Such a Staunch Finish - The Story of A Brave New Quilt

Now that this has been received by it's recipient, I am so happy to share this mini!

I have never been quite so compelled to make something for another quilter as I was with this one. When I requested some inspiration from Kelly O., two of the clues she shared were her love of Tula Pink and her love of inspirational mini-quilts for her sewing space. I also love Tula, but hmmph, I don't have ANY (I know, right?). Instead, I knew I wanted to share some of my favorite scraps.

Month's went by before I was quite suddenly hit with the inspiration for Sew Staunch.

Early this month, as we approached the week marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Kathreen Ricketson, the inspirational Author and Blogger from Australia who, amongst many other things, founded Whipup.net. I was inspired to create this smaller version of Kathreen's quilt, 'Sew What', as published in her most recent book, "Brave New Quilts".

It has been some 14 years ago now since I was so fortunate as to spend several weeks Down Under.

While there, I frequently heard the term 'staunch' in casual conversation. Generally, it was used in appreciation of a 'mate', or in reference to something quite revered. This memory came to me as I reflected on Kathreen's work ethic, her devotion to family, sense of adventure, and her bold design style. She was so inspirational in the crafting community worldwide, and I have thought often of she and her husband's surviving children over this past year. My imagination tells me they are Staunch Aussie's, and I do hope they are faring well. These things were on my mind as I created this piece, and it is possible a tear landed here or there. It served as an inspiration to me while making it, and it is gratifying to know that it is likely to do the same for Kelly :-)

Linking up this inspirational finish, with appreciation for the hosts at several of my usual linky places: NTT with Kelly, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, LAFF, TGIFF, and Lets Bee Social with Lorna...

Looks like Kelly is giving NTT a break this week, but I found the link to IQuilt at her site and I will linkup with Gemma at Pretty Bobbins for the first time :-)

Looks like a fun place to party!

 

And check out this new Linky I found,
A Stitch in Time with Elizabeth over at Such aSew and Sew! 

Blogger's Quilt Festival - My Applique Entry!

Already, I am having too much fun surfing through the beautiful quilts popping up in the Blogger's Quilt Festival at Amy's Creative Side. Well, it is time to buckle down without distraction, I have yet to enter my second quilt!
So without further ado,

Followers have seen my version of Hello Moon, however I have never shared PROPER photos due to weather conditions at the finish!

I am still relatively new to the online quilting community, having started my blog just one year ago. I was rather unaware it existed prior to that, and I still feel like I am fumbling a bit trying to better divide my time and keep up with y'all. Just yesterday, I commented on a blog post that I had only ever participated in one QAL. Well, it took about an hour later to realize I have actually done a few! For some reason, I wasn't really thinking of BOM as a QAL. And although I have far too many to-do's (& half-dones!), I really love participating in this type of thing online, especially if there is an active Flickr group sharing all the different variations.

I really enjoy the challenge each month of coming up with fabrics from my stash, without knowing future blocks, or any idea of the quilt to come. For this quilt, I pulled a lot of old vintage fabrics that I like, but would not likely use mixed with more modern cottons.

The Quilt Along was a 2013 Block of the Month led by April Mae Designs. The blocks finish at 6.5". If you are interested in the pattern, she still has the free downloads available at her site!

I purposely designed the yellow stars to fall short a bit so they would not actually connect. Then, I was inspired by an Angela Walters book that I happened to have checked out at the time (umm, renewed three times!) to do the bubbles connecting them. The perfect backing was also found in my stash. It is a poly/cotton blend, and therefore it is yet another fabric that I liked well enough to have kept all these years, even though it seemed unlikely to ever be used.

As each month rolled around, I wondered if this would be the month that would have us all sewing COWS.
You know, jumping over the moon!
Well, December came along, and it just didn't happen. And of course, I just couldn't get over it.
I had to draw my own.

 

A purple cow, of course!

 

Finished Quilt Size: 36" x 48"

Batting: Quilter's Dream Polyester

Fabric: A lot of OLD Stash! Scraps!

Backing: Vintage plaid

Thread: Coat's Dual Duty 40wt  (another stash-buster!)

Recipient: NYC (not yet conceived)

 

I am entering this one in the Applique division for the Quilt Festival!

 

Nominations are going on now, and voting begins May 23rd!

TGIFF & Last Day of Fabric Giveaway

My little Henna Bundle Giveaway ends Saturday at Noon, PST. Link to Wednesday's post to enter

I completed the binding for Madeleine's Baby Quilt this morning!
Even though it was only 9AM, I rushed to the park to photograph it, to beat the heat you know, and get back to show off for TGIFF.
I felt like I was being watched..

This guy was out enjoying the heat. I followed him around, trying to get a photo. He seemed to enjoy running around the rocks, teasing me,

Then he stopped to show me his blue belly. I guess we know whose rock that is...

I used batting for the first time, called Quilter's Dream, and I do really like working with it, and the drape is nice after blocking etc..  I went with Bone binding, which may not be the most practical color for edges, but just so pretty and it feels good too:-)

I noticed a beautiful pillow finish at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, so I decided to add both of these finishes to her Whoop Whoop Party to share. The large one is backed with Chenille. I lined the back and put in a zipper so it would fit snuggly. For smaller pillows, I like to use the easier envelope style. My thoughts are racing with ideas for these for my Etsy shop:-)

For a sneak preview, I will share a new WIP. Actually, it is an old UFO. I took this photo when trying to figure a layout, about 10 or so yrs ago.

I did not care for the contrast of the sails, and I'd made a lot of these blocks, but ended up setting it all aside. For 10 years. This week, I pulled one out and started playing with it. Good grief, that blue batik is a nightgown from Nordstrom's, that was too big, but 100% cotton batik that I hoarded since who knows when. But it sure looks good with my little sails.

 So that's what I am up to you! Time to link around and see what other's are doing:-)

FMQ Friday and May NewFO's - Edited on Sat. for Erin!

I missed the deadline for the Baby Shower, but thanks to QuiltBloggerLand technology, I can share up to date progress with my niece, Erin. Here is the quilt inspired by her baby shower invitation.

I am making this update Saturday morning, and since this post covers many of my projects this month, I am also linking up to Lily's Quilts for her Fresh Sewing Day Party!

 

 

Quilting Madeleine's baby quilt has been one of my favorite projects, it is really making me smile, but I stopped for a pause to link with FMQFriday.

I have only the background circles and border lines to complete today:-)

I first completed a little pillow sham to sample the techniques:

I stuffed the cherries trapunto style. I wish I had done this on Madeleine's quilt.

 

 

And I tried a raw edge binding. I actually like it and may use it for pillows, but decided against it for the baby quilt.

 

And more new projects (so I can also link up with Cat Patches!):

 

The first quilt top I whipped up for Baby Madeleine. I have decided to use this as a center for a full size quilt with large applique work that I have yet to draw...   More like a New UFO...

And another New UFO that was started and set aside this month, we did twisters in guild and I made a bunch of them without a plan as to how I will put them together. They may end up being pillows...

And I started and finished this quilt in a jiffy this month, thanks to the Vroom Vroom cheater fabric:

 

 

Flower Shower for Madeleine

Baby Madeleine is not expected til July, but the shower is Saturday so I was hoping to have a quilt in the mail by now. But on Monday I was so inspired by the Shower invitation, I started in on a whole new quilt for her. MAYBE I can still have it in the mail in time to make the party!

 

I really had fun with this top and can't wait to see how it comes out! Just need to baste and quilt. Here is the invitation that inspired me, and the cute backing fabric...

 And my two tester panels. I will quilt these first to make sure all is stitching well. I think they will make cute pillows..

Linking up to share with Freshly Pieced WIP Wednesday!