Gratitude # 71

Welcome to my monthly post where I share things for which I'm grateful that I have noted over the month. You can read more of these uplifting posts at the wonderful LeeAnna's blog, Not Afraid of Color.

I like this sweatshirt Dayna gave me for Christmas. My beloved CBC. I like the echo effect of their logo. I don't know, but I wonder if it symbolizes the ripple effect of the various media of theirs, and the good they've been doing as far as inclusivity. I also like the quilt under it, which is on our bed during the month of January. It was a block of the month I hosted in 2003 for the guild I was then a part of, one by someone named 'Tish in Florida' that I found online. It was really cool because there were several different sizes of blocks that all fit together. I added the borders from a book I had. Here is the post if you want some more information and photos.

Project Quilting 14.2 Pink Tint

I'm popping in with a pink project (love me some alliteration, especially when it happens as I type!) for you to peruse from Project Quilting 14.2 with KimLapacek where pink had to be the predominant colour.

As soon as I read the challenge, I knew this pillow by Minki Kim on the Benartex blog, which I've made before, twice, would be the one. I'd put it in my Etsy shop or on my couch. Done! Often the down-to-the-wire part of a PQ challenge is because I've waffled over just what one of several ideas I have should I make? Well, not so with this one, nor 14.1! I was wrong. 

The Art of Riding Thermals: Villa Rosa Designs Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop on the first ever Fast and Fun Blog Hop with Villa Rosa Designs.

I was really pleased to be asked several months ago to be a part of this blog hop by Bernie of Needle & Foot. Make a quick quilt? Help out a designer? Be part of a hop? Sign me up!

The hop is based on a bundle of five super-quick quilt patterns. I chose Snow Goose and made it à la Sandra.

You can get all five patterns on sale right now by clicking here. If you are new to Villa Rosa Designs, as I was, then you might want to check out this link, which takes you to their shop where you can find... wait for it... over 500 of these postcard-sized fast quilt patterns. I had to look twice and scroll to a second page to believe my eyes: TWO DOLLARS per pattern. The instructions fit on a postcard. The quilts are super-fast.

What A Wonderful World!

It really is. And I’m sorry if I’ve given you an ear worm, but it is a most positive turn of phrase and song lyrics. I think we all could use a reminder of this these days, when so much focus is on negativity, and there is so much corruption in and disregard for our precious world: the humanity, animals, plants, and aquatic life that live upon this beautiful blue green globe.

Through my Rainbow Neighbourhood quilt pattern, I recently connected with a group of beautiful humans in North Carolina. So much about this story shines a light on the goodness that I believe outweighs the badness.

So Much to Say!

There is a lot in the post today, but I'll keep it short so I can get back to work. I've been busy, though not crazy busy. I have a few irons in the fire as they say, and I'm here to tell you all about each one. First of all, the Villa Rosa Designs blog hop begins this week; my day to post is Sunday, January 22. My top is done, and it has marinated on the design wall overnight while I contemplate taking off the extra row I did, which is sort of but not quite, a border. My gut is leaning, though only slightly leaning, towards taking it off. It does add that bit of unexpected, wait, let me look again, idea. Here is the block you may have seen on Instagram.

There are a ton of prizes to be won during this hop which begins tomorrow, January 19! The schedule is below.

Project Quilting 14.1 One

When I read the challenge, "The First One", almost immediately I knew what I was going to make! I think this is the earliest (Tuesday evening!) that I have finished a project for Project Quilting which is hosted by Kim Lapacek.

For some time I have wanted to make a make up bag using a whole cloth technique. This was the perfect opportunity!

Santa's Power

Well, I did it: I finished another long-standing USO (Un-Started Object). What's the difference between a USO and a UFO? In my mind, a USO is a project that you bought the fabric for, maybe also the pattern, maybe not because the design is in your head, such as Santa's Power, and then you never did actually start making it. A UFO is one you have actually started, but stopped due to life, other projects being due, or squirrels, or loss of interest.

This is Santa's Power, and I am wrapped in it as I type this post. I just love it! That's an odd name for a quilt, yes, but read on and you'll find a cute story as to why it got this name.