Scrappy String Quilting

As I promised in the podcast that no one can listen to yet because itunes is being snobby, I present:

Scrappy String Quilting Tutorial

Enjoy!

First I want to say that I in no way am taking credit for inventing this technique. Last weekend I bought some bags of scraps from my friends at Sharman's Sewing Center and with that purchase I received a copy of this pattern/technique. What I am presenting here is a demonstration of that technique. I don't want anyone to think I'm doing anything shady here.



 

First you start with a pile of scraps. The scrappier the better.

Then you begin with your foundation muslin. It doesn't have to be muslin, but I'd hate to waste pretty fabric on this part because you won't see it in the end. These are cut in 7" squares and set on point. 

Then you take your first strip and place it RIGHT side UP on the center line of your muslin. 

Next you select the second strip and place it face down on the first strip which is face up.  (I really should get a new ironing board cover--those blue stripes are making me dizzy!) 

Then you sew a 1/4 inch seam down the right sides of these two strips sewing them to the foundation muslin. 

The you flip the second strip open. 




  
 
 

 And press it open.

You repeat the same process with the third strip lining up on the right side of the second strip.

Again, sewing a 1/4 inch seam down the right side. 

Open.

Continue to repeat this process.

You repeat the same process with the third strip lining up on the right side of the second strip.  Until you get all the way out to the corner. Then you flip the square and repeat this process until you get to the other corner and have the entire foundation piece covered.

 It should look something like this.

The you flip the entire piece over and this is what it should look like from the back. 

Using your ruler and your rotary cutter, you trim the excess from the edges.  (And if your hands look as bad as mine, you immediately get some lotion and make an appointment for a manicure....STAT!)

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This is the little bitty pile of scraps you will have left over after you trim all four sides.

And this is what your square will look like when you turn it over. You are finished with this square.

 

And here's a way to arrange 4 squares into a block. I love how completely different each square is but yet they are the same.

 My favorite part about this whole technique is that I use up all of those little strips and scraps of fabric I have left over from other things that are too small or odd-shaped to do anything else with. Plus it just feels good not to waste something as precious and expensive as fabric. I love my fabric and I want to get to use it up to the last little drop.

Here are the same four squares arranged in a diamond (?) pattern.

Here's a square I did with some fun juvenile prints. I love this one! I have to get me some more of these kind of scraps. I love the bright colors.

And this is just a little bit of doggy scrumptiousness I threw in because I love y'all. Isn't he the sweetest? Just looking at this makes me want to give him a big old smooch!

This is my handsome boy Pig. Yes I said Pig.

I DID A PODCAST! OMG! WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

Okay....if you are looking at this blog because you heard of it on my new podcast "Silly Chick Designs" then you are at the right place. This started as a blog that was used to share family news.....this podcasting thing is a new venture so forgive the old stuff and we will jump right in. I obligated myself on the podcast to take some pictures and to post a tutorial....I just recorded that podcast and I am furiously working on the pics and shownotes for all of that! I'll post as soon as I can! Leave me comments! At least good comments anyway!.....Just kidding! Glad you stopped by! Have a great day!

I'm still alive! I promise!

I know I haven't posted anything since August--I'm very sorry. It's been a rough few months.


Okay biggest news of all--I am now a mother-in-law and I am expecting my first grandbaby....didn't necessarily happen in that order, but what are you going to do? Lindsay Kay has married her boyfriend Chris (this is NOT the boyfriend who caused so many problems last year) and is now Lindsay Kay Jacobs. They are expecting their baby on May 15, 2010. They have an apartment on the square in Rusk which literally puts them about 50 yards from my house. They haven't found out the sex of the baby, and unless they change their minds, they say that they won't be finding out. I have decided that it is a girl and her name is Petunia Louise--don't you LOVE it?! HA! My grandmother name will be Lola--that is the Phillipino word for grandmother and I will be going to the Phillipines in April 2010. Plus it doesn't sound old like granny or anything--it makes me sound like a sexy grandma! Ha!




I'm going to post some pictures now and again--I never know what order they will be in so I'll just give explanations as they post. One of these days I'm going to figure this dang thing out! I'm starting to get it, but it has still taken me hours to post this....sorry! You guys are worth it though! I love you!

I love this picture. This is my mom, Aunt Kathy, Aunt Sandy and Aunt Carolyn. Four sisters.....makes my heart safe and happy.

My wonderful parents--Hank and Linda. Awww--they are so sweet.



Mack and Aunt Sandy--that's a great picture of them.

I do love my Aunt Sandy!

This is the first in a series I like to call...."Uncle Shorty!!!!!!!" You'll understand the title in 3....2....

1!!!!!!!!!!! That look in his eye....so determined.

I love a pervert! ha!

Oh sure Aunt Kathy....now you act surprised!

A sweet picture of Aunt Carolyn, Tricia, and Mary Nell.


Oh! Hey look--this is the turkey Ken and I made for Thanksgiving! Turned out kind of good! It tasted almost as good as it looked. That whole turkey cooking thing wasn't as bad as I had myself believing.

This is a very brief layout of the quilt I'm working on. Not sure if I'm ever going to finish it. Had it this far forever....can't seem to get back to it...maybe after Christmas. The entire thing will be made from scraps when I get finished. Look how thrifty I am....

Here's a picture of Ken, Erica, and Aaron after Erica got her Master's Degree from Midwestern State University and Aaron got his Associates Degree from Trinity Valley Community College. I am VERY proud of them both. Not sure if you can tell by the pic but their daddy is pretty proud too.

Jarrett at one of the football games this year with his friend Cody. Jarrett is the one with the hamburger. Never realized how much he and Cody looked alike until I took this.

Here's one of my handsome little band nerd all by himself.


So anyway....I'm back into blogging and hopefully I'll keep this up better. Be sure and leave me comments. I love everyone! I hope everyone has a great Christ-filled Christmas. I love all of you!

Trying to get caught up! Whew!

I never know what order these pictures are going to post on here so today instead of wasting more time trying to fight with the order I'll just tell you what they are as they go. I've already been sitting here for hours trying to get them off of my camera. Ugh!

This first lovely is a picture of the beautiful flowers that my mother and father-in-law, Maryann and Jerry sent me for my birthday. They are so beautiful and were such a surprise. Actually I made out quite well I just haven't taken a pic of the entire haul.

This is a picture of a little squirrel at Lake Fairfield State park eating some strawberries that I think someone may have illegally used to try to attract some raccoons the previous evening so they could take pictures of which did not work. I would never do such a thing because I am WELL aware of the rules in state parks and feeding the animals is a big no-no and I am follower of rules if I am a thing.

This is a very LARGE hole that we found in a rotton tree stump thingy. I feel certain that this is the home of a very large arthropod of some sort. I say that because the hole (sorry there is no point of reference in the shot) was about as big around as the arm of a middle-schooler and was covered with webby stuff. I did not stick around to find out who/what's home this was. Weird.


This may perhaps be the said illegal raccoon attracting device in the aforementioned thingy. They tried to get everything but this. Of course. One even came almost to the table while we were eating but no, none would come close when I was all hidden and stealth with my camera.

This is a baby armadillo that I named James. No this is not the magic of a telephoto lens. I was laying on the ground and he actually let me get this close to him. I'm sure he saw me....I mean how could you miss me, but he didn't run away. Although some little heathern boys came later on a bike and he ran away very fast. He was so cute and little. Even his little shell was still soft. No sign of a mom though.

I took this picture just because it was cool and I like to see people kickin' it old school.

This is how the Cox Clan kicks it. In the 17 foot R-sport toyhauler. It's funny because it looks like a baby RV when it's set up next to some of the biggies. But we love it and it has a toilet and AC. What more can you ask for when you're pretending to be homeless in 100 degree weather?

Okay. This is no big deal. Just supper one night, but I was working on my photography technique and lighting stuff so you get to see it anyway. It was rather tasty and attractive if I do say so myself.

The turkey cutlets in progress. They look so good they almost don't even look real.

The taters! Mmmmmm!

Oh! Here's my latest creation....a cute little wallet. I used a tutorial I found on-line. I meant to include a link but forgot and now I'm on a roll so if anyone wants it I'll go get it.

The 1st wallet pic was of it in action....this was before I put anything in it. It's funny....I had to borrow the dollar from Jarrett just so I could have some money to show in the pic. Ha!

This is what it looks like all closed up. You can't see it in this pic but it even has two snaps just like the store-bought ones. The colors are much brighter but I got carried away in my photo editing. Sorry.

This is an upclose picture of the last quilt I made. I made this one for my friend Tamara...she's the one who's been pregnant the entire time I've known her...anyway...isn't it cute? I just love the fabric--it has little onesies all over it. Bought that at the Quilt Cottage in Fairfield....if you're ever in the area you should stop there. It's the cutest shop and those ladies are so sweet. Could've spent all day there but my guys wanted to get back to the camping.

This is the quilt from far away. Sorry it's so blurry. Normally I take quilt pictures over the stairs but Jarrett would not help me hold it so I had to improvise and this corner of the living room was too dark. Of course I always finish a quilt after midnight so I can forget natural light.

I didn't take any pictures but I have also made about 10 cloth napkins to use. They are actually quite cute but they got put into service immediately so I didn't get a chance to take their picture. I'm trying to seriously reduce the number of paper towels we use. I hate it. I pay good money so we can wipe crap on them and then throw them away. Ugh. It's ludicrous. I haven't used a paper towel all week. I'm so good. Plus I'm so dang crafty I amaze myself--they are downright cute too! Oh yeah! I've also made 2 purses. They are cute but again, put into service too fast for photos. Maybe next time.

So anyway, that is what I've been up to the last couple of weeks. All of this and then throw in a couple of work trips to Houston, 2 to Austin, and 1 to Laredo....no wonder my hiney is dragging. I'm very excited this weekend though. I am chaperoning a bunch of heatherns from church to a youth evangelism conference in Dallas....I think me, Ms. Sheri, and Mr. Richard are the ones you should be praying for. We leave Friday afternoon and come back Saturday afternoon and then that night we are going to Tyler to eat dinner with my step-daughter Erica and her new honey Ian. We've never met Ian so this will be great. I know Erica is VERY fond of the young man so he can't be all bad. Then on Sunday morning, I'm getting up early to drive to Lake Whitney to see my mom and dad who will have driven up from the valley. YAY!!!! I'll get to see a bunch of my most favorite people in the world all in one weekend.

Anyway....this has literally taken me hours to do this post. I swear I'm going to take a class or buy a book or something. I'm too smart not to better at this stuff. I hope everyone has a blessed rest of the week and if I get a chance I'll post more.

Oh, in case anyone cares, I have happened on to this wonderful website that has some of the best photography as well as the best photography instruction, plus some great recipes too, so if you want to have a look it's http://www.pioneerwoman.com/ . Another is http://www.madebypetchy.com/ Petchy is great...plus she's from Norway and she has some of the best tutorials I have found. I've made several of her projects. Waiting on her to get her new sewing machine so she can get some more stuff done.

Until later! Love you bunches! Love your hair--hope you win!

--toodles, Toni

Please Be Patient!

I know that no one is even reading this yet but me, but anyway. I had a fast trip to Houston last night and got back late. I'll be posting pics from my recent camping trip to Fairfield State Park (Texas Parks & Wildlife) as well as the baby quilt I just finished for my friend Tamara. Hopefully I'll get that done tonight or tomorrow.

I'm going to try to post some of the photos from our recent 4th of July trip to Ft. Parker. It was 104 degrees so if in some of the pics the subjects appear to be melting---you'll know why.

This was one of the first things we saw...not really off to the start I was hoping for.

So after seeing the posted alligator warnings what do we do?

You guessed it--we got in the water!

My Jarrett was a natural in that kayak--like his mother of course....ha!

This was a kind of quiet spot back up the river. It was very pretty here, but I'm guessing that this is where the alligators spend most of their time. It was a bit swampy.

Have you ever seen a buzzard up close? Never really wanted to until I found one that would let me sneak up on him and take his picture. He looks a little sad....probably just the heat. That and maybe no dead things around for him to snack on.....you just never know I guess.

My husband calls these cecada's (sp?) but we always called them locusts when I was a kid. He tells the story that when he was young they would tie a string around them and then fly them around like little bug kites. Not sure the SPCA would have approved of that, but what are you going to do?

This is all I can post for tonight. It's only taken about 5 million hours to get my pictures downloaded and then to figure out how to get them here. Please don't judge my photography skills by these pictures. I have had a tough time converting them to JPEG's and downloading them. The actual photos are much better. I'm just not as tech savvy as I hope to one day be.

Good night everyone! Remember, if you don't always feel blessed, perhaps that's because it's your turn to be the blessing.