Squirrely Trish

 

Created for Project Quilting This or That Bonus Challenge. Orphan blocks is one of my favorite quilt types. So I decided to go with that here. However, as I went through my orphan blocks, I realized I'd already used alot of them this year. Orphans in Pink and Warm Orphan Ombre were both created for Project Quilting this year. So, I decided to make some blocks. My first mistake was trying to plan them so some were light and some were dark because I saw light coming across the quilt. Wrong idea. Make some blocks, then decide how they fit. Better idea. Also take some of those too boring blocks and cut them up and make them into new blocks. Definitely better. 

I added a textural tree because I love them and it adds an extra dimension to the quilt. And also some little squirrels cut from the bundle fabric and fused on.

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

31" x 35"

 

Squirrely Kim

 

 

Created for the Project Quilting This or That bonus challenge. Full disclosure here. Kim is my daughter-in-law. When she was dating my son, they would come for dinner at our house once a week. Then the guys would clean up the kitchen and I taught Kim to quilt. I helped her learn the basics and then she inspired me to be more creative. The ideas flying through her head always amazed me. They still do. So I got her bundle. Actually, I got Trish's, too, and Kim bought them both for me for my birthday in January. I decided to make both of them in the style of me. I love super scrappy. And Squarey has been a favorite of mine ever since Kim made a Squarey quilt for her bed many years ago. So Squarey it is for the Kim bundle. 

Then, because I could and I love textural add-ons, I added a tree. I used multiple fibers and twisted them together and stitched them down to a foundation, cut it out and sewed it on.

And I thought it should have a squirrel (or three), so I cut some out from the squirrel fabric in the bundle and fused them on.

In the interest of full disclosure, here's the rest of the story. I originally hung this quilt the other say so it had a branch coming across from the right instead of a tree. I took photos and was playing with them when I decided that I liked it turned this way better. It meant removing a couple of smaller branches that would have been too low on the tree when turned this way. I also had to cut away the hanging sleeve and add a new one to a different side. And I had already fused down the squirrels. I heated them up with the iron and pulled them off. I wasn't sure how it would work, but it was fine. There was only one spot that I ironed with a paper towel over it to remove the excess stickiness. A quilt is never finished until it's finished, after all. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

35" x 27"

Button Blooms

 Created for Project Quilting 16.6 Button it Up challenge.

What a fun challenge! This is why I love Project Quilting. A new challenge comes out and you create something you had never imagined before. And, before you know it, your walls are filled with amazing quilts.

I was immediately excited about this challenge because I have a dishpan full of buttons that I've collected over the years. And using something that has been on a shelf for a long time always makes me happy. Of course, I started with a crazily pieced background. After all, why would anyone use one piece of fabric when 50 will do. I layered it and quilted it with wavy lines going top to bottom, then pulled out my buttons. Some were handmade, many had been recycled from things headed for the rag bag and many had come from who knows where. I chose a few to get started, then found some fibers to make stems, adding knots to them to make them a little more interesting.

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.
12" x 24"

Which Way???

 Created for Project Quilting 16.5 Follow Your Arrow challenge.

For this challenge I created string blocks with arrows in assorted sizes, then put them together pointing every which way. Then I quilted it with lines that went every which to add to the confusion. Of course. it needed to be named Which Way??? And, although it's not my favorite, I like it way better than I thought I would. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

14" x 27"

Garnet Coasters

 Created for Project Quilting 16.4 Birthstone Challenge.

Interesting week around here. Suddenly it's Thursday and I have not made a start on this challenge. So, time to do something totally not me. No orphan blocks, no string quilting, no crazy scrappiness. Just some cute little coasters.  I've seen these around and decided to go for it. A couple hours later, I was done. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.

Each is 4" x 4".

Orphans in Purple and Pink

 Created for Project Quilting 16.3 Common Blocks Challenge.

This challenge said you must incorporate 3 common quilt blocks into your challenge. As I considered which common blocks to use, it occurred to me that I probably had many common blocks in my orphan block baskets. The pink and purple basket called my name and, not surprisingly, it had common blocks in it.
Flying geese in multiple styles, log cabin, shoo fly, pinwheel and even some pieces from New York Beauty blocks. Back in 2020, I was obsessed with New York Beauty blocks. When I had had enough of them, I ended up with some that were not completed. Not sure why. Anyhow, they were in with my orphan blocks along with anything else that had been sewn together and not used for whatever reason.

I made Warm Orphan Ombre for PQ 16.2 and decided I would make another for 16.3. So I puzzled them together on my design wall and started stitching it together, using strips and smaller pieces to make it all fit.

By late Wednesday, I had it sandwiched and started with some fancy quilting in the white areas where it would really show. Thursday morning I looked at the rest of my week and decided I needed an unconventional approach to get it all done on time. So I added some simple quilting that held all parts of the quilt stable, then added the binding. I started the hand sewing in the car while heading to a basketball game.

Friday I added more quilting, working the areas that looked like they needed it most first. After lunch we headed to pick up our grandson who was coming to Poynette to go to a Badger hockey game and spend the night with his cousins. I finished the binding and trimmed as many threads as I could find during the drive. Saturday morning I added some more quilting before leaving to go to my mother-in-laws 100th birthday party. Amazing lady! Amazing day! 

So this morning I just had to photo and post this. My quilt is done. (It might be a little more done next week if I decide to add some more quilting, but for now it's done.)

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.
39" x  47"

Warm Orphan Ombre

Created for Project Quilting 16.2 – Ombre – Challenge 2 of Project Quilting season 16.

I have never used a true ombre fabric, but I have made many quilts that use this effect. Often it's a rainbow theme floating across the quilt. That was my first thought here.  I actually started on a few blocks, but it didn't feel right. Too boring. Looks like I made a few new orphan blocks...

AHA!!! Orphan blocks! I have a couple of baskets of them. You know, all those blocks or parts of blocks or any pieces that got sewn together and not used. I had been messing with them a couple of months ago and stuck some up on my design wall, but was uninspired. I ended up sorting them by warm and cool, then putting them away because I wasn't feeling it. Maybe I could make something from them that would work here. Now, the rules for Project Quilting do say your project must be started and finished during this week. Yes, I know. I consider my orphan blocks to be pieces of fabric I previously made for myself. They have been sitting in a basket waiting to be used in something special. Much as my ONE ROOM of uncut fabric is waiting to be used. The biggest goal of Project Quilting has always been to inspire creativity. So, I think this is legal. If not, oh, well. There are no prizes and if there were I wouldn't be eligible because Kim, our brilliant Project Quilting creator, is my daughter-in-law. :)

On to my process. I started by placing blocks on my design wall starting with lights in the top left and going darker diagonally across and down. I had a few blocks that were half dark and half light. Didn't really fit anywhere in the layout. Some I cut and used only part or used both parts in separate areas of the quilt. I got close to the dimensions I wanted and started sewing together in sections. I added fabric or cut pieces from the remaining orphans to make things fit, squaring up each section. I didn't hesitate to just trim away a quarter or half inch or whatever of anything that was a little long. I love this process. It's kind of like putting a puzzle together, only, in the case, I can just cut something to fit.

In the end, I now have a small lap quilt that used half the orphans in the warm basket. I consider that a win and am inspired to go at the cool basket next. 

Created by Diane Lapacek in rural Poynette, WI.
40" x 58"

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