Five Shadows

While working up a demo using Creative Grids 45˚/90˚Triangle Ruler, a co-worker mentioned that she was actually using the ruler to make Atlantic Link. She lent me a few of her blocks to use for the demonstration this Saturday at Fabrics and Friends Quilt Shoppe in Roanoke, IN. This ruler can be used for cutting half square triangles (HST) and quarter square triangles (QST) from strips measuring up to 5″ wide.

I’ve worked up a few samples (not photoed) for both HSTs and QSTs using this ruler. It was nice to not have to ‘reinvent’ the wheel, so to speak, this week when working up the demo. Thank you, Vicki, for lending me your pretty Atlantic Link blocks!

This past week was mostly spend helping my daughter prepare for her freshman year of college! We shopped, we ate out, we spent time with her sisters, we cleaned (not enough!) and packed! Then over the weekend her dad and I helped move her into her dorm. Our youngest off to college! The years really do fly by!

I’m linking up to Connie’s Linky Tuesday, over at Freemotion by the River. Stop on by and see what all the other quilters are up to this week!

Machine applique. I like it because I can get a project/top finished pretty quickly. If the applique pieces waited for me to get to hand work, there would be along wait! This top is complete, and waiting for quilting. I just straight stitched around the leaves and blanket stitched around most of the other pieces. I build, meaning the tail and feet are appliqued in place first, then the body, next the head and arms, etc. And I change top thread color to match or coordinate with the current piece being appliqued in place.

14″ square. Little bits – the acorns are about 1 1/2″

I also used the little squirrel and his acorns to embellish a tea towel. And another tea towel with just the leaves and three acorns. But, oops, forgot to take a photo before sending them off. And they turned out so cute!

Pattern: Give Thanks by Briarwood Cottage.  I altered the pattern, replaced pieced border with a solid border, and added the leaves.

Linking to Freemotion by the River Linky Tuesday.

This project was used as an applique demo for Fabrics and Friends Quilt Shoppe in Roanoke, IN USA.

We did it! And what a beautiful day it was!

May I introduce to you the happy couple? Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Pratt!

Anna and Nathan!

Charis, Nathan, Anna, Janelle

Two happy couples! That would be my husband, John, and me on either side of the newlyweds!

I’ll share professional pictures just as soon as they are ready. I hear that could be a few months from now!

I’m linking to Linky Tuesday.  No quilting this week But I did make the veil – finally!

Just a little bit of playing with “Quilt As You Go” using Double Duty Runners Pattern by G. E. Designs. The “Quilt As You Go” technique will be a demo this Saturday at Fabrics and Friends Quilt Shop, Roanoke, IN. Kits available for purchase.

I’m linking to To-Do Tuesday and Linky Tuesday

I have a finish! Its a signature quilt made of blocks used as the guest book at a wedding. I was sent the fence rail blocks, which I set in a 9-patch arrangement and then sashed. To add length, I added an extra row of unsigned blocks to the top and bottom.  I hope they will be pleased!

The MIL to the Bride was the Matron-of-Honor at my wedding 36 years ago. I was the Maid-of-Honor at her wedding 4 months earlier.

I’m linking to To-Do-Tuesday with Red’s Needles and Threads.

The celebrations started February 15th with our soon to be son-in-law’s birthday. Then son #2 born on February 23rd. In March we have birthdays on the 4th, 7th, 14th, 19th, and 21st. That would be my husband, myself, daughter #2, daughter #3 and son #1. Then one more birthday April 13th which is our daughter #1. Our other son-in-law and daughter-in-law make us wait until June and then November to complete the birthday celebrations. I’m hoping for grandchildren to finish out the year instead of clustering in March! I suppose I could mention that my brother and sister are also born in March, as is my mother-in-law and two sister-in-laws. My father-in-law born in February and my mother born in April, as is a brother-in-law!

Since I have been busy with birthday dinners, I didn’t accomplish much in sewing this week. I like making a favorite meal for each of my children on their birthday and they can invite friends over. They seem to think this tradition should continue even though 3 of them are out of our house, 2 are married! Last Wednesday we enjoyed sweet potato burgers, cole slaw, tossed salad and coconut poke cake with our now 19 year old daughter. And we celebrated our son’s 33rd birthday on Sunday (instead of Friday) with homemade Steak Gyros and apple crisp.

Today I did manage to applique this cute little bunny and Tulips on to Moda Toweling using Misty Fuse and Edyta Sitar’s Laundry Basket Quilts pattern Spring Surprise.

I’m linking to To-Do-Tuesday with Red’s Needles and Threads.

And since I didn’t get to anything from my list last week, it carries over to this week.

This past week I played just a bit with a new to me ruler. Creative Grids 90° Double-Strip Ruler. I used the pattern Savvy by Rachel Griffith Designs and Moda’s fabric line Hearty Good Wishes. I do like the ruler, but have to warn you that there will be bias edges when working with this ruler. So do be aware of potential stretching due to the bias cuts. Rachel’s pattern is well written and easy to follow. Since I didn’t use her color way, I wrote out a chart with my colors to keep track of fabric placement. This was my first time to use a Rachel Griffith Designs pattern and I must say, I’ll be looking for her other patterns. I just love it when I find patterns that are well written. I’m putting Rachel’s Smitten pattern on my wish list!

I finally got caught up on my Building Blocks Quilt Along hosted by Leah Day. Dare I show you my blocks? When you see them, you will realize my desire to improve my free motion quilting. I’ve got a long way to go before my FMQ is pretty. ☹

And, crazy as I am, I started a new project that I’m calling Eat Your Fruits and Veggies, or Whirled Peas. I’m using Amy Gibson’s foundation piecing pattern Tilt-A-Whirl. I’m reacquainting myself with foundation piecing, its been a while. I think I’m going to enjoy the process once I get it going assembly line style. Only two blocks completed so far:

It’s finished! That is, the top of the Pineapple Quilt using Cut Loose Tropical Fruit Pattern and Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool is finished. And on its way to the longarm quilter, Paula Reuille. I have to say I really love this quilt. It is my first ever Pineapple quilt, and I admit, I was leery of the trim tool/ruler before I started using it. That all changed as I worked on the quilt blocks, the instructions and method just all clicked as the quilt blocks progressed.

… And a new-to-me tool. The Creative Grids Pineapple Trim Tool.

20 blocks made, border fabric, Pineapple Trim Tool.

I used Andover Fabric Line Kim’s Hand Dyes, filling them out with some dot fabrics for 14 colorful fabrics. I used Moda white muslin for the background and will use Moda Simple Marks for the border. The bright colorful fabrics make me happy!

I will be demoing this tool Saturday, March 1st at Fabrics and Friends Quilt Shop, Roanoke, IN. Shop hours 10 -3.

Linking to Freemotion by the River Linky Tuesday

and to To-Do Tuesday Link up Here is my list for this week:

Finish and photo Pineapple Quilt

Work on client clothing quilt

Catch up with Building Block Quilt Along