THEN on the am of Feb 15 he had sudden severe abdominal pain and we went to ER and he was admitted to the hospital and he was there for a week. He had an abdominal (hospital) infection and bile leaking from somewhere in the abdomen. So he was on IV antibiotics and they inserted a drain in his abdomen to drain the bile. He is home now with the drain and oral antibiotics....hopefully the bile leak will stop on its own! Still on a wait and see basis.....

answer to what am I working on?

Today Pat Sloan asked on her blog to share what we are working on and add to Mr. Linky... all I have left on my Chantelle tulip is hand stitching the binding to the back...

More progress done on this mini quilt...blogged end of the year....

sorry for the blurrr....some strips using blues and purples... Also...I am going to make a recipe I pinned on pinterest called the easiest bread ever...made with club soda... OH...and I bought an AccuQuilt GO! I got it last weekend at Joann's in Temecula on sale....when we were on our way to the Road to California quilt show. Then I had fun in the booth at Road buying fabric cutting dies. So I want to do some cutting up fabric too! Smiles and hugs....Caryl