My One Monthly Goal is done! I haven't met my goal in the past couple of months so I am really pleased that I finally have succeeded.
I had to get a photo of the top by the water. This is looking north on Bird Key. You can see Lido Key on the top left, and Sarasota on the top right. This is the intracoastal water, which is between the barrier islands, or keys and the mainland. This quilt is for my aunt's 80th birthday, which was, um, April last year. In 2016 I brought her and my mum here to Florida for a lovely week, so I think it most fitting that I finished assembling the top here in Florida!
I just love how it turned out. I agonized for a few days with rearranging the stars to evenly distribute all the prints and the colours. The border is a 1-yard kit that came with the original kit. I didn't make the pattern that the kit was for though, but one out of a Pam and Nicky Lintott book,
Layer Cake, Jelly Roll & Charm Quilts. This was the kit:
I was pretty disappointed at first, because there was no indication that the yardage consisted of only one yard and 5 charm packs! However, this quilt pattern is perfect for it, and yielded a 54X72" quilt using just 4 of the charm packs and the yard for the border! Sweet! That extra charm pack will be a prize... You can still get
this fabric, (affiliate link) though the kit I bought is no longer in stock. Hmm, I see there are no more charm packs, so I've got a rarity for a prize! Getting the quilt totally finished is one of my Q1 goals.
I made this quilt once before, as part of the Desire to Inspire Henry Glass Challenge back in June 2015, just slightly smaller, and without a border:
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| On the beach of Lake Erie |
It's one of my favourite quilts.
So, that extra charm pack? It is destined as a prize in my
#30quiltdesignschallenge I'm hosting on Instagram. There are also some sweet prizes from
The Red Hen Shop and
Clinton Modern Creative. Click the hashtag link for some pretty fabulous quilt designs! There are quite a few of us participating this year, and once again I am, and I think we all are, having fun, being pushed a little, and being amazed and inspired by the creativity in each of us. Here is a little collage of three of my designs. The one in EQ8 (really liking this programme, no affiliation) is what evolved from a 'homework' quilt, playing with symmetry.
We have chatted about all the places that seem to inspire us with design; the yellow quilt just zipped into my head when I spied that well-known phrase on a billboard that week. Interestingly, the hexagon design of Feb. 19 gave me a 'frisson' of incredulity. No less than four of us played with hexagons on that day, unbeknownst to each other. Isn't that amazing? I know authors, poets, musicians, artists, speak of sometimes tapping into a stream of creativity where designs/works/words just flow, and they feel that they are just the vehicle. I fully believe in that, and perhaps this was a glimpse of tapping into that stream, just being in sync with each other. Feel free to hop in anytime; the first draw for the first 10 designs, or however many you have come up with, is February 26.
Also not too late is joining in with my Postcard from Sweden quilt along.
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| My stack of 35 fabrics in colour order (Mulberry is missing, sigh), not 36, pointed out by Kathy, a reader and an observant one, just prior to cutting. I'm half way through the cutting. |
There are some exceedingly sweet prizes available; click the link in my sidebar to check out the main post, or click on the Quilt Alongs tab at the top of this page. Kits are still available, with free shipping within each respective country of the shop's location. Please check out that Quilt Alongs tab for details. The following links will take you directly to the Postcard from Sweden kit at each shop:
Stitch Stash Diva
Mad About Patchwork (free shipping code: MMMQAL)
The Tartan Reel
If you love rainbow quilts, please visit Kelly's shop,
Jeli Quilts. She is the designer of this FREE pattern, what a darling she is, to have it as a free download, and you will find she has a
ton of rainbow quilts and blocks. đ
Linking up
Sew Fresh Quilts
Quilt Fabrication
Elm Street Quilts
Yay! Congratulations on reaching your goal this month with such a lovely finish. What a lovely nice you are and what a wonderful setting for a photo shoot too, fantastic, AND you got good weather too! Confession, I haven't started cutting my triangles yet, but I will do, soon.
ReplyDeleteYour Aunt is going to love her quilt, great photo shoot!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome you reached your goal and with a week to spare, good work girl!!
ReplyDeleteI've had an extraordinarily busy four or five days and should be working on the longarm this morning....but after reading your post I think I'll take an hour and play with my Postcard from Sweden !
ReplyDeleteYour aunt will love the quilt, and good for you getting it done within your goal! I thought the whole hexagon thing was interesting too. I'm looking forward to making my design into a quilt, once I get the fabric. Those pictures by the water are getting me excited for my upcoming visit to Florida!
ReplyDeleteHi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteWow, here it is only the 21st and you have your OMG finished for the month?! That is fabulous. I actually just finished mine as well - just a wall hanging - and now I'm aiming to get it quilted. I love seeing that stack for Postcard. I have been slowly cutting my triangles to join in. ~smile~ Roseanne
There's a special partnership between blue and yellow. When they're together, it's fresh and crisp and happy and special.
ReplyDeleteLove both your quilts. Blue and yellow have this elegant but cheerful look. Congrats on making the goal this month! The pic on the beach is a nice bonus.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo with the palm tree shadows kissing above the quilt! Perfect for this sun-kissed yellow and blue flimsy :) Now that I look at it again, I think it's maybe just the one palm, with a frond draped frondly over the quilt instead. Whether kissing or frondling, the loving sentiment is the same.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt designs are so interesting and creative! I'm enjoying watching folks do the 30 day challenge. So many different ideas :)
Thanks for sharing both versions of the quilt. it's interesting to see how fabric choices influence what we see in a quilt and congratulations for meeting your goal.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a pretty quilt! I love blue and yellow together. It looks lovely at the Keys - both the quilt and the place!
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful garden quilt. I love the look of the stretched stars. And it was so much fun to see it in the two different styles.
ReplyDeleteMy very first quilt was done in blues and yellow s and I still love that combination..my son has it on his bed to daily 'Doggy' cuddles with our pooch. This looks lovely and I am sure your aunt will love it..and the Florida memories associated with it will always remain in her heart... This is such a busy month for you, so this is even more amazing to have finished ahead of target. Well doneđ I am off to piece some more of my Postcards of Sweden quilt now..loving this..thank you for organising my lovely friend across the water xxxx
ReplyDeleteThis is a fun quilt and fun to see it in two versions. Glad you got to your goal - it is a little harder these days! I love "would you like some fries" and "falling rock" - both should be made!
ReplyDeleteThey are wonderful quilts - i think of them of stretched stars. I've got some solids ready for Postcards - have a feeling mine may look a little different, but that's the charm of patchwork isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYour aunt will treasure both the quilt and the memories of her Florida visit. You have an eye for color and design.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your thoughts on tapping into creativity. It seems to happen often, whether I'm writing, sewing or painting. Friends and sisters surely influence me (or I influence them) because we discover this tapped creativity often. It's great for trying new ideas, getting feedback, and cultivating relationships.
Both of your quilts are beautiful. Wonderful photos, Sandra! You aunt is going to really love it! Enjoy your time away!
ReplyDelete-Soma
That is such a pretty finish! Love your fabric and color choices - makes it so cheerful!
ReplyDeleteYou are so inspiring Sandra - just wish I could join in with everything you do!! Gorgeous finish - well done on meeting your goal for the month!
ReplyDeleteA very pretty finish. Blue and yellow quilts are some of my favorites. Looking forward to watching your Post Card from Sweden quilt come together. Love all those bright colors.
ReplyDeleteYay for meeting a goal; it always feels good when you can mark something off a list. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilts and what a lovely photo shoot! Thanks for linking up with Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal and congrats on your finish.
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