Finally, a 2020 Wrap Up.

 Last year was a kind of blur. It started out normal but quickly changed into the year from hell. I hated being away from my family and my sewing/quilting peeps. Both of my guilds, Eastern Long Island Quilt Guild and Long Island Modern Quilt Guild, stopped in person meetings as of March. In June, our Tuesday night North Fork Quilters group decided to meet out in the parking lot of the rec center we normally met in. We were all so happy to actually see each other. Eventually both guilds transitioned to Zoom meetings but it wasn't the same. 

I kept sewing and managed to get a lot of work done on the longarm. Practice, practice ,practice! I even took some of my stimulus dollars and purchased rear handles for my Simply Sixteen. Now I'm working with pantographs and I love it.

Anyway, in person classes are starting in local quilt shops and this makes me happy. Are we possibly ready to be normal again? I know I am. Here's things I've completed during 2020. 

Meadowland quilt for my son-in-law's 30th birthday. 

Paper pieced Barnum aka Elephant Abstractions by Violet Craft

Quilt for baby Olivia

Quilt for baby Crew

Quilt for Liz Magorrian's Zoom bridal shower. (really?)

First time thread painting. Gift for my SIL Kate.

First paper pieced quilt-Elementz BOM

Comfort quilt for Shiela

Mt Hood by Violet Craft- another paper pieced project

Christmas gift for my sister in Florida. Like she really needs a quilt
in Florida. All fabrics were purchased in February 2020 at a LQS in 
Boca Raton.

Christmas gift for our neighbors that moved to Baltimore.

First Snow- pattern by Woodberry Way. I'm keeping this one.

This quilt was pieced in 2019 but I didn't quilt until 2020. I had plenty of time
for UFOs. Pattern is Sweet Marion by Woodberry Way.

Ribbon Star Wedding Quilt

Last weekend I was able to give my niece her wedding quilt. Her shower was supposed to be in April but it was cancelled due to the COVID situation. Their wedding is scheduled for July 25th but they’re unsure if it will even happen. It’s so sad that so many gatherings and accomplishments can’t be celebrated properly.

Congratulations to Joelle & Bradley.

Linking up with:
Wednesday Wait Loss @ Inquiring Quilter
Needle & Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation

One Monthly Goal March-Complete

This has been one heck of a month for reasons I don’t have to mention. Everyone’s finding comfort in things that make them happy. Quilting and knitting are keeping my hands busy and my mind occupied.

I was really happy to get this quilt top finished and I’m hoping to get it quilted within the next week. I’m just waiting for delivery of some batting since my LQS is closed for now. I really think they should have been considered an essential business.

This photo was taken before adding the last white border. The pattern called for a patterned border  but I felt the star batiks were busy enough without another busy fabric.

Pattern is Ribbon Stars by Missouri Star Quilt Co
Fabrics are various batiks
Finished size is 64x71

I’m linking up with OMG @ Elm Street Quilts

Stay safe and healthy fellow quilters!

One Monthly Goal for February Complete

I finished the sweet baby quilt right on schedule. The last stitch was in the binding even before its new owner arrived on February 25th. I threw it in the wash this morning and I only have the label to sew on tonight. I may even get it into the mail tomorrow.

Thanks to Elm Street Quilts for hosting One Monthly Goal. It will keep me focused, at least on one project a month.

Finished size 50x50

Pattern: Meadowland by Then Came June

Fabrics: Kona Cotton, Moda Bella Solids and Tula Pink Slow and Steady for the backing

I'm linking up with:
OMG at Elm Street Quilts
Wednesday Wait Loss @ The Inquiring Quilter
Mid-Week Makers @ Quilt Fabrication
Needle & Thread Thursday @ My Quilt Infatuation
Confessions of a Fabric Addict

One Monthly Goal- February

I stumbled across a great monthly challenge hosted by Elm Street Quilts. It's called One Monthly Goal or OMG for short. It's a great opportunity to make myself accountable for one thing, each month, with no great pressure. The OMG could be as simple as getting a binding sewn onto a quilt that's been waiting for one for 6 months. (not that I actually have one of those, but you get the idea)

My OMG for February is to quilt and bind this Meadowland baby quilt. The little one this is going to won't be arriving until the end of the month so I'm hoping I'll have it ready to be mailed as soon as she's born.

The backing fabric from Tula Pink was the focus fabric I used to pull fat quarters from my stash. I'm in love with the print.

I'll be back to post at the end of the month with photos of the finished quilt.

A Finish for the Week- Baby Quilts Are the Best

Just this morning I washed and photographed this sweet baby quilt. It is made with a free pattern from Moda Bake Shop and Big Sky by Annie Brady for Moda. It's perfect for a little boy. About a year ago I made the same quilt for another little boy using another color way. You can see that quilt HERE .

I love the backing fabric! I'm sorry I didn't stash a few more yards before it disappeared.  I'm linking up with:
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication's Blog
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation's Blog
Wednesday Wait Loss at The Inquiring Quilter
One Monthly Goal at Elm Street Quilts

Meadowland

This quilt pattern is a phenomenon. Social media went crazy last year with images of fabric pulls and finished quilt tops in all sizes. A quilt along with the pattern designer, Meghan Buchanan of Then Came June generated thousands of photos on Instagram. 

The second annual Meadowland QAL will be starting February 3 and will run for 6 weeks. I’m joining in this year. Here are two fabric pulls, one will be a baby quilt for a friend’s grandchild and the other an anniversary gift for my daughter and son in law.

I couldn’t wait to test out a block ahead of the QAL. One turned into nine and the baby quilt top is finished! Once the cutting and mixing is done, the blocks come together quickly.  Now I just have to quilt and bind. I love when I'm finished with a project ahead of schedule.

2019 ~ All in One Post

2019 has been a busy year.
So many times I've wanted to update the blog with information on projects I'm working on, completed quilts etc. yet, I never made it to the computer. Sorry.
Since the new year has started and I have every intention to keep updating here, I wanted to recap the past year in one post.

Quilt 15x20
A ELIQG Challenge "Animal Selfie"

Quilt 38x45
Baby Tumbler Quilt

Quilt 68x68
Pattern: Summerville by Thimble Blossoms
Fabric:  Miniature Gatherings by Primitive Gatherings
Wedding quilt for my daughter

Quilt 70x76
"A Village in Spain"
Pattern: Village
Fabric: Several Kate Spain fabric collections

Pillow 24x24
Pattern: Lisa the Unicorn by Elizabeth Hartman
Fabric: Ombre strips by V&Co
Birthday gift for a 4 year old

Quilt 52x60
"Fair Winds + Following Seas"
Pattern: Nautical Alphabet
Gift for a couple of sailors

Quilt 32x41
Pattern: Sailing for boat design
Baby Shower Gift

Quilt 59x64
Scrap Happy Weekend Retreat
Frost Valley YMCA

Quilt 57x66
Shannon's Squares
Fabric: Kate Spain
Gifted to Shannon~ Christmas

Pillow 18x18
Free pattern from Fandon in Stitches
Paper Pieced

{ Home Sweet Hometown Christmas~ Log Cabin Quilt }

It's been sometime since I've updated my blog but that doesn't mean I've been idle.

There's been a lot of sewing going on from quilts to tote bags to sewing machine accessories.

I'm really happy to be sharing one of my favorite quilts to date

{Home Sweet Hometown Christmas}

This quilt is made entirely of Sweetwater holiday fabrics that I've been hoarding saving for a few years. The collections included are Cookie Exchange, Holly's Tree Farm & Hometown Christmas.

All of their fabrics work so well together.

The backing is from Hometown Christmas. Sweetwater asked its fabric fans to submit the name of their towns, to be included within this fabric print. Mine, Southold, is there! 

The binding is my favorite stripe from Bonnie & Camille's Handmade. It really is the perfect binding.

*****************************************************

Home Sweet Hometown Christmas

Finished at 68x68

Fabrics: Nearly all Sweetwater, Binding by Bonnie & Camille

Batting: Warm & White
Quilted by Joyce Austin-Ridge, NY

I'm linking up with Finish it up Friday @Crazy Mom Quilts
and
Finished or Not Fridays @ Busy Hands Quilts

{ A Quick Project- the Mondo Bag}

I attended my first quilting guild meeting last month and saw several ladies with these amazing patchwork bags. I inquired about an available pattern and was told that most of the guild members have made a Mondo bag. Some have made many.

Quiltsmart offers a pattern and fusible interfacing kit that make the construction of the bags so easy. Two charm packs and some yardage are needed. 

This is a very roomy bag. Great for a beach tote or even a diaper bag. Quiltsmart even offers a smaller option , the Midi Bag.  I've already got two more planned-one for my sister and one for my niece. I just have to choose the fabric. That's the best part of any project, am I right?

Linking up with:

Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts

{ Spools 2 }

I finished Spools 2 last week. 

Finished at 67x78

Pattern: Spools 2 by Thimbleblossoms

Fabric : Strawberry Fields Revisited by Fig Tree & Co

Batting: Hobbs Heirloom 80/20

Free Motion Quilted by me

I'm kind of proud about this quilt; I free motion quilted it on my home machine. It's the first full sized quilt I have ever attempted. I quilted each spool block differently, which meant there were two stop/starts on the top/bottom and one stop/start on the "thread". I had to learn how to bury thread tails which was ok once I figured the easiest way to thread the needle. I tried using the cheater needles but kept breaking the thread, so I went back to traditional needles with a larger eye.

It's not perfect but it's done. And, that's alright with me.

Linking up with
Let's Be Social @ Sew Fresh Quilts
My Quilt Infatuation
Finish It Up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
Finished or Not Friday @ Busy Hands Quilts