My current project!

Every so often, I get inspired by certain projects, and I realize how easy some of them would be to make, if only I did a bit of prep work. So, now when I start a new project, I cut at least one 2 1/2" strip of each of the fabrics I'm using - and then I set that strip aside. I do that with any Fat Quarters that I buy, as well (and I can't seem to go to any kind of quilt show or shop-hop without buying at least a few FQs!)
The best part about making those strips is that when I want a quick project, I can grab those strips, and I can quickly get a lot done it a short time - and seriously, how long does it take to cut an extra strip when you're already cutting 30 or 40 for another quilt project?
I saw an online request for quilts that are desperately needed for an organization, and as I was trying to decide on what specifically to do, my pre-cut strips started calling my name.... I had seen a picture of a really fun quilt online, and I had printed it off for reference. All it really needed was a lot of 2 1/2" strips, cut into 8 1/2" - 9" lengths. Sew 4 of them together, press all the seams to one side, and trim the finished block to 8 1/2" square. Then, arrange the blocks however you want!
Here's a pic of a few completed blocks, and some of the strips, and the other pic is the layout I'll probably use:

More new cards!

How can it be March 15th already? My days have been so busy lately, and yet, I can't really point to anything significant that I did... maybe because I've been spending whole days in the church library, inputting all of our resources onto a computer program. We're finally joining the 20th century!
I have had some sewing time, just don't have anything to post yet. I've stolen a few moments here and there to make a few cards though, and that's what you get to see today.
I'm hoping to send a box of things to the garage sale at my local scrapbooking store, so I've been going through magazines and assorted pictures of cards, trying to decide what to keep and what to sell. These 2 cards were from one of those magazines (can't remember which one) - they're both "Thinking of You" cards. I tend to send out a lot of these - they work for so many situations.
The little chipboard frame came from a sheet of frames that I got from Close to My Heart about 4 years ago - I never even opened the package, and was going to put them in the yard sale too, and then found this card.... so, the frames stay here for now!

I did it again...

I was supposed to post last night about my Friday Night Sew-in, and I totally forgot (plus, someone was playing games on the computer, so I couldn't post...)
At any rate, I got the strips cut for my Raven Stars quilt-along, and I worked on a sample that I'm doing for Kaye Wood.
I'm happy to say that all of the fabrics for both of these projects came from my stash. I'm trying hard not to buy fabric for the stash unless I know exactly what project it's going to be used in, and so far, so good! (I hear that the Central Park fabrics are going to be in stores here soon though, so I just might have to ignore that resolution LOL)
I know, I know - you want pictures! The brown, pink and white is for the Raven Stars, the blues and yellow are for the Quarter Quilt sample, and the 3rd pic is what I accomplished so far.

Latest "block lotto" blocks

The ladies on the quilt forum that I'm a member of have had a block swap for a few years; last year we changed it to a block lotto. Unfortunately, participation has fallen off a bit lately, so, to mix things up a bit, we were supposed to make two blocks for Dec./Jan. One block was supposed to be the Pinwheel Block from Victoriana Quilters, and the other one was a Sunbonnet Sue block - and we got to chose the block! I found one with a few flowers, and finally put the finishing touches on it last night. It's on it's way to the winner of the lotto, but I think I'm safe posting it here:

New cards....

Two new cards for today - a birthday card, and a sympathy card. I really don't like making sympathy cards, but sometimes you need them....
Both of these cards were CASE'd from Splitcoast albums, but, as the saying goes - "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" - and I was really impressed by the cards that spawned these two.

The birthday card was from a CAS challenge to use flourishes, and the sympathy card is from a member's gallery - she had a whole page of white/cream tone on tone cards.

Block #8!

I think this has to be a record - block #8 was posted yesterday, and I had it done by the time I went to bed! I also finished a few log cabin blocks that I needed for a swap, so yesterday ended up being pretty productive!
What's that? You want pictures? Okay - here they are!



The mainly red and purple block is #8; the pink and brown is for my Log Cabin quilt, and the black and white is for my swap partner.

What Was I Thinking?

As if I didn't already have enough on my to-do list, I just signed up for another quilt-along (Amy - you started something!) It's called Raven Stars, and you can check it out by clicking on the button. It's done up in 3 colours, and I should be able to find the fabric I need for it in my stash - which is a good thing seeing as the price of cotton is going to be going up significantly!
Also, I saw a request on someone's blog - there are a number of people working together to make quilts for folks devastated by the recent floods in Australia. I'm going to check my orphaned blocks - ones that I've received in swaps, ones that I've made to check out different patterns, etc. - I should have a bunch to send. I've been so blessed - it's a small thing to give up a few blocks!