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August is here, it's hard to believe that summer is almost over. Seems like summers fly by too quickly. Soon the evenings will start to cool down and the leaves on my one maple tree will start to turn, it's always the first tree. I have a little touch of autumn in the middle of August. The garden seems slow this year... only one tomato so far, I'm hoping for more of course. (We've have had a lot of rain this year.) I have picked a couple of nice batches of green beans. I roasted them ...

The polka dots and animal print showed up in a hand me down bag cut into 5″ x 7-1/2″ rectangles. And there weren’t many of them. Only six each.

I trimmed the rectangles down to 5″ x 7″. And created four HST blocks using bonus triangles from previous projects.

An assortment of brown solids became asymmetrical borders for the scraps and HST, creating 16 9″ blocks. I wanted the quilt to have a “jump around” feeling without being too busy.

Just right for a 36″ baby quilt. So very cute!

A while back I asked about “bonus half square triangles,” those pieces that can result from stitch-flip-trim patterns. Many said that they had a lot of them. Many said they weren’t sure how to use them.

I have been thinking about that, and found a number of uses for them. You will see some in upcoming posts.

But I also wanted to create a block that would use them specifically. The block can be created using (at least) three sizes of half square triangles: 2-1/2″, 2″, 1-1/2″. And you can make anything from a mini quilt, to ...

The balloon quilt block was repaired and the top assembled. Sort of interesting math in the borders, but they work OK.

Off to the quilter soon.

It was an ugly tear out. But, the more I looked at it, the more I hated it. The red was too dark and didn’t contrast well with the black.

Much better now. Before and After below.

I am assembling the top and hope to have a finished product (at least flimsy) to share by the end of the week.

It is too small for a couch quilt, or maybe even a lap quilt, but after nearly 800 pieces, I was ready to be done.

The pattern is a block called City Streets from issue 149 of Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine. I subscribe through my local library. (If you don’t have a library card, get one. It is good for all the traditional reasons, of course, but many libraries are part of the Libby network, an online library that I use extensively for audio books. You are already paying for it through your taxes. Well worth it, too ...

This quick and easy scrappy patriotic quilt is coming along nicely even though I've had a couple of challenges. 

This is another quilt that came from Susan Nixon prior to her death. I am trying to tie up loose ends and honor her.

The top is assembled. I had to create a few blocks to get a complete top. Should have the finish to share in a few weeks.

This quilt was finished in February. I have no idea why I didn’t report on it. I can’t even find pictures of the process.

The pieces parts came from multiple sources: some irregular improv pieces from a hand-me-down bag, jelly roll strips from a different hand me down bag, miscellaneous half-square triangles (possibly waste triangles), and some solids from my own stash.

You could make the entire quilt using a jelly roll and some background or low volume (for those HST) and some solids.

Finishes at 39″ square.

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Happy July! The 4th is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to making my usual treats using blueberries and strawberries. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce. I'm sure to be smoking something yummy, either ribs or a pork butt for shredded pork sandwiches. (Maybe both!) It’s also our 40th wedding anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. It seems crazy, forty years have just flown by! Later this month we'll be going on our annual family vacation up north to the lake. It's always so much fun ...

Happy July! The 4th is in a couple of days and I'm looking forward to making my usual treats using blueberries and strawberries. I love this time of year and all the fresh produce. I'm sure to be smoking something yummy, either ribs or a pork butt for shredded pork sandwiches. (Maybe both!) It’s also our 40th wedding anniversary over the 4th of July weekend. It seems crazy, forty years have just flown by! Later this month we'll be going on our annual family vacation up north to the lake. It's always so much fun ...

Just to get started right, this isn’t a completely original idea. I saw a picture (maybe on Pinterest) but couldn’t track it down again or find a pattern. It started the idea, though, and I would love to give credit where credit is due. So, if you know, please let me know…

That said, I started this quilt in January with the goal of using small scraps of solids and low volume prints.

In my version, the rails are 1-1/2″x3-1/2″ strips. The low volume squares are 3-1/2″. The hourglass blocks started as 4-1/2 ...

Susan Nixon (desertskyquilts) was an angel in my life, and in the lives of many others. I met her online through blogging, and we became friends. She visited me, shared her knowledge, and loved my daughter (Sparkle Jane).

Near the end of her life, she sorted fabric and projects and shared some UFOs (and fabric) with me. This is one of them. So happy to see it finished.

It has been gifted to my aunt, who recently celebrated cancer remission.

Quilters live on through their work and the joy and warmth they bring to the world. Amen.

NOTE: I didn ...

Friend Julia came for a visit from Louisiana. She wanted to make a baby quilt. Her first quilt.

She had Mardis Gras fabric for the back.

We started pulling possibilities from my color bins. She ironed and I cut.

The FIRST BLOCK.

And, before she flew out, a finished top. (Quick info: 3″ squares. Finishes at 40″ square.)

She plans to connect with the quilting community back home. I assured her that there would be people ready and willing to help. I will share the finish when it happens.

There is another quilt kit cut and ready in her baggage ...

After the question about a future quilt design, the responses let me know that many quilters have a supply of bonus/waste triangles sitting around. This did include me.

I pulled out leftovers from the Big Diehl Quilt and trimmed them down to 1-1/2″.

After trying a few options, I settled on a broken dishes block.

Thirty-six blocks later, I had a mini quilt.

It has been delivered to Jennifer, who loves mini quilts. So glad to have the triangles working and off to brighten someone’s day.

PS–I am working to share a variety of projects featuring ...

I have a bin of assorted 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″ rectangles. They are handy for a leader-ender quilt. Yes, it is a little crazy, but someone will like it.

Here is THE BLOCK. This one finishes at 60″x72″.

Always fun to have a sneak peek at the backing.

It goes in the donation pile to brighten someone’s day.

When the call went out for donations to support my youth sewing class, Susan sent, not only fabric, but a quilt top that needed to be finished.

And now it is. Finishes at 45″ x 60″ Great use of stripy scraps. You can even see where some of the coins were pieced. Whimsy!

The back is a little wild, and I used scrappy binding from my stash.

It will bless the life of someone soon. Thanks to all of you for the generosity you offer the world. I am fortunate to be part of such a community.

June is here! The garden is almost in. The seedlings and seed packets are bought. I hope to get things planted later today. At least the flowers are planted, and we are enjoying spending time outside grilling and relaxing on the patio and deck. 

 In case you are just starting the BOM, the fabric requirements are below. Everything is based on a 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" square and this month's pattern can be found on my website for free this month. 

2 yards contrasting color

2 1/2 yards cream background

3/4 yard for the ...