Scraps, scraps and MORE SCRAPS

Scraps, scraps and MORE SCRAPS

My goal this year is to use my scraps.

This year began (for the purpose of using up scraps)

in mid September and will go thru 2019.

I am overwhelmed with the amount of scraps I have.  

15 years of making quilts produces a lot of those odd

pieces of fabric that are left over when the yardage is cut up into 

the pieces for blocks, sashes, borders, binding and backs.

I have made 5 tops so far and guess what,

I don't think I have made a dent, they just keep multiplying.

Sigh.

 I have sorted by size, well length, that took several days

Really it did, a girl can only sort for so long without getting 

bored to death.

 Once I had them sorted by size, I put them into zipper bags.

Then I sorted by color for certain designs like the log cabin

that bag has all green and white/cream for logs and

I was able to find reds for the center.

 I have something like 4 more bags like this to sort,

now you can understand why I believe this will take a year and a half

at least.

There are also drawers with scraps, one is full of precut squares and

such. 

Long strips waiting to be sewn.

 Half square triangles being made ready for a top

 Left overs from cutting triangles from newly created yardage.

I told you they just keep growing. 

That stack is now 3 times that size.  OY!

And I even threw some out....I know.....say it is not so.

One of dozens of newly created yardage from sewing strips together.

Some are  cut into strips, from 3 inches up to 6 inches wide,

some into triangles.  

 With the half square triangles I created the above top.

And from the 6 inches strips the top below.

More strips have been combine to make backs for these two tops,

I will show them later.

I finished up the log cabin top today so I have that to show you

as well.  For now I will sign off.

Have a blessed evening.  Time to go tuck the chickens in.

Computer Carry Bag

Computer Carry Bag

I have been threatening to make a bag to carry our computers in while on trips, for a long time.

It took a while to find one I really liked, I shopped for a ready made bag.

Not really anything out there that suited my fancy.

Then I came upon a class on Craftsy.com 

by Annie Unrein  called

The Ultimate Travel Bag 

and really liked how she constructed her bags so I explored her

website  @  Byannie.com  www.byannie.com  

and found just what I was looking for.  

/www.byannie.com/patterns/executive-carryalls-2

Annie carries all the supplies to make her bags except your fabric of choice.

Below is my bag.

Here are some details and the pattern is full of nice 

details including zippers, pockets, no raw seams and more.

A nice large zippered pocket on the inside, 

a sleeve in the bottom to put in something to stabilize the bottom

of the bag, we choose a piece of plywood (of course 

what else would we use with a wood shop). 

Another pocket on the other side, nice for all kinds of
accessories.  See the finished seams.

Nicely padded on the carry strap.  Three layers thick.

Handles, strong with webbing inside.
Double zipper closure.

Adjustable carry strap and really nice hardware.

Back pocket, as well as a strap for looping over a suit case handle.

Two front pockets, one with a zipper.

The bag stands up on it's own because of the liner 

Annie suggests using, called Soft and Stable.

Great stuff and easy to work with.

I decided after the bag was constructed to add our monogram.

I should have done that before construction, to thick to hoop.

So instead I made a patch using left over pieces (which were not many)

Here is the completed bag.

This is not a fast project, but a well thought out pattern

that I am very happy with.

Thank you Annie  @ byannie.com for a great pattern

and quality supplies. 

Leather Quilting

Quilting in Leather

I have been interested in learning to quilt and embroider on leather 

for a while now.  When I found an artist teaching this

techniques online I just had to give it a try.

gypsywoodleathers.com/

The class Cathy had open is called Goddess

I made a few changes to my piece from her original.  

Instead of a face I choose to put my flowers in a pot.

After quilting on my Nolting long arm I began the dyeing process

All of the steps took quite a bit of time.

A bit further on the dyeing, sure makes the design pop

Here is my completed rendition.

"Leather Blooms"

As well as the brown dye of the original I wanted 

color, so took my ink pens to it.  

Also adding crystals for a little more bling

.

 Some close ups of the detail follow.

 Inking and crystals.

Hung in the stair well leading up to my studio.

Now I am considering what to do next in leather.

It was easy to do.

  I enjoy using this different material 

as well as the dyes and inks. 

Cathy has other great designs to try

or perhaps I will design something of my own.

Applique Baby Quilt

Rock-A-Bye Rainbow Baby Quilt

I was asked to make this quilt.  

It is such a cute quilt, all done with raw edge applique.

Here is my rendition as I began to place all

the pieces where they go.  

 Adding the details, cute applique eyes and embroidered smile on the sun.

A butterfly enjoying the suns warmth.

Bright rainbow colors color the sky of blue.

Baby left by the stork and small woodland creatures looking

after her.  

 Another butterfly, fluttering by, while a baby duck swims in the pond.

 A pair of love birds in a tree.

All of the elements are blanket stitched, with embroidery details.

 Baby has removable diaper, and hand embroidered details.

A closer look at the butterfly.

Hand embroidered details, french knot eyes.

Machine embroidery making this little Ava's quilt.

Baby needed a pink bow.  

And finally a binding of many colors.

I hope Ava will like her quilt.  

A gift from her grandma, Pat.  

That I was privileged to make.

Rifle Case

Rifle Case

Kirk has been asking me to make him a rifle case.

It took a while to find the right materials, mainly the "batting".

So we gathered the oil skin, and Annie's soft and stable.

Next came the design, how to quilt it.  Embroidery or not.

Once we decided on cross hatching and embroidery designs

WE began.

After loading the flannel backing, soft and stable and oil cloth on the longarm,

I started teaching Kirk to quilt.  

 We had to come up with a few ways to do things, like putting a spine

down the back of the case, and how to get that nice and straight.

Since my machine is old and does not have channel lock, Kirk came

up with a block and clamping solution.  So we got the nice straight lines.

Next, I did not own a 30 degree ruler, so he made one out of wood

He then ordered acrylic material so he could make a clear ruler to do this.

Here you see the wood ruler.  It was a bit thick for the machine but 

worked anyway. 

After the first run,  I began the second run creating the diamonds

All this a learning and creating process.

 The completed cross hatching work for the first case.

That wood ruler worked pretty good.  ☺

Then on to the embroidery machine to add the embroidery

 Thank goodness for Mighty Hoops, I never would have been

able to hoop this with my standard machine hoops. 

 I love those hoops.

The completed rifle case after adding zipper and handles.

Trying out two different embroidery designs.

 Interior lined with flannel to cuddle the rifle.

 Embroidery close up.  

Three more rifle cases to come, they will be up for sale.

If interested let me know.

They will be $150.00

These can be special ordered.

Have a blessed day and thank you for visiting

Big Horn Mountain Creations.

Jasmine Star - Quilting

Jasmine Star Quilt

Quilting

Quilting has begun on the Jasmine Star.

This is the outer most border.

Out lining the floral and leaf designs.

 Using burgundy on the flowers and green on the leaves.

 Took a whole day to do one side of this

king top, and began the flowers.  

Like how it is looking.

BUT a lot of work.

 Not sure yet what I will do in the middle.

Stitch in the ditch for sure.

Design, guess it will evolve. 

Two weeks to get it done, so it can go in the show.

Wish me luck.