To Do Tuesday
I thought it about time for me to write a To Do Tuesday post and link up with Texas Quilt Gal for the To Do Tuesday linky party. It’s been awhile! Longer than I thought, actually! So let me catch you up on what I’ve been doing.
Most of you know I’ve been part of the Stay at Home Round Robin hosted by Quilting Gail. We’ve had so much fun this year, seeing the variety of quilts for this sew along. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself, although recently there was some ripping. Sigh.
At least it was a fun color to rip! That happens to be Kona School Bus, and I think I need to make a quilt with that as the background color, just to brighten things up around here! Ha!
I’ve also tested a few blocks for Sandra Healy Designs. She has a group of nautical blocks in her shop – they are such fun! Of course, I had to get a little crazy with the seahorse. I just couldn’t resist.
Sandra has all three of these designs available in her shop, you can see them here. The whale and the beach hut blocks come in two sizes – 12″ and 6″ (finished) for the beach hut and 24″ and 12″ (finished) for the whale. I finished up one more test block today; I’ll show you that one after Sandra releases it.
When I wasn’t testing blocks, I stitched up some simple pillows. Two for my daughter:
Aren’t they cute? Both canvas fabrics came from JoAnns. The pillows measure 18 inches. I used my favorite pillow forms from Ikea – you can see them here. Yes, they are 20″ pillow forms; they fit into the pillow cases and fluff up nice and plump!
Hubs and I just replaced our living room furniture, and he wanted a small head pillow. I found this fabric in my stash, a teal essex linen (I think). The pillow measures 12.5″ x 16.5″ and the pillow form is a cheap one I picked up at Hobby Lobby.
Now that all of that fun stuff is checked off my to do list, what’s coming up?
One of my goals this year is to do more improv quilting, so I signed up for the Modern Improv Quilt Academy with Carole Lyles Shaw. Through a series of workshops, Carole takes us through a variety of improv quilts. So far I’ve missed the first two Zoom sessions (they are recorded, so no worries, but not as much fun). I’m hoping to catch up a bit this week. Stay tuned!
In the past, I’ve also enjoyed participating in the Quilt Improv Studio challenges. The current challenge is well underway, and I hope to get going on my quilt for that this week. You can read about the challenge here. This challenge is open to anyone who wants to join in, and it’s free. All the details are at that link. Here are the fabrics I think I’ll be using for the challenge.
One last thing I need to do this week is clean up and organize. a bit before I dive into more improv. Things get a bit messy with improv projects, and I feel more inspired if I start with a clean space.
That’s it for my To Do Tuesday post. What are you working on this week?
Wendy
SAHRR Round Five
22 Comments
Cindy Pieters
Have fun with your improv!
Nancy Bekedam
So many fun things going on there!!! Love those outdoors prints for your DD’s pillows!!! You are the improv queen!!!
texasquiltgal
What a fantastic shot of the royal paws! Sandra’s blocks are really cute. Those pillow fabrics are wonderful! I’ve never thought about buying a pillow form from Ikea, that’s a great price. I’ll have to locate a store near us. Great idea on the head pillow, my husband just asked for one last night! Love your improv fabrics.
Thank you for linking to To Do Tuesday!
Helen
I’ve enjoyed seeing these sea blocks pop up occasionally. I hope you eventually put them altogether in some kind of under the sea quilt. That will be a fun one.
karenfae
I can see improv making a mess digging through fabric containers looking for the right piece!
Cheree Hull
That’s a great opening pic: Les Pieds de Wilbs! The pillows you made for your daughter are the best–I haven’t been to JoAnn’s in for.ev.er but that fabric would definitely call to me! I agree on the seahorse–he’s pretty cute and would def be fun to choose fabrics for. Looks like the new furniture is being shown some love already!
Barbara J Stanbro
Those fishy blocks are adorable!
laura bruno lilly
I’m like you, I need a cleared off space in order to create the chaos that is improv quilting! Have fun!
BTW: what Kona calls ‘School Bus’ I remember as being called “Cheddar”. A unique orangey color that takes me back to the late 1970s!
🙂
Kathleen McCormick
The pillows are just perfect that you made. I am sorry you had time with Jack the Ripper, but I am sure you will be happier with the end result. Can’t wait to see your new improv stuff, you have such a talent for it.
Diann@ Little Penguin Quilts
I love that Kona School Bus! I saw it on another blogger’s post over the weekend being used as a background fabric, too. I’m sorry you had to rip it out, but hope you find another use for it. The pillows are great and the paper-pieced blocks so fun. I love that whale! Are you working an ocean inspired quilt?
rl2b2017
Yowza, Wendy! What a newsy post. I see Wilbs is on the job, ready to lend a paw should the need arise. Even a tail, if that would be a help. Kona School Bus – what a PERFECT name for that shade of fabric. I can attest that it is an exact match for the real thing! Those Zoom quilting classes sound quite interesting. I can’t wait until you give it a try and share your report with us. Expanding my quilting repertoire is always on my mental to-do list! {{Hugs}} Happy Tuesday, my friend!! ~smile~ Roseanne
rl2b2017
Thanks, too, for the Ikea pillow link!! What a great price and they are in-stock at the store near us.
Rochelle Summers
You have been a busy gal. Cleaning the studio is always a chore..save it or toss it? Good luck with that. Those pillows are nice. I need a pillow just like your husbands. Now that you gave the dimensions and the source of the pillow form, I have no excuse. And what an adorable photo of Wilbs’ feet.
Sandra Healy
I’m always amazed by your productivity, Wendy. I love the Joann fabric you used for your daughter’s pillows, so cute! Thanks so much for your help testing the nautical patterns. Your blocks turned out wonderfully.
The Joyful Quilter
LOVE that crazy Wilbs photo!! You’ve been busy, for sure, Wendy. I thought I might participate in that Primary Colors challenge, but have managed to get anything together. Better follow your link to find out about the deadline for that one and good luck with your entry!
Laura
Love how Wilbs is overseeing everything! That school bus fabric looks an awful lot like the cheddar that is hanging out in my sewing studio! You have found a great niche for yourself with that creative eye for improv! I also have to tidy up before creating chaos. 🙂
Carol Andrews
Wendy this is a post filled with lovely eye candy! Love the fabrics, the pillows and Sandra’s blocks (especially the fun seahorse). Have fun with your on line class. 😉
Kathy Swallows
You’ve been busy! The test blocks are really fun and so are the pillows. Hope you’ve done a quick pick up and reorganize so you can start working on that challenge. Happy stitching!
marissthequilter
Another inspiring post. Enjoy your year of improv !!
Cocoa Quilts
Wendy you have so many good things going on! I am looking forward to your improvs. You seen to have a knack for them.
Vicki in MN
I can’t wait to see your improv as you always do such a neat job! I need to do my table scraps improv for this month yet. I just can’t put my finger on what I want it to look like:0
Jocelyn Thurston
I also love that mushroom and bee fabric and how nice to find forms at Ikea to fit, I didn’t know they sold them. Learn something every day! Good luck with the Improv academy…you will do great with it Wendy. I will enjoy seeing what you create!