H2H Challenge and Quarantine Quilt Along

   During this strange time of social distancing we are meeting some of our needs by gathering remotely.  Gudrun Erla of GE Designs provided her pattern "Elvira" free for the Quarantine Along on Sunday. I followed along and am excited that by the end of the sew along I had a pieced quilt top 49 by 63” which is a great comfort quilt size. I will definitely use the pattern again. 

I have enough of the large dark print that I can add a border but for now can't decide.  The pattern does not call for a border. 

    This week is sign up time for Hands2help Challenge hosted by Confessions of a Fabric Addict. There are six charities this year on the list. Hope you will check them out and sign up.  

     I am making progress on my 'Seeing Stars " quilt.  I sorted all my units for 12 panels so that no unit is repeated in a panel.

Here are 4 of the panels pieced together. 

I have now sewn 6 so have 6 more to go for a twin size quilt. 

     My old vanity license plate was pretty faded so just for fun I decided to paint my own. I cleaned an old plate and spray painted the background. I used model paint to fill in lettering. I love my new vanity plate.

Quilting During Social Distancing

It is a good thing that I have a hobby that I love during this time when we need to practice social distancing.  I normally spend a lot of time sewing or quilting; however, I have spent even more time and this week quilting on multiple projects. I made good progress on my Day Bee Mystery UFO but I am definitely not rushing. All the light area of the center is quilted.  

Here is a close-up.

I was ready to change to a darker thread and did not have the thread I wanted to use.  I am also finding it more difficult (less pleasurable) to work on large quilts so instead I started quilting a comfort quilt. This Garlic Knot kid's quilt got quilted and ready for binding.

Also, this Hugs & Kisses kid's quilt is quilted and ready for binding.

     When I needed a break from quilting, I worked on piecing for my Seeing Stars Quilt Along 

and my Jewel Box Stars which has been my leader / ender project.  I also took an hour to work a little in the yard.  There is much more to do to clean flower beds.  Before my knee replacement in November, I loved to get down on my knees to pull weeds.  Now I need a new position for comfort.

Hope you stay healthy and enjoy the weekend.

Almost a Finish and a Finish

     I have almost finished quilting this “Hugs and Kisses” comfort quilt. The border is yet to be quilted. I am contemplating a special motif and would prefer to do the work at home on my regular machine. Since I am out of town and using a different machine, I simply quilted a large meander for the middle.

     This month I pieced the Step 7 final blocks for the Seeing Stars Sew Along. I found myself short of the background fabric I have been using. I could not cut 3 1/2” squares of background for 4 patches. I decided to make an alternate 6” block. When I made the 12” star blocks for step 6, I saved the corners and sewed bonus HSTs. I squared them to 2 1/2” and was able to piece enough “Friendship Stars” for alternate blocks. 

 Looking forward to assembling panels in April.

     GD Lily is ready for Easter in her finished dress. I am so glad I did the crazy piecing for the bodice and will do it again sometime.

Hope you stay healthy and have a great weekend. Enjoy some time sewing and quilting.
I have linked up with Finish or Not Friday.  Check out the fun and inspiration. 

A Little Crazy Piecing

      No quilting done this week. Most of Monday was spent with my church quilting group organizing fabrics in our room. Tuesday I did some organizing at home. Wednesday morning I woke with the idea to make an Easter dress for my younger granddaughter with a crazy pieced bodice. I have loved the dress on the cover of the 2004 March/April “Creative Needle” magazine

  

and wanted to make one similar.

     The top pieces of fabric were machine stitched to a foundation fabric. That layer also helps stabilize the embellishment stitches. I worked on a panel larger than I needed and then cut out the front bodice piece. 

I tried to use embellishments that would be washable although there are 5 silk ribbon leaves in the center area. They are tacked down and hopefully with hold up to gentle washing.

When I stopped Thursday I just need to do the handwork for the bodice lining and hem. The black threads in the photos are basting stitches of the bodice lining.

If you are interested in learning crazy piecing and embellishment,  you have an opportunity to take a free on-line class. Registration is open now until March 7 for Shawkl's class.  
http://www.shawkl.com/2019/01/basic-cq-course-open-for-registration-5.html

Have a great weekend and enjoy some time sewing and quilting.