Sunflower Batik Quilt

   

 Startling almost 2 years ago, ladies all over the US made sunflower squares of different sizes.  Each person made 36 of them. They were all mailed to Wisconsin if I remember!  Then separated and we each received 36 different blocks back in the mail.  

     The original plan of Shannon Linde who started this swap was to make one big quilt.  But that was too big for me.  So I decided I was going to make a few different quilts.  This is the first. 

     I took out the squares that were made totally of batik.  There were 8 total. Two, 12 1/2 inch blocks,  Two 9 1/2 inch blocks, two 8 1/2 inch blocks and one 6 1/2 inch block.  

I used a batik Jelly Roll to finish out the quilt top.  I framed all the smaller blocks out to make 3 equal rows.  Then I sewed a strip between all of the rows. 

    I framed the quilt out once.  I then decided to frame it out in one direction.  Letting it grow from one corner.  I added a few rows of strips til the quilt was 45x50.  I used the strips to bring out some of the bright colors in the sunflowers. 

     I backed it in another batik of green and yellow.  The colors of a fresh sunflower field.  

     I quilted it by doing a wave and reversing the Wave for the next row!

     I then used th scraps of my strips to make the binding to finish out the quilt.

     This quilt is going to my friend Emilio otherwise known as "Q".  Q is ex navy, married to a navy girl.  He is a hard working tech coworker of mine.  His wife is being transferred and this is his goodbye present!!  Good Luck Q in your endeavors!!!

Scrappy Umbrella Quilt

     

     Pat Sloan has a new challenge going on her blog.  She is going to put out a monthly challenge to help all of us use up our scraps.  This month the challenge is to make a quilt top up using 2 1/2 inch squares.  She didn't give you a pattern or a setting or to many rules.  Just a few suggestions. 

     One of those suggestions is to use 2 1/2 squares of a fabric with a small print on it.  That print is then used to go with your scrap squares. So for me,  I am making 16 patches.  8 of the print fabric and 8 of scrap squares. So I made lots of chains and came up with a 16 patch like this. 

     The print has small red and black umbrellas on it.  I decide to frame the 20 blocks I made with black solid fabric.  I used 1 1/2 inch sashing to equal a finished inch. I then sewed the quilt up to make it 4 wide by 5 down. 

     I then had to make the hardest decision on this quilt. I couldn't decide on which red fabric blend to use.  I am short in my stash of reds from another quilt I have been cutting for. So I decided that this swirl would work since it went with the other small print.  I cut this at 2 3/4 inches to make a 2 1/4 inch finished frame.

     I then framed the outside with a black fabric with White dots. I cut this at 4 inches as the final frame!! 

     As the binding I couldn't decide either.     I thought about going scrappy,  but ended up using red fabric with dots! 

     For the backing I used 2 pieces of polka dot out of my stash and leftovers from my sashing to make the back piece. 

     I quilted it by doing big circle swirls in all the 16 patches.  One of my other goals this year is to become proficient at new FMQ techniques.  I think I am doing well at this!!  Then I did simple waves in the red and black boarder. 

     For some reason the 16 patches did not end up square and my speedy self did not square them up before putting them together.  So I had to square up the outside frame to even up the quilt. Others might not notice,  but I do.  And yes I chose not to tear the quilt apart.  It bunched up in the back in an area and I did not find this til later.  I decided imperfect will be fine.  I hope....

     This quilt is for my friend Guinn.  She has been battling cancer.  I am sending it to her to wrap her in love and give her a smile!!!  I know she is going to survive this like she has every other battle in her life!!!  I hope she likes my imperfect quilt.   Here we are together with the quilt!!

Glimmer of Sunset on the Lake

     This week I did not have to think hard about what I was going to do for the Persimmon Dreams Challenge.  When I look at the sky for sunrise and sunset,  the fabric I think of most is batiks.   I love to look at the colors in the sky over the lake.  There is such a mix of awesome color dependent on the weather.  

     So I decided to use this collection of Jason Yenter Batiks that have been sitting on my shelf for about a year. I have never used his batiks even though he is my favorite fabric designer!  Purchased of course from my favorite fabric store,  Ozark fabrics.  The collection was missing the different hues of red and yellow, but I have already decided to use only the fabric I had.  

     One day last week I was flipping threw a McCall Quick Quilts book and saw the "Warm Breeze" quilt. I put it on my long list of must do quilts!  Then when the Challenge was put out I knew this was the quilt I needed to make.  The mix of the batik pattern and the fact that I love the warm breeze of Sunset at the lake!! 

     The pattern is actually really easy and would probably work out well for a Jelly Roll.  You sew two 2 1/2 inch strips together.  Then you cut the strip into 4 1/2 inch pieces.  The pattern called for 22 inch strips but I used the entire thing.  It also called for more variety in fabric and blocks.  In my use what you have attitude and finish in time this plan worked for me!

     I used 41 blocks and made the quilt 60x60.  I started to lay the quilt out with a plan, but when I started to lay it out I like the sporadic nature better.  It even reminded me of the reflections of sunrise and sunset on the lake.  I decided in the beginning to do the outside as the black and blue batik since the darkness comes before and after Sunrise and Sunset.   The pattern uses the same fabric to bind the quilt.  

     For the backing I went to my fabric pile of bigger pieces.  And what was laying on the top but the perfect width and length of a piece of blender that I bought from Marcia, one of the project quilt sponsors.  

     I knew I had to finish the quilt quick so I also knew I had to do an easy quilting on it.   It came to mind just to do a wave type pattern on it.  Something I could finish quickly.  I randomly started the wave pattern with no plan on size.  Some smaller and some larger.  On the opposite row I came from the other direction.  I was hoping that is would simulate the clouds in the sky.  I am actually happy how it turned out. 

     

     Just after I started making this quilt, I found out my American, nonFilipino friend(inside joke) has Thryroid Cancer.  Yenter themes so many of his fabrics as as Asian inspiration.  So it of course was meant to be Hers!  I am hoping that it helps keep her spirits up!!  I know she will win this battle!

     I am excited that I finished this in under 4 days!!   I am looking forward to next weeks Project Quilt challenge!!  

Christmas Tree Quilt

     A few years ago when I first started quilting I made this Christmas Tree for a swap.  It was my first true quilt square.  I bought more fabric then I needed to just make 20 trees.  One of the people who encouraged me to quilt told me if I sewed the same square over and over I would learn to do it right and perfect it!   This was one I squared off wrong so I kept it.  Along with the fabric to make the quilt that inspired the square!!

    This month on Persimon Dreams big, Projrct Quilt started.  The theme is actually trees.  I sat for a wile Sunday trying to think about what to do.  I walked in my sewing room and saw that original tree on the wall.  I knew then that I needed to make the quilt I had been planning on doing for over 3 years.  I also knew that it would be one more goal off my list!!

     I planned out my quilt.  I have long lost the pattern so I had to use the finished block to measure out the squares pieces.  I decided I would do 4 rows of 5 trees with a strip on the top or bottom to offset the rows.  That meant another 20 blocks.  I remembered back to when I wasn't good at quilting and how long the original 20 blocks took.  

     My marathon began!! I cut lots of strips into 2 1/2 inches and then the width of each piece.  I then sewed them up and had 20 finished and squared blocks by Monday night.  I did not plan out the different fabrics,  I just made sure that each tree did not have any repeat fabrics.

     I laid the trees out trying to make sure that 2 fabrics weren't laid out together.  Then sewed them into 4 rows. 

     Then with the opinion of 2 friends I framed it out in red and decides to use the green as the outer boarder.  Then as the final decision I used the inner boarder as my binding. 

     As the backing I found a deal on some Christmas fabric.  I sewed 2 strips together the width of the fabric.  I used a synthetic batting.  The quilt finished to be 60x62.

     I quilting it by outlining all of the red boarders in red.  I then FMQ a swirl around the trees outlining them twice.  I am still not sure if i completely like this. I them used green to put rows in the outer boarder. 

     I know it's right after Christmas, but I can officially say I have started with the decorating for next year!!  Next on the list for this fabric are a few matching table runner for the living room!!  I can't wait till next weeks challenge!

2015 Goals!!

     In 2015 I am going to be more realistic then 2014.  And I am going to try to knock out things off my 2014 list!!!

     The month of January 2014 threw a ax in my plans for 2014 and put a halt to any plans I had to accomplish my goal.  As I look at the list I feel I did really well considering my year.   

     As I think about and plan for my goals for 2015,  I know I will be moving so I am going to try and be realistic.  In my realism I know I will need to finish as many of my projects from 2014 and earlier as I can.   I have tons of projects either started, cut or planned.  I decided that I am going to make this the year of finishing!  

     The year starts out with Project Quilt.  Each year I have used the goal of using the fabric I have to complete all of the challenges.  I plan this year to try and know some goals off my list with the challenges also. 

     Here is my list:

1. Scrappy Quilt around the World

2. String Quilt

3. Crab Quilt 

4. Jean Scrap Quilt

5. I spy boy quilt

6. I spy girl quilt

7. Christmas I spy quilt

8. Christmas tree quilt

9. Civil War quilt

10. Batik quilt

11. 2 inch quilt

12. Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt 2013

13. Feed Sack quilt

14. Autism Quilt

15. Crown Royal Quilt

16. Herbie scrap quilt- Shawn 

17. Bejeweled quilt

18. All Project quilts

19. Yenter Star quilt

20. Anna tshirt quilt

21. Brad wedding quilt

22. Tree skirt

23. Ahhhh Quilt

     My goals for January are too finish 2 project quilt quilts,  finish 2 projects for the quilting by hand challenge and to finish and bind my Camo table runner. 

Well here is 2015!!!  I am hoping it will be a wonderful year for all!!!!

Country Girl Quilt

     I have never met Torie,  but have heard stories about her for the last 8 years.  Her mother Debbie, works with me at the hospital.  She was recently diagnosed with Cancer.  My firsts thought was how young she is.  My boys are her age.  It could just as easily be one of them. 

     I asked her mom her favorite colors and she told me, pink, camo or Aqua.  That made for such an easy quilt color combination.  I just finished one for a friends niece in the same colors.  I had a few scraps left in different pinks and Aquas. I also had some Camo on hand.  Though it is not the best material to quilt with I knew in Country girl fashion Torie would be ok if her quilt wasn't perfect. 

     The same day I heard Torie had cancer I saw a photo of a basic diamond quilt pattern.  It had a rotation of shades in color.  I knew this would be an easy quilt for me to replicate. 

     I started with 10 inch squares that I sewed into 2 half triangle blocks.  I squared them up into 9 1/2 in blocks.  I then laid them out to make 6 diamonds.  I decided that the quilt needed 2 borders.  I made the first of 3 inch aqua strips and the second of 4 inch pink.   I really wanted to bind this quilt in camo, but the fabric was too thick.  I decided that I would use the remaining aqua I had left and made a scrappy rotation of color in the binding. 

     I backed this quilt in another Aqua material I had a large amount of by sewing 2 sections together.  I then did basic quilting by stitching a 1/2 inch from all seams on either side. 

    Torie has a long road ahead of her and I know that she will use this to help others in the future.  I have a feeling that she will be one of those that will not just fight the battle but she will put that fight into helping others!!!! We are cheering for you Torie!!!

I Think Pink!

     Last month was breast cancer awareness month.  Breast Cancer keeps creeping in my life.  I feel like friend after friend keeps gets the diagnosis.  And friend after friend has faught the fight.   And they have all won but one,  Cindy.  We celebrated the anniversary of her death last month.  

     So a breast cancer conversation is common for my house especially after a commercial.  As I drove home from school with my youngest last month, my youngest says to me, "Don't worry Moma,  if you get breast cancer, I will take care of you".  I smiled and told him thanks.  Not knowing that in a few I would be driving to work to find out some  bad news.  My friend Emily told me she had breast cancer.  Those words made my head spin.

 

     As of now all of my friends with breast cancer were older then me.  But Emily was my same age. She was in my 8th and 9th grade class.  The thought of how it always happens to the good person hit.  The the thought of how it really could be me.   The fears of uncertainty. 

     Emily is the coworker who you could always depend on to smile.  The one I always know could count on.  I can't let her get down and I will do what I can to prevent it. So in the spirits of Terry,  it's quilt time!  If you know me, I believe a blanket can provide you a hug.  On your lowest day it can wrap you in love, just as your mom did when you were a baby. 

     I saw this Riley Blake fabric a year ago and had to have it.  I knew one day I would need to make the quilt I saw a pattern for that matched the fabric. http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/media/uploads/Free_Quilting_Projects/2013/RBD_thinkpink.pdf.  I have not done this type of appliqué, but if you know me, I am going to try it!!!   This quilt is amazing(or the appliqué pattern is)!!!!

     I did not follow the quilt instructions because I did not have yardage of each fabric.  But I did have a fat quarter pack and some yardage.  So I cut 6 inch squares of each and made 2 strips.  I added that in with the 4 fabrics I had yardage of.  I did not have an antique white,  so I used a white on white.  I then cut strips of a gray that I used to border the white and the quilt.  

     I FMQ it with a pale pink. My machine kept snagging the bottom thread, but I kept on.  I had to finish for today.  I did the Appliqué process.  I think I did alright for the first time.  The letters were a long tedious process but I finished!  I might look at other appliqué processes for the future.    I bound the quilt in the gray.  The backing is little pink flowers on white.    I left off the quilt tag.  For no reason but I couldn't decide what to put.  Yes, Terry did not know what to say.    

     This is one of my favorite quilts!!! I love the colors and what it represents!!  A cure, survival!!  I photographed it on the hospital grounds. In the healing garden.  I know that Emily will heal from this and become a better person from it.  God hands is all challenges.  It's the lesson we take from it that matters!!!   

     The hospital has formed team Emily!!! Here is last nights Cheering crew.  We love you Emily!! 

     And of course here is Emily.  Today she is getting her first chemo treatment.  And today we all declare her a Survivor!

P.S.  Emily, if you read this,  I left it in front of Jeanine's Aroma therapy devices.  Thought you might need the destressing smell of Work! Lol!!