Five Shadows

This week I finished a quilt! Using Moda’s Thicket panel, I cut the four animals down to 8 1/2″ square.

Next, I did just a little bit of piecing around them.

Set them in a row.

Sandwiched and quilted with intersecting arches.

Owl

Rabbit

Fox

Bear

For the back I used a white with black dots print. Bound with one of the prints used in piecing.

Labeled (not shown), washed, and packaged to ship.

Shipping is slow, the tracking number originally said it should have arrived March 1st. Today I got a message that it will arrive late. Hmmm. Hopefully it will arrive today. I told my nephew and niece to be on the lookout for it yesterday.

The quilt measures 48″ x 56″ Pieced and quilted with Aurifil Thread 50 weight, color #2021 Natural White. I used a walking foot for quilting on my Janome 8900.

The 12″ or so of snow melted enough this past week bringing on our first Spring Flowers! These popped up Sunday February 28.

Winter Aconite.

Last Week’s To-Do List:

1. Finish and mail baby quilt. ✔️ Finished and shipped.
2. Get back to Clam Shell quilt. ✔️Background prepped.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Oh those Clam Shells, keep plugging along.
2. Project Quilting 12.5 “You’re Crazy” Challenge.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Chrisknits.

This week’s prompt is Fussy Cut.

My plan, make a pillow for my grandson.

He loves anything with wheels. So fussy cut truck and trailer it is!

I went with easy piecing. Oops! I don’t have a pillow form! A quick look at Joann’s and I decided to go with a 16″ pillow.

I need to add another border.

Now I’m at 16 1/2″ and the little top is sandwiched ready to quilt.

Quilted and sewn into a pillow case.

Orange is my 3 yr old grandson’s favorite color. While at Joann’s he picked out the ‘”balls” in orange of course! So they had to make it into the pillow top!

Close up of pompoms and, can you see the little cars embroidered with orange thread? Helpful hint – I sewed the pompoms on with a zipper foot so I could get close to the pompoms while stitching in the very narrow edge.

I’m sure he will be happy with the pillow! Not photoed, there is a pocket on the back that I’ll tuck a truck or car book into for him. Maybe that will help with a little quiet time since he recently gave up nap time.

Linking to Project Quilting 12.2.

Last week I forgot to show the picture of my grandson with his train quilt.

He was so adorable pointing at the train and cars on the quilt!

This week was all about working on the appliqué quilt for my son and his lovely wife! Today is their anniversary, and NO I did not finish the quilt in time to gift the quilt today.

I did complete the quilting on the top and bottom appliqué sections.

And attached the two section to the rest of the quilt. I used a quilt-as-you-go method. See the white sashing sewn over the seam attaching them together? The vine now has to be stitched in place going over the joining sashing. I hope that makes sense.

Above the vine is now stitched in place so it continues around the quilt.

The quilt so far, appliqué vine border completed!

Next is a clam shell border.

This is what a pile of 228 clam shells looks like.

Cut at 5 1/2,”  5″ finished.

Top right – 90 of the 228 Clam Shells ready to line up on quilt border. I’m using freezer paper templates, pressing a 1/4″ edge over paper for a finished edge. Bottom of photo – 10 more in process.

Once the Clam Shells are all prepped they will be sewn around the quilt for a border of three rows of Clam Shells. I hope to start that process this week!

I feel like January is zooming by! May it be a good quilting month for all of you!

Last Week’s To-Do List:

1. Quilt the two appliqué sections.  ✔️ Completed!
2. Sew quilted sections to the quilt center.  ✔️ Attached!
3. If there is time start Clam Shell Border.  ✔️prepping 228 Clam Shells

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Clam Shells!
2. Maybe create a Fussy Cut truck pillow for my grandson – Project Quilting 12:2 Challenge.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Home Sewn by Us!

I could not resist! Last year I joined Kim and Trish’s Project Quilting Challenge  Season 11, which was my first time to play along. As 2020 ended, I was watching for Season 12 to be announced. Sunday, January 3rd the 12th season kicked off.

The first challenge is Illuminating + Ultimate Gray. Make a quilt, any size, using yellow & gray and post by January 10, 11am CST.

Here is my first entry

I just went with the first thing that popped in my mind once reading the challenge. Matthew 5:5 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

So here is my little candle with a bit of illuminating light. I used two gray fabrics left over from the train quilt I made for my grandson. The two yellow fabrics for the candle and flame came out of my scrap bag of leftovers already fused with Misty Fuse. I used several threads, Aurifil, Persencia, and Superior in yellows and gray for quilting. The yellow dot fabric was left from a FQ bundle.

That was a fun piece that went together quickly. We have one week to make the quilt, and then a week off, for 6 challenges total in 12 weeks.

Now I have to get back to appliqué!

These flower, vines and leaves go on the quilt I’m making for my son & DIL. Sadly I did not get this quilt finished in 2020. Their wedding anniversary is January 19th. I’m beginning to think I’ll not have this completed by then, which is all my fault as I am so easily distracted by QALs and quilt challenges – like PQ 12!

Good news though, I did finish the quilt for my grandson!

Quilted & bound! His 3rd birthday is Thursday the 7th. The quilt is washed and ready to gift!

May your New Year by Happy and Productive!

Last To-Do List of 2020:

1. Sandwich and quilt the train quilt. ✔️quilted and bound!
2. Maybe pull out the appliqué quilt for my son & DIL. Pin appliqué in place. – pulled out today to start pinning appliqué.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Applique!

Linking to To-Do Tuesday and Project Quilting.

I hope everyone who celebrates had a Blessed Christmas.

I completed and hung up my Christmas Countdown quilt on Christmas day. I’m happy with it! This was a quilt-along hosted by Helen Godden. If you want to stitch up one, find Helen’s instructions on YouTube.

With Christmas and celebrations, not much sewing happened this past week, as I expected. I did find time to finish the train track border for my grandson’s quilt.

And added one more border of the mottled gray. Tomorrow I hope to get it all sandwiched and ready to quilt. His birthday is January 7th, so that is my goal – have it completed to gift to him on his birthday!

I don’t think my family is doing anything special together for New Year’s Eve. That might mean some sewing time, or reading. I’ll see what mood I’m in that night.

I hope you all have a happy & healthy New Year.

Goodbye 2020!

Last Week’s To-Do List:

1. Finish Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along! Hope to hang it for Christmas! ✔️
2. Keep chugging along on that train track. ✔️

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Sandwich and quilt the train quilt.
2. Maybe pull out the appliqué quilt for my son & DIL. Pin appliqué in place.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday with Home Sewn by Us.

Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along is so much fun! Just a little bit of stitching each day.

Days 1 – 15 complete! 15 petals filled in with different designs, and then some little petals with stippling.

Train Quilt! Here is what I’ve got pieced.

Using Cool Cars by Sew Kind of Wonderful, I altered it a bit to create what I hope looks something like a tractor. Added to last week’s stitching, that makes 4 vehicles for the quilt.

Add more cargo boxes.

Load them all up on the train flat beds!

And here is the train quilt, so far, for my grandson.

Next up, a train track border using All Aboard pattern by It’s Sew Emma.

That’s it for this week. Seems I’m slowing down a bit on the sewing, Oh wait, there were 3 days of migraine headaches this week. Gah. Hate when that happens. Seems I get them more often as I get older, happens with change in barometric pressure.

Hope you are all staying well and enjoying the Holiday Season!

Last Week’s To-Do List:

1. Continuing on with Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along. ✔️ So much fun!
2. Continue stitching up quilt for grandson. ✔️ Train & vehicles completed! On to train track.
3. Maybe work on son & DIL’s quilt. ✗ Figured I’d finish grandson’s quilt first then get back to this one.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Stay current with Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along!
2. Piecing train track for outer border of grandson’s quilt.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Home Sewn by Us.

Merry Christmas Month!

I’m keeping up with Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along.

After outlining the design in black thread, December 1st we started filling in the Poinsettia petals with a different quilt design each day. 8 days completed!

I had a fun week of piecing blocks for my grandson’s quilt.

First up the train engine. The pattern is All Aboard by Its Sew Emma.

Next cargo on flat beds.

I want to add other vehicles to the train quilt, but hmmm, how do I do that? Light bulb moment! I will load them on to the train! But first I have to piece them.

I’m using Sew Kind Of Wonderful’s Cool Car pattern.

I altered the long car turning it into a truck.

More playing around, I figured out a dump truck. I actually looked at free coloring pages to come up with this design meshed with Cool Cars.

Next up will be a tractor.

I didn’t touch my son’s quilt this week. I spent more time this week helping out a friend in a nursing home with her shopping. Kind of strange because of Covid we can only talk on the phone, no face to face. Some of the items she wanted are just not available, even with checking on line. The isolation is very tough on those in nursing homes, retirement communities, etc. Keep them in mind and in your prayers.

Last Week’s To-Do List:

1. Keep up with Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along. ✔️ Yep!
2. Stitch up the train for my grandson. ✔️ Fun creating!
3. Start pinning applique to top and bottom of my son & DIL’s quilt. ✗ Oops, no.

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Continuing on with Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along.
2. Continue stitching up quilt for grandson.
3. Maybe work on son & DIL’s quilt.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday!

Wow! Even with all the Covid and other craziness of this year, it is still hard to believe that December is already here!

Thanksgiving has past, and Christmas is around the corner. I hope everyone is enjoying the celebrations even if it means not the way you would traditionally celebrate. That said, I do miss my adult children and grandchildren. We do manage to see them some, but not like in past years.

On to my goal for December. I will continue on with the quilt for my son and DIL. The next step is appliqué sections for the top & bottom of the center of the quilt.

BUT!

I need to start and finish a quilt for my grandson by his 3rd birthday, January 7, 2021!  I’ll be working on both, but my goal for December will be  to get as far along on my grandson’s quilt as possible!

I bought this All Aboard kit to make the train which will be part of the quilt.

And I have collected car & truck patterns and fabric that will also be in the quilt.

December OMG – cutting & piecing vehicle quilt for my grandson! Phew! What a month this will be!

Linking to One Monthly Goal hosted by Patty Elm Street Quilts.

Happy December everyone!

First up, here is a happy ending to November, the last block in Helen Godden’s Flower Power 2 Quilt-along.

Block 9 Passion Flower. It will be a while before I sew the 9 blocks into a quilt.

On to new projects!

For the past several years Helen Godden has offered a free Christmas Countdown Quilt-along. This will be my fourth time participating. I’m not sure how many she has offered.

This year she designed a Poinsettia Flower Basket for her Christmas Countdown. Each day we will fill in a leaf, a petal or part of the basket. That means very little stitching each day which means I should be able to stay on track. I love her creativeness in how she fills up her designs with a variety of stitching.

My next new project is a quilt for my grandson turning 3 in January. He loves all things with wheels! Trains are a favorite. I’ve been collecting patterns and fabric.

I’m starting with this train and will be adding cars and trucks of all kinds.

And of course I will keep plugging along on my son & DIL’s quilt. I have the first three sections completed, sewn together with the seams covered with sashing.

Sashing being pinned over the seam.

First 3 sections completed! Next up, appliqué continues around to top and bottom of quilt center.

November was a good month. I hope to keep up with life in December. Hopefully buying a Christmas tree and decorating it and the house later this week. When the kids were growing up we had the tradition of eating out for breakfast and then tree shopping with our 5 kids. Once home we put on Christmas music and all got busy decorating. Now we are empty nesters, altho our youngest daughter said she would join us for breakfast and tree shopping later this week. I’m waiting for her to pick a day. Busy girl, work and attending college for her second degree.

Last Week’s To-Do List:

1. Celebrate Thanksgiving! Since my family has decided to not have a family gathering this Thursday, (Covid), my local kids suggested a food swap for Thanksgiving. That way we are not all cooking the full traditional meal. I’m doing the turkey, dressing, gravy, and 2 pies. The kids are filling in everything else. I’ll let you know next week how the swap works out. ✔️ Food swap went well! So much food! Turkey and all the trimmings for a crowd and 4 pies! Kids brought servings of their dishes to our house, and then took home portions of what I prepared. I still have turkey – hubs bought the smallest one he could find – 22 pounds!!!!
2. Stitch up last block of Helen Godden’s Flower Power 2 quilt along.  ✔️ All stitched but blocks not sewn together.
3. Add sashing to son & DIL’s quilt. ✔️ Yes!

This Week’s To-Do List:

1. Keep up with Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown quilt-along.
2. Stitch up the train for my grandson.
3. Start pinning applique to top and bottom of my son & DIL’s quilt.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Roseanne of Home Sewn by Us.

My November OMG was to quilt 3 sections of the quilt I’m making for my son & DIL. And then sew them together using Pauline Rogers‘ QAYG system.

All done!

Once I finished the quilting, I stitched sections together with the seam allowance on the front of the quilt. Then I used Roxanne basting glue to hold down the seam allowance.

Then I pressed the seam nice and flat, the glue helped hold the seam in place.

The next step is to cover the seam with sashing, which I made using Pauline Rogers 3/4″ Sasher tool. The sashing is just a bit wider than the seam allowance. Pin and it’s ready to stitch in place.

All pinned.

Sashing sewn in place.

The three sections of the quilt so far.

Next is creating the top & bottom appliqué sections. I hope to have this quilt completed to gift January 19, 2021.

Last month Patty sent me the happy news that I won a free gift for participating in OMG. I won a one year subscription to QuiltFolk Magazine!  Thank you, Patty & QuiltFolk!

Linking to One Monthly Goal hosted by Patty of Elm Street Quilts.