Bits and Pieces #3

One of the nice things about this pattern is the freedom to experiment, change your mind, take things apart and head off in a slightly revised direction. For this quilt top I’ve already done all four.

I began by making simple blocks randomly embellished with trims and laces and eyelets with a very small pop of color here and there.

After creating maybe 20 blocks, I changed my mind and removed the color (yes it took me forever to remove some of the colorful machine decorative stitching), and decided that each block should be transformed to a detailed collage…collages where each time you look at the block you find new things. Am I happy I removed the color? Absolutely! Why? 🤷‍♀️ I found it distracting.

This block is a good example of filling it up with bits of so many things! The bit of color in the upper left corner will either be removed or hidden with something placed atop.

This is another example of a block where all the color will be removed.

I’m very fond of hearts and you’ll find them in most of the blocks. I’m using my Accuquilt with the Crafter’s Edge (the company is no longer in business ☹️ ) adapter as well as Crafter’s Edge metal cutting templates.

This vintage white circle doily gave me so many hearts, each one so far fussy cut to take advantage of the white embroidery in the doily.

Almost zero waste as I am hopeful to use the leftover scalloped outer edge.

Another vintage doily with some lovely white embroidery.

23 hearts from two small white doilies.

Don’t have the Accuquilt or the adapter? Check out this older blog post talking about creating your own templates from dollar store plastic binders:

https://rhondadort.com/2023/06/16/saving-another-butterfly-quilt/

Here’s just one example of the hearts used to embellish a small block.

You remember this picture from an earlier blog post? I’ve not even made a dent in the laces and trims! Wonder how many quilts I could make from this container of treasures! ❤️

This post is all about telling you it’s absolutely ok to change your mind mid-project, it’s absolutely ok to become distracted as you create and it’s ok to be flexible as to what works and what doesn’t! It’s your project, do what makes you happy! ❤️🙂

Blessings and happy quilting,

Rhonda

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Published by Rhonda Dort

A creative person living in Houston, TX

12 thoughts on “Bits and Pieces #3”

  1. Hi….I have a couple technical questions….. It seems that you are planning to sew these collaged blocks together with 1/4-inch seams to construct your overall quilt top. And then, presumably, you plan to layer with batting and backing and quilt on your longarm. Am I correct?

    So my questions are:

    1. Won’t these collaged blocks be too thick around the edges (with multiple layers in most places) to be able to sew with a consistent seam as narrow as 1/4 inch?
    2. If all the individual “bits and pieces” are already decoratively sewn down onto your stabilizer base fabric, won’t it be difficult to longarm stitch OVER these same stitching lines without creating a mess of stitching? Or will you plan to only longarm stitch other spaces of the quilt blocks/top?
    3. Would it make sense, possibly, to QAYG each 16-inch block set and then combine them into a quilt?

    Just wanting to follow your thought process here…..🥰…..I had recently sorted many of my all white “fancy linens” together not long before you posted about this new project of yours. So I was thrilled when you posted about this!

    Always love your beautiful work!

    Thank you so much!

    Pam

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    1. Good morning Pam and thank you for your great questions/comments.
      I will attempt to fully answer each one.

      1. While visually it might not be obvious, I have not placed any thick embellishments near the edges of each block. I do plan to sew them using a quarter inch seam. Believe it or not, these blocks, even though they are full of trims and laces are actually not that thick.

      2. I am not anticipating too much difficulty with long arming. I have been very careful to make sure that all trims and laces are sewn down in such a way as to not catch the foot of my long arm. How I will long arm Quilt this project is yet to be seen. I am not worried about the change in consistency of the laces and trims, based on my past quilting experience on my machine, I don’t anticipate a problem at all.
      Now, having said this, I plan on custom quilting, this piece rather than a pantograph or edge to edge.

      3. “Quilt as you go” is not in my wheelhouse. I’ve never done it and don’t think I will try it on this project. It may be the perfect solution for anyone worried about the quilting process or anyone who does not quilt on a long arm.

      Thank you for your kind words, they are much appreciated! Wishing you the best as you began your new project!

      With your permission, I may use some or all of your above questions in a future blog. 🙂❤️

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  4. And people tell me I have patience, not compared to you! Wow, but I do like the look of your redone block. I reviewed the “Saving another butterfly block” and don’t remember seeing the blue end on your glue bottle which you said is the end of a mechanical pencil. How do you put this on the glue bottle? Is it in one of your blogs? Thanks!

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    1. If I remember correctly, the blue end on my Elmers glue is from a mechanical pencil that I took apart. You have to take the orange top off of the Elmers glue bottle and with utility scissors cut away what’s underneath the orange lid. Then the blue mechanical pencil is pushed into place From the underneath side of the Elmers glue bottle lid. If I were home, I would take a picture and post it, but I won’t be able to do that for another couple of weeks. Let me know if this makes any sense at all! 🤪

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  5. And people tell me I have patience, not compared to you! Wow, but I do like the look of your redone block. I reviewed the “Saving another butterfly block” and don’t remember seeing the blue end on your glue bottle which you said is the end of a mechanical pencil. How do you put this on the glue bottle? Is it in one of your blogs? Thanks!

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    Reply

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