Yuma Quilt Along with Gotham Quilts

This summer, Gotham Quilts is having a quilt along for their Yuma pattern.  Looks cool, huh?  When I saw everybody at the guild meeting a few weeks ago I was overcome with a need to participate in something.. maybe I'm in the mood for a challenge?  All these triangles certainly seem to fill that need.  So, I'm going to give it a try.  We've got from now til August, details on the Gotham Quilts blog.  Download the FREE pattern from their site here.

Here's my initial fabric pull.  It's sitting on the living room floor so I can let it sink in and think about it for a while.

How long do you usually let a fabric pull marinate before cutting into it?
Sometimes I grab fabric and cut right away, especially for EPP units, but there I don't choose all the fabrics (or even a palette) ahead of time.  I don't often choose fabrics for the entire quilt upfront.  I think when I do then I need to let it sit.  Are the greens right?  Do I have a softer orange in a pile somewhere?  Am I going to bother to go look for it?  (yes, this is how I choose fabrics for my quilts-- is it within easy reach?  Ok, let's use it).  How do you choose?

A mini quilt along

Now that, I think I can handle.
Remember when I was complaining that I want to sew other quilts, by machine, but my EPP obsession keeps pulling me back to the couch?  Well I just found Chase's Pack Patch Mini Quilt Along and I think this may be just what I need.

 Each week she is giving us two themes which we'll use to choose our fabrics and make the block.  The block above is my "true colors"-- I went with soft pink and navy, the colors I often choose to wear.  I don't usually quilt with them together though, so the block looks strange to me, yet familiar..
Another stipulation of the QAL is to only use fabric from your scrap bin.  I guess this assumes that quilters have only one scrap bin where they keep all their scraps.  Well.. that's not the case for me.  I've got 4 scrap bins that I can see from where I'm sitting, and there are at least 5 more upstairs.  Somehow I feel this mini quilt along really won't make a dent in my stash.. My point though is that the fabrics I used in block #1 aren't favorites, or even ones I really like.  I just grabbed them because they were the right color and size.  I wonder how often that will happen on this qal.  It is my usual method of fabric selection, but sometimes I wish I could focus a bit more and deliberately use fabrics I love.  These tiny blocks (the patches finish at 1") are a great excuse to use some of my cherished scraps, and when it came to do block #2, favorite colors, the fabric pull was pretty easy.  Turquoise and taupe.  I don't know how else to describe this grey-brown batik.. for me it falls into the range of taupes that I love to see but don't always remember to use.  Yes, I really should make this an exercise in deliberate fabric choices.

If you've got fabric scraps and aren't scared of tiny blocks, why not join in the fun?  The quilt along is happening over here on flickr.  Instructions for making the blocks are on Chase's blog. 
I haven't been hanging out on flickr lately (the changes to the page layout a while back just put me off), but their app seems to be pretty easy to navigate and there's lots of old friends and acquaintances that I haven't seen in a while, so I'm excited to get involved with this.  And after the 10 weeks, I'll have.. a mini quilt.  That'll be nice.

Little things to make me smile

Have you pulled your EPP works in progress (or UFOs) out of the closet yet?  Getting ready to start our Star Counts?  Make sure to put fresh paper clips in your sewing kits and stick new needles in your pin cushions!  You don't want to get stuck with a broken needle and no spare!

(This happened to me a few weeks ago at swimming lessons.  Thank god I had extras)
Speaking of pin cushions.. a few months ago my friend Eri made me this adorable tiny one from a soda bottle cap.  How cute!  And it hardly takes up any space in my sewing kit at all (1" hexies for scale). 

 

What does your sewing kit look like, anyway?  Maybe that can be our season opener-- for your first MMStarCount post, include a pic of your sewing kit so we can see what you see when you sit down to EPP.  (Yes, I'm nosy like that). First MMStarCount linky will go up Monday morning, New York time.  Hope you'll join the fun~

The sewing room transformation is coming along.. today I brought in a WIP from 2008!  Yes, that's what happens when you move stuff off of piles in the sewing room.  Buried in the bottom of the closet was this box of.. Economy Blocks!

I have been very tempted to join the Economy block along on Instagram but I felt funny starting something new with no purpose instead of working on a UFO or making one of the gift quilts I've got in mind.   I thought I could add another round to these signature blocks my old guild made for me and turn them into something.. I pulled fabrics and tried to lay things out, but then my "helper" came along and that was that.  Back in the box, but at least it's on the shelf in the new room and not in the bottom of the closet anymore. 

Another little cheerful addition I brought in is the January printable calendar from WildOlive.  I had George trace the numbers and taped it to the back of the laundry closet door.  I think this space could really become a good memory keeper/pin board.  There's tons of space and the doors are open most of the time to let the washer air out.  Let's see how fast it fills up...

 Hope all of you in snow-covered areas are either out having fun or tucked inside staying warm.  The high today is only in the teens so we're hunkering down with extra quilts, hot cocoa, and a few good movies.  Here's hoping we don't go stir crazy before it warms up again.