Category Archives: Scrap Happy Quilts

Broken Blocks, Daily Practice, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Scrap Happy Quilts

Snow

  Hello,

We are deep in snow here in upstate New York.     It just keeps falling form the gray sky.   The pine tree shown here was just a little six inch twig when  I planted it 25 years ago.   Now I wish it was not so close to the others as I  fear it will become distorted as it grows taller.    Not a lot I can do about that now, except enjoy its  growing beauty.

Snow kept Sharon and I home on the first of Dec, but when we  finally went to Old Forge to get our quilts on Monday, it was glorious.  The sky was an amazing blue and the snow covered landscape was beautiful.    The whether caused the cancelation of two other events for me this week, but I did make it to the Christmas Concert that my Daughter  was in on Tue.   ( she is the smiling one in the back)    My packages are wrapped and I am doing correspondence  now.   It is the season of renewing connections for me.

  Progress Report: Polk Berries    This is the first quilt using  Broken Blocks  as the background for the work.   I have appliqued down all the berries now.  They area made from old ribbon that my friend Marilyn gave me last spring.

 

 

 

Double Quilt   I finished assembling this side of the  double quilt.  It is quilted to the batting.   Yesterday I pin basted the broken block top to the other side.  Now I will quilt it through all the layers .   Not sure what will happen as is always true of experiments.   I will report next week .

 

Scarp Happy  This work is all assembled now and the boarders are on.  I have done the machine step as far as binding is concerned.   Hopefully I will begin the hand work there this week too.

 

 

 

Tree Project- 2 Birch Tree  I thought I was done with this block, but in looking at it this morning, I am not so sure.   I think I will let it be for the time being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tree Project -3 Dead Tree

This  is the newest tree project.   I am slowly working on the accompanying pine threes here.

 

Flotsam and Jetsam   I think I am nearing the end of add on’s for  this project.   I will spend time looking this week and then make my decision.

 

 

 

 

 Lap 26/25   I am at the lay out of the parts stage of this work.  It will be a bright one.

 

I hope everyone is enjoying the  holidays.

 

Carol

 

Broken Blocks, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Plants, Scrap Happy Quilts, Trees

December Full Moon

Hello,

Tonight is a the full moon and it is what is called a Cold Moon.   It is also the last full moon of this year.  The next full moon is in the first week in January.   I have always been fascinated by the moon and check the sky almost every night.

I hope everyone had a pleasant holiday.   I went to Joyce’s talk at the Schweinfurth   last week.  She did a good job showing her diverse approach to the fiber world.

 

This is a shot of her many baskets.

Winter is in full swing here in central NY and due to a lot  snow storm,  we put off my trip with Sharon to Old Forge to pick up our work.   We will try again on Monday.

 

Progress Report:   Crystal Blocks  This quilt is 38.5 X 38.5.  I started this at the Sisterhood Retreat in Oct.  After a false start and a rework of the block design this is the finished piece.

 

 

I am thinking I may do the block a second time with different emphasis.

 

 

 

Double Quilt    I have now finished the second side of this piece.  It in based to the batting and I am now ready to move on to the next step.

 

 

 

 

 

New Lap  A friend gave me a bag full of her old cotton shirts and I have decided to use it as the jump off for my next lap quilt.

 

 

 

Tree Serries- Block 1   I completed this first block and I have decided it takes more than a week to do the job.   These blocks are bigger so  a years worth of projects will probably do the trick.

 

 

Tree Serries-  Birch Tree    This is the second square for this project. I want to add some interest on the ground and it will be complete.

 

 

 

Black Capped Chickadees   I have started adding berries to this work.  Stitch circles is slow for me.

 

 

Broken Block- Polk Berries  This is what I want to build on top of the second Broken Block series.  I started this one at the Fall retreat at the Schweinfurth.

 

 

 

 

Scarp Happy  All the rows are added to the quilt now and I am ready to begin the boarders.   It is all made from left over blocks so it it a bit random.

 

It is a  busy time of year, but I hope to get into the studio a bit every day or so.

Enjoy the season.

Carol

Applique, Circle Challenge, Hand work, Pixies Group, Scrap Happy Quilts, Sisterhood of the Scissors

Home from Sisterhood Retreat

Hello,

I arrived home from the 2025 Sisterhood of the Scissors Retreat on Kuka  Lake yesterday.  We left on Friday last week so and  I  had a good time.   Liz got sick on day two and Victoria was not at the top of her game either.

It was a glorious time to be there as the color was great.   I walked every day and that added to my pleasure.

 

Everyone  sharded great little gifts and I came home with a horde of new items.    They are a generous and thoughtful group of gals.   The spotted fabric at the bottom is the challenge fabric for 2026.   Susan selected it for us.

 

 

 

 

This years challenge produced a wide variety of solutions.        Deb saw a lamp in the fabric and produced this bed room.  She also used it in the head board.

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce saw a volcano in the fabric.      She got to use  a little her new coloring technique as well as the insert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathy worked on this nice big project with lots of hand work on it .

 

 

 

This handsome small work was by Victoria.

 

 

 

 

 

Ann had a nice solution as well.

 

 

 

This is my work.

 

 

 

Everyone had projects that they worked on during the week as well as some show and tell.

Joyces spent some time beading on this beautiful batik piece.

 

 

 

 

She also had a good time working with her Gelli plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann worked on this piece that is a map of Kuka lake.   She stitched down all the buildings and is now ready to begin adding grape leaves to represent the vineyards around the lake.

 

 

Ann had some wonderful little quilts for show and tell.   She also showed off some of her beautiful crochet work.

 

 

 

 

 

Susan was jut home from another retreat doing three D work using paper and cardboard that she hand stitched together.

 

 

She showed off and worked on this flat  piece too.

 

 

Kathy worked on this Quilt of Valor.  It is ready for layering and quilting now.

 

 

 

We took a  field trip on Sat to the Windmill and shopped and ate lunch.

 

 

 

 

It was a beautiful. day and we enjoyed ourselves.

 

 

 

We ate a lot of ice cream, sat on the big poaches and talked.   The whole event went very quickly with  a lot of work and relaxation for us healthy folks.

 

Progress Report:   Hummingbirds    I took lots of projects to the retreat.    I did draw and outline the humming birds for my Hollyhock quilt.  But I was not sure how I wanted to do the wings and so this is all I got done.

 

 

 

 

Round It Out   I feel like I made a good start on this new project.  The base is built and I have some of the circles pinned in place.    It is really a work in progress.

 

 

Cut It Up     I had cut up all the squared before I left and I sent a day squaring them up and putting them together  at the retreat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrap Happy The box of leftover squares from old scarp happy quilts was overflowing so I knew there were enough for a new top.  This one is in rows with no pattern .

 

 

  Handwork- Summer Meadows   I took this along as my evening handwork  and I only want to add little white butterflies to it and it will be ready for finishing.

Crystal Squares    I took this photo of a high relief sculpture at the show that the group visited in Rochester earlier this year.    I though it would be a good basis for a quilt square.

So at the retreat I drew it up and added quarter inch seams.  Using those templates,  I built one square.    I need to do some modifications on it, before it will work as a square .  But I think it is worth the effort.

 

 

Book Page   I needed to do something completely different while I was at the Zoom meeting of the Pixie group yesterday afternoon, so I pulled out this old project and worked on it.    One more flower to build  now.

 

It has been a good week and I  as soon as I get stuff put away I will be ready to tackle the projects that I am in the middle of.

Enjoy the fall and keep creating

Carol

 

 

Diva Meetings, Experiments, Hand work, SAQA, Scrap Happy Quilts

Close of Summer

Hello,

I know that Labor Day is not really the end of Summer, but 28  years of teaching school and it is a hard habit to break.   So I feel like I am heading into fall and all the joys it holds.

I went to the opening of Contrast- Oxymorons,  SAQA NY- NJ   show with Marty on Saturday, at the ROCO gallery in Rochester.    It was exciting for me to not only be a part of the show, but to also see all the interoperations.   Jean had a good piece with great silhouettes  of elephants.

 

 

 

 

Cynthia, had a very political piece of  “Small Crowds”

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really loves this work titled “Head over Heels”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denoise had a wonderful felted work in this show.

 

 

 

 

My work Plastic Silverware was a part of the show too.

 

 

 

 There was a fun Artist talk as a part of the event and I enjoyed that as well.

 

 

On Tuesday I took Liz to the Rock Garden show and  the Diva meeting that Cheri held.     There was lots of exciting work by my friends.  Cheri had complemented a second feather pieces from Pat’s dye class.

 

Donna had several good works.  I like this paper Mache’  Alligator head  that I liked a lot.

 

 

 

 

Denise had some great handwork on one of her dyed felted pieces.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barb is going great guns with lots of work too.     I really like the movement here.

 

 

 

Then I stopped at the  Edgewood Gallery   yesterday and saw this colorful work.

It has been a busy week.

 

 

 

Progress Report:   Hollyhocks and Humming Birds       This work was formerly called Sumer.  I have changes the flowers as I did not think the organza showed up well enough.   I am much happier with the taffeta.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scrap Happy 2-25  I am now adding the binding to this work.  Next step is do the extra quilting that I like to add.   bed quilts get lots of washings so I want it a bit more stable.

 

 

 

Tropical Waters   I am now  ready to finish this work up.  I am done with the stitching and ready to face and hang this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exploration 2     I have started doing the quilting on this project.    Progress.

 

 

 

Square Beads    I only have about 20 more of these fabric beads to stitch and I will begin to string them.   I am looking forward to that step.

 

 

 

The weeks are full and I am enjoying them.  I hope the same for all my readers.

Keep Exploring

Carol

 

 

Experiments, Felt Work, Finger Lakes Fiber Artists, Lap Quilts, Scrap Happy Quilts

Summer Worming

Hello,

Sorry this is a bit late, but my week has been full of events- not all quilt related.   Yesterday, the Sisterhood of the Scissors meant at the Rochester Memorial Museum to view their annual show .   This metal fish  from   that show. really caught my eye.

 

I also loved this wonderful pen and ink drawing.

 

 

 

 

This painted piece was  one of the ones of my favorites.   So much color and so beautifully done.

 

 

 

 

 

In the section of the museum of” works out of storage”- I came across this work.       It is made from spools.   The artist provided viewers that made the images right side up too.

 

 

 

Ann showed off her newest vest at our meeting.

 

 

 

 

 

Earlier in the week I went to the Finger Lakes Fiber Artist meeting.    There were eleven  gals present.     This work is by Linda and is 12″ X 12″.

 

 

 

 

 

Deb is working on flowers .

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce is still playing with her new love – branch weaving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joan is working big and pushing herself in new directions.

 

 

 

Jean M did some rework of her project from the last meeting.  This final result is great!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jean G reworked  her tree piece too.    The rotting tree trunk is much more distinguishable  now.

It was a good meeting and we all seemed to have a good time.

 

 

 

 

I learned that my daughter is using her  scrap happy quilt as part of her camping gear.    What a nice complement.

 

 

  Progress Report: Experimental Challenge # 2 This is my solution to the challenge that we are doing at Marcia’s.   It is 12″ X 12′”.   Two more works to do in this challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lap 16-25    This work is pin based and all ready for quilting.    I enjoyed using more fabrics from Pat’s class on this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lap 17- 25   I have only laid out the big block centers for this next lap quilt.

 

 

 

Shore Line   I just keep working away on this project.   It is building up nicely.

 

 

 

 

Blue Blossoms    This is a close up of one of the dragonflies  on this work.     I am mixing felt work with embroidery here and like the effects. I am pleased with how it is coming along too.

The other thing that has take up my time is my, is my planning and packing for my two week at Quilting by the Lake.     I have Independent Studio  week one.  That requires a lot of time and thinking on my part as to jut what I want to do and I am not quite certain.   Secondly the class I wanted to take is not going as the teacher is ill.  There for I got to choose an alternative and I selected Express Your True Self with Sheila Frampton-Cooper.   That meant that I had to put aside all the things I had collected for my chosen class and pull out a new batch of materials.   I am sure I will enjoy this one even thought it is not what I was anticipating.    I will report on all of it after it is over in Aug.

Keep Creating

Carol

 

 

 

Experiments, Felt Work, Hand work, Lap Quilts, People, Plants, Re Work, Scrap Happy Quilts

Holiday week

Hello,

I hope all enjoyed the 4th in their own way.  We went to dinner and fireworks with friend’s.     It was a cool and beautiful evening.

Not a lot going on this week but work in the studio.

Progress Report: Lap 15-25   I am all but done with this project.  I only need to finish the binding on the side and bottom.  This is a successful use of some of the fabric from Pat’s dye class from last month.    I am glad I can use it in this fashion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robin Pillow   I finished this project this week.  Not really sure were I will put it as the couch does not need any new ones, but I am sure it will find a home.

 

Scarp Happy 2-25   I made this quilt for my own bed and I am sure I will enjoy it this winter.   The old one is getting a bit thin.

Lap 16-25   This project was made with fabric that I purchased on the Canada Trip.   It was fun to use mostly material that someone else selected for a change.   I will mix the remainder with my own selections next time.

 

 

 

Lap 17-25   I pulled these fabrics for the next lap quilt. Again I am trying to mix my prints with commercial  stuff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shore Line   I can’t seem to help myself when it comes to these high textural pieces.   This one has plastic fruit bags and silk paper on it too.   Only a few buttons and such so far.

 

Blue Blossoms   While I had a the felter out,  I made some flower forms too.   I am ready for some handwork on this one I think.

 

 

Experiment    At the family picknick we had lots of soda and that  lead to several of those plastic carrying units.  I just could not seem to toss them aside, so I did a little play them as the starting  unit. I crouched with two strands of yarn in a free motion form around  them.   They are interesting- but not sure what to do next…    Got to live with them for a while I guess.

Enjoy summer  and  Keep playing

Carol

 

Applique, Felt Work, Hand work, Landscapes, Lap Quilts, Scrap Happy Quilts

Summer Time

Hello,

The time rushes forward and things grow and change.  We had a good rain over night and the birds took advantage of the waters yesterday.   The joy and splashing went on for about 10 min.   This week was a busy one for me.  I enjoyed  the two days I spent a Mill Site Lake.   Nancy and I took out the canoe a  prattled all around the lake.   We dogged some fishermen too.     On Saturday  I took down my solo show and learned I had sold a third work.   I had two luncheon dates with different  Quilt buddies.  Always good to talk and support one another in any way we can.

Progress Report: Alpha Lepes  Galaxy     This piece got a lot of work this week.  I added many more beads to represent the stars.  It also got stretched.

Lap 14-25     I enjoyed working on this new lap quilt this week.   I recall years ago being in a class were  the teacher asked us to list our least favorite color.  I said this green was mine.  I have grown to enjoy using it very much.  She sure was correct in her evaluation.

 

 

 

 

New Lap  Laura selected purple as the color to look out for this week.  I got so far as to pull out a bunch for my next lap quilt.   I am also using one more of the fabrics from my dye class with Pat Pauly.

 

 

 

 Closer Look Inspirations   This work is based on a close up of a Suzea Phone that I saw in  the Ringling Museum in Florida after the SAQA Conference.     Looking close was one of the challenges from one of the speakers.   The fabrics are mostly form the Canada trip.  Its a good stretch for me.

 

 

Necklace  Squares   I am still making squares for this project. There are over 100 now and the bag is still full or more to stitch.

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Poppies  I am now ready to felt these blue wool units to turn them into poppy seed pods for my next felted work.

 

 

Experimental Landscapes  #2 Field of Gold   I put a lot of new work into this challenge this week.  The birch trees got added.  I free motion stitched down lots of leaf shapes on top and next to the green.       Adding flowers with be the next.

 

Sisters  I layered this pieces and added  hair to the faces this week.   I got the purple shirt at the Mission Possible store in Redwood while I was up a the lake.

 

 

 

Scarp Happy 2-25   All the rows are assembled and the boarders are on now.  I need to do the hand step of the binding and add the diagonal quilting and this project will be complete.

 

 

 

 

 

New Work     I feel ready to start a new texture work with beads and such.   I reworked this old rock piece and made it into a rectangle for my base.

I hope all  enjoy the 4th of July.

 

Keep Creating

Carol

Curvie Cuts, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Scrap Happy Quilts, Stretch Works

Moving Forward

Hello,

It has been a full week with lots of out door work.  I am  also starting to select works for my up coming show.   It will be made up of only  fabric collage without any quilts.

 

 

 

Here is the post card.

I spent Thursday at the Schweinfurth helping cut squares for a raffle quilt for Q=A=Q in the fall.

 

 

There was also a meeting at Marcia’s on Friday.

 

This work is by Jean  and a strong graphic.

 

 

 

 

 

Joyce is starting a new direction- branch weaving.   It is delightful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kathy is working in black and white at the moment.

We all had a good time and enjoyed the day.

Saturday  I went to lunch with Liz,  Victoria and Susan  were we made plans for more work.   I feel so very fortunate to have so many friends.

 

Progress Report: Lap 11-25   This lap quilt is all ready for layering and quilting.   I hope to get to it this week.   I took seven to my local nursing home .

 

 

 

 

Challenge    I am working away on the challenge from Marcia meeting.   Not at all sure what to call this and at this point I do not like it at all.

 

 

 

 

Spot On    This work really took on a life of it’s own when I started to build beyond the  curvy cut background.    I bit unnerving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scarp Happy   I am putting together leftovers and such, for the back of the scarp happy project.  I was over rambunctious and  have made enough assemblage for two backs and possibly  a third.

 

 

 

 

 Fabric Necklace   There was an article in Quilting Arts about making square fabric beads.     Jean at the FLFA meeting was wearing one and she has inspired me to start one of my own.     The squares are cut and pressed but no stitching as of yet.

I hope that Spring is bringing joy to you.

Keep  Creating

Carol

 

 

 

 

Applique, Hand work, Lap Quilts, Scissors, Scrap Happy Quilts

Rainy Spring

  Hello,

We are having a very rainy spring around here.  The flowers are really blooming though.     It has been a very quiet week for me with only the regular zoom meetings and such.    So I did a lot of work in the studio.

 

 

Progress Report: Dreaming

I really enjoyed working on this one.  It started with a close up of a piece of clay sculpture.   This is a new way of beginning for me and  I think I will do more work from this point of view.

 

 

There is a lot more quilting on this work than I usually do too

 

 

 

 

Red Tide   This work is 15.5 ” w X 25″ t.   I tried a new presentation for this one.  It is stretched around a foam core board.  I did this so I could stitch the piece through the foam core and it would not sag.

 

 

 

I sure enjoyed working with all the texture on this one.

 

 

 

 

Lap 9-25  I took  this work and  six other lap quilt s off to the nursing home on Thur.   They seemed pleased to get them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lap 11-25   This is the next one.  It will be ready to quilt some time this week end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scarp Happy   I am putting together a lot of leftovers to make a scrappy back for this next project.

 

 

 

 

Cut is Out – possibility     I pulled out these fabrics from the ones I dyed in Pat’s class two weeks ago.  I think they go together and will work for my nest scissors project.

 

 

 

 

 

Handworks  Adding  the blanket  stitch in navy blue makes the spirals come out form the background.  There is really too much clutter in this one.   Hopefully this will make it work.

 

 

 

 

 

New Work  I found these four heads  at the bottom of a box of scraps.   I will see if I can make them work in a new piece.

 

 

 

 

 

Grandmothers Gloves    I finished the last square in this project and then I put them all together like a quilt as you go block system.   Now I need to add a binding .

 

Keep Creating .

Carol

Birds, Hand work, Sandpipers, Scrap Happy Quilts

More Sun Shine

Hello,

I am enjoying the days of more light.   It is nice to get up with the sun.   That will all change again on Saturday when we go to Daylight Savings Time.   But just the thought of more day light  is cheering to me.

Wendy and I went swimming on Thursday  last week and stopped at the Betts Library to check out the Cabin fever Quilt show on the way.   My piece, Blue Spanish Eyes  is a part of that show.

 

 

 

I also  included had my “Hand Out ” piece in my entries for the Betts show.  All the hands in this piece are drawn form photos I took of fellow quilter’s.

 

 

 

 

I was impress by this work too.   It has such strong colors.

 

My only other event  was  to the Pixie meeting.   I have decided not to include the meetings in my beginning topics.

 

Progress Report: Lap 4-25  This lap quilt was the big  thing I finished this week.     Sometimes one just needs to put in the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5-25     I did start this new lap quilt this week.     I sure enjoy these little projects that are judge free.

 

 

 

 The Tide’s Out     This project is going well.   I only have about  a 8″  section to complete and then it is off to the framers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sandpipers   These fellows are all hand colored.   Now I am juggling then around on the background before I stitch them onto the surface.

Handwork  This work is done at then point.   I don’t have any goal for what will happen to this work.   Sometimes it is just about the process.

 

 

 

 Suit Case  My old suit case  is wearing out and it is too big to be a carry on, so I purchased a new one.   I like to identify them with squiggle paint, so there in never any doubt who’s case is mine.    It also means that when I travel in a group, folks get so they recognize  my piece and will often pull it off the caracal for me.

 

10″ X 10″  I want to contribute to the Art Rage auction so I have cut these two 1)” squares to embellish for that purpose.

Judy’s Banquet   Judy gave me an old prom dress and I am cutting it apart to use in this new quilt.

 

 

 

 

 

New Handwork     Having finished up a handwork project, I quickly pulled out a new one to work on.

 

Scrap Happy 1-25   I started a new scrap happy  project this week.   Now all the blocks are cut.

 

 

I hope folks are enjoying the longer day light hours and using them effectively.

Keep Creating

Carol