what a day...wait, it was just a day, right?

There's so much to tell.  Grab a snack and settle in.  I'll try to use pictures more than words...

First, I made Christine's soup.  It was delish!  I used these noodles and though they weren't as good as grandma's, I didn't plan ahead enough to make my own.

Yesterday I worked on the red, white and black quilt I bought fabrics for this summer on a shop hop.  Remember the panel?  I sent my brother and sis-in-law on a hunt for coordinating fabric for the back.  When I get the back pieced, I'll show that too.

Then, after the hubby decided he didn't want to go visit his parents after all, I got busy on my SCRAP QUILT!

First I pulled fabrics:

Then I used a trick I learned from you fantastic quilters and photographed it in black and white.  Wanted to make sure I didn't have any sore thumbs...

Okay, that looks good.  Then I cut some strips and threw them in a bin.  Easier to keep them under control this way.  Suprized Skitter didn't hop in - she does that a lot.

Can't believe I had an empty bin...  I got the blocks about half done last night, then continued this afternoon.  I started just 9 because I wanted to make sure the left brain didn't have a fit.

Emma was a supervisor throughout varying parts of the process.  Here she is waiting for me to eat dinner because she already ate hers, but hadn't begged my empty plate to lick clean yet.

Right brain was doubting itself, but left brain kept pretty quiet.  I like the result.  So does left brain.  But I assure you any funky strips are the result of my inability to cut straight, not a planned thing. 

Though I planned to set them with dark blue, the off-white carpet (with stains - thank you previous owners) is making me think twice.

I have to do some calculating to see how many more blocks I'll want.  First I have to decide how wide to make the setting and borders.  The blocks will finish 12 inches.

My scraps aren't diminishing as fast as I  hoped, but as the blocks get bigger, they use more fabric, so there's still hope!

Before I could start on this, I had a few errands to do.  I picked up some more off-white for pinwheels, but no pic.  Imagine it for yourself!  :)  That is washed and ironed, waiting for me.

When we got home, I had two packages waiting for me.  Yay!

First, from Kathleen were these fantastic blocks:

And included in the package were these beauties:

Absolutely goergous strips, every one.  And that second green from the left?  I've bought it TWICE for quilts I've made.  Great minds think alike!  My only regret is that none of these will work in my current scrap quilt.  But I will find a fantastic use for all of them.

Thank you Kathleen!  (big hug!)

And then there was this ginormous package from Mary.  Seems overdoing it runs in the family...  First the beautiful blocks:

And if this wasnt' enough, this crazy, amazing woman also sent ALL of this:

Maybe she's misunderstood that I'm challenging you all to make a scrap quilt from your stash and thinks I'm challenging myself to make a quilt from her stash?  :)  No...she explained that these were donations for my doll and quilt project.  I adore every single one of them (and have bought that light blue for a baby quilt and the same print in about 4 other colors for various other projects) and will make the best use of them possible.  They're some big chunks, which will come in handy for backs, too.

Thank you, Mary.  (big big hug!)

So I issued a challenge yesterday for scrap quilts and I got some takers.  Alice and Mary asked if they could count ones they already have started.  Sure...seems I've got a leg up on mine today, and if this keeps you motivated, I see no problem.  Beth, Christine, Cheryl and Theri also are in, so let the games begin!  (Maybe I should make a button...hmmm...how to do that?...if I get bored enough this week, I'll give it a go...  Maybe I should send out some of my scraps to the "winner"?)  Forgive me if I've missed anyone...

Now, if I've worn you all out, you understand why I can't remember if today was just one day or two.  I love that I've gotten so much done.  I feel so good about myself (and my stash). 

The hubby is taking a nap.  He works wierd hours.  So I have to be quiet.  I'm going to watch The Nanny Diaries (thank you Netflix) and snuggle my much-deprived kitties.

One final picture to leave you with...another finish.  This one has been done for a few weeks, but I finally talked the hubby into holding it up.  Too bad you can't see his face because it's a mix of disgust and disbelief that he's doing this.  The colors aren't great - I'm going to have to re-take this for the scrapbook, but you get the idea.

This is a kit (sort of) I bought on the same shop hop as the red, white and black quilt.  You bought a bunch of 12 coorindated fat quarters and an $8 pattern (designed by someone at the shop - there were a few options and I can't find mine so I can't give proper credit here - sorry!) and had all you needed for the top.  I bought borders too.  I don't love it, but I like it more now that it's quilted than I did when I was basting it.

Whew!

Happy quilting,

Katie

PS  Should I have had an intermission for snack refills?  :)