When you see the size of your Stash.......You Quilt!

After moving the boxes of stash to Michigan, I am focusing on using some fabric up in 2016.  Luckily for me, there have been several free quilt patterns on the web, and I am enjoying these three:

1) 365 Challenge.....http://www.365challenge.com.au/

Some friends are doing this one also, and there is either a 3 inch or a 6 inch block to piece every day.  I love small blocks and I love pieced blocks, and I love the final version of this quilt, so I am enjoying this challenge.  I post my progress on Instagram (JudyKHansen), if you go there.  I am making these blocks in pink and brown repro fabrics, and usually do a week's blocks at a time rather than one each day.

For example, here is a picture of the seven blocks of the third week of 2016:

2) Splendid Sampler.........http://www.thesplendidsampler.com/

This quilt is all 6 inch blocks, and the blocks are designed by various people, so there are lots of different quilting techniques.  I am using my floral fabrics for this one, and am substituting blocks when there is one that doesn't fit (IMHO) with the blocks already made.  I don't know what kind of setting I will be using on this quilt, but there will be 100 blocks; 2 patterns are issued each week.

Here's the very first block I made for this sampler:

3) Westering Women..........http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

Barbara Brackman's blog is very informative, plus this year she is offering a block each month in 12 inch size, and stories about the women who settled the west.  I am using my stash of plaids for this one, and I like it very much.
After working on 3 inch blocks, it is fun to make a 12 inch block once a month.

Here is March's block:

Are you working on any free Internet blocks in 2016?  These three projects have kept my mind busy and focused on fun as I wait for warmer weather.

Linking up with the usual spots:

Design Wall Mondays   (Here)
Monday Making      (Here)
Oh Scrap    (Here)

Basket Piecing Project

Want to learn how to do something better?  Do it 76 times!  This week I finished a block exchange project that I started on in January.  This picture was from a post back in January: 

Here's a snapshot of my design wall today:

These blocks finish at 6 inches square, and are made from shirtings and civil war repros.  In April, 72 blocks will be exchanged between 12 quilters, and we will all come home with blocks made from a variety of stashes.  Very exciting. 

Next on this project will be deciding what to make with them.  What vintage quilt have you seen that you think I could reproduce, using these basket blocks?

Basket Blocks, Bears, and Simplified Celtic Solstice

Last week, I put Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt, Celtic Solstice, away.  But I forgot to put it out of my head.  I was still thinking about it, and got it out again.  I moved some parts around, eliminated some parts, and now have a quilt design that I'm finally ready to construct into blocks.  Here it is on the design wall today:

Notice that no chevrons were used in the making of this photograph!  I finally figured out that the yellow and orange were the parts that didn't agree with me, and I took them out, substituting a red in the four patches and a 3 inch red print square in the center of the alternate blocks.  I like it because it keeps Bonnie's design large circles, and the colors are much more to my taste.  And it is much more simple.  I'm so glad I have settled upon a design.  Now to get it assembled.  I could call it Simplified Celtic Solstice.  The chevrons are in a shoebox, to be included in a future quilt on down the road.

While I was figuring out Celtic Solstice, I was making some basket blocks, which will finish at 6 inches.

They are fun to make, and I'm using civil war reproductions and shirting.

Since this blog has veered away from the "small quilt and doll quilt" subject matter lately, I am bringing it back to center to talk about a crib quilt that I bought while I was in Shipshewana, IN last year.  It measures 41 inches by 52 inches.

Here are closeup pictures of the three appliqued bears:

It was made from a kit from Lee Wards, probably in the 1950's - 1960's.  The little bears with their umbrellas are so cute.  I love it! 

It's Monday linkup time at Judy Laquidara's blog (Here) to see what others have on their design walls today.