Five Shadows

Finally gifted! A quilt I started in August 2020 and put in time out, or was it ME that went into time out?!

Here is where I left the quilt in December. Pieced and put together with a quilt-as-you-go method, I still needed to add sashing over the seam between the Clam Shells and appliqué vines.

Above shows the seams that need to be covered with sashing. And the mitered seams at the corners to be covered with leaves.

Sashing sewn over the inner seams.

Prepping leaves to cover the mitered seam corners.

Leaves appliquéd in place. Quilt is ready for binding.

Happy dance! I completed quilt! This is on my bed. It will look much prettier on their bed with a Amish made head board. But I don’t have a picture to share of that, so this will do!

The quilt is a Sue Pelland pattern, on the cover of her Hearts and More Book. I enlarged the quilt to 99 1/2″ x 107″ to fit a queen size bed. All appliqué is turned, not raw edge, center Drunkard’s Path blocks are pieced, not appliqué. I used Pauline Rogers’ Quilt As You Go method. The center was pieced and quilted, then the vines where appliquéd and quilted, and attached to the center. Then the clams were appliquéd on background, quilted, and then attached to quilt. Doing this method I could quilt each section on my Janome machine having smaller sections to quilt instead of fighting the queen size quilt as one whole piece.

This was my first time to do the quilt-as-you-go method to construct a large quilt. I like how this quilt turned out and will consider doing a large quilt in this method again.

Oh, and if you are wondering about the time out I mentioned in the beginning of this post, let me explain. When I got to the part of sandwiching the Clam Shell sections to the backing fabric, I miss calculated and cut the fabric with not an inch to spare. Then I sandwiched the wrong size back to a Clam Shell front. Ripped it all out and then attached the back to another wrong front! Gah! At that point I had to set the quilt aside and wait for a clear head to rip it apart again and hopefully get the sections paired together correctly on the third try. It sat for several months before I was willing to pull it out and complete it. And of course once I did pull it out and get going on it again, all went well. So, yes it was me in the time out!

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

Once I completed my son and daughter-in-love’s quilt, I’ve moved on to getting some other quilts completed and figuring out what I should be doing quilt-wise this year. I’ll be delivering the Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt next week! That makes two happy finishes held over from previous years!

To-Do Tuesday January 18, 2022

1. Finish Hungry Caterpillar quilt  ✔️
2. Start piecing background for last year’s BOM – Nebula  ✔️
3. Work towards catching up with EPP  ✔️

1. Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt is quilted and bound!

The quilt is just about 50″ square. The top was pieced by my daughter at least 10 years ago with raw edge appliqué cut from a panel. She intended to give it to a friend as a baby gift. But something happened along the way and she never finished it or gifted it. She gave it to me, pin basted. It sat in my sewing room for years until just recently when my church offered to put together a basket for our town’s local rescue mission fundraiser.

Tiny caterpillar on a quilted leaf.

No longer hungry!

Butterfly!

Soft flannel back. Ready to donate.

2. Nebula BOM from 2021

I’ve started cutting the fabrics for the background of Nebula. I’ve a long way to go.

3. English Paper Piecing Homage to Grandmother’s Flower Garden

Week One progress. The leaf unit where the tip of the leaf extends into the hexie is giving me a fit. I used a friend’s Go Cutter to cut the 1/2″ hexies, but am winging cutting the leaf units. One made accurately! Two more to make for this section of the quilt. Week Four started Sunday, so I’m no way catching up. I’ll keep plodding along.

To-Do Tuesday January 25, 2022

1. Work on back ground to Nebula quilt
2. EPP Homage to Grandmother’s Flower Garden

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Linda of Texas Quilt Gal.

Oops! I forgot to post on Tuesday and now it is Thursday! My sewing group was canceled for today – Covid again. The hostess of our gathering has been exposed to Covid and her husband tested positive. We moved the meeting to my house, and one friend had planned on coming, but her daughter went into labor, so she is happily at the hospital with her this morning! That all said, I’ll take time to write my belated post this morning.

So what have I been up to stitching and quilting wise?

To-Do Tuesday January 11, 2022

1. Finish quilt for son & DIL! Only have the binding to complete and then launder!  ✔️
2. Quilt and maybe bind Hungry Caterpillar quilt. I’ll share its story next week.  ✔️
3. Prep fabric for EPP project I hope to work on through out this year.  ✔️

1.  I DID finish the quilt for my son and his lovely wife! They just celebrated their 3rd anniversary yesterday!

I started this quilt August of 2020. I used a quilt-as-you-go method. Meaning I first pieced the center, sandwiched and quilted it. Then I appliquéd the four vine sections, sandwiched and quilted. Then attached the vine sections to the center. Then four sections of appliquéd clam shells, sandwiched and quilted were attached to the quilt. Doing the quilt is sections made it possible for me to quilt each smaller section my domestic machine.

Not the best photo. I hope to get a better one with the quilt on their bed.

2. I’m currently working on getting the Hungry Caterpillar quilted.

This quilt was created by my daughter more than 10 years ago. She never finished it and gave it to me to finish. The Women’s Ministry group at my church is putting together a basket to donate to the local rescue mission’s auction coming up this Spring. Someone suggested a children’s quilt and I said I thought I had the perfect quilt to build on. Also added to the basket will be pillows, pillow case, Hungry Caterpillar book, and hopefully a stuffy. I have the outer border to quilt, and binding to attach.

3. I think I’m crazy to start another project before finishing last year’s BOM. I’m so slow at English Paper Piecing.

Prepping 1/2″ hexies!

Stitching progress in the evenings. I’m following along with Katja Quilt Shop Homage to Grandmother’s Flower Garden. The flowers will make a wreath. Go take a look at her quilt along! The pattern is written for 1″ hexies to make  a 82″ quilt. Doing 1/2″ hexies should give me about a 42″ wall hanging. I’m only on week one, and this is week three of the quilt along. I was waiting for supplies to arrive in the mail. I might switch to machine piecing if I continue to fall behind. But this handwork is supposed to be relaxing, right!?

To-Do Tuesday January 18, 2022

1. Finish Hungry Caterpillar quilt
2. Start piecing background for last year’s BOM – Nebula
3. Work towards catching up with EPP

I’ve been asked to sew together a t-shirt quilt top. But have not received the t-shirts or fabric yet. And I have the appliqué quilt Granny’s Garden started, but currently on the shelf. I want to finish the BOM  Nebula by Jaybird Quilts then I can go full steam ahead on Granny’s Garden and the EPP quilt.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Linda of Texas Quilt Gal.

I sneaked in a project this week that was not on my list.

This is a 10″ square mug rug birthday gift for a quilting friend I will be seeing Saturday. I used This & That Bitty Barn Block January pattern. It was a fun little quilt to put together.

To-Do Tuesday January 4, 2022

1. Continue working on the quilt for my son and DIL. Next steps: sashing added over seams, and appliqué added to mitered corners. Binding, but I don’t think I’ll get that far this week. ✔️
2. Continue prep for Granny’s Garden. ✗
3. Sewing Thursday with friends. Work on charity quilt. ✗

1. I’m full steam ahead on the quilt for my son and DIL! Sashing completed, leaves appliquéd over mitered corner seams, label made & attached to back, and binding underway!

You can seen the sashing between the appliqué flowers and clam shells. And Leaves are appliquéd in place over the mitered corner seam. Finishing this quilt is my One Monthly Goal. I hope to have the binding completed today!

2. I didn’t touch Granny’s Garden quilt this week.

3. Sewing with friends was canceled as Covid continues to lurk in every corner. The host’s husband was exposed to Covid, so we all played it safe and stayed home. THAT helped me make progress on my son & DIL’s quilt!

To-Do Tuesday January 11, 2022

1. Finish quilt for son & DIL! Only have the binding to complete and then launder!
2. Quilt and maybe bind Hungry Caterpillar quilt. I’ll share its story next week.
3. Prep fabric for EPP project I hope to work on through out this year.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Linda of Texas Quilt Gal.

What are you working on this week?

Happy New Year Friends!

Just last night January 3rd, most of my family was able to get together to celebrate our 2021 Christmas. One guest had tested positive for Covid the Thursday before Christmas, and since 6 of us had been around this person, we decided to postpone until we could be sure of negative Covid test results. I didn’t take any pictures, but my adult children did. Anyway, we had a lovely time of sharing in food, games, conversation, and gift giving. All Glory to our God and Savior!

So how did my quilting goals go this past week?

To-Do Tuesday December 28, 2021

1. Sew Clam Shell border on to quilt. ✔️
2. Prep pieces for Granny’s Garden.  ✔️
3. Celebrate Christmas!  ✔️

1. Clam Shell border has been attached to quilt!

I’m doing this quilt-as-you-go. Which means I have quilted each section before attaching them together.

The seams where sections are attached will be covered with the sashing I made, and shown in above photo. I used Pauline Roger’s  1 1/8″ Sashing Tool with strips cut at 2 1/4″ wide.

2. Prepping Granny’s Garden a Lori Holt pattern.

Prepping means cutting out pieces for the 42 blocks. I’ve cut for the first 21 blocks and am going back and prepping circles for appliqué. I ordered Lori Holt’s interfacing that will be used for stitching the flower petals and leaves. It just arrived yesterday. Here’s hoping I like her technique for appliqué!

I slipped in finishing this felted cactus pin cushion and gifted to a friend for a belated Christmas 2021.

To-Do Tuesday January 4, 2022

1. Continue working on the quilt for my son and DIL. Next steps: sashing added over seams, and appliqué added to mitered corners. Binding, but I don’t think I’ll get that far this week.
2. Continue prep for Granny’s Garden.
3. Sewing Thursday with friends. Work on charity quilt.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Linda of Texas Quilt Gal.

Happy New Year!

I pulled out a UFO to finish in January.

I started this quilt August of 2020.

Got to get it finished and gifted to my son and daughter-in-love!

It needs sashing, some appliqué, and binding. Queen size!

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

I hope everyone has had Happy Christmas celebrations with family and friends.

My family’s plan of meeting at my son’s home Christmas Day was postponed due to a Covid. One fully vaccinated person we had all been around tested positive the Thursday before Christmas. So now we wait to all test negative, and plan a date we can all get together.

Hubs and I enjoyed a quiet Christmas Day together taking us back to the days before we had children & grandchildren! We Face-timed with our son’s family – got to see the grands and their favorite gifts.

To-Do Tuesday December 21st

1. I’ll be working on the Clam Shell borders. ✔️
2. Gift wrapping and stocking stuffing! ✔️
3. Hubs and I celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary on the 23rd! ✔️
4. Christmas with family at my son’s house! ✗

What did I accomplish this week?

1. Clam Shell borders are all quilted! but not attached yet to quilt. I’m doing quilt-as-you-go and will share a photo once complete.

2. Gifts waiting for our delayed celebrations!

3. Hubs and I went to a local park for a walk to a water fall. Got carry out for dinner, staying away from others just in case we too contracted Covid.

4. Christmas gathering … still waiting!

I finished the Helen Godden’s Christmas countdown which was my One Monthly Goal for December, read about it here.

Partridge in a Pear Tree. Finished 21 1/2″ wall hanging.

I’ve been prepping pieces for a new project for the New Year. Lori Holt’s Granny’s Garden. I’m using Christina Cameli’s fabric line Saguaro for the quilt.

These fabrics will give a totally different look to Granny’s Garden, I’m excited about it!

To-Do Tuesday December 28, 2021

1. Sew Clam Shell border on to quilt.
2. Prep pieces for Granny’s Garden.
3. Hopefully have family time to Celebrate Christmas!

Linking to To-Do Tuesday with Linda of Texas Quilt Gal.

Oops! I missed a week, but I have been sewing! And not all items on my To-Do list.

First up, gifts for a friend -

This is for a friend currently in a nursing care facility. She has a large stuffed polar bear that is her ‘child’ who is named Bingo. She informed me that Bingo wants a Christmas gift from me. And since I need to also give her a gift, I decided on making a Christmas Stocking with a polar bear appliqué. I’ll pick up a few little items for the stocking before visiting her.

Bingo the Polar Bear gets a kerchief with a polar bear appliqué to tie around his neck. I hope my friend will be tickled with her gifts.

Next up is a gift for a friend visiting from Arizona.

She is a seamstress, needle worker,  and quilter. I saw this Cactus pincushion on Missouri Star Quilts last year, and thought of my AZ friend. I will also gift her a tea towel designed by Fancy That Design House for Moda. I love Stephanie’s Song Book fabric line. I’ve bought several pieces from two quilt shops and hope to create a quilt from the line in 2022.

Another project I’m working on is my December Goal – I’m doing Helen Godden’s Christmas Countdown. Each day December 1 – 24 Helen shares a free motion quilting design to complete her drawing of a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

The first 15 days were filling in the leaves. Days 16-21 focused on the Partridge. Only tree, pear, and background remain to complete!

To-Do Tuesday December 7th

1. Clam Shell Quilting! Since I pulled this UFO out, I’m determined to finish it this year! ✔️
2. Work on coasters for my daughter.  ✔️
3. Wool Applique? I have to be in the right frame of mind to work on it.  ✗

So how did I do on my To-Do Tuesday December 7th list?

1. Clam Shell Quilting. I have one border completed and started on the second! I’m not sure this will be finished this year, but at least I’m making progress. I’ll share a photo once this quilt is finished.

2. Work on coasters for my daughter. Finished and delivered as she invited us over for dinner last Sunday. But I forgot to take a photo!

3. No progress was made on the wool appliqué. Oh well! But I’m pleased with the last minutes gifts I did make these past two weeks.

To-Do Tuesday December 21st

1. I’ll be working on the Clam Shell borders.
2. Gift wrapping and stocking stuffing!
3. Hubs and I celebrate our 44th wedding anniversary on the 23rd!
4. Christmas with family at my son’s house!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Linda of Texas Quilt Gal.

Happy December!

To-Do Tuesday November 30th

1. Finish 3 mini quilts for Christmas gifts! ✔️
2. Work on flying geese charity quilt.  ✔️
3. Not sure I’ll do the wool appliqué – listed just in case!   ✗

Last Thursday I exchanged gifts with one of my sewing groups. There are only 4 of us in the group. Today my other sewing group met, and again we exchanged gifts. This is also just a small quilt group of just 4 of us.

1. Finish 3 mini quilts.

I found these cute hangers at Creative Fires quilt shop in Springfield, Ohio while traveling this summer and thought they would be a good start for Christmas gifts. Hmmm. What to make? I decided on three basket quilts 8″ wide to display on the hangers.

This one for a friend whose favorite color is blue.

This little quilt is for a friend who likes burgundy. I didn’t have much in my stash, so hers gets the flange binding to add burgundy.

And this is for my friend who likes blue & yellow.

The baskets and flower pieces were cut on a friend’s Accuquilt Go Cutter. The background was quilted before adding the appliqué pieces. Blanket stitched around all the pieces. The mini quilts measure 8″ x 13″ and the hanger adds about 2 1/2 inches.

2. Work on flying geese charity quilt

Geese Blocks are growing!

3. Wool – I did not touch.

I did pull out a UFO and started quilting around clam shells. One side complete and three more to go! Fingers crossed this will be finished this month!

To-Do Tuesday December 7th

1. Clam Shell Quilting! Since I pulled this UFO out, I’m determined to finish it this year!
2. Work on coasters for my daughter.
3. Wool Applique? I have to be in the right frame of mind to work on it.

Linking to To-Do Tuesday hosted by Linda of Texas Quilt Gal.

What a wonderful family Thanksgiving was held at my house! Good food, good fellowship, fun times. I hope you can all say the same.

I’m glad I had a short list this past week as not much sewing happened.

To-Do Tuesday Week of November 23rd

1. Continue making quilted Christmas gifts. I’m making 6 total. 2 completed, 4 to go. ✔️
2. Maybe work on the wool appliqué.  ✗
3. Enjoy Thanksgiving with family!  ✔️

1. Christmas gifts. Three are completed and 3 more are underway.

This is for a friend who loves pink, purple and Butterflies! It measures 6″ x 8 1/2″ with the hanger adding 2 1/2″ total in length. This makes 3 of 6 mini quilts completed.

I also have three more little quilts under way. You can see them here.

2. Wool appliqué was not touched, but thought about. Ha Ha! After cooking and visiting with family on more days than just Thanksgiving, no hand work happened.

3. Thanksgiving day was just wonderful this year! I don’t know what made the difference, maybe more casual? We had good conversation, played games in several groups, grandkids stayed engaged in activities. And food! I did turkey and dressing, and 6 others pitched in to complete a traditional meal with all the trimmings.

To-Do Tuesday November 30th

1. Finish 3 mini quilts for Christmas gifts!
2. Work on flying geese charity quilt.
3. Not sure I’ll do the wool appliqué – listed just in case!