Final week of December 2019

Have you watched the first episode of Craft in America?  I already said this on Facebook, but the episode was an absolute feast for the eyes!  I encourage anyone who has an interest in quilting, to check it out.  I loved the design creation interviews by the artists especially.  I am not sure what the next episodes will uncover, but I plan to tune in!  The first episode is on youtube as well as the site.

After watching, I decided to go into my quilt room to see if I could catch up on my Cheddarback Quilt BOM.  I thought I was four months behind, it turns out that I hadn't printed off one month, so I was actually five months behind!  But I finished up blocks 26-30, so now I am back to being four months behind... however, the first of January is creeping close so I better get busy :)



I started off with block 27 (the pinwheel-type design) and all I have to say for that one is sashing is a savior!  I chose to do inset seams instead of appliqueing a square over the top of a pinwheel.  I really wonder about blocks of old and how quilters created them.  I have heard that hand piecing can be key for accuracy, perhaps that was how the maker of this quilt did that one well (or maybe sashing was also her savior!).

For the 12" Block 26, can you believe all the background baskets are going in the same direction? 



The quilt has reached the final length.  I would love to have a floor to ceiling design wall, though I wouldn't be able to reach the top without a step stool :)



An update on Dear Daughter:  I am currently handsewing Chapter Six, but here is a quick snap of Chapters 1-5, finished.  I am changing some of the words used so that the quilt feels more likely from me.  In one of the chapters that I have on my table (I have two months worth waiting for me, so not as far behind as I am with Cheddarback), is the section that goes under the "Wander" section.  This project has also outgrown my design wall.

My plan is to continue sewing out of 2019 into 2020.  I have some undecorating to do, but I am hoping that 2020 brings more sewing than previous years.  I would really like to see my stash decrease into new quilts to gift away (mostly as "just because" gifts, though there is one wedding happening in March to think about).  And if you are having a dry spell, go watch the quilting episode of Craft in America, it might just spark an interest again.  Mary, how far away from Lincoln, Nebraska will you be?  I think a trip to the International Quilt Museum should be put on your calendar!

Teal Mini Swap

**I started this post in September, but wanted to wait until my partner received her quilt before publishing.  I received my little quilt in October, and then forgot I started this post!  I found it after writing about my Christmas sewing**

I joined the Teal Mini Swap (https://evapaigequilts.com/pages/teal-mini-swap) again for this year.  It is an ovarian cancer fundraiser that runs in September (Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month).  The fabric is Art Gallery Fabrics Woodblock Splendid-1109.


I decided to buy a little extra of the focus fabric since participants receive so little... I needed room for error.  I still have a little left, but I was able to create three different quilts out of a half yard.



I liked the design and wondered what it would be like in a larger quilt, but honestly I was tired of the fabric.  I think I was needing more "scrappy" teals vs a single teal.  My partner noted that she liked brights, so I thought about sending her the Kaffe magenta, but then I noticed I had a block turned in the final as I was quilting!  My second quilt that matched the original also has a turned block AND a drop of sewing machine oil on it.  I had to take apart my Juki when the knee lift lever wasn't working.  Thankfully these machines are so easy to work on, a screw just needed to be tightened with an allen wrench so the levers would meet.



And then my original blocks had a too-busy background.  So now I have a few orphan blocks and no thoughts on what to do with.  Into the orphan block box they went.  Someday they'll find a quilt needing them!  I made three individual quilts, the two I kept will find a person in the future for a "just because" gift.  Anyone?



Here is the quilt that I mailed off.  I also made a pouch out of one of the blocks:





And here is the beautiful quilt that I received:



It has been a couple of months since receiving, and I am still enjoying it on my design wall. It is a cheerful little quilt.

Christmas Sewing

I wanted to share a few projects that I recently finished up just in time for Christmas.  I have shared these on my Instagram, but I am not super active over there.  HOWEVER.... I do scan a couple of times a week and I came across Larissa Holland, a designer who makes absolutely adorable wool projects.  The one that grabbed me was the Santa and Mrs Claus that are a part of her T'was the Night series that she will be adding to each year.  Santa was this year, Mrs Claus will be written up for next year.  I had to check out her etsy and I found some of the cutest wool ornament patterns.



But then... I happened onto Wee Mouse Tin House.  So cute!  I decided to purchase the pattern and sew up a little mouse for my granddaughter.  I hope she thinks it's as cute as I do.

 I first attempted to make the teddy bear with flannel that I had on hand, but it raveled way too much due to the bear being so small.  There is really not a lot of room for error.  The next day I found some wool and sewed it up.  Oh! And that quilt for the mouse's bed?  A few years ago I made a sheet of 1/2" half square triangles by mistake and set them aside in my spare HST box.  I decided to use them for the quilt and I love how it turned out.



The other projects I finished up after about three years of starting and stopping are Primitive Gatherings Yuletide Ornies.


The red truck with a tree in the back is so classic, and I can understand why so many people love to use this design.  A few years ago I made a wreath using a red truck in the center that I hang on our front door.  Though snowmen will always be my most favorite, I think this could be a close second for me to decorate with.



Santa was the last ornament to finish because I needed a flat head pin to fuse wool to for the top of the tree.  I finally ended up with a pack in one of my Quilty Boxes one month, so I set them aside--and then they were misplaced for a few months!  I know, it would have been easier to simply just buy some at the time, but I was trying to figure out another method first (so Santa was set aside for a long time!).  I love how he turned out, but I do wish I could have found a cute stick for the tree instead of a dowel, but it worked.  It would be easy to change it out if I ever feel more strongly about it down the road.



And the snowman.  He's pretty cute too.

This will likely be it for my big sewing for 2019.  I have started and finished a few other projects, one of which was Bonnie Hunter's Punkin' Patch table runner.  I started it during a weekend away in Spokane during the WSQ quilt show this year.  I love getting together with friends to sew, it stirs the creative juices so much more for me.  I wish I could do a sewing retreat once a month for this reason alone.  I am still working on my Dear Daughter BOM, and perhaps I will blog again with my updated "chapters".  I am collecting clues for Bonnie Hunter's mystery, Frolic, but right now I am not jumping in.  I have so many projects going on at once, that my focus is faltering!  Plus I think I may want to change the colors, so I am waiting to see the finale :)  I have changed colors in past mysteries and really disliked the outcome, so in the meantime I am enjoying see the progress of others.

Happy holidays!