Snowfall

 Last summer I received an email that a design I had submitted was going to be in the Jan/Feb. 2022 Love of Quilting magazine. The design was my version of clouds of snow coming down and ending softly on the ground. Living in the Midwest, snowfall can sometimes be really annoying, especially when you have to get somewhere, but it can also be really beautiful as it comes down, coating all the trees and landscape in a coat of white. 

It was exciting to hear and I got busy and started making it. The blocks at the top of the quilt are bigger and somewhat darker...then they get lighter as they get to the bottom. I didn't use ombre fabric, but gave it an ombre look by using the fabrics that I did.

I was on retreat when I finished it, so put a quilt on this large cutting table and used it press the quilt. I was worried it would get dirty...so much white! 

I asked a friend and local long arm quilter, Michael, to quilt it. I wanted snowflakes, but nothing too heavy.  He had an edge to edge he liked and came up with the idea to redesign the computerized pattern to quilt it heavier in the lighter areas of the quilt and lighter in the areas where the blocks were more pronounced. Sort of a reverse ombre to the pattern I had made with the blocks. 

He sent me pix as he worked and after it was finished. The ombre quilting doesn't show up well in the magazine pix, but you can see it better in these. I didn't get a lot of pictures taken of it before I sent it off, so hope to get some better ones of the quilting when I get it back. 

It was a great idea and finished off the quilt nicely. 

Piping Hot Topper

I started a new six month series of classes recently that focuses on smaller projects. Piping Hot Topper is the first one in the series and finishes at 30" x 30". I started with this one because it lends itself well to using focus fabrics in the corner squares and could be used for any seasonal fabrics. I made mine using some summery prints I have been eyeing for awhile. 

At the pattern size, it could be used to make a floor pillow top as well. I made a couple of pillow tops using the pattern as a guide. The holiday pillow above uses the pattern minus the final border to make a pillow that is 24" x 24". The batik version below uses only the center block, adding a border to finish at 12" x 12". I made both with an envelope style back so it's easy to wash if necessary.

I personally like a pattern that can be versatile with more than one use, so I think others probably do too. 

Everyone in the class chose such pretty fabrics. I neglected to get pix of all of them, so will do that next time. 

I'm also going to teach them how to make and attach a faux piping binding as part of this class. Since the projects are smaller, I thought it would be a good time to try it if they want to. The Piping Hot Topper pattern is now available in my Etsy Shop. 

Finishing a Stack N Whack

 

I've been working on getting some oldies but goodies quilted and finished this year. I made several Stack N Whack from Bethany Reynold's book and taught the technique in classes, but never got this Lemoyne Star top finished.

I know a lot of quilters make lists of UFOs and tick them off as they go. I like that idea, but didn't think of doing it with these tops. I realize the blue dots probably don't really go with the style of fabric on the front, but the blue sort of matches the blue in the quilt and that has to be good enough this time. 😀 

I ordered it along with 3 others when an online shop had a good sale. So I am set to quilt the next 3 ufos too. I think the quilt panto looks like cinnamon rolls.

 It's a whole lot of yellow, but I wanted the kaleidescope blocks to blend in with the background and 

do love the result.

I had a hard time finding a binding as the colors in this print are unusual, but I think this rusty burgandy works.

We had our holiday guild party the other night and part of the fun was exchanging handmade postcards. We were to send them through the mail either by themselves or in an envelope. I received this one...isn't it the cutest? 

This is the one I made and sent to her. We both used envelopes to send ours, but some members did send them through the mail. It was a fun challenge and really got us thinking "small". 

I'm on the Activities Committee for next year so have been planning a few challenges for our members. We are still working out a plan for the holiday exchange. What have you done for your guild challenges? 

Team spirit

I recently made some KC Chiefs bags for my great-nephews for their birthdays using the Vinyl Mesh Market Bag pattern from Cut Loose Press. I've made several versions of this bag for friends and family and thought they would like it to take on sleepovers or to the pool. The vinyl mesh makes it really nice to use for wet suits and towels during swimming weather. I like to add a matching Key Fob on the inside, along the upper edge in case you are traveling light and only bringing your wallet with you. 

I made a small zipper pouch for cash and attached it to the key fob with a C clip. Since the nephews are brothers, I made one handle black and one red so they could easily tell them apart. They seemed excited to get them and have already loaded them up for their next adventure.

 

Some kitty fun

I've been working on some Smitten Kitten blocks using a pattern by Sew Fresh Quilts. I'm loving them!

 

Love a good finish

I finished this twin size Red, White and True quilt this week. I designed this pattern a few years ago as my take on a flag design. I made a couple of throw size quilts at that time, but had never made the twin size. I had this cute cat fabric and some others I collected that went with it, so got to work. 

Red, White and True quilt, throw size with flag inspired layout.

I used a different layout in this twin sized version. 

I had a small amount of this mouse fabric, so used it in place of the white background in some of the blocks. It really doesn't seem to be this yellow in person, but it is definitely a different white that the solid white I used. 

I wouldn't normally use so much white on a quilt, but in order to use some of the different fabrics I had I decided it was ok. The border is a striped fabric with cats peeking out here and there. I had to use it, right?

I quilted it using a panto, Melissa, that I've been using a lot lately that is fast, easy and covers well. 

I made the backing out of the remaining charcoal cat fabric and a pink that goes with the original pink I used, binding it in the same pink. This might be the most pink I've ever used in a quilt too. 

Binding Frenzy

 I have been getting some bindings done lately...on my quilts and two of my mom's. 

Mom's Twister 

My Honeycomb Waffle Too. This was partially sewn and I used it when I taught 

the class. I finished it recently, quilted it and now it's bound. I really like the vivid colors on the back in relation to the mostly neutral front.

My small quilt made using the Squirrelly Girl fabric line. So cute.

My Mom's quilt. Not sure what the name of this quilt is, but it is bound now.

Conrad likes the Squirrelly Girls quilt and claimed it when it was waiting to be bound. 

I quilted both of mine (above) recently after I had my midarm worked on. It's working well again, so keep your fingers crossed for me. I'm working on this one now. 

Giraffes in a Row