Lay your head on my pillow

 I finished my goal for April 2021. This is a very old WIP. I didn't realize how old it was until I pulled up the Sew Sampler Nov 2018.

I do believe that I finished the top right away and then it continued to sit with my quilt tops to be completed. So there you go, it has been sitting for over 2 years. I decided to make this into a pillow instead of a mini. This makes a fairly large pillow 26"x26". I quilted it with a short wavy design with my walking foot.

The back I quilted with a crosshatch. I did have the backing sitting together with the quilt top for a long time, also. I like that it is a larger pillow. I can prop it up on my bed and lean against it. 

I am linking my April Finish to Elm Street Quilts OMG for April 2021

My initial post was here

Many thanks to Patty at Elm Street Quilts for helping me to finish my goals!

My Sizable Spool Soon to be Sporting a Sofa

My One Monthly Goal for March is complete. This quilt top and back have been neglected in my cedar chest since about June of 2019. I decided to bring them out to see the light of day. 

This quilt is about 58" X 74" and the problem for me is usually the basting. I just tend to put that off, especially on a larger sized quilt. Once I started quilting it, though, it went pretty fast. 

The backing is a tiny bit not centered on the right side compared to the left side gray check. I did try to get the back centered but such is life. The problem was that I didn't have a lot of extra room on one side. I'm fine with how it turned out though. 

I did my usual cross hatch using my walking foot. I zig-zag my quilt sandwich before I bind it. That makes it easier for me to add the binding. It won't take me long to put the binding on. Then I will be taking it with me on a camping trip to hand-sew the binding to the back. I enjoy having some hand work with me while I am on a camping trip. 

Will be linking my March finish to March OMG at Elm Street Quilts

 Thanks to Patty at Elm Street Quilts for helping to complete my goals. My original post was here.

Strawberry Season is on it's way.

 The final challenge at Persimon Dreams Blog was for us to think of our inner self. I think that I would love to live on a farm. I probably have gotten this way over the past 10 years or so because of my drive to work.

My drive to work each day is 1/2 hour each way through farm country. It gives me something to do - watching for all of the animals. There are cows, horses, goats, calves, ducks, dogs, and even a petting zoo with camels and many other exotic animals. 

As a result of my inner self wanting to live in the country, I have created this pot holder or trivet. 

One of the farmers that I pass each day has a large strawberry patch each Spring. He puts a painted strawberry sign out and then I know that I can buy some strawberries. It is a very short time frame because they when they are ripe, he has to pick them quickly. I have been making strawberry jam for quite a few years since I can purchase fresh strawberries from this farm. Also, I have a rhubarb plant in my backyard that I will make strawberry/rhubarb jam. Soon it is going to be Strawberry-picking season and I am looking forward to it!

I have a few Strawberry jam jars left from last year. Delicious! 

Thanks to Kim at Persimon Dreams for these awesome quilting challenges.

Animal Crackers Baby Quilt for newborn

 I finished this baby quilt for a new grandson of a coworker and friend. When Sweetwater came out with this Animal Crackers fabric, I pre-ordered the baby quilt kit from them. I have had the kit sitting in a dresser drawer for a few months. 

My coworker's son had a baby boy and our office decided to have a little shower. I did pitch in for the gifts that they bought, but I wanted to make a baby quilt for her. 

So I went to look to see what I had that could be completed fairly quickly.  Of course, this one could, so I got started on it. I just had to cut out the panel animal squares and add honey buns strips. I gave this to her a week or so later. She was very appreciative so I was glad that I made it.  

There's a lot of animals that the baby can name when he gets older. 

The backing is this cute animal fabric. 

It made a nice-sized crib quilt.  

Will be posting this finish to Lets Make Baby Quilts

A Somewhat Crazy Kind of a Pillow

This is my completed pillow for Challenge 12.5 which was to make a project inspired by the crazy quilt. 

I started with these kind of crazy-pieced blades for the Dresden Plate.

 I used the Feather stitch, plus a Patchwork decorative stitch on my Brother machine. 

Also, I decided to use these ribbons that I have had for years. I wanted to kind of frame the center Dresden Plate. 

So that is my Somewhat Crazy kind of a pillow.

I have completed all 5 of the challenges so far, this year. Might as well try to make a project for the final Challenge in about a week or so.  Will be linking my completed project at

 Project Quilting 12.5

My Lucky cat tribute

 Following is my completed February Goal at Elm Street Quilts :

I have had the quilt top completed probably about 2 years ago. I actually think I was trying to complete it for one of the Project Quilting challenges. Well, I did not finish it and it sat in a basket until I ran into it recently in the spare bedroom. This is my rather large-sized pillow cover.

I was glad that I had a piece big enough for the backing of the pillow. I just did my usual cross hatch quilting on front and back.

I like making a bottom zipper closure. It worked well for this large pillow. 

Here is my initial February OMG post

I do like this pillow cover because now it covers up this ugly brown pillow. This is a large pillow that is nice for leaning up against the bedrail and reading or watching tv, etc. I bet that I have had this pillow for probably 20 years, but I have never liked the ugly tannish color. For years, I have looked at it and wanted to finish a cover, but never got around to it. So I am happy that I finished my Lucky pillow cover. 

Lucky is my cat's name and she helped me with the quilting. My sweet kitty is now represented on a large pillow.

Slowly Snailing along

 For Project Quilting 12.4 we were to create an item using the Snail's Trail Block. I have sewn the block before and had used a paper-piecing pattern from this book by Leslie Anderson. So I located the book in my house (sometimes that's a feat itself) and copied the pattern.

 

 

I decided to make a pin cushion because I really do need a new one. I used a few charms from a charm pack of Sweetwater's Sweet Tea fabric.  This is my completed Snail's Trail pin cushion. I am pleased with how it turned out.

 

 

I used another print from the charm pack for the back.

 

I have kept up with the challenges so far. We'll see if I can complete the whole series this year. 

Ready to Pack it In!

 The 3rd challenge at Project Quilting Season 12.3 is for going on a virtual vacation. I have sewn this makeup bag using great dreaming-of-Summer prints and I always need a makeup bag for any type of vacation. Don't leave home without it!

There is plenty of room to pack all of my makeup, sunscreen and toiletries. 

Anxiously awaiting my next foray!

Valentine's Day Finishes for 2021

 I'm glad that I finished this pillow and 2 minis prior to Valentine's Day this year. This kit actually was from last year at Sew Lux Fabric. It appears that they have the same kit available this year, only using different fabric.

Pillow Front and Minis

Pillow back and Minis

I quilted both the front and back of my pillow. I love them that way and will probably do most of my pillows like that from now on. There is a zipper inserted in the bottom, also.

I love these pillow kits that Chrissy at Sew Lux creates. I have made some from last year, but I have a few that are still sitting untouched in the packages. I will get to them eventually. I did join the Pillow Club at Sew Lux again this year because, well, I would miss out if I didn't join. 

This pillow and minis kit was on my January OMG at Elm Street Quilts . I did accomplish my goal - here is my Original OMG Post for January

I received this Valentine's pillow kit about a week ago and it will match my completed pillow once I get it done. I'll be all set for Valentine's Day 2022.  Yahoo!

Valentine's Pillow kit for 2021

Fussy Cut Challenge 12.2: Potted herbs

 I am enjoying these Season 12 Project Quilting Challenges - one reason is because I am sorting through my stash and using some fabric that I have had for years. I have made a number of these "dish-drying mats" through the years. So this was my choice for Challenge 12.2: Fussy Cut Challenge. 

I found this set of fat quarters and used the 2 birds for the center and also tried to fussy cut the other areas of the block which are the potted herbs and planting tools.

I did try to get these potted herbs centered  around the block. 

I have been enjoying this "Shattered" quilting lately and it is easy for me do.

 I just use a plain white linen tea towel for the back so that is is absorbent. I really do use mine for drying dishes and they do become rather "used and abused".  In all honesty, this combination of colors are not my favorite, but it is just used to dry dishes so no big deal. My dish-drying mats get used and washed frequently so I'm sure this one will.

 

My anchor holds within the veil.

 I decided to try to make a few projects for  Project Quilting 2021, season 12. I did participate a couple years ago and I think that I had finished  2 or 3 projects within the season. We'll see how many I can complete this season.  For the 1st Challenge - Gray and Yellow, I looked through my gray and yellow fabric and found a few fat quarters, some with anchors on them. So what did I decide to make - an anchor, of course. 

Gray can be spelled either gray or grey. However, yellow is always spelled yellow. So not to be confused if my anchor is gray or grey, I made my anchor yellow. This block is from The Patchsmith's Sampler blocks. I've had the book for a few years so it is time to sew a few blocks.  I can use this for a mug rug or a trivet on my table. 

I'm happy that I started and completed this mug rug within the 1-week time frame. This quilt measures 9"x9" and I create in Monessen, PA. I'll be looking forward to the next installment to see what I can make.