Using my scraps for pattern testing

This table topper made hardly a dint in the blues. The logs are cut much smaller than I normally cut for scrap storage. My normal cuts are 5", 2 1/2" and 1 1/2". I leave those in strips and box similar colours together. I had to use untrimmed chunks for this assignment. The pattern is called Log cabin Twist and this is just one of a few variations illustrated in the pattern.
Over this past month I have been trying to tidy up a little as the sewing room has managed to get out of control. I am inching closer to some level of organization. But it is an ongoing battle.
Piecefully, Joanne
Linking with Cynthia for Oh Scrap! at Quilting is More fun than Housework (here)

Clementine Quilt Along Started Thursday This Week

Once again the Fat Quarter Shop has organized a charity focussed Quilt Along. The quilt is called Clementine and the feature fabric is Mama's Cottage by April Rosenthal.
The kits were a little late in shipping and mine have to cross the border so as a result I was a little late starting. 

The block for Month One is called Watermelon Wheel.  Each month we will be making a large (20" block) and a small (12" block). The fabric selected for the kits was Mama's Cottage by April Rosenthal, a delightful breath of fresh air for we sun and warmth starved Ontario residents.
There are bloggers and designers from many locations participating in this Quilt Along. To obtain your own copy of the pattern the Fat Quarter Shop requests a voluntary donation to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The pattern itself is crisply written and well illustrated.
This is the list of participating bloggers. Please try to visit a few as even though we are all doing the same thing it will have little variations here and there. 

*April of April Rosenthal (@amrosenthal)

Bonnie of Sunset Family Living (@sunsetfamilyliving)

Cara of That Crafty Cara (@thatcraftycara)
Carrie of Moda Cutting Table (@modafabrics)

Denise of Pieced Brain (@piecedbrain)

Elise of Elise and Emelie (@eliseandemelie)

Gina of Carpe Quiltin (@gina_tell_carpequiltin)

Heather of A Creative Pursuit (@acreativemama)

Hilary of By Hilary Jordan (@byhilaryjordan)

Jan of Cocoa Quilts (@cocoaquilts)

Jen of Heritage Threads (@heritage.threads)

Joanne of Quilts by Joanne (@turtlequilterjo)

Kairle of Kairle Oaks Handcrafted Goodness (@kairleoaks)

Kendra of Good Starter (@good_starter)

Kristen of 3 in the Nest (@threeinthenestraleigh)

Kristina of Center Street Quilts (@centerstreetquilts)

Leah of Ponderings from My Heart (@ponderingsfrommyheart)

Melanie of A Bit of Scrap Stuff (@mellierc)

Melissa of Happy Quilting (@happyquiltingmc)

Pat of Pat Sloan (@quilterpatsloan)

Pat B. of Life in the Scrapatch (@scrapatches)

Patty of Elm Street Quilts (@elmstreetquilts)

Rebecca of One Wee Bird (@oneweebird)

Sarah of 123 Quilt (@123quilt)

Seema of SSK Craft Shop (@sskcraftshop)

Sherri of A Quilting Life (@aquiltinglife)

Sondra of Out of the Blue Quilts (@sondradavison)

Stephanie of Quilt 'n Party (@quiltnparty)

Tanya of Tanya Quilts in CO (@tanyaquiltsinco)

Teresa of Aurea's Kitchen (@aureaskitchen)

Vickie of Crocheting Vixen (@crochetingvixen)

Both blocks together for a hint of scale. I know for most of the people who visit my blog from time to time these are huge blocks. But change is good. Piecefully, Joanne

Welcome to my Stop on the Oh Sew Kat Doll Clothes Blog Hop

Sugar and Spice

Bloomer Buddies

I was able to finish these two outfits for the Oh Sew Kat Doll Clothes Blog Hop. I can't begin to tell you just how much fun I had working on these two little outfits. The Sugar and Spice outfit on the left comes with a dress pattern and what I call a pinafore. Some would call it a sleeveless dress. The instructions were so clear and I really liked the way they came with their own checklist to help you keep track of where you were. (Especially handy for people who get many interruptions while sewing). I added the scarf because the doll owner's Grandma,  who has a far better developed fashion sense than I do, suggested it would be a good accessory. The Grandma also told me that pink was a favourite colour so I made the Bloomer Buddies dress in a pink stripe with a plain pink yoke.

Both patterns require some basic sewing skills but the size makes them much easier to sew than Barbie clothes.

Here I am with the happy recipient. Ivy loaned me her doll so I could tell if the clothes fit and in return she now has two new outfits for her doll. I helped her with the velcro on one and she was good to go on the velcro with the second one. Note that we are all wearing glasses. I was surprised but pleased to see glasses on Ivy's doll. Accessories for dolls have changed in the past 30+ years since I had anyone around me who played with dolls. Ivy has been wearing glasses since she was an infant.
I would love to make more of these outfits and if Ivy's reaction was any indication they would be popular.
Thank you for dropping by my stop on the Blog Hop. If you want to see and/or purchase these or other designs made by Oh Sew Kat you can visit her blog at  https://ohsewkat.wordpress.com/
If you have not had a chance to visit some of the other blog stops here is an updated list.

January 15th: Seams Sew Lo (Intro)

January 16th: Seams Sew Lo

January 17th: Kathy’s Kwilts and More

January 18th: Sew Haute Blog

January 19th: Seams Like Style

January 22nd: Elli & Nels

January 23rd: Quilts by Joanne

January 24th: Granma Texas Sews

January 25th: Stitched by Jennie

January 26th: Sewing with D

January 29th: Our Play Place

January 30th: Cross Stitches Custom Clothing

January 31st: Hazelnut Handmade

February 1st: Dear Daydream

Piecefully, Joanne

Oh Scrap! I am still at it

Who said Waste Triangles are garbage? Not I for sure. This small quilt is 29" square. Each Half Square Triangle finishes at 1 1/8". I was at two retreats last fall and at both of them friends were throwing away their Waste Triangles. I couldn't let that happen. So they would bring them to me in installments and one just stuffed her's in a baggie and dropped the baggie off. I had a lot of fun playing with them and trying to make them into something useful. with the borders on them they are now big enough for the small Project Linus quilts.
As to what else I have been doing. It is a lot of secret sewing. that phrase used to drive me nuts but I totally understand it now.
Piecefully, Joanne
Linking up with Cynthia at Quilting is More fun than Housework (here) and later in the week with Lorna at Sew Fresh Quilts (here)

Starting today An 18" Doll Clothing Blog Tour

Oh Sew Kat Doll Clothes Blog Tour hosted by Seams Sew Lo. 

My day is next week. I had a lot of fun making some doll clothes. A definite change of pace. Check out some of the other participants over the next little while.


Welcome to the Oh Sew Kat Doll Clothes Blog Tour hosted by Seams Sew Lo!!  Oh Sew Kat has so many doll clothes options. 

Sunshine Dress Doll Clothes Sewing Pattern
School Dance Dress Doll Clothes Sewing Pattern
Sugar n Spice Dress Doll Clothes Sewing Pattern
Party Time Dress Doll Clothes Sewing Pattern
Bloomer Buddies Doll Clothes Sewing Pattern
Playtime Top and Skirt Doll Clothes Sewing Pattern

We are so excited about the Oh Sew Kat Doll Clothes Blog tour hosted by Seams Sew Lo!  Please check out all the wonderful blogs on this tour below:

1. January 15th: Seams Sew Lo (Intro)
2. January 16th: Seams Sew Lo
3. January 17th: Kathy’s Kwilts and More
4. January 18th: Sew Haute Blog
5. January 19th: Seams Like Style
6. January 22nd: Elli & Nels
7. January 23rd: Quilts by Joanne
8. January 24th: Granma Texas Sews
9. January 25th: Stitched by Jennie
10. January 26th: Sewing with D
11. January 29th: Our Play Place
12. January 30th: Cross Stitches Custom Clothing
13. January 31st: Hazelnut Handmade
14. February 1st: Daydream Sewing and Design

Welcome to 2018 and the Monthly Colour Challenge

As we head into a new year mnay bloggers and some Instagram people offer new challenges for us to follow. One I intend to follow is the Month Colour Challenge (note Canadian spelling) offered by Jen from Patterns by Jen (here). I have tested quilt patterns for Jen for a couple of years and I love how she takes something basic and accessible, gives it a little twist to step it up a notch and creates a great design.
For 2018 she is offering on her blog a month colour challenge. Each month she will provide a different quilt block in both 12" and 6" sizes in the colour of the month. I have seen the blocks and they are original and interesting. I encourage you to follow along. Jen is being joined by some other bloggers for this project. Some like myself will just make the monthly project while others will enrich the experience by adding something via their blogs.
The other bloggers contributing to this project are:
Jen of Patterns by Jen
Sherry of Powered By Quilting 
Jen of A Dream and A Stitch
Nancy of Masterpiece Quilting
Joanne of Quilts By Joanne
Dione of Clever Chameleon Quilting
Diane Cullum of Sewing with D
I "borrowed" the links from sherrie at Powered by Quilting. she is adding a second block each month. These blocks will be free for the month they are offered and then available for a small fee.
As with many blog hops there are sponsors and linky parties. I understand the first sponsor is Northcott Fabric. For all the first hand information please visit Jen's blog (www.patternsbyjen.blogspot.ca)
And now for my January blocks.

I hope you will find the time to join us as we explore colour in 2018. Piecefully, Joanne