Thursday, November 29, 2018

Autumn Table Runner


This reversible table runner was completed around the first of November with plenty of time to enjoy it before the cranberry sauce stains came on Thanksgiving - lol! I used fabric purchased from Bernie's Needle and Foot Etsy shop. I love the kitties and pumpkins in rich jewel tones. When I posted pictures on Instagram, Pam at Pamalama Jo Designs commented that it could be used right up to Christmas.

No pattern was involved, I simply wanted to feature the fabric. I fussy cut favorite scenes and surrounded them with squares of blue, green, burgundy, and cream.

On Thanksgiving, our little granddaughter had strep throat, so my daughter and son-in-law were unable to drive down from the Dallas area. In spite of that, everyone else was here for a beautiful, fun, and "filling" day. And I wasn't kidding about the cranberry sauce. My husband dropped some on the table runner and immediately started apologizing. I told him that made me happy because it means my handmade things are being used! (And it washed right out!)

Details for Autumn Table Runner:
Finished Size: 17" X 45"
Pattern: My own concoction

Fabrics
Harvest Happiness Patch by Beth Yarbrough for Daisy Kingdom
Cream, Blue, and Green Grunge
Burgundy fabric from Enchanted Pond by Holly Taylor for Moda

Backing
Harvest Greetings by Quilting Treasures

Binding
Pin Dot in Spice by Waverly
 

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I am linking this to Crazy Mom Quilts last Finish it Up Friday. I wish her well in her decision to transition out of running her business and focus on her family!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

OMG November Finish - Mercyful Quilt

Last month I was inspired by Bernie at Needle and Foot to make a quilt for Mercy Hospital in Sacramento. The quilting group that normally made quilts for dying patients was no longer able to do so, and a nurse at the hospital (who is also a friend of Bernie's) reached out to Bernie to see if she could provide a few quilts. Well provide she did, backed by several quilters who contributed quilts.This week the total was 27 quilts donated! You can read an inspiring update here.

I used a bundle of Enchanted Pond and a pattern by Kelli Fannin called Flower Power. I already had six blocks, started in 2017 as a quilt for my sister-in-law. Enchanted Pond has beautiful shades of burgundy, purple, sage green, and cream. When my SIL painted her bedroom turquoise, I decided this quilt wouldn't coordinate well, and it became a UFO. I guess it was destined to become a comfort quilt instead!

When I was looking in my stash, I found a beautiful Enchanted Pond panel I had purchased, put away, and forgotten! So I changed the pattern just a little bit to accommodate the panel, which I cut and pieced as the top and bottom borders for the front, and as a middle section for the back. The panel features creatures such as cranes and dragonflies among the pond grasses.

The binding was pieced with strips cut from leftover scraps. I still have enough unused Enchanted Pond fat quarters to make another quilt!


I quilted a simple grid.


One of my kitty-helpers, Rosie, approved the final details.

I also donated a quilt I made in 2015 for my mother-in-law, documented here. My sister-in-law was her care-giver, and she put it in a drawer "to keep it nice", so my mother-in-law never used it! I know she would approve the donation, and at least it will get some use.

Details for Mercyful Quilt:
Finished Size: 56" X 70"
Pattern: Flower Power by Kelli Fannin

Fabrics
Enchanted Pond by Holly Taylor for Moda
Apple Cider by P&B Textiles

Backing
Atelier by Three Sisters for Moda
Enchanted Pond panel

Binding
Enchanted Pond

I am linking this post with Patty's Elm Street Quilts November One Monthly Goal Finishes

Monday, November 5, 2018

November OMG - Mercyful Quilt and Christmas Project

I had been undecided about which of my UFO quilts I wanted to finish for November when I saw Bernie's post about a need for quilts at Mercy Hospital in Sacramento. She is organizing a drive for quilts to comfort dying patients at this hospital which is renowned for cardiac care. My Mom had CHF and received such incredibly compassionate and expert care at Oklahoma Heart Hospital when we lived in Oklahoma, and my husband had a heart attack in 2012 and was blessed by angels-in-disguise cardiologists and caregivers, so cardiac units are very special to me. I told Bernie to sign me up. I know I can send at least one and possibly two quilts in the next few months. If you are interested in contributing, leave a comment on Bernie's post.

The quilt I hope to complete this month is Flower Power, a quilt I first blogged about here. The pattern is by Kelli Fannin. I started it with good intentions last year, and it has become a UFO since my SIL changed the colors in her house - lol! So it will become a quilt of comfort instead.

I also want to finish something Chrismas-y this month. I LOVE Christmas fabric, so I have several Christmas UFOs and love all of them. At some point I will decide on one and complete it.

I am linking to Patty's One Monthly Goal for November

Friday, November 2, 2018

Tumbling Charms Prayer Quilt

Last week I did some organizing and purging in my stash closet. I found a project I had completely forgotten about, with pieces cut and sewn together (and ironed!) along with strips ready for sashing. I was delighted with my find, immediately got to work finishing the blocks, and stuck it up on my design board.


Now I will share the wonderful news that our daughter is 2 months pregnant with her second child (our fifth grandchild and second grandson!). Her best friend was also pregnant, and they were just a couple of weeks apart. They were thrilled and looked forward to sharing their pregnancies. The day after I started on the "found" project, my daughter texted me that her friend had lost her baby. It was devastating news. After some texting back and forth, I got the idea to make her friend a prayer quilt. My daughter was thrilled with the idea, so we discussed colors. On a whim I texted her a picture of the partially pieced quilt I had on my design board, and she loved it!

Before: 10 rows high

After: 8 rows high

The pattern is Tumbling Charms, a pattern I found at Farm Fresh Fabrics. It was pretty simple to put together, and the hardest part was making sure I got the rows in the correct order. The quilt was originally 10 rows high, but I wanted it to be shorter and took two of the rows off to use as part of the pieced backing. I also left off the border, but only because I didn't find a stash fabric I wanted to use. I used two charm packs of Olive's Flower Market and love the pinks, greens, and browns.


My quilt model is very patient

I was happy to find fabrics in my stash for the backing and binding

Quilting was simple wavy horizontal lines


I did think positive thoughts as I quilted and prayed over the quilt before I mailed it. My hope is that it will be used and bring some comfort. The timing of finding the quilt blocks and my daughter's text makes me feel, as I do many times in my life, that "things were meant to be". I believe God is keenly interested in my life, and when situations work out such as this one did, it brings me joy.

Pattern: Tumbling Charms by Farm Fresh Fabrics
Finished size: 45" x 53"

Fabrics used:
Blocks:
Olive's Flower Market by Lela Boutique for Moda
Meow or Never Tomcat Grey, by Erin Michael for Moda
White sashing fabric from my stash

Backing: "X's" from Good Neighbors by Amanda Jean Nyberg

Binding: Twirl by Jill Finley for Henry Glass


I am linking up to Amanda Jean's Finish It Up Friday - Yay!