Blossom Heart Quilts, Home Time, May 3

There are two items I completed this year for my family.

The first was a Zigzag Rainbow quilt for my granddaughter Sarah's fourteenth birthday last July.  She was a new Beattles fan and chose a rainbow for her room.  Here she was presenting it at our quilt group show and tell.  I loved making something she enjoys so much.

My second choice was a table runner made for my daughter for her Christmas dinner.

This was a kit from Connecring Threads, the first kit I had ever made.  For backing I used a reclaimed valence with an African feel.  I bound it with the same stripe.  This meant a lot to Beth because she had spent time in Ivory Coast as a nurse on the Mercy Ship, assisting in surgeries on people who had no other hope for their severe disfigurements.  

I machine quilted it and it looked elegant on her Christmas table.

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I link up with RSC16 at soscrappy and Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts . 

Sew Cute Tuesday, December 15

WINTER COLOR

Well, yesterday broke the December record high temp, in the 50's here in Madison, WI. But Christmas is coming soon and I'm working on a surprise project for someone special.  It is my first kit project ever, from the Kaliedescope collection at Connecting Threads.  I really love the rich colors and the feature print.  The directions are clear and I was able to streamline the process, so the major portion is finished.

I did end up substituting the green for a drab olive print and the teal for a much darker blue that gave no contrast to the star points.  I was so happy that those star points are showing.

Finally I have started on the balloon block sashing.  I'm using 2-inch cut strips.  I got the green print on a great sale, and here is the first photo of all 30 blocks laid out.  There will also be horizontal sashing and a wider border of the lime green.

One more important detail, the backing.  I looked online and found more of the balloon print available.  But the price would be more than I spent on the whole quilt.  Fortunately I found a great bright turquoise Kona solid at Craftsy's sale, a 5-yard piece for  about $22 plus free shipping.  I have about 8 extra balloon squares, so I can do something fun on the back.  That's how I like to do things, for fun.

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com. Please join us there.

RSC15 week 48

,DEADLINES MET, LOOKING AHEAD

Last weekend I worked myself silly (as in making stupid mistakes) to meet two deadlines on Monday.  But I DID IT!  I finished two nearly identical table runners as thank you gifts for two very generous women, because the design spoke to me of Thanksgiving.

These were my Fruits and Veggies runners made with fabrics from the giveaway table at our quilt group meetings.  My friends were both delighted with their gifts and also really loved the backing/binding, an African theme fabric.  I quilted the panels in two diagonal crosses, simple but easy

 So now I was able to relax and enjoy Thanksgiving.  I hope you folks in the States all had a blessed day as well.

Now back to lime green.  For my balloon block sashing I ordered some lovely lime blender, a remnant of 2.5 yards, from Jelly Roll Quilts, and it just arrived today, one of several purchases I'm expecting.

Meanwhile I have laid out a sample block of my first choice for RSC16 with these 2.5 inch squares.

I have wanted to do wonky stars for a long time and recently I saw my favorite version on Deb's blog at VT Quilter.  I'm thinking of doing it in batiks, because their range of colors is so varied.  There are a couple of other patterns I'm also considering.  It's going to be an exciting year!

I link up with RSC15 at superscrappy.blogspot.com and Sew Cute Tuesday at blossomheartquilts.com.    Please join me for some fun.

RSC15 week 31

FOUND IN MY STASH

I was happy to learn that indigo is the color for August.  I collect antique quilts and am interested in learning about natural dyes used in the past.  Barbara Brackman's excellent posts about old colors has been a great education for me.  I recommend checking out her blog, Civil War Quilts. (Sorry, I have not yet been able to link up with others on my posts.)  

  After hunting through my stash I found this group of indigo batiks. I like the playfulness of some, which will go well with my balloon blocks.

I think I'm becoming a real quilter.   All of a sudden I have three WIPs.  The photo below shows the first step in making blocks for a D9P.  It is a surprise for a friend, who truly deserves the comfort of a quilt.  I had some charm packs on hand and found out that these contain her favorite colors.

I am also helping another friend to design her own table runner, using a nice packet of Bali Snaps in her favorite colors.  I also have one Project Linus flimsy which needs to be backed and quilted.  So I am trying to put in some daily time on these projects, and I'm now looking forward to that each day.  One more thing is dreaming up a plan for a girl quilt using Cyndy's giveaway fat quarters.

   Thanks to all of you for your hints, help and encouragement.  You are such a great bunch!

I link up here at RSC15 and at Sew Cute Tuesday.