itty bitty grannies - a mini quilt

I'd been doing very well at resisting the urge to join in on all the granny square hoopla, started by Jolene (Blue Elephant Stitches). Find her awesome tutorial here. I loved everything about this block but knew I shouldn't start a new project when I have so many going already. Then Katy (Monkey Do) offered up an alternative strip piecing tutorial and I caved.

I wanted to do something quick and easy, just to get granny-squaring out of my system, so I pulled out some scraps left over from my 1930s quilt and pieced some itty bitty 3.5 inch blocks. I decided four was enough for me and made a little mini quilt, just for fun. It begged to be hand-quilted, so I gave that a go. This mini finished at about 8 inches square.

Nothing about this thing is perfect, obviously. I was pretty careless with all of it, just playing and experimenting and whatnot. The quilting stitches are uneven, and perhaps overdone. I put the sashing together all weird-like. The center of each side sucks in towards the middle, probably since the blocks are on the bias and the sashing is not. Is that why? Let me know if you have any insight.

Oh, and then there's that one block I accidentally trimmed the seam allowance off of. After a bit of cursing I decided to add some pink and call it good. It works for me. I like it. A lot.

Here's a look at the backside.

So, all in all I think this little guy is cute as a button and worthy of lounging about on my desk at work. Maybe I'll even set a coffee mug on it from time to time :D

Linking up with Megan's {sew} Modern Monday, Jenna's Manic Monday, and Elizabeth's Little Quilt Monday and Quilt Story's Fabric Tuesday.

WiP Wednesday - long time no linky

It's been a while since I linked up with Lee for a WiP Wednesday but I’m ready to get back to it. (Even though I'm late to the party...)

Completed:

Scrappy sheet coasters – started these way back when I had finished cutting all my pieces for my kaleidoscope quilt, using the scraps. All the fabric is vintage sheet material. Finally put the binding on the other day. It was my first go at bias binding, I just kind of winged it. There are pleated bits around the corners, so I’m pretty sure I did it wrong. But I love them and they’re almost too pretty to set drinks on.

i love these so so so much

Rose Star mini quilt – maybe I’ll enter it in Ellison Lane Quilts’ mini quilt challenge? I dunno.

Jen’s coasters – these little HSTS were made forever ago with no real project in mind, I was simply exploring an alternate method of making them. I wasn't in love with the lack of contrast (only the brown ones really pop) and stashed them away somewhere, never to be seen again... Until Friday morning when I busted them out and made coasters quick before I left to visit my friend Jen in her new apartment. They made a decent housewarming gift. It’s the thought that counts, right?

the brown one looks small, but i swear they were all the same size

Ongoing:

Punctuation quilt – needs binding

Summer Sampler Series quilt – I’m so close to finishing this thing that it’s ridiculous how long I’ve let it sit on my design wall, untouched. All the blocks are bordered in grey, and half of them are quilted. (I'm doing this one QAYG). Maybe I’ll work on it tonight now that I’ve brought it up again.

Across the Sea quilt – Block subunits made and ready for assembly. I bought the fabric with plans to make my mom a quilt for mother’s day… in 2010. I started the ATSQAL thinking I’d have it finished for mother’s day 2011, but didn’t get there. Then I promised it would be finished this year for Christmas. No dice. How long do I have before mother’s day 2012? I'll need to get on that.

Drunkard’s Path quilt – should have been a Christmas gift but I couldn’t get it quilted in time. I started and ripped it out twice and still can’t decide on how quilt it or what color thread to use. I’m paralyzed. I spent SO MUCH TIME piecing and I don’t want to ruin it with bad quilting.

Rose Star blocks – I have two made but no plans on what to do with them.

Hexie quilt – 50ish hexie flowers done, seven of which have borders. I haven’t done the math on measurements or set any kind of timeframe, so this will probably be a decade-long project. At best.

Stats:
Completed Projects - 3
New Projects - 0
Ongoing Projects - 6

Yikes. Talk about a reality check.