Friday, August 4, 2017

Hello, August!

Like many of you, I'm sure, I can hardly believe it is August already!  Even though I am going on my third school year retired from teaching, I still get that "time to go back" feeling right about now.  The cool and cloudy weather (with a hint of fall in it) doesn't help that!  Thankfully, there is really lots of summer left!

Since this was sort of an in between week for me, sewing-wise, I decided to spend some time working on my Monkey blocks.  This is an RSC project I started in 2016, but have continued into this year to have enough blocks. There are 36 of them now, so I have started adding the sashing and cornerstones to them. Here they are, pinned to my design wall.


The sashing is Kona Maize, which I thought I had a bunch of in my stash.  The cornerstones will be random 2 inch squares from my scrap bins.  Unfortunately I used up all of the Kona Maize that I had, and can't seem to find anymore in the stores that are close by.  I will have to stop by a shop that I know has a large selection of Kona, but can't get there for a few days.


These few blocks have both sides done.  I think this quilt will need a border, too, to make it a little bit larger, but haven't decided what that will be yet.

When Angela announced that the August color for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge would be light neutrals such as cream, ivory, and mixed backgrounds, I knew just what I would work on first.  


My String Star quilt needs lots more low volume background blocks, and this will give me a chance to make some progress on those.  This is a sample layout I did in June after finishing the yellow blocks.  I've added the blues, and just need orange left to finish out the plan.  It also needs more background blocks, and I had only made 8 up through July.


Yesterday I pulled out the low volume bin and got a couple of blocks made, so that gives me 10 now, halfway there!


These are fun to make and I love the scrappy look they give the star!  I'll keep working on these through the month.

Have a wonderful weekend!  I'll be joining in with the other Rainbow Scrap Challenge Quilters at the ScrapHappy Saturday link-up at SoScrappy.









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27 comments:

  1. Karen - Quilts...etc.August 4, 2017 at 1:53 PM

    love your neutral strings block - I need to get busy one day using all that I have - I have a lot of strings put aside.

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  2. Cynthia Brunz DesignsAugust 4, 2017 at 8:03 PM

    You have already made great progress this month. Not sure I will make any string blocks this month but I have lots of bow tie blocks to make. It will be sad to not see any more monkey blocks :)

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  3. KateAugust 5, 2017 at 6:11 AM

    This is such a fun quilt. It's going to be a beauty.

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  4. Kat ScribnerAugust 5, 2017 at 6:39 AM

    Just love your string star quilt in the making!

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  5. The Joyful QuilterAugust 5, 2017 at 7:15 AM

    Sorry the Monkeys ran off with your Maize background fabric. Naughty little things! I'm SEW glad that Angela's Color of the Month played right into your String Star sewing. That quilt is going to be simply stunning!!

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  6. Nell's QuiltsAugust 5, 2017 at 7:20 AM

    The maize Kona really warms up the little monkeys but is such a soft hue it doesn't detract from the blocks. Great choice. Your neutral strings have some zing.

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  7. Vicki in MNAugust 5, 2017 at 7:21 AM

    I love the light yellow in your Monkey quilt, I tend to forget their are other lights besides white!! What size blocks are your strings-I forgot and too lazy to look back, LOL I think this month I should piece together my neutral blocks I did earlier this year.

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  8. ChantalAugust 5, 2017 at 7:23 AM

    The yellow sashing makes the quilt so peaceful even though it is full of wonderful fabric. Love it. ;^)

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  9. AnonymousAugust 5, 2017 at 7:25 AM

    I had the problem with a Wilmington paisley batik. I emailed the company with a pic of the material and what I believed was the name. They gave me the names of vendors who would carry the material.
    Glad to see you are pursuing a finish for RSC.

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  10. Adventurous QuilterAugust 5, 2017 at 7:33 AM

    Loving the string star! And that Kona Maize is the perfect border fabric for that project, fabulous.

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  11. Mary in Peoria HandmadeAugust 5, 2017 at 7:34 AM

    I love the string quilt!!

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  12. Wendy FAugust 5, 2017 at 8:53 AM

    Both your string quilt and monkey blocks are lovely! It's fun how all the neutral strings play so well together.

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  13. Katie Z.August 5, 2017 at 9:23 AM

    Your blocks are great!

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  14. make.share.giveAugust 5, 2017 at 10:32 AM

    Your monkeys are cute and String Star looks wonderful. Kinda Log Cabin-ish.

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  15. MariAugust 5, 2017 at 10:36 AM

    I love that string star. A surround of neutral string blocks will really make it stand out. Looking good!

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  16. Pamela ArbourAugust 5, 2017 at 11:42 AM

    Isn't it amazing how much we can accomplish just making one block at a time? I like your sashings and cornerstone. I am also looking forward to seeing what you do with your string star. It looks great just like it is but I know you will make it outstanding as always!

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  17. EdithAugust 5, 2017 at 11:44 AM

    Wow, your string star is fabulous, love your neutral string blocks.

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  18. scraphappyAugust 5, 2017 at 11:50 AM

    What a fun collection of low volumes in your background blocks. Glad you are able to move your project forward.

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  19. MonicaAugust 5, 2017 at 12:48 PM

    I really like that maize sashing -- warm but light. And your neutral strings look awesome! I think I'll be doing some of that for next week. :D

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  20. Linda M @ Pieceful KingdomAugust 5, 2017 at 2:46 PM

    I love your low volume star! I think your monkey blocks look great and it will make a wonderful quilt.

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  21. Deb @ Frugal Little BungalowAugust 5, 2017 at 5:23 PM

    Your monkey blocks look wonderful! I just finished my blues at the end of july, lol...

    To me, The New Year has always felt more like the start of the new school year than in the dead of January :)

    When I was a kid we didn't get much...a little at Christmas, a wee bit at Easter...the best bet was starting off to school :)

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  22. JasmineAugust 5, 2017 at 5:37 PM

    Your star from strings is looking awesome! It is going to be a wonderful quilt.

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  23. PaulaB quiltsAugust 5, 2017 at 9:36 PM

    The first thing I thought of when Angela announced neutrals were your strip blocks. So I checked your blog again to take another look. If I decide to do some, I will check them out again because they work so well.

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  24. AngieAugust 6, 2017 at 6:19 AM

    Strings and neutrals - sounds like fun to me!

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  25. works4meAugust 6, 2017 at 6:43 AM

    Lovely string star quilt. The neutrals look perfect in it.

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  26. LindaAugust 7, 2017 at 6:54 AM

    What great eye candy! Love the gray with your improv stripes, the monkey blocks are spectacular, and that string star - wow!

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  27. Deb @ Frugal Little BungalowAugust 7, 2017 at 5:31 PM

    Seeing all of the Monkey blocks together is wonderful! I like your strings blocks as well

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