Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Working on This and That

100_0184

Remember this?  That's right.  It is my red and white snowball quilt!  I am just now getting around to sewing the binding on it.  (Hanging head in shame).

To tell the truth, I only just got it quilted this summer and wasn't in a hurry to use it until the holidays.  So it has been carefully folded up waiting for my attention. 

Gosh, I love this quilt and its scrappy wonderfulness.  "Leftovers Again?" from Evelyn Sloppy's "40 Fabulous Quick Cut Quilts".

100_0185

Scrappy white snow balls.  Scrappy red snowballs.  Don't you love it when you take something so basic up a notch?

100_0186

I gave myself a rest from the Halloween 1904 quilt for a few days and worked on a couple of other things.

100_0183

I allowed a few of my original Hill Country Basket blocks to live, and combined them with the new ones.  After I make a few dozen more of these basket blocks, we will see if they still get to stay.  It is pretty obvious which ones the originals are.  (The dark ones). 

A friend of mine once told me that if certain colors or blocks are sticking out in a way you don't like, don't take them out–add more!  So maybe I need more dark ones?  I am not sure where I am going with this basket quilt.  Guess I need to keep making more baskets and see what I end up with.

May I just say that directional prints DRIVE ME CRAZY.  Thanks.

56 responses to “Working on This and That”

  1. I love the red and white, so scrappy beautiful! The basket blocks look great, I wouldn’t take any of them out at this point.

  2. I love the red and white, so scrappy beautiful! The basket blocks look great, I wouldn’t take any of them out at this point.

  3. The directional prints would make me crazy, too! I would probably even eliminate them from the bunch, although that might be too extreme because they really do blend in well.
    What pattern is the scrappy snowball quilt?

  4. The directional prints would make me crazy, too! I would probably even eliminate them from the bunch, although that might be too extreme because they really do blend in well.
    What pattern is the scrappy snowball quilt?

  5. Your Red and White Scrappy Snowball quilt is one of my all time favorites of your beautiful quilts! I had no clue it didn’t have its binding. I have a quilt that has waited for binding for about 16 months. Sigh!
    Was your scrappy Snowball strip pieced or sewn square to square to HST? I have the book and aspire to make this quilt but it might be in blue and white. I do adore the red and white, tho.
    Love the way the baskets are turning out! Who knows? You may put the darker background blocks in a position to form a subtle pattern, have them as the outside blocks to form a subtle frame, or …!? What fun to decide!
    Hugs!

  6. Your Red and White Scrappy Snowball quilt is one of my all time favorites of your beautiful quilts! I had no clue it didn’t have its binding. I have a quilt that has waited for binding for about 16 months. Sigh!
    Was your scrappy Snowball strip pieced or sewn square to square to HST? I have the book and aspire to make this quilt but it might be in blue and white. I do adore the red and white, tho.
    Love the way the baskets are turning out! Who knows? You may put the darker background blocks in a position to form a subtle pattern, have them as the outside blocks to form a subtle frame, or …!? What fun to decide!
    Hugs!

  9. Just showing my stupity here. I would never have thought of making the snowball blocks scrappy. That is what makes this quilt. I never cared that much for snowballs, probably because in my limited imagination world they would be made from just one fabric. Thanks for sharing.

  10. Just showing my stupity here. I would never have thought of making the snowball blocks scrappy. That is what makes this quilt. I never cared that much for snowballs, probably because in my limited imagination world they would be made from just one fabric. Thanks for sharing.

  13. Where did you get Metropolitan Fair yardage???? have been waiting, waiting, waiting,….. sure do like these baskets….

  14. Where did you get Metropolitan Fair yardage???? have been waiting, waiting, waiting,….. sure do like these baskets….

  17. I loved the snowball quilt first time around and I’m delighted to see it’s back getting ready for Christmas! The baskets are super cute too x

  18. I loved the snowball quilt first time around and I’m delighted to see it’s back getting ready for Christmas! The baskets are super cute too x

  19. The snowball quilt is just yummy—and perfect from fall through Valentines! Yippee!
    The baskets are nice too, and I like the dark ones—they add some punch and motion to the group. And you have a balance with the darker and lighter in all three colors. Keep going, and if you have too many left over dark ones, you can send them to me!:-)

  20. The snowball quilt is just yummy—and perfect from fall through Valentines! Yippee!
    The baskets are nice too, and I like the dark ones—they add some punch and motion to the group. And you have a balance with the darker and lighter in all three colors. Keep going, and if you have too many left over dark ones, you can send them to me!:-)

  21. I had the same comment as Linda about making the snowballs basically out of 9 patch scrappy fabrics, instead of just one big square (excluding the HST light fabrics). That really does make a world of difference and I may have to try this one soon!

  22. I had the same comment as Linda about making the snowballs basically out of 9 patch scrappy fabrics, instead of just one big square (excluding the HST light fabrics). That really does make a world of difference and I may have to try this one soon!

  23. Oh Nicole the snowball blocks are wonderful! I love them…I do see your dilemma about the basket blocks. You may be able to salvage the dark ones into a smaller project, cushions, table mat, pot holders etc. I do love the faded look of the light coloured ones. Just curious…and dragon sightings in your sewing space today? What about lizards?

  24. Oh Nicole the snowball blocks are wonderful! I love them…I do see your dilemma about the basket blocks. You may be able to salvage the dark ones into a smaller project, cushions, table mat, pot holders etc. I do love the faded look of the light coloured ones. Just curious…and dragon sightings in your sewing space today? What about lizards?

  27. I too love your scrappy red/white Snowball quilt. So much more interesting in a two color quilt. Will be a great holiday piece!

  28. I too love your scrappy red/white Snowball quilt. So much more interesting in a two color quilt. Will be a great holiday piece!

  29. Taking a break to sew on binding sounds like a great way to spend time in your studio! I love the hand sewing part of binding best of all!!! Directional prints can be crazy making, for sure!!

  30. Taking a break to sew on binding sounds like a great way to spend time in your studio! I love the hand sewing part of binding best of all!!! Directional prints can be crazy making, for sure!!

  31. Love both quilts but I’m always partial to red and white scrappy quilts! That might need to be my next leader and ender quilt.

  32. Love both quilts but I’m always partial to red and white scrappy quilts! That might need to be my next leader and ender quilt.

  35. Your baskets look wonderful and yes, keep adding more. Don’t worry about the directionals, they give interest to your piece. I think it’s marvelous!

  36. Your baskets look wonderful and yes, keep adding more. Don’t worry about the directionals, they give interest to your piece. I think it’s marvelous!

  37. The scrappy red and white snowball quilt really caught my eye… another idea to add to a growing list. I like the combination of your light and dark baskets. Think of directional fabrics as giving permission to your eyes to follow in whatever direction they like!

  38. The scrappy red and white snowball quilt really caught my eye… another idea to add to a growing list. I like the combination of your light and dark baskets. Think of directional fabrics as giving permission to your eyes to follow in whatever direction they like!

  41. I remember when you finished your snowball quilt top. I went out and bought the book because I wanted to make it. Haven’t even started it yet!
    I like both the dark and lighter baskets blocks in there. It will be interesting to see what it’s like when finished.

  42. I remember when you finished your snowball quilt top. I went out and bought the book because I wanted to make it. Haven’t even started it yet!
    I like both the dark and lighter baskets blocks in there. It will be interesting to see what it’s like when finished.

  43. I have Evelyn’s book, it is awesome, made one pattern from it New York Beauty?? need to look it up.
    Blues and creams would look good.
    Maybe the darker blocks could be in the center or on the outer edge. Actually think they are ok mixed in too.
    I like watching your progress. You are motivating and hope to sew some this w/e.
    Sandy

  44. I have Evelyn’s book, it is awesome, made one pattern from it New York Beauty?? need to look it up.
    Blues and creams would look good.
    Maybe the darker blocks could be in the center or on the outer edge. Actually think they are ok mixed in too.
    I like watching your progress. You are motivating and hope to sew some this w/e.
    Sandy

  47. Love your snowballs! I finally finished my top during the Olympics and am so happy with it, now to quilt it – how many years do you think that will take?

  48. Love your snowballs! I finally finished my top during the Olympics and am so happy with it, now to quilt it – how many years do you think that will take?

  51. The more I see of snowball quilts & variations the more I love the simplicity and powerful visual effect they have. The richness of the reds you used really make the quilt have a winderful warm look. I need to get my own pile of snowball blocks out & finished for the holidays. I am considering backing my red snowball with flannel because it sounds so cozy. What did you use for backing on your beautiful snowball?

  52. The more I see of snowball quilts & variations the more I love the simplicity and powerful visual effect they have. The richness of the reds you used really make the quilt have a winderful warm look. I need to get my own pile of snowball blocks out & finished for the holidays. I am considering backing my red snowball with flannel because it sounds so cozy. What did you use for backing on your beautiful snowball?

  55. I’m glad you posted the snowball quilt — it makes me happy. And the baskets are too cute. I know what you mean about directional prints, but I love that some of yours are going in different directions. It has a really authentic look.

  56. I’m glad you posted the snowball quilt — it makes me happy. And the baskets are too cute. I know what you mean about directional prints, but I love that some of yours are going in different directions. It has a really authentic look.