Olivia's Holiday

I am entering this Olivia quilt in my chapter of Project Linus's 3rd Book Blanket Challenge next weekend. We select a child's book, and make a book to compliment it. My book is Olivia and The Missing Toy. In retrospect, I guess I should have selected the Olivia Christmas book, but the fabrics came after I had the book, and I got the four panels for nearly a steal - I could hardly refuse them. They are stocking panels which I cut up into rectangles.
It's insanely simple in design, just some framed rectangles. For that reason, I decided to do the appliqued center pig silhouette - to give it all some pizazz. The pig is from black metallic Fairy Frost that was too shimmery for the intended project. Seems I often mistake the metallic for non-metallic when ordering that stuff.

I added the green bows on Olivia's ears at the end - she often has bows in the books. The red, white and black fabrics are very busy and were really hard to quilt. I could not see my threads at all. Good and bad I guess.

Not sure how well it shows in the picture, but I added the green row of Candlelight Yarn on the 4 panel blocks. It's a YLI product that I saw used several times at MQX (and in a much better way than I did it here!) - you sew it from the back side, using this stuff in the bobbin. I just did this on my singer, but good longarmers do it there too.

I think that the quilt turned out pretty cute, and the quilting is decent for a very quick job. It's a bit over-the-top for this quilt show, which usually generates simpler quilts, and often tied quilts. But, then!

Here's a peek at the quilt I did 3 years ago (and here for closeups), and the one from 2 years ago (and again) (no show last year)...I won both of those. You could say I going for number 3.

A week of puttering

I have been mostly either doing things this week that I am not prepared to show yet, or treading water (politically correct way to say "unproductive"!!). This morning, after I was just sick and tired of working on a very large and very not flat quilt, doing a fairly boring pantograph for 102", I decided I'd better get these blocks out and bordered. They were cut a couple months ago with the intention of making a quilt for a Project Linus book-blanket challenge which is barely over a month away. Do I hear, "E-Gads"??? A month away and it is only 8 blocks?? Yup. That's right. I have a ton of work to do so I am doing my darndest to simplify this so a completed top can be done in a relatively short amount of time.

As I am sure you figured, the book I have for the challenge is an Olivia book. It is not the Olivia's Christmas book, but I stumbled upon a piece of Olivia stocking panel fabric for a couple dollars and couldn't refuse. The quilts will be distributed closer to the holiday season so I think it is ok. Below is a close up of this. It's pretty cute, in a novelty-ish sort of way.
This week, my brother's family has been here. They just moved back to the states after 2-1/2 years of living in Italy. As a result, I had 3 days with next to no sewing. It is hard to knock down the backlog of quilts at that pace :-) Back in the spring, I made my SIL a quilted bag with indigo batiks she had. I failed to photograph it back then, so here is a heavily loaded picture. She loves it. It has a couple pockets inside, and a drawstring top that is tucked inside.

I have knocked out 2 of my Bee blocks. These are heading to Emily (of the Fresh Comfort Bee). I'm not exactly sure that they qualify as "Drunken Love", as she requested. Perhaps I should have had a glass of vino before starting them. I do like how the larger owl is eyeing the one in the corner though!

And one sneakie peek of a very cute sampler quilt that is nearly finished up. It's off frame now, and being bound. I am doing the entire quilt & finish job on this one. It is the Tisket a Tasket pattern and is so darn adorable!

I am tasking myself to do several quilts this week. My boys are off at camp 2 full days and I plan to take advantage of it. I have a CW repros quilt on frame now that is for a local guild. It's given me fits from the start. I've had thread battles, backing size inadequacies, and the general gamut of unflatness issues. I'm most ready to get this large beast off!

Favorite Quilt for Online Quilt Show

Perhaps you have heard about this online quilt festival being hosted by ParkCityGirl...go have a look!

As my readers and fellow swappers know, I am both a rabid quilter and a huge advocate for the children's charity Project Linus. I make generally over 20 quilts per year for this organization. These mostly utilise whatever scraps I have accumulated from my other quilting, swapping or sewing projects. Each year, however, the chapter in my area hosts a quilt show entitled the "Book-Blanket Challenge". Participants must select a children's book, and design a quilt around the story or a character in the story. The books & the quilts are given to children that stay in Barbara Bush Children's Hospital between Thanksgiving & New Years. It is a tremendous gesture, and I warm inside to think how the child who receives one of these must feel afterwards.

Generally, the non-Project Linus quilts I make are more design intensive, more intricately quilted, bettern coordinated colorwise, and more pleasing to me. But, this quilt's colors and simplicity make it a personal favorite. I had under a quarter of a yard of my polar bear feature fabric leftover from making a quilt for one of my sons. In a thrift store, I saw the book, "Big Bear, Little Bear", and I knew this was destined for my donation (the book was in pristine condition!).

The book is in the most gorgeous shades of turquoises & blues, and white. I tried to match these colors carefully since they evoked the essence of the Arctic ideally. My design is simple: framed fussy-cut bear blocks, alternated with nine-patches, some straight set and some on point.

The crispness of this quilt is next to impossible to capture on photograph, especially after it was quilted, but it is both sweet & frosty at the same time. The fussy-cut bears are so totally adorable with a momma bear and a baby bear together. The blues selected remind me of ice, and ocean and sky.

The quilting is done in white and aqua rayon threads which add a light shimmer. The white rayon makes the white Kona resemble ice. Done on my home Singer machine, the quilting was terribly cumbersome for a quilt this size (never again I say!). Plus I figured I used three-quarters of a MILE of thread in the quilting alone.

My quilt did win this Book-Blanket challenge (2nd year in a row for me), and the kind ladies at the local quilt shop still remind me how much they loved it. I hope I am as in love with my craft in 25 years as they are!

I wish I knew which child received this, if only so that they could know how very much I loved making it for them. It has a part of my heart sewn into it.

Winner 2nd Year in a Row

Despite allegations that our local section of Project Linus is about to shut down (due to lack of leadership), we still held the annual Book-Blanket challenge yesterday. About 30 quilts (and books) were entered, and mine won! I just loved this quilt. The colors were sweet and crisp. And the book that accompanied it (Big Bear Little Bear) was equally lovely for a young child. The shot below I just realized was taken before the quilting was actually completed...oops! My mother's quilt, all done in brightly colored butterflies (and I am still trying to locate a picture of it) won 2nd place. As great as that...because there is a chance that the Linus group will not exist in my area soon, the present coordinators sent me home with nearly 30 yards of awesome fabric, maybe a fourth of it in fat quarters, and the rest in at least 1 yard pieces, all donated by Mardens. They wanted it to stay in this area, rather than shipping it off to the Northern Maine Project Linus chapter. How great is that!!
Now about Project Linus closing up shop...The current coordinator does not want all of the duties of this position. Neither do I, but I have spoken with her about how I can help. There is a possibility we may actually get people to assist so that Linus can continue, but if not we can still arrange to make blankets for the major children's wards in our area. We've discussed the possibility of a different person adopting a hospital, and being the administrator of it's receiving of quilts,etc. I'd get the names of people that currently make blankets and we'd have to arrange drop off or pick up to me, and I could take to the hospital. Many details left to iron out. I can't have my sewing time minimized, but I really want to help out. Under this scheme, blankets could no longer carry the Project Linus tags, but the children that are sick and in need would still receive a loving blanket.

When I was not busy with what has to have been the worst wedding in history this weekend, I was wiped out and nauseaus. So, there has been NO sewing whatsoever. I managed to cut pieces of large floral prints for a quilt I want to make this week. I did get four dresses done this week. There's now 8 awaiting some embroidery and borders. I am a bit frustrated to see that the background appears to look different on some of them, and I am not sure why. I also have small spots on one piece that will hopefully come out. It is time for a new camera, as I can no longer take nice clear shots of anything, sigh!!

Big Bear Little Bear Finished Quilting

After about 15 hours of machine quilting and at least 750 yards of thread (yes that is nearly a half mile of thread JUST for the top of the quilt - says nothing of the bobbins!), my Big Bear quilt for the Project Linus Book Blanket challenge is completed. Surprisingly, it is still mostly white, despite quilting in my basement. It was quite a task not allowing it to touch the floor.

The overall quilt is 44" x 56", which is really larger than I like to quilt on my machine. My Singer just does not have quilt enough throat depth to accommodate that much fabric.
I added the pale gold inner border in hopes of bringing out the color of the bears a little bit. I am still not sure that I love it as much as if I had kept it all in blue and white. Too Late now!!!
Around the six inch outer border I mimicked the diamonds of the main part of the quilt. Around them is quilted in a wave-like design of white rayon, while the inside of the diamonds is actually done in pale aqua. It's a little hard to see, but in person it shows nicely.
The binding is scrappy from all of the remains of the blues of the quilt.
The blankets will be turned in sometime before October 10th. The "show" is not until early November. I don't expect to win this again this year. This quilt is nicely made, but not as fun and childish as the one I did last year. The blankets will be distributed to children of all ages that are inthe Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, ME between Thanksgiving & Christmas. It's a win-win project either way. I could never imagine having one of my kids in the hospital. A soft sweet blanket can only make it a less frightening experience.

Another Week, Another Stitch

And another power outtage. Once again, I spent half the afternoon by the kitchen window hand appliquing. Good thing I actually LIKE to hand sew!! Fortunately it was only off 2 hours, not 8 like last Friday.

I have been relatively good at making progress on my projects, despite really having much finished to show. As they say, slow and steady wins the race.
My Miniature Booty piece is done except for the label. Pictures will be later, may be after it is received. I like it a lot, which seems to be a common trend in my sewing lately. I really should make things I hate more so it's easier to send them off into the world.

My Simplicity quilt is making good headway too. It is dreadful to photograph - the pastels are wickedly washed out, and the rose inner bordering is much bolder than in reality. It is actually 20 boxes, and now has a 3" border of the corresponding yellow floral (shown next).

I have begun the borders for the top of the quilt (part that drops down the side of the mattress), and hope to have them on by end of next week.

My Project Linus Bear-Blanket quilt is coming out adorable. The top is 90% finished with the MQ. I have done a wavey-swirly tight quilt in white and aqua rayon threads. It has a wonderful shine. The bear blocks are a little different, with accent stitching around the bears, and more lateral stitching as if to mimic the ice and clouds.

The borders on this quilt are 6". That is quite a lot of area to have to figure out how to quilt! I have already used 6 bobbins and 500 yards of thread!!

Big Bear Little Bear

Most of the Project Linus Big Bear Little Bear book-blanket challenge quilt top is pieced. I still have borders to add, but that will be quick. The blues in the quiltcoordinate amazingly well with the book.
I did an incredible job (if I do say so myself) of salvaging every last scrap of my bear fabric. I had less than a half yard to begin with. To make it go further, I used pieces of it in the small 9-patches, with mini-cameos in some of the centers.

It's very crisp and sweet. It reminds me of the colors of Santorini, but it is also very Arctic, ice and water and sky-like. I think it is playful enough too that a small child will appreciate it. Now, to get it completed by early October.

Goodies in the Mail & New Projects

I had my entire week and weekend planned out. I was going to get going on a Project Linus blanket that will be entered in their Book-Blanket Challenge. The blankets need to be turned in by sometime in September or October, and should be designed around a children's book. The book and quilt will be given to children at this hospital between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last year I made the Hungry Caterpillar (and won too!). This year my goals are lower. I will be happy just to get my blanket top finished before we go on vacation next month.

Anywho...so my plan to go full gusto on this quilt top came to a screeching halt when yesterday's mail came. Two squishy packages!! My Moda 3-Sisters Simplicity charm squares and accompanying fabrics came. OOhhh, they are so sweet and romantic. They will make a fantastic present for someone. I just had to piece a "few" of the charm squares together to see how it would look. You'll have to return tomorrow for pictures of that :-)

Here's a question for all you charm pack users. Obviously I did not prewash these before sewing. But should I prewash the yardage I bought before I cut and sew with that? or might it be better to wash the entire quilt top when it is finished? My inquiring mind wants to know what YOU would do :)

Well, back to my book quilt. Here's the book.
I actually found it at a local consignment store in hardbound for $2, brand new. That beats the $30 price tag I saw at Amazon! It's a supersweet tale of a polar bear mama and cub. I have a very small amount, maybe half a yard at most of this fabric too, which I knew when I selected the book. This was used on my son's bed quilt recently.
My plan is to cameo-cut as many of the polar bears as possible, and then design a pieced quilt around that. I have several corresponding blues and light grays in nice nursery prints - polka dots, checks, hearts, etc that look fantastic with the background of the bear fabric. They bring out all of the ocean, ice and sky characters of the fabric. Initially I envisioned appliquing a fleecy bear cub or two onto the border or the quilt, but concept will have to wait until the top is finished. I had much of the piecing cut yesterday before the mail came (and squashed my motivational steam...). Once the little ones were napping, I also started sewing to realize I 'd made a small error and my pieced blocks were coming out the wrong size. Seems I'd mixed up my two piles of squares and used one for the other's purpuse. UGH!.. rather than pick out 12 9-patch blocks, I decided I could afford to make the quilt 6 inches larger with just adding bordering to the bear cameos. My simple plan is still rather simple, just not going together without a little modifications. I still hope to have this top pieced by the end of the weekendso I can get back to the Simplicity quilt.

For all of you Booty Swap lookers...I have actually done a fair bit of that quilt top. It's 90% hand applique. It's another that I'd like to have finished before we go on vacation in August. I think I may hand quilt that one, but I'm not sure. I need advice. If there is anybody that uses (and likes to use) perle cotton threads, please tell me what weight you use and where you find it. Thanks-

My 4-Seasons Beach quilt is entering no-man's land (AKA postal service) - and here's where I begin to hold my breath and pray it arrives where it is destined to go. I hate the thought of lost quilts, especially one of mine.

Anybody that is inquiring about another round of the Spring Fling Round Robin that I host...I am just about to kick off the fall installment of the swap - in just a few days. Keep your eyes peeled here for the signup as it will be limitted to 25, and my awesome quilters from the first session will most definitely get priority.

Have a great week's end!

Book Blanket Challenge quilts

The 2 Project Linus Book Blanket challenge quilts were taken to the coordinator yesterday. I need not post any pictures of the Caterpillar quilt as there have been many. But (despite) my mother's request not to do this yet, I am anyway. The quilt is way too cute. Back in late August, I went to my mom's house sans the boys for a day of sewing, unbeknownst to her. I arrived with sewing machine, and lots of precut material. We were going to make the quilt we'd talked so much about doing for 6 months. The summer was nearly over and it had not yet been done.

The fish fabrics she had bought for me to make a Linus blanket with anyways. Very cute. When I left that day, the top was complete and I'd left her with the binding strip, backing material and the book "Curious George goes Fishing".

Over the last month she added the appliques. He's soooo cute!. So cute that she may just beat out the caterpillar in the competition in 2 weeks!!

The show is at the Thornton Heights United Methodist Church on Oct 28, 10-2pm (South Portland)

It's not a girl!

My friend had a baby boy so I was forced to put away all of the great pieces of pink fabric that I had pulled out for her quilt. I was really looking forward to sewing for a girl...so much more frilly and fun. Maybe I just wanted her to have a girl so she could experience the sheer joy of a girl, knowing that she's not planning to have any more kids and she already has a boy. Back in April I found this awesome lamb fabric (and she LOVES sheep), and not knowing if it was a boy or girl, I got pieces of the cloth in both pink and blue. Looks like the pink is destined for another project. A long sigh, and I was off to finish her gift. It's a quilt, but it is smaller so it could either be hung on a wall, as she did with the one I made 2 years ago for her first baby, or it could be used for a carseat/stroller.
Here's an interim picture - quilting and binding are not quilt finished. It is modeled after a quilt I saw at Darcie's blog (though not sewn quite as well).

On another subject, my Hungry Caterpillar quilt is done!! It's donner than done. It's ready to go. I love it. Oh wait, I just remembered it needs antennae on one of the caterpillar, but essentially done.

Hungry Caterpillar has something to eat

Here's the back...
close up...you can see all of the foods the caterpillar eats.
And the front is mostly pieced together. Still needs a red outer narrow border, feet on the big caterpillar, butterfly (it's in appliqued parts awaiting a patient seamstress to sew them to the quilt) and a face on the fuzzy & fat caterpillar.
Good progress the last couple days. Phew... I really ready to be doing the smocking of Sophie's Christmas dress but this must be finished in 7 weeks so I need to have it ready to hand quilt in the evenings. A seamstresses work is never done...